Brooke's Box of Books

The Host: Movie News- Extra Photo

2012-02-26T12:20:00.000-06:00

One of my top ten favorite reads is 'The Host' by Stephenie Meyer. The movie started production earlier this month. While news is slow coming and pictures even slower, a local extra's snapshot recently hit the web. It shows five girls in 50's style fashions. It seems this adds fuel to the rumors that the host society has a 'retro' feel to it.

While I never pictured the world in 'The Host' to be at all inspired by the 50's, I can see why the filmmakers decided to go that route. If you think about it, the hosts values are similar to the idea of the 1950's. People were taught to be pleasant, amiable, rule abiding, perfect. A lot like how the hosts. On a side note, I've always been a fan of 50's fashions, so if this movie brings them back, that would be awesome.

More information on this film can be found at 'The Host Movie News'.

Update/Follow Friday/TGIF

2012-02-24T19:33:00.000-06:00

Hello all! Just a quick update. Check the main page of the blog for a review of the final book in the 'Vampirates' series and to see the cover of the August 2012 release, 'City of Swords'.

For those that keep track of my Goodreads, you'll notice a lot of older titles being placed on there. That's because I'm making it a point to go through my book shelves and re-read some favorites of yesteryear.

Have a good week!

The Question of the Week: Activity!!! Take a picture or describe where you love to read the most…

Answer: As far as my favorite place to read, the honor would go to the Amish made wooden rocking chair in our living room. It has the perfect amount of cushion and it rocks (both figuratively and literally).

It's similar to this one below, but ours has different cushions. and a slightly different back and base. On a day off of work, especially a rainy day, I could sit on that chair and read all day long.

The Question of the Week is: Required Reading: Which book from your school days do you remember reading & enjoying? Is there a book published now that you'd like to see in today's curriculum for kids?

Answer: The only books I enjoyed reading for class were 'Oedipus the King' and 'Faust'. Uplifting, no. Entertaining, yes. There are a ton of 'modern day' classics that could be introduced into schools.

Personally, I believe that schools should allow for more 'free choice' reading, especially in high school. High School is when most kids stop reading for fun and if teachers had more 'free choice' reading projects, maybe less would give up on reading during their teen years.

Till next time, friends!

'City of Swords' Has a Cover!

2012-02-24T11:00:00.001-06:00

Finally, a cover and release date for 'City of Swords', the sixth book in Mary Hoffmans' Stravaganza series. The last book in the series hit store shelves back in 2010, so you can imagine why I'm so excited about this!

According to Goodreads, "Desperately unhappy, Laura has resorted to secretly self-harming. But Laura is a Stravagante, somebody who can travel in time and space. When she finds her talisman, a small silver dagger, she stravagates with it to sixteenth-century Fortezza, a town similar to Lucca in Italy, where she meets her Stravagante, who is a swordsmith. But Laura also meets the charming and attractive Ludo, and falls for him. Their love for each other is tested when Ludo lays claim to the crown of Fortezza, and Laura finds herself fighting on the side of the Stravaganti opposing him."

'City of Swords' has a release date of August 21, 2012. (And I, for one, can't wait!!!!)

Review: Immortal War by Justin Somper

2012-02-16T14:30:00.000-06:00

Title: Immortal War
Author: Justin Somper
Genre: Juvi, YA, sixth in series, action, adventure, romance, supernatural
Star Rating: 5/5 stars

Taken from Goodreads, "A bloody war is raging across the oceans, with the Pirate Federation and the Nocturnals allied against the renegade Vampirates led by Sidorio and a heavily pregnant Lady Lola. Meanwhile, Connor and Grace Tempest each have their own important roles to play- He as a pirate warrior at the heart of the battle, she as a powerful healer working with the war-wounded. As the twins face their greatest challenges yet, old allies and former foes return for the ultimate battle..."

I started this book with trepidation. I loved the first five books in the 'Vampirates' series and knew full well that this was the last full length adventure I'd get to spend with Grace, Connor, Lorcan, and the rest of the Pirate and Vampirate crew. Now that I've finished it, it is with a touch of sadness and a whole lotta love that I write this review. I'm going to keep it short and sweet because I don't want to go into heavy spoiler territory by accident! (It's just *that* good of a series!)

Justin Somper has crafted an epic finale to the series that started very simply with a book about two fouteen year old twins who were forced down two completely different paths. 'Immortal War' has everything-- action, romance, humor, and very readable battle scenes. That last one is a huge thing for me-- I usually don't read books with heavy action scenes and if they're in a novel I'm reading, I usually just skim the passages. I didn't do that with 'Immortal War'. Better still, with so much happening to so many characters at one time, I still found it easy to understand what was going on where and to whom.

The big finale seemed a fitting send off to the characters I've grown to love. Most loose ends are tied up. Some are surprisingly left open making me wonder if we'll be seeing a few more novellas or even a companion series. (Please, Mr. Somper!!!) There are a ton of secondary characters who still have stories to tell and I, for one, would love to hear them (*cough*cowboy*cough*).

If you haven't read the 'Vampirates' series, go to your local library and tell the librarian you want to read 'Demons of the Ocean'. You won't regret it. And to those who have read the series and are putting this read off till 'next time', make 'next time' today.

I'm very happy I decided to follow Grace and Connor on their journey. I have to laugh at myself-- I was hesitant to start this series back in the day. 'Vampire pirates? What are these authors going to think up next?', I said to myself. But the beautiful cover and intriguing concept eventually won me over and the hardcovers now sit proudly on my bookshelf, ready for when I want to dive back into the lives of the Tempest twins.

'Immortal War' gets 5 stars and is available online and in stores.

Vampirates Play?!

2012-02-16T13:38:00.002-06:00

I just finished reading 'Immortal War', the sixth and final installment of the Vampirates series by Justin Somper. While searching the authors website, I stumbled upon this little nugget of information. It's old news, but I felt I should share it with you anyways!

It seems like a stage adaptation of 'Demons of the Ocean' has been touring theaters in the UK since October! From the trailer, it looks like lots of fun. This is the kind of theater I'd do if I were an actor. My hope is that this one day gets to the States-- I'd love to see it! My other hope? That this makes its way into the land of musical theater. The story and characters in this series totally lend themselves to the musical format-- and I would pay good money to hear Lorcan sing!

What books do you think should be adapted for the stage? Share your thoughts!

My Billy Shelf

2012-02-01T20:01:00.001-06:00

I re-organized my bookshelf today and thought I'd share it with you!

It was a huge mess earlier today, piles of books left and right, spined and lying cover down. Essentially, the definition of messy bookshelf.

But, look at it now!!!

It's sooo much better than it was before. There's still two rows on a few shelves, but at least I can see more of the book titles. Click the image to head over to Flickr and see a few notes I added on what you are seeing!

Follow Friday

2012-01-27T19:51:00.003-06:00

The Question is:

Which book genre do you avoid at all costs and why?

Answer: Western, most biographies, and ~~Sarah Dessen~~, er, contemporary YA/Adult novels. Why? Westerns have always bored me. Biographies just aren't my thing. And contemporary fiction? We live contemporary, why do we have to read about it, too?

Review: Pure by Julianna Baggott

2012-01-27T19:38:00.000-06:00

Title: Pure
Author: Julianna Baggott
Genre: Older YA, dystopian, dark, gritty, slight romance
Star Rating: 2/5 stars

Taken from 'Goodreads', "We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . . Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. When a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.

When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again."

A friend of mine mentioned 'Pure' to me a while back. Supposedly, it was the talk of the town at a book expo she attended. Because of that, I decided to take a stab at reading this novel by Julianna Baggott. Let me tell you first that I, personally, think this novel is best suited to older YA readers. It's a dark read and might not please the younger YA set, even if they liked 'The Hunger Games'.

The Negatives:

As far as page count goes, this book was *way* too long. It took me 300 pages (almost exactly) to get to a point where I cared about the story and even then, I wasn't too overly invested in the plot or characters. Part of my trouble with 'Pure' was the voice. I can count on one hand the number of books I've enjoyed that are in present tense. My mind was auto-correcting to past tense throughout the entire novel. As you can only imagine, that made it really hard to get 'sucked in'. I finished this book not because I was on the edge of my seat, but because I had pushed through hundreds of pages and felt I needed to at least see the story through.

Pressia lives in a world where people are fused with objects. You'll walk down the street and see a girl with a dolls head fused to her hand, a man with a fan in his throat, or even a boy with birds stuck to his back. There were some cring-worthy and shocking combinations described in 'Pure', not all of them easy to grasp. That was the most difficult part to understand about Pressia's world.

Also, purely subjective, I was a little turned off by how dark the novel was. I'm okay with dark, but usually like a little happy mixed in. I'm not talking a musical number, but something-- some little ray of hope. I didn't get any of that in this novel. I finished it feeling a lot like I did when I read 'Mockingjay'. 'Pure' started on one note and kind of continued on that same note. The one tone storytelling made for a pretty lackluster finale.

The Positives:

Who could resist this cover? The colors, font, and design are just perfect.

As far as characters, I enjoyed them well enough. Pressia was the most likable character of the bunch, followed by Bradwell, Lyda, and then Partridge. Lyda's character wasn't explored in much detail, though she plays a major role in 'Pure'. Still, however, she has more personality than Partridge. If I were to choose my favorite character, the award would go to Bradwell. He came off a little flat to me, but you know what, he seemed like a cool guy. He and Pressia's banter in his butcher shop early on in the book was probably my favorite part of the novel.

Each chapter was told in a certain persons point of view. Unlike some authors, Baggott didn't try to stick to a pattern. Personally, I prefer that. Some novels I've read have had alternating characters point of view and because of that, events felt a little forced. While some of the events in this novel did seem a bit, er, contrived, the fact that the point of view didn't change in a pattern helped a bit.

Overall:

I like dystopian novels. I've read 'Matched', 'The Hunger Games', 'Legacy', and quite enjoyed them. However, 'Pure' just wasn't my kind of book. I didn't finish wanting to read more or even looking forward to the sequel. If you like gritty, dark worlds, you may like this novel. It just wasn't my cup of tea.

Deja Vu Covers! Which do you prefer?

2012-01-23T18:34:00.000-06:00

Occasionally (well, all the time), I shelve books at work. Today, I shelved two books with very similar covers. I thought I'd share them with you. Someone who uses Getty Images to make money must have been very excited to see their image on two book covers!

First, let us take a look at 'Mad Love' by Suzanne Selfors, published by Walker Books for Young Readers. The cherry red umbrella is eye catching and the raining hearts? They're cute, too. Do I plan on reading it? No, but as far as covers go, it's a nice one.

Now, take a peek at 'Struck' by Rhoda Stapleton, published by Simon Pulse. Are you getting the sense of deja vu?

Two different publishers. Two different cover designers. One Getty Image manipulated in two different ways. (Look closely and you'll see identical water droplets on the umbrella's panel, fourth from the left!) Neat, huh?

My personal favorite is the cover to 'Mad Love'. I think 'Struck' has too many hearts raining down. Which do you prefer?

Review: Marmalade Boy, Volume 1 by Wataru Yoshizumi

2012-01-19T09:00:00.000-06:00

Title: Marmalade Boy, Volume 1
Author/Artist: Wataru Yoshizumi
Genre: Manga, Shoujo
Star Rating: 5/5

Taken from 'Amazon', "Talk about dysfunctional! Miki is horrified to learn that her parents have swapped with another couple, and that all four now plan to live under one roof. But when her new stepbrother, Yuu, shows up, he appears to be just the one to ease her mental anguish... that is, until she sees the bitterness beneath his cool exterior. The strange romance that follows would make any love triangle seem ordinary by comparison."

Originally published by the now defunct Toykopop, 'Marmalade Boy' is hands down my favorite manga series. It's classic shoujo and something you don't want to miss out on!

Volume one introduces you to the main protagonist- Miki. Miki is your typical high schooler. That is, until her parents let her in on the news that they're divorcing. Not just divorcing, but swapping partners with a couple they met on a cruise. Add the other couples high school son and a house they all share and you have some major life complications!

One of the things that makes or breaks manga for me is the drawing style and I love the style used in 'Marmalade Boy'. Wataru's style is cutesy and comedic, but at the drop of the hat, a character will have an expression on their face that just draws you in. I love it.

The story found in 'Marmalade Boy' is filled with humor, angst, memorable characters, and true love. This is a manga you'll want to check out.

'Marmalade Boy' runs 8 volumes. Currently, most of the run is 'out of print', but you can still find copies used at conventions, online, or in used bookshops.

Follow Friday!

2012-01-13T07:58:00.002-06:00

Question: Many readers/bloggers are also big music fans. Tell us about a few of your favorite bands/singers that we should listen to in 2012.

Answer: I'll be listening to:

Hanson- I've loved them since MMMBOP and their new stuff is great!

Sonohora- I just discovered these guys. I don't speak italian, but love their melodies!

I think this will also be the year of 'oldies'...

Those are three of mine! Who are yours?

The Official Cast of 'The Host'

2012-01-12T16:40:00.001-06:00

IMDB has listed the actors who are destined to play the four main leads in 'The Host' movie adaptation. (See my Fantasy Cast here!) We've known Wanderer for quite some time, but now we know who her male leads are!

Playing Ian is Jake Abel, or as I like to call him "the kid from Supernatural". Actually, I think Jake may do a good job. He's a talented guy.

Playing (obnoxious, pig headed, stubborn-- your pick!) Jared is Max Irons. I haven't actually seen him in anything. Personally, I pictured Jared to be older looking, but we'll see how this turns out. Maybe it will work out well? Fun tidbit, he is the son of Jeremy Irons.

And playing lovable, gun wheeling Jeb is William Hurt. I still prefer my choice for the role over Mr. Hurt, but with a new wardrobe, some make up, and a gun, maybe he'll be the perfect Jeb. Maybe... (Off topic, he looks an awful lot like the Fifth Doctor, doesn't he?)

So far, no one else has been officially added to the cast. What do you think of these new additions?

Quick Review: Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien

2012-01-10T10:00:00.000-06:00

Title: Prized
Author: Caragh M. O'Brien
Genre: older YA, dystopian, romance, 2nd in series
Star Rating: 4/5 stars

From Goodreads, "Striking out into the wasteland with nothing but her baby sister, a handful of supplies, and a rumor to guide her, sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone survives only to be captured by the people of Sylum, a dystopian society where women rule the men who drastically outnumber them, and a kiss is a crime. In order to see her sister again, Gaia must submit to their strict social code, but how can she deny her sense of justice, her curiosity, and everything in her heart that makes her whole?"

Unlike the last 'middle book' I read (ie: 'Crossed'), this one actually had a plot, an interesting setting, and great dialogue! I enjoyed 'Prized' and am looking forward to the third book-- which needs to be published soon... Now, if possible!

I'm not sure what it is about them, but I really love the characters in this series-- especially Leon. He may have his mood swings, but I'd take him if Gaia gave him up! My advice? Don't give up on this 'sleeper' series, it is just getting better!

Chad Michael Murray's 'Everlast'

2012-01-05T16:41:00.001-06:00

Did you know that Chad Michael Murray, most commonly known for 'One Tree Hill', authored a graphic novel recently? 'Everlast' is currently being toured around BN's across the US.I stumbled upon this video of a bit of Chad's book talk. Credit for the video goes to 'sgrplmfairy88' on youtube.

Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

2012-01-05T10:00:00.000-06:00

Title: Cinder
Author: Marissa Meyer
Genre: YA, Fairy tale, Steampunk, Scifi, Romance
Perfect for: a lazy afternoon
Star Rating: 3/5 stars

Borrowed from 'Goodreads', "Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future."

With loads of five star reviews, I expected a twinge more from 'Cinder'. There are many points in which I'll give it credit. As far as putting an original twist on a handful of popular fairy tales? Author Marissa Meyer gets a gold star. I loved the almost steampunk elements of Cinder's society and Cinder's own human/cyborg nature. The world in which 'Cinder' was set was different enough for me to be intrigued by, while not making me terribly confused.

The cover art? Love it. That and the title are the reason I decided to read this novel.

'Cinder' is a mixture of fairy tales. Not just inspired by Cinderella, it also takes elements from other popular tales, which (without going into spoiler territory) make the story slightly more predictable than I would have liked. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't figured out the story arc (even the 'surprise' elements) pretty early on.

What saved the story, in my opinion, were the characters. As a character, I latched onto Cinder right away. I found her sarcasm amusing and character arc worthwhile enough to keep on reading, even though I had the story figured out. The good doctor, the Da Vinci of the novel (if I were to relate this to the movie 'Ever After'), was also quite endearing. I liked him from the get go and look forward to seeing more of him in later installments.

Which brings me to my final point about this novel... It is the beginning of a series and you will know that by the time you get to the ending. This book had one of those love/hate 'non endings'. There was an almost ending, but then, boom, us readers are hit with something that takes the story in a complete 180, and then the book is over, leaving us waiting for book 2. I see the strategy, but wish there had been a more solid ending in place. Just a little more of a bow would have been great.

'Cinder' is a steampunky fairy tale that will, at the very least, help you get through a rainy or snowy day. It gets 3 out of 5 stars.

Review: Bunheads by Sophie Flack

2011-12-29T18:22:00.002-06:00

Title: Bunheads
Author: Sophie Flack
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Perfect for: anyone who took dance as a kid and dreamed of it being more than a hobby!
Star Rating: 3/5 stars

Taken from Goodreads, "As a dancer with the ultra-prestigious Manhattan Ballet Company, nineteen-year-old Hannah Ward juggles intense rehearsals, dazzling performances and complicated backstage relationships. Up until now, Hannah has happily devoted her entire life to ballet. But when she meets a handsome musician named Jacob, Hannah's universe begins to change, and she must decide if she wants to compete against the other "bunheads" in the company for a star soloist spot or strike out on her own in the real world. Does she dare give up the gilded confines of the ballet for the freedoms of everyday life?"

I took dance class for many years as a kid and young adult. Never did I think about becoming a professional dancer nor was I ever good enough to consider it, but still once a dancer, always a dancer. I'm not a reader of contemporary YA, but 'Bunheads' had me interested in it right from the get go. First off, the last book I read about a ballet school, 'Red Shoes Will Kill You' by Dorian Cirrone, entertained me quite a bit. It's few and far between that I see YA novels set in the traditional dance world, so I try to read them when they hit the shelves. Second, the cover is actually quite nice. It's eye catching and fits with the story well. (It also helps that I recently watched an Australian TV show about kids at a prestige's dance academy and have since had dance on the brain!)

'Bunheads' isn't a romance so much as a coming of age book with some romance. It's odd for me to describe it as a 'coming of age' kind of book, being that the characters are close to or over 20 years old, but in reality, they (specifically main character Hannah) have been secluded in the dance studio most of their life and haven't yet really grown into who they are supposed to be. Hence the coming of age theme! 'Bunheads' follows Hannah, already a professional dancer by the age of 19, as she slowly ventures out into the world and sees that while she may love dancing, it may not be her one and only.

I found the character of Hannah to be very relateable, almost too relatable! I can understand her point of view, striving to reach a goal, keeping her eye on the prize, while missing out on a whole world of things. Trust me when I say, I did that throughout most of my college days and it isn't the best way to go through life! Hannah isn't the most personable of YA leads (she's a bit Meredith Grey), but her reasons make sense and her point of view is clear. Anyone who has ever wanted something so bad that they blocked out everything else will understand her. The secondary characters are engaging, though the male leads could have had a bit more personality.

As far as plot is concerned, I found 'Bunheads' to flow well. I've been in a reading rut recently, where books are just not sticking, but 'Bunheads' didn't have that feel at all. If anything, I was excited to finally get to dive into the professional world of dancing. While non dancers might think some of the issues in this novel are bizarre (ie: instructors telling characters to lose weight-- in their chest-- as to not break their body's line), dancers will hear a ring of truth in the situations Hannah and her friends find themselves in.

Is this an awe inspiring, life changing read? No. Is it an enjoyable view into the world of professional dancing and into the life of a girl who thought she had found her place, but may need to go just a little further to find where she truly needs to be? Yes!'Bunheads' gets 3 out of 5 stars and can be found on bookshelves everywhere.

Update

2011-10-25T11:08:00.000-05:00

Hi guys,

I just wanted to apologize for my lack of updates. I didn't mean to drop off the face of the earth!!! Why the sudden disappearance? Mainly, my day job has been giving me more hours and on top of that, I'm working on a side project that will (fingers crossed) let me cut loose from the before mentioned day job, so I've had less time to 'chill'. Needless to say, it's been hard to find the time to really get into a book!

I recently started reading 'Tempest' by Julie Cross. So far, I'm really enjoying it! 'Tempest' is a time travel story that has already been optioned by a motion picture company. It hits store shelves in January. I'll be sure to leave a review here on the site when I finish this read!

Also, be on the lookout for a review of 'A Beautiful Friendship' by David Weber. This book was sent to me via the publisher. I've never read Weber before, so I'm looking forward to reading his first YA novel.

So, don't worry. I'll be a back and updating. It just maybe a little less frequent!!!

~Brooke

Follow Friday

2011-10-08T11:20:00.003-05:00

The Question of the Week is: If you could pick one character in a book, movie or television show to swap places with, who would it be?

Answer: There are so many characters I love reading, but would I want their lives? Hmmm... I would say Bella from 'Twilight', but becoming a vampire is *so* not on my bucket list. Then there is Anna from 'Anna and the French Kiss'. I mean, Étienne and France?! Two definite perks, but on the other hand, Anna has a bit of a screwed up family life. If only I could take bits and pieces of many books and mash them into one.

Maybe it will be easier to switch to TV shows? I could be Elena from The Vampire Diaries. She gets to make out with lots of hot men and lives in an adorable town. But then again, her life isn't always peachy.

Movies? I think being Beauty from Beauty and the Beast (ie: Disney version) might be the best choice. She can sing, has a library handed to her, and falls for a handsome prince. Just being a Disney Princess in general would be neat. Maybe I'll just choose that answer? Or a mixture of all of the above?

Review: Rip Tide by Kat Falls

2011-10-08T10:44:00.000-05:00

Title: Rip Tide
Author: Kat Falls
Genre: juvi, ya, dystopian, action, adventure, 2nd in series
Perfect for: those who read the original, 'Dark Life'
Star Rating: 4/5 Stars

Taken from Goodreads, "Return to the subsea frontier with Ty and Gemma! The mysteries of the deep are deadlier than ever when Ty'With time running out for his parents, Ty's desperation leads the two teenagers to the underwater underworld...and into an alliance with the outlaws of the Seablite Gang. But one mystery soon leads to another. How has an entire township disappered? Why is the local sealife suddenly so aggressive? And can the Seablite Gang be trusted...or are Ty and Gemma in deeper water than they realize?"

It's only been a few months since my last trip under the sea with Kat Falls and 'Dark Life' and, boy, am I happy I got to return so soon with 'Rip Tide'. 'Rip Tide' is a 'rip roaring adventure'!

Just like the original, 'Rip Tide' starts with a bang. Readers are thrust into an undersea adventure that doesn't let up. The story is paced well and addictive in nature. This book is truly one that will keep you reading hours on end. Kat makes a smart decision with 'Rip Tide' and takes the story into a totally new setting. Because of this choice, 'Rip Tide' is still a very fresh and almost standalone story. I wouldn't read it before reading 'Dark Life', but it is nice that 'Rip Tide' has its own story, as opposed to just being a 'middle book'.

The banter between the two on again off again leads, Ty and Gemma, is spot on and the secondary characters are interesting to read. Gemma has some nice character development. I'm looking forward to seeing what might happen next in the series!

'Rip Tide' is an addictive, action, adventure set in a cool underwater world. You won't regret reading this series!

Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday

2011-09-29T22:33:00.000-05:00

Book Blogger Hop:
The Question of the Week is:
In honor of Banned Books Week, what is your favorite “banned or frequently challenged book”?

Answer: Of the 2010-2011 banned reads, the only one I've read is 'Hunger Games'. They banned the book for supposedly giving children nightmares and numbing readers to violent acts. I may be in the minority here, but I didn't find Hunger Games to be violent. It was depressing and some dark things did happen, but we never really saw the heroes of the novel do many violent things, just saw their reaction to the violence around them.

Plus, the news is filled with far more violent acts, so I don't see why parents choose to blame this book for 'numbing' their children's reaction to violent acts. (A good movie to see if you liked Hunger Games is Battle Royale. It's a Japanese flick that I found similar and just as entertaining as 'Hunger Games'!)

The Question of the Week is:
What book that hasn't been turned into a movie (yet) would you most like to see make it to the big screen, and who would you like cast as your favorite character?

Answer: I'd like to see the 'Stravaganza' series (by Mary Hoffman) made into a movie. The books take place in the contemporary world, as well as Talia, a fantastical version of Italy. I'd love to see the 'Stravaganza' series come to life on film! I don't know who'd I cast as the main characters... That is sure something to think about!

Review: Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink

2011-09-27T20:06:00.001-05:00

Title: Circle of Fire
Author: Michelle Zink
Genre: YA, Historical, Romance, Supernatural
Perfect for: Readers of the original two novels-- don't start with this one!!!
Star Rating: 4/5 stars

Taken from Goodreads, "With time dwindling but her will to end the Prophecy stronger than ever, Lia sets out on a journey to find the remaining keys, locate the missing pages of the Prophecy, and convince her sister Alice to help--or risk her life trying. Lia has her beloved Dimitri by her side, but Alice has James, the man who once loved her sister--and maybe still does. James doesn't know the truth about either sister, or the prophecy that divides them. And Alice intends to keep it that way. There are some secrets sisters aren't meant to share. Because when they do, it destroys them."

As this is the third and final book in a series, this review is going to be short and sweet. 'Circle of Fire' is a fitting ending to the 'Prophecy of the Sisters' trilogy, regardless of its faults. While the pacing of the story felt off, I sped through the pages. Lia and Dimitri had some cute moments, the interaction between Lia and Alice came as a welcome shock, and, overall, the story's end felt right.

I didn't like all the elements of the story-- it was a little dark at the end (though I probably should have expected that!). Also, some of this story felt like it would have been better placed in the second book. Along the same lines, I didn't feel that we learned enough about the new keys to really care about them.

If you've read the first two novels, you'll want to read 'Circle of Fire'. This is one ending that definitely brings closure to the story. 'Circle of Fire' gets 4 out of 5 stars.

Follow Friday/TGIF

2011-09-23T22:29:00.000-05:00

TGIF is hosted by GReads!

Question of the week:Reading Challenges: Did you sign up for any this year? How has your progression been?

Answer: I fail miserably at challenges so I am not participating in any. When I really aim to sit down and read tons of books, that is when things come up or get in the way! I do much better when I don't have a time table or list that I feel I 'need' to read. :-)

Question of the week:Do you have a favorite series that you read over and over again? Tell us a bit about it and why you keep on revisiting it?

Answer: Series? Not really. I've found there's always a book that I don't care to reread in each series. Books within a series? Here are a few of my favorites: Twilight (Stephenie Meyer), The Grey King (Susan Cooper), Greenwitch (Susan Cooper) and Goblet of Fire (JK Rowling)... I try to re-read the entire 'Dark is Rising Sequence' every now and then, as well as 'The Chronicles of Narnia'.

Updates/Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday

2011-09-16T22:51:00.000-05:00

Hello again to all my friends, I'm glad you came to play, fun and learning never ends-- oops, sorry channeled Barney there for a moment! Thanks for stopping by the blog. This past week was pretty centered on 'Divergent'.

New This Week:
Divergent Fantasy Cast
Divergent Review

And the hops...
The Book Blogger Hop:

The Question of the Week is:As a book blogger, how do you introduce yourself in your profile?

Answer: Do I have a profile? Hmm. Not so much.. I may have to work on that. In my soon to be updated profile, I'm sure I'll mention my love of reading, my goal to work in television or at least get a script or two produced, and my other hobbies (ie: doll collecting). Maybe all in Q and A style? I'll probably have some silly little quote in there from Doctor Who. I think that it's important for people to know who the writer is on blogs. That's why I do these hops and why I do the fantasy casts. Those two things give a little more insight into me, I think. I'll have to make my profile reflect that, too.

Follow Friday:
The Question of the Week is:It's that pesky magic book fairy again! She has another wish: What imaginary book world would you like to make a reality?

Answer: Does 'The Neverending Story' count? I've always wanted to hold a book with the Auryn on the cover and the whole idea of being part of the book while reading it? One word-- Awesome!

Thanks for stopping by this week. See you again soon!!!

Fantasy Cast: Divergent

2011-09-12T22:54:00.000-05:00

Back in March, it was announced that Summit acquired the film rights to 'Divergent' by Veronica Roth. Since speed reading it this past week, I thought I'd put together another fantasy cast-- this time on 'Divergent'!

Matthew Lewis (Harry Potter films) as Four:

(Runner Up: Drew Roy)

No one can deny that Matthew Lewis has grown up into a nice looking guy! Why choose Matthew Lewis for Four? First, he has a unique look to him. He's not your typical cookie cutter male lead, he has some uniqueness to his physical looks. Second, we've really only seen Matthew play minor characters. I think it's about time this boy was given a lead role! He could totally pull off Fours conflicting emotional states and the humor his character surprisingly has a knack for!

Malese Jow (The Vampire Dairies, Big Time Rush) as Tris:
(Runner Up: Dakota Fanning)

Yes, I know this choice doesn't fit the physical description of Tris exactly, but Malese has a unique look to her (like Tris) and has the petite body type associated heavily with Tris. From what I've seen of her in Vampire Diaries, she could pull off both the frigid, insecure side of Tris, as well as the tough, confident Tris that shows emotion.

Jake Abel (Supernatural, Percy Jackson) as Eric:

I'm not typecasting Jake, but he does play troubled characters well. I could totally see him striking fear into young Dauntless hearts!!!

Tommy Knight (The Sarah Jane Adventures) as Al:

Yes, Al is supposed to be this larger than life sort of fellow physically, but it's really hard to find an actor that plays young, but is that much of a brick wall. Tommy Knight is an actor who I see having a great future. With a little time in the gym, I'm sure he could buff up a bit to become a believable Al AND still pull off the emotional bits that are necessary to get Al right.

Will Poulter (Voyage of the Dawn Treader) as Will:

I think I've used Will in these posts before and possibly for yet another character with his actual name, but I stand by this choice. Going totally off looks, he strikes me as a fellow who would, if we had a society like Roth's, come from a class of intellectuals. Plus, I think this kid can act!

??? as Christina:Actually, I'm not sure who I'd cast as Christina... Any thoughts on who you'd like to see?

??? As Caleb:Again, I'm not sure who I'd go with here, either. Any thoughts on who you'd like to see?

So, there's my fantasy cast... Who's on yours?

Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

2011-09-10T22:15:00.001-05:00

Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Genre: YA, dystopian, action, romance
Perfect for: older YA readers who like dark dystopian reads
Star Rating: 3/5 stars

Taken from Goodreads, "Beatrice "Tris" Prior has reached the fateful age of sixteen, the stage at which teenagers in Veronica Roth's dystopian Chicago must select which of five factions to join for life. Each faction represents a virtue: Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite. To the surprise of herself and her selfless Abnegation family, she chooses Dauntless, the path of courage. Her choice exposes her to the demanding, violent initiation rites of this group, but it also threatens to expose a personal secret that could place in mortal danger."

Oh, 'Divergent'... What do I say about you? 'Divergent' delivered in terms of being an addictive, thought provoking debut. It's one of the better 'present tense' books that I've read-- up there with the 'Uglies' trilogy. I can see why people have been hyping the title, because it is overall a well rounded, entertaining dystopian novel. However, there are a few things that bugged me about 'Divergent', too, that stand out too much to skip over.

'Divergent' has one of the better 'present tense' voices that I've read-- and I don't usually get into books written in 'present tense'. Tris has a specific voice that comes across well, making this quite an addicting read.

At over 400 pages, 'Divergent' is a long read. Normally, a book that is 400 pages takes me three or four days, but 'Divergent'? I felt compelled to finish it in two. Be warned now that 'Divergent' is one of those books that will keep you thinking about it even when you're not reading (like, when you're supposed to be shelving books at work and you're instead thinking about the crazy factions and their values!!!).

Debut Author Veronica Roth clearly defines her dystopian world and does a good job of making it stand out among other dystopian worlds. I can't say I didn't find any (whats the word?) issues with the world, but in terms of getting what it felt like across to readers, Roth did well. I wish Roth would have gone further into the setting outside of Chicago or, if it is the same system everywhere, mentioned that somewhere.

Also, the factions never made sense to me-- I never understood why Chicago (or the entire world) separated people as they did. Yes, Roth had a line or two about it in the book, but more would have been nice. Usually I can pick out a trait about whatever dystopian society I'm reading that makes sense or seems to fit an aspect of our lifestyle, but this dystopian Chicago just seems wrong to me. Granted, for all I know, we could be getting more of this in the sequels.

One other thing that didn't come across to me-- why do people fear being faction-less when being faction-less seems to be the best option? I can't believe that all the faction-less people in the streets of Chicago are sad, depressed, shadows of people. There must be some factor-less (like Divergent factor-less) that see the lack of one specific cast as a lifesaver. As I mentioned before, Roth might address something like this in future books, so maybe she is just saving this morsel for later, but as far as 'Divergent' is concerned, I just couldn't wrap my head around the factor-less.

The characters in 'Divergent'? I liked *most* of them. Four, Will, and Christina were great characters that really helped bring me into Roth's world. Four, in particular, really stole the show for me. The character I had the most trouble with was, ironically enough, the main character Tris. I didn't hate Tris-- I mean, how can you hate the main character in a novel told in first person-- but she got on my nerves. The best way I can describe it is that while reading Tris, I was reminded of reading Tally from the 'Uglies' trilogy. Tally was hardly a like-able character in the beginning of the novels (and the sequels, for that matter), but even so, the novels ended up on my list of favorites. Some of Tris' characteristics, especially when it came to violent/mean spirited tendencies frustrated me. You can shrug it off by saying 'well, that's her factor', but for a Divergent, I would think that she would have acted differently. Don't get me wrong-- I liked Tris as a character, but I would be lying if I said she didn't irritate me, too.

The pacing of the novel was done well and I think you'll find yourself hard pressed to not make a marathon of reading 'Divergent'. I enjoyed Roth's romantic storyline in the novel between the two leads. It wasn't exactly the typical 'lust' at first sight thing that we're seeing now a days. The romance had time to develop. The best part of the romance was that, unlike other novels, the characters in this novel weren't blinded by love, but they had the typical concerns, doubts, fears that couples in real life tend to have. It was nice to read. The action was paced well and, I'm happy to say I didn't get bored or feel the need to skim over it! The ending was a little quick for me and I was worried that it was going to be one of those 'stop in mid thought' cliffhangers at first, but it turned out to have a proper (fast) ending. Thank goodness!

'Divergent' gets 3 out of 5 stars. I'll be recommending this read to fans of darker, slightly more violent dystopian novels. Even with the problems I had with the novel, none of which are deal breakers, I am looking forward to seeing what happens next in Roth's world. 'Divergent' is available in stores now!

Updates/Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday

2011-09-03T22:44:00.000-05:00

Hello friends!Down a laptop, I haven't been able to post my usual three posts a week here. Apologies. It didn't help that my reading schedule has been off this past month. You know when you're in a reading rut? Yep, that was me. :-)

Now, I'm back. I have two book reviews 'in the wings' and am going to start another book tomorrow.

As far as the reality TV show front, things are looking good!!! Keep your fingers crossed for me. I think I made a good choice to stay behind the camera in television. I've read recently reality 'stars' don't get very much money compared to the creative team.

Anyone watching Falling Skies? I think that wins for my new favorite show of the summer.

See you all next week!

The Question of the Week is: What are you most looking forward to this fall/autumn season – A particular book release? Halloween? The leaves changing color? Cooler temperatures? A vacation? (If your next season is other than fall/autumn, tell us about it and what you are most looking forward to in your part of the world!)

Answer: I really enjoy Halloween. I'm a ham at heart, so dressing up and pretending to be something new and exciting for an evening, even if I'm too old for trick or treating, always makes me happy!

The Question of the Week is: If you could change the ending of any book (or series), which book would you choose? And, why?

Answer: There are a few, actually!

I would have told Stephenie Meyer to stop at 'Twilight', first off! There are bits of the sequels I like, but it would have been fine as a standalone!

I'd probably have to go to K.A Applegate and get her to make a happy ending for the 'Animorphs' series. (Wiki to synopsis of the final book) I remember really disliking the negative vibe the last books in the series had. So not the way to end it!

I'd also like to knock on George Lucas' door and tell him that he needs to find a way to get Chewie back from the dead and to redeem Jacen from his dark downfall (I'm thinking, we can do JR and call it all a dream!) in the EU Star Wars novels! There was no reason for Star Wars to get so darn dark, in my opinion.

Review: Dark Life by Kat Falls

2011-09-03T22:20:00.001-05:00

Title: Dark Life
Author: Kat Falls
Genre: Juvi, YA, Dystopian, slight romance, action, adventure
Perfect for: readers across the board-- younger YA readers and older YA readers! (first book in series)
Star Rating: 4/5 stars

Taken from Goodreads, "Dive deep into the vivid underwater world of Dark Life!The oceans rose, swallowing the lowlands. Earthquakes shattered the continents, toppling entire regions into the rising water. Now, humans live packed into stack cities. The only ones with any space of their own are those who live on the ocean floor: the Dark Life.Ty has spent his whole life living deep undersea. When outlaws attack his homestead, he finds himself in a fight to save the only home he has ever known. Joined by Gemma, a girl from Topside, Ty ventures into the frontier's rough underworld and discovers some dark secrets to Dark Life. Secrets that threaten to destroy everything."

You know the awesome feeling you get when you pick up a book thinking you'll read it to kill a little time, only to then look up and see you've spent half the day sucked into a fantastically, addictive story? That was my experience with 'Dark Life' by Kat Falls. It was recommended that I take a look at the debut novel. I put it off, as juvi fiction is somewhat hit or miss for me and the cover wasn't as appetizing to my palette as I would have liked, but after reading it, I must say, 'Dark Life' rocked.

As far as cons go, the few I found were pretty minuscule. While the dystopian world is described well, small details about the characters took a while to be mentioned. For example, I didn't know for sure how old the characters were until two-thirds of the way into 'Dark Life' when Ty mentioned how far he was away from getting his own bit of land. I had assumed that they were around 15 because of the voice, but it was a bit annoying not knowing! Another reader I spoke to was unsure of the gender of Ty, the main male character, until a few chapters in. Little details like gender and age can be forgotten so easily, so I understand, but it did bother me a bit!

While this isn't all together a con, the ending of the novel did feel a bit rushed. I think that came from the fact that so much happened in 'Dark Life' that the slow down was bound to feel abrupt. The ending wasn't bad by any means, it was just quicker than I would have liked.

Now, on to the good stuff-- and there was plenty! I loved the world Falls set up. It was one of the more unique dystopian worlds I've read. It seems that YA is full of novels set in underground tunnels or dark city streets, but I haven't read one set in an underwater environment like Falls created. She created a world that was simple to understand, but was pretty complex at the same time.

The story played out like a movie, which might be the reason Disney picked up the film rights prior to the books release. 'Dark Life' is definitely a novel that can be described as an action/adventure. It didn't lag and just when you thought you'd figured something out, something new happened! The story should entertain middle grade readers, as well as older YA readers.

For those romance readers, there was a very small bit of romance in the novel. Most of the 'romantic' bits were very first love/school yard romance-esc. The story was more concentrated on the action and the slight (very slight) bit of romance there was never crossed into 'teen only' territory!

The best thing about this novel? Even though it has a sequel, 'Rip Tide', it has a complete beginning, middle, and end. You're not left on a huge cliff hanger, like many series that have come out in the last year. It could have even been a standalone, if Falls had wanted it to be!

If you haven't read 'Dark Life', I suggest giving it a try. I think you'll like it! Both 'Dark Life' and 'Rip Tide' are available everywhere books are sold! 'Dark Life' gets 4 out of 5 stars!

Hello Again!

2011-08-22T12:13:00.003-05:00

I just wanted to pop in and apologize for my absence this past week. I've been in a bit of a dry spell when it comes to reading. Thankfully, I think that's over with. I'm currently reading the final book in the 'Prophecy of the Sisters' series. So far, it's pretty good.

Also, if you won a prize during the Summer Giveaway, those went out this week. Sorry for the delay!!!

So, look out for the usual updates starting back again this week!

Thank You!

2011-08-08T10:05:00.002-05:00

A big thank you to all who entered the 'Summer' contest! I'm sending out e-mails to the winners tonight. If you get an e-mail, please confirm your information within 48 hours. :-) When I have everyone confirmed, I'll go ahead and set up a congratulations post!

For an extra point, entrants had the option to answer a question 'What does summer mean to you?' A good chunk of you mentioned that you love summer because you get to read more books.

Here are a few of my favorite responses:
AmyS: To me summer means we are that much closer to winter. I love snow!
The Happy Booker: Just one thing? I'm not that decisive! Summer for me is hurricane season, flip flops, spaghetti straps, and my hubby looking hot in his apron showing of his grillin skills!
Ann: Hot weather means summer to me, and boy, we got it this year!
LolaWid: Summer to me is having my kiddos home, and all schedules go out the windows...
Shahira: Summer = Falling in love. :]

You can find all the response in the comment section of the 'Contest' post!

As a consolation prize, I've embedded some clips of my favorite things! Enjoy!

If you haven't seen Newsies, you really should. It is my favorite movie. Seriously, how can you not love it? A cast of hot guys? Kenny Ortega? Lots of song and dance numbers? Great acting? This movie as it all!

Another favorite of mine is the Sister Act series. This clip is from the finale of Sister Act 2.

Two Doctors=awesome. I love the 'You were my Doctor' part. It always gets me.

And that's it for now. Thanks for entering the contest. See you next time!

Updates/Contest Reminder/Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday

2011-08-04T22:14:00.003-05:00

It's another weekly hop already? Wow. This week flew by! Be sure to check out the happening's on the blog this week. Lots of fun stuff happened!

I'd like to thank Stacey Kade for taking the time to fill out the author interview! Thanks!

This Week on the Blog:
Review: Passion by Lauren Kate
Author Interview: Stacey Kade
Contest Info: Win 'Queen of the Dead' by Stacey Kade

Reminder: Are you a follower of the blog? Enter to win Stacey Kade's 'Queen of the Dead' or a handful of promotional keychains! All the details can be found in the contest post! Enter soon-- the contest ends on the 7th!

And onto the hops...

Book Blogger Hop

The Question of the Week is:
What is the one ARC you would love to get your hands on right now?

Answer: I was JUST talking to my mom about a book that I wished I had received! Very timely question! 'Darkness Falls' is my pick. It's by author Cate Tiernan and is the sequel to the wonderful 'Immortal Beloved'. I'm really looking forward to stepping back into that world!

While this isn't an ARC, I would love to get my hands on 'Immortal War' (final book in 'Vampirates' series) by Justin Somper. It was released by Simon and Schuster UK in June, but we don't get it in the States until January. Do I think I'll make it to January to read this? Not a chance. I'll be placing my order on Amazon.uk soon!!! It's just so irritating knowing that it can be found on bookstore shelves now, just not in my country!!!

Follow Friday:

The Question of the Week is:
Talk about the book that most changed or influenced your life (was it a book that turned you from an average to avid reader, did it help you deal with a particularly difficult situation, does it bring you comfort every time you read it?).

Answer: While I can't think of a book that really changed my life drastically, I have a few 'comfort' reads. If I'm feeling down, I usually pick up 'Twilight', 'The Host', or 'The Grey King'. They always seem to get me through tough times. It helps that they are some of my favorite reads. 'Twilight' is pure popcorn-- corny in a good way. 'The Host' has the cutest love story. 'The Grey King' has some great settings-- mostly Welsh locations that have some connection to King Arthur. After reading one of these books, I'm usually out of whatever funk I was in!

Thanks for hopping by this week! See you next time!

Review: Passion by Lauren Kate

2011-08-04T08:35:00.000-05:00

Title: Passion
Author: Lauren Kate
Genre: YA, Supernatural, Romance, 3rd in a series
Perfect for: those who have read the first two in the series. This does not work as a standalone.
Star Rating: 3/5 stars

Taken from Goodreads, "Luce would die for Daniel.

And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . . .

Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last.

Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history.

Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever."

I can't help it. When it comes to this series, I'm addicted. I can't help but enjoy stepping into the world Lauren Kate has crafted, but to be completely honest, I always finish these books (well, 'Torment' and the newest novel, 'Passion') with gripes. The best way to describe my thoughts about the Fallen series is that I want to love it so much that I hold it up to higher standards that it never seems to reach. I know I shouldn't, but I really liked 'Fallen'. The sequels.... There have been great parts and then not so great parts. But on to the topic at hand-- 'Passion'.

'Passion' is the third book in the Fallen series. It continues exactly where 'Torment' ended. Much of the storyline is centered around Luce learning about her and Daniel's past lives together in a search to find out why she loves him and why their cursed. I think anyone who's read the series has wondered about the past, so all in all, the concept sounds pretty good, right? Well, sort of.

At 430 some pages, 85% (ish) of the book showcased Luce and Daniel playing 'catch me if you can' back in time. While it was nice jumping into the past lives for a while, mid way through, I found myself wondering when we'd get on with the story. The time jumping was all fine and good, but there was just too much of it.

We got to see very little of the secondary characters in this novel, but Daniel, Miles, and Shelby had a good scene together and we did get a small peek into Cam's background, which was nice. 'Passion' will please those readers who can't get enough of Luce and Daniel's tragic love, but doesn't progress the story very much.

The best way to describe 'Passion' is that it reads like the middle of a story. It doesn't have a standalone intertwined into the big storyline. It's very 'Empire Strikes Back' in that way. The last 15% of the story is where most of the action happens and is a major set up for the fourth installment.

For me, 'Passion' read a whole lot like 'Torment'. It was a quick, addictive read, but left me wondering why it had to be so long. The more I think about it, 'Passion' would have been so much better as a novella. It's 400+ pages just seemed a bit repetitive and didn't move the story along as much as I expected.

Even though I had my gripes, I am not giving up on the series. The last 15% of the novel (where the plot really kicked in) caught my attention enough to make me look forward to the release of the final novel in the series. 'Passion' gets 3 out of 5 stars.

Author Interview: Stacey Kade, author of 'The Ghost and the Goth' series

2011-08-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite things about blogging about books? Author interviews. I love reading them and I love hosting them! This month, Stacey Kade was gracious enough to stop by and answer a few questions. Stacey is the author of 'The Ghost and the Goth' and its sequel 'Queen of the Dead', with more to come, I'm sure!

Make sure to stop by my most recent contest post where you can enter to win a copy of 'Queen of the Dead'!

A Bit About Stacey Kade...

As an award-winning corporate copywriter, Stacey Kade has written about everything from backhoe loaders to breast pumps. But she prefers to make things up instead.

From her first childhood scribbles about a magical necklace that would turn people into cats, Stacey has long been fascinated with what happens when the “ordinary” bumps up against “out of this world.” What if aliens landed on Earth? What if the afterlife is really just another dimension?

She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, Greg, and their three retired racing greyhounds, Joezooka (Joe), Tall Walker (Walker) and SheWearsThePants (Pansy). When she’s not reading or writing, you’ll likely find her parked in front of the television with her Roswell DVDs, staring rapturously at Jason Behr.

The Q and A Session:

Q: Probably the hardest question of all, who are you? Tell us a bit about yourself!
A: You're right! This probably is the hardest question... How about this? A writer, a reader, a hopeless romantic, a wife, a big sister, an aunt,a greyhound rescue devotee, and a firm believer that freshly baked cookies and/or a McDonald's Coke can solve just about any ill. :)

Q: Every writer has their writing 'quirks' (ie: writing at night, while drinking tea, in the wee hours of the morning, etc). What are yours?
A: Hmm. I've learned that pretty much whatever I've set up as a quirk, I knock down when I'm desperate to get something done, on deadline, or traveling. :) But if I have my preference, I love having music playing while I write. My Pandora stations usually. And I like to have a cup of Earl Grey tea when I can!

Q: What inspired you to start writing 'The Ghost and the Goth'? Was it your first foray into the publishing world? Had you imagined that 'The Ghost and the Goth' would have sequels while writing the original manuscript or did that idea come about later?
A: I often hear bits of dialogue or snippets of character thoughts in my head to start off a story and with Alona, it was something like, "Staring up at the undercarriage of a bus is a sucky way to spend your afterlife." I had published three novels for adults through a small press prior to The Ghost and the Goth. I was hoping there would be an opportunity for sequels to G&G. The big twist, so to speak, in the middle of Queen of the Dead was something I knew I wanted to do even while I was writing G&G.

Q: 'Queen of the Dead' came out recently. What can fans (who may not have read it yet) expect?
A: More kissing, more bickering, a few new people (alive and dead) and some pretty hefty complications. :) Will and Alona...it's never going to be easy for them, unfortunately.

Q: Now, onto a bit more fun... Have you ever experienced something supernatural or unexplainable? Please explain! If you haven't, do you believe in ghosts, aliens, psychics, etc?
A: No, I've never experienced anything supernatural, not really. But I'm actually pretty happy about that. I'd much prefer the ghosts haunt other people! I'd be too freaked out. And yes, I believe that there are things, phenomena, that we don't readily understand and try to explain away. I think there likely is a rational explanation but perhaps not one science has figured out yet. :)

Q: If you could choose to live in one genre (ie: supernatural, romance, musical, etc), which would you choose?
A: Romance. Hands down. Gotta have that happily ever after. But I'd rather have a blend of paranormal AND romance, lol.

Q: I'm a huge tv nut. What is on your DVR right now? What are your all time favorite TV Shows?
A: Oooh, new favorite show is Awkward. on MTV. Loving that one. What else is on my DVR? Um, Falling Skies, Alphas, Necessary Roughness, Suits, True Blood...and too many more to mention. I adore TV, watch way too much of it for my own good probably!

All time favorites:
Supernatural
Veronica Mars
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The O.C. (Season one)
Roswell

Q: You're going on vacation and can only take one of your favorite books with you to read on the plane. What book do you choose? Why?
A: Ack! You realize this is my nightmare scenario, right? I ALWAYS take a minimum of three books with me on a plane, just in case we're delayed or I'm not in the mood for a particular kind of book once I'm in my seat or whatever. So...probably Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. I've read it countless times and I find something new to love about it each time.

Q: In the same sort of scenario, if you could choose any literary character to entertain you on a vacation, who would you choose? Why?
A: Probably Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. We'd have fun reading books--my favorite vacation activity--and I'd get to enjoy her sarcastic but funny commentary on everyone around us. :)

Q: If you were to cast 'The Ghost and the Goth', who would you cast as the two leads, Will and Alona? If your life were being filmed, what actress would play you?
A: Oh, dear. Casting is so tricky, even the imaginary variety! I love the models they found for the covers and think they are pretty close to perfect. So, people who look very similar to those models, I guess. I think Landon Liboiron would make a great Will. Don't have any specific suggestions for Alona, unfortunately. A movie of my life? Oh, let's hope not! :)

Q: And last, but not least, any words for your fans?
A: A huge THANK YOU! Telling stories is such a privilege and I'm so honored and grateful that you guys have given me a chance to do just that. It's truly a dream come true.

Summer Giveaway Hop- Contest: Win 'Queen of the Dead' by Stacey Kade, plus extra's!

2011-07-31T21:12:00.003-05:00

Come one, come all to the 'Summer Giveaway Hop'! The blog hop is being hosted by Bookhounds. As a thank you to all the followers who have stopped by, commented, or passed on links, I thought that it was about time to surprise you all with a giveaway!!!! Details are below!

What can you win? I'm giving away (at random) a single ARC of 'Queen of the Dead' and 5 promotional light up 'Queen of the Dead' keychains. If I get over 100 entries for this contest, I will give out another keychain per each additional 15 entries. (Example: 100 entries or below- total of 5 keychains, 115 entries- total of 6 keychains, 130 entries- total of 7 keychains, and so on!). Note: I reserve the right to cap the extra keychains if I run out of extras!

How can you enter?
1- Because this is a thank you for all your support, being a follower is required.
2- Fill out this form below.
3- Extra point: Leave a comment on THIS blog post answering the question, "What one thing means 'summer' to you?" Check the comments for my answer to this question!

Don't forget, the hop runs Aug. 1st-7th, so get your entries in! Feel free to spread the word, too, b/c the more entries, the more prizes!

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. Winners will be announced later this week. I'll contact you by e-mail if you won!

Win more at the other participating blogs! Links under the cut!

Updates/Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday

2011-07-29T18:20:00.002-05:00

Hello, my friends. How are you all this week? I've been in a Doctor Who'y sort of mood, myself. It's my own fault. I ordered the 10th Doctor doll (made by Tonner) and it arrived this week. Which then made me have to watch 'The End of Time Parts 1 +2' (aka the final two episodes of David Tennant as The Doctor). Do you want to see the doll that started me in this mood? You do? Okay, let me pull up a picture....

The factory version of this doll looks different than this one. Tonner styled his hair really funky right out of the box. I bought this from a kind seller who was willing to fix his hair. It really helps in seeing the resemblance between this face mold and David Tennant's face, I think.

And keeping on this Whovian tangent, if you have watched the entire David Tennant era, watch the video below. It's quite funny!

And This Week on the Blog...
SDCC 2011: Merlin, Being Human
SDCC 2011: Avatar: Legend of Korra
SDCC 2011: Doctor Who, Supernatural
Review: Illusions
SDCC 2011: Vampire Diaries
SDCC 2011: Breaking Dawn
Friday Five Favorites

And the Hops...
Book Blogger Hop:

The Question of the Week is:
Highlight one book you have received this week (for review, from the library, purchased at the store, etc.) that you can’t wait to dig into!

Answer: Well, I just borrowed 'Wolfsbane', sequel to 'Nightshade'. While I highly doubt I'll be able to start it anytime soon, it's good to *finally* have it in my hands!

Follow Friday:

The Question of the Week is:
Let's step away from books for a second and get personal. What T-Shirt slogan best describes you?

Answer: Well, I've always liked the t-shirt that says, 'I used to be schizophrenic, but we're okay now'. While I'm not schizophrenic, I do have a tendency to talk to myself and you could say that writers themselves have their fair share of schizophrenic tendencies. :-)

See you all next week!

SDCC 2011: Being Human, Merlin Panel

2011-07-28T10:20:00.006-05:00

And the US reboot of the 'Being Human' panel is up live on youtube in one long piece!
Find it HERE.

And 'Merlin had a panel, too!
Complete Panel
I apologize for making these all separate posts, but hopefully you all don't mind!!! I don't want to lose any of the links!

SDCC 2011: Avatar: The Last Airbender: Legend of Kora

2011-07-27T18:15:00.004-05:00

I'm a huge Avatar fan and would have totally loved to see this panel in person! Korra's airtime is still so far away!!!!
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Upon watching this panel, I have to say it is one of the more informative ones I've sampled thus far! Totally something you'll want to watch!

SDCC 2011: Doctor Who, Supernatural Panel

2011-07-26T22:12:00.002-05:00

As you may know already, I'm a huge Doctor Who Fan. A high quality video of the Doctor Who panel (with Matt and Karen) has popped on youtube! You can find the whole long thing in one part HERE!

Supernatural's panel is also on Youtube. Shot by the same guy who did Doctor Who, you can find it HERE!

The poster, Gonturan74, has many other panels on his youtube page, so check them out, too!

Review: Illusions by Aprilynn Pike

2011-07-26T10:00:00.001-05:00

Title: Illusions (US), Wild (elsewhere)
Author: Aprilynn Pike
Genre: YA, Supernatural, Romance, 3rd in series
Perfect for: Readers who have read the first two books. This is *not* a standalone!
Star Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Taken from Goodreads, "Laurel hasn't seen Tamani since she begged him to let her go last year. Though her heart still aches, Laurel is confident that David was the right choice.

But just as life is returning to normal, Laurel discovers that a hidden enemy lies in wait. Once again, Laurel must turn to Tamani to protect and guide her, for the danger that now threatens Avalon is one that no faerie thought would ever be possible. And for the first time, Laurel cannot be sure that her side will prevail."

Being as this is the third in the series, this review will be short and sweet. I don't want to spoil anything for readers who might have stumbled upon this review and have not yet read the first two books, 'Wings' and 'Spells'. It is essential to read the first two novels in this series to get anything out of 'Illusions'. It's not a series book that could stand alone.

Just like the Fallen series, I find these books infuriating sometimes. They're addicting and really easy to get sucked into, but because of that, I always get frustrated by the characters actions and plot points. While the plot is executed much better than 'Spells', 'Illusions' still made me just as frustrated.

What did I like about 'Illusions'? I really enjoyed seeing Tamani and David in scenes with Laurel *together*. It always bugged me how Laurel was either with one or the other, but in this novel, we saw the whole crew interacting and I loved it. Adding Chelsea to the mix was a great idea. Her sarcasm was spot on and a nice break from the boys rivalries and Laurel's worrying.

The introduction of Yuki was a welcome plot point, too. While I still don't know enough about her to know if she's good or bad, she helped round out the group in 'Illusions'. I am looking forward to seeing what she brings to the table.

What bothered me about 'Illusions'? My main problem with 'Illusions' is that aside from Laurel taking an active interest in really figuring out her love life, not much more happens. Yes, we meet Yuki, but we don't learn anything about her. Yes, we see a troll, but we don't learn anything about it. The book suffered from 'Empire Strikes Back' syndrome-- it sets up the next book in the series, but on its own, it has no standalone story. Questions aren't answered. I finished the book trying to figure out why Pike couldn't have just created a trilogy.

'Illusions' gets 3 out of 5 stars. The scenes with Laurel and Tam were great, but not enough to really sell me on this book. Still, I'm looking forward to the final book in the series!

SDCC 2011 Vampire Diaries Panel

2011-07-24T20:51:00.001-05:00

The Vampire Diaries Panel
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

The audio isn't fantastic, but Ian and Paul look great!

SDCC 2011: Twilight- Breaking Dawn Part 1 Panel (links!)

2011-07-24T07:29:00.001-05:00

Being the dork I am, I would have loved to be at San Diego Comic Con this year. SDCC is one of the largest entertainment/comic/media conventions in the States. (And is SO Much fun to attend!) I even made a fantasy panel list. With the con just ending, I'm sure more videos will come up soon. For right now, here's clips to the Breaking Dawn panels from this year!

'Breaking Dawn: Part 1' Press Conference:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

It's nice to see them all smile. Hopefully, they brought that into the movie....

'Breaking Dawn: Part 1' Panel:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

You can't see them in the video very well, but the audio is good. Rob and Taylor are funny people!

Friday Five Favorites

2011-07-22T18:14:00.004-05:00

I stumbled upon this new meme and thought I'd try it out. I love meme's that let us talk a little more about who we are and not just book related facts. Friday Five Favorites can be found at Living like the Kings blog. Join in on the fun!

Favorite cuisine: I am very addicted to perogies (with cheesy mashed potato's inside) and Pepperoni Pizza. Yum Yum! Other than that, I eat a lot of deli sandwiches.

Favorite vacation: Florence, Italy. I studied there for a month and LOVED it. Florence is such a beautiful city. It's located in a perfect place because you can venture out to so many adorable Tuscany towns, including Siena. Siena is my favorite place in the world. If you can go there, go there!

Favorite hobby: I love taking photos and, oddly enough, re-rooting doll heads. Check out last weeks FollowFriday/Book Blogger Hop meme for links to my doll collection/photography. :-)

Favorite Holiday tradition: Christmas Specials. There are a select few specials that I need to watch prior to Christmas for it to really feel like the holiday. The Muppet Family Christmas is a must watch every holiday season!

Favorite “the-baby’s-asleep-the-chores-are-done-now-what-shall-I-do” pastime: Well, I don't have a baby or a husband yet, but as far as past-times, I am prone to turning on the TV or hopping on the internet. I tend to obsess about certain shows, one being Doctor Who. If there is a marathon, I am there.

Updates/Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday

2011-07-21T22:51:00.002-05:00

Happy Hop! This week has been crazy hot in the midwest. We hit 103 degrees in our garage yesterday. Yikes! Thankfully, our air conditioning is kind of working-- keeping it at 80 degree's, which isn't great, but is better than 95!

Looking ahead, make sure to stop by the blog August 1-7th. I'll be participating in the August contest hop. :-) I have some fun things to giveaway. While I'm not going to give away any spoilers just yet, I'll give you a hint. The prizes have something to do with Stacey Kade's 'Queen of the Dead', the sequel to 'The Ghost and the Goth'. More details to be posted soon!

I'd like to post my condolences to Borders Books and Music. I worked at a Borders for six months. It was my introduction into retail, actually. While I was there for a short time, I will always have fond memories of my time spent there. Borders differs from Barnes and Noble in a few key ways. I'll miss the fantastic manga section that most Borders have. In the same respect, I'll miss the little extra bobbles that Borders sold-- anime figures, t-shirts, purses, Pocky, etc. I spent most of my paychecks on the extra's that my Borders sold than books, I think! Even today, I go in and buy some of their 'extra's from time to time. And let's not forget the Hand Crafted Black Cherry Soda... Yum. Whatever happens, I hope that the thousands of Borders employees who are eventually losing their job aren't shafted and end up where ever they have to end up to be happy.

This Week on the Blog:
Review: Ashes, Ashes
Top Ten Tuesday: Required Teen Reading
Borders Liquidation

And onto the hops:
Book Blogger Hop:

The question of the week is:
What’s the ONE GENRE that you wish you could get into, but just can’t?

Answer: I'm not very good with contemporary fiction, teen or otherwise. There are some times I wish I could venture from my traditional suit of supernatural genre's, but nothing ever works out in my favor when I do that, so I've pretty much stopped.

Follow Friday:

The Question of the week is:
Name 3 Authors that you would love to sit down and spend an hour or a meal with just talking about either their books or get advice on writing from.

Answer:
Susan Cooper- b/c she rocks. Seriously, The Dark is Rising Sequence is far too underrated here in the States. I would love to just hang out with her for a while and talk about Wales, writing, and The Old Ones!

Laura Whitcomb- b/c she seems like a pretty interesting lady. Her blog is filled with some great posts, including those on her Supernatural Tea Parties. All in all, she seems like a fun person to hang with for an hour. (Author of 'A Certain Slant of Light')

Stephenie Meyer- Yes. Make fun of me all you want, but I would love to meet Stephenie Meyer. And believe it or not, I would probably ask far more about 'The Host' than the Twilight Saga! Stephenie seems far more down to earth than other writers, so I think she'd be a blast to hang with. Plus, it would give me a chance to ask some questions about 'The Host' that have bugged me since reading it!

And that's this week in a nutshell. See you all next week!

Review: Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari

2011-07-21T12:19:00.001-05:00

Title: Ashes, Ashes
Author: Jo Treggiari
Genre: YA, Dystopian, romance, survival
Perfect for: readers who don't mind stories with very little resolution
Star Rating: 1/5 stars

Taken from Goodreads, "Epidemics, floods, droughts--for sixteen-year-old Lucy, the end of the world came and went, taking 99% of the population with it. As the weather continues to rage out of control, and Sweepers clean the streets of plague victims, Lucy survives alone in the wilds of Central Park. But when she's rescued from a pack of hunting dogs by a mysterious boy named Aidan, she reluctantly realizes she can't continue on her own. She joins his band of survivors, yet, a new danger awaits her: the Sweepers are looking for her. There's something special about Lucy, and they will stop at nothing to have her."

Forgive my frankness, but I didn't enjoy 'Ashes, Ashes' at all. And you know what? That disappoints me a bit. This is one instance where I really liked the cover and the title, but not the words or story inside. I didn't get into book blogging to 'bash' books, but I feel that I owe it to my readers to give my honest opinion of this title.

There were many flaws in 'Ashes, Ashes'. The most major flaw I found after reading the book beginning to end was that it didn't seem complete and I don't mean in a cliffhanger/series sort of way. I never felt like I knew enough about anything (characters, society, ethics of new world) to really care about the eventual conflict at the end of the novel. Even the anti-climatic conflict at the end of 'Ashes, Ashes' left me wondering, 'that's it?' and not in a good way. There was an undercurrent that was missing from the storytelling, is the best way I can describe it. It was like turning on a movie somewhere in the middle, watching 20 minutes of it, and then turning it off before the end. No real resolution anywhere.

The concept sounded (and still sounds) amazingly entertaining, but the execution of the novel just didn't work. If you're looking for a dystopian read, there are better choices out there. Try 'Enclave' by Ann Aguirre, 'The Big Empty' by J.B Stephens, or 'Life as We Knew It' by Susan Beth Pfeffer.

By no means do I want you to cast this off your 'to read' list. I don't recommend buying it, but if you see it at your local library and think it sounds interesting, then by all means, go for it. You never know, you may love it. I, however, did not. 'Ashes, Ashes' gets 1 out of 5 stars and can be found at your local library or bookstore.

(One last odd thing about this title-- the cover image posted here is not the final cover. The final cover has a model completely different looking. Ironically, the character from the tossed away cover is far more accurate to the book! Both images can be found on goodreads.)

Bad News For Borders!

2011-07-16T17:25:00.003-05:00

Attention Borders shoppers, you may want to read this article. I hope that something will happen that keeps Borders open, but the news isn't good... From what I gather, if a sale doesn't arise by Sunday, July 17th, the company will have to start a major (and quick) liquidation of all its stores.

Update: And it looks like Borders will be liquidating...

Updates/Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday

2011-07-14T22:35:00.002-05:00

After an interesting week of having very little electricity, we are finally on the grid again. This week was originally dubbed 'Harry Potter Week', but it was cut short due to the power outage. I will be continuing to update with my scheduled Harry Potter updates, however!

This week on the blog:
Review: Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Kids
Harry Potter Meme Fun!
Video Rewind: Sorcerer's Stone
Fun Harry Potter Facts: Movie's 1 and 2
Funny or Die Trailer for Field of Dreams 2

I saw this video on Yahoo! and it made me laugh... I thought I'd share it here!

And on to the Hops!

The question of the week is:
How/Where do you get your books? Do you buy them or go to the library? Is there a certain website you use like paperbackswap?

Answer: I usually get my books from the library first. I hardly ever buy debut titles from a store until I've read them and decided I want to collect the series.

The question of the week is:
What do you do when you're not reading?

Answer: Tons. I usually will chill in front of the tv watching something on Netflix (currently: re-watching old school Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and the K-drama Boys Over Flowers) or be on the computer killing time doing this or that. Aside from staring at screens, I love shopping, re-rooting dolly heads (aka giving them new hair), or taking photos of things! You can see my some of my re-roots/photos on flickr! Recently, I've decided to go back into directing short documentaries and oral histories for fun...

Happy hop!

Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

2011-07-14T14:18:00.000-05:00

Title: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Author: Ransom Riggs
Genre: YA, Supernatural, Adventure, slight romance
Perfect for: male readers, fans of x-men type supernaturals
Star Rating: 4/5 stars

Taken from Goodreads, "A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. And a strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children who once lived here—one of whom was his own grandfather—were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a desolate island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive."

The first thing that grabbed me about 'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children' were the pictures. The cover, to start off with, is an attention grabber. The black and white photo of the levitating girl is macabre, haunting, and intriguing. If that cover isn't compelling enough to grab your attention, than no cover is! The photographs inside are equally compelling. They're just so neat to look at. To say the least, this book has made me more interested in sifting through vintage photographs if ever I see a bin of them. You never know what gems you may find... Or what stories may come from them.

As this book has a male protagonist, it is one you'll want to add to your 'books for reluctant readers' list! I found Jacob to be a great protagonist. He's a relatively older YA character, 16, but is a fine voice for those newer, younger YA readers. Author Ransom Riggs takes a pretty straight forward approach in telling his story about this group of supernaturals. It works well, the style, because with so much going on and so many discoveries being made, this story could have been lengthy and confusing, but somehow isn't. I found this story to be quite addicting, actually.

I'll admit that I did skim over some of the actiony bit's, because those (in almost every book I read) never keep my interest to the point of reading every word.

As this is the first in a series, not everything is answered. I'm still unsure of what I think of these 'time loops', the purpose of keeping these supernaturals hidden, or 'The Birds' intentions... Of course, a sign of a good book is that the reader forms opinions or wonders about certain future events, right?

I'm looking forward to the next installment of 'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children'. This is going on my list of books to recommend to those looking for a fun, unique, supernatural read! 'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children' gets 4 out of 5 stars.

Not convinced that this read is for you? Watch the book trailer!

Or for a bit of a making of....

I highly recommend watching both videos. This Riggs fellow seems like a really neat guy!

Heads Up! My Power's Out!

2011-07-13T08:46:00.001-05:00

Hello readers,

Just a little heads up, my power has been out since Monday morning due to the windstorms that came through Illinois earlier this week.

Since I didn't pre-set any of my posts for the week, Harry Potter week, reviews, and any normal meme's are going to be delayed until the power is restored. Com Ed has no idea when that might actually happen, though! Being that we have a down pole in the yard three houses down, I don't see this being fixed soon...

Brooke's Box of Book will be back soon! Until then, I've placed a picture of a candle in this post, so you may experience what I have had to deal with for the past few nights... :-)

Till next time (which I hope is soon)!

Harry Potter Memes

2011-07-10T20:17:00.003-05:00

And a few questions found via Tumblr. (Little fact, I had no idea those images with crazy captions were considered meme's. Made this a little harder to find than I thought it would be!)

• Least favorite character in the series? Wormtail. He was such a worm throughout the whole series!!!

• How do you feel about the movies compared to the books? It depends on the book. I think the movie version of Prisoner of Azkaban was completely off. Too many things made too little sense in that adaptation (ie: Lupin knowing the marauders map, not telling harry why his patronus is a stag, far too little Ron, etc). However, I prefer watching Order of the Phoenix to reading it. I love, love, love the movie adaptation of Goblet of Fire, as well as the school year portion of the book.

• Which character do you most compare yourself to? Of the main three, I'm more like Ron. He seems to have a cool, funny attitude about him. Though to be totally honest, I'm probably more like Colin Creavey. His up beat nature and love for photography are very me. I should add a bit of Ginny, too. I'm an odd mixture of outgoing and shy.

• What would your Patronus be? A raven. And it's all due to my weird love for 'The Grey King' by Susan Cooper and her character Bran, the Raven boy.

• Would you rather have an owl, toad, or cat as your pet? Owl, hands down. They can be very helpful in two ways-- companionship and mail service!
• If you could invite seven characters from the series to a Hogwarts dinner party, who would they be?

• Pick your mode of transportation: Thestral, Broom, Floo, Apparation, Portkey, Hippogriff, or Dragon. I'd apparate. Floo would be my second option. I'd probably keep a flying car around, too.

• What would you see if you looked in the Mirror of Erised? I'd see me surrounded by my family-- husband, children, dog, etc.

• Which Deathly Hallows object would you like to have? The Cloak of Invisibility. That thing is so cool!

• Which character would you attend the Yule Ball dance with, if you had the chance? Harry, but I'd save a dance for Neville if he looked like Matthew Lewis!

• What would be your favorite Hogwarts class? Charms, Flying, and Care of Magical Creatures!

• Which Quidditch position would you play: Chaser, Keeper, Beater, Seeker, Referee, or Spectator? Probably spectator!

Quick Memories of Reading:
Sorcerers Stone: Loved the story. I had no idea that it would turn into the huge deal it has since the ARC arrived...
Chamber of Secrets: Liked it. It was a quick read.
Prisoner of Azkaban: LOVED it. My favorite book in the series. Sirius and Lupin are two shining stars in the Harry Potter Universe.
Goblet of Fire: Could stand to skip most of the Quidditch World Cup (and usually do upon re-reading). That was just too long. Loved the Hogwarts portion of the book, though. It was a very upbeat, even with the whole Cedric thing.
Order of the Phoenix: Ew... Too long. Too angsty. Too much of stubborn Harry. And above all, too many sentences in capital letters!
Half Blood Prince: The best parts of this were between Ginny and Harry. Such a cute love story.
Deathly Hallows: Wordy. I'm not a huge fan of the parts that take place outside of Hogwarts and not a huge fan of treasure hunts... The battle was great, though. Loved seeing everyone return to save the wizarding world. The epilogue was, er, interesting, to say the least.

There's my answers, how about yours? Leave them below or if you blog them, leave a link!

Video Rewind: Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone

2011-07-10T08:53:00.000-05:00

I'm re-watching all the Harry Potter movies as a lead in to the final film July 15th. This post is dedicated to the movie adaptation of 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone'.

My earliest memories of the film are watching the pre-release clips of the mail scene with the Dursleys and Harry. I think I had that entire scene memorized by the movies release! As with all the Harry Potter films, my original viewing was in the movie theater, sometime during opening week. There are certain series you need to see in the theater, and this is one of them!

The Best Moments:

Love the classroom scenes. They ground this movie.
Of all 7, this is the one movie that really shows off Hogwarts, both in terms of the school and the culture.
Oliver Wood! Oh, why oh why, did you go away? So darn cute with that accent!
On a similar note, love the flying class scene.
Oh, seeing Little Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco, and Neville is so refreshing!
The Ghosts-- sadly, these guys got cut out of some of the other movies. I miss them.
Love watching the staircases and paintings move.
Hagrid's "I shouldn't have said that" still makes me laugh.
Great Christmas scene

That Could Have Been Better:

Harry's pretty talented, being able to turn himself into a cartoon like CG version of himself when he's in danger. :-) Thank goodness they fixed the CG for future movies
Harry's eyes blink unevenly throughout this movie. I've gotten used to it, but it bugged the heck out of me originally.

Now, it's your turn. What are your favorite scenes in this first movie in the Harry Potter series?

Fun Harry Potter Facts- Part 1

2011-07-09T17:54:00.003-05:00

Think you know all there is about Harry Potter? Here's a few fun facts about the movies! I skowered IMDB and picked up a few good bits of triva for you to impress your friends with! More can be found on the IMDB website.

Sorcerers Stone Movie Trivia:

Did you know Hufflepuff Susan Bones (played by the prominent red headed extra from the first two movies) is actually Director Chris Columbus's daughter Eleanor Columbus? Sisters Isabella (Chamber of Secrets, girl in bookshop) and Violet (Chamber of Secrets, girl with flowers) and brother Brendan (Chamber of Secrets, boy in study hall 1) can also be seen in the films, though not as prominently.
JK Rowling insisted on British leads.
If you want to visit the filming location for platform 9 3/4, you should really visit innercity platform 4 and 5. Supposedly, platform 9 3/4 is actually marked at King Cross Station between the real platform 9 and 10, though that is not where the movie filmed.
The trouble-making poltergeist Peeves (played by Rik Mayall) does not, in the end, appear in the movie.
The only sets that were built for Hogwarts were the Great Hall, the Grand Staircase, and the Gryffindor Common Room. More were built for later movies
Among the portraits on the shifting staircase, you can clearly see a painting of Anne Boleyn (King Henry VIII's second wife, mother of Queen Elizabeth I), who was condemned to death as a witch.

Chamber of Secrets Movie Trivia:

Hugh Grant was cast to play Gilderoy Lockhart, but had to drop out at the last minute.
Fourteen Ford Anglias were destroyed to create the scene where Harry and Ron crash into the Whomping Willow.
Flourish and Botts is a redress of Olivanders Wand Shop (seen in Sorcerers Stone)
Shirley Henderson, who played the fantastic Moaning Myrtle, is the oldest actress (age 37) to portray a Hogwarts student.
The "Let's just hope Mr. Potter will always be around to save the day" dialogue (see quotes) was improvised by Daniel Radcliffe and Jason Isaacs.
Foreign language translations had to change Tom Marvolo Riddle's name so that an appropriate anagram could be formed from "I am Lord Voldemort." In Spanish, his name became "Tom Sarvolo Ryddle," which transforms into "Soy Lorde Voldemort." In French, his name is "Tom Elvis Jedusor," which becomes "Je suis Voldemort." In Dutch, his name is "Marten Asmodom Vilijn" which is an anagram for "Mijn naam is Voldemort". In Turkish the name is "Tom Marvoldo Riddle" which makes up "Adim Lord Voldemort".
The script originally said that Hermione would hug Harry and Ron in the final scene. As the then 11-year-old Emma Watson was embarrassed about having to hug the boys in front of the entire cast, Chris Columbus allowed her to change the scene so that Hermione just hugs Harry then starts to hug Ron but the two get embarrassed and resolve to only shake hands. Watson also stated in a recent interview that she kept letting Daniel Radcliffe go too quickly, so the film was "frozen" for a few seconds to make the hug look like it lasted longer than it actually did. Her hesitation with Ron is also taken by fans as a precursor to the relationship that will develop between the two characters.

Trivia from movies 3-8 will be posted a little later this week! Enjoy the rest of the Harry Potter Week posts!

In Celebration of Harry Potter!

2011-07-09T11:51:00.002-05:00

Happy Harry Potter week!

With the final movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, debuting July 15th, 2011, this little blog will be celebrating all that is Harry Potter! While I was a reader well before Harry Potter, I can't help but agree that the Harry Potter books have made a huge impact on readers and writers, both young and old.

And in terms of the movies? The Harry Potter movies are perfect examples of what all movies adapted from stories should strive to be. Smart adapting, perfect casting, and a talented production crew have truly made these movies worthy of the term 'classics'. And the impossible feat of getting the same cast members back year after year? I only hope that when I succeed in the entertainment world, I can find such a wonderful cast of actors who care about my project so much that they keep their ego's in check and stay with the production!

Harry and his story will be alive for years and years to come and I'm very happy that I got to experience the whole 'Harry Potter' era from beginning to end. And literally I mean from seeing the ARC of 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone', to attending special midnight events, working midnight events, and finally, to soon seeing the final movie!

So, stay tuned for more fun filled Harry Potter posts!

Field of Dreams 2: NFL Lockout

2011-07-06T21:45:00.001-05:00

The Funny or Die trailer for 'Field of Dreams 2: NFL Lockout', starring Jacob Black himself, Taylor Lautner.

Field of Dreams 2: NFL Lockout with Taylor Lautner from Taylor Lautner

Happy 4th of July

2011-07-03T20:41:00.000-05:00

To all those reading this little blog,

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

Update/TGIF

2011-07-01T23:42:00.002-05:00

As promised, it was a bit busier on the blog this week! With July here, pitch meetings are getting closer and closer!!!!

This week on the Blog:
Review: Wonderstruck
In My Mailbox
At the Movies: The Host
Review: Steel

The Question of the Week:
Mr & Mrs: Who are your favorite book couples?

Answer:
1: Harry and Ginny (Harry Potter)- They're just too cute for words. I love how their romance blossomed in the HP books.

2: Bran and Jane (The Dark Is Rising Sequence)- Okay. Bran and Jane never really hooked up. However, it was hinted at and they would be so cute together! A certain webmistress may have even started a fanfic about their eventual relationship...

3: Wanderer and Ian (The Host)- I love this couple even more than Edward and Bella. Yes, Ian was a jerk in the beginning, but once he saw that Wanderer was more than just a body snatcher, he became such a good guy!

4: Sophie and Archer (Hex Hall)- Both characters are so strong that they make a great couple.

5: Suze and Jesse (Mediator)- My first foray into a human/ghost couple. They're perfect for eachother!

And that's it for this week! Happy Hop, all!

Review: Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

2011-06-30T12:40:00.000-05:00

Title: Wonderstruck
Author: Brian Selznick
Genre: Juvi, Graphic Novel, Contemporary
Format: ARC
Star Rating: 5/5 stars

Taken from 'goodreads', "Set fifty years apart, two independent stories—Ben's told in words and Rose's in pictures—weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry. How they unfold and ultimately intertwine will surprise you, challenge you, and leave you breathless with wonder.

Ever since his mom died, Ben feels lost.
At home with her father, Rose feels alone.

He is searching for someone, but he is not sure who.
She is searching for something, but she is not sure what.

When Ben finds a mysterious clue hidden in his mom's room,
When a tempting opportunity presents itself to Rose

Both children risk everything to find what's missing.

With over 460 pages of original drawings and playing with the form he invented in his trailblazing debut novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick once again sails into uncharted territory and takes readers on an awe-inspiring journey."

What a fantastic read! Right off the bat, let me tell you that I've given this title 5 out of 5 stars. Having never read 'The Invention of Hugo Cabret', I wasn't sure what to expect with this Brian Sleznick book. The hefty 600 pages intimidated me a bit, too.

All I can say is thank goodness I decided to pick up 'Wonderstruck'. It's very, very good. Part graphic novel, part narrative, 'Wonderstruck' is actually two stories set in very different times that somehow come together to create a perfect story.

The art is beautifully done and it's amazing how well Rose's story comes across in pictures alone. In the same respect, the narrative is just as well done. This is truly a great story that is hard to put down. While the page count is staggering, I completed this book in about an hour.

There's not much more I can say, but this book about friendship, adversity, and loving connections is a winner and is something that should be on everyone's 'to read' list. 'Wonderstruck' hits store shelves September 2011.

In My Mailbox

2011-06-28T19:11:00.001-05:00

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by 'The Story Siren'. Its purpose? To allow bloggers to share with the world any new acquisitions that may have arrived via snailmail, the www, or even by car trip. I don't usually participate in this meme, but I just happen to have a few books that have arrived for review...

For Review:

'Breadcrumbs' by Anne Ursu
Blurb (goodreads): Once upon a time, Hazel and Jack were best friends. But that was before he stopped talking to her and disappeared into a forest with a mysterious woman made of ice. Now it's up to Hazel to go after him. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen," BREADCRUMBS is a story of the struggle to hold on, and the things we leave behind.

'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children' by Ransom Riggs
Blurb (goodreads): A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. And a strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience.

'Wasteland' by Patricia Williams
Blurb (goodreads): Becca Wilkinson is a nobody, and those that are aware of her existence know her as "that quiet girl in the back of class", "loser", or her favorite-"that chick that killed all those people." New at Leeville, Luke Johnston has everyone eating out of the palm of his hand...except Becca. There's something dark and dangerous about him that she distrusts. Becca will have to let her guard down if she wants answers--but can she handle the truth?

At The Movies: And 'The Host' finally has a Melanie!

2011-06-28T18:11:00.004-05:00

So, remember Stephenie Meyer's other book, 'The Host'? The movie rights were sold years ago and finally we have some solid proof that a movie will eventually come to the silver screen! Here are the facts...

According to IMDB, the movie will hit theaters March 2013, being distributed by Open Road Films.

And even better? They've announced the actress chosen to play main character Wander/Melanie-- Saoirse Ronan (credits: The Lovely Bones, City of Ember, Atonement). Jared and Ian have not yet been cast (or news hasn't hit the web about it yet!). With Saoirse cast, I'm sure we'll be hearing more cast updates soon.

My thoughts? I've only seen the girl act in 'City of Ember', but I don't mind the producers choice. She has that 'quirky' look (Picture) that I always pictured Wanderer to have. The only problem I see is that she looks a little young for the person I deemed in my fantasy cast to play Ian-- Ian Somerhalder. She would work well with my Jared-- Matt Lanter.

So, keep your eyes out for 'The Host' movie news! I'm sure we'll be seeing more soon!!!! (And if you haven't read the book-- read it! If you can't get through the first 100 pages, I totally understand-- they're long winded. Just skip them! Start at 101 and you'll be hooked. :p )

Review: Steel by Carrie Vaughn

2011-06-27T20:02:00.006-05:00

Title: Steel
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Genre: YA, Juvi, fantasy, action, adventure, coming of age with a twinge of romance
Perfect for: both younger and older readers who are in need of a welcome stand-alone novel
Star Rating: 4/5 stars

Taken from 'Goodreads', "Sixteen-year-old Jill has fought in dozens of fencing tournaments, but she has never held a sharpened blade. When she finds a corroded sword piece on a Caribbean beach, she is instantly intrigued and pockets it as her own personal treasure.

The broken tip holds secrets, though, and it transports Jill through time to the deck of a pirate ship. Stranded in the past and surrounded by strangers, she is forced to sign on as crew. But a pirate's life is bloody and brief, and as Jill learns about the dark magic that brought her there, she forms a desperate scheme to get home—one that risks everything in a duel to the death with a villainous pirate captain."

'Steel' is a little under rated. Stand-alone's are so rare now a days that 'Steel' was a bit of fresh air! It is hard to classify 'Steel'. On one hand, it was great fun reading it, but on the other, I don't feel that I'll need to read it again. The best way to describe this novel? Beach reading! At 304 pages, it's a quick read, perfect for when you need a read that will kill time on a lazy day. Even better, as a stand-alone, you won't find it ending in the middle of any angsty action sequence, but on a very complete note that will leave you (or at least it left me) feeling satisfied!

'Steel's pirate storyline was surprisingly easy to jump into and this is coming from a girl whose only history with pirate novels is 'Vampirates'. Don't expect this to read like a dark dystopian or angsty supernatural read because it won't. 'Steel' definitely falls into the 'light/action/adventure/coming of age' category. The romance is that of young love and is present, but the heart of the story comes from the coming of age elements. Because of that, this read is suitable for both young and old YA readers.

Why should you read 'Steel'? All in all, Vaughn has crafted an easy to read, entertaining story. I love the sword play elements, as well as the characters. 'Steel' is something you'll want to check out at your local library. 'Steel' gets 4 out of 5 stars.

Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday/Updates

2011-06-24T10:14:00.001-05:00

Oh, another Friday is here and with that comes another hop post! As I sit here watching 'Let's Make a Deal', I am reminded that I didn't get to post much this week! That will be fixed this upcoming week, I assure you! Good news on the reality show front, we're ready to pitch! And because of that, check back for a new mini series on what it takes to create a reality show and more about my upcoming California Adventure!

This Week on the Blog:
Heads UP! Twilight: The Graphic Novel Vol. 2
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Trailer

And now, the Hops...

The Question of the Week is:

When did you realize reading was your passion and a truly important part of your life?

Answer: I've loved reading since third grade-- the year I participated in Battle of the Books. While I occasionally (*cough*this week*cough*) take a short break, reading has gotten me through the best of times and the worst of times. You can always count on a book, I think! There's not one moment that I can mention that made me realize my 'passion' for reading. It has always been such a constant that I couldn't imagine NOT loving reading and loving talking about things I've read.

The Question of the Week is:
What is your favorite fairy tale or story that revolves around the fae?

Answer: As far as my favorite fairytale is concerned, I think I'd have to go with Beauty and the Beast alla Walt Disney or Thumbelina. I just love the stories.

I also quite like the original Brothers Grimm stuff-- so macabre! When it comes to reads, 'Tithe' is a great fae tale. Aprilynne Pike's series is quite addicting.

Till next week!

Heads Up! Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Volume 2 Is On Its Way!

2011-06-20T09:56:00.001-05:00

I don't know about you, but I really enjoyed Volume one of 'Twilight: The Graphic Novel'. The art was beautifully done and the characters were far closer to what I believe Edward and Bella would look like than, say, their movie counterparts.

Back in March 2010, I totally expected to get volume two within a few months of volume one, especially with volume one only covering half of the novel. Alas, it is now June 2011 and we have just received a release date from Yen Press for volume two. 'Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Volume 2' will be debuting October 2011 in hardcover and ebook format.

To be completely honest, I think having to wait a year and a half for this volume might hurt it. For sure, I will read it, but can I invest another $22.00 in a series that may or may not get finished in a timely manner? I've been spoiled with manga series releasing three or four volumes a year and understand the differences between those and 'Twilight: The Graphic Novel', but I wish Yen Press had come up with more of a plan in terms of releasing them in a timely, scheduled manner...

Anyway, to answer my own question, I will probably, totally buy it. I own the first one, why not buy the second? I just *really* hope that it concludes the 'Twilight' novel and doesn't stop right before the action starts in the third portion of the book! I don't know if I could wait another year and a half for another volume of 'Twilight'!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2-- New Movie Trailer!

2011-06-18T17:56:00.000-05:00

Have you seen the new trailer for 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2'? As always, if the layout cuts off the right side of this video, watch it directly via youtube!

I'm looking forward to this movie, though I have a feeling it will be an emotional roller-coaster!

Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday/Updates

2011-06-17T22:44:00.001-05:00

It's that time again! I've passed over the last few hops b/c I wasn't a huge fan of the question. This week has some interesting questions, so I thought I'd participate...

This Week on the Blog:
Review: Tigers Quest
Review: Legend
PotterMore?

The Question of the Week is:
Genre Wars! What's your favorite genre and which book in that genre made it your favorite?

Answer: My favorite genre's are fantasy and supernatural, usually the kind that mixes with the real world a bit! There are so many. Originally, the works of Bruce Coville (Magic Shop series) and Elizabeth Winthrop (Castle in the Attic) brought me into the genre. Since then I've discovered a ton more awesome titles! Happy fiftieth feature, ParaJunkee!

The Question of the Week is:
How many books are currently in your To-Be-Read (TBR) Pile?

Answer: Too many! Most are older titles that I have been told are really good that I just haven't gotten to you! For the full list, check out my goodreads account-- link located on this site's side bar!

See ya next week!

PotterMore? Mrs. Rowling Has An Announcement!

2011-06-16T11:25:00.005-05:00

So, I noticed on Twitter this morning a tag called 'PotterMore', a countdown to a 'JK Rowling Announcement' (with interactive owls), and a teaser site called 'Pottermore'. What is Mrs. Rowling planning? Who knows! But, the owls are arriving and you bet I'll be where ever I have to be when the countdown reaches zero!

Have news on this? Leave a comment!

Review: Legend by Marie Lu

2011-06-14T19:42:00.019-05:00

Title: Legend
Author: Marie Lu
Genre: YA, Dystopian, Romance
Format: ARC
Perfect for: those young and old looking for good dystopian
Star Rating: 4/5 stars

Taken from Goodreads, "What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills."

Oh, 'Legend', how I enjoyed reading thee! I received 'Legend' by chance and didn't immediately go to read it. The back blurb made it seem a little too much like a mystery, which isn't usually my cup of tea. Low and behold, I was totally wrong. 'Legend' is a fantastic read!

While I'm sure promotional material for this will mention 'Hunger Games' and in truth, the landscape and storytelling does have a similar feeling, you'll enjoy this book so much more if you don't compare it to 'Hunger Games'. As I mentioned before, the world feels similar in a militaristic sort of way, but oddly enough, 'Legends' world is a little more 'real'. 'Legend' is clean enough for younger YA readers, but has enough depth to entertain older YA readers, too.

The characters? To say the least, I really enjoyed them. I had a bit of trouble keeping track of the voices in the beginning, with the alternating chapters, but once I got the names of the characters down, it was smooth sailing.

Day, the 'Han Solo' of the novel, is a vigilante type you can really get behind. His cause, well, you really do begin to root for him fairly early in the novel. And June? She took a little longer to warm up to, but once she started interacting with Day and his partner in crime Tess, I really began to enjoy her character as much as the others. Towards the end of the novel, I was pretty much shouting to her character to do the right thing! (A sign of a good novel, I think!)

Author Marie Lu has a great novel on her hands, one that will surely pick up a lot of fans along its travels! Keep an eye out for 'Legend', which is being released November 2011, and for news of the movie currently being worked on by CBS Films. All in all, 'Legend' is dystopian done right!

'Legend' gets 4 out of 5 stars.

Review: Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck

2011-06-13T15:16:00.004-05:00

Title: Tiger's Quest
Author: Colleen Houck
Genre: YA, Supernatural, Romance, Action
Perfect for: Readers who fell in love with Kishan in the original
Star Rating: 3/5 stars

Taken from Goodreads, "Kelsey Hayes is no ordinary college freshman. In fact, the eighteen-year-old girl has just returned from India, where she risked her life—and her heart—to rescue a handsome Indian prince from a terrible curse. Back home in Oregon, Kelsey is determined to move on, despite the lingering feelings she has for the man she left behind. She meets Li, a completely average guy who offers the promise of an ordinary, curse-free life. But just when Kelsey is ready to move on, Ren reenters her life, on a quest to reclaim her heart. Danger threatens their newly rekindled love and to save him, Kelsey must journey with someone else—a man who wants her for himself. The saga begun in Tiger’s Curse continues in Tiger’s Quest, as Kelsey finds herself in an epic battle between good and evil. From the shores of the Pacific Northwest to the jungles of India, the mountains of Nepal and Tibet, and the mystical realm of Shangri-la, this suspenseful tale of love, sacrifice, and redemption is not to be missed."

I really, really enjoyed the original novel in this series entitled, 'Tiger's Curse'. So, it goes without saying that I had high expectations for 'Tiger's Quest'. Peeking at other reviews and ratings didn't help the hype, either. Most have raved about 'Tiger's Quest' and given it pretty high ratings. Sadly, I just didn't feel the love for this title. 'Tiger's Quest' was weighed down by long blocky descriptions and lack luster plot elements.

I don't mean to completely rip into 'Tiger's Quest', but there wasn't a lot that screamed 'oh my gosh, this is awesome'. The main problem with this novel stemmed from the long, blocky descriptions and the way that much of the time we learned facts via lines of description and not lines of dialogue. The long legends were pretty skim-worthy, too.

Adding to my disappointments, it seemed like Kelsey and Kishan had a pretty easy time completing the tasks that were placed in front of them. Everything just seemed to work out in their favor far too easily.

Even with the disappointments, there was one thing that I enjoyed about this novel-- Kishan. Seeing his character grow in 'Tiger's Quest' was the best part of this novel. I think I even prefer him to Ren now!

'Tiger's Quest' gets 3 out of 5 stars. Not my favorite book, but it's something you will want to read if you enjoyed the original.

Author Interview: Krystle Jones, author of Veiled Innocence

2011-06-08T09:00:00.002-05:00

I recently had the chance to review 'Veiled Innocence', a fantasy adventure with a bit of romance tossed in. You can find the review HERE. I asked Krystle if she would answer a few quick questions. She agreed and I'm proud to give you this new author interview!

A Bit About Krystle Jones:

Krystle Jones grew up in Tullahoma, Tennessee, where she spent her grade school years staying up late reading stories rather than doing her homework. She managed to come out of high school with straight A’s, and went on to obtain a Masters in Flute Performance. She currently lives in Omaha, Nebraska. Veiled Innocence is her first novel. Visit her online at http://krystlejones.blogspot.com

The Q and A Session:
Tell us a few fun facts about yourself:
Krystle: I love to paint landscapes and sketch portraits. I also love putting together websites, voice acting for online games, and playing in musicals (I got my masters in flute).

When and how did you first come up with the idea for Veiled Innocence?
Krystle: I had a dream one night when I was about 22 or 23 (I'm 26 now) about a princess trying to escape a palace fire. I brushed it off to my overactive imagination, but she never really faded away. In fact, other characters soon materialized (Vishka and Rowan), and before I knew it, I had a premise for a story. I talked myself out of the idea of writing a novel, since I had never attempted one before, many times before just making myself do it. The first draft was a train-wreck (went through 6 drafts total, with 2 of them being a complete rewrite), and as I learned more and practiced writing, it became what it is today.

Has writing always been what you've wanted to do?
Krystle: Not exactly. I've always loved writing and reading, but I never really expected to become a novelist. I actually wanted to go into animation; I love cartoons, even to this day. I find it fascinating how people can bring characters literally to life with nothing more than a pencil and some paper. But I was also actively invovled in the band program, and eventually chose music.

Why did you choose the ebook/self published route? Do you believe the traditional routes of getting published are changing?
Krystle: I chose self pub because I wanted to keep all my rights to my work. I'm selfish in that aspect, I suppose, and I guess since I poured 2 years of my life into VI, it made me more possessive of that particular work.

While I think there are more opportunities for publication available to writers now, both self pubbing and traditional routes have their share of hard work involved (query letters and piles of rejections vs. wearing many hats as a self-published author. I myself, as many of my colleagues are doing, act as publicist, writer, editor, cover designer, interior designer, etc.). While you have sole command and freedom when you go with self-publishing, you also need to be well aware of the large amount of time you'll put into the novel that isn't writing or editing (about a 40/60 ratio, for me, I think). It's a lot of work.

Describe your book in 10 words or less:
Krystle: An epic dark fantasy saga. (haha)

If you had to choose the cast for a movie adaptation of Veiled Innocence, who would play Rowan, Lian, and Vishka?
Krystle: Oh, this is tough! When I wrote VI, I hadn't imagined any particular actors/actresses for the parts. When I watched the trailer for Hanna, however, I thought to myself, "Saoirse Ronan (the girl playing Hanna) would make a lovely Lian." I honestly have no idea who I'd cast for Rowan or Vishka. Probably unknowns, or up-and-coming stars.

I'm a TV nut, what is on your DVR right now?
Krystle: True Blood Season 3. I didn't have HBO when it was airing, so I'm getting caught up.

What's next? Do you have an sequels planned and when should we expect them? Krystle: Yes, there are actually 2 sequels and a prequel planned. The two sequels are untitled at the moment, but the second book will come out May 23rd, 2012 and the third and final book will release May 23, 2013 (in case you're wondering, May 23 is my birthday).

After the trilogy is done, I want to publish a prequel called Age of Stars, that tells Vishka's backstory (how she became Empress, the love story between her and Draxonus, and the events leading up to the opening of VI where we first meet her).

Where can readers find your book and what formats can they get it in?
Krystle: They are available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Amazon UK as an ebook at $2.99 and on Smashwords in epub and other ereader-friendly editions, also $2.99. Paperback will be available soon through Amazon and it will be $14.99.

Top Ten Tuesday- Favorite Settings

2011-06-07T12:44:00.016-05:00

This week's Top ~~Ten~~ 'Five' Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, is about your favorite book settings. Here are a few of mine!

1- Italy: I've been to Italy and LOVED it. Set a book in Italy and I'll probably take an extra look at it.

2- Hogwarts: The best thing about the Harry Potter books? Hogwarts. I'm notorious for skipping along the bits that don't take place in the castle.

3- Narnia: How can you not want to visit a place where the animals talk?

4- An Animated Disney Musical: How much fun would it be to live in a world where you can break into song and not get stared at?

5- Castles: One day, I want to own a castle. It's one of the reasons I enjoy readings books about them!

Review: Veiled Innocence by Krystle Jones

2011-06-06T09:00:00.003-05:00

Title: Veiled Innocence
Author: Krystle Jones
Genre: YA, ebook, fantasy, adventure, action, romance
Format: Ebook
Perfect for: those who are in need of a bit of fantasy/adventure
Star Rating: 4/5 Stars

Taken from Goodreads, "Vishka should have died the night her empire fell. Alone and desperate, she makes a pact with a beautiful stranger for the power to avenge her people. But every bargain has its price…

Lianora never placed much stock in the gods; she especially never believed the Accalian lore that spoke of a lost ancient magic, a magic woven from the fabric of people’s souls. So when she discovers the teardrop necklace, she thinks it to be nothing special – until the visions begin, glimpses of a legendary empress’s past and the approach of a great evil. One that may be far closer than she realizes.

What Rowan wants more than anything is freedom. More by force than choice, he serves the crumbling gothic metropolis of Accalia as Black Knight, charged with the protection of the city. When a vicious murder occurs in the dead of night, he never dreams the beautiful woman with dark eyes and flowing, black hair could be a prime suspect. A woman who hasn’t aged for over one thousand years, driven to Accalia in pursuit of an avenging god of death bent on rebuilding his usurped kingdom with the souls of the living.

When Accalia falls prey to a devastating attack, the three unwilling allies are forced together. Now they must figure out how to kill a god. But how do you kill the embodiment of Death?"

There are some ebooks that you read and say, why didn't a publishing house pick this up? For me, 'Veiled Innocence' is one of those books. Krystle Jones has crafted a story full of likable characters, an innovative fantasy world filled with magic, and just the right amount of action to keep everything moving.

There are many characters in this novel. I have to admit that in the beginning, I couldn't see how all of the characters lives would intertwine, but once they did, I was hooked and quite enjoyed watching their relationships grow. Author Krystle Jones spent a lot of time developing her characters, even those that we lost surprisingly early in the book. I wish we had seen more of certain characters, but with so many introductions to be made, I'm sure Jones was just saving things for the sequel.

I love fantastical worlds, but some are hard to get into, hard to understand. 'Veiled Innocence' had a world that never felt overwhelming and the introduction to the world flowed well. Even the folklore in the story was easy to grasp.

There was an ease to the writing that I liked and found very addictive. A rarity in my experience with ebooks, I found myself not wanting to put this down for the evening and waking up looking forward to continuing the story.

If you are looking for an affordable fantasy/action/romance adventure, 'Veiled Innocence' may be what you need. It's available to purchase via 'Smashwords' for a great price. This is a diamond in the ruff and something you should check out if you e-read'. (Soon to be available as a paperback via Amazon.)

Review: Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan

2011-06-02T15:07:00.015-05:00

Title: Immortal Beloved
Author: Cate Tiernan
Genre: YA, Supernatural, Romance
Perfect for: older YA readers
Star Rating: 5/5 stars

Taken from Goodreads, "Nastasya has spent the last century living as a spoiled, drugged-out party girl. She feels nothing and cares for no one. But when she witnesses her best friend, a Dark Immortal, torture a human, she realizes something's got to change. She seeks refuge at a rehab for wayward immortals, where she meets the gorgeous, undeniably sexy Reyn, who seems inexplicably linked to her past.
Nastasya finally begins to deal with life, and even feels safe--until the night she learns that someone wants her dead."

I've never read the 'Sweep' novels by Cate Tiernan, so I didn't know what to expect from this title. We've had 'Immortal Beloved' sitting around the house for a while, but I ignored it. Why did I ignore it? Two reasons, really-- one, the cover and two, the title. Both the title and cover just had no appeal for me. Without reading the back blurb, you'll instantly take this as your run of the mill supernatural romance, possibly starring vampires.

Low and behold, however, that this novel has nothing to do with vampires, just regular people who live really, really long lives called 'immortals'. And also, I should add, it is a *fantastic* read! Don't let the the mellow dramatic title or the bland cover discourage you from reading 'Immortal Beloved', this book is a winner!

First off-- the characters... They make this novel, especially Nastasya and Reyn. Most YA readers will be happily surprised with the characters in 'Immortal Beloved' because, while they look young due to their slow aging process, they don't act young (because some are well over hundreds of years old). Think of it this way-- an Immortal is essentially human. They can marry, have kids, take jobs, they just don't age like a traditional human being. For the characters in this novel who are hundreds of years old, they definitely have grown up already and have had many experiences that you don't see in your typical YA novels.

Reyn, the male love interest, isn't ignored in characterization. As well as coming off, well, hot, his back story is just as interesting as Nastasya's. If I had to choose my top five YA male leads, Reyn has now jumped up to the top of that list! He just rocks.

The plot moves quickly and includes many flashbacks into Nastasya's 'other' lives. It's very easy to screw up flashbacks in fiction, but Tiernan did them perfectly in this novel. They always added to the story and weren't ever boring in a 'let me skim passed them' sort of way. That equals a good flashback to me!

Who is this novel for? I mention that older YA readers will enjoy it, but younger one's could read it, as well. I made a point to mention the older readers because this is a novel that could cross the generational gap, like 'Hunger Games' and 'Twilight' did.

It is the first in a trilogy, so be warned that not everything will be answered. Unlike the common 'cut right in the middle of the action/non-ending' we're seeing in YA, this does have an ending. There is a stand-alone(ish) story in 'Immortal Beloved'. The ending feels right, but leaves just enough unanswered questions so that you're clamoring for the next novel!

My recommendation? Read this novel. Don't judge it by its cover or title. Add it to your 'to read' list. It's just that good. 'Immortal Beloved' gets 5 out of 5 stars from this little blog!

Happy Memorial Day!

2011-05-29T20:39:00.003-05:00

In honor of those who have fought bravely protecting our country,

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day!

Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday/Updates

2011-05-27T08:13:00.021-05:00

Why, hello there, readers! Not a huge amount of updates this week. For those following my reality show news, the digitized footage is in and on its way to the editor for the 3rd pass! I now understand why producers handle five projects at once-- television pre-production is such a waiting game!!!

This Week on the Blog:
Review: Enclave
Hunger Games Movie News

I'd like to remind you all about the review I did of Stacey Kade's 'Queen of the Dead'. It just arrived at the bookstore (mine, at least!). It comes highly recommended from Brooke's Box of Books!

Also, congrats to Ricki at Reading Challenged! Ricki recently won a copy of 'Sweet Valley Confidential' courtesy of Francine and Ann Marie!

And onto the Hops...

The Question of the Week is:
What book-to-movie adaption have you most liked? Which have you disliked?

Answer: By far the worst adaptation known to man (or me at least) happened to one of my favorite book series-- The Dark is Rising sequence. Susan Cooper's 'The Dark is Rising' was adapted into the travesty that is known to movie folks as 'The Seeker'. *shudder* I don't blame acting, directing, or the decision to cast an American lead instead of a British one. I blame the script writer, John Hodge. John, just so you know, I'm never hiring you-- for anything-- ever. Mr. Hodge decided the term adaption meant keeping the main characters names the same as in the book, but re-writing everything else. And I mean everything. Heck, he invented a twin brother for Will and decided that Will, the human boy, would be one of the signs! How ridiculous. John Hodge, you suck. (Oddly enough, he hasn't actually worked on anything according to IMDB since 'The Seeker'. Just desserts? I think so...) His excuse was that the book originally didn't have enough action to keep the story entertaining. Well, I agree to an extent. But that means using your brain to enhance the features in the book or, if you want to add something, add something that makes sense.

Ironically enough, my favorite movie that was adapted from a book is 'The Neverending Story'. I know it jumps from the book in large ways, but I think it's fantastic. While it may not play out entirely like the book, the feeling of the book was definitely present. And seriously, Atreyu trying to get Artax to cross the the Sea's of Sadness (or whatever it was called-- I forget at the moment)-- so sad!!!

The Question of the Week is:
How many books do you read in a week? And in what format do you read them, or listen to them?

Answer: I typically bank one book a week. 99% of the time it is a physical book, not an ebook. I don't really have an e-reader, though I'm considering getting the new Nook Simple Touch eventually... I'd love an e-reader I could put my manga scans on, but I don't know how in the heck I'd ever do that!

And that's it for this week! See ya again soon!

At the Movies: The Hunger Games News and Tidbits...

2011-05-23T21:46:00.004-05:00

Oh, to be a PA or extra on this set... Seriously, this job, even with long hours and hot weather, would be a dream to work on!!!!

EW debuted the first photo of Katniss:

I hope this picture teaches people not to judge until they see a finished product. This picture reads Katniss from the look all the way to the accessories!

Speaking of cast, anyone heard about Cinna yet? I'm looking forward to seeing who is going to play the fashionista.

As far as Haymitch is concerned, I'm not a hugeWoody Harrelson, so I'm a bit worried. The casting directors must have seen some sparkle in his audition, though...

Add Johannafan's YT page to your links! She has video of what seems to be the Disctrict 12 train station and maybe District 12 itself! (Possibly from the Shelby/Hickory, NC set)

Currently, Hunger Games is filming in Hildebran, NC.

Extras have been hired!!!

The Hunger Games Trilogy website has a ton of great info about the books, movie, etc. Check it out!

Review: Enclave by Ann Aguirre

2011-05-23T17:46:00.022-05:00

Title: Enclave
Author: Ann Aguirre
Genre: YA, dystopian, romance, sci-fi
Perfect for: dystopian readers (especially those that enjoyed 'Birthmarked'!)
Star Rating: 4/5 stars

Taken from Goodreads, "In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.

Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first she thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.

As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known."

Wow, a lengthy description for this novel. Here's what you really need to know: while this is great dystopian, do not read it expecting 'The Hunger Games'. It has a similar feeling, but the characters and environment are are quite different. Don't ruin this great novel by expecting 'The Hunger Games'. To be honest, I found this novel more like 'Birthmarked' or (to a lesser extent) 'Matched' in terms of storytelling than 'The Hunger Games'.

Now, onto 'Enclave'... I really like 'Enclave'. It is good dystopian and comes highly recommended! If it's not on your 'to-read' list and you like well done dystopian, then you should add this to your list! 'Enclave' is the beginning of a trilogy and will leave you wanting more!

What do I love about this novel? To begin with, the world is easy to settle into. It clearly separates itself from other dystopian titles. Main characters Deuce and Fade are likable and their relationship is believable, never crossing into 'sappy' territory! The secondary characters are characterized in a way where you really do form connections to them and care about their well-being.

Ann Aguirre knows how to tell a story. 'Enclave' doesn't follow the story you'd expect it to. Midway through it takes a turn that introduces (the before mentioned) great secondary characters and poses intriguing questions. And the ending? Well, it really shows you that the saga for Fade, Deuce, and the others is only just beginning.

All in all, 'Enclave' is a novel you want to check out. I think you'll enjoy it! 'Enclave' gets 4 out of 5 stars!

Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday/Updates

2011-05-19T22:05:00.061-05:00

Hi all! Brooke here! This week kind of flew by, didn't it?! No hard core updates this week. I finished watching 'Hikaru no Go'. While I hated to see it end, the ending was quite fitting. One of my favorite things with anime finale's is when they bring back the characters-- all the characters-- that played a part and 'Hikaru no Go's finale did that perfectly.

Also ending this week is 'Smallville'. In reality, I probably only watched the pilot and this two hour finale, but after ten years of seeing promo's during other WB/CW shows, I felt I needed to be there to watch the finale. Again, it was a nice ending.

And 'Vampire Diaries' had its season finale. It wasn't as crazy an 'oh my gosh' moment as seasons one's cliffhanger, but still this finale was very, very good. I already miss it. It needs to start season 3 soon!!!

This week on the blog:
Review: The Lens and the Looker

I missed my usual meme this week, so I plan on adding another post to the blog tomorrow or during the weekend to make up for it. I'm thinking it's about time to post my review of 'Enclave' or 'Immortal Beloved'!

Onto the Hop's...

The Question of the Week is:
Tell us FIVE quirky habits...
Answer:
1- I don't mind wearing matching earrings of different colors or two colors of nail polish at the same time.
2- I can only take one book at a time. Multiple books and me don't mix!!!
3- If you were to call me, 8/10 times it will go to VM and I'll call you back! If I don't know a number, 10/10 times it will go to VM. I totally screen my calls.
4- I talk with my hands, even when I'm on the phone. At work, someone will call and ask about where their hold will be held and I'll be pointing to the registers while telling them. What can I say? I'm Italian...
5- I have a knack for remembering the names of toys/dolls from years past. For example, I can spot a Spectra from a mile away, can name all the Jem dolls, and can pretty much judge what decade a doll came out by looking at it!

The Question of the Week is:

If you were given the chance to spend one day in a fictional world (from a book), which book would it be from and what would that place be?

Answer: Two answers. First, I'd love to spend time in JK Rowlings Wizarding world. Heck, I'm even looking forward to one day going to the Florida amusement park!

Second, a little more down to Earth, I'd like to see Susan Cooper's Wales. I know, she pretty much took it from the actual Wales, but I'd love to see the places described in the book!!! One day, I really do plan on making a trip around the Dark is Rising sites!

That's it for this week. I promise, more updates will pop up in the days ahead!

Review: The Lens and the Looker by Lory S. Kaufman

2011-05-17T22:10:00.064-05:00

Title: The Lens and the Looker
Author: Lory S. Kaufman
Genre: YA, Juvi, Sci-fi
Perfect for: readers of time travel sci-fi and books that take place in Italy
Star Rating: 3/5 Stars

Taken from Goodreads, "THERE'S HOPE FOR THE FUTURE,
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE PAST?

It’s the 24th century and humans, with the help of artificial intelligences (A.I.s) have finally created the perfect post-dystopian society. To make equally perfect citizens for this world, the elders have created History Camps, full sized recreations of cities from Earth’s distant pasts. Here teens live the way their ancestors did, doing the same dirty jobs and experiencing the same degradations. History Camps teach youths not to repeat the mistakes that almost caused the planet to die. But not everything goes to plan.

In this first of a trilogy, we meet three spoiled teens in the year 2347. Hansum almost 17, is good looking and athletic. Shamira, 15, is sassy, independent and an artistic genius. Lincoln, 14, is the smart-aleck. But you don’t have to scratch too far beneath the surface to find his insecurities.

These three “hard cases” refuse the valuable lessons History Camps teach. But when they are kidnapped and taken back in time to 1347 Verona, Italy, they only have two choices; adapt to the harsh medieval ways or die. The dangers are many, their enemies are powerful, and safety is a long way away. It’s hardly the ideal environment to fall in love – but that’s exactly what happens. In an attempt to survive, the trio risks introducing technology from the future. It could save them – or it could change history."

I'm a sucker for a good time travel story, especially when it deals with Italy or Italy like settings. 'The Lens and the Looker' is a solid read that is definitely something to consider if you are in the mood for a time traveling adventure aimed at Juvi/YA audiences.

The good bits? The characters, for one thing. Both main and secondary, the characters in 'The Lens and the Looker' are likable, entertaining, and have purpose. Author Lory S. Kaufman created noticeable character growth between the first and last page-- something that isn't always found in many juvi/ya books!

As mentioned before, the setting does not disappoint. Kaufman's descriptions of Verona and Italy in general are done well. Having been to Italy, I know a bit about the rich, vastness that is the beautiful country and Kaufman's descriptions rang true to me!

I don't know if I would consider this 'dystopian', but it is clearly sci-fi due to the time travel element and Genie. The main concept is dystopian and the idea of History Camps is quite interesting but once they skip to the time traveling, it goes straight to sci-fi.

My main issue with 'The Lens and the Looker' is the writing style. My own personal reading preferences lead towards books that don't carry a lot of long descriptive paragraphs with dialogue between each one. I like quick dialogue and quick descriptive lines that keep the action moving and give just the right amount of description. 'The Lens and the Looker' has good dialogue, but the long descriptions made me jump a bit, sometimes missing important details. Course, some people love long descriptions (like Tolkien readers!), but me, not so much.

All things considered, 'The Lens and the Looker' is a good read. If you are in the mood for time travel and don't mind slightly too long descriptive passages, this is something you may want to consider! 'The Lens and the Looker' gets 3 out of 5 stars!

Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday/Updates

2011-05-13T19:59:00.015-05:00

Hello, folks! Fun week? Busy week for me! Remember that reality show I mentioned I was working on? Well, we finally got the re-shoots for the sizzle reel done. I believe it will be smooth sailing from here. Pitch meetings, here we come!

As for reading, most recently I finished 'Enclave' and 'Abandon'. You can read my review of 'Abandon' on the blog already. 'Enclave' will be up later. I'll let you in on a secret-- I enjoyed it!

This Week on the Blog:
Book-alike: A Doppleganger meme
Review: Abandon
Contest Reminder: Sweet Valley Confidential-- Ends May 19th

And onto the hops...

The Question of the Week is:
Are you going to Book Expo America (BEA) and/or the Book Blogger Convention (BBC) this year?

Answer: Alas, I am not attending. I can't afford to go to NY at the moment. I'd love to attend both of those conventions, though. I'm totally addicted to attending conventions of all kinds-- anime, comic cons, ala's... And conventions that give away free books?! *wide eyed* Love them. Maybe one day I'll get to attend BEA or BBC. Just not this year.

The Question of the Week is:
What is the most emotional scene in a book that you have read lately?

Answer: My family jokes that I'm made of ice. I'm not a crazy emotional person, but certain books have made my eyes water a twinge. The ending of 'A Certain Slant of Light' gets me every time I read it-- it's just beautifully done. 'The Hunger Games' has some real tear jerkers. The first book had a moment with a sweet, young character meeting her demise-- it was depressing. Oh, and let's not forget the entire 'Life as we Knew It' trilogy. That series had a whole undercurrent of depressing!

And that's it for this week! See you again soon!

Book-alike: A Doppelganger Meme

2011-05-10T20:51:00.002-05:00

Ever look at a book cover and think it looks very similar to an actor, friend, etc? Occasionally, this happens to me. I've been fooling around with how to incorporate it into this blog, and finally decided to call it a meme and use it when I need it! :p Feel free to use this idea on your blog, too, if you'd like! (I wish I was talented in making icons, but alas, I'm not!)

I was working in back at the bookstore recently and stumbled upon a book called, 'The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book One: The Amulet of Samarkand' by Jonathan Stroud. It's a graphic novel about a boy who finds "himself caught in a whirlwind of magical espionage, murder, and rebellion" (Goodreads).

Take a peek at the cover.

As I looked at the cover, I instantly flashed to an actor famous for his work as the 10th Doctor on Doctor Who, Mr. David Tennant. Odd, I know, as the character on the cover is supposed to be the boy, I'm assuming, but everything screams David Tennant!

Check out the comparison picture.

What do you think? Do you see the 10th Doctor in the cover of Bartimaeus?

Review: Abandon by Meg Cabot

2011-05-10T19:12:00.015-05:00

Title: Abandon
Author: Meg Cabot
Genre: YA, Supernatural, Romance, first in a series
Perfect for: readers who follow Cabot and those who don't mindy timey-whimy plot jumps
Star Rating: 3/5 stars

Taken from Goodreads,"Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away... especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld."

I've read my fair share of Meg Cabot books. I whipped through 'The Mediator' and '1-800-Where-R-You' series and count 'Avalon High' (the first book, not the manga) as one of my favorites. 'Abandon', Cabot's most recent YA foray, is the first in a trilogy about Piece, a girl who's had too many near death experiences for 17 years and John, the handsome, slightly off balance death deity who she always bumps into at the best and worst of times.

I'd be lying if I said that this book lived up to the hype. It didn't. However, it is a promising beginning to what could be a fun, unique trilogy.

Cabot takes on a different sort of timeline in 'Abandon' than her normal, straight forward approach. 'Abandon' has a very jumpy timeline. The Doctor (the most entertaining time traveler on the BBC) would best describe it at 'timey whimy'. Cabot starts the story in the middle and goes back and forth between past and present. It's a very different style from other Cabot books. In all honesty, I would have preferred a little less time jumping in this novel, but as this is the first in a trilogy, I can forgive this a bit. Not unlike Cabot, her trademark wit is still infused in the writing of 'Abandon'.

Because 'Abandon' is part of a series, most of this novel is focused on setting up the town, characters, and relationships. We don't get to see as much of many of the characters as I would have liked, including main male John, but main female lead Pierce is fleshed out well. She's a strange character with an interesting way of thinking that I like. John, death deity, is still a bit of a mystery to me. We see him in and out of the novel, but I am hoping we learn more about him in the sequels. He has a few 'hot male lead' moments that are done well and more to come, I'm sure!

For romance readers, 'Abandon' has some romance, but it doesn't overtake from the main plot of learning more about who and what Pierce is. I expect we'll be seeing more in the sequels, though.

Even though I'm not a huge fan of the back and forth storytelling, 'Abandon' is a promising beginning to what could be an entertaining YA supernatural romance. 'Abandon' gets 3 out of 5 stars.

Contest Reminder: Win Francine Pascal's Sweet Valley Confidential!

2011-05-09T10:31:00.007-05:00

Just a reminder-- don't forget to enter to win your very own copy of 'Sweet Valley Confidential'!

Details can be found HERE! Extra entries are being given to spreading the word via Twitter and blogs! Check it out and visit here on May 20th for the winner!

Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday/Updates

2011-05-05T22:07:00.000-05:00

To start off this weeks update post, I'd like to congratulate Meredith M. Meredith has won ebook 'Seeing for the First Time'. Please check your e-mail, Meredith, for an message from me! This week has been filled with work, meetings, and Hikaru no Go watching, but not so much reading. This weekend, I'm really going to pick up my pace and read something!

This Week on the Blog:
Review: Till Death Do Us Bark
Happy Star Wars Day
Contest: Win Sweet Valley Confidential
Author Interview: Francine Pascal of SVH fame

Make this blogger happy and check out some of the above posts and leave a comment? A bunch of fun content was published this week, including a contest, author interview, and some fun Star Warsy links!

Now onto the Hops...

The question of the week is:
Which book blogger would you most like to meet in real life?

Answer: Any, really! I don't have any specific people in mind. All the blogs I follow are great!

The question of the week is:
Circle time! Time to share. What character in a book would you most like to be, what character in a book would you most like to date?

Answer: I'm not sure!!! In terms of what character I'd like to be, I'd love to experience Hogwarts. Count me in as an unnamed Gryffindor! Not Harry Potter or even Hermione, but just a nameless student who gets to deal with magic everyday, but isn't being hunted by you-know-who.

I would also love to be a Stravaganti from the Stravaganza series (Mary Hoffman). It would be fantastic to be able to go back and forth to Talia.

As for the perfect YA boyfriend... Oh, goodness, who to choose! At the moment, Archer from 'Hex Hall' has my heart. He seems perfect. Strong, hot, romantic, and funny. A perfect combo! St.Clair from 'Anna and the French Kiss' is a close second. I mean, come one, he has an accent!!!

And that's it for this week, folks! See ya next hop!

Review: Till Death Do Us Bark by Kate Klise and M. Sarah Klise

2011-05-05T16:37:00.011-05:00

Title: Till Death Do Us Bark
Author: Kate Klise and M. Sarah Klise
Genre: Juvi, supernatural, graphic novel
Perfect for: Readers who have been waiting patiently for the third book (this one!) in the 43 Old Cemetery Road series, as well as those who are more inclined to read a book told through illustrations and letters than a traditional book
Star Rating: 4/5 Stars

Taken from Goodreads, "When a dog arrives at Spence Mansion, Seymour is overjoyed. His adoptive parents, Ignatius B. Grumply and Olive C. Spence, are less enthusiastic—especially when Secret, the dog, begins barking all night long. Is it possible Secret just misses his old companion, the late Noah Breth, whose children are fighting like cats and dogs over their father’s money? Or does Secret have a secret that, in the end, will make the entire town of Ghastly howl with delight? This third book in the 43 Old Cemetery Road series, a runaway mystery told in letters, limericks, a last will, and loose change, is guaranteed to please anyone who’s ever tried to keep a secret."

Ghastly, Illinois is a place I would very much like to visit. It's as much a character in the 43rd Old Cemetery Road books as the old Mr. Grumply, the young Seymour, and resident ghost, Olive. Like the first two books, 'Till Death Do Us Bark' is told in newspapers articles, letters, and illustrations. While I prefer the first two books to this one, 'Till Death Do Us Bark' was still a fun read. The charm and style of these novels will never get old.

The story was more Seymour centered than past novels and the plot was somewhat easy to figure out, but even so, I loved the humorous elements of the story. This novel had some great one liners, especially in regards to the conversations had between human and ghost!

If you have a reluctant reader on your hands, this is the book series to get them. To quote Mary Poppins, it's practically perfect in every way! 'Till Death Do Us Bark' gets 4 out of 5 stars.

Harry Potter Meme of All Memes by Osaku
Name/Username
Age
Gender
House	Gryffindor
Wand	Maple, 9", Phoenix Feather
Best Course	Defense Against the Dark Arts
Worst Course	Care of Magical Creatures
Pet	Eastern Screech-Owl
Patronus	Dragon
Quidditch Job	Security Wizard
Wizard Candy	Bertie Botts every Flavour Beans (Mmm! Earwax!)
Profession After School	Auror

Brooke's Box of Books

The Host: Movie News- Extra Photo

Update/Follow Friday/TGIF

'City of Swords' Has a Cover!

Review: Immortal War by Justin Somper

Vampirates Play?!

My Billy Shelf

Follow Friday

Review: Pure by Julianna Baggott

Deja Vu Covers! Which do you prefer?

Review: Marmalade Boy, Volume 1 by Wataru Yoshizumi

Follow Friday!

The Official Cast of 'The Host'

Quick Review: Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien

Chad Michael Murray's 'Everlast'

Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Review: Bunheads by Sophie Flack

Update

Follow Friday

Review: Rip Tide by Kat Falls

Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday

Review: Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink

Follow Friday/TGIF

Updates/Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday

Fantasy Cast: Divergent

Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Updates/Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday

Review: Dark Life by Kat Falls

Hello Again!

Thank You!

Updates/Contest Reminder/Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday

Review: Passion by Lauren Kate

Author Interview: Stacey Kade, author of 'The Ghost and the Goth' series

Summer Giveaway Hop- Contest: Win 'Queen of the Dead' by Stacey Kade, plus extra's!

Updates/Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday

SDCC 2011: Being Human, Merlin Panel

SDCC 2011: Avatar: The Last Airbender: Legend of Kora

SDCC 2011: Doctor Who, Supernatural Panel

Review: Illusions by Aprilynn Pike

SDCC 2011 Vampire Diaries Panel

SDCC 2011: Twilight- Breaking Dawn Part 1 Panel (links!)

Friday Five Favorites

Updates/Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday

Top Ten Tuesday- Required Reading

Review: Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari

Bad News For Borders!

Updates/Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday

Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Heads Up! My Power's Out!

Harry Potter Memes

Video Rewind: Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone

Fun Harry Potter Facts- Part 1

In Celebration of Harry Potter!

Field of Dreams 2: NFL Lockout

Happy 4th of July

Update/TGIF

Review: Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

In My Mailbox

At The Movies: And 'The Host' finally has a Melanie!

Review: Steel by Carrie Vaughn

Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday/Updates

Heads Up! Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Volume 2 Is On Its Way!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2-- New Movie Trailer!

Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday/Updates

PotterMore? Mrs. Rowling Has An Announcement!

Review: Legend by Marie Lu

Review: Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck

Author Interview: Krystle Jones, author of Veiled Innocence

Top Ten Tuesday- Favorite Settings

Review: Veiled Innocence by Krystle Jones

Review: Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan

Top Ten Tuesday- Beach Reads

Happy Memorial Day!

Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday/Updates

At the Movies: The Hunger Games News and Tidbits...

Review: Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday/Updates

Review: The Lens and the Looker by Lory S. Kaufman

Book Blogger Hop/Follow Friday/Updates

Book-alike: A Doppelganger Meme