The Best Reader [Search results for Taken] 

The wonderful C.C. Hunter is here today to tell us 13 things we will learn from her newest book, Taken at Dusk.

Make sure to sign up below for a chance to win a copy!

Thirteen Things You’ll Learn From Taken at Dusk
1. The only thing worse than trying to help a woman with amnesia remember her name and life is trying to help a dead woman with amnesia remember hers.

2. Be careful what you wish for—you might just get it.. and the reality will probably not be anything like the fantasy.

3. The person you think is your enemy could just turn into a friend who'll do anything to save you.

4. The scariest thing in the world isn't ghosts or rogue vampires bent on murder—it's falling in love.

5. Explaining why you have a skunk curled up in your arms to your mom and your old best friend is as easy as eating a brownie while brushing your teeth.

6. We all make mistakes, which is why it's so important to practice forgiveness.

7. The only thing worse than a pissed-off shapeshifter is a pissed-off shapeshifter in love.

8. Sometimes the earth really does have to open up and swallow you whole before you can accept the truth that's right in front of you.

9. Vampires have no sense of humor.. especially when they get turned into a kangaroo.

10. Free will gives us choices, but even making the right choices can't change destiny.. and learning to accept that can be the most painful lesson of all.

11. People aren’t always who they say they are, even if you really want them to be.

12. Sometimes when you try to save someone, they end up saving you instead.

13. Never get between a dragon and a warlock on the war path.

Taken at Dusk by C.C. Hunter Publisher: St Martin's Press (April 10th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 400 pages
Series: Shadow Falls #3
Step into Shadow Falls, a camp for teens with supernatural powers. Here friendship thrives, love takes you by surprise, and our hearts possess the greatest magic of all.

Kylie Galen wants the truth so badly she can taste it. The truth about who her real family is, the truth about which boy she’s meant to be with—and the truth about what her emerging powers mean. But she’s about to discover that some secrets can change your life forever… and not always for the better.

Just when she and Lucas are finally getting close, she learns that his pack has forbidden them from being together. Was it a mistake to pick him over Derek? And it’s not just romance troubling Kylie. An amnesia-stricken ghost is haunting her, delivering the frightful warning, someone lives and someone dies. As Kylie races to unravel the mystery and protect those she loves, she finally unlocks the truth about her supernatural identity, which is far different—and more astonishing—than she ever imagined.

Prize:

• 1 winner will receive a copy of Taken at Dusk.

• 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 only and ends April 27th.
• Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
• The form must be filled out to enter.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Today I have something super exciting for you! The wonderful Erin Bowman is releasing the first 8 chapters from her upcoming book, Taken! You can check out all the chapters (bloggers listed below) and I am showing you the last chapter… chapter 8!! You gotta check it out.

Taken by Erin Bowman
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: April 16, 2013
Hardcover: 352 pages
Add to Goodreads
There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends… and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

USE GOOGLE TO READ TAKEN — CHAPTER 8

Want to read the previous chapters?

Monday, 3/25 – Chapter 1 Wendy Darling @ The Midnight Garden
Tuesday, 3/26 – Chapter 2 Lena Ainsworth @ Addicted 2 Novels
Wednesday, 3/27 – Chapter 3 Erica Haglund @ The Bookcellar
Thursday, 3/28 – Chapter 4 Shane Morgan @ Itching for Books
Friday, 3/29 – Chapter 5 Stephanie Ward @ A Dream Within A Dream
Saturday, 3/30 – Chapter 6 Krystal Larson @ Live to Read
Sunday, 3/31 – Chapter 7 Alicia Guerrero @ Shooting Stars Mag
Monday, 4/1 – Chapter 8 Jessica Estep @ Confessions of a Bookaholic

Some thoughts on my childhood swing set…
by
Erin Bowman

I'll be honest upfront: I am the biggest wuss alive.

I jump at the drop of a pin, clowns scare me to death, and I absolutely despise horror movies.

I think a lot of this has to do with the fact that my cousin told me The Exorcist was a comedy and made me watch it with her when I was about ten years old. It was the first"scary movie" I'd ever seen, and it scarred me for life. Halfway through the film my cousin fell asleep on the couch. I was so terrified at this point that I had a blanket over my head and was watching through the breaks in the knitting. Sure, I could have turned the movie off, but I forced myself to finish it. I needed to know that everything would turn out okay.

I saw this face every time I closed my eyes for the next several months:

<caption: I regret googling this photo. The image results page was downright terrifying.

As a result of this childhood trauma, I made a habit of avoiding horror movies as I grew up. To this day I've seen only a handful, and all because I foolishly believed someone who said,"This one's really not that scary. You'll be fine." (Fast-forward to me with my head on their shoulder, asking them to tell me when it was safe to look again.) I'm shockingly a huge fan of TV's Supernatural, although I truly don't know how I got through the first several seasons; something scary seems to jump out every other minute. And let's not talk about that"Everybody Loves a Clown" episode. (I may or may not have almost cried.)

So why I am telling you all this? Because while I don't have my own real-life ghost story to share, I think this look at my past will better help you understand why I find the following so terrifying:

I grew up in rural Connecticut, on a mountain street that was part of a historic district. Connecticut seems to have more ghost stories per acre than should be possible for a single state. For example: the house next to us was supposedly haunted. No family ever lived there longer than a year or two, and when they moved out, they'd always say the same thing:"The place is small… We want something bigger… I always got a strange vibe when I was home alone--like there was someone else in the house with me."

Yeah. Creepy.

My parent's house is this old cape, set right into the mountain and surrounded by woods. The backyard was great for sledding, but absolutely nothing else because it was so darn steep. It had only one level section in the lower corner of the property, and that's where my childhood swing set stood.

(In hindsight, a level portion of land among an otherwise drastic incline sounds terribly unnatural, but as a child, and even as a teen, the thought never once crossed my mind.)

A few years ago I was home for the holidays, and everyone was sitting around the dining room table. We somehow got to talking about local ghost stories. I said something about how it would be creepy to buy an old house if you knew someone died in it, let alone haunted it.

And my mom goes:"Oh, someone died here."

To which I practically screamed:"In this house?! MOM! OMG!"

And she just calmly looked at me and said,"There used to be a pool in the backyard. Right where the swing set is. Some girl drowned in it."

Cue a million visuals of this, haunting me for forever:

<caption: If I stare at this photo long enough, I can psych myself into believing she's about to crawl out of the computer exactly like she crawls out of the TV in the film.>

I have not ventured down to that swing set since my mom revealed this lovely, historic detail. I can't look at it the same way, let alone stand where that swimming pool used to be. The thought that for years I merrily pumped my legs on swing that was hovering over the same exact spot some poor girl drowned makes me sick. And these days, if I step outside at my parents house at night, I have to almost immediately scurry inside because of that feeling. You know the one-- the sensation that someone is watching you.

The house itself has never shown any signs of being haunted, but who knows about the backyard. And I don't care to find out. Ever.

Taken by Erin Bowman
Published: HarperTeen (April 18th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 352 pages
Series: Taken, #1
There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends… and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

Prize:

• 1 winner will receive everything above! An ARC of TAKEN (EEK!) and cool stickers (some signed!).

• 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 November 1st.
• Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
• The form must be filled out to enter.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter

Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reminder: If you are interested in the COMMENT CONTEST, remember to include your email address with your comment for an extra entry! Please read full entry rules here

By: Anastasia Hopcus

For several years I have been intrigued by the Kirkbride asylums. Named for Dr. Thomas Kirkbride, who conceived of the then-innovative plan for caring for the mentally ill, these institutions were built in several parts of the United States during the nineteenth century. Unfortunately, many of these grand Gothic structures, like the most famous one in Danvers, Massachusetts, have been torn down. So when I read that there was a Kirkbride asylum in Weston, West Virginia, that had been purchased and turned into a museum, I had to take a side trip to see it on my way home from the Book Expo in NYC this summer.

My boyfriend Brent and I barely made it in time for the last guided tour of the day. It was late in the afternoon, and shadows were already falling over the old compound, which added to the silent, eerie feel of the place. I took a ton of pictures, as I tend to do, and one view that particularly intrigued me was of the double doors of the medical center across the courtyard. It was an imposing but decaying building of red brick, with a set of weathered white double doors, both shut. I definitely wanted a picture of that, but when I aimed my camera and pressed the button, it didn't click. I tried several more times, but it would not work. Puzzled, I looked at the camera and saw that the battery was out of juice. It wasn't an old battery, but, I reasoned, I had taken lots of pictures over the course of my trip.
Still wanting to get the shot, I put in a new battery and tried again. Once again the camera would not work. A second time. A third time. Finally, it clicked, but the whir of the shutter went on… and on. I still wasn't sure whether I had actually gotten a picture, but I moved on, not wanting to delay the group any further.

But that night, as I sat in our motel room, looking through the pictures I had taken that afternoon, I came upon the photo of the medical center with its set of closed double white doors, and as I looked at it, a chill ran down my spine:

Who---or what had opened that door? And why had I not seen it?

Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus Publisher: Egmont USA (July 13th, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 400 pages
His love captivated her… his secrets might kill her.

Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts—the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.

After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all.

But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town… might cost her her life.

- Thank you so much Anastasia for the scary story and pictures!
Find Anastasia Hopcus
Anastasia Hopcus / Blog / Goodreads / Facebook / Myspace / Twitter

Buy Shadow Hills
Amazon / The Book Depository / Barnes & Noble

Book Trailer

* Check out Lisa's Haunted Halloween post.

*Reminder: If you are interested in the COMMENT CONTEST, remember to include your email address with your comment for an extra entry! Please read full entry rules here.

My bookshelf has kind of taken over. I've never owned so many books in my life (top shelf). Most of them are due to that huge book sale I happened upon and books I've won but haven't gotten around to reading. There are also a few nerdy English text books too.

You can see by my middle shelf, review books (left side) have taken over my life. I'm SO behind! I also have a few library books (right side). My current read (Jumping Off Swings) and Eternal on the Water (got to send out that out next week). Also, take a look at all my "1986" books!:) I need to begin preparing for lessons!

Look how innocent my bookshelf was at the beginning

What's on your bookshelves?

There's a "new" hobby in our apartment — reading (together). Since moving in together I've struggled to find a way to spend time with D watching reality television, playing the Wii, and all of those other activities we love and reading. Unfortunately, during the last half of the year reading was what didn't happen at home. The only time I was able to read was when D was at work or when I was at school during my lunch breaks, plan periods, or on Recreational Reading day. Since Christmas this routine has drastically changed.

Now when D says, "What do you want to do tonight?" reading is included: "We could watch a movie, an episode of Fringe, Survivor, The Biggest Loser, etc etc, play Mario Kart, or read." I love that reading has found a place in our nightly routine. Yes, sometimes we still watch television or play games, but the option is there and it is often taken.

We've also taken up the hobby of reading in bed 30-40 minutes before going to bed. This is something I never thought I'd do; "bed" for me has always been a place to sleep (and put clothes). But now I find myself looking forward to those 30 minutes — where D can read his Star Wars book and I can delve into my own story. We share what we are reading, especially when I have an "Oh my gosh!" moment (see Delirium) .

It's become something that I hope will continue to stay in our routine as our relationship/marriage grows. I knew when I first met D that he liked to read, he's a slower reader so it takes him awhile to finish a book, but I never realized that this was something we could do together. It's a win/win situation: reading is no longer a solitary activity in our house, it's something we do together.

This is another hard list for me. There are so many amazing books coming out next year. Here are j ust a few o f the ones I am looking forw ard to.

Title: Sweet Peril
Author: Wendy Higgins
Publisher: HarperTeen
Add to Goodreads
Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

Title: Taken Author: Erin Bowman Publisher: HarperTeen Add to Goodreads There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends… and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

Title: Things I Can't Forget
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Add to Goodreads
Companion to Catching Jordan and Stealing Parker.

Kate has always been the good girl. Too good, according to some people at school—although they have no idea the guilty secret she carries. But this summer, everything is different…

This summer she’s a counselor at Cumberland Creek summer camp, and she wants to put the past behind her. This summer Matt is back as a counselor too. He’s the first guy she ever kissed, and he’s gone from a geeky songwriter who loved The Hardy Boys to a buff lifeguard who loves to flirt… with her.

Kate used to think the world was black and white, right and wrong. Turns out, life isn’t that easy…

Title: Level 2 Author: Lenore Appelhans Publisher: Simon & Schuster Add to Goodreads Three levels. Two loves. One choice. Debut novelist, Lenore Appelhans has written a thrilling otherworldly young adult novel about a place that exists between our world (Level 1) and what comes after life (Level 2).

'I pause to look around the hive — all the podlike chambers are lit up as the drones shoot up on memories … I've wanted to get out of here before, but now the tight quarters start to choke me. There has to be more to death than this.'

Felicia Ward is dead. Trapped in a stark white afterlife limbo, she spends endless days replaying memories, of her family, friends, boyfriend … and of the guy who broke her heart. The guy who has just broken into Level 2 to find her.

Felicia learns that a rebellion is brewing, and it seems she is the key. Suspended between heaven and earth, she must make a choice. Between two worlds, two lives and two loves.

Title: Boundless
Author: Cynthia Hand
Publisher: HarperTeen
Add to Goodreads
The past few years have held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner could ever have anticipated. Yet from the dizzying highs of first love, to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she can no longer deny is that she was never meant to live a normal life.

Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her.. even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seems like the best option, so she’s headed back to California — and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.

As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he’s not the only one.. With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfil her destiny. But it won’t come without sacrifices and betrayal.

Title: The Forever of Ella & Micha Author: Jessica Sorensen Add to Goodreads It's the kind of love that owns you, the kind that last forever.

Ella and Micha have been through tragedy, heartbreak, and love. When they are with each other, anything seems possible. But the days of racing cars and passionate kisses are gone now that they are thousands of miles apart.

Ella continues going to school and tries to deal with her irrevocable mistakes. She constantly worries about how her life will end up, and with her father in and out of rehab, she’s having a hard time making it through the days. All she wants is Micha by her side, but she refuses to let her problems get in the way of his dreams.

Micha spends his days traveling the country with the band, but he knows something is missing from his life. Being away from Ella is harder than he thought. He wants her closer to him—needs her with him. But he won’t ask her to leave college, just to be with him.

The few moments they do spend together are fleeting, intense, and filled with passion, but it only makes it more difficult when they have to part. They quickly learn that a long-distance relationship is challenging and it tests their love.

They know they want to be together, but is wanting something enough to get them to their forever?

Title: If You Stay
Author: Courtney Cole
Add to Goodreads
24-year old Pax Tate is an asshole.
Seriously.

He’s a tattooed, rock-hard bad-boy with a bad attitude to match.

But he’s got his reasons.

His mother died when Pax was seven, leaving a hole in his heart filled with guilt although he doesn’t understand why. What he does know is that he and his dad are left alone and with more issues than they can count.

As Pax grew up, he tried to be the kid his father always wanted; the perfect golden boy, but it didn’t work. His dad couldn’t overcome his grief long enough to notice and Pax couldn’t keep up the impossible perfect façade.
So he slipped far, far from it.

Now, he uses drugs and women to cope with the ugliness, the black void that he doesn’t want to deal with. If he pretends that the emptiness isn’t there, then it isn’t, right?
Wrong.

And it’s never more apparent than when he meets Mila.
Sweet, beautiful Mila Hill is the fresh air to his hardened frown, the beauty to his ugly heart. He doesn’t know how to not hurt her, but he quickly realizes that he’s got to figure it out because he needs her to breathe.

When memories of his mother’s death resurface from where he’s repressed them for so long, Mila is there to catch him when the guilt starts making sense. Mila is the one… the one who can save him from his broken troubled heart; from his issues, from the emptiness.

But only if he can stop being an asshole long enough to allow it.

He knows that. And he’s working on it.

But is that enough to make her stay?

Title: Date You To Author: Katie McGarry Publisher: Harlequin Teen Add to Goodreads"I dare you… "

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does…

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all…

Title: Fragments
Author: Dan Wells
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Add to Goodreads
Kira Walker has found the cure for RM, but the battle for the survival of humans and Partials is just beginning. Kira has left East Meadow in a desperate search for clues to who she is. That the Partials themselves hold the cure for RM in their blood cannot be a coincidence--it must be part of a larger plan, a plan that involves Kira, a plan that could save both races. Her companions are Afa Demoux, an unhinged drifter and former employee of ParaGen, and Samm and Heron, the Partials who betrayed her and saved her life, the only ones who know her secret. But can she trust them?

Meanwhile, back on Long Island, what's left of humanity is gearing up for war with the Partials, and Marcus knows his only hope is to delay them until Kira returns. But Kira's journey will take her deep into the overgrown wasteland of postapocalyptic America, and Kira and Marcus both will discover that their greatest enemy may be one they didn't even know existed.

The second installment in the pulse-pounding Partials saga is the story of the eleventh hour of humanity's time on Earth, a journey deep into places unknown to discover the means--and even more important, a reason--for our survival .

Title: Apollyon Author: Janenifer L. Armentrout Publisher: Spencer Hill Press Add to Goodreads Fate isn’t something to mess with… and now, neither is Alex.

Alex has always feared two things: losing herself in the Awakening and being placed on the Elixir. But love has always been stronger than Fate, and Aiden St. Delphi is willing to make war on the gods—and Alex herself—to bring her back.

The gods have killed thousands and could destroy entire cities in their quest to stop Seth from taking Alex’s power and becoming the all-powerful God Killer. But breaking Alex’s connection to Seth isn’t the only problem. There are a few pesky little loopholes in the whole “an Apollyon can’t be killed” theory, and the only person who might know how to stop the destruction has been dead for centuries.

Finding their way past the barriers that guard the Underworld, searching for one soul among countless millions, and then somehow returning will be hard enough. Alex might be able to keep Seth from becoming the God Killer… or she might become the God Killer herself.
Don't forget to share YOUR list in the Linky below! Today's giveaway is hosted by Mindy from Magical Urban Fantasy Reads
NOTE: This is the same Linky on ALL Co-Hosts Blogs.

Descended by Blood by Angeline Kace
Publisher: Accendo Press (August 26th, 2011)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 263 pages
Source: Author (Thank You!)
Series: Vampire Born #1
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Brooke Keller is a high school junior who has never spent much time living in one place. She is finally in a town long enough to almost snag the boy of her dreams, until her life is threatened after killing a fanged man in his attempt to kidnap her. Brooke begins a dangerous journey in an effort to find out who is after her and how to stop them. In a world with powerful and prejudiced vampires, Brooke must tap into the side of her that she never knew existed at the risk of losing her life in order to save it.

Review: Okay, seriously, if you are a lover of paranormal YA books with a scorching romance, get this book ASAP!

Debut author Angeline Kace delivers a action-packed paranormal story with remarkable characters, an unpredictable plot, and a steamy romance that will have your heart pounding!

Brooke has had a difficult life and it's been hard for her to get close to anyone since she moves around so often. But she's finally found a best friend, Kaitlynn, and a boy she likes, Jaren. She finally feels like she has some routine to her life and her relationship with Jaren seems to be exactly what she needed.

Then they both have a close encounter with something not human and Brooke realizes she may not be completely human as well. From there she is taken on a wild journey to discover who she truly is. During this time Brooke and Jaren have their issues but it seems they are stuck together in order to stay safe. They are taken away from their homes in order to seek the protection from a group they didn't even know existed.

But in this new vampire world, we meet the wonderful, dangerous, bad boy… Mirko. Ohh, how I love him! He is Brooke's new protector and he doesn't hide the fact that he knows he's hot! Maybe it's a guilty pleasure of mine, but I adore bad boys with an attitude. But not just that.they have to have that soft side that sometimes comes to the surface. Mirko was so rough and intimidating, but around Brooke he seemed to melt. Even with his flirty words, it was easy to see how much he really cared for Brooke.

It may seem that Brooke has an easy choice (*cough* Mirko) but she loved Jaren first and it's hard to forget their times together. And this book isn't just about the total hotness that is Mirko, it had a truly fascinating plot that was full of action! Brooke was a character that you could see grow over time. She didn't back down from what needed to be done. I really enjoyed her strength and courage and seeing her shine throughout the story.

I highly recommend this book! I can't say enough good things about it and I'm already stalking Angeline to find out when book 2 will be released. When you read it, I guarantee you will fall in love. So, who will it be with… are you Team Jaren or Team Mirko?

Quotes

I just had to add some quotes from the book. I normally don't do this for reviews but these were too darn good to not mention!
Mirko's face hardened."One of these days, you're going to be over that punk and realize you've wanted me all along." (Brooke)"Well, do you have any special powers?""You mean other than looking this good? It's voodoo on the ladies". — Mirko He pulled away from me and cupped my head, stroking my outer ear lobe with his thumb."Please choose me," he pleaded. -Mirko"I'm not going to push you, but I won't back down. You wanna make out, we'll make out. If you allow me to hold you, I'm going to hold you. And don't think I'll hide my feelings for you in front of Jaren."-Mirko

Find Angeline Kace
Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Series Site

Purchase Descended by Bood
Amazon | Barnes &amp;amp; Noble | The Book Depository

As a special during the tour, the price of the Descended by Blood ebook is only $.99 through September.
Amazon Kindle | Barnes &amp; Noble Nook
Book Trailer

Again, I'd like to welcome Sharon from Sharon's Garden of Book Reviews as this week's Guest Reviewer.
*******************

Now and Then — Jacquelin Sheehan

From Amazon.com...

"Former lawyer Anna O'Shea becomes a time-traveling ex-wife when she returns from a vacation in Ireland and is enlisted to pick up her brother Patrick's son from jail in Newark after Patrick is severely injured in a car accident. Anna retrieves troublesome 16-year-old Joe and sets him up at her home, then wakes in the middle of the night to find him rummaging through her luggage. Joe's intrigued by a mysterious swath of cloth Anna picked up at a tourist trap, and when she tries to take it from him, the two are zapped back 164 years to pre–potato famine Ireland. Sheehan vividly depicts Irish-British conflicts as Anna becomes involved with an Irish smuggler's group and falls for a rebel cartographer."

With the overwhelming popularity of books with other-worldly themes, such as vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters, etc., it's not too farfetched to find a novel about a contemporary heroine getting caught up in time travel. In Jacqueline Sheehan's latest novel, "Now and Then," she hones this quirky subject to a finer edge with a brilliant tale that will captures reader's imaginations.

Anna O'Shea was at a point in her life where things had to get better, because they couldn't get much worse. A recent divorcee, Anna had just returned from a harrowing flight from Ireland when she learned her only brother had been in a horrendous accident resulting in massive head injuries, and her 16-year old nephew, Joseph, needs to be picked up from jail.

After checking on her brother and retrieving her errant nephew, Anna hopes to be able to squeeze in a few hours of sleep before hitting other family crises head on. But her plans go awry when she wakes up to find Joseph going through her suitcases. As Anna and Joseph tussle over a partially opened package, the two suddenly find themselves hurtling through time and space to wake up separated in 19th century pre-potato famine Ireland.

Anna is found injured along the coastline, and is taken in by the local blacksmith, Tom, and his wife Glennis. As she struggles to recover from her injuries and confusion, Anna is desperate to find out what happened to Joseph, who seems to have disappeared during their "journey."

Joseph ended up miles away from Anna, and was discovered by an wealthy Englishman's servant and brought to the manor house for recovery. The wily teenager leads the household into believing he is a highly educated young man, and they treat him with the highest honor and respect. Quite the change from his reality back home where he was at the bottom of the high school pecking order

As Anna and Joseph adjust and adapt to their new situations, they both soon discover new strengths and qualities about themselves that had long been buried. But as fate and circumstances work to pull the two visitors from another era together, both find that it will be hard to return to their lives in the 21st century, if they can get back at all.

Jacqueline Sheehan has taken the subject of time travel, and combining it with an indepth look at Irish/British history to deliver a novel that is thoughtful, passionate and fascinating. There is an element of romance, as Anna and Joseph both find love in the most unlikely place, but bear in mind — this is no flighty romance. "Now and Then" is an amazing work of literary fiction to be savored and enjoyed.

*******************

Thanks again to Sharon from Sharon's Garden of Book Reviews. I have never heard of this book so I am extremely glad that this is the review you decided to send in. The cover is absolutely amazing! I'll definitely have to add this to my TBR List. If you're interested in becoming a Guest Reviewer — please find out how.

Wither by Lauren DeStefano Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (March 22nd, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 356 pages Source: ARC from publisher for review Series: Chemical Gardens Trilogy, book #1 Rating: 5 of 5 stars What if you knew exactly when you would die?

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant she trusts, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limited time she has left.
Review: Wither is among other books recently that focus on a dystopian society. This one is one of my favorites! The story is about Rhine, a 16-year-old girl who gets chosen to be a bride along with 2 other teens after being kidnapped. In this society a genetic virus is killing girls when they are 20 and boys when they are 25. Due to this fact, girls are often picked at a young age to be brides and help the population; even without their consent.
Rhine has struggled to survive since her parents were killed years before. Her twin brother was her only protection and now she has been taken away to marry a man she doesn't know. Linden is not a bad guy but his father has ulterior motives for arranging these marriages. He hopes to study the dead bodies and find a cure before the virus takes his son. Rhine's sister wives Cicily, 13, and Janena, 19, have drastically different feelings about their marriage arrangement and Rhine seems to be the one in the middle. While she begins to actually care for Linden she keeps one thing in mind: escape.
The brides are able to get everything they need and they have a lavish home, but they remain locked up most of the time. Slowly Rhine is given the privilege of attending events with Linden but even the idea of being"first wife" doesn't make her stray from her goal of getting back home.
She finds an unlikely ally in Gabriel, one of the servants. Her connection with him gives her hope that maybe somehow they can both get out and survive. While a majority of the story takes place inside the home, it is far from boring! Lauren incorporates the thoughts of Rhine, her past life, and their current situation beautifully. This story is geared towards older teens because of subject matter involving sex and death scenes that are a little graphic.
Cicily, at the young age of 13, is faced with responsibility she is not prepared for. I thought her character was captured perfectly because often young teens have a picture perfect life in mind and they find out the hard way that things may not be as easy as they seem. She evolves dramatically throughout the story and it was perfectly intertwined throughout. Janena, on the other hand, is much more reserved and pensive. She seems to fully understand the world and what awaits her beyond their walls. Her connection with Rhine is a slow process but one that holds strong at the end.
Wither is a fascinating story that is very complex and full of emotion. Rhine brings power to a oppressive situation. Her refusal to back down and her love for her sister wives shines throughout the book. I was very happy with the ending and I can't wait to see where Lauren takes the next installment. I'm curious to learn more about this world she created and what she has in store for Rhine.
Cover: I have to mention the cover because it is breathtaking! The girl is stunning and the the shimmer of the pink outlines (which you can't notice online) are beautiful details! Also, the ring and bird in a cage are circled, which have significance to the story. I couldn't think of a more appropriate cover for this book!

Find Lauren DeStefano Lauren DeStefano / Twitter / Goodreads / Facebook

Pre-Order Wither Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

Check out Wither's page at Simon & Schuster for updates and excerpts.

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.

• 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.
• The form must be filled out to enter.

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"I enjoyed the audiobook and recommend it to any reader looking to return to a world of gowns, princesses, magic, and dancing" — Miss Remmers

Release Date: March 2011
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Challenges: Audiobook Challenge, DAC 2011, 100+ Reading Challenge

"Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her... beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing... it's taken away. All of it.
The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation. Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest. But there is a cost. The Keeper likes to keep things. Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late."
I haven't read a book like this in a long time — a true fairy tale-esque story. Yes I've read loads of fantasy and paranormal books, but it's been forever since I've felt complete transported back in time to a land of princesses and magic. The audiobook was extremely helpful with this particular book in regards to setting the scene and the atmosphere of the fairy tale. The narrator was superb and excellently pulled off that "In a land far away" type of voice.
As for the plot — I did have a few frustrations. There are twelve little princesses — TWELVE! I found this a bit excessive and they all kind of mushed into one princess by the middle of the book. I just don't understand why it was necessary to have TWELVE princesses. Even now, after reading the book, I only remember Azalea, Bramble, and Clover as actually having a personality. I understand that Dixon wanted to illustrate that Azalea was the "mother figure" and that she had a lot on her plate — but honestly, with twelve sisters to remember I had a lot on MY plate!
I was also bothered by the triviality of the main concern of this story — dancing. Now, I love to dance and I never sit out a dance (not even on my wedding night!) but really, if your life basically goes down the toilet and (I'll just say it because I think we can all assume it's going to happen) your mother dies I feel like you're going to be a bit more concerned about other things than dancing. I found this preoccupation with the hobby a bit repetitive and unbelievable.
Wow. That sounds really negative. I don't mean it to be because in reality I enjoyed this audiobook. It was a great listen while walking the dog and I looked forward to those walks because of it. Those two slight annoyances were just that... annoyances. They never ruined the book for me and they didn't (obviously) make me stop listening. I enjoyed Azalea's character although some of her actions may have made me doubt her intelligence (but really, what damsel in distress do you NOT doubt the intelligence?). She was likable and headstrong and she really did have her sisters' best interests at heart. I loved the two main love interests (and the surprising third) and I especially enjoyed the King.
Random point — I felt like there were three different times this book could have ended besides the actual ending. When listening to an audiobook you can't necessarily "see" the end so this was a bit confusing (when all of the tracks are downloaded so you aren't dealing with CDs) and I actually had to go into my iPod option on my phone to make sure I was on the right track.
In short, had I attempted to read this book rather than listen to it I'm not sure if I would have been able to stick to it simply because it is harder to get used to this entirely different atmosphere and scene. The narrator did a fantastic job of whisking me away to this far away land whenever I put my ear phones in. The plot, while centered around the repetitive concept of the love of dancing, did actually fit the feeling of the book and the characters, who melded into a three characters (Azalea, Bramble, Clover, little sisters), were likable and fit well into this fairy tale-esque world that Dixon has created. I enjoyed the audiobook and recommend it to any reader looking to return to a world of gowns, princesses, magic, and dancing.
-Visit Heather around the web here: Website | Goodreads
-BUY THE BOOK: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble | Nook

To the FTC, with love: Library Loan Audiobook recommended by Michelle at Hooked to Books

Thanks to all the authors who have taken time to stop by Miss Remmers' Review.

• Lizzy Armentrout — "A Vengeful Spirit"
• Preetham Grandhi — "A Circle of Souls"
• Nicole Barker — "Dancing With Ana"
• Barbara Fifield — "Lucifer Rising"
• Dawn Del Russo — "101 Glam Girl Ways to and Ultra Chic Lifestyle"
• Carla Buckley — "The Things That Keep Us Here"
• Courtney Summers — "Cracked Up To Be" and "Some Girls Are"
  

BRIDAL BONES

(a juvenile ghost story by Linda Joy Singleton )

THE SCAVENGER BRIDE

Magician's Muse by Linda Joy Singleton Publisher: Flux (October 1st, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Series: The Seer, book #6 The Final Book in Linda Joy Singleton's Popular Paranormal Series, The Seer

A whisper, too soft to swirl wispy candle smoke, carried across time, beyond life and death—and was heard."Our bargain is sealed. My secrets will be yours-when the girl dies."

In the thrilling climax to The Seer series, Sabine's psychic abilities, sleuthing skills, and courage are pushed to a dangerous edge as she deals with the mysterious disappearance of her ex-boyfriend Josh, a new threat against her boyfriend Dominic, evil magicians (both living and dead)—and a coldblooded murder.

- Thank you so much Linda for allowing me to share your short story on my blog.
To find out more about Linda Joy Singleton Linda Joy Singleton / Blog / Goodreads / Twitter

Purchase Magician's Muse Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

*Reminder: If you are interested in the COMMENT CONTEST, remember to include your email address with your comment for an extra entry! Please read full entry rules here.

Apparently a lot. As most of you know, I was married in June and as my blog's title happens to deal quite a bit with my maiden name I was posed with the question: Do I change my blog name or keep it the same?

I've taken polls, asked friends, and contemplated on this idea for over a year (pretty much since our engagement in October 2010). And I am finally prepared to deliver my conclusion. If it isn't already apparent, I will not be changing this blog title for several reasons.

First of all, I love the alliteration. Maybe it's just the English teacher in me, but "Mrs. Urbanec's Reviews" just doesn't have as catchy-a-sound to it. I considered playing around with it: Urbanec's Utopian Reviews (completely senseless) or Mrs. U's Reviews (a bit of assonance rather than alliteration). But overall, I just like the title of my blog.

Next, I've been to BEA twice and a few other conferences. Not only have I handed my business card out to several different publishers, agents, bloggers, authors, but I have about 300 business cards left! While they weren't SUPER expensive, I feel like I'm not in a position to throw them away at this time financially and order new ones.

With that, I need to consider that this blog has been around for two and a half years. While I don't have a huge outreach of readers, the ones I do have are friends and colleagues. I feel like to change my name (of the blog, obviously) could potentially hurt blog traffic — something I've struggled with from the beginning to promote. While many people have done this effectively (most recently Ash from English Major's Junkfood to English Major's Narrative) , I'm just not sure I could. I loved how Ash incorporated her old name to the new with this subtitle: "English Major Junk Food All Grown Up," because what she's going to be talking about has changed. If you're interested in some fantastically cute pictures and the reason why — it's in this post. But Ash's blog name change and my potential blog name change (say that six times fast) are different and I'm not sure I could come up with as brilliant of connection between the two as Ash has.

There's another obvious reason: I have this really cool stamp that I stamp all my books with. It has my blog title and url. I don't want to RE-stamp all my books (talk about a hot mess) much less order a new stamp.

And finally, I kind of like having this blog a little bit separate from my students/school. Obviously I'm not going to rant about my students or job (as I love them both), but I do like the little bit of anonymity that comes a long with using my maiden name. Have I shared this blog with students? A few. Do I have anything to hide? Absolutely not! But when I created this blog in the beginning, (before teaching, the politics of teaching, and before discovering this amazing blogging community) it was meant to be a place to have students review their own reads. But now, (you can call me selfish) I kind of like my own place on the web. I like the freedom to post my own thoughts without trying to suede students to just pick a book up. I like the freedom to "geek out" or talk about personal events in my life (weight loss, weddings) — rather than feeling censored.

Will I continue to blog with students? Probably, it's something I would like to foster in my classroom, but until I get my feet more off the ground in this new school I think I'll wait. Will I share my books and thoughts with students? Everyday! Because of my profession, I am lucky that I am able to talk books on a daily basis and this is one area that blogging has helped me tremendously! Even if I haven't read a book, I'm able to give thoughts and recommendations based on YOUR reviews! My book group (now called Word Shakers) will still be meeting to read, write, and talk books. But for now, I just want Miss Remmers' Review to be just that — my reviews, my thoughts, and my life. While there are a lot of "my's" in there, I don't think I'm being selfish. And even if I am, oh well... it's my blog.:)

So for anyone who has skipped my rant and arrived at the bottom: I'm not going anywhere. Miss Remmers' Review is here to stay!

This woman <---- is outstanding… but also cruel.; ) She caused me to have a huge reading slump because nothing I've read since reading her books Beyond and Two Suns have compared. *sigh*.

If you are looking for a book totally different, you have to check out this series. I read them in just a few days and now I can't wait till book 3 comes out!

Maureen was kind enough to stop by and tell us a little about the series and you can read an excerpt from Beyond.

1. BEYOND shows readers such a complex"world". How did you first get inspired to write this story?

When I was a little girl I watched all the 'space' shows, and I had a crush on every hero. I dreamed that one of them would come take me from my back yard, away on a wild adventure in space, and that we would fall madly in love. When this never actually occurred and I learned that I was stuck on Earth for the rest of my life, the 'dream' started to turn into a story.

2. What's the hardest part of working on a book where different planets have various elements (like time changes, atmospheres, creatures)?
Your imagination is your greatest asset or your greatest foe. The concept of"time" was tricky. I was more than willing to do the actual research and fly into space to see exactly how long five years would take, but NASA shut their space program down and Richard Branson said his Virgin Galactic plane was sold out for two years. So, I was left with my imagination.: ) One of my favorite creatures is the Sumpum. It has big squashy paws that sound like wet sponges slapping against a car when it walks. It was hard not to laugh at myself as I was writing this book. I'd say,"Come on, Maureen, seriously?" But it was so much fun.

3. For those who haven't read the book yet, can you share some characteristics about Aimee and Zak?

Aimee played the clarinet in marching band. She liked photography, vanilla-scented candles, and she had a copy of Engineering for Dummies on her desk. Maybe on Earth--in high school--those characteristics might have labeled her as a geek, or a loner. But when she is accidentally taken from this planet on board a spaceship that is bound for faraway galaxies, she is starting with a clean slate. No one knows her. Heck, vanilla-scented candles and engineering students might be considered awesome in a foreign world. Not that Aimee really cares what they think. In this new world, there is so much for her to learn, and that is what truly motivates her… a thirst for knowledge.

Zak, (sigh). Zak is a loner for a completely different reason. He is aboard the guardian ship, Horus, but he is not one of them. He was also picked up from another planet. He is a warrior, possessing amazing piloting skills in his craft, the terra angel. Combine his hero and orphan status and you get a man that people feel awkward to approach. Yes, they idolize him, but in doing so, they never actually get to know him.

Oh, and he's hot too.: )

4. This book isn't just about Aimee and Zak. There are so many outstanding characters. I know it's hard to pick, but who do you really love writing about the most?

Without a doubt, it would have to be JOH. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't wish he actually existed, because I sure could use him around the house. JOH is brilliant, and yet remarkably like an eager puppy. He sees life from a very literal perspective. For example, when Aimee says,"JOH, thank God I found you." He responds,"I know of 9022 gods. Which one should I thank?"

5. Can you share a teaser with us?

This is a scene where Aimee has stowed away on Zak's ship…

"Gayat!" Aimee didn't know what the word was, but it had to be one doozy of a curse from Zak’s native tongue.
"Who is back there?" The English translation kicked in.
She hesitated and then cleared her throat."It's Aimee."
There was another muttered curse, followed by a smack against one of the boards. The craft jumped under each of Zak's jerky motions. Aimee knew he was mad, but she refused to cower. She just wanted to go home.
A deeply drawn breath sounded and then he managed a composed voice."What are you doing on my ship?"
Yeah, he was not happy. The notion nearly made her smile.
"I didn't intend to stay on it," she defended."But I climbed in, and then the hatch closed, and then next thing I knew you were on board, and before I even had a chance to say, Zak, I'm here, whooosh, we were off into the cosmos. And then I thought—I thought that maybe I could convince you to fly this thing to Earth."
A heavy silence loomed from the front seat.
Aimee opened her mouth to add more, but snapped it shut when she heard him say,"Stop."
"Stop what?"
"Stop talking."
She opened her mouth again, but snapped it shut as Zak swiped his hand on the side panel and she tumbled onto her side.
"Dammit, you could give me some warning before you do that," she admonished.
"If you were an approved passenger you would be secured in place, and I would not have to give you any warning."
She hated it when people were right.
"I have to concentrate," Zak continued."We're in the approach to Bordran and it is a tricky one. In this atmosphere, I'm unable to rely on the TA's automatic landing references. I have to do this manually—and I need quiet."
Aimee held her tongue… for a second."Am I going to go flying through the windshield when you land this thing?"
"Possibly," he grated.
She thought she detected a grin in his response. It aggravated her because it was at her expense. She climbed up onto her knees and spread her hands out, laying her palms flat on each side of the craft for leverage. No longer concerned about being detected, she could now inch her chin up and look out the panoramic window. She gasped, startled to find that the green planet which had appeared so minuscule on the Horus, now dominated the right side of the craft and seemed only miles away.
"It looks peaceful enough." Oh my God, she was about to land on a foreign planet!
"What you are seeing is a thick cloud of gas. The planet is far beneath that ring, and the voyage through that vapor is not an easy one. So yes, you could quite possibly end up going through the windshield. Fortunately, the windshield is made of a composite strong enough to withstand tremendous air pressure, as well significant fluctuations in temperature." He hesitated while maneuvering the craft, and then added,"And catapulting young women."
"Is there anything I can do?" she cried, oblivious to his sarcasm.
"In front of you there should be a symbol that looks like a—"
"A circle with a line through it?"
"Yes. That one. Run your finger along the line, and back up a bit."
"Run my finger along the line and then back up?" she asked."Or back up and reach forward and run my finger along the line?"
The sigh was unmistakable from the front seat.
"Either. If something hits you, then move."

Beyond by Maureen A. Miller Published: October 2012 Paperback: 302 pages Series: Beyond series, #1 Summary:
It is the day after Aimee Patterson’s high school graduation. College beckons, as does her dream of becoming an engineer. On an early evening walk, her cocker spaniel charges into the woods on the other side of the pond. Aimee trails after him, and in the stillness of that forest the unthinkable happens. She becomes paralyzed and watches in horror as her hands vanish before her eyes.

Waking to the sound of voices, Aimee realizes that she has been kidnapped. Little does she know how far away from home she is, though. In an attempt to flee her captors, she launches from their confines only to freeze at the view outside the window. The sky is black and filled with stars, and in the distance is a familiar blue globe. The planet Earth.

A group of humans forced to flee their planet after an epidemic destroyed their civilization now travel the galaxies in search of an antidote. Retrieving samples of plant life from every solar system, on this occasion Aimee was accidentally seized instead.

Aimee must learn to avoid the advances of an awkward young scientist who seems intent on dissecting her, as her own fascination turns to the exotic young warrior, Zak. Having fallen in love with Zak, she is now torn with the decision to return to Earth or live beyond the stars.

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When I think of Adriana Trigiani, author of "Brava, Valentine" and "Very Valentine, " I think of hearts. So when I saw these shoes being advertised for our Heart-Themed Prom, I couldn't help but connect the two.

These shoes look painfully uncomfortable and I would never be caught in them. These are definitely more my style:

Yes, I am a "flat" type of person. I'm short but I like to be comfortable. If shoes aren't comfortable I give them away or return them. I currently own six pairs of shoes and two of them are boots (rain galoshes and snow boots). No, my boots aren't fancy or patterned. They are practical and comfortable and they keep my feet dry. True story: I have a FEAR of wet feet; it's completely legitimate. Don't believe me? I'm basically known for this fear and am not shy or embarrassed. If it is snowing, raining, or there is any kind of moisture on the ground — I'm in boots.

I also own a pair of flip flops and dancing shoes (that I changed into right after those pictures were taken). I currently also have two pairs of "teacher shoes." That's just me, I like to be comfortable (with dry feet). I don't spend a lot of money on shoes and generally don't purchase shoes outside of a Payless, Walmart, or Target. Shoes just aren't something that I like to shop for or spend money on. I know, it's complete blasphemy.

But I do think that the heart heels go perfect with Adriana Trigiani's "theme" and if she can wear them — YOU GO GIRL!! What about you? Do you forgo comfort for style?

"
I was completely brought into this novel by the suspenseful writing, 'life-like' characters, and the riveting plot." — Miss Remmers

Release Date: April 5th, 2011
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Challenges: 2011 eBook Challenge and 100+ Reading Challenge

"Clara’s relationship with Christian is intense from the start, and like nothing she’s ever experienced before. But what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession, and it’s almost too late before Clara realizes how far gone Christian is—and what he’s willing to do to make her stay.

Now Clara has left the city—and Christian—behind. No one back home has any idea where she is, but she still struggles to shake off her fear. She knows Christian won’t let her go that easily, and that no matter how far she runs, it may not be far enough... "

Okay, this "Stay" is another victim of me not reading the synopsis before reading the book. I began this book with no prior knowledge of it's plot and as a result was extremely surprised and enthralled. Immediately just by the tone of the book I knew something was amiss and I had to find out exactly what happened. I started picking up on the subtle clues and began to dissect and over-analyze every line.

The pacing of this novel was perfect; I wanted to know what had happened but I never felt like there was a dull moment. I waited for the "ah-ha" moment but my need to understand it was satiated a bit more with each chapter until the "big reveal." Part of this was due to the Deb Caletti's flawlessly elegant and thought-provoking language. I mean, really, on page 10 I was already thinking: "Man, I wish I had a hard copy to put sticky notes and even (God forbid) highlight in!"

I was completely brought into this novel by the suspenseful writing, "life-like" characters, and the riveting plot. It may be due to the fact that I am currently teaching Romeo and Juliet and have to teach each scene five times (five periods of English 9) and that my mind is just enveloped by R&J, but a lot of the bookmarks I made were because I wanted to share them with my students. They are currently struggling with how quickly Romeo and Juliet fell in love and I think that "Stay" describes that kind of "love" so perfectly.

It was also a bit sobering as before I met my Prince Charming I dated a few duds (emphasis on few). While reading "Stay" I remembered my first boyfriend at the age of 16 and saw some definite similarities to that relationship and Clara and Christian's. The jealousy, the rage, the anger, but most importantly the fear of being left and the addiction and obsession that came with my first "love." I remember editing myself, like Clara, in front of this boyfriend out of fear of his reaction. Like Clara, I have been addicted to love and lost myself in that obsession.

I think that "Stay" is the perfect read for any high school student and, after my book talk yesterday in class, I hope that many of my students go and pick up this book after it's release next week. When reading Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet they roll their eyes and say "that never happens in real life." While I pray that they are never in a situation like Clara or even a relationship similar to the one I had, I think it's important that they realize that this does happen but it doesn't always have to have a tragic ending.

Quick note: I think I would have really enjoyed the annotations (as that's how I tend to write, think, and talk) but on an eReader it was hard to follow.

Final Quick Note: When I was looking at Deb's website I realized that the characters are linked! I think that is SO cool — Nine Miles Falls!!! It reminds me of the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.

Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Characters: 9/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 7/10
Overall: 55/60 A

Because the language of this novel was caught my attention first and left me analyzing Shakespeare and my life, I'd like to share a few of my favorite quotes found in the ARC Galley. Please remember that any of these quotes are subject to change in the actual published novel.

"But something had already been set in motion, and I wonder and wonder how things would have been if I'd have just let that moment pass, the one where our eyes met. If I had just taken Shakti's arm and moved off, letting the electrical jolt that passed between us fade off, letting the girl return to his side, letting fate head off in another direction entirely... " (10-11).

"I had already made him into someone he would never be, and I didn't know it then, but he was already doing the same with me" (12).

"Dad was a priss about jaywalking... Or maybe he just liked to stare down what he'd testily call the "grammatical error sanctioned by the state." There is, of course, no apostrophe in the DONT WALK sign" (43).

"I tended to give a book chance and another chance and another, sometimes seeing it al the way to the end, still hoping for it to turn out different. Maybe I was confused about what you owed a book. What you owed people, for that matter, real or fictional" (49). Talk about a blogging reference!!

"I tried to read that book again before I went to sleep. I didn't like that book, but I kept going for all the reasons a person hangs in with something that isn't good — you feel bad about not giving it a chance, you've already come too far to give up now, you believe it's going to get better" (77).

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To the FTC, with love: Galley for Review

1. How do you know when someone is a zombie?

Well now hold up! If we’re talking about THE UNDERTAKERS, then don’t call ‘em zombies! Zombies are slow and stupid, while Corpses – the villainous invaders who animate the dead and wear them like suits of clothing – are fast, smart and well organized. They project an illusion of normalcy around themselves, so that 99.999% of the world see ordinary men and women. Only kids, and only a few kids, are “lucky” enough to be able to penetrate these masks, and spot the rotting cadavers underneath.

So, to answer the question: you don’t.

Not unless you’re an Undertaker.

2. Can you give us a teaser from Queen of the Dead?

Thirteen-year-old Will Ritter and the rest of the Undertakers have won their first victory, but the celebration is cut short when a new threat emerges through the Void between worlds. Lilith Cavanugh, the Queen of the Dead, is even more ruthless and dangerous than her predecessor, and her ambitions are even more sinister.

To defeat her, the Undertakers will need to prevent an assassination, rescue Will’s family, and somehow convince a skeptical F.B.I. agent that their cause is just. But how to you convince a grown-up that monsters are real?

3. Are you addicted to any TV shows? What do you watch in your spare time?

I am a crazed Doctor Who fan and have been since I was a teenager. When it’s on, it’s my favorite show. When it’s not, I mourn it and wait for my other favorite shows: Fringe, The Walking Dead, How I Met Your Mother and NCIS!

4. What are some of your favorite Young Adult novels?

I enjoyed the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson series. I loved Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games Trilogy. But my favorites in YA have to Jackie Kessler, A. S. King and Heather Brewer! YA has come a long way since I was a kid, when Nancy Drew the Hardy Boys were about the only games in town. It’s edgier now, more challenging, and I think that’s being reflected in the number of young readers we’re picking up out there.

The Undertakers: Queen of the Dead by Ty Drago
Publisher: Sourcebooks (October 1st, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult/Middle Grade
Paperback: 432 pages
Series: The Undertakers, #2
Twelve -year old Will Ritter and his rag-tag army of teenage resistance fighters may have triumphed over the Zombies last time, but that's the thing about the dead: they keep coming back.

A new Corpse leader has crossed the rift and taken command of the invasion: The Queen of the Dead is even more brilliant and ruthless than her predecessor, and her ambitions are even deadlier. Will and the crew must somehow rescue his mother, prevent an assassination, and show FBI Agent Ramirez the truth about the Corpses-and the danger the world faces.

But how do a bunch of kids prove to a grown-up that monsters are real?

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HOW THE TOUR WORKS Each day of The Crossroads Blog Tour, a new research question will be revealed on The Crossroad Blog Tour main page: http://judithgraves.com/events/the-crossroads-tour/crossroads-2012/ and each day the answer to that question will be found within one of the different blog posts by Crossroads Tour authors. Your job is to get the question, read the blog posts, and collect all answers by the end of the tour.
Answers are to be emailed to judithgraves @ ymail dot com by October 28th at MIDNIGHT. Winner of the grand prize will be announced on OCTOBER 31st – HALLOWEEN.
The GRAND PRIZE you’re vying for? A brand new KINDLE, preloaded with a title from each of the participating Crossroads Blog Tour Authors. That’s right folks, a free KINDLE and 13 free EBOOKS!

Loving Emily by Anne Pfeffer
Published: October 2011
Paperback: 278 pages
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Purchased
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Ryan Mills is torn with guilt over the death of his best friend, and it's all because of Emily Wintraub. If Ryan hadn't seen those incredible gray-blue eyes, hadn't pegged her as a Potentially Amazing Woman, he would never have gone looking for her at the party that night. He would never have left his wasted friend Michael alone, when Michael needed him and asked him to stay. And if Ryan hadn't left, Michael would never have driven off, totaled his car, and taken the cosmic rocket ride into death.

As far as Ryan's concerned, when you’ve done something terrible, you don’t deserve to be happy. He tries not to fall for Emily, but he can't help it. Before long, he is"completely, gonzo, out-of-control in love."

Ryan then learns that Michael died with a secret. Still grieving, he feels compelled to take on his friend's unfinished business. When Emily begins to question where his commitments really lie—with her or with Michael’s memory—Ryan is forced to examine his choices. What does he owe to Michael, to Emily, and to himself?

Review:

Michael's death hits Ryan hard, obviously. He can't shake the feeling that he shouldn't have walked away. It doesn't help that Michael seemed to have something he wanted to share with Ryan. For a while Ryan seems to just float from day to day. He spends time with Emily but holds back from really telling her how he feels. Ryan's relationship with Emily was sweet and romantic. It wasn't all"hot and heavy" from the beginning like some stories. They really seemed to slowly build upon their connection with each other.

Loving Emily doesn't just give us a sweet romance between 2 characters, we really get a good idea of Ryan's life. He has a life that may seem perfect from the outside but he doesn't have the best relationship with his parents, especially his mother. Even though Michael dies early in the story, Ryan shows us how their friendship developed and it was easy to see why Ryan thought so highly of his friend. This was what really seemed cute to me. His accounts of the childhood events he shared with Michael really helped me see how they were just two little boys trying to figure out life.

I won't give away what the secret is but it really puts a whole new spin on this story. At the same time, it made me dislike Emily in a lot of ways. She didn't seem to really grasp what Ryan was going through or why he was so focused on his"task". I thought her actions, while mostly realistic for a teenage girl, made her just seem selfish and uncaring. I'm a hopeless romantic but there were times where I thought that maybe she wasn't even needed in order to have a super strong story. Maybe it should have just been Ryan's journey to make peace with himself.

On the plus side, I adored Ryan's point-of-view and I honestly didn't want to put the book down. I felt very invested in the story and finding out what Ryan would do in his situation. It was gripping, heartbreaking, and realistic.

Loving Emily is honestly a beautiful story. It's so much more than a romance and, even though it deals with a serious topic, it wasn't dark and depressing. A very enjoyable read.

Recommended: People wanting a realistic teen read dealing with death.

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