Love Story by Janenifer Echols Publisher: Pocket (July 19th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 256 pages Source: Author (Thank You!) Rating: 4 of 5 stars Erin Blackwell is headed to college in New York City to study creative writing and earn a living as a romance novelist. Her grandmother has other plans: she approves of the college, but she wants Erin to major in business and then come back home to Kentucky to run the family’s famous racehorse farm. There is no way Erin will agree. Studying in New York and writing her way into a career is her escape from the farm and the family tragedy that happened there. So Erin’s grandmother decides Erin really will live life as a starving artist. She takes Erin’s future job running the farm, her inheritance, even her college tuition, and gives them all to Hunter Allen.
Hunter has lived on the farm for years. He’s Erin’s age, he’s the stable boy, and he’s the romantic dream of every girl in her high school. But he was involved in the family tragedy. Erin has always given him a wide berth. And he’s a slick opportunist. She’s furious that he fooled her grandmother into giving him Erin’s birthright and sending him to Erin’s college.
At least she’s free of him in her creative writing class. So she pens a story that has haunted her lately, in which the horse farm heiress at the very first Kentucky Derby starts a forbidden affair with the lowly stable boy. Unfortunately for her, the day she’s sharing this story with her New York classmates, Hunter walks in. He’s switching to her class. And after reading about himself in Erin’s story, he writes his own sexy assignments that lure Erin into dangerous fantasies about what could have been between them, and what might be. Review: If there is anything I've learned about Janenifer Echols, it's that she has some of the most unique book ideas ever! Janenifer also knows how to tap into the minds of teenagers. Love Story involves Erin and Hunter. Erin is a a farm girl from Kentucky and Hunter was her stable boy. Against her grandmothers wishes, she is going to New York to study English and writing instead of business so she could take over the farm. Erin's grandmother then decides to show her the difficulty of living without the money from the farm so she takes it all away. Erin is then left on her own to make money and somehow do well in college.
To make things worse for Erin, her grandmother sends Hunter to the same college to study in business and get prepped to take over the farm in Erin's place. While in her creative writing class, Erin writes a story that involves a young girl and her stable boy. The story seems to have some strong similarities to real life for her and Hunter. But Erin knows that no one in the class knows about her true-life. Then Hunter surprises her by joining the class and there is no way to stop him from reading Erin's historical romance.
Love Story jumps from current time into the stories Erin and Hunter create while in class. We have a chance to read their writings and see what underlying feelings may be there between the characters. It was a great way to explore their relationship. The downside was that the jumping back and forth created some confusion for me. Sometimes I wanted more time with the characters and not so much of their writings.
No matter how much Erin fought her feelings for Hunter, or how much she tried to avoid him, he was always right there. Erin was so determined to succeed and follow her dreams. It was refreshing to see that in a YA character. And, of course, Janenifer Echols is a pro at creating swoon-worthy male characters so Hunter was nothing short of amazing!
Although I have enjoyed Janenifer's other books a little more than this one, Love Story is so unique and captivating that you can't put it down! My fan-girlness for her continues and always will!
"This is the perfect novel for a reader who is looking for a vampire story with depth, with no right or wrong answer, and with something a little more mature than the popular Meyer-esque characters and plot." — Miss Remmers
From Barnes and Noble:
"From the shadowy banks of the river Thames to the wild and windswept Yorkshire coast, Dracula’s eternal muse, Mina Murray, vividly recounts the intimate details of what really transpired between her and the Count—the joys and terrors of a passionate affair that has linked them through the centuries, and her rebellion against her own frightening preternatural powers.
Mina’s version of this gothic vampire tale is a visceral journey into Victorian England’s dimly lit bedrooms, mist-filled cemeteries, and asylum chambers, revealing the dark secrets and mysteries locked within. Time falls away as she is swept into a mythical journey far beyond mortal comprehension, where she must finally make the decision she has been avoiding for almost a millennium.
Bram Stoker’s classic novel offered one side of the story, in which Mina had no past and bore no responsibility for the unfolding events. Now, for the first time, the truth of Mina’s personal voyage, and of vampirism itself, is revealed. What this flesh and blood woman has to say is more sensual, more devious, and more enthralling than the Victorians could have expressed or perhaps even have imagined."
Why I read this: After seeing a review of this book on a blog (which of course I can't remember), I commented that the book looked fantastic but after going to my local Barnes and Noble and seeing the $25 price tag, I would have to wait for the paperback edition. Hours later the author, Karen Essex, emailed me and offered to send me a copy. I happily (and thankfully) accepted.
Plot: "Dracula in Love" is the story of "Dracula" from Mina's perspective. I really appreciated the way the plot was laid out. Firstly, the narration is absolutely fantastic; Mina brings you in before the first chapter in a prologue. Various references to the man who originally told the story (Brom Stoker) intrigued my interests and added further depth to the story. I haven't read "Dracula" (yet), but I was still able to make connections with the infamous plot line of the original story and follow along. The plot had a very significant supernatural tone to it, which I think fits the time period well. The very small subplot in regards to women's rights and the unsureness of the supernatural helped me to get a feel for the time period. The added supernatural and "eternal" elements to the story really kept my interest, but there did come a point at the end of the novel where I became overwhelmed with all of the supernatural elements.
Characters: While there were a few characters that I had a hard time visualizing, for the most part these characters became very real to me. The characters are written so well that I didn't see the several character "surprises" that Essex had in store. I was genuinely surprised in regards to how certain characters turned out again and again. The Count's love for Mina was so well written and described, you couldn't help pity him. In the beginning Mina was such a likable character who was easy to relate to; in the end, however, she was barely recognizable at the end. While I understand why this is important to the plot, I would have preferred a more reasonable and realistic change to her character.
Cover: This cover is gorgeous! Definitely "grab" worthy.
Random Thoughts: I should mention that this is not like other contemporary vampiric novels; Essex never really says that Dracula is a vampire, it's only subtly implied. This is the primary reason I can't really see any of my freshman picking up this book solely based on the "vampire story." This fact, however, did not bother me. I think adult readers will prefer that there is some sort of thought required in regards to Dracula's existence, rather than being told "Dracula is a vampire, an immortal, who sucks blood from the neck of his victims." Essex's Dracula is full of much more depth than that.
Final Thoughts: "Dracula in Love" is a fantastic love story for anyone who is love with the idea of vampires; having read "Dracula" isn't a requirement to fall in love with the characters Dracula and Mina. Actually, since having finished "Dracula in Love" on Saturday, I am now listening to Stoker's "Dracula." "Dracula in Love" is the perfect novel for a reader who is looking for a vampire story with depth, with no right or wrong answer, and with something a little more mature than the popular Meyer-esque characters and plot.
In the past year or so I've read many, many… many Indie books. Mostly these have been New Adult titles. I might have an addiction: ) I'm very much behind on these reviews but I still wanted to mention them in a special feature. For the next week, I'm going to post mini-reviews for these titles. I plan to have about 5-8 books per post. Today I wanted to talk about the ones that have received 5 stars from me. I noticed, while going through my Indie reads, that most of my favorite books are not ones talked about the most. I hope that by featuring them here, they are able to get noticed more often.
Dante's Girl by Courtney Cole Add to Goodreads
This was such a cute story! The characters are wonderful and there's no doubt Dante is swoon-worthy. We get to explore another country and follow the main character as she tries to navigate in an environment she is very unfamiliar with. Dante's world is so different from her own but their connection and romance is adorable.
Highly recommended if you want something cute, funny, and perfect for summer.
Unlikely Allies by Tiffany King Add it to Goodreads This book was nothing like I expected. Kimberly finds out that her father is alive and she spends the summer with him and some kids at a summer camp for foster kids. I assumed this book was about her just falling for a guy but it was so much more than that. There is a whole, big, huge catastrophe in there that they are faced with. Kim and Mason don't start out on good terms but by the end, they are forced to get along for survival. This book is much more intense than it may seem. It was the first story I read from Tiffany and it is still my favorite of hers.
Crush by Lacey Weatherford Add to Goodreads I can't help it, I'm a sucker for bad boys and good girls. And Hunter Wilder? Oh yeah, totally loved him! There is a big, huge mystery in this book and Hunter is at the center of it. We get both POVs in this story and I can't tell you how happy I was to find out there would be a second book! I believe Smitten, book 2, is coming out very soon and I will be buying it asap. If you love a good romance with a bad boy, grab up this one. You won't be disappointed in the plot twist!
With the Band by Jean Haus Add to Goodreads I purchased this one randomly because I was in the mood for more band boy books. I honestly never expected to love it as much as I did. Riley is the main character and she loves music. She decides to join a band but one of the band members does not like this idea. Romeo is a jerk to Riley at first but she honestly can't figure out why. Eventually their sparks turn more passionate. I adored this entire book and especially the other side characters. They all had a little dysfunctional family but I felt the story was told in a way that was very realistic for college life. I have this one on my"re-read" list! If you love stories with hot musical males, get this! I know the cover may be a bit lacking but it really packs a punch.
The Truths About Dating and Mating by Jaycee Delorenzo Add to Goodreads Don't you love discovering a book randomly and finding out it rocks? This was another of those cases for me. I hadn't heard anything about this story but the blurb really grabbed me. Often, we read books where main characters have just met. But in this case, the characters had a long-standing friendship. Ivy and Ian are the perfect match. Ian is a bit of a bad boy (yes, like I said, I love them!), but he has a soft spot for Ivy. They even do a love radio show together which is hilarious! Their friendship soon turns into more and neither of them know how to handle it.
If you enjoy friends-to-lovers type of books, this one is for you. Plus, it's freakin' hilarious!
Falling for the Ghost of You by Nicole Christie Add to Goodreads This is one of those cases where you can't judge a book by its cover. This story starts with a bang and doesn't let up. I know we've heard this type of story a lot; girl meets stepbrother, he's hot, blah blah. But this one was actually so well-written and developed. Violet was funny, smart, and quirky. I enjoyed getting to know her. Zane is a bit older and so darn lovable!! Seriously, I want one of him, stat! When they end up living together, wowzers! Actually, reading the summary again just makes me want to re-read this asap. Funny, well-developed, and sizzling, this is perfect if you want a great love story with a twist.
Tear by Rachel Van Dyken Add to Goodreads
Another little-known fact — I love love triangles. But, only if they are good ones where I really feel the girl could be torn between the two guys. This one is exactly that! Two, famous, hot guys start going to Natalee's school so what girl can resist that? Alec and Demetri are both wonderful in their own ways. Demetri is much more open and flirty. Alec is quieter and more laid back. But the brothers share a secret and they are afraid for Natalee to find out. I really enjoyed this story and couldn't stop reading. It was really enjoyable and there is a second book so I'm excited to see what happens next.
Great for fans of love triangles and rocker guys.
Up in Flames by Nicole Williams Add to Goodreads Who doesn't love firefighters? This book opened up an entire new world to me. I had never heard of smokejumpers before this book. Now, I love them! Elle is from a very small town and this book carries out that vibe very well. Cole, and the other smokejumpers, come around to help with wildfires and the girls flock. While Elle is used to being settled down, Cole dreams of traveling and having fun. I really loved these characters and we are able to learn a lot about each one. The plot was a bit predictable but I really focused on the connection between the characters. The town reminded me of where I grew up and the book was well-written and paced. Very enjoyable!
If you want guys in uniform (YEAH!) and a sweet romance with some hot action, this is for you.
The Voice by Janenifer Anne Davis Add to Goodreads
The author contacted me for this one and although I wasn't crazy about the cover at first, the summary sparked my interests. Audrey is abducted and held captive in the woods. While there, she begins to hear voices. Once she gets home she ends up moving away with an aunt in order to get away from the stress from her family and friends watching over her. That's where she meets the twins Caleb and Justin. Caleb is super friendly and caring. He wants to be friends with Audrey immediately. Justin, on the other hand, is very closed-off and seems to want nothing to do with Audrey. But they are all more connected than it seems. This book has a huge twist and I am really keeping my fingers crossed that this will end up being a series. I need more of these characters!
If you want something pretty intense, with some nice twists in the plot, get this book. It's truly amazing! Was really shocked at how well this was written and developed, and by how much it intrigued me from the start.
Jennifer Echols is here today to talk about her brand new book Love Story.
If you haven't read it, or any other of Janenifer's books yet, do it! They are wonderful!
Can you tell us 10 of your guilty pleasures? Oreos Fritos American Idol Cake icing Stupid, funny movies (Hot Tub Time Machine) Phineas and Ferb Krispy Kreme doughnuts Cadbury Creme eggs COPSReno 911! Name 10 places you'd love to visit. New York Las Vegas Key West Hawaii La Jolla, California Destin, Florida Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Miami Lake Martin, Alabama (where I grew up--swimming in the lake would be nice today!) Thailand (where my husband was born)
Love Story by Janenifer Echols Publisher: MTV Books (July 19th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 256 pages She's writing about him. he's writing about her. And everybody is reading between the lines.
For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions--it's her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family's racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin's college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter.. so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?
Then, on the day she's sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He's joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin's heart with longing. Now she's not just imagining what might have been. She's writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter.. except this story could come true.
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater Publisher: Scholastic Press (July 13th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 360 pages Source: Publisher Series: The Wolves of Mercy Falls #2 Rating: 4 of 5 stars
In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past.. and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves.. and is nonetheless drawn to Cole. At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love — the light and the dark, the warm and the cold — in a way you will never forget.
Review: I was such a huge fan of Shiver. I was amazed by each detail Maggie placed inside the story. It was beautiful! Much of that continued with Linger, but I will say that I didn't love it as much. Sam and Grace go through a lot in Linger. Grace fights against her parents in order to stay with Sam. It seemed to be typical teenage drama but much more goes along with their love story. Something is happening with Grace and they don't know how to deal with it.
I'm not a big fan of multiple points-of-view and this book seemed to have too many. It often switched from Sam to Grace, to Isabelle and then Cole. I felt that even a majority of the book was focused on Isabelle and Cole.but honestly, that was fine with me because I preferred their story this time around. Sam and Grace were sooo depressed. I understood why but it just made the book harder to read. I felt myself dreading Sam and Grace's POV, and wanting to read more about Cole and Isabelle.
Isabelle is a great character. She is tough, stubborn, and sarcastic. That made the perfect match for Cole. He played the role of the tough guy but there ended up being so much more to him than first expected. Cole has a lot of demons from his past and he soon discovers that no matter what, he can't run from his past life. Isabelle is still going through pain of her own and together they seemed to bring some hope to each other's lives.
Sam and Grace are still strong characters and their level of love for each other cannot be denied. It goes beyond puppy love and each character goes through a lot to be together. They had several scenes that were completely adorable and I do really want to see what happens with them next.
Even though Linger didn't grab me as much as Shiver did, it still built upon a fascinating story. It has many dramatic moments, twists, and surprises. I'm looking forward to reading Forever and seeing what's in store for these characters!
1. What are the biggest differences now that you are promoting the second book, Purpose, from when you were promoting Promise? Releasing Promise was one of the most exciting times of my life because it was my debut. My first in everything. That also made it a lot more stressful, because I was scared to death people would hate it. Fortunately, they didn’t. J And now they’re looking forward to Purpose. Combine that with my own feeling that Purpose is a better story and I’m not quite as worried about that part of the equation. Of course, I’m still anxious – maybe it’s not what readers are expecting, maybe the change in Alexis turns them off, maybe it takes a direction fans don’t like, etc. – but this is the book I started out writing, the one that grabbed my heart and soul. So whether people like it or not, I personally feel a lot better about it than I did Promise.
2. I do know that you have had a few major events and awards since you were last on here, would you like to share some of those? Hehe Yes, Promise has exceeded my expectations in the big world. It won the 1st Place Fantasy (Published) Royal Palm Literary Award for the Florida Writers Association. That is a huge honor that I don’t take lightly. It’s also received some great reviews, including a “highly recommended” by the prestigious Midwest Book Review. MBR may not mean a lot to the average reader, but it has a strong influence on booksellers and librarians. It’s a feather in the industry cap. Promise is also (finally!) available at all major and indie retailers (though you may have to request it), including for international delivery through The Book Depository. I’ve also done some appearances, like at the Miami Book Fair International, and have some signings and presentations coming up in January.
3. Can you share with us some of what we can expect for the continuation of this story? In Promise, Alexis starts out as a young woman just barely getting started in this world she had no idea existed. Purpose really initiates her into the world, giving her (and the reader) a taste of what’s to come. She has many challenges ahead of her as she fulfills her destiny of being the fierce protector of human souls and, eventually, taking her leadership role of the Angels’ army on earth. She transforms from vulnerable, pretty naïve and nearly human in the first book to kickass warrior in the books to come. The love story of Promise evolves into stories about the various forms of love we all experience, from love of our soul-mates to our children to complete strangers and people we never thought we could love.
4. Will any other books be featuring these characters? The rest of this part of the series – 5 or 6 books – is Alexis’s story, so, yeah, there’s a lot more coming. Some of the major-minor characters have been sharing more of their stories with me, too. I don’t know if they’ll be full series or even books, but at least some short stories or novellas.
5. Do you have any other books in the works? We NEED more from you!: ) I’ve started book three, but it’s been back-burnered for quite a while, so I don’t know where I’m really at with it. I’m really looking forward to getting back to it, however, I’m also excited to work on some of these other stories. So many ideas, so little time…
6. What is the main thing you have learned from the entire process of getting a book out to the public? Patience. That goes for any writer, regardless of where you are in the process. You need patience to produce the best story possible; patience in seeking publication; patience with the publishing process; and patience on the other side, as well. The word has been spreading, but it takes time to build buzz and momentum. Just because someone wants to read a book doesn’t mean they go out and buy it right away. Or even if they do, they don’t necessarily read it right away. I’m the same way. My TBR pile is a mile high. And I know most readers are that way. So we just have to have patience while the snowball grows.
7. Did you have to take out any scenes that you wish you could have kept in the story? What were the biggest changes in the story from the time you first wrote it, to the finished version? Promise and Purpose started out as one story. Now, ending up as two books, they are, in some ways, quite a bit different than when I wrote that first draft. There are many scenes that didn’t make it and many new ones that have been added. I’m happy with the final results, but there were some sweet scenes originally in Promise with Alexis and her mother Sophia and others with Alexis and Tristan that just didn’t do enough to move the story along so they had to be cut. Probably the biggest change from that very first draft, however… something I didn’t see at first while focused on just this one book… something that has added a whole new twist to the entire series… originally, Dorian wasn’t born alone.
8. You've had quite a roll in the promoting of Promise and Purpose and you have done a fabulous job! Is that part more stressful than the writing? Marketing is my background and I mostly enjoy it, but writing is my passion. The most stressful part, really, is not having enough time to do everything.
9. Do you have any recent events planned that you would like to share? Of course, there’s the virtual release party for Purpose going until 12/18. After the holidays, I’ll be doing some local signings and by spring, I should be expanding the tour into other states, including Virginia, Arizona and Minnesota.
10. Can you give us a little excerpt from Purpose?
A shadow shifted in the corner. Two small, red lights glowed from about two-thirds up the wall. I realized they were eyes. It can’t really be Daemoni—can it? We hadn’t been bothered for over seven years. Not a single visit or even a threat. Nothing at all. They had what they wanted. “Don’t you know?” The shadow moved forward, just enough for the light from my clock to slightly illuminate a face—pale, bluish-white in the clock’s glare, glowing eyes and… fangs. The light reflected off his glimmering teeth, bared in an evil grin, if that’s what you could call it, and I knew for sure those were fangs. And I knew immediately what he was. From what I could see, he favored some of my characters, as if he’d stepped out of the pages of the books I wrote. Such a strange feeling—to feel as though I’d awakened in my usual way but know I was dreaming again. I had to be. Monsters were real, but vampires were not. “C-Claudius?” My voice shook. I knew this dream was about to become a terrible nightmare. With his dark hair floating around the sides of his face, this visitor looked similar to my Claudius, leader of the evilest vampire nest in my make-believe world. “Ha!” the shadow barked. “So you do see the resemblance.”
Purpose by Kristie Cook Publisher: Ang'dora Productions (December 15th, 2010) Reading Level: 17 and up Paperback: 377 pages Series: Soul Savers, book #2 Lost in despair, Alexis teeters on the edge of an abyss, her lifeline of hope fraying into a thin thread. If it snaps, she’ll plunge into complete darkness. With the help of her son and her writing, she’s been able to hold on. Until now. Erratic impulses, disturbing delusions and her own demonic blood threaten her sanity. When she’s forced to choose between hanging onto hope or letting go to serve her Amadis purposes, she faces a decision with inconceivable sacrifices.
Alexis runs to the one place she thinks will provide answers, only to find herself at the center of another battle of good versus evil, not only with the Daemoni, not only within herself… but also against the worst opponent imaginable. But even if she wins, what will she lose?
Don't forget to check out the Re-Cover contest of Promise and Purpose. Entries must be in 12/18.
Find Kristie Cook Kristie Cook / Promise / Goodreads Purchase Signed Copies of Purpose
"Even though they were separate stories, I flowed from one story to the next seamlessly because they were set up in a way that was just completely natural." — Miss Remmers
Release Date: January 24th, 2012 Publisher: Random House Challenges: NetGalley Challenge, eBook Challenge, +75 Challenge
"What makes your heart race a little faster? Just in time for Valentine's Day, it's FALLEN IN LOVE, four wholly original new stories collected in a new novel set in the Middle Ages by Lauren Kate. FALLEN IN LOVE gives fans the much-talked about but never-revealed stories of FALLEN characters as they intertwine with the epic love story of Luce and Daniel. The stories include: Love Where You Least Expect It: The Valentine of Shelby and Miles, Love Lessons: The Valentine of Roland; Burning Love: The Valentine of Arriane; and Endless Love: The Valentine of Daniel and Lucinda."
So I'm going to admit that I definitely did not do my research before beginning this book. I had no idea that it was four short stories (albeit connect short stories) put into one novel. I, apparently, did not read the synopsis that I have provided for you in this review. So in case you skipped over the synopsis, know that this book is compiled of four short stories entitled "The Valentine of Shelby and Miles," "The Valentine of Roland," "The Valentine of Arriane," and "The Valentine of Daniel and Lucinda."
The first short story was probably my favorite, although now that I think about it there were definitely some unrelated loose ends (the hat and it's importance?). Shelby and Miles are two characters that I feel like I've invested in and care about. Roland and Arriane, however, I haven't put any emotional investment into and therefore, sorry to say it, I just didn't really care about their Valentines. Granted, it was interesting to see Roland and Arriane as an MC — but the changing of the POV really threw me off. Not because I couldn't keep up, but because this book is so entirely different than any of the previous novels. At times the style and the tone was so foreign, I had to make sure I was reading the right book by Lauren Kate.
That all said, I loved how intricately woven all four of these stories were. Even though they were separate stories, I flowed from one story to the next seamlessly because they were set up in a way that was just completely natural.
Overall, I'm glad I got this title from NetGalley and I think if I would have, oh, I don't know, read the synopsis, I would have been more prepared. The only other "point five" novella I've read is "Summer's Crossing" by Julie Kagawa, so I was prepared for a novel that had to do with the plot as a whole — not four more or less random (but perfectly linked together) stories.
I also noticed this quote (directly from Shakespeare) that I really appreciated: "Seek happy nights to happy days."
-Visit Lauren around the web here: Website | Goodreads | Twitter -BUY THE BOOK: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble | Nook
But I Love Him by Amanda Grace Publisher: Flux (May 8th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 264 pages Source: Publisher Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Tonight was so much worse than anything before it. Tonight he didn't stop after the first slap. At the beginning of senior year, Ann was a smiling, straight-A student and track star with friends and a future. Then she met a haunted young man named Connor. Only she can heal his emotional scars; only he could make her feel so loved — and needed. Ann can't recall the pivotal moment it all changed, when she surrendered everything to be with him, but by graduation, her life has become a dangerous high wire act. Just one mistake could trigger Connor's rage, a senseless storm of cruel words and violence damaging everything — and everyone — in its path. This evocative slideshow of flashbacks reveals a heartbreaking story of love gone terribly wrong. Review: But I Love Him tells a story from a very unique perspective. The story begins in current day, where Ann is at the breaking point of her relationship. It shows how broken she has become due to her relationship with her boyfriend Conner. As the chapters continue, it takes us backwards through their relationship over the past year. It is fascinating to watch Ann in this way because we can see what slowly broke her down. We get to see who she was, whole, at the beginning of her relationship, presented at the end of the book.
With any book that focuses on abuse it's easy to say"why didn't he/she just get out?" As we know, it's not that easy. Individuals who abuse their partners know how to manipulate. We get a good look at how that can happen in this book. Conner was a master at getting Ann to do what he wanted. But Conner wasn't all bad. People can look into a relationship and only see the downside but Ann saw the good in Conner. He was a victim of abuse himself and as much as he may have wanted to stop the cycle, he wasn't able to break away.
But I Love Him is very raw and intense. Mandy does not shy away from the reality of abuse. Ann simply wanted love and affection. Conner gave her that and a million promises of their future. After she gives up so much she wonders if any of those promises will ever come true. By the end of the book it was surprising to see who Ann was"before". Before Conner, before the abuse, before being broken. She was someone with a fun personality and great friends.
Mandy Hubbard did a fabulous job on this story. But I Love Him looks at teenage relationship abuse from a new angle, and it's impossible to not get pulled into this story.
"The story, the message, and the love are so real and pure. My students are going to devour this book!" — Miss Remmers
From Amazon.com...
"Still haunted by nightmares of her mother’s death, fifteen-year-old Sienna Jones reluctantly travels to Indonesia with her father’s relief team to help tsunami orphans with their post traumatic stress disorder—something Sienna knows a lot about. Since her mother’s plane went missing over the Indian Ocean three years before, Sienna doesn’t do anything if it involves the ocean or planes, so this trip is a big step forward.
But the last thing she expects is to fall for Deni, a brooding Indonesian boy who lives at the orphanage, and just so happens to be HOT. When Deni hears a rumor that his father may be alive, Sienna doesn’t think twice about running away with him to the epicenter of the disaster. Unfortunately, what they find there could break both their hearts."
"Sea" was one of the books I most excited for at BEA that I hadn't heard a lot of — I just absolutely adored the cover (a bit shallow, I know). So when I won it I was ecstatic!
Besides a fantastic "I want this now" cover, the story behind the cover is just as mouth-watering. I found that I could not put this book down and read it in only two sittings. It took me a bit longer to actually get into it simply because the love interest (sweet and innocent love interest) disappears just when I think I can't handle any more suspense. But then as soon as Sea begins her journey, I just had to find out what happened!
Parts of this book were a bit predictable, but as soon as I began to get "bored" a new fantastic twist took place and the whole story changed — it really kept me on my toes. So much so that we had just sat down at the best seats in the Jim Patterson stadium and I just had to finish the last few pages. Rude, I know.
Like "Before I Fall," I fell in love with how innocent and real the love interest (preferably #1 — in my opinion) of this story is. The whole time I was reading I was texting my own love interest gushing about how sweet Spider was. I may also have text him the most romantic line in the whole movie — "It's always been you."
Now that I can almost smell your saliva escaping your open mouth — that's all that you get!
Really, this book is fantastic! The story, the message, and the love are so real and pure. My students are going to devour this book!
This week I've been giving you some mini-reviews from Indie/New Adult books that have been released over the past year or so. I'd read a ton of them so it's easier to review a few at once. Monday had the books that got a 5 star review from me and yesterday featured the 4 star books. Today is another batch of 4 star books. Hopefully you will find a few you'd like to add to your list.
Fallen Crest High by Tijan Add to Goodreads
As far as new adult authors go, Tijan is not one that pops up often. I happened to find this book while browsing one day and was so glad that I did. This is really one of those books where the characters stay with you. You may not love every aspect of the story, but you can't help but keep reading till it's finished. Mason and Logan (the bothers) were great in their own ways and Sam has the misfortune of living with them after her mom decided to marry their dad. This book is pretty complicated with all the plots, sub-plots, and characters but I definitely want to see what happens in the new book.
Hopeless by Colleen Hoover Add to Goodreads This one is easy to spoil because there is a lot going on. Tons of tragedy! When Sky meets Dean she has no idea of their past. Sky has been through more than many people could imagine. It was sad to see how broken she was but I was glad that Dean could be there for her. At times the drama seemed a bit too much but it was still a well written story with a lot of great moments between the characters. Dean was my favorite. You can't help but love him and hope that these characters can somehow find happiness through all the heartbreak. Not sure when/if I'll read the next one but so many people loved this one.
Play With Me by Piper Shelly Add to Goodreads You know how sometimes you just want a light, sweet book to read? This one is perfect for those times! This was one of the cutest romances ever. Liza is a cutie! Poor girl has been in love with her best friend Tony forever and he comes back from soccer camp in love with another *sigh*. So, she has a plan to become sporty herself in hopes he will notice her. What she doesn't plan for is the soccer captain, Ryan, to start paying attention to her. They have so many of those cute moments that have you saying"awww." The ONLY complaint I had about this story was that it was just too short! I wanted more! Of course, there is now a version in Ryan's POV but still… I wish this one would have been a bit longer. But, I totally recommend it.
If You Stay by Courtney Cole Add to Goodreads Some books say they have bad boys but this one is really bad. Pax is a jerk, 100%! He has money to burn but is rude, disrespectful, and has a whole slew of drug issues. Not the easiest character to like but I liked that there was no doubting his personality. Everyone knew immediately what type of guy he was. Mila is a sweetheart who can't help but try to help Pax. Even though she is told to forget about ever changing him, she can't help but have hope that he will get better. It took a while for their sparks to really heat up but I liked seeing Pax change. Much is the story is from his POV and it was easy to see how Mila got under his skin. Courtney Cole is a great author and I look forward to reading more from her.
Someone to Love by Addison Moore Add to Goodreads This is a light story and a nice college-age romance but there was something lacking. Maybe it was depth for the character? Not sure. But, in this book, Kendall wants to be a player and she goes to the king of all players, Cruise, for help. She says she's determined to learn how to play guys. The overall story was fun to read but I'm not sure I fully bought the whole"wanting to be a player" thing. I think that with more work this book could have hit it out of the park but for something light and fluffy, it's a pretty good read. I've seen other people with some mixed feelings about this title.
Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A Tucker Add to Goodreads This is a very intense story. Kacey has had a really hard life and all she wants to do is find safety and take care of her little sister. They move into a rundown apartment and she starts working to try to take care of the bills. Then Trent moves next door. Kacey tries to brush off her feelings for him but they are drawn to each other. I really enjoyed this book and all the side characters/plots too. It's depressing at times but I couldn't stop reading. The overall idea is a bit predictable but I still found myself rooting for the characters and wanting to find out what will happen next. I will probably check out the next book in the series because it focuses on Kacey's sister.
After Tuesday by Renee Ericson Add to Goodreads This book is about Ruby, a young girl dealing with an alcoholic father. I liked this book for a lot of reasons. One big reason is that her dad, although sick, wasn't a complete jerk. He seemed like he wanted to be a good dad and that's something rarely seen in YA books. Then Ruby gets to know Brent, a guy from school, and she's forced to balance her real life with that of a normal teenager. She tries to hide her issues at home but that isn't easy. Soon both collide and she has to rely on someone else. Sometimes I just wished she would have been honest with Brent early on instead of hiding things. But I did like the way the author portrayed the relationship and the issues Ruby had with her dad. He wasn't just thrown to the side like some novels do.
Breathe Into Me by Amanda Stone Add to Goodreads This was another complex story and in the end I was scratching my head a bit. Kelsey had some really craptastic luck. She had a horrible tragedy 6 years before she heads to college and all she wants is to escape it. She has her best friend Jessi, who I loved, and soon she meets bad-boy Kane. But Kane isn't really bad. He was actually much nicer than I expected. Sometimes I wanted to shake Kelsey for being so darn trusting of guys-who-shall-remain-nameless, especially after what she had been through. Plus, I wasn't happy with the fact she judged Kane so quickly when something happened with him. I don't want to spoil anything but I do think this is definitely worth the read. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
Picture Perfect by Alessandra Thomas Add to Goodreads It's pretty hard to find a good story that doesn't involve a girl who is a perfect size 4. Cat used to be a model but now she can't fit into anything in her closet. She had an accident and, after sitting for nearly a year, she's going back to school as a size 12. One thing I really liked about this story is that all of Cat's friends didn't shun her because of her size. It's not like it's the worst thing in the world so it sucks when books act like the character can't have friends if she's beyond a size 10. Cat did have friends and, really, she is the biggest issue blocking her own happiness. When Nate steps in Cat finally starts to see herself as more than a size. He helps her break down her walls and be happy again. Sometimes I just wanted her to get over things but I tried to understand where she was coming from. This book was really enjoyable and had a very unique plot (and twist).
Unbroken by Melody Grace Add to Goodreads This book has one of my all-time favorite lines ever… "Mom always told me there are two kinds of love in this world: the steady breeze, and the hurricane. Emerson Ray was my hurricane… " Love it! This book is great for a summer read. Juliet is forced to go back to her summer beach home for a while and she runs into her old flame Emerson. I enjoyed this story but nothing really stood out to me as memorable. There is some cheating, which I hate, but it didn't ruin the book for me. The characters definitely have chemistry and there are several hot moments to enjoy. ALL OF THESE BOOKS WERE RATED
I love being able to say I know the TRUE story of 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.'" — Miss Remmers
From Amazon.com...
"The chief part of the stories, however, turned upon the favorite specter of Sleepy Hollow, the Headless Horseman, who had been heard several times of late, patrolling the country; and, it was said, tethered his horse nightly among the graves in the churchyard. The story was immediately matched by a thrice marvelous adventure of Brom Bones, who made light of the Galloping Hessian as an arrant jockey. He affirmed that on returning one night from the neighboring village of Sing Sing, he had been overtaken by this midnight trooper; that he had offered to race with him for a bowl of punch, and should have won it too, for Daredevil beat the goblin horse all hollow, but just as they came to the church bridge, the Hessian bolted, and vanished in a flash of fire. All these tales, told in that drowsy undertone with which men talk in the dark, the countenances of the listeners only now and then receiving a casual gleam from the glare of a pipe, sank deep in the mind of Ichabod... . "
Why I read this: Who doesn't love the story of "Sleepy Hollow" around Halloween! This has been on my TBR list for a long time; when I realized that Gutenberg had it I began listening to it every spare moment I had.
Plot: It was fascinating hearing/reading the plot as it was originally meant to be told; so many people assume they know the story of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman because of the countless retellings. There is nothing better than reading the original story and realizing how it has been distorted throughout the years via literature and movie renditions.
Characters: The characters really came to life in the original story of Sleepy Hollow. I really understood exactly how nerdy Ichabod was (and not in that Johnny Depp sort of way). I was also given a whole new perspective on Katrina and her coquettish ways.
Cover: If it weren't for my love of literature (or if I were a high school student), I would not pick up this book because of the cover. It just sort of screams dull and old. I definitely vote on a new cover to inspire more contemporary readers to pick this book up.
Random Thoughts: It was fantastic to read/ listen to this book in October when the haunting season has just begun. There were moments of the text that were very heavy because of the large amount of description so it was nice to be listening to it so that I could be multi-tasking. Towards the end when the Headless Horseman makes his appearance the narrator couldn't speak fast enough.
Final Thoughts: This was a fantastic read for October. I love being able to say I know the TRUE story of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." I think on October 29th (it's our Recreational Reading day), I'll have my students listen to this fantastic original.
Today I am a stop on the Awaken blog tour. I have the lovely Katie Kacvinsky here to answer some questions and I will be giving away a finished copy of Awaken to one lucky reader.
1. Can you tell us a little about your past in the entertainment industry and your time as a teacher?
I took time off of college when I was nineteen and moved to Los Angeles. I’ve always had a huge passion for film and I wanted to work in the entertainment industry. In the year and a half that I lived there, I worked on a movie set as an a assistant to the director, worked for a production company, worked at a stand up comedy club and wrote on the side. Later, after I went back to school and graduated from college, I realized that no matter what I did it had to involve writing. I wanted to inspire kids to write, which is why I became a high school English teacher. I also love working with teenagers—I think high school is such an interesting phase and kids go through so many changes.
2. What made you decide to pursue writing?
I’ve always written. It’s an outlet, a form or entertainment, a mobile therapist, and a friend. I majored in journalism in college, but fiction writing has always been my passion. I love the creative liberty. I started writing books that I wish were on the shelves. I just write stories I would want to read.
3. Can you tell us about the main characters in Awaken, Maddie and Justin?
Maddie was born out of some journaling I did when I moved to Oregon. I was entranced by the beauty of this state—the rainforests and oceans and valleys. I was constantly outside hiking and exploring and I started realizing how much people miss when they’re always online. That’s how Maddie was created—this trapped, spirited character craving more than her confined life. Then, I thought, how cool would it be if someone came around to open her up? Open that lid and help her crawl out? That’s how Justin was born. He represents the “real” world. In so many ways Maddie is asleep and Justin needs to wake her up. I liked that idea. I thought it was romantic and interesting.
4. What originally made you want to tell this story?
I wanted to write a thought-provoking love story. So many love stories I read have a good romance, but the plot falls short. I find myself skimming over the storyline, just to get to the love scenes. I wanted to write a book with a plot that was gripping enough to keep the reader engaged. I love dystopian stories, especially when they’re focused around technology. I definitely think technology has its perks but I also think it’s important to keep it in check.
5. In a world where computers are used for everything, do you think that the main idea of your story could come true someday, or that in some way it already is true?
I think if we continue on the path we’re going my story could easily come true, and in many ways we are already there. We work, shop, order food, date, socialize, watch movies, read, take classes and can even exercise through a computer. The problem with this convenience is it’s getting harder and harder to turn off. I feel like you can either be excited for the future, or you can fear it. Lately, I live on the side of fearing it.
Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Children (May 23rd, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 352 pages
Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her. Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking. In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space.
Prize:
1 winner will receive a copy of Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky.
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 June 1st.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
The form must be filled out to enter.
Find Katie Kacvinsk y | Website
Purchase Awaken Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
Where the Truth Lies by Jessica Warman Publisher: Bloomsbury (September 28th, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 320 pages Rating: 5 of 5 stars Source: Publisher On the surface, Emily Meckler leads the perfect life. She has three best friends, two loving parents, and the ideal setup at the Connecticut prep school where her father is the headmaster. But Emily also suffers from devastating nightmares about fire and water, and nobody knows why. Then the enigmatic Del Sugar enters her life, and Emily is immediately swept away—but her passionate relationship with Del is just the first of many things that aren't quite what they seem in Emily's life. As the lies she's been told start to unravel, Emily must set out to discover the truth regarding her nightmare; on a journey that will lead her to question everything she thought she knew about love, family, and her own idyllic past.
This companion novel to Warman's critically acclaimed Breathless proves that sometimes the biggest lies are told to the people you love the most. Review: Where the Truth Lies is a wonderfully written tale involving Emily, a junior, who begins her school year with many firsts, obstacles, and discoveries. The story begins with us getting to know Emily, her friends, and the details of the dreams that leave her breathless most nights. I thought that this book would focus heavily on these mysterious dreams Emily faces but I was wrong. While this is an important aspect of the story, Where the Truth Lies contains way more than this mystery. Early on Emily meets Del, a bad boy that immediately seems drawn to her. Their relationship puts her at odds with her parents and her friends, but deep down, Emily can't help but want to be with Del. Their secret encounters lead to much more than Emily ever anticipated. As Emily faces unimaginable decisions, she finds out that Del may not be the person she thought he was. In addition, her parents, whom she has always trusted, may be hiding a dark secret that breaks apart the steady foundation that used to be her life. Emily's own strength and determination may be the only thing she can truly rely on. Where the Truth Lies is not a quick read but I was completely submerged into Emily's story. The layers of the plot kept me guessing and gripping the pages. As I tried to piece together my own perception, the story would twist into a place I never considered. This, along with the outstanding characters, kept me wanting to read more. Jessica Warman's writing style is fantastic. She knows how to bring realistic situations to each page. Her descriptions, characters, and plot stayed true to what I imagine many teens face when dealing with love, friends, and family secrets.
Characters: Emily was very much like a typical teenage girl, struggling with school but enjoying her time with her friends and exploring love along the way. She, like many others, was not resistant to making mistakes or misjudging situations. As her story progressed I could see her grow and change into a stronger young lady. I enjoyed the light interactions she had with her best friends and seeing how they learned to deal with their own personal drama. Del was amazing because his personality didn't fall too much into one particular category. He wasn't too bad, too good, too perfect. He was mysterious and maybe a little damaged by his past, but I continuously wanted to know more about him. Emily's friends, and the wonderful"swoon" worthy Ethan, were all a great addition to the story because they were very multidimensional as well. Together, these characters made the perfect blend to bring together Emily's story.
Cover: I like this cover. I feel that it sums up the mystery aspect of the book with the school far in the background and the girl's hidden face.
Where the Truth Lies is the incredible story of a young girl, facing the challenges of life, and learning how to get past the lies in order to find the truth.
Find Jessica Warman Jessica Warman Purchase Where the Truth Lies Amazon / The Book Depository / Barnes & Noble
It is now time to vote on the story entries! Thanks to everyone who entered! We really appreciate you all for sharing your stories with us! We do hope that everyone takes time out to read each story before voting for their favorites! You have until this Friday, the 22nd to vote. Voters:
Lisa and I will both be posting the stories.
PLEASE ONLY CAST YOUR VOTE ONCE!
The form is the same on both blogs so duplicates will be deleted.
To vote, put your email address and the number of the story you like into the form.
Email addresses are only used in order to check for duplicate votes.
If you are participating in the comment contest, leave your email with the comment for it to be counted. Same as with the other Haunted Halloween posts.
If you voted, say"I voted!" in the comment and you will get an extra entry into the comment contest.
Vote for your favorite!
Participants:
Feel free to post about the voting starting. Please encourage people to vote for their favorite.
You can cast a vote for your own story, but only once each round.
Rules:
This is Round 1 of voting. It will end Friday, the 22nd.
Round 2 will begin next Sunday, the 24th. It will end Friday, the 29th.
8 stories will continue onto Round 2!
The winners will be announced on Halloween!
For this contest we will be posting excerpts from each story in the order that they were received. If a story grabs your attention, click on the link below to read the rest. The link will take you to the blog post where the story can be found.
Story #1 — Found"Hello my love." Came a horribly familiar voice. I slowly turned around and there he was. My worst nightmare. The last time I saw him he was covered in my blood. My knees felt week and I didn't know if I had the strength to keep them study. He smiled that same dark smile that he had the day he tried to kill me. I thought I had escaped, I thought it was over. As he reached for my hand I knew it would be soon."How I have missed you." He said as our hands met. I felt a tingle run up my arm as he touched me. I couldn’t speak, couldn’t move, everything that I had worked for, to get past the memory of him was gone. All there was in the world was him and his hand upon mine. I couldn’t bring myself to run or to scream. I was lost in his murderous eyes. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #2 — Invisible Gotta find the exit. I just have to. I don't want to die I am too young. He told me that it wouldn't end like this that if I just give him what he needed then he would leave me and my family alone. I have been running for nearly three days and every time I think I am safe I see his shadow again. It all started back when I met the new kid in school. He was gorgeous nonetheless. Always seemed so perfect and mysterious. Apparently my judgment was correct except for the perfect part. As I grew closer to him the more I drew away from school, friends, and even worse my family. There seemed to be something pulling me deeper into his world, something that was turning me almost invisible to the world around me. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #3 — Sun and Moon The obsidian building towered high into the thunderous clouds, and was surrounded by a large iron-wrought fence. Erus, a grim and depressing boy for his age, stared at the bleak view before him: This was to be his new home: The Orphanage. Erus picked anxiously at his raggedy blue sweatshirt. His dark black hair obscured his vision, but gave him a sharper look. The pale skin of his face often made others think that he was dead, maybe a vampire. Maybe he was, no, he most definitely was. Due to the monumental hunger he felt building up inside him like carbon in a soda bottle. Every sense in his body became more acute, and human blood sang beneath luscious skin. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #4 — Ghost girl This was when I was around 17 years old. My parent move us in to our first house after living so long in an apartment. The house had 3 bedrooms and one bathroom. I was sharing a room with my sister, she was 16 year old. My two brother were sharing the room next to ours. my parents room was across the hallway. My room had the only window a/c unit. Our bedroom was the smallest bedroom and we only had a bunkbed an old tv, those old one that had the wooden box arround and with the big knobs. After a week I was watching tv late one night and the tv out of nowhere turn off. I thought the tv had a short and went to sleep. The next week weird things started to happen. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #5 — The Blood Spirit 1920 It was in the small town of Ashbury, New York that the rumor became. “Oh, Mary, I’ve missed you so much!” “Hahaha, well, I told you I’d return didn’t I, silly boy.” The girl’s sweet voice filled the room. It was like a drug to Everett and he wanted more. He had long awaited her return spending night after night staring longingly into the mirror on his dresser, until she had finally appeared that night. “I thought… maybe you had moved on.” Everett’s voice tried to cover his emotions at the thought of losing his beautiful Mary. Mary, the one that had saved him from all the darkness in his life and now he could barely stand to look her in the eyes because of her beauty. They had shown with understanding, but that was all a mask to help cover up the thing she really was. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #6 — The Current-Day 1900's Spiderman: A Little Boy's Tale A shaggy haired two year old boy with wide eyes watched the hall of his newly built home. Not only was his puppy barking at it but both pet cats were hissing as well. His mommy turned to the hall then back at the display in front of her calling their attention. The little boy dropped his multi-colored duplos and looked to his mommy, his eyes glistening with a look she never seen before, then pointed to the short hall between the living room and the playroom saying one word. “Man.”
The appearances of 'man' didn't stop that one quiet night. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #7 — Friendly Fire Fire. One word. One very short word. And yet, for Kaylee it was the most important word in the world. It was the last thing her mother ever said to her. As a child she had been hurt that her mother hadn’t spoken words of love and encouragement in the last moments of her life, it was only when she was older that she understood the true power behind that one word.
Fire. It brings warmth. It brings light. It brings destruction. And eventually it can bring life. But for Kaylee it brought wonder and mystery and a power so overwhelming that the mere sight of her would strike fear into complete strangers. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #8 — Stranger in the Night"We should dance," Brady smiled. Prom night. I heard a voice."Excuse me," someone said from behind.
"Sorry, sorry" Brady muttered.
Me, I couldn't speak. It was his eyes; they smoldered. I had never seen a guy with black eyes before. Taking one look at his face --pale, chiseled, eerily handsome-- I was totally, totally lost.
"Stephanie," he grinned. I parted my lips, but couldn't speak.
"Stephanie?" I couldn't hear Brady. I couldn't even tell he was still there. Everything was a big, buzzing blur; his hand at my waist, it wasn't even there. I swear it wasn't. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #9 — The Good Mother Our lake is haunted.
Long ago there was a Mother who fell asleep by the water. While she slept her child crawled into the water and was lost.
The Mother, unwilling to accept her child’s death, dove beneath the waves and disappeared.
Supposedly, she searches for him still. Children roaming near the lake on the night her child disappeared will disappear too. She waits to wrap them in her watery embrace. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #10 — Blackbird Sing They say the beautiful song of the blackbird makes it a symbol of temptations. For the most part, I have been a fairly responsible adult during the course of my life. I live in control and in restraint; I have no weakness.
When I approach the enormous tree with the bare and scraggly branches, I see it is full of blackbirds. I should think something is not right. But with a sensible head resting atop my shoulders, omens never affected me. I could shatter a thousand mirrors and still live in good health and in good luck.
My phone shrills in my pocket. I do not want to pick it up. Instead, I gaze at the still blackbirds, with their graceful feathers and beady eyes. Nothing is wrong. Just a tree full of silly birds. I see them all the time. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #11 — The Mattress Kasey never liked hospitals. They just made her feel uncomfortable. Everything smelled like hand soap or old people, and everything was so… sterile. She especially hated it at night when her room's light was turned off. The hallway would still be brightly lighted — yes, even in the middle of the night — but even the small sliver of light that she could see under her door wasn't comfort enough. Being in the dark scared her, and being in the dark alone was even more frightening.
She had had three concussions in the past spring from playing rugby — three too much. She had spent week after week in hospitals attempting to recover, missing school, missing her friends, missing life. She hardly knew what sunshine felt like. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #12 — Lifeless Love Her breath raced as she ran down the hill. Sweat glistened on her face in the light of the half-moon. Her pursuer was not far behind, his long arms flapping limply at his sides. She turned right and hid behind a trash can and prayed he would pass her by.
“Chloe,” He croaked. “Come out. You know I won’t hurt you. How could I hurt you? I love you.”
Silent tears slid down her face. How she wanted to believe those words. But she knew now that he was lost to her.
Footsteps were heard receding into the distance; he was gone, for now. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #13 — Whisper Damien was filled with dread as he crossed the threshold of Milton Manor. Fear emanated from his every pore, clouded his vision, and burned its way through his lungs with each breath.
Then the whispers began…
Get out! You don’t belong here. This is our home!
With each whisper more and more voices joined in, bringing the words to a crescendo, reverberating around Damien’s head and bombarding his mind. The voices began screaming at Damien, commanding him to leave.
Leave now or we’ll kill them all! Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #14 — Howl at the Moon The sharp ululation had my head snap back. Shivers shot up my spine, the harsh wind causing my cheeks to sting. They were coming for me. I tried to cover my scent with the dirt and foliage around me, but it didnt work. They had super noses, and hearing. I tripped over a root and landed on my knees and hands. I muffled a cry. I quickly got up, ignoring the globs of blood appearing on my knees. I could almost here them approaching me. My blood ran cold, my limbs grew stiff even as I stumbled my way through the forest. My breath thickened, blood tricked down my legs. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #15 — The Secret Ball Louisiana, 1862 I could hear the carriage roll on the damp stone path. The path where what had mattered most was silently taken from me. I saw men in white masks embellished with jewels and lined with intricate black lace. The men who took Dylan, my love. Who were they? Why didn’t I panic? “Olivia Preston,” I remembered hearing the husky voice say with invisible lips, “thank you. You’ve done well.” Unfortunately, it’s simple to know who I am. I’m the daughter of James Preston, the wealthiest man in New Orleans. Was Dylan taken because of this? Because of where I come from? Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #16 — Strange Things Are Happening Emily walked towards the sound of the music. Her friend, Mel, and she were on their way home from school when they first heard it, and they had followed it all the way until they came to the source: Shay Manor. Shay Manor had been abandoned for so long that no one could even remember when someone had lived in it last or why they left. The only people who went in the supposedly haunted mansion now were teenagers looking for a scare on the weekends. “Emily! What the—” Mel started, coming up behind Emily. “Shh!” Emily hissed. “Do you hear that?” Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #17 — Under the Bed I folded my arms and did the infamous mom stare in front of my little sister. “Jessie, I thought you were old enough not to believe in this stuff anymore,” I said, shaking my head. “I am a big girl,” my five-year-old sister whined. “But this time it’s different, something is under my bed!” “Look it’s one thing that I missed the biggest Halloween party ever to take you trick or treating, but it’s not fair I have to do this.” For a moment, just from the pleading in her tiny blue eyes, I believed her. I shook it off and let out a deep sigh. “Fine, Kylie, I’ll go look. But just one time. Ryan is coming over in ten minutes and we’re watching a movie.” She stood at the bottom of the stairs, biting her thumbnail nervously as I entered her room. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
*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.
If you vote include"I VOTED" in your comment for an extra entry in the comment contest!
I love checking out other people's blogs and reviews. Waiting on Wednesday is where I get most of my new books to read, and if a blogger says a book is a must read I usually go out and buy it. - Kayla at Midnight Twilight's Book Blog Surprisingly, actually writing posts. I like feeling productive and like I'm accomplishing something. Next to that? Just talking with everybody! I really love just gossiping about books. Some people talk about celebrities; I talk about authors. Some people talk about television; I. also talk about television, but more than not I talk about books. — Nicole at WORD for Teens My favorite part about blogging is getting to introduce people to books or authors they're not familiar with. It's so fun to spread the bookish love: ) — Heidi at YA Bibliophile The writing. I have wanted to be a writer/author for a very long time but have lacked the follow through. Blogging is my first test to myself. I figure if I can start and maintain a blog consistently, I can spend the money on a class for writing too. So once I hit the 1 year mark, I'm going to sign up for a writing course to hopefully get the world I've thought up over the last ten years out of my head and onto the page, even if it is only for me! — Kelli at Scarlett's Scraps Getting comments from my readers, its really interesting to know what they think about the books I've read and what I've written. — Abigailann at The Story Factory Reading Zone I love the blogging community, I love sharing my love of books with others and when someone finds out about a book that they hadn't heard about, that's always very nice to see. — Cynthia at A Blog about Nothing My absolute favourtie part about blogging is hearing back from my followers and other bloggers about my posts. All the hard work I put into them is appreciated and for someone to say they enjoyed my review and for them to go and read that book is an awesome feeling. — Megan at Reading Away the Days The wonderful authors and bloggers, you get the opportunity to work with. Reagan at Star Shadow Blog My favorite part of blogging is when someone comments on my posts. I love it when they like what I have to say, or the way that I wrote a review, or just if they agree/disagree with me. I guess the interaction with other people is my favorite part of blogging. — Lisa at Bookworm Lisa My favorite part of blogging is writing everyday. I love to write and I even used to write a few stories when I was younger. Now I get to write everyday and even after a few years, I'm still loving it! — Gina at The Bucket List Beyond the bookish friends and working on my blog it would have to be being able to help others find great books to read. I love getting an email or DM from someone telling me they picked up the book I've recommended to them and that they loved it. — Stacey at Flippin' Fabulous — A Reader's Record I love sharing my thoughts with others and getting their opinions in return. I also enjoy reading other reviews and getting different takes on books--I love when a blogger shares my feelings on a book! I also really, really love learning about new books--I have learned to always have paper and pen nearby when I'm going through my Google Reader, to jot down new titles. My to-read list is ever-growing! -Christi at Christi the Teen Librarian Meeting people from all over the world. It's amazing to talk with people you may never meet in person. (Of course, I hope to meet them all in person one day!) — J.L. at J.L. Jackson Sharing what I think with others and seeing if they share the same thoughts or think differently. A discussion about a book or characters in a book is always fun. — Ellen at Silver Tabby Books Honestly, I love blogging because it provides me a forum to write and share my thoughts. It may be about something as silly as my infatuation with the Twilight series or raving about my favorite band, having a proud-mama moment about one of my children or even sharing something tremendously personal. I have never felt such liberty to be so free, and it has made me more self-aware and more forthcoming in my job and in my personal life. I feel a sense of independence that I have never felt before. This freedom and liberation is my absolute favorite part of blogging. In a close second is the community because without their support, I wouldn't feel as comfortable expressing myself as I am. — Michelle at That's What She Read My favorite part of blogging is when I get new followers and comments, and I realize people are reading what I write on my blog. — Thia at Through the Book Vine I love the connection with so many people in different areas and hearing about what was special to them that day. The days when I come across a new author in a genre that I enjoy is an added bonus. — Ann at Cozy in Texas Knowing that someone out there is reading my stuff, and maybe will pick up a good book because of something I said and enjoy it. Most of my friends are not readers, so this is a great way to share all my bookish thoughts without boring them to tears. — Cat at Cat's Thoughts Aside from the awesome bloggers and authors that one can interact with, it would have to be all the new books I have been introduced to. Since I started blogging I have read a lot of books that in the past I wouldn't have even bothered to pick up. — Orchid at The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia When I blog about an under-appreciated, little-read book and then have a reader write to tell me they purchased that book based on my recommendation. I love nothing more than putting good books in the hands of readers. — David at Quivering Pen Blog Meeting people who share my passion for books and sharing recommendations. I love it when readers come back and tell me how much they loved a book I recommended or found a post of mine helpful. That makes my day. — Small at Small Reviews Ugh, I have to pick? Honestly, I love most of what is involved in book blogging. If I didn't love it, I wouldn't do it. My time is too precious to waste on doing things I hate. But even if the internet crashed tomorrow (knock on wood), I would still be as much of a bookworm as I am now, talking about and recommending books to whomever will listen. That is probably the most exciting part — when I discover (from comments) that someone is actually reading my blog! — Rachel at Jacob's Beloved's Books Writing reviews! I always love to share my thoughts on books that i've read. Then getting some comments/feedbacks. I also enjoy reading others' reviews of books I've read before so I'll get another person's view on it. — Len at Musings of a Reader Happy My favorite part of blogging is seeing how my reading has changed, now I have a much broader spectrum that I read instead of the very small nitch that I was reading. — Kristin at Kritters Ramblings My absolute favorite part of blogging? Hmm.there's so much that I love about it! I really do enjoy getting to voice my opinion about books in reviews and comments. It's such a sense of freedom and not to mention so awesome when someone answers you back whose on your mental wave. - Nora at The Bookery The community. Books are great, but I'd be reading them with or without the blog. What I like is how many people are out there who enjoy the books I do, and that through our blogs I'm able to discover/ get in contact with them. The next best thing to reading a book is talking about it with someone. — Kim at Book Munchies Hm. My absolute favorite part of blogging is hearing from someone that my thoughts on a book has encouraged them to give it a try. That or knowing there are other people out there just as excited as you are about a release date. — Lindsay at Just Another Book Addict The Community! I feel like I have made great friends even if I never will meet them in real life. — Shannon at Books Devoured
*Part 3 of 3 will be posted soon. USE GOOGLE if you want to know more about the blogoversary celebration.
It is now time for the 2nd round of voting! Here are the top 8 stories picked from round 1!
We are changing the voting for this round. We had an instance of false voting during the last round. Someone used a variety of email addresses, including ones from authors, to cast votes. We became suspicious and decided to verify these votes. We contacted the authors and they said that they did NOT vote, so that person has been disqualified. We are truly saddened by this instance of cheating. Lisa and I worked really hard to gather the books and swag for these giveaways and we will not tolerate cheating. It is not fair to us or the people who worked hard on these stories and covers. They deserve a fair chance. That is why we changed the voting for this round.
Now, voting MUST come through comments. We will not accept anonymous comments.
* The stories are in the order that we received them.
Voters: PLEASE ONLY CAST YOUR VOTE ONCE!
For round 2, I will be posting the story vote, and Lisa will post the cover vote.
To vote for the COVERS- USE GOOGLE
To vote, put your email address and the number of the story you like into the comment.
Email addresses may be used to verify votes, only if needed. Hopefully we will not need to for this round.
If you are participating in the comment contest, say"I'M VOTING!" in the comment and you will get an extra entry into the comment contest.
Vote for your favorite!
Participants:
Feel free to post about the voting starting. Please encourage people to vote for their favorite.
You can cast a vote for your own cover, but only once each round.
Rules:
This is Round 2 of voting. It will end Friday, the 29th.
4 stories will win prizes!
The winners will be announced on Halloween!
Votes from Round 1 have been deleted.
For this contest we will be posting excerpts from each story in the order that they were received. If a story grabs your attention, click on the link below it to read the rest. The link will take you to the blog post where the story can be found.
Story #1 — Invisible Gotta find the exit. I just have to. I don't want to die I am too young. He told me that it wouldn't end like this that if I just give him what he needed then he would leave me and my family alone. I have been running for nearly three days and every time I think I am safe I see his shadow again. It all started back when I met the new kid in school. He was gorgeous nonetheless. Always seemed so perfect and mysterious. Apparently my judgment was correct except for the perfect part. As I grew closer to him the more I drew away from school, friends, and even worse my family. There seemed to be something pulling me deeper into his world, something that was turning me almost invisible to the world around me. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #2 — The Current-Day 1900's Spiderman: A Little Boy's Tale A shaggy haired two year old boy with wide eyes watched the hall of his newly built home. Not only was his puppy barking at it but both pet cats were hissing as well. His mommy turned to the hall then back at the display in front of her calling their attention. The little boy dropped his multi-colored duplos and looked to his mommy, his eyes glistening with a look she never seen before, then pointed to the short hall between the living room and the playroom saying one word. “Man.”
The appearances of 'man' didn't stop that one quiet night. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #3 — Friendly Fire Fire. One word. One very short word. And yet, for Kaylee it was the most important word in the world. It was the last thing her mother ever said to her. As a child she had been hurt that her mother hadn’t spoken words of love and encouragement in the last moments of her life, it was only when she was older that she understood the true power behind that one word.
Fire. It brings warmth. It brings light. It brings destruction. And eventually it can bring life. But for Kaylee it brought wonder and mystery and a power so overwhelming that the mere sight of her would strike fear into complete strangers. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #4 — Blackbird Sing They say the beautiful song of the blackbird makes it a symbol of temptations. For the most part, I have been a fairly responsible adult during the course of my life. I live in control and in restraint; I have no weakness.
When I approach the enormous tree with the bare and scraggly branches, I see it is full of blackbirds. I should think something is not right. But with a sensible head resting atop my shoulders, omens never affected me. I could shatter a thousand mirrors and still live in good health and in good luck.
My phone shrills in my pocket. I do not want to pick it up. Instead, I gaze at the still blackbirds, with their graceful feathers and beady eyes. Nothing is wrong. Just a tree full of silly birds. I see them all the time. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #5 — Lifeless Love Her breath raced as she ran down the hill. Sweat glistened on her face in the light of the half-moon. Her pursuer was not far behind, his long arms flapping limply at his sides. She turned right and hid behind a trash can and prayed he would pass her by.
“Chloe,” He croaked. “Come out. You know I won’t hurt you. How could I hurt you? I love you.”
Silent tears slid down her face. How she wanted to believe those words. But she knew now that he was lost to her.
Footsteps were heard receding into the distance; he was gone, for now. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #6 — The Secret Ball Louisiana, 1862 I could hear the carriage roll on the damp stone path. The path where what had mattered most was silently taken from me. I saw men in white masks embellished with jewels and lined with intricate black lace. The men who took Dylan, my love. Who were they? Why didn’t I panic? “Olivia Preston,” I remembered hearing the husky voice say with invisible lips, “thank you. You’ve done well.” Unfortunately, it’s simple to know who I am. I’m the daughter of James Preston, the wealthiest man in New Orleans. Was Dylan taken because of this? Because of where I come from? Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #7 — Strange Things Are Happening Emily walked towards the sound of the music. Her friend, Mel, and she were on their way home from school when they first heard it, and they had followed it all the way until they came to the source: Shay Manor. Shay Manor had been abandoned for so long that no one could even remember when someone had lived in it last or why they left. The only people who went in the supposedly haunted mansion now were teenagers looking for a scare on the weekends. “Emily! What the—” Mel started, coming up behind Emily. “Shh!” Emily hissed. “Do you hear that?” Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #8 — Under the Bed I folded my arms and did the infamous mom stare in front of my little sister. “Jessie, I thought you were old enough not to believe in this stuff anymore,” I said, shaking my head. “I am a big girl,” my five-year-old sister whined. “But this time it’s different, something is under my bed!” “Look it’s one thing that I missed the biggest Halloween party ever to take you trick or treating, but it’s not fair I have to do this.” For a moment, just from the pleading in her tiny blue eyes, I believed her. I shook it off and let out a deep sigh. “Fine, Kylie, I’ll go look. But just one time. Ryan is coming over in ten minutes and we’re watching a movie.” She stood at the bottom of the stairs, biting her thumbnail nervously as I entered her room. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
*Reminder: If you are interested in the COMMENT CONTEST, remember to include your email address and"I'M VOTING" with your comment for an extra entry! Please read full entry rules here. To vote, include the number of your favorite cover and email address in your comment!
Fallen in Love (Fallen #3.5) by Lauren Kate was released today! If you are a fan of the series, you have to read this book. To celebrate this release, and to share the love since Valentine's day is coming up in a few weeks, Random House has offered up 5 copies (ARCs) of the book for some lucky readers!
Fallen in Love by Lauren Kate Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (January 24th, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 201 pages Series: Fallen #3.5 Unexpected. Unrequited. Forbidden. Eternal. Everyone has their own love story.
And in a twist of fate, four extraordinary love stories combine over the course of a romantic Valentine's Day in Medieval England. Miles and Shelby find love where they least expect it. Roland learns a painful lesson about finding-and losing love. Arianne pays the price for a love so fierce it burns. And for the first -and last- time, Daniel and Luce will spend a night together like none other.
Lauren Kate's FALLEN IN LOVE is filled with love stories.. the ones everyone has been waiting for.
True love never says goodbye..
Prize:
5 winners will receive an ARC of Fallen in Love by Lauren Kate.
Rules:
You must be at least 13 to enter.
Name and email must be provided.
Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
Contest is US only and ends February 9th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
The form must be filled out to enter.
Website | Goodreads | Twitter
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository Extra entry for commenting. Have you read the series or is it on your to-read list? If you've read them what do you think about the books?
Yes, my blogoversary and birthday are that close together because I started my blog as an early birthday gift to myself.: ) So, to celebrate I thought it would be fun to have a personal post. I wanted to talk about the books that made me love reading.
One of the first books I read was The Babysitters Club. I read several of them throughout my childhood but it took me a while. I remember my friend and I would pretend to be in a babysitters club.although we had no kids to watch. Ohhh, to be that young again!
Then, like so many other kids, I loved Goosebumps. Although I was completely scared of everything, I still read these books. Why? I have no idea! R.L. Stein is just an amazing author and his books always gave me nightmares, but I couldn't put them down.
And remember those chapter books where you pick where the story goes? I can't remember any of the titles now but I loved those! Sometimes I would cheat and look ahead but it was still so much fun! Anyone know if they still make those?
Then there was my first ever series. The first series that I followed. The first one that I looked for at wal-mart every time we went there (I lived in a small town with no bookstores). I would get so excited to see a new book on the shelf. I remember spending my entire summer reading these books. I think that this started my true love of reading. I read these books long before they were turned into a TV show so I was able to really connect with the characters and imagine who they were.
Here is the amazing part of this story. I now know Melinda Metz, the wonderful author of this series. Okay, maybe not"know" but I have talked to her AND she sent me a signed copy of Roswell High: The Outsiders. This is priceless to me! Priceless!! I will get to show my daughter this book and tell her how I have spoken with the author! How cool is that!? Not many people get that opportunity and I will treasure this gift forever.
That is the part of blogging that amazes me the most. We get a chance to talk with authors we have"known" for years. We can spread our love for their books and hopefully help others develop a love for reading as well. What better thing to share with people than a passion for something?
After that amazing summer of reading, I picked up several other books and slowly built a collection. Once in high school, I wasn't able to read as much but I always missed it. I didn't start reading again until July 2008. I went to the bookstore wanting to find a great book and what do you think I picked up? Twilight. I didn't know anything about the series but the cover grabbed my attention and the summary peaked my interest. I fell in love! I immediately grabbed New Moon, and Eclipse, and thankfully Breaking Dawn had just been released so I read it too. I read all four books 2 times and then decided to go to the bookstore to find more amazing reads. I did find several books that I loved. The Evernight series, Vampire Academy, House of Night; pretty much anything vampire related. I admit I was stuck on paranormal for a while.
Now, I read anything I can get my hands on but my love is still in young adult books. I still enjoy paranormal, but now I love dystopian, contemporary, romance, and more! I'd much rather read than watch TV. It's interesting to see how our reading habits change over time.
So, what is my new book obsession? Divergent, by the amazing Veronica Roth. This book is everything I enjoy wrapped up in a nice, pretty package. If you haven't ordered this book, do it! It's out now.
Many books are all amazing in their own way. But it takes a lot to really grab a reader. Certain books always seem to stick with me and it's impossible to get the story and characters out of my head. But isn't it great to feel so much passion towards a story? I'm amazed at the talent writers have and I'm thankful for all the work they go through to share their stories with me.
What were some of your book first-loves? What book are you obsessing over now?
Are you ever surprised by the large book community bloggers are apart of? What part of that do you enjoy the most?
I don't think I'm really surprised that there are so many people that want to share their love of books. I really like that there are now so many other people I can look to for book recommendations! - Kayla at Midnight Twilight's Book Blog Books bring people together; I think that's one of the reasons I love them. Even though reading is a solitary activity, it inadvertently creates a community. I've made some good friends within the community, and it's just a lot of fun to talk to everybody. — Nicole at WORD for Teens When I first started blogging I had no idea that there was such a large community of book bloggers. I had read a few blogs but that was it. I really didn't look in to it much! It was really overwhelming when I first realized how many bloggers were out there. I've loved getting to know people on twitter and at author events. It's so great to know others who get my obsession! — Heidi at YA Bibliophile The book community is truly amazing to me. Every time I start to lose my faith in humanity, I can turn to them and they reaffirm how wonderful people can truly be. My favorite part of this amazing group is being able to share the worlds we read about and the discussions we can all have about them. There is nothing better than a good book and good people to share it with! — Kelli at Scarlett's Scraps Yes, the number of book community bloggers often amazes me. I love looking through their reviews to find new books, and seeing the range of opinions about books I've loved. — Abigailann at The Story Factory Reading Zone Yes! There's so many out there and so many that I don't know about, it's a lot of fun and they're all very supportive at least most of the ones I've talked to. I love that I met some really great friends through the blogging community and we have a lot of things in common. — Cynthia at A Blog about Nothing Yes I am surprised I didn't realise how many bloggers there were to start of and that the community stretches around the world from the UK, to Austrailia to the US and place I have never even heard off. The part I enjoy the most is talking other bloggers and sharing are excitment of books that are out soon and being able to particpate in each other blog in some way either leaving a comment on a great post or even doing a guest post. — Megan at Reading Away the Days I love the community that we are all a part of and proud to be part of it. I would have to say my favorite part of this community is the support system thats out there. How bloggers will pull together to help there fellow bloggers out in hard situations. It makes me very proud and happy to have been part of this and looking forward to more time with them. Reagan at Star Shadow Blog Yes! I did not realize the community that was out there. Before I started blogging I did not pay attention to the blogging world. I love getting to know the many wonderful people out there who are all doing the same thing. We are sharing our love of reading and inspiring others to find great books. — Lisa at Bookworm Lisa I'm always surprised and that community never stops growing. I love it. I definitely love the book discussions. I try to talk books with my friends at school and no one, except Nora (my blog buddy) knows what I'm talking about. I love it that someone knows what I am talking about. — Gina at The Bucket List Yes, like I said, I was surprised. I didn't know this existed. The world of bo extends much further then the shelves of my local B&N and now I've found it. As for what I enjoy the most… the many bookish friends and authors I have met and all the fabulous books they have recommended to me. — Stacey at Flippin' Fabulous — A Reader's Record I am constantly surprised at how large the book blogosphere is, and so happy to be a part of it. I don't know that I have a favorite part, but I would love to meet bloggers who are local to me and put a face to the name. I also love that I follow blogs from all over the world, but we're all reading the same types of books (in many cases, at the same time!), and we're all pa ssionate about them. I also love how *nice* everyone is--I felt so welcomed as a new blogger. -Christi at Christi the Teen Librarian Yes, I am surprised that so many people are apart of the book blogging community. I enjoy reading recommendations, reviews and author interviews. — J.L. at J.L. Jackson Sometimes I am, I've got some book blogs I like to look at, and they make me wonder sometimes, but it's all fun. I will admit that my main reason for poking around the community, is to see what's coming up and what others think of it. There are some books that I wouldn't think twice on, that I end up getting because of what someone blogged about it. — Ellen at Silver Tabby Books I came into the blogging community when it was already quite large. Granted, it has absolutely exploded over the past year, but I never expected that it would remain small. We all want to be heard in life, and blogging provides that forum for millions of people who used to be silent. I enjoy the sense of community and camaraderie that we have as a book blogging community. We may have our dramas and issues, but if there is someone who needs help, we will come together in a huge way and help that person. The support the community provides is amazing and never fails to perk me up on a bad day. — Michelle at That's What She Read I was surprised at first that there were so many people online of all ages who loved reading the same books I do. I love discovering books I probably wouldn't of from other people's blogs and goodreads. — Cole at Through the Book Vine I have been surprised with the book community, but what has surprised me most is how friendships have developed through these blogs. I posted some pictures when my grandbaby was born and received so many congratulation comments. I love that people jump in and share happy moments or offer encouragement during tough times. — Ann at Cozy in Texas Oh my gosh I was astounded when I realized what a community this was! I love the exposure to books I might not have found on my own, or wouldn't have picked on my own, both through reviews posted on the blogs and the cool resources like NetGalley that I've discovered through other bloggers. — Cat at Cat's Thoughts Yes! when I first started I had NO idea that the blogging community was so big, or that I would meet so many nice people who share my love of reading. — Orchid at The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia When I started, I was aware there were book bloggers out there, but it wasn't until about six months into this gig that I realized how deep and broad that book blog universe really is. So, yes, I was very surprised by all the passion that's out there. It's so gratifying to know that all around the world, people are logging on, and spending hours upon hours writing about reading. Each new blog post written about books keeps the spirit of literature alive. It's like the flame of the Olympic torch being passed from runner to runner--we'll never let the love for books be extinguished. — David at Quivering Pen Blog Yes, all the time! I rarely knew people in real life who enjoyed reading like I do. It’s amazing getting to know so many people in the blogging community who are as enthusiastic about books as I am. Gushing over our shared love of books and swapping recommendations are my favorite parts of blogging. — Small at Small Reviews Oh yea, I was amazed that, as much of a bookworm as I am, I had been totally blind to the vast community of book bloggers there are on the internet. What I probably like the most is the fact that it is so big. It is so easy to find new book bloggers, even if they are not new to the community, and it is incredibly easy to locate a dozen or more reviews on just about any book that I am interested in. — Rachel at Jacob's Beloved's Books When I realized how active the book blogging community is, I was a bit overwhelmed. How can little ol' me contribute? But everyone I met was helpful and very nice. So I was inspired to take part and interact w/ other bloggers as well as authors, which is one of the things I enjoyed the most. Next is finding good books to read and even movies and music! — Len at Musings of a Reader Happy I am surprised every day at how big and active the book blogging community is. I love knowing that through the good times and the bad times that there is a group I can lean on for book recommendations, a listening ear or just to share the same hobby. — Kristin at Kritters Ramblings I am actually very surprised by the sheer size of the book community! Everywhere you turn, every book you see, there's a reviewer and a blog. I love going on Twitter and seeing all the talk about this book or that movie. The community is the biggest questionaire for all things books! The part I enjoy the most is finding out that other bloggers are just like me! You know, the"I have no idea what to write about,""why is this book that amazing?,"this series rules!" kind of people! — Nora at The Bookery I was both astounded and more than a little daunted by the large book community of bloggers. It almost made me question whether to go forward with my blog or not. But no matter what, my opinions are mine alone. And that is what I want to share, so why not make a blog? (: — Kim at Book Munchies I am surprised. Being in a small town, only about 6 of us teens love to read. The part I enjoy the most is being able to talk about books with a bunch of people with a bunch of opinions and discovering more and more books each day. — Lindsay at Just Another Book Addict YES! I find new blogs on a weekly basis and I love that. I love finding new ones that have a great point of view or a book taste that is similar to my own. — Shannon at Books Devoured
*Part 3 of 3 will be posted soon. USE GOOGLE if you want to know more about the blogoversary celebration.
Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia Publisher: Omnific Publishing (November 22nd, 2011) Adult: 17+ Paperback: 384 pages Source: Author/Publisher Rating: 4 of 5 stars He counts her smiles every day and night at the train station. And morning and evening, the beautiful commuter acknowledges him—just like she does everyone else on the platform. But Blake Hartt is not like the others.. he’s homeless. Memories of a broken childhood have robbed him of peace and twisted delusions into his soul. He stays secluded from the sun, sure the world would run from him in the harsh light of day.
Each day, Livia McHugh smiles politely and acknowledges her fellow commuters as she waits for the train to the city. She dismisses this kindness as nothing special, just like her. She’s the same as a million other girls—certainly no one to be cherished. But special or not, she smiles every day, never imagining that someone would rely on the simple gesture as if it were air to breathe.
When the moment comes that Livia must do more than smile, without hesitation she steps into the fray to defend the homeless man. And she's surprised to discover an inexplicable connection with her new friend. After danger subsides, their smiles become conversation. Their words usher in a friendship, which awakens something in each of them. But it’s not long before their bond must prove its strength. Entanglements from the past challenge both their love and their lives.
Blake’s heart beats for Livia’s, even if her hands have to keep its rhythm. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love never fails. Love never fails, right? Review: First, I'll say that this is, for sure, an adult novel! It is very raw, emotional, and heartbreaking in so many ways. I wasn't sure what to expect with this book but wow, I was blown away. Honestly, I think it could have easily been 3 different books. It was very complex with a ton of amazing characters and plot-lines going on at once.
I assumed from the summary that this book was mostly about Blake and Livia — I was wrong. It was so much more than that. Blake and Livia are only 1/10th of what's in this story. Poughkeepsie does start with the focus on Blake and Livia. Livia is so kind-hearted and she tries to care for Blake (who is homeless) in any way that he will let her. Their connection was simple but deep.
Through their relationship, we are introduced to several other main characters and that is when the story goes in a bunch of different directions. My favorite character was Beckett. Beckett is Blake's brother (through adoption) and he is incredibly protective. He is not the most moral person in the world but he does what he feels necessary in order to protect the people around him. He is dangerous, intimidating, and hot!
Although we meet a ton of characters in this story, I was easily able to keep up. Each character and POV held my attention. They were not"throw away" people that you forget about after the book is finished. I still remember each one and loved what they brought to the story.
My only tiny complaint with this book was just that I think it may have been better as a series. I wanted MORE. Maybe each brother should have had their own book? Mostly just so it could have been more drawn out and developed. Poughkeepsie is non-stop action and drama but maybe having a few books could have let each relationship shine a little more on their own.
Poughkeepsie is emotional and realistic. Each character has had their own struggles and they turned into their own version of a family. I highly enjoyed reading this story and I can't wait to read more from Debra Anastasia!
Recommended: ADULTS looking for a fabulous contemporary novel with a lot of grit and honesty.
