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This week Lisa (A Life Bound By Books) and I have shared with you our interview with Partials author Dan Wells and some of our favorite quotes from the book. Today we are doing an open discussion of the book where we share some of our thoughts and give readers a chance to join in and link up their review of Partials.

Discussion for Partials

Okay, my first thought when thinking of Partials is just how well it was written and how outstanding the characters were. Who was your favorite?

I agree that Partials was written amazingly. It was easy to grow attached to the characters and I think my favorite would have to be Kira, following by a tie between Marcus and Samm. Kira was incredibly smart and I liked how Well's took the time to let her work through her thoughts and figure things out. She's really strong too and to me that always makes a fantasic female lead. Marcus, he was a crack up! I think he had some of the best lines throughout the story and then Samm, he was a shocking surprise and yet still a huge mystery that I can't wait to learn more about in the next book. What about you, who was your favorite and why?

I agree 100%. Kira was amazing and I think it was wonderful how SMART she was. She didn't need anyone to show her the way, she really took charge. Marcus cracked me up. A lot of the book was focused around serious issues and his lines really created a nice distraction for a while. Samm was very surprising! One of my favorite things about this book was simply looking forward to Samm's moments to see what could be discovered from what he said. What did you think about the science part of the story?

To be honest, I was someone worried that the science part of the story would take over, but was happy that the writing made that part of the story fit in nicely and never took away from anything. That's the thing about Partials. There's so much in the story from various different genres that gave this book an amazing twist. In the end, I liked the science part of things. I wanted to see Kira work her way through things, to figure out the puzzle pieces before her. The science part of things really gave me a better chance to see just what a smart cookie she really is. The new"government" in Partials is written somewhat as a whole other character. What did you think of their choices for the people?

Very true. I was honestly worried I would be confused by the science part but it really grabbed my attention quick. It was nice to read a dystopian novel where we know exactly what happened to the humans. Many times that is overlooked. Partials is really a book that has a little bit of everything and that's one of the reasons why I think I enjoyed it so much. Now, as for the government and their choices, on one hand I can see why they worried so much about the people rebelling against them. Not many people were left and they needed order, but it was obvious that the pregnancy age was the biggest factor for the people (as it should have been). Their ideas weren't working so I think it was time for some new choices to be made but I couldn't help but feel bad for the adults in this book because they had literally lost everything.

The government was someone out of control. I cringed at the choices and laws they made for the world. I hated the control they had over everyone. Really, there were no choices left for a free person to make. The government did it all for you. I mean, I understand the need for humanity to continue, and the RM virus made that hard to do, but the control over people was just maddening! In the end, I LOVED Partials. It's one of the best books I've read in 2012 and I am in serious need for the sequel — Fragments in 2013. I really couldn't find anything that I didn't like about this title and I hope more people will pick this one up and fall in love just as much as I did.

Definitely! I had heard amazing things about it but it really blew me away. I can't wait for book 2 to see what happens to these characters next!
What did you guys think? Please leave us (spoiler-free) comments and we invite others to reply and join in. If you haven't read the book yet, just tell us what really makes you want to read it.

Prize:

• 1 winner will receive an ARC of Partials by Dan Wells.

• 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 April 14th.
• Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
• The form must be filled out to enter.

We wanted to do this feature as a way to promote a new release and get people involved in discussing the book. One of the best ways to find out about a book is to read the reviews.

Please feel free to link your review of PARTIALS that has been posted on your blog or Goodreads.
Rules: Please post ONLY your review of PARTIALS. Please provide the direct link in the linky. You can include your rating of the book.
Example of link: Confessions of a Bookaholic — Partials Review (5 stars)

We would love you to join the discussion about the book. Leave comments, tell us what you thought, tell us why you want to read it, or ask questions. PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE SPOILERS! We don't want to ruin it for others, but we'd love to see what everyone thought of the story.

I'd like to welcome Carla Buckley, author of "The Things That Keep Us Here, " as my guest. Everybody say, "Hello Carla."

Tell us a bit about you — who is Carla Buckley?
I’m a wife, mother of three, and coddler of two small dogs. Growing up, I was passionate about both art and writing, studied both in college, worked as an artist and a writer afterward, but it wasn’t until I decided to stay home following the birth of my first child that I narrowed my focus to writing.

How long did it take you to write "The Things That Keep Us Here?"
Six months to produce a draft I could share with my literary agent, another six months working on the feedback she gave me, then a final six months revising it with my editor.

Explain the process you went through after you had finished writing the novel.
Usually, after I’ve finished a manuscript and sent it off to my agent to be shopped to publishers, I immediately begin writing the next book. This time, however, I held off. The Things That Keep Us Here was a different kind of book to me, one that represented a huge leap forward in my writing, and I wanted to see how it fared before I re-committed myself to the writing process. The Things That Keep Us Here was turned down three times--because publishers didn’t want to touch the topic of bird flu--before it found a home at Bantam Dell, with an editor I’m privileged to call mine.

Do you have any writing habits or anything you HAD to do before sitting down to write the novel?
Years ago, a screenplay writer taught me how to plot according to a three-act structure, and that’s what I follow before I begin writing: I set up the three acts, each with their turning points, and pretty much lay out the entire novel in my head before I start.

There is a lot of scientific information that, as a non-scientist, sounds completely plausible in your novel; where did you get this information or are you a closet-scientist?
I am a confirmed non-scientist! In school, science terrified me, with all its intricacies and seeming irrelevance, and I avoided it wherever I could. It’s ironic, perhaps, that I married an environmental scientist, which allowed me to see science from a different perspective, and understand its own serene beauty. When I undertook to write The Things That Keep Us Here, I did a great deal of research: I read everything I could on avian influenza, and interviewed scientists from The Ohio State University who actually do the work that my character, Peter, does. It’s these scientists, whom I acknowledge in my book, who made the science leap from the page for me.

What is your favorite thing about your novel?
This is such a great question. I’d have to say it’s the turning point in the middle, where my character Ann, surrounded by death and fear and confusion, confronts who she really is at heart, and makes an impossible choice. For me, this is what my novel is really about: who are we deep inside, when we can’t rely on someone else to save or protect us, and how do we live with the choice we make? I’ve heard from many readers on this part of the book, which delights me.

If you had to describe "The Things That Keep Us Here" in three words — what words would you choose?
Frightening, poignant, and real

Where did the title come from?
My original title was Flu Season, which my publisher felt wasn’t a perfect match. Over the course of six or so months, I tried out other options: Six Hours, Flight Risk. My book was sold to the UK and Germany as Out of Thin Air. None were quite right. Finally, facing a catalog deadline, the senior people at Random House got together and brainstormed, and my editor called me the next morning with the final title, The Things That Keep Us Here. I’m deeply honored that my publishing house was so invested in finding the perfect title for me.

What are you currently working on?
My next book also focuses on a global threat, as shown from the perspective of the non-scientist. In it, a woman, long estranged from her hometown and her family, returns to find her sister dead and others sick from the same disease. Although I don't want to reveal the source of the illness, I will say it's based on a truly frightening phenomenon that few people are aware of, but scientists are looking into, and I predict it will start making headlines shortly.

What are you currently reading?
I’m halfway through two novels, both debuts. The Murderer’s Daughters, by Randy Susan Meyers, which is a heart-rending story about two young girls who witness their father’s murder of their mother, and how their lives are forever shaped. Meyers does a fantastic job of moving the action forward, and it’s hard to believe this is her first novel. And The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book so driven by voice as this one is, and I’m loving every page.

Where can you be found offline?
The very few hours that I’m not writing, I’m walking my dogs, working out at my local rec center, and ferrying my children around to their various activities. Sometimes, I make dinner! My sister is my writing partner (and the best writer I know), and we regularly get together for a many-hour lunch at a local sandwich shop to pound out various issues in both our works in progress.

Where can you be found online?
My website is my online home: www.google.com. There, readers can contact me, or reach me through Facebook, Twitter, goodreads, and LibraryThing.

Any last comments?
Thanks for hosting me here, Miss Remmers. It’s always a delight to meet another reader as passionate about books as I am!

Not only do Carla and I share a passion for reading — we also have similar roots. Her husband is from Northern Minnesota and it turns out that she frequently visits my own home town of Cass Lake, MN for summer vacations!

If you haven't read, "The Things That Keep Us Here, " you are definitely missing out. This is one of the best adult fiction books I've read. Highly recommend it.

Carla, thank you so much for stopping by!

Janice Gable Bashman is the author of WANTED UNDEAD OR ALIVE: Vampire Hunters and Other Kick-Ass Enemies of Evil. She also has written for THE BIG THRILL, NOVEL & SHORT STORY WRITER’S MARKET, THE WRITER, WILD RIVER REVIEW, and many others. She can be reached at www.janicegablebashman.com.
Jonathan Maberry is a NY Times bestseller, multiple Bram Stoker Award-winner and a writer for Marvel Comics. He has written a number of award-winning nonfiction books and novels on the paranormal and supernatural, including WANTED UNDEAD OR ALIVE, THE CRYPTOPEDIA, VAMPIRE UNIVERSE, THEY BITE, ZOMBIE CSU and PATIENT ZERO. He can be reached at www.jonathanmaberry.com.

Writers Who Changed Our Worlds
by Janice Gable Bashman and Jonathan Maberry

Readers. Writers. We all love a good book. Whether it’s a mystery, thriller, horror, fantasy, science fiction, etc. And we can all remember our favorites. Those books that kept us reading long after we should have stopped to do something else, the books that kept us up late into the night when we had school or work the next day. As authors we strive to be the one who does that to readers, whose work is so compelling it keeps readers from doing anything else but reading. Because, let’s face it. We all love a good book.
For our book WANTED UNDEAD OR ALIVE: Vampire Hunters and Other Kick-Ass Enemies of Evil, we interviewed tons of authors (and screenwriters, filmmakers, actors, and others) about their favorite good vs. evil book, movie, and comic, so we thought we’d discuss the writers that have influenced us over the years.
JANICE GABLE BASHMAN: There are so many writers I could list, but these are three that have influenced me tremendously.

SHIRLEY JACKSON—When I read Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery,” first published in 1948, I couldn’t believe the horror and the shock she elicited in only a few pages. It’s been at least 20 years since I first read the story and the memory of it still sends chills down my spine and makes me cringe. It’s a perfect blend of horror, suspense and ancient ritual. Characters so real you can’t help but relate to them and be thankful you aren’t them.

Jackson also wrote the incredible horror novel HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE, published in 1959.

Jackson’s work has affected me both as a reader and a writer.

JAMES ROLLINS—The thriller lover in me admires how James Rollins (DEEP FATHOM, ICE HUNT, ALTER OF EDEN, DOOMSDAY KEY, etc.) combines action-adventure with science, exploration, mystery, fear, horror, archeology, etc. to create a story that always keeps me turning the pages. As a writer, I look at his work and am amazed at how he pulls it off, how he combines so many factors to create a plausible and enjoyable read. But he does… and that’s the beauty of it.

WALTER MOSLEY—I’m a big fan of Walter Mosley’s stories featuring Socrates Fortlow (ALWAYS OUTNUMBERED, ALWAYS OUTGUNNED; WALKIN’ THE DOG; THE RIGHT MISTAKE). How he describes his characters. The language he uses to create his tales. How every sentence, every word, is chosen for its precise meaning. How the spot-on dialogue makes the characters so vivid. How he tells the story of real people in real situations doing real things but fills those stories with so much meaning. To study Walter Mosley’s stories is a great lesson in writing.

JONATHAN MABERRY:

RICHARD MATHESON: I met Matheson when I was fourteen, and he took some time to have a few long chats with me about writing, creativity, the business of publishing, and about developing an analytical mind. Matheson’s novels are always different, always hard to classify, and often cross-genre. His 1954 classic, I AM LEGEND, is the first real blend of hard science and true horror; and the underlying metaphors of xenophobia, classicism and societal perception are as dead on-target now as they were then. Shame the filmmakers seem to miss Matheson’s whole point, which is alluded to in the title! His other works are equally layered and compelling: THE SHRINKING MAN, THE LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE, WHAT DREAMS MAY COME, STIR OF ECHOES… the list goes on and on.

JAMES LEE BURKE: Burke is probably my favorite living author. His writing is lush, descriptive, subtle, gritty, and always compelling. His Dave Robicheaux novels in particular are filled with sensual phrasing and visceral scenes that make all five of your senses come alive while reading. I particularly love BLACK CHERRY BLUES for its insights into corruption, heroism and redemption; THE TIN-ROOF BLOWDOWN, for the unflinching way Burke presents the social and cultural devastation that resulted from the government’s mishandling of Katrina; and THE GLASS RAINBOW, for showing that even eighteen books into a series that has unfolded over 23 years, Burke still manages to surprise his readers.

JOHN D. MacDONALD: MacDonald’s most celebrated creation was the intellectual boat bum, Travis McGee. Irascible, occasionally antisocial, charming, charismatic, and frequently anti-establishment, Travis is the model for the ‘thinking person’s hero’. The stories were meticulously plotted and laid out along devious pathways that not only made the books a thrill to read for the first time, but a pleasure to re-read. No one has tried to out-MacDonald MacDonald, and that’s a good thing. He was the sharpest knife in the literary drawer. And the books are just so damn much fun!
WANTED UNDEAD OR ALIVE deals with the struggle of good vs evil in film, comics, pop culture, world myth, literature, and the real world. Everything from ghosts to vampire slayers to paranormal investigators to FBI serial-killer profilers. It includes interviews with folks like Stan Lee, Mike Mignola, Jason Aaron, Fred Van Lente, Peter Straub, Charlaine Harris and many more; and the book is fully illustrated by top horror, comics & fantasy artists. In stores everywhere.

Wanted Undead or Alive: Vampire Hunters and Other Kick-Ass Enemies of Evil by Jonathan Maberry & Janice Gable Bashman Publisher: Citadel (September 1st, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 320 pages Discover the nature of Evil- and how to kick its butt!

These days you can-t swing an undead lycanthrope without hitting a Minion of Evil. They-re everywhere-TV, film, the basement-right behind you! It-s never been more important to know what you can do to keep them at bay. Garlic? silver bullets? holy water? torch-wielding mob?

From today-s foremost experts on nightmares-come-to-life, this indispensible guide identifies and describes mankind-s enemies-supernatural beasts, ghosts, vampires, serial killers, etc.-and unearths effective time-proven responses to each horrific threat.

Separate fact from fiction, the deadly from the merely creepy. Learn when to stand your ground and when to run screaming for your life. Determine which monster-specific heroes to call and their likelihood of success. Consider your own potential as a Champion for Good, Conqueror of the Damned.

Whether we-re talking ancient vampire hunters or modern-day FBI profilers, it-s good to know someone-s got your back in the eternal struggle between Good and Evil. And this book, with over fifty illustrations, as well as commentary from luminaries like filmmaker John Carpenter, author Peter Straub, and the legendary Stan Lee, provides all the information and reassurance you need to sleep soundly at night.

Just not too soundly.

Thank you so much Janice and Jonathan for being on my blog today!
For more information Janice Gable Bashman / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads
Jonathan Maberry / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

Purchase from: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

Partials by Dan Wells
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (February 28th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardback: 472 pages
Source: Publisher
Series: Partials #1
Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the world’s population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island. The threat of the partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to the disease in over a decade. Humanity’s time is running out.

When sixteen-year-old Kira learns of her best friend’s pregnancy, she’s determined to find a solution. Then one rash decision forces Kira to flee her community with the unlikeliest of allies. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that the survival of both humans and partials rests in her attempts to answer questions of the war’s origin that she never knew to ask.

Review:

Kira is a medic. She is a 16-year-old who is intelligent far beyond her years, and her and her friends are well aware of the issues that plague the human race. To make things worse, it's not just the virus causing issues. Politics are causing people to rebel and n ow the leaders are trying to show more power as a way to make people listen.

Soon, Kira comes up with a plan that she feels will help save the humans. She will study a Partial, an engineered being that everyone feels is responsible for the spread of the virus years ago. Her and her friends go into dangerous territory to find a Partial and this journey shows her a lot more than she expected.

Dan Wells is a brilliant writer. The world we are introduced to in Partials is scary, desolate, and all too possible. A virus spreading quickly across the planet is a real threat so I think that's why Partials is such a frighting story. Dan brought a lot of science into this story. He didn't leave us with questions as to what exactly had happened to the rest of the humans. We know about the virus, what it did to the victims, and how it spreads. I loved that the readers can really feel like they take part in deconstructing the virus itself and seeing what can be done to stop it. This was really a book that allows readers to step back and think about what's going on, and attempt to figure it out with the characters.

Although few humans survived, I got a good idea of how the remaining population lived in their new surroundings. The young adults (and very young teens) were critical to the survival of the race. The political figures always made that clear and in a way it showed how the younger population had more power than one would think

The characters we meet in Partials were so well developed and interesting. Kira was intelligent, focused, and extraordinarily brave. She thought of herself last. Her friends were always at the top of her list. Kira's friends were each so different and brought so much to the story.

Probably the most surprising part of this book to me was just the visuals. Dan Wells used honest, descriptive language to describe a world that is harsh and ruined. Everything from the broken roads, abandoned homes and skyscrapers, decaying remains, and wild animals were things I could picture with such clarity. I saw it like a movie or one of those Discovery shows that that go through what would happen if humans didn't exist. It's so frightening.

If you are thinking of taking a chance and reading a post-apocalyptic/dystopian novel, pick up Partials!

Dan Wells did a remarkable job bringing this world to light and showing a harsh reality. Partials had everything I could hope for in a fabulous YA novel!

Recommended: Lovers of post-apocalyptic/dystopian, science fiction, with strong characters and outstanding world-building.

Author | Goodreads | Twitter

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Continuing today's unofficial theme, here is another holiday article from the author of "I Used to Know That," which I will be reading/reviewing in the very near future. Thanks to Caitlin from FSB Associates for providing me with this article.

12 Days and 12 Facts for This Holiday Season — Caroline Taggart Author of I Used to Know That: Stuff You Forgot From School

Ever catch yourself saying I Used to Know That?

Each holiday season brings another round of cocktail parties, family get-togethers, and corporate gatherings — and invariably, lots of small talk. It's easy to feel overwhelmed when discussing politics, literature, and other intellectual "stuff," especially when what is thought to be general knowledge is often long-forgotten. Enter I Used to Know That: Stuff You Forgot From School. From English and Literature to Math and Science, from History and Geography to Religion and Other-Worldly Topics, this book leaves you equipped to handle any topic of conversation.

Here we've cherry-picked twelve fun facts for the holiday season — one for every day of Christmas (or whatever holiday you prefer!) Quiz yourself to see how much "stuff" you need to brush up on before hobnobbing with the boss or office crush.

1. On building sentences: Just what is a "clause"? (Not to be confused with Santa Claus.)

Answer: A clause contains a subject and a verb and may stand alone as a sentence or as part of a sentence (when it is often called a subordinate clause): Santa Claus loves cookies but can't eat them without milk.

2. How many bones is the spine made up of?

Answer: 26 small bones called vertebrae (Be careful lifting all those heavy holiday boxes.)

3. Acclaimed author Charles Dickens (1812-70) wrote which Christmas classic?

Answer: A Christmas Carol. The miserly Ebenezer Scrooge tries to ignore Christmas and is haunted by the ghost of his former partner, Marley, and by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, who show him the error of his ways.

4. The fist chapter of this famous book opens with "Call me Ishmael." Name the book and author. (Hint: it makes a whale of a gift!)

Answer: Moby Dick by Herman Melville. Melville is also the author of Pierre and the unfinished Billy Budd.

5. There's a name for the process of watering your Christmas tree? Who knew?

Answer: Grab the kids and give them this science factoid as they nurture the family tree: Osmosis is a form of diffusion that is specific to the movement of water. Water moves through a selectively permeable membrane (that is, one that lets some types of molecules through but not others) from a place where there is a higher concentration of water to one where it is lower.

6. Can you name all 6 wives of Henry VIII, father of the Church of England?

Answer: (Listed in order) Catherine, Anne, Jane, Anne, Catherine, Catherine. They are often remembered as divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. Sure makes you think twice when complaining about bad relatives.

7. Who was the 7th President of the United States?

Answer: Abraham Lincoln (R, 1861-65) and yes — he really was born in a log cabin on a winter's day. Notably famous for many reasons including his Gettysburg Address: "Four Score and Seven Years ago our fathers brought fourth upon this continent a new nation conceived in Liberty... "

8. 'Tis the season to be jolly giving! Don’t forget to tip well this season — etiquette coaches will tell you that means no less than 18%. So just how much should you tip on a bill of $50?

Answer: Percent means by a hundred, so anything expressed as a percentage is a fraction (or part, if you prefer) of 100. So 18% is 18 parts of 100, or 18/100 or. 18. If your bill is $50, multiply 50 by. 18 to get your tip total of $9. If you're feeling generous, a 20% tip would require you to multiply 50 by. 20, for a total of $10.00

50.00 x. 18 = 9.00

50.00 x. 20 = 10.00

Percentages can also be holiday-relevant when it comes to figuring out in-store sales. In this case, you want to multiply by the inverse of the percentage listed. So if you have a $50 sweater that's on sale for 25% off, multiply 50 by. 75 for your total of $37.50. That same $50 sweater on sale for 40% off would equate to $30, or $50 multiplied by. 60.

50.00 x. 75 = 37.50

50.00 x. 60 = 30.00

9. Brr, it's cold outside. But just how cold does it have to be to get some snow around here?

Answer: Did you know that the freezing point of water is 32 degrees Fahrenheit? Keep an eye on the temperature and watch your footing for ice on the ground. (See previous fact about those treasured vertebrae!)

10. Everyone knows Santa and his elves live in the North Pole. But what about the South Pole (aka Antarctica)?

Answer: The South Pole was discovered by Roald Amundsen (1872-1928, Norwegian), who was also the first to sail though the Northwest passage, the sea route from Pacific to Atlantic along the north coast of North America. Antarctica is the only continent that contains no countries — instead, it is a stateless territory protected from exploitation by an international treaty. A good place for the elves to protest low wages?

11. Which Ocean is bigger: the Pacific or the Atlantic?

Answer: The Pacific Ocean is larger at 69,374 square miles — that's almost double the Atlantic, which comes in at 35,665 square miles. Making it evenmore astonishing that St. Nick can cross the globe in just one night.

12. Remember the reason for the Season! Can you name a few things that both Judaism and Christianity have in common?

Answer: Both are monotheistic religions that share the first five books of the Christian Old Testament. Both religions view Jerusalem as a sacred site, the former for the Wailing Wall (contains the remains of the temple that was thought to be the place where God resides on earth) and the latter for Christ's burial and resurrection site.

Happy Holidays to all!

©2009 Caroline Taggart, author of I Used to Know That: Stuff You Forgot From School

Author Bio Caroline Taggart, author of I Used to Know That: Stuff You Forgot From School, has been an editor of non-fiction books for nearly 30 years and has covered nearly every subject from natural history and business to gardening and astronomy. She has written several books and was the editor of Writer's Market UK 2009.

This year we have 23 authors that I'll be featuring over 7 days and each day you'll have a chance to enter to win! There's also a scavenger hunt going on, so be sure to check out The Crossroads Tour Post to see what questions will be asked, what blog you'll be able to find the answer on and enter to win!
Today I am featuring Dorothy Dreyer, Sarah Bromley, and Ty Drago. Be sure to check out the rafflecopter giveaway, too!

1. Tell us what makes Zadie such a great character. What are a few things we need to know about her personality?

Zadie is no ordinary girl, as one might be able to gather from the book blurb. She has powers, though she doesn’t quite know how to control them. But I don’t think it’s her powers that make her so great; I think it’s the love she has of her family. She would go to any lengths to protect them, to save them, and to keep them alive. She has a big heart she just has to learn to trust it.

2. Share with us your favorite line from My Sister’s Reaper.

The leather cover was smooth under my fingertips, worn with age, but the photograph tucked along its binding grated against my heart like sandpaper.

1. A Murder of Magpies will be coming out next year. What can you tell us about the book?

I wrote the book in 2008 after a hiatus during which my first two children were born. Vayda and Ward were both so strong in my head, and I knew there was no putting off their story. I am firm believer that the things our parents do can trickle down and, in some cases, taint us. Curse us. Vayda and her twin, Jonah, experience a lot of that, and Ward does as well. Vayda and Jonah come from a background of murder and scandal and have been in hiding in Black Orchard for two years. Ward is the first person either of them has grown to trust, and they know it can go terribly wrong in a heartbeat. They fight against expectations placed on them, but as they do so, they all uncover secrets about their families, truths they weren’t prepared to face.

2. Can you share an excerpt from the story?

I can! My publisher, Month9Books, LLC, has been gracious in letting me give you the first sneak peek at the book with the entire first chapter of A MURDER OF MAGPIES!
__________________

Chapter One

Vayda

I always swore Jonah would blow our cover, and today looked ideal for a catastrophe.

We’d seen disasters, somehow crawled out of the rubble and lived. They didn’t just happen, all explosive and bombastic at once so that we had no doubt everything had changed. No, a real disaster began with a slip-up, a spark of fire that rose in the air and snuffed out. But when the ash landed, it was still hot enough to burn, and from that ember, everything we knew went up in flames.

It had happened before. I had reason to fear it would happen again.

My fingers drummed on the time-scarred armrest on a chair in Monsignor Judd’s office. Someone etched a cross into the wood five, ten, maybe twenty years ago. In an ornate stained glass window, there was no comfort in the saint’s face, only my guilt for not knowing the saint’s name. Outside the office, Monsignor stood with his fingers steepled while the heating vent blew the draping of his cassock. His ear turned to the young nun whispering with him over the manila folder of Jonah’s permanent record. Curls snaked out from her nun’s habit, and her eyes slid to watch me. Dull, dark. Nearly dead.

My hands grew warmer. I forced my breathing to slow. Calm down, Vayda girl. Nothing to get too worked up over yet.

Not easy when I was literally a magnet for emotion.

Slouching low in his chair, Jonah fidgeted with a hole in his blue trousers. A bruise purpled his cheekbone. His heat, a mix of emotion and energy, radiated with an intensity that further prickled my hands until they were scorching. I needed to cool down, put everything on ice to stabilize both myself and Jonah. I exhaled in hopes for a cold breath. I wasn’t built to absorb my twin’s fury.

You outdid yourself this time. I pointed the thought to his mind like a laser. Do you honestly think fighting with Marty Pifkin is worth all this trouble?

He avoided eye contact, naturally. That didn’t mean he didn’t hear me. And he answered soon enough, silent to all but me. Dad’s already gonna read me the riot act. Don’t give me any grief, especially since I was defending you.

Defending me from Marty Pifkin of all people. Let it go. What’s done is done. I didn’t know whether to give my brother a good wallop upside the head like our mom would have or pray we’d skate on by. Keep at it, Jonah, and people will notice what you can do. Deliberately throwing a desk without using your hands isn’t exactly wisdom for the ages.

Why don’t you keep that in mind the next time you lose it and break all the light bulbs in the science lab? He swiped a rogue strand of long, dark hair from his face. You lack subtlety and finesse, Sis.

Subtlety. Finesse. Words sixteen-year-old boys knew oh-so-much about. I choked on a laugh and lowered my eyes to the natty, blue Chucks I paired with the Catholic school-issued plaid, wool skirt and tights. Even when I wasn’t in school, I wore long skirts most days. I could move my legs and didn’t feel so caged in.

Brushing away the glass dust on my skirt, I overlooked the blood drying on my hands and clasped them together. They were less dangerous that way.

The door to the office lobby opened. The new nun’s floor-length dress gave her the look of a black dandelion seed gliding into Monsignor’s office. He followed then finally my father walked in last, the scent of wood dust clinging to his clothes. Most parents visiting St. Anthony of Padua High School rolled in wearing suits or golf attire, and then there was Dad with his New Glarus brewery shirt and vanish-splattered jeans—evidence he’d been working on restorations when called to the school.

Even if the fight between my brother and Marty hadn’t already strained my mental barriers, I would’ve noticed the disappointment coming off Dad. He had so many of what he termed cardinal rules for Jonah and me, and right then, one whispered in my conscience: There’s a devil on every man’s shoulder, whispering in his ear. Only he decides if he’ll throw salt at the devil or feed him his soul.

“What happened, Magpie?” Dad asked, a Georgia-born drawl buttering his voice, as he checked out the cuts on my hand.

“Broken glass,” I answered.

“You ought to be more mindful, don’t you think?”

His question had everything and nothing to do with breaking glass.

Monsignor cleared his throat. “Sorry to have you back in my office so soon, Mr. Silver.”

“Twice in one week is overkill.” Dad stood behind Jonah and me, a hand on each of our shoulders.

“I’ve spoken with our new staff psychologist, Sister Polly Tremblay.” Monsignor introduced the new nun. “She was hired this year after Dr. Fernandez took a position in Madison. Sister is a licensed practitioner, educator, and bride of Christ.”

Dad raised an eyebrow. “Is she now? That’s all very impressive, Sister. Do you go by Sister Polly or Sister Tremblay?”

The nun blinked twice, no emotion registering on her face. “Sister Tremblay. Polly is from my past life.”

Monsignor grabbed the manila folder from the nun’s hands and hurried through his words. His hurrying, seemingly to get us out of his office and be done with us, made blots of sweat rise along my widow’s peak. “Sister Tremblay has acquainted herself with Jonah’s file and feels he may benefit from some sessions with her. Mr. Silver, your family came to Wisconsin two years ago, but of the people I’ve spoken with, no one really knows you.”

“I see you’re a widower running an antiques business,” Sister Tremblay added.

“What’s that got to do with anything?” Dad snapped.

“The adjustment period after moving, especially when grieving and moving, can be prolonged. In that regard, two years isn’t very long at all,” Sister Tremblay answered. “Teenagers tend to cope by acting out. And if you’re as busy as I suspect—”

“I’ve got time for my kids,” Dad argued. “Always.”

The heating vent blasted more hot air into the office. My brother beside me, silent, burned with frustration, and my shoulders tightened. I crackled my knuckles, all too aware of how the lights dimmed as I did so.

Monsignor let out a sigh. “Sister Tremblay is only suggesting that talking to someone away from family could be good for Jonah.”

There was no outside the family. There never was. Hard to make friends and get past the New Kid stigma when we were either cooped up at home or at Dad’s shop under his watchful eye. No wonder our classmates thought we were weird—we were.

The hairs on the back of my neck stiffened, and I shifted in my chair for a better view into the lobby where another boy waited to talk with Monsignor. His hair curling near his jaw was the color of liquid cinnamon dashed with espresso, and a wire umbilical cord tethered an iPod to his ears as he held an icepack to his bottom lip.

Jonah’s sort of friend, Ward.

He averted his eyes from mine.

My hands grew hot again, and the overhead lights flickered, this time drawing everyone’s eyes to the ceiling. Dad’s grip pumped my shoulder.

Jonah stretched his legs. “I’m not seeing no damn shrink. Marty Pifkin’s got everyone wrapped around his finger.”

“Here we go again,” I muttered. “Jonah, stop it.”

“That guy is a creeper, and—”

I looked to Dad for sympathy. “Marty asked to compare answers on our homework and Jonah lost it.”

“—he was bothering Vayda,” my brother talked over me. “Guys like that shouldn’t be talking to her. He’s gaje. I didn’t throw the first punch, didn’t ask for Ward’s help. I barely know the kid.”

Monsignor waited until Jonah and I both quieted down. “What’s gaje?”

Jonah gave Dad a pleading look, but Dad confessed, “It means outsider, though it seems we’re the outsiders here.”

Monsignor gave a satisfied nod. “Marty claims Jonah threw a desk. That’s not behavior that will go unpunished.”

“And the physics’ lab? Every light was broken.” Sister Tremblay crossed her arms.

I sank into my chair and hid behind my hair. Those dull eyes couldn’t be avoided. I wanted out of the office. Now.

The flickering of the overhead lights grew faster. I shuddered, not cold but burning up. The poster of a kitten clinging to a clothesline cheering “Hang in there!” obviously didn’t know how fragile my grip was when so many emotion flooded a room. Usually, I could keep it together with mental barriers to deflect the constant flow of others’ feelings, but so much tension …

“You’re seriously suggesting a couple of kids broke every light bulb just like that?” Dad’s voice rose. He gestured to the palsied lights above our heads. “Y’all would be better off hiring an electrician before the school burns down.”

The room skewed left, and my vision blurred and head dizzied. Too hot, cluttered. My hands—I shut my eyes.

Energy. Rising. Must release!

Crack! A fracture drove down the length of the fluorescent light above the desk. Sister Tremblay yelped and snatched Jonah’s folder to her chest.

“Hell of a power surge.” Jonah’s black eyes searched for a way into my mind. I flung up a barrier to keep him out. Not gonna let him in, not this time. He was worried, but nothing was wrong. Except that I felt like I could spew red, white, and blue.

“Vayda, go get some fresh air,” Dad ordered. “You look flushed.”

Monsignor dismissed me, and with the expected curtsey before hoisting my backpack onto my shoulder, I cracked my knuckles one last time to diffuse the energy swelling in my hands. I stepped out of the office, out of the glow of the stained glass window, and paced near the chairs where Ward waited. Jonah started this whole mess. Marty had done nothing to me. This time. Marty never listened until Jonah made him last spring. Ever since then, Jonah had his eyes and his anger on Marty. Anything Jonah felt, I felt ten times worse. When he was happy, he was very happy, but when he was angry, he was furious.

Mom had been the same way.

“I promise you won’t go belly-up if you hold still.” Ward’s voice was deep, raw honey. His head rested against his chair, eyes shut, yet I knew he’d been watching me.

His left eye opened a crack, and I gave him a weak smile. My ears liked his voice.

Ward had been at our school only since Monday, and already he’d been cast into the same social boneyard where Jonah and I had roamed since we transferred in after Christmas break nearly two years ago. We’d tried blending with the nameless, faceless uniforms, but it wasn’t so simple. The other students never warmed to us, or we to them. We weren’t from here. We didn’t look or act like them. We were among the Avoided. But, as of yesterday, we had a shadow. A gaje shadow.

“How’s your hand?” Ward asked.

I eyed my brother and father talking to Monsignor. That Jonah hadn’t chased off Ward was a tacit tolerance of him. “A few cuts. I’ll live.” I twisted my black hair, which was long enough to skim my hips. “You hardly needed to play the white knight. Marty’s not much of a dragon, more like a salamander.”

“Maybe I like fighting salamanders.”

Chipped gray polish colored his fingernails. Artsy in an I-don’t-give-a-damn-I’ll-wear-it-if-it’s-clean way. If Monsignor noticed, that’d earn him a detention or two.

“Listen, gajo.” He didn’t deserve to be shoved to the outskirts all because of my cavalier brother. He needed to back off. While he still could. “Marty won’t bother you if you don’t bother him. Tangling with him will never be forgotten.”

His mouth twitched, neither a grin nor a frown. “I don’t scare easily.”

He slipped on his headphones and closed his eyes once more. Must be nice to be so untouched, unfazed. Must be peaceful.

“Hey,” I called. He lifted one side of his headphones. “What are you listening to?”

“Music.”

Smart ass.

Thud!

Ward’s eyes popped open and landed on the overturned chair in Monsignor’s office. A chair no one had been sitting in. Dad’s muffled voice came fast as he pulled Jonah by the arm. From the dark expression on his face, we were in for a major talking to.

“We need to leave. Now,” Dad said as he steered Jonah out of the office.

There would be no explanation to Ward of why we were leaving so fast. Dad whisked my brother and me out of Monsignor’s office, past the sanctuary where our footfalls echoed on wood floors polished by nuns until glistening. The school was a dour extension of a century-old Catholic parish. The walls in the language arts’ wing were painted rich blue, the Virgin’s color. Hung between classrooms were carvings from the Stations of the Cross, thick with dust except for the Christ’s eyes, which followed us and knew my family’s secrets and sins.

Outside was better. Riding in the car, the windows were lowered to allow in the fire-musk smell of mid-October leaves, but there was something else, an odor of buried things deep in the black earth. Dad steered into a parking lot by a grocery store. With the silence in the car, I couldn’t push back the memory of the last time we pulled over like this. Instead of a parking lot, it’d been off a highway in a forest in northern Georgia and, with the haze of morning fog guarding the Chevy we’d escaped in, Dad had vowed we were going straight to Wisconsin. There, we would start over.

Find someplace new. Claim different names.

Dad pushed his fingers through his black hair streaked with silver and set his green eyes, the same shade as mine, on my reflection in the rearview mirror. “This stops now. Your mama might’ve called what y’all do Mind Games.” The last two words were spoken slowly. “But I won’t play.”

“Yes, Sir,” Jonah and I answered.

“Mind Games, if you must work them, are private. Working them in public is how your mama found trouble.” He twisted his wedding band. “We can’t risk a repeat of Georgia.”

I jerked my head to look out the window. Black Orchard, Wisconsin. Such a pretty town despite its eerie name. Easter egg colored Victorian homes lined the streets, and people spoke with northern accents that sounded friendly no matter what was said. But pretty towns and nice people could turn on you.

Last time that happened, we escaped with nothing but our lives.

If it happened again, would we even have that?

1. What can you tell us about the third book in The Undertakers series?

SECRET OF THE CORPSE EATER raises the Undertakers’ adventures to a whole new level. The Corpses have launched a daring new scheme down in Washington D.C.: they’ve somehow replaced a sitting U.S. senator with one of their own, a trick that’s supposed to be impossible. But when Will and Sharyn go undercover as Senate Pages to foil the plot, they get even more than they bargained for. Because something haunts the hallowed halls of the U.S. Capitol Building. Something big and strong and impossibly fast. Something that seems to have a taste for Corpses!

But can the enemy of your enemy truly be your friend?

2. Can you tell us one word you’d use to describe Will and each of his friends?

I’ll try!

Will Ritter: Reckless
Helene Boettcher: Courageous
Dave “The Burgermeister” Burger: Loyal
Tom Jefferson: Noble
Sharyn Jefferson: Fearless

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1. Can you tell us a little about your experiences with bloggers?

It’s been great! I’ve been overwhelmed at the “blogosphere’s” response to SHADE in particular. *blushes* A writer friend of mine compared YA book blogdom to science fiction/fantasy fandom, because they’ve formed a friendly, passionate community around the thing they love most—books! — Jeri Smith-Ready

I love bloggers! They have really helped me get the word out about my new books. I've made a lot of friends all over the world--Spain, France, New Zealand--and we stay in touch. They've helped run contests, review my books, and connect me with other bloggers and fellow bookophiles. — Nancy Holder

In one word, bloggers ROCK! My experience has been almost 100% positive. As a debut author without the backing of a major publisher, I’m responsible for all of my marketing. One of the first things I did was look for bloggers who might want to review my book. I contacted 10 at first and received 9 yes’s. One or two didn’t get the reviews done, but I really was overwhelmed with the kindness and excitement everyone else had about reading my story. Then others contacted me, asking me to please, please, please send them a copy. No book that’s been read by a decent amount of people is going to get all glowing reviews – there’s just no way everyone is going to love our books – and I’ve had a few that were not so stellar. But they’re usually written well and make great points, whether the reviewer liked the book or not. There have been a couple that seemed to be written just to hurt the author and these just make me sad for both the author (me or someone else) and the reviewer because they’re not helpful at all and only create bad feelings. Most bloggers, though, give so much heart and soul to their reviews and to their blogs that you know they’ve really considered what they’re writing and how it will affect both writers and readers. — Kristie Cook

I’ve had really good experiences with bloggers. Even if I don’t fully agree with a review, I respect the fact that someone took the time to read my book and write about it. Sometimes a blogger will pose a question, and I’ll follow up in the comments section. I seem to startle bloggers when I do that, which leads me to believe there are some that don’t have the time to post. I hope I will continue to be able to follow and contribute to the blogs. I figure if you took the time to write the article or a review I will take the time to thank you. Even if you spelled my heroine’s name wrong (wink). — Jana Oliver

When my first book, Redemption, came out in 2004, I wasn’t aware of bloggers. This time around, for Deadly, I realized that bloggers were really, in essence, rabid book lovers. Being a book lover myself, I could identify. Actually communicating with bloggers to ask for reviews and interviews was a bit scary for me (I feel a little funny promoting my self/book.) Some bloggers were highly receptive and communicative, and some less so. It was important to pair my book not just with the bloggers who’d be receptive, but also with bloggers who were interested in my kind of work, this historical medical mystery type thing. It took me awhile to understand how important that was. — Julie Chibbaro

I count bloggers as some of the best experiences I've had since being published. I had no idea such a community of women existed before. Some of my most joyful moments came from reading their reviews, because they are the real reader. These are true representatives of the people buying and reading my books. — Janenifer DeLucy

I went to my first kidlit blogger conference a few years ago, but honestly I had no idea the YA blogger community was so vast until Kristi at The Story Siren chose Tell Me a Secret for her 2010 Debut Author Challenge. Since then I’ve met some of you in person at events, had coffee with others, and have happily visited your blogs as a guest and on tour. You are celebrities to me! — Holly Cupala

I love bloggers! They have been so wonderful--they care about books and about spreading the word on good books. They're like the librarians of the online world. — Beth Revis

My experience with bloggers has been absolutely amazing! I first learned about book bloggers when I joined Twitter last year. I was very flattered by the warm welcome they gave me, and I continue to be so grateful for their excitement and enthusiasm about Other Words for Love. — Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

The funny thing about bloggers is that most of the time they are indistinguishable from readers. I can be talking to someone about books on twitter, goodreads, or wherever, and I'll be completely surprised to hear that person's a blogger. It just goes to show that anyone can develop strong opinions about literature and present them in a convincing way via a blog. As a result, I've come into contact with such a wide variety of opinions about different books that it's really helped broaden my sense of what readers are looking for. Because we're all a little different, I have a theory that no two people ever really read the same book, and so it's wonderful to read reviews on a number of blogs to see the variety of ideas and perceptions. — Jason Letts

Bloggers in general have been nothing but ah-maz-ing to me! Without their undying promotion and love of books, getting word out about great novels would be harder to come by. Many of these bloggers (including you) are now my closer online friends and they warm my heart with their kindness. — Brenda Pandos

* The second question for the bloggers will be posted tomorrow in 3 parts. USE GOOGLE if you want to know more about the blogoversary celebration.

Ghost Orphans By Julie Chibbaro We were poor, living on pasta and potatoes, when the call came. A miracle job, my husband hired as caretaker for a decrepit estate on a bluff overlooking the Hudson River. The rich, absentee owners let us live in the old carriage house, one of eight buildings that made up the complex. Except for us, the vast, decayed estate was abandoned. New to town, we heard rumors about the estate: once a Catholic missonary, once owned by a Civil War general, once bought by an alcoholic turkey hunter, once an orphan home for boys. Some boys didn’t do well, we heard. Their bodies buried under slabs of concrete, burned in the firepit, their bones thrown to coyotes in the hills. They disappeared without a trace. Through dark walkways that led off into shadowy rooms, our little carriage house connected to other buildings. We heard they were dormitories, school rooms, changing stations. We heard motherless sons slept here. One afternoon, the wind off the bluff echoing through the untended rooms, I heard the sound of laughter. Small children’s voices? Was it just wind? Or was there someone outside? I got up from my desk and listened.

I took hold of my fear, unlocked the connecting door to the outer walkway with all its dark passages, and crept down the hall. Numbers still painted on doors, I wondered about the boys. Were they really torn limb from limb, as one neighbor said? I entered a room and slowly opened the door to a closet. Fully dressed bodies of children lay on the floor. I jumped back, stifling a scream. I turned and ran for my husband, working on the property. When we came back, he went straight to the closet and picked up a body, its limp limbs hanging over his arms. Suddenly I felt foolish, looking at it all floppy. “It’s a doll,” he said. He tried very hard not to smirk. The ‘bodies’ were only well-dressed, children-sized dolls, left by some lonely orphans who might have been thinking of their lost parents as they lay alone in their cold beds.

Deadly by Julie Chibbaro Publisher: Atheneum (February 22nd, 2011) Hardcover: 304 pages A mysterious outbreak of typhoid fever is sweeping New York. Could the city’s future rest with its most unlikely scientist? If Prudence Galewski is ever going to get out of Mrs. Browning’s esteemed School for Girls, she must demonstrate her refinement and charm by securing a job appropriate for a young lady. But Prudence isn’t like the other girls. She is fascinated by how the human body works and why it fails. With a stroke of luck, she lands a position in a laboratory, where she is swept into an investigation of the fever bound to change medical history. Prudence quickly learns that an inquiry of this proportion is not confined to the lab. From ritzy mansions to shady bars and rundown tenements, she explores every potential cause of the disease. But there’s no answer in sight—until the volatile Mary Mallon emerges. Dubbed “Typhoid Mary” by the press, Mary is an Irish immigrant who has worked as a cook in every home the fever has ravaged. Strangely, though, she hasn’t been sick a day in her life. Is the accusation against her an act of discrimination? Or is she the first clue in a new scientific discovery? Prudence is determined to find out. In a time when science is for men, she’ll have to prove to the city, and to herself, that she can help solve one of the greatest medical mysteries of the twentieth century.

Thank you so much Julie for the amazing story and for the artwork!
* This incredible drawing above was created by Julie's husband Jean-Marc who also does illustrations in Deadly. To see more of his work USE GOOGLE.
Find out more about Julie Chibbaro Julie Chibbaro / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Pre-order Deadly Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

*Check out Lisa's Haunted Halloween post with Shaun David Hutchinson and a giveaway for a copy of The Deathday Letter and swag.

*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.

A few weeks ago I received an email that brought tears to my eyes. Tina from Book Couture had wrote me just to tell me how much she enjoyed my blog. It blew me away that, not only did someone really enjoy my blog, but would take time out just to write me to tell me. Wow! Those comments and emails will always mean the world to me. Thank you so much Tina for making me feel like I am doing something right: )

Today Tina will be discussing The Seven Deadly Sins!

Hi! I'm Tina, an Aussie teenage book blogger who spends a great chunk of her time at Book Couture, where I write book reviews, participate in memes, and aim to spread knowledge of blogger through my tutorials.

My primary goal for Book Couture is to recommend good books to other people. The most fulfilling thing for me would be if someone decided to pick up a book I recommend, and enjoy it as much as I did. The thought that someone else out there could be as moved as I am through reading the same story, experiencing the same magic that it evokes, is what moved me to create my own blog.

I'm also the founder and co-moderator of the Book Contest Directory, a listing of book contests across the blogosphere. Feel free to check it out for contests galore!

My favourite genres are fantasy (Harry Potter), paranormal (Vampire Academy), science fiction (Ender's Game, The Hunger Games), historical (The Luxe), and contemporary/chick lit (think Meg Cabot). Although I started my blog initially to read more reviews about books, and record my own opinions, I have found something more — a lively community of bloggers that share stories and listen to each other's thoughts.

Sometimes, I'll even find the special blogger out there who is willing to help out a newbie. You know who I"m talking about — Jess @ Confessions of a Bookaholic, of course! Thank you, Jess, for featuring me today.

Guest post: The Seven Deadly Sins
The Seven Deadly Sins, also known as the Cardinal Sins or the Capital Vices, dates back to as early as the 14th century. The Catholic Church needed a classification of common immoral human vices to educate people against sinning, and as 7 was seen as a number of power, the Seven Deadly Sins was formed.

This theme is commonly used in art, sculpture, scripture, and literature. Think of the Keys to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix, where Arthur Penhaligon battles seven Demesnes of the House, each possessed by a deadly sin. Or Star Trek: Seven Deadly Sins, where each deadly sin is linked to a Trek race.

Sometimes, the Seven Deadly Sins are also related to other themes with 7 concepts. For example, the seven angels that fell from grace by rebelling against God, becoming demons, were associated to the Seven Deadly Sins by Peter Binsfeld.

What are the Seven Deadly Sins?

Pride/Vanity

Pride or Vanity is the love of oneself, and the belief that one is superior to others. It is the desire to be better, greater, or stronger, and is considered to be the greatest of all sins. It is associated with the demon Lucifer.

Greed/Avar

Greed or Avarice is one of the three sins of excess (the other two being Lust and Gluttony), but greed pertains to the idea of desiring more wealth, status or power than required. It is associated with the demon Mammon.

Lust

Lust is also one of the three sins of excess, and is applied to those who have excessive sexual thoughts and desires.

It is associated with the demon Asmodeus.

Gluttony

Gluttony, the final sin of excess, is the sin of over indulgence and consumption of food or alcohol to the point of waste. It is associated with the demon Beelzebub.

Envy

Envy is the strong sin of desiring what is not yours, and resenting others for having what you do not have. It is associated with the demon Leviathan.

Wrath

Wrath is pure hatred or anger towards something/someone. It is uncontrolled, and leads to violence or self-destruction. It is associated with the demons Satan and Amon.

Sloth

Sloth is the sin of being lazy and apathetic towards something. It may also mean that one's gifts or talents are not utilised. It is associated with the demon Belphegor.

All the beautiful Seven Deadly Sins art is by Marta Dahlig (blackeri) on Deviantart.

Personally, I think my Deadly Sin is Sloth — I procrastinate way too much. Whenever I settle down in front of the computer to do some homework, I will inevitably end up on Book Couture, or I'll be surfing around on other blogs. Then there's Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.
In the blink of an eye, it's midnight, I haven't done any work, and I'm cursing myself for getting distracted. So I'm definitely a sloth. But don't tell anyone *winks*.

Q: Which deadly sin do you have?

This week I'd like to welcome Sharry from Always Dream. Thank you so much!

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Synopsis: Sloe barely remembers the city where she grew up. Her earliest memory is of arriving at the dirty, unfriendly prison camp called the Settlement, a rundown collection of factories built in a cold, dark wilderness of perpetual blizzards in winter and muddy marshes in spring. Sometimes, on cold evenings after the work quota for the day is finished, her mother would light the oil lamp, and under it's warm, cozy glow, show her the secret magic. She would lovingly open a tiny nutshell containing six vials, and on these vials Mama's magic would work. Soon, tiny little creatures with quivering noses and nailpin eyes would roll and tangle playfully about inside the little nutshell case, full of life and love, their tiny paws pressed against the glass dome of their little home. "One day," says Mama, "maybe quite soon, or maybe years and years from now, when you are grown-up, it will be time to take them to the city... Not our city, another city. Where the sun always shines. It's a long journey, hundreds of miles to the north and west, through the wilderness and the forest, through the forests to the sea, and across the ice to the other side". Sloe always imagined going on the trip with her mother and escaping the hopeless tired life of the Settlement, but she soon finds herself the sole guardian of the little creatures, and this faraway dream becomes a direction for her hope and the survival of both herself and possibly, the regeneration of life on earth itself.

Review: I was really moved, disturbed, and hypnotized by this story. Sloe's struggle to survive and find the truth of her mother's words propel the story forward all the way to the last page of this story, in which I clamped the book shut with awe and content.

When I first picked this novel up, I assumed it was going to be a sort of Historical Fiction, possibly about WWII and the Holocaust. I didn't read the jacket flap synopsis very closely so I didn't pick up on the hints put there. I sort of took the book up on a whim. Now I want a copy! And I want more of Ann Halam's work!

There is a unique mixture of fairytale and science at play. Because Sloe lived in an environment where people cared more about day to day survival than proper education, she grew up sort of in awe of this scientific secret her mother made her keep and take care of, this secret that was like magic to her. Even when she grows up into a headstrong, intelligent young woman, the beautiful mystery of the nutshell case remained something to ponder over. Through the course of the book — as she grows up and leaves to another prison-like school, stumbles through early teenage years that slowly harden her pains and losses into bittersweet memories, falls into wrong hands, escapes, trudges through the vast landscape of a perpetual Siberia, narrowly flees from a strange pursuer — she slowly pieces together the truth and the importance of the mission her mama gave her long ago.

I read this novel all in one sitting, it was that compelling! It really had fairytale echoes in it, and I don't want to say too much because I might give away some important parts of the plot. But, this novel was truly a gem! I'm so excited to have come across Ann Halam and I have a feeling that she has written more little treasure worlds that I can let my mind and imagination wander in. With adventure, fantasy, and a tale of a headstrong girl with her wits about her, Siberia is one of those novels that will fully transport you into a different world, keep your heart pumping, your eyes glued to the page and provide much food for thought!

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Thank you so much Sharry for such an awesome review! I will definitely be sure to add this to my list!

Please share some book love and visit Sharry at Always Dream!

The wonderful Keary Taylor is here to share with us some news about her book Eden, the bind-up of her Fall of Angels series, and her newest book being released soon!

She has also offered up a copy of Eden for one lucky winner!

1. You've had some fabulous news lately. Would you like to share that with everyone and tell us what your first reaction was after you heard?

So, that fabulous news is that KK&P has acquired the film rights to my dystopian EDEN! Mark Morgan, who produced The Twilight Saga is the producer as well as Kami Garcia, co-author of the Beautiful Creatures series! It was amazing to hear from them and that they loved Eden! It all just didn't feel real when they first contacted me and said they wanted it! I kept waiting for someone to say"Just Kidding!", lol! It's all an amazing time, and I couldn't be happier with how things have been progressing toward the big screen!

2. Your Fall of Angels series has been very popular and is now available as a bind-up of the entire trilogy. What do you think was the biggest key to your success?

Oh man, honestly I don't really know! I want to say it's because I've written a fantastic story, but really it's my readers who have to say that! I think I just published at a great time, e-readers have gone crazy and the genre I write in is huge right now. And I just have some really fantastic readers who are incredibly supportive.

3. Your new book What I Didn't Say is very different from your previous novels. Can you tell us a bit about the book and the characters Jake, and Samantha?

It really is a lot different for me. I'll be honest, when I got the idea for it, I was terrified to actually write it. It's a YA contemporary that's based on a boy who becomes mute after an accident. It's a story that has to be handled very carefully because it is based on a lot of real experiences and stories, many of them my own. It's also different for me considering it's told from the point of view of a 17 year-old boy, Jake Hayes. He's a really great kid who has a lot of amazing support around him during this difficult time, and Samantha Shay is a part of that. Maybe after all that's happened to him he'll have the guts to tell her what he didn't say before the accident; )
4. Do you have any other projects you are currently working on?
How do I answer this… umm… maybe? Haha. I have a few things that are really up in the air right now, depending on how things play out. I'm afraid I can't say anything more that than. How's that for cryptic? But I do have an idea for a YA science fiction I hope to start on once I finish What I Didn't Say. Not dystopian, but very hard core sci-fi. Think along the lines of The Matrix. I am beyond excited to start on it! As of right now I'm thinking it will be a trilogy.

Eden by Keary Taylor Published: June 6th, 2011 Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 408 pages Eve knew the stories of the Fall, of a time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. She's seen the aftermath of the technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter, able to grow new organs and limbs, how it evolved out of control. The machine took over and the soul vanished. A world quickly losing its humanity isn't just a story to her though. At eighteen, this world is Eve's reality.

In their Fallen world, love feels like a selfish luxury, but not understanding what it is makes it difficult to choose between West, who makes her feel alive but keeps too many secrets, and Avian, who has always been there for her, but is seven years her senior.

The technology wants to spread and it won't stop until there is no new flesh to assimilate. With only two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction. While fighting to keep Eden alive, Eve will discover that being human is about what you will do for those you love, not what your insides may be made of. And even if it gets you killed, love is always what separates them from the Fallen.

Fall of Angels: The Complete Trilogy by Keary Taylor Published: November 29th, 2011 Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 752 pages Plagued by nightmares of angels all her life, but left with the scars to prove they’re more than dreams, Jessica has hidden herself away from the world on the shores of Lake Samish, Washington. But when caring but almost too-perfect-to-be-true Alex, and beautiful yet terrifying Cole enter her life, everything about Jessica’s world is about to change. She’ll learn that the angels aren’t content to stay in her dreams any longer and they’ll do anything to drag her into their world. The lines between right and wrong will be blurred as she fights to cling to the life she’s built and the love she’ll find.

Prize:

• 1 winner will receive a copy of EDEN.

• You must be at least 13 to enter.
• Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
• Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
• Contest is US Only and ends March 7th.
• Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
• The form must be filled out to enter.

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"I read this book almost in its entirety in one day... but it feels like I've known these characters for months, years even! The journey I just got back from after reading "Wither" was an experience that every bibliophile looks forward to with every book they open. "Wither" may not fulfill this experience for everyone — but it sure did for me." — Miss Remmers

"What if you knew exactly when you would die?

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

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

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limited time she has left. "

I've read some awesome books already this year -"Delirium, " "Across the Universe, " "The Iron Queen, " and many others — but none of touched me like Lauren DeStefano's debut, "Wither."

This was one of those "surprise" reads that I had been putting off and putting off for two reasons: I hate the cover and I wasn't sure of the whole "brother" angle. Why do I hate the cover? I have no idea. I feel like I should like it, but I just don't. With the above premise I assumed that the brother was going to play a more pivotal role in this book but he didn't. I'm not sure why I was bothered by the brother bit; I think I assumed that the brother and sister would be the protagonists instead of a love interest. Boy was I wrong.

DeStefano drew me in with the first chapter and before I knew it I was racing through the pages not on purpose but by complete accident. When I finally looked at the lower status bar on my Nook I discovered that hundred pages had been covered. And worse, when I hit that last page I was at a complete stand still. That couldn't be it — could it? I want more. I need more! But we'll return to this later.

I won't lie — I'm still in shock of loving this book so entirely that I am just praying this review makes sense and does the book justice.

Despite not really knowing what was going on in the beginning chapters, I was enthralled with "Wither" and couldn't put it down. Once Rhine met Governor Linden her hatred and my hatred combined for the man could have started any number of metaphorical wars. But somehow, as his character was developed, I found myself looking for him in the novel and seeking his company out for Rhine. Why? He's supposed to be a complete polygamous misogynist! (Nothing against polygamy... it's just how I've been raised I guess.) And despite his need to "consummate" his marriages and the rest of the whole sketchy concept of this society — I like him. It's completely nonsensical and illogical — but I rooted for him and Rhine, I willed their romance to blossom. If we choose "Teams" with this novel (you know, Team Edward, Team Jacob, Team Ash, Team Puck, etc)... oddly enough I'll be the first to join Team Linden.

The setting of this novel, in a huge beautiful mansion, while creepy and imprisoning, was written so eloquently I feel like I've been there. As I feel like I know the characters. There's a saying: "You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend." by Paul Sweeney. "Wither" is one such book; when I came to the last page (even on my Nook) I felt like I was saying good bye to a female protagonist that I loved and even a half ways antagonist that I had somehow fell in love with as well!

I read this book almost in its entirety in one day — Friday's Recreational Reading in my English classroom; but it feels like I've known these characters for months, years even! The journey I just got back from was an experience that every bibliophile looks forward to with every book they open. "Wither" may not fulfill this experience for everyone — but it sure did for me.

The ending of this book, I will say, was very abrupt. Not just because it was so good that I didn't realize so many pages had been read, but the entire climax, falling action, and resolution (if you can call it that) took place during the last chapter. It seemed almost too easy of an... let's just say... ending. Too out of nowhere. Too without problems. Too... flawless. But despite that, I am LONGING for the second book to come out like I haven't longed for a book in a very long time. Many times I struggle with the second book simply because by the time it does come out I'm reading something different. I can tell that as soon as DeStefano's second book is available for pre-order it will be the first book I'll have pre-ordered since "HP 7."

"Wither" is a fantastically brilliant book that I recommend to any lover of dystopia or even romance!

Originality: 10/10
Ending: 5/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 5/10
Overall: 50/60 B

Release Date: March 22nd, 2011

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Challenges: Dystopia Challenge, Debut Author Challenge, EBook Challenge, 100+ Reading Challenge
-Visit Lauren around the web here: Website | Blog | Goodreads | Twitter
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To the FTC, with love: Review eBook from NetGalley

Stephanie Thomas has stopped by today to tell us a little about the world we will see in her book Luminosity. Be sure to sign up for the giveaway below!

Can you describe the world we will read about in Luminosity?

Luminosity is set in a dystopian world. The first book of The Raven Chronicles mostly takes place in The City, which is… exactly what it sounds like: a city! This city was created after a war that destroyed most of what was formally known as America. The survivors rebuilt on the East Coast, in this city that is protected with a force field-like shield and an electric barrier fence.

The City is mostly a dark place. In my head, I pictured it kind of like Gothim City. The “normal” people who live inside The City are called Citizens. They are kept inside the barricades for their own safety from whatever lies outside the fences. They must abide by curfew and other rules, but they don’t think of themselves as being oppressed. In fact, they are quite happy to have a place that is deemed safe enough to thrive.

The Seers are those who have the ability to see into the future and have been tasked with protecting the Citizens to the best of their ability. They live in the Institution, which is the tallest and most central building of The City. You’ll have to read to find out more about this mysterious place!

The only other place mentioned in book one would be Aura, where the Dreamcatchers live. Little is known about Aura as it’s so far away and houses the enemy.

Technology also has a huge role to play in Luminosity, though it is staggered and a bit inconsistent at best. The Seers definitely have some advanced technology, but there are times where it might be thought the Dreamcatchers know a bit more about what they are working with in that regard. It’s an interesting element to explore, since science and technology can be used to help and to hurt depending on whose hands it falls into.

I hope you enjoy the world I’ve created! I wish I could say more, but I don’t want to give anything away, so if you are curious, you’ll have to take a peek for yourself and see! Happy Reading!

About Stephanie:
Stephanie Thomas has been writing ever since she could put letters together to form words. When she was a small child, she would present her mother and father with self-made newspapers filled up with make believe stories and pictures. Her love for writing followed her all throughout her schooling, where she entered and won writing contests of all sorts. Stephanie decided to become an English teacher and completed her B.A. at The Pennsylvania State University. While teaching, she later went on to get her Master’s in writing from The Johns Hopkins University. She completed her very first manuscript during her graduate studies, and by the end of the program, she had completed two more. Stephanie is quick to tell anyone that she’s a born and raised Philadelphian, and her heart will always belong there. She moved to Baltimore with her husband, and they’ve been living there for the last five years with their doggie, Sailor, and their rabbit, Buns (aka “T Sizzle).

Luminosity by Stephanie Thomas
Published: Entangled Publishing (November 13th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 296 pages
Series: Raven Chronicles #1
My name is Beatrice. When I was born, I was blessed with the Sight. I was immediately removed from my parents and enrolled in the Institution. At the age of twelve, I had my first true vision, earning my raven’s wings. And when I turned seventeen, one of my visions came true. Things haven’t been the same since.

The Institution depends on me to keep the City safe from our enemy, the Dreamcatchers, but I’m finding it harder to do while keeping a secret from everyone, including my best friend Gabe. It is a secret that could put us all in danger. A secret that could kill me and everyone close to me.

But the enemy has been coming to me in my dreams, and I think I’m falling in love with him. He says they’re coming. He says they’re angry. And I think I’ve already helped them win.

Tour Wide Giveaway!
Prize: A Signed Copy of Luminosity, A Raven Pepsi Bottle Cap Necklace, and Swag.

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BBAW is finally here and I am so excited to welcome Chachic from Chachic Book's Nook.

You're from the Philippines! That is so cool! Are there other book bloggers in your area? If so, what are they! I'd love to visit their blogs!
I'm so glad you think it's cool that I'm from the Philippines! There are actually a number of book bloggers here. I only started blogging this year but I noticed that there have been Filipino book bloggers for several years and more and more are popping out lately. I noticed that we didn't have a site that brings together all Filipino book bloggers so I decided to create Filipino Book Bloggers (http://filipinobookbloggers.wordpress.com/) . I know the name isn't that creative but I'm happy to get to know some of the book bloggers out there. We're having our first meet up soon and I'm really excited for that.

That's so awesome about the meet up! I hope it goes awesome! Because English is your second language, is it hard to read YA novels written in English? What about writing the reviews? Here in the Philippines, we actually use English as the medium of instruction. The Philippines was colonized by the United States and it was Americans who established education in the Philippines. All of our subjects, starting from nursery up to college, are taught in English except for Filipino and a couple of other History subjects. That's why English books aren't translated to Filipino over here and I'm comfortable with reading books and writing reviews in English. Also, I've never mentioned this on my blog but I actually work with Americans. I'm a research analyst for a Business Process Outsourcing company and I report directly to people in the US.

As an international book blogger, what differences in book blogging have your noticed between international and US book blogging?
One of the main differences is we don't get review copies. International shipping is really expensive so I understand that publishers would have a hard time sending review copies and it also takes a couple of weeks for the books to get here. I've never received a copy for review and most of the other Filipino book bloggers that I've talked to also haven't received any review copies. The books that I review on the blog are given as gifts, bought, or borrowed.

On a positive note, I love it when US book bloggers are amazed with some of the things that I mention in reviews like how I've never seen snow or how we don't have public libraries over here. You don't have public libraries! Wow, that really makes me appreciate my library.
You host a meme called "Want Books?" where readers can highlight books that they want but can't have either to it not being released in their country yet, not having the money for it, a far-out release date, etc. Where did you come with the idea? When is your weekly post up? How many bloggers generally participate? I love the photo too! Are you familiar with the meme Waiting on Wednesday (WoW), which is hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine (http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/) ? In WoW, you can feature upcoming releases that you're eagerly waiting for. I used to use that meme but then I realized that it would be better if there's a meme that lets you feature books that have already come out that you can't get for some reason. Instead of complaining about books not being available here, I thought it would be better if I could create a meme to highlight them. So that's how I came up with Want Books. I put up a post every Saturday and anyone can participate. It isn't a popular meme though and only a handful of book blogger friends have participated. I don't mind because I don't think I'll ever run out of material for the meme, there will always be books in my wishlist.:)

I see that you have a giveaway ending TOMORROW! What is it and who is eligible? Yes! I have a Mortal Instruments giveaway but sadly, it's only for residents of the Philippines. All you need to do to enter is tell me what review of mine is your favorite and why. Learn more about it here. We both read a lot of YA, what books would you recommend to struggling young adult readers? Oh gosh, I have so many recommendations! Here you go:

Fantasy
The Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner
Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith
Sasharia En Garde duology by Sherwood Smith
The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore
His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud
The Changeover by Margaret Mahy

Fairy Tale Retellings
Beauty by Robin McKinley
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

YA Contemporary Fiction
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta
Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
Jessica Darling books by Megan McCafferty

Historical Fiction
Sunbird, The Lion Hunters, The Empty Kingdom by Elizabeth Wein
A Countess Below Stairs, The Reluctant Heiress and A Company of Swans by Eva Ibbotson
Thanks for all the great recommendations! Wow! I'm going to steal one of your questions because it was so good! What is your "good read" preference — contemporary YA, epic fantasy, urban fantasy, science fiction or dystopian? I read read books from all of those genres but I have a special place in my heart for epic fantasy.

What are your comfort reads? Books that you go to on a rainy day for a reread when nothing seems to be going your way. The books that I listed in the recommendations section are my favorites so they're really my comfort reads. I've reread most of those several times already.

What book are you pinning for — that you can't wait to get your hands on? Oh so many! Check out my Want Books meme because I have weekly posts on books that I'm pining for. Although if you're asking for books that are yet to be released, I can't wait to get Bayou Moon and Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews, Pegasus by Robin McKinley and Seer of Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier.

Chachic, thank you so much for stopping by! It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know you and discovering your blog. Readers, please remember to stop by and visit Chachic at Chachic Book's Nook.

Aspiring social scientists Avery Shaw and Grayson Kennedy were required to keep detailed journals of all their exploits during The Avery Shaw Experiment. Only the participants of the 2013 Utah State Science Fair were allowed access to these records, but we're in luck because the ever-sneaky, privacy-invading author Kelly Oram has managed to get her hands on those journals and has decided to share them with the world. Today's featured entry has been stolen from the pages of Grayson's diary. Enjoy!

“Most Definitely A Real Date” (Grayson)
I’m taking Avery out on our first date tonight. I don’t really count New Years Eve because the girl was beyond messed up that night and she only stuck around for about fifteen minutes. That was more like an emergency rescue than a date. Tonight will be a real one—no matter what Avery says.

When I called to ask what time Aves wanted me to pick her up for our date, she immediately brought up the fact that this was a school project. Not a date. Whatever. She claims to be stuck between bargaining and guilt, but clearly the girl is still dealing with some major denial. We’re totally going on a date tonight. I think I’ll bring her roses just to prove it.

At first I thought about taking her out on a group date with a bunch of my friends, but I decided against that for several reasons. One, they’re all going to go see a movie, and after I nearly jumped Aves yesterday I don’t think taking her to a dark theater where the armrests between the seats can be lifted up is the best idea.

More than my lack of self-control, though, I want to have Avery all to myself for the night. Avery is so shy. She tends to clam up or fade into the background when she’s around my friends, and I want the opposite from her tonight. I want her to open up to me.

It occurred to me while we were studying yesterday that I don’t really know Aves very well. Of course I know her, but we’ve never hung out much before. In fact, up until she’d asked me to help her with her Aiden-purging, I’d never even been in her bedroom before.

I have this idea in my head of who she is, but now that I think about it, that’s mostly based on what I know about my brother. I can’t really picture her separately from Aiden any better than she can. Well, I don’t particularly care much for my brother right now. I don’t want to associate Avery with him anymore.

There’s got to be more to Avery than just the fact that she’s Aiden’s best friend. I want to see that side of her. I want to learn what she likes and doesn’t like, not what Aiden likes and doesn’t like. I want to see how she handles things when she doesn’t have him there to lean on.

Tonight for our date, I am going to take Avery to do something she’s never done before. I want tonight to be one hundred percent The Avery and Grayson Show. Aiden is so not invited—literally or metaphorically. Call me selfish, but I’m taking Avery out. Not Aiden. I don’t want him to be there in any way, shape or form. I want Avery’s thoughts and feelings to be centered on me. Not stuck on that stupid, selfish punk and what he did to her. I want her to smile all night long damn it. And I want her to laugh. A lot. Girl has such an adorable laugh. She needs to use it more often. In fact, that gives me a great idea. I just figured out what we’re going to do tonight.

Be sure to catch all of the entries from the Avery Shaw Diaries!

June 3rd --"I See London, I See France" (Avery) — Colorimetry
June 4th --"Purging" (Grayson) — Reading Teen
June 5th --"Too Hot To Handle" (Avery) — I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
June 6th --"Self Control, Or Lack Thereof" (Grayson) — Book Passion For Life
June 7th --"Most Definitely A Real Date" (Grayson) — Confessions of a Bookaholic
June 8th --"Post Shower Avery And Grayson Things" (Avery) — A Life Bound By Books

Giveaway

Have a soft spot for Grayson? Good news, you have a chance to hear from him personally! Avery loved the diary Grayson made her so much that Grayson decided to make another one for one very lucky fan. Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win your very own personalized Secret Grayson Kennedy Love Diary, complete with a personal letter/journal entry from Grayson himself! The winner of the diary will also receive some Kelly Oram bookmarks and a signed Avery Shaw Experiment mini-poster. (roughly 8"x11") Five other lucky winners will also receive signed Avery Shaw Experiment mini-posters.

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The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram
Published: Bluefields (May 4th, 2013)
Reading Level: Young Adult
ebook: 278 pages
Summary:
When Avery Shaw’s heart is shattered by her life-long best friend, she chooses to deal with it the only way she knows how—scientifically.

The state science fair is coming up and Avery decides to use her broken heart as the topic of her experiment. She’s going to find the cure. By forcing herself to experience the seven stages of grief through a series of social tests, she believes she will be able to get over Aiden Kennedy and make herself ready to love again. But she can’t do this experiment alone, and her partner (ex partner!) is the one who broke her heart.

Avery finds the solution to her troubles in the form of Aiden’s older brother Grayson. The gorgeous womanizer is about to be kicked off the school basketball team for failing physics. He’s in need of a good tutor and some serious extra credit. But when Avery recruits the lovable Grayson to be her “objective outside observer,” she gets a whole lot more than she bargained for, because Grayson has a theory of his own: Avery doesn’t need to grieve. She needs to live. And if there’s one thing Grayson Kennedy is good at, it’s living life to the fullest.

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"I can't think of a single thing I didn't like about this book." — Miss Remmers

From Amazon.com...

"How far would you go to protect your family?

Ann Brooks never thought she’d have to answer that question. Then she found her limits tested by a crisis no one could prevent. Now, as her neighborhood descends into panic, she must make tough choices to protect everyone she loves from a threat she cannot even see. In this chillingly urgent novel, Carla Buckley confronts us with the terrifying decisions we are forced to make when ordinary life changes overnight.

A year ago, Ann and Peter Brooks were just another unhappily married couple trying–and failing–to keep their relationship together while they raised two young daughters. Now the world around them is about to be shaken as Peter, a university researcher, comes to a startling realization: A virulent pandemic has made the terrible leap across the ocean to America’s heartland.

And it is killing fifty out of every hundred people it touches.

As their town goes into lockdown, Peter is forced to return home–with his beautiful graduate assistant. But the Brookses’ safe suburban world is no longer the refuge it once was. Food grows scarce, and neighbor turns against neighbor in grocery stores and at gas pumps. And then a winter storm strikes, and the community is left huddling in the dark.

Trapped inside the house she once called home, Ann Brooks must make life-or-death decisions in an environment where opening a door to a neighbor could threaten all the things she holds dear.

Carla Buckley’s poignant debut raises important questions to which there are no easy answers, in an emotionally riveting tale of one family facing unimaginable stress."

"The Things That Keep Us Here" is a surprisingly riveting novel; I couldn't put it down. Not only that, but this book genuinely had me thinking and analyzing my own life. While it could be read for purely enjoyment, it can also be read in depth and be analyzed.

Even while reading this book I was talking about it to my family, friends, and residents, anyone who would listen really. I would ask them, "How far would you go for the ones you love? Would you steal? Would you lie? Would you become savage?" Like Peter and Ann in the novel, I'd like to think that even when my children were starving I'd be able to resist such temptations, but I'm not sure I could.

This book is so good because it's so realistic; whether it be bird flu, swine flu, or whatever comes next — this could happen. After reading this book, I think we're lucky it hasn't happened yet!

The characters were great and believable and the plot kept reading (I loved getting to the end of a chapter because there was always something that kept the story moving). The language and tone of the novel was wonderful, even the scientific parts. When science was involved, I would have argued that Buckley herself was a budding scientist! It sounded believable and arguable — which only added to the realism of the novel. For the life of me I can't think of a single thing I don't like about this book — which doesn't happen a lot.

Highly recommended, I will be keeping this book. I'll put it onto my classroom shelves, but it's definitely suited for the upper grades or reading levels. I don't see any reason why an advanced reader wouldn't like this novel as much as I did.

Thank you so much to "Pump Up Your Book Promotions " for sending me a review copy.

The purpose of this blog is to inform reluctant readers of great literature that will get them passionate about reading.

I accept review copies from authors and publishers and I love to participate in blog tours, host contests and interview authors. As a first year teacher, my time is limited; because of this, I am not able to accept every book offered.

All my reviews are original and honest. I have never been compensated and all of my thoughts are my own.

Types of Genres I enjoy: While Young Adult and Adult literature is my main focus, I do accept and review some middle grade and children's titles. I am partial to fantasy, paranormal, chick-lit, romance, historical fiction, literary fiction, anything that addresses social issues, mysteries and thrillers.

I do not prefer to read a series out of sequence. If you have a review request that is part of a series that I have not read, I will ask that you provide a copy of each of it’s predecessors. This will allow for a more effective review, all reviews of the series will be posted as well.

Genres I don't usually pick up: I normally do not read non-fiction, memoirs/biographies or science-fiction. But, if you feel that a particular book would be beneficial and interesting towards reluctant readers — I'd be willing to consider it. Currently I do not accepting e-books or pdfs for review. I do occasionally accept self-published books.

When I accept a novel to review: It does not guarantee that I will write a review. While I strive to complete each book, if I find myself unable or unwilling to finish it, I will not force myself to read. I truly believe that reading should be enjoyable — if the book I am attempting to read becomes a "chore," I will put it down. I do promise to read 100 pages of each book accepted for review before putting it down. If I do not finish a book, I always pass it on (unless the provider of the review book asks me not to) in, what I call, a "Quick Giveaway." I simply give the book to the first responder with a Guest Review. An example of a Quick Giveaway. If you do not want a book to be passed on, please tell me before hand or I can make no guarantee that it won't be handed off to another reader.

While I try to only accept review books I think I will like, I cannot guarantee that the review will be positive, but it will be fair. I don't take pleasure in negating someone's work, but my reviews will be my honest opinion. My reviews include a synopsis of the novel (generally provided by Amazon or the publisher's website) and my personal thoughts about the book.
How long will it take for a review: I try to read the review titles that I receive in a timely manner but I do have time constraints. If the book is an ARC, I will try to review the book in the month surrounding its release date, in most cases before the book is released or shortly after. If the book is already released then it may take me anywhere from 2-4 months to read and review it.

Note of Clarification: Review if I do not plan on keeping the book in my classroom. If this is not something you want, please tell me before hand — just in case. Also, I love hosting giveaways or Author Interviews — if this is something you'd be interested in, please let me know.

Traffic Details: According to Google Analytics, I receive about 200 visitors a day and generally have 10 to 15 comments a day. This blog is not particularly meant to generate huge amounts of outside traffic. This blog is meant to introduce reluctant young readers to different novels. During the school year my students visit this blog daily and will contribute to the reviews listed. My students will use this blog as a reference when looking for a "good book to read for fun."

If you're interested in knowing a bit more about me — please visit my About Me page.

Disclosure: All of the books I receive for review are provided by the publisher or the author. I do not expect, accept, or receive monetary compensation for my reviews.

The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram
Published: Bluefields (May 4th, 2013)
Reading Level: Young Adult
ebook: 278 pages
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Summary:
When Avery Shaw’s heart is shattered by her life-long best friend, she chooses to deal with it the only way she knows how—scientifically.

The state science fair is coming up and Avery decides to use her broken heart as the topic of her experiment. She’s going to find the cure. By forcing herself to experience the seven stages of grief through a series of social tests, she believes she will be able to get over Aiden Kennedy and make herself ready to love again. But she can’t do this experiment alone, and her partner (ex partner!) is the one who broke her heart.

Avery finds the solution to her troubles in the form of Aiden’s older brother Grayson. The gorgeous womanizer is about to be kicked off the school basketball team for failing physics. He’s in need of a good tutor and some serious extra credit. But when Avery recruits the lovable Grayson to be her “objective outside observer,” she gets a whole lot more than she bargained for, because Grayson has a theory of his own: Avery doesn’t need to grieve. She needs to live. And if there’s one thing Grayson Kennedy is good at, it’s living life to the fullest.

Review:

Avery has been friends with Aiden and Grayson forever. They all grew up together and recently Avery has felt her feelings for Aiden are more in the"love" category. Well, unfortunately, Aiden doesn't feel the same way. He breaks her heart by turning her down and, low and behold, Grayson (the older brother) is there to catch Avery.

From page 1 I loved Grayson. He's cute, funny, a jock, and hot. What's not to love about that? He's also a complete sweetheart. Even when he's being a bit flirtatious and getting on Avery's nerves, I couldn't help but swoon a little at his actions.

Poor Avery went through a lot in this story but I loved how Grayson really introduced her to a whole new world. While Avery was hoping to make her heartbreak into a scientific experiment, all Grayson wanted to do was make her feel better and realize she didn't need Aiden.

Aiden was a jerk. I had a hard time liking any part of him after what he did to Avery. I'm not sure I could have forgiven him. Boo, Aiden!

However, one of the first scenes with Grayson had me wishing I had a friend in high school just like him. He wasn't afraid to tell people off. There were times I just wanted to shake Avery and say"Get over it!!". But, at the same time, I realize what young love and heartbreak can be like and I understood why she wasn't able to let go of those feelings so easily.

If you are looking for a cute story with a fantastic male swoon-worthy character, pick this one up! I hope Kelly writes more of these stories because it was one of my favorite books from this year!

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"A fun, relaxing, educational, one of a kind read!" — Miss Remmers

Check out Caroline's article: 12 Days and 12 Facts for the Holiday Season

From Amazon.com...

"Author Caroline Taggart discovered two things while researching this book and talking with other people: One, everybody had been to school. And two, they had all forgotten entirely different things. Contained in this handy little book are the facts that you learned in school, but may not remember completely or accurately. Covering a variety of subjects, this book features all the most important theories, equations, phrases, and rules we were all taught years ago. Rediscover:
* History: The first president to occupy the White House was John Adams in 1800
* Religion: The seven deadly sins and the names of the twelve apostles
* Literature: In which Shakespearean play "The quality of mercy" speech appears
* Science: The periodic table of elements devised by a Russian chemist in 1889 includes the symbol for lead (Pb), silver (Ag), tin (Sn), and gold (Au)
* Nature: How photosynthesis works

The information-presented in easy-to-retain, bite-sized chunks-is accurate and up-to — date. It will touch a chord with anyone old enough to have forgotten half of what they learned at school. Here is a perfect gift for every perennial student."

This book was a fun, relaxing, educational, one of a kind read. It was extremely interesting reading all of the bits and pieces of random knowledge; I felt proud after realizing I knew a lot in the English and Literature sections, but I was bit embarrassed that I knew little more.

It was fun rediscovering the knowledge that I had forgotten; reading this book was a practical and effective way of learning. I realized that much of what was covered (at least in the English and Literature sections) are covered on standardized tests. Because of this, I will for sure be keeping this book in my classroom next fall. Students will pick it up and 'test their knowledge' — they won't even know they are learning anything! I'm even planning on ordering similar books:

• "i before e (except after c)"
• "Thirty Days has September"
• "My Grammar and I (Or Should That Be Me?)"
  

Scary Debra
by
Debra Anastasia

I think ghosts have given up on me. Scary things too. Don’t get me wrong; I’ve seen a fair number of horrifying things. I shop in Wal-Mart on Saturdays. I think I may be too stupid to scare.

Okay, I’m actually here today because I have a crush on Jessica. Isn’t she adorable? I picture her walking around in real life but as her AV. The voluptuous cartoon on her header up there? I picture her walking into Starbucks all animated like Roger Rabbit in our boring world.

Anyway, none of that’s scary. And I’m here to talk about scary. What are you afraid of? Spiders, vampires? Ghosts? I’m here to give you a new bone-chilling fear.

Me.

That’s right. This blonde-headed, minivan-driving nimrod is the scariest thing to hit the planet. I’m a freaking nightmare. The fact that anyone ever lets me interact with the world is a statement to how little we control in this life.

I know what you’re thinking, she’s not scarier than a zombie. Oh yes, yes I am. Here’s a good example of how I torture unsuspecting people:

Our porch is being built by a nice, sweet builder guy. Well, yesterday I cranked a few windows open and proceeded to sift through our nonsense. (Long story longer: Our house was demolished by a huge oak one year ago, we’re moving into the rebuild now. Hence I‘m sifting through things that were salvaged by other people from my buckling old house, this includes years worth of paperwork I had ignored.) I came upon my colonoscopy results from about ten years ago. To joke with my long-suffering husband I called out, “Hey! Do you wanna see the inside of my colon?”

He looked at me with his handsome face and his gaze slide just over my right shoulder. His eyes grew wide and he shook his head.

I get a sinking feeling. That’s right, I shouted this with my builder guy standing just behind me with the window open. Actually, he was physically closer to me than the man I was trying to torment.

What do you say to fix that? I mean, really? I slid down in my chair into a puddle on the floor. I still blush thinking about it.

Scary. Right?

If that was the only story I had we could all have a nice chuckle and move on. But no, that’s one of hundreds. I’ve plodded through this life with no sense and no filter for over 38 years. I’ve procreated. Now granted, the son takes after the husband (lucky you) but the daughter? She’s a carbon copy. Actually she might be worse. So proud of those kids.

Anyway, back to scary. If seeing the inside of my colon doesn’t give you night terrors, I’ve got more where that came from. A few years back a poor, unfortunate soul sat next to me at a soccer game. She decided to make small talk. With me. You can already tell how this encounter was circling the drain, right?

The lady began telling me about a fancy restaurant she used to work in. She went on and on claiming it was super fancy, leave-the-kids-home-and-get-dressed-up kind of fancy. I nodded and tried to make some noise out of my mouth to show that I was paying attention.

I said,"So it’s real Ritsy Titsy?"

My brain had stalled. I couldn’t believe I’d just made up a word like “Titsy” and tried to pass it off in an adult conversation. So of course this has sent me into a fit of inappropriate giggles that --to my horror—became an all-out crying laughter, while slapping my knees and fart heckling. I could hardly breathe at my own embarrassment. For Pete's sakes. It's bad enough I’d said it. No need for the spectacle of me dissolving in to hysterics.

The poor lady just waited me out with a polite smile.

I’m not sure what’s worse, that I say the wrong thing at the wrong time or that I find my own embarrassment so damn funny.

How about we end today with this bone chiller:

I was cashing a check at the bank. Well, we have two banks. One’s not fancy. One is fancy. I was at the ritzy titsy one. It has high, luxurious ceilings. The tellers are separated from the customers by a thick, bulletproof plastic. Well, I’m assuming it’s bullet proof. It has air holes for the tellers. So this combination of things always makes me talk louder. I can’t help it. I feel that the barrier between us can only be over come by my outdoor voice.

It was a crowded line, full of rushing holiday shoppers who were ready to lubricate their wallets with some cash. I stepped up to the teller that was waiting for me. She smiled. And then she started chit-chatting about the holidays.

She was what I call a soft-to-softer talker. Well, she’s the first one I’ve met, but if I meet another, that’s what I’ll call them.

She started out soft volume speaking, and when she would get to the real point of her sentence her volume would drop off.

Until she was, as much as I can tell, just moving her lips.

I can’t read lips. Let’s be honest, most of us are amazed I can read at all. So I did what any blonde would do --I overcompensated. I also tried to emulate the behavior I wanted her to copy. Hence me cheerleading scream answers.

Me: “YES, I’M GOING SHOPPING!!!”

Soft talk teller: ”Are you going to Target? ”

Me: ”YES!”

Soft talker: ”I got mumble mumble for $5.00 at Target mumble mumble.”

Now, I love Target. I love a good sale there. As a matter a fact, I watch the Christmas markdowns like a highly skilled guerilla surveillance team member.

So I don’t care what she got for $5.00. If it was on sale, I wanted it.

Now, maybe I can blame my exhaustion. Or my own inability to be social through a wall of plastic but I said in my loudest voice;

Me: ”MAYBE I’LL POOP IN THERE LATER!!”

Oh my dog. Did I just scream, “poop?” The Bank was as silent as a smoke detector without batteries that might have gotten disemboweled by an angry mother witnessing her kids heading to the dinning room table after it went off.

I realize I can’t fix my faux pas without making it worse.

I had to just leave the poop out there. I’d just told a complete stranger and a line full of people in a really loud voice where I *might * be planning on having a bowel movement in the future instead of what I had intended. (Me: “Maybe I'll POP in there later!")

So what do I do? Do I pretend like it wasn’t said? (Which I’m sure was soft talker's dire wish!)

Oh no, that would be too simple. I start to laugh. I start cry-laughing at my own self. I laugh all the way out of the bank. Like an idiot.

So, I think in this month of scary, zombie babies hanging from swings in people’s yards (Holy crap! What’s up with those horror movie quality decorations in the strip malls?) we need to remember that I, Debra Anastasia, am the scariest thing ever. Well, except for spiders, hands (they look like spiders), mannequins (they have hands that look like spiders), and not having your foot under the blankets at night.

Boo!

Author Bio: Debra Anastasia is busy, just like every other mom. There’s dinner, the dogs, the kids, and their homework. The laundry pile turns into a big, heaping monster. When the clothes finally make it into the washer, it gets unbalanced and puts on an elaborate show before it cuts out. This crazy job that never ends is her first love and her crowning achievement.

Her writing started a decent handful of years ago when along with the dogs, cat, kids, and husband, the voices of characters started whispering stories in Debra’s ear. Insomnia was the gateway for the plots that wouldn’t give up, wouldn’t let go. In the shower, a twist would take hold and–dripping and frenzied–she’d find somewhere, anywhere to write it down.

Debra grew up in New York and got a bachelor’s degree in political science at SUNY New Paltz. At the start of her marriage, she moved to southern Maryland with her husband. She still doesn’t trust crabs and all their legs, though everyone else in her family thinks they’re delicious. Her favorite hobbies include knitting, painting furniture and wall murals, and slapping clowns.

Bittersweet Seraphim, the sequel to her debut novel, Crushed Seraphim will be released Nov. 20th, 2012 and she’s currently working on Return to Poughkeepsie, the sequel to Poughkeepsie. You can visit her website at DebraAnastasia.com and find her on twitter @Debra_Anastasia.

Crushed Seraphim by Debra Anastasia
Published: Omnific Publishing (May 27th, 2011)
Reading Level: 17+
Paperback: 194 pages
How does a foul-mouthed angel end up as the last hope for all of Heaven and Earth?

When Seraph Emma is maimed and tossed from Heaven by a rogue angel who's taken charge, she fears she'll never be allowed to return. Tasked with the impossible job of showing the self-loathing (and not even human!) Jason his worth, Emma is sure she's doomed to fail.

Meanwhile, having wormed his way into Heaven, the corrupt Everett has trapped God in Hell and has designs on unleashing evil everywhere. Fortunately, if there's one thing Emma can't do (in addition to minding her language), it's give up. Determined to save Jason and get back to Heaven-even if it means going to Hell-Emma's plan is simple yet impossible: trick the Devil to save God.

What she doesn't count on is the devotion and, well, humanity she finds in Jason; the spirit, hidden compassion, and raw sex appeal within the Devil; and the vulnerability of her own heart. With the help of two unlikely allies, she'll wage the battle for Heaven. But will Emma be sidetracked by a new sort of heaven along the way?

What's truly more dangerous?

Falling from Heaven, or falling in love?

Prize:

• 1 winner will receive everything above! Books, cards, tattoos and the cutest bracelets EVER!

• You must be at least 13 to enter.
• Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
• Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
• Contest is US Only and ends November 1st.
• Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
• The form must be filled out to enter.

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