A Season of Eden by Janenifer Laurens Publisher: Grove Creek Publishing (FP: October 20, 2008) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 248 pages Source: Author (Thank You!) Rating: 4 of 5 stars He's my teacher. I shouldn't be alone with him. But I can't help that he's irresistible. I let the door silently close at my back. He stared at me, and a taut quiet stretched between us."I like hearing you play," I said, moving toward him. He turned, in sync with my slow approach. He looked up at me but didn't say anything. I rested my clammy hand on the cold, slick body of the baby grand."May I?" The muscles in his throat shifted, then he swallowed."Eden." My knees weakened, like a soft tickling kiss had just been blown against the backs of them."Is it okay?" I asked. His gaze held mine like two hands joined. He understood what I was really asking."Let me stay," I said."Please.""You're going to get me in trouble," he said. Review: If there's one thing I know about Janenifer Laurens it is that she has some awesome book ideas! Although A Season of Eden can contain a subject matter that makes some people uncomfortable, Janenifer presented it in a way that didn't turn off the reader. Eden is 18 and James (the teacher) is 22. Eden seems to have the perfect life but that is only from the outside. Inside, Eden is lonely and tired of the drama of school and home.
When new teacher, Mr. Christian, starts teaching her Concert Choir class, Eden is immediately smitten with him. She begins by flirting with him during class and notices that he may even like her too. The innocent student/teacher relationship soon builds to be something else that James never expected.
Eden did remind me of someone who may"want what they can't have" at first. I think that as the story progressed we could see a deeper side of her and realize that maybe she did enjoy being around James for the right reasons. She was a bit stalkerish throughout the story and sometimes I felt that even without that, James would have liked her. In a way she tried too hard to grab his attention. But I did enjoy Eden's confidence and courage. Her friends seem to only represent her old life; the life before James. For that reason, Eden didn't seem to really miss them once she started focusing on James.
James was a wonderful character. He wasn't perfect, and had horribly style, but he was fun and passionate about music. I wish the story had given a little more detail about his life. This book needs a sequel or something! It was really a wonderful start for their relationship and I kept wondering what would happen next.
A Season of Eden paints a beautiful picture of a forbidden romance. Janenifer made a difficult topic enjoyable for the reader. I'm excited to read more from her!
The wonderful Keary Taylor is here to share with us some news about her book Eden, the bind-up of her Fall of Angels series, and her newest book being released soon!
She has also offered up a copy of Eden for one lucky winner!
1. You've had some fabulous news lately. Would you like to share that with everyone and tell us what your first reaction was after you heard?
So, that fabulous news is that KK&P has acquired the film rights to my dystopian EDEN! Mark Morgan, who produced The Twilight Saga is the producer as well as Kami Garcia, co-author of the Beautiful Creatures series! It was amazing to hear from them and that they loved Eden! It all just didn't feel real when they first contacted me and said they wanted it! I kept waiting for someone to say"Just Kidding!", lol! It's all an amazing time, and I couldn't be happier with how things have been progressing toward the big screen!
2. Your Fall of Angels series has been very popular and is now available as a bind-up of the entire trilogy. What do you think was the biggest key to your success?
Oh man, honestly I don't really know! I want to say it's because I've written a fantastic story, but really it's my readers who have to say that! I think I just published at a great time, e-readers have gone crazy and the genre I write in is huge right now. And I just have some really fantastic readers who are incredibly supportive.
3. Your new book What I Didn't Say is very different from your previous novels. Can you tell us a bit about the book and the characters Jake, and Samantha?
It really is a lot different for me. I'll be honest, when I got the idea for it, I was terrified to actually write it. It's a YA contemporary that's based on a boy who becomes mute after an accident. It's a story that has to be handled very carefully because it is based on a lot of real experiences and stories, many of them my own. It's also different for me considering it's told from the point of view of a 17 year-old boy, Jake Hayes. He's a really great kid who has a lot of amazing support around him during this difficult time, and Samantha Shay is a part of that. Maybe after all that's happened to him he'll have the guts to tell her what he didn't say before the accident; ) 4. Do you have any other projects you are currently working on? How do I answer this… umm… maybe? Haha. I have a few things that are really up in the air right now, depending on how things play out. I'm afraid I can't say anything more that than. How's that for cryptic? But I do have an idea for a YA science fiction I hope to start on once I finish What I Didn't Say. Not dystopian, but very hard core sci-fi. Think along the lines of The Matrix. I am beyond excited to start on it! As of right now I'm thinking it will be a trilogy.
Eden by Keary Taylor Published: June 6th, 2011 Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 408 pages Eve knew the stories of the Fall, of a time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. She's seen the aftermath of the technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter, able to grow new organs and limbs, how it evolved out of control. The machine took over and the soul vanished. A world quickly losing its humanity isn't just a story to her though. At eighteen, this world is Eve's reality.
In their Fallen world, love feels like a selfish luxury, but not understanding what it is makes it difficult to choose between West, who makes her feel alive but keeps too many secrets, and Avian, who has always been there for her, but is seven years her senior.
The technology wants to spread and it won't stop until there is no new flesh to assimilate. With only two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction. While fighting to keep Eden alive, Eve will discover that being human is about what you will do for those you love, not what your insides may be made of. And even if it gets you killed, love is always what separates them from the Fallen.
Fall of Angels: The Complete Trilogy by Keary Taylor Published: November 29th, 2011 Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 752 pages Plagued by nightmares of angels all her life, but left with the scars to prove they’re more than dreams, Jessica has hidden herself away from the world on the shores of Lake Samish, Washington. But when caring but almost too-perfect-to-be-true Alex, and beautiful yet terrifying Cole enter her life, everything about Jessica’s world is about to change. She’ll learn that the angels aren’t content to stay in her dreams any longer and they’ll do anything to drag her into their world. The lines between right and wrong will be blurred as she fights to cling to the life she’s built and the love she’ll find.
Prize:
1 winner will receive a copy of EDEN.
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 US Only and ends March 7th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
Today I am a tour stop for the book A Season of Eden by Janenifer Laurens.
Eden is stopping by today to tell us about a few things she'd love to do someday.
Eden, can you tell us a few things you would love to try at least once in your life?
I'll try anything once. I mean, you have to, to really experience life I think.
Some absolutes: -Driving a racecar. -Scuba diving. -Skiing. -I'd love to learn how to fly an airplane. -Going to every country at least once would also be invaluable. -An African safari.
All I know is life should be limitless. At least that's how I plan to live mine.
A Season of Eden by Janenifer Laurens Publisher: Grove Creek Publishing (February 5th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 248 pages He's my teacher. I shouldn't be alone with him. But I can't help that he's irresistible. I let the door silently close at my back. He stared at me, and a taut quiet stretched between us."I like hearing you play," I said, moving toward him. He turned, in sync with my slow approach. He looked up at me but didn't say anything. I rested my clammy hand on the cold, slick body of the baby grand."May I?" The muscles in his throat shifted, then he swallowed."Eden." My knees weakened, like a soft tickling kiss had just been blown against the backs of them."Is it okay?" I asked. His gaze held mine like two hands joined. He understood what I was really asking."Let me stay," I said."Please.""You're going to get me in trouble," he said.
The Lucky Kind by Alyssa B. Sheinmel Publisher: Knoph Books for Young Readers (May 10th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 208 pages Source: Publisher Rating: 4 of 5 stars
High school junior Nick Brandt is intent on getting a girlfriend, and Eden Reiss is the one that he wants. He has exactly four semesters to get the girl, but when the phone rings on an otherwise ordinary Tuesday night, life for Nick and his parents will never be the same. What had been a seemingly idyllic home life has become something else entirely. But with this shake-up comes a newfound confidence for Nick; he's become a bolder version of himself, no longer afraid to question his parents, and no longer afraid to talk to Eden.Alyssa B. Sheinmel has written a powerfully gripping story about family secrets, falling in love, and finding luck in unexpected--and sometimes unwelcome—circumstances. Review: This was my first time reading a book by Alyssa B. Sheinmel and it did not disappoint! I rarely get the chance to read a book from a boys point of view. This one pulled that off beautifully! It's from the point-of-view of Nick, a 16-year-old boy who seems to have a typical high school life. He has a best friend, a crush, and a loving family.
Nick slowly pursues Eden (the crush) and it's adorable to watch their relationship progress. They had that nice, romantic connection that helps the reader really get to know each character. I honestly loved Eden. She was a strong young girl, with a sweet personality and a fierce love for Nick. She honestly cared about him deeply and their relationship was more than puppy love.
Nick was a great character. Alyssa did a great job getting into the mind of a teenage boy. Nick was frustrating at times because he seemed to displace his anger, which is something most guys do. His anger stemmed from a secret he discovered his father was keeping. It wasn't something horrific, but it threw Nick's world upside down. Everything he thought he knew about his parents was then questioned.
I have to mention another character I absolutely loved, Stevie. Stevie is the best friend of Nick and he was perfect! Not perfect as in nothing was wrong with him, but he was the picture perfect representation of a great best friend. He was funny, interesting, caring, and a great addition to this story. He was able to give Nick some insight when he was unable to see past his anger.
This story was wonderful and although I felt the ending left some things hanging, it was a very well-rounded book. It really opened up the life of Nick and allowed us to see how one moment can change every other aspect of a life. The Lucky Kind is full of intense emotion, teenage drama, and a level of love from friends and family rarely seen in young adult novels.
Find Alyssa B. Sheinmel | Website | Blog
Purchase The Lucky Kind Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
Today I have Alyssa Sheinmel on the blog. I'm a tour stop for her new book The Lucky Kind, which just came out yesterday.
I have a fun interview with her and 2 lucky winners will get a copy of her book!
Summer or Winter? Summer. But with the air conditioning turned up so high that you need a blanket. TV Shows or Movies? TV shows. My favorite moment of pretty much every single day is when I climb into bed, turn on the TV, and turn off the lights. Beach or Mountains? Beach – though actually, I’d really prefer a pool because I don’t like the sand. Night at home or Night on the town? Night at home (see my answer to “TV Shows or Movies”). Coffee or Tea? Coffee. I’m not the biggest coffee drinker but I always drink it on vacation, starting with a skim latte from the airport Starbucks. I never feel like my vacation has really started until I’m sipping a latte waiting to board a plane. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate, especially ice cream. Vampires or Werewolves? Vampires. Although I am a dog person, so I suppose that’s a little surprising. But vampires are just so darn cool. Angels or Demons? Demons – well the daemons from Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series. Luck or Fate? A little of both. Tall, Dark and Handsome or Sweet, Cute and shy? I was going to say tall, dark, and handsome, but then my dog looked up at me with his sweet, cute, and shy face and I had to change my answer.
The Lucky Kind by Alyssa B. Sheinmel Publisher: Knoph Books for Young Readers (May 10th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 208 pages High school junior Nick Brandt is intent on getting a girlfriend, and Eden Reiss is the one that he wants. He has exactly four semesters to get the girl, but when the phone rings on an otherwise ordinary Tuesday night, life for Nick and his parents will never be the same. What had been a seemingly idyllic home life has become something else entirely. But with this shake-up comes a newfound confidence for Nick; he's become a bolder version of himself, no longer afraid to question his parents, and no longer afraid to talk to Eden.Alyssa B. Sheinmel has written a powerfully gripping story about family secrets, falling in love, and finding luck in unexpected--and sometimes unwelcome—circumstances.
Prize:
2 winners will receive a copy of The Lucky Kind by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
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 US Only and ends May 21st.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
The form must be filled out to enter.
Find Alyssa B. Sheinmel | Website | Blog
Purchase The Lucky Kind Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
I'm so happy to be part of the tour for The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa. It's a brand new, super cool vampire dystopian book and it's so good! Be sure to check out the giveaway on the Harlequin blog for a Kindle and one-of-a-kind Immortal Rules case!
Sign up below for a chance to win a SIGNED COPY of The Immortal Rules!
Stop #13 – “The Inner City”
The secret goal of almost every Fringer is to someday make it into the Inner City, past the wall that separates the civilized world from the human trash, into the glittering city that looms over us with its great starry towers that had somehow resisted crumbling into dust. Everyone knows someone who knows someone who was taken into the city, a brilliant mind or a great beauty, someone too unique or special to be left here with us animals. There are rumors that the vampires “breed” the humans on the inside, raising the children to be their thralls, completely devoted to their masters. But since none who are taken into the city ever come out again—ex-cept the pets and their guards, and they aren’t talking—no one knows what it’s really like.
Of course, this only feeds the stories.
Please visit A Good Addiction for the next stop on The Immortal Rules blog tour. Previous stops can be found on the Harlequin blog.
Check out the Blood of Eden site. Julie will be making appearances at these bookstores near her hometown.* Saturday, April 28th at 2pm — The Bookstore, Radcliff, KY * Monday, May 7th at 5:30 pm — Lincoln's Loft, Hodgeville, KY
About New York Times Best-Selling Author Julie Kagawa: To pay the rent, Julie worked in different bookstores over the years, but discovered the managers frowned upon her reading the books she was supposed to be shelving. So she turned to her other passion: training animals. She worked as a professional dog trainer for several years, dodging Chihuahua bites and overly enthusiastic Labradors, until her first book sold and she stopped training to write full-time. Her third novel, The Iron Queen, became a New York Times bestseller and her debut novel, The Iron King recently won the RITA award for best young-adult fiction novel of 2010. Julie now lives in La Grange, Kentucky, with her husband, two obnoxious cats, one Australian shepherd who is too smart for his own good and the latest addition, a hyperactive papillon.
The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa Publisher: Harlequin Teen (April 24th, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 485 pages Series: Blood of Eden #1 In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.
Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.
Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters.
Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.
Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.
But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.
Prize:
1 winner will receive a SIGNED copy of THE IMMORTAL RULES.
Rules:
You must be at least 13 (or have permission) to enter.
Name and email must be provided.
Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
Contest is US/Canada only and ends May 11th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
It has, literally, been forever since I have done an IMM. I've been swamped with homework and last week we took my daughter to her first concert (post on that to come later). It was a blast! Here are the books I have received over the past month. Special thanks to Random House, HarperTeen, Bloomsbury, Simon & Schuster, Penguin/Speak, Shelley Workinger, Janenifer Echols, and Ednah Walters.
Review Every Little Thing in the World by Nina de Gramont She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott Promises to Keep by Charles De Lint The Forever Crush (Pink Locker Society) by Debra Moffitt Dark Eden (ARC) by Patrick Carman Flawless (ARC) by Lara Chapman Tighter (ARC) by Adele Griffin Wake Unto Me (ARC) by Lisa Cach Moonglass by Jessi Kirby Bitter End by Janenifer Brown The Lucky Kind (ARC) by Alyssa B. Sheinmel Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) (ARC) by Sarah Mlynowski Wildefire (ARC) by Karsten Knight The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (ARC) by Michelle Hodkins We'll Always Have Summer by Janeny Han Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook Bite Club by Rachel Caine Ordinary Beauty by Laura Weiss (2 copies- one for giveaway) Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky (2 copies- one for giveaway) Forgiven (ARC) by Janet Fox Nocturne (ARC) by Christine Johnson Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn Betrayed (signed) by Ednah Walters Everfound by Neil Shusterman Kiss of Death by Lauren Henderson Tighter by Adele Griffin (2nd copy) The Education of Hailey Kendrick by Eileen Cook Passion by Lauren Kate
Swag Betrayed by Ednah Walters(signed) bookmarks Sabine and Kisri by Moira Rogers (signed) bookplates Bitter End by Janenifer Brown (signed) bookplate and bookmark, plus bracelet (not pictured)
Gift Bad Moon Rising by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Signed Love Story by Janenifer Echols Settling by Shelley Workinger (NOTE: I'm blurbed!!)
Other Goodies The Sisters Brothers by Patrick Dewitt (book and signed poster) A giveaway is going on now for a poster just like this one!
Starcrossed Book Trailer
And I just had to share a brand new book trailer I saw yesterday. I just read Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini and it was beyond amazing!! If you haven't added this book to your goodreads list, do it NOW! This book just jumped into my top 3 of this year so far. Check out the UK book trailer!
What did you get in your mailbox this week?
*IMM is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and it was inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.
Always a Witch (Witch #2) by Carolyn MacCullough (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 8/1/2011) Want to Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman (Scholastic Press 8/1/2011) Circle of Fire (Prophecy of the Sisters #3) by Michelle Zink (Little Brown and Company 8/1/2011)
Betrayed (The Guardian Legacy #2) by Ednah Walters (Firetrail Publishing 8/1/2011) Popalazzi by Elise Allen (Harcourt Children's Books 8/1/2011) Never Have I Ever (The Lying Game #2) by Sara Shepard (HarperCollins 8/2/2011)
Between by Jessica Warman (Walker and Company 8/2/2011) Blood Ties (Blood Coven #6) by Mari Mancusi (Berkley Trade 8/2/2011) Eternal (Immortal #3) by Gillian Shields (Katherine Tegen Books 8/2/2011)
Dark Angel (Dark Angel #1) by Eden Maguire (Hodder Children's Books 8/4/2011) All You Desire (Eternal Ones #2) by Kirsten Miller (Razorbill 8/9/2011) Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay (Delacorte Books for Young Readers 8/9/2011)
Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik (HarperTeen 8/2/2011) The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab (Hyperion Books 8/2/2011) Dark Parties by Sara Grant (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers 8/3/2011)
Hooked by Catherine Greenman (Delacorte Books for Young Readers 8/9/2011)
If you know of any other new releases for August 1st-15th feel free to add them in the comments so others will know about them!
The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa Publisher: Harlequin Teen (April 24th, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 485 pages Source: ARC from Publisher Series: Blood of Eden #1 Rating: 4 of 5 starsIn a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.
Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.
Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters.
Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.
Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.
But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.
Review:
The Immortal Rules is such a complex story — the characters, the world-building, the plot — all so intricate and well designed. Oddly enough, it had been a while since I had read a vampire book. Yes, shocking! I was ready to jump back into one, especially one set in a dystopian world.
First, the vampires in this story are not the kind we see nowadays. They are vicious, heartless, and cruel (most of them). There is nothing swoon-worthy going on here. People avoid the vampires at all costs. The first thing that grabbed my attention with this book was the world-building. This was my first experience with a novel by Julie Kagawa and wow, she has mastered this setting. I could picture this dark, deadly place, where vampires and rabids lurk in the dark and the people on the fringe just hope to scavenge some food each day. The kids grow up without parents and a person would rip your head off for a piece of bread. Yes, it's gruesome and real. Julie Kagawa did not shy away from exposing the real death in this story.
Allison is an Unregistered, which means she doesn't exist. Like many others, she has not been tagged by the vampires and doesn't have to give her blood to them. The downside is that she doesn't get their food or help either. But Allison is willing to risk this. Along with a few of her crew, she is forced to live off of very little and fight for survival. Then one adventure puts her on a completely new path.
Once Allison changes she learns way more about the vampire society than she would have thought possible. At the same time, she learned how strong and powerful she is. I truly admired Allison's courage and independence. It took an enormous amount of strength to get through what she had experienced and she never gave up.
She meets quite a few people on her journey and some prove to be challenging for her. One that she can't seem to keep her mind off of is Zeke. Zeke is kind, considerate, and loyal. He seemed to see a part of Allison that she didn't even know existed.
The plot of this book is full of twists and turns. There is a lot of intense action, heart-breaking moments, and blood-- lots of blood! My only complaint is that this book is long, super super long. Due to this, some parts were a little slow to me. Somewhere around the middle I lost focus and had to put it down for a while.
Julie Kagawa has created a fascinating story where vampires are not the good guys, and the humans are the cattle waiting for their slaughter. In this dystopian world, a young girl may have to fight everything she is in order to keep her humanity and compassion for others. The battles are deadly, and the heroine never back down. Julie Kagawa now has a new fan.
Recommended: People looking for an old-fashioned vampire tale with a brand new dystopian spin. Complex and full of action, with a plot that will keep readers intrigued.
Hey everyone. I have a big pile of books from this past month. These include review books, Christmas gifts and purchased books too so there is a lot! Thanks to all the wonderful publishers (and Lisa from A Life Bound By Books!) for sending these fantastic books!
Review The File by Angelyn Stark Extraordinary by Adam Selzer Finding Somewhere by Joseph Monninger A Sharp Time by Mary O'Connell Darkness Falls by Cate Tiernan Blood Sun by David Gilman Don't Expect Magic by Kathy McCullough Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer Pretty Little Liars: Pretty Little Secrets by Sara Shepard Girl Meets Boy by Various Authors Hallowed by Cynthia Hand Fracture (ARC) by Megan Miranda The Way We Fall (ARC) by Megan Crewe Slide (ARC) by Jill Hathaway (2nd copy) Immortal Beloved (ARC) by Cate Tiernan Switched by Amanda Hocking The Ivy: Rivals (ARC) by Lauren Kanuz Glimmer (ARC) by Phoebe Kitanidis The Last Echo (ARC) by Kimberly Derting Forbidden by Syrie James and Ryan M. James (2nd copy) Partials (ARC) by Dan Wells (2nd copy) The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries #5: The Asylum by L.J. Smith Masque of the Red Death (ARC) by Bethany Griffin The Calling by Kelley Armstrong The Starboard Sea by Amber Dermont Unraveling (ARC) by Elizabeth Norris The Invisible Sun (ARC) by David Macinnis Gill Social Suicide (ARC) by Gemma Halliday Thumped (ARC) by Mean McCafferty Temptation (ARC) by Alisa Valdes Dark Eden 2: Eve of Destruction (ARC) by Patrick Carman The Selection (ARC) by Kiera Cass Everneath by Brodi Ashton Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters (ARC) by Meredith Zeitlin The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith Love & Leftovers by Sarah Tregay Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey
Purchased Crossed by Ally Condie Ruling Passion by Alyxandra Harvey Royally Crushed by Niki Burnham Kiss Me Kill Me by Lauren Henderson How to Ruin My Teenage Life by Simone Elkeles How to Ruin a Summer Vacation by Simone Elkeles
Gifted Ashfall by Mike Mullin Eve by Anna Carey Crash Test Love (SIGNED) by Ted Michael Anew: The Archers of Avalon (SIGNED) by Chelsea Fine Unbreakable Love (SIGNED) by Angela Carling Dollhouse (SIGNED) by Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe Kardashian
I got Dollhouse from the BookPerk website. If you haven't signed up yet, DO IT! They have a ton of great offers and signed books come up all the time. It's a great site: ) This is the 2nd signed copy of a book I've purchased. The first was a copy of I Am Number Four signed by the MOVIE CAST!: )
What did you get in your mailbox this week?
*IMM is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and it was inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.
"I hurt with the emotion I felt, I hurt because I couldn't stop willing the plot on, my heart hurt out of love for the characters, and my adrenaline never slowed the last 100 pages. This book caused me physical pain I loved it so much." — Miss Remmers
"It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.
Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.
Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess."
The first thing I noticed about this book was the pacing — the poor pacing. In the beginning I felt like James, Ava, and even Kate were way too accepting of the idea of a "modern day" Hades walking around Eden. While it made sense in the end, I really struggled with how quickly everything came together in the beginning. I felt like either nothing was happening and it was slow or that huge progressions had been made in mere sentences. That was my biggest frustration with this novel.
It was short lived.
I read the last (almost) two hundred pages in one sitting and definitely did not get any papers graded, any lessons planned, any wedding invitations stuffed, or house work done. I called my best friend Button at least three times: the first to tell her about the book, the second to read a quick passage, and the third to tell her how I hurt.
Yes, this book caused me physical pain. I hurt with the emotion I felt, I hurt because I couldn't stop willing the plot on, my heart hurt out of love for the characters, and my adrenaline never slowed the last 100 pages. This book caused me physical pain I loved it so much. I wanted to be apart of the world created, I wanted to live in the mansion, I wanted to be Kate, and I definitely wanted to be around Henry.:)
This book was fantastic in every way (besides the pacing at the beginning); it'll be a book that I gush about for a very long time.
Originality: 10/10 Ending: 10/10 Characters: 10/10 Plot: 10/10 My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10 Cover: 8/10 Overall: 58/60 A
-Visit Aimee around the web here: Website | Goodreads | Twitter -BUY THE BOOK: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble | Nook
To the FTC, with love: Review Galley from NetGalley
Janice Gable Bashman is the author of WANTED UNDEAD OR ALIVE: Vampire Hunters and Other Kick-Ass Enemies of Evil. She also has written for THE BIG THRILL, NOVEL & SHORT STORY WRITER’S MARKET, THE WRITER, WILD RIVER REVIEW, and many others. She can be reached at www.janicegablebashman.com. Jonathan Maberry is a NY Times bestseller, multiple Bram Stoker Award-winner and a writer for Marvel Comics. He has written a number of award-winning nonfiction books and novels on the paranormal and supernatural, including WANTED UNDEAD OR ALIVE, THE CRYPTOPEDIA, VAMPIRE UNIVERSE, THEY BITE, ZOMBIE CSU and PATIENT ZERO. He can be reached at www.jonathanmaberry.com.
Writers Who Changed Our Worlds by Janice Gable Bashman and Jonathan Maberry
Readers. Writers. We all love a good book. Whether it’s a mystery, thriller, horror, fantasy, science fiction, etc. And we can all remember our favorites. Those books that kept us reading long after we should have stopped to do something else, the books that kept us up late into the night when we had school or work the next day. As authors we strive to be the one who does that to readers, whose work is so compelling it keeps readers from doing anything else but reading. Because, let’s face it. We all love a good book. For our book WANTED UNDEAD OR ALIVE: Vampire Hunters and Other Kick-Ass Enemies of Evil, we interviewed tons of authors (and screenwriters, filmmakers, actors, and others) about their favorite good vs. evil book, movie, and comic, so we thought we’d discuss the writers that have influenced us over the years. JANICE GABLE BASHMAN: There are so many writers I could list, but these are three that have influenced me tremendously.
SHIRLEY JACKSON—When I read Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery,” first published in 1948, I couldn’t believe the horror and the shock she elicited in only a few pages. It’s been at least 20 years since I first read the story and the memory of it still sends chills down my spine and makes me cringe. It’s a perfect blend of horror, suspense and ancient ritual. Characters so real you can’t help but relate to them and be thankful you aren’t them.
Jackson also wrote the incredible horror novel HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE, published in 1959.
Jackson’s work has affected me both as a reader and a writer.
JAMES ROLLINS—The thriller lover in me admires how James Rollins (DEEP FATHOM, ICE HUNT, ALTER OF EDEN, DOOMSDAY KEY, etc.) combines action-adventure with science, exploration, mystery, fear, horror, archeology, etc. to create a story that always keeps me turning the pages. As a writer, I look at his work and am amazed at how he pulls it off, how he combines so many factors to create a plausible and enjoyable read. But he does… and that’s the beauty of it.
WALTER MOSLEY—I’m a big fan of Walter Mosley’s stories featuring Socrates Fortlow (ALWAYS OUTNUMBERED, ALWAYS OUTGUNNED; WALKIN’ THE DOG; THE RIGHT MISTAKE). How he describes his characters. The language he uses to create his tales. How every sentence, every word, is chosen for its precise meaning. How the spot-on dialogue makes the characters so vivid. How he tells the story of real people in real situations doing real things but fills those stories with so much meaning. To study Walter Mosley’s stories is a great lesson in writing.
JONATHAN MABERRY:
RICHARD MATHESON: I met Matheson when I was fourteen, and he took some time to have a few long chats with me about writing, creativity, the business of publishing, and about developing an analytical mind. Matheson’s novels are always different, always hard to classify, and often cross-genre. His 1954 classic, I AM LEGEND, is the first real blend of hard science and true horror; and the underlying metaphors of xenophobia, classicism and societal perception are as dead on-target now as they were then. Shame the filmmakers seem to miss Matheson’s whole point, which is alluded to in the title! His other works are equally layered and compelling: THE SHRINKING MAN, THE LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE, WHAT DREAMS MAY COME, STIR OF ECHOES… the list goes on and on.
JAMES LEE BURKE: Burke is probably my favorite living author. His writing is lush, descriptive, subtle, gritty, and always compelling. His Dave Robicheaux novels in particular are filled with sensual phrasing and visceral scenes that make all five of your senses come alive while reading. I particularly love BLACK CHERRY BLUES for its insights into corruption, heroism and redemption; THE TIN-ROOF BLOWDOWN, for the unflinching way Burke presents the social and cultural devastation that resulted from the government’s mishandling of Katrina; and THE GLASS RAINBOW, for showing that even eighteen books into a series that has unfolded over 23 years, Burke still manages to surprise his readers.
JOHN D. MacDONALD: MacDonald’s most celebrated creation was the intellectual boat bum, Travis McGee. Irascible, occasionally antisocial, charming, charismatic, and frequently anti-establishment, Travis is the model for the ‘thinking person’s hero’. The stories were meticulously plotted and laid out along devious pathways that not only made the books a thrill to read for the first time, but a pleasure to re-read. No one has tried to out-MacDonald MacDonald, and that’s a good thing. He was the sharpest knife in the literary drawer. And the books are just so damn much fun! WANTED UNDEAD OR ALIVE deals with the struggle of good vs evil in film, comics, pop culture, world myth, literature, and the real world. Everything from ghosts to vampire slayers to paranormal investigators to FBI serial-killer profilers. It includes interviews with folks like Stan Lee, Mike Mignola, Jason Aaron, Fred Van Lente, Peter Straub, Charlaine Harris and many more; and the book is fully illustrated by top horror, comics & fantasy artists. In stores everywhere.
Wanted Undead or Alive: Vampire Hunters and Other Kick-Ass Enemies of Evil by Jonathan Maberry & Janice Gable Bashman Publisher: Citadel (September 1st, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 320 pages Discover the nature of Evil- and how to kick its butt!
These days you can-t swing an undead lycanthrope without hitting a Minion of Evil. They-re everywhere-TV, film, the basement-right behind you! It-s never been more important to know what you can do to keep them at bay. Garlic? silver bullets? holy water? torch-wielding mob?
From today-s foremost experts on nightmares-come-to-life, this indispensible guide identifies and describes mankind-s enemies-supernatural beasts, ghosts, vampires, serial killers, etc.-and unearths effective time-proven responses to each horrific threat.
Separate fact from fiction, the deadly from the merely creepy. Learn when to stand your ground and when to run screaming for your life. Determine which monster-specific heroes to call and their likelihood of success. Consider your own potential as a Champion for Good, Conqueror of the Damned.
Whether we-re talking ancient vampire hunters or modern-day FBI profilers, it-s good to know someone-s got your back in the eternal struggle between Good and Evil. And this book, with over fifty illustrations, as well as commentary from luminaries like filmmaker John Carpenter, author Peter Straub, and the legendary Stan Lee, provides all the information and reassurance you need to sleep soundly at night.
Just not too soundly.
Thank you so much Janice and Jonathan for being on my blog today! For more information Janice Gable Bashman / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads Jonathan Maberry / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads
Purchase from: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository
