Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (76)--The Lying Game by Sara Shephard


Release Date: December 7, 2010 from HarperTeen

Synopsis:

I had a life anyone would kill for.

Then someone did.

The worst part of being dead is that there’s nothing left to live for. No more kisses. No more secrets. No more gossip. It’s enough to kill a girl all over again. But I’m about to get something no one else does—an encore performance, thanks to Emma, the long-lost twin sister I never even got to meet.

Now Emma’s desperate to know what happened to me. And the only way to figure it out is to be me—to slip into my old life and piece it all together. But can she laugh at inside jokes with my best friends? Convince my boyfriend she’s the girl he fell in love with? Pretend to be a happy, carefree daughter when she hugs my parents good night? And can she keep up the charade, even after she realizes my murderer is watching her every move?

From Sara Shepard, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars books, comes a riveting new series about secrets, lies, and killer consequences.

Let the lying game begin.


I love, love, love Pretty Little Liars, so I'm really excited for the start of this new series by Shephard. I have high hopes that'll it'll rock as much as PLL.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (76)--Delirium by Lauren Oliver


Release Date: February 1, 2011 from HarperCollins

Synopsis:

Ninety-five days, and then I'll be safe. I wonder whether the procedure will hurt. I want to get it over with. It's hard to be patient. It's hard not to be afraid while I'm still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn't touched me yet. Still, I worry. They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness. The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don't.

Lauren Oliver astonished readers with her stunning debut, Before I Fall. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly called it "raw, emotional, and, at times, beautiful. An end as brave as it is heartbreaking." Her much-awaited second novel fulfills her promise as an exceptionally talented and versatile writer.


Before I Fall was an amazing read and I absolutely cannot wait for this one! Luckily I have about a million other books to keep me occupied until February.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Michaela MacColl Blog Tour Stop for Prisoners in the Palace!!!


Toady I am honored to have Michaela MacColl stopping by to talk about Prisoners in the Palace, which I have to tell you, is one of the best historicals I've read in a very long time. So here's Michaela!!!

Carrie, thank you so much for the opportunity to do a guest post and talk with your readers!

I know you aren’t supposed to have favorite characters, but I do. It’s a shameful secret that we never talk about – shouldn’t we love them all equally? I tell my two daughters – who are as opposite as opposite can be – that love isn’t a zero sum game and that mom’s heart is big enough to love them both exactly the same… but it’s not true. On any given day you are fonder of one than the other. Happily, it quickly flips around and on average, I’m sure it evens out… But I do have a clear favorite character in Prisoners in the Palace.

I have a lot to choose from. There’s Princess Victoria -- she’s haughty and spoiled but she’s never had a chance to be a normal girl, and when pushed to the edge we see she has an enormous heart and extraordinary fortitude. Or my main character, Liza, the distressed gentlewoman fallen on hard times. She leaves a life of luxury to be a maid at dingy Kensington Palace. At first all she wants is to get her old life back, but she soon discovers that she is involved in problems that are greater than herself. And she rises to the occasion. Or what about the villian? Sir John is magnificently smarmy. A poser who can’t help but use people. He treats Victoria shamefully and expects her to reward him for it. It doesn’t get much more fun than that. And then there is Will, a scrappy, self-made newspaper man. He’s riding the wave of the future and wants to bring Liza with him. And I modeled him on Wesley in The Princess Bride with eyes like the sea… he has to be the favorite, right?

But the one I wouldn’t mind being stuck in an elevator with is Inside Boy Jones. He’s based on a real character who was a press sensation in the 1840’s. A street urchin who repeatedly broke into Buckingham Palace and wandered the halls of the royal family. Once they discovered him at the cradle of Victoria’s first daughter, Vicky. Once he disguised himself as a chimney sweep. He was tried for breaking and entering several times. Finally he was sent off to serve his sentence on a warship and jumped overboard at Tunis and perished. As you can imagine, the press loved this guy. Here’s the cover of a book just written about him:




Now I pictured him more like the Artful Dodger from Oliver.



In Prisoners in the Palace, Inside Boy lives in the wall of the sitting room of the Duchess of Kent (Victoria’s mother). He’s a charming thief with a well-defined sense of morality. To his mind, the aristocracy fails to meet his high standards. He is Liza’s link to the outside world, bringing her news and serving as a courier between her and Will. When Liza needs a guide to the underbelly of London, Inside Boy is there. He teaches her thieve’s cant, or Flash Patter, explaining that the language was developed to keep the police from knowing what criminals are talking about. Liza finds it fascinating and ultimately very useful. I love this guy!

So pick up a copy of the book and let me know if Inside Boy is your favorite too? You can contact me through my website, www.michaelamaccoll.com.

Thanks again Carrie!


And Thank You, Michaela for stopping by. I think your book is amazing and I can't wait to read more from you in the future. You should definitely check this one out guys. You can find it here.

If you'd like to try to win a copy, I have 1 copy to give away right here! Please just leave a comment below with your e-mail address.

Thanks!!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (75)--Across the Universe by Beth Revis


Release Date: January 11, 2011

Synopsis:

A Story of Love, Murder, and Madness Aboard an Enormous Spaceship Bound for the Future.

Amy is a cryogenically frozen passenger aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed. She expects to wake up on a new planet, 300 years in the future. But fifty years before Godspeed's scheduled landing, Amy's cryo chamber is unplugged, and she is nearly killed.

Now, Amy is caught inside an enclosed world where nothing makes sense. Godspeed's passengers have forfeited all control to Eldest, a tyrannical and frightening leader, and Elder, his rebellious and brilliant teenage heir.

Amy desperately wants to trust Elder. But should she? All she knows is that she must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets before whoever woke her tries to kill again.

Across the Universe is Titanic meets Brave New World.


I'm a not-so-closet sci fi fan, so this one sounds AMAZING! They had me at "cryogenically frozen." Can't wait for January!!

Sunday, October 17, 2010

I'm Back...Sort Of!

Hello all!!

I know I haven't posted much lately, but I am really trying to get back into it. I miss the blogosphere and I miss chatting about books, but I've been super busy with work and school, which sometimes is one in the same for me. As many of you know, I'm an elementary school media specialist, and I'm also taking my last two classes for my Master's in Library Science. All I have left after this semester is my research paper, so YAY! This is all keeping me extremely busy and has put a major dent in my blogging.

I'm trying to make a comeback, though. I can't promise I'll blog everyday, but I will try to blog more regularly. I've been reading more Middle Grade stuff than YA lately, but I'm currently reading Paranormalcy on my Kindle. I'm trying to read more of what I want to read rather than what I feel like I have to read.

So, I have some reviews coming up this week to try to get rolling again. If you're still out there, thanks for sticking around!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

I Heart Rob Zombie!!



Yes, yes it's true. I think the Zombie is dreamy. I love his music and his movies and tonight, I saw him in concert along with the amazing Alice Cooper. Ahhhh, it was a night of rock awesomeness.

If the Halloween Hootenanny Tour comes through your town, you should definitely check it out. I may be deaf tomorrow, but it was totally worth it.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (74)--Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride


Release Date: Ocotber 12, 2010 from Henry, Holt & Co.

Synopsis:


Sam leads a pretty normal life. He may not have the most exciting job in the world, but he’s doing all right—until a fast food prank brings him to the attention of Douglas, a creepy guy with an intense violent streak.

Turns out Douglas is a necromancer who raises the dead for cash and sees potential in Sam. Then Sam discovers he’s a necromancer too, but with strangely latent powers. And his worst nightmare wants to join forces . . . or else.

With only a week to figure things out, Sam needs all the help he can get. Luckily he lives in Seattle, which has nearly as many paranormal types as it does coffee places. But even with newfound friends, will Sam be able to save his skin?


This one had me with that title...love it! The synopsis sounds pretty awesome, too.

And check out the trailer:

Monday, October 4, 2010

Fallout by Ellen Hopkins


Release Date: Available Now from Margaret K. McElderry

Source: Personal Collection (Kindle)

Synopsis:

Hunter, Autumn, and Summer—three of Kristina Snow’s five children—live in different homes, with different guardians and different last names. They share only a predisposition for addiction and a host of troubled feelings toward the mother who barely knows them, a mother who has been riding with the monster, crank, for twenty years.

Hunter is nineteen, angry, getting by in college with a job at a radio station, a girlfriend he loves in the only way he knows how, and the occasional party. He's struggling to understand why his mother left him, when he unexpectedly meets his rapist father, and things get even more complicated. Autumn lives with her single aunt and alcoholic grandfather. When her aunt gets married, and the only family she’s ever known crumbles, Autumn’s compulsive habits lead her to drink. And the consequences of her decisions suggest that there’s more of Kristina in her than she’d like to believe. Summer doesn’t know about Hunter, Autumn, or their two youngest brothers, Donald and David. To her, family is only abuse at the hands of her father’s girlfriends and a slew of foster parents. Doubt and loneliness overwhelm her, and she, too, teeters on the edge of her mother’s notorious legacy. As each searches for real love and true family, they find themselves pulled toward the one person who links them together—Kristina, Bree, mother, addict. But it is in each other, and in themselves, that they find the trust, the courage, the hope to break the cycle.

Told in three voices and punctuated by news articles chronicling the family’s story, FALLOUT is the stunning conclusion to the trilogy begun by CRANK and GLASS, and a testament to the harsh reality that addiction is never just one person’s problem.


Let me start by saying that I am an Ellen Hopkins fan. I've read all of her books and I liked each and every one. That being said, this one just didn't do it for me. Here's the thing, it could be the format in which I read the book. In the past, I've always bought the hardcovers and I like how they are set up. The poems all have unique shapes that add to the reading and I usually buzz right through the books. Well, this time, because I'm obsessed with my Kindle, I bought the eBook version. It just wasn't the same. Some books should be experienced the old fashioned way and I think Hopkins' books fall into that category. I just couldn't get into the book. I finished it, but it took me a lot longer than it normally would have.

I thought the story was powerful, but it was almost too much for me. I found myself getting depressed reading about these people being depressed. I think Autumn and Summer were my favorite characters. I just kept reading along hoping they wouldn't take certain twists and turns. It's a bit like watching a car wreck, you just can't turn away.

I do think that Hopkins has captured the pain that drug addiction can cause to an entire family, but with this book, she also shows how that pain can reach out to even those who are acquainted with the family members. I have to say, though, I'm glad this is the final book about Kristina. I don't think I could take another one. I had to immediately move onto something cheerful: The Search for Wondla by Tony DiTerlizzi. I felt like my brain needed a good cleansing.

Will I still read Ellen Hopkins even though I was disappointed in this latest book? Of course! I will eagerly purchase all of her future books.....I just won't read them on my Kindle. :)

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Guest Post From The Amazing Cinda Williams Chima!!!


Today, I am truly thrilled to welcome one of my favorite authors to the blog: Cinda Williams Chima. Her new book The Exiled Queen is fantastic and should be added to your shelves ASAP. So, listen in while Cinda tells us about one of her favorite topics, Thieves.

What Is It About Thieves?


The viewpoint characters in my Seven Realms series are archetypes of fantasy fiction.

Raisa ana’Marianna is the princess heir of the queendom of the Fells, the mixed blood product of a troubled marriage between Queen Marianna and Averill Lightfoot Demonai, patriarch of a clan of upland warriors.

Han Alister is a thief and streetgang leader who is trying to go straight. He has a magical legacy, as evidenced by the silver wristcuffs he’s worn since birth. His mother believes that he’s demon-cursed, and there are times that he believes it, too.

A princess and a thief. Why do these fantasy tropes surface over and over again?



The fascination with princesses is understandable, I suppose. They are glamorous and rich and get to dress up and go to parties. Depending on the princess and the story, they may be powerful or not. And, like it or not, princesses are a whole industry these days.



Thieves, on the other hand, live on the down-low. Yet they are often depicted as heroes or, at least, sympathetic characters in mythology, history, film, and literature—from Dickens’s Artful Dodger to the Robin Hood legends, from the French poet-thief Francois Villon to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Thieves in mythology include tricksters such as Loki in Norse mythology and Coyote in Native American stories. One of my favorite thieves in contemporary fantasy fiction is Eugenides, the hero of Megan Whalen Turner’s Queen’s Thief series. He fools everyone--the reader included—but he has a claim to respectability, at least, since he’s the queen’s official thief.

One of my favorite characters in Tamora Pierce’s Circle of Magic series is a talented thief named Briar, and her Beka Cooper series features the dangerously attractive thief-lord Rasto. Thieves are even a character class in role-playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons.

In real life, thieves often steal from the poor, because they have ready access to them. Literary thieves steal from the rich and undeserving. I suppose it seems like rough justice to us (especially if they turn around and give to the poor.) In stories, thieves often steal for a noble purpose—to feed a starving family, or to support a rebellion against a tyrant.

Thievery creates conflict—and conflict drives story. As The Demon King opens, Han Alister takes an amulet from Micah Bayar, the High Wizard’s son. That precipitates a whole cascade of disasters that ripples through the entire series.

Nobody wants to read about a marginally-successful, no-account thief. So literary thieves are charming, charismatic, and very, very good at what they do. The archetypical thief follows an honor code of sorts. Even if they reform, they continue to use their thief skills to do good.

Thieves appeal to the rogue in all of us, because they live by their wits, often making fools of their more powerful adversaries. They give hope to the small and unbuff like me. They can get into forbidden places, ferret out secrets, and take risks that we wouldn’t take ourselves. Perhaps we all have a streak of larceny in us. We’re all rule-breakers at heart.


Writer T.N. Tobias discusses the pros and cons of using archetypes in fiction. To go beyond archetype, he suggests that you build the character from the inside out, developing aspects of character such as motivation, purpose, methods, and self-reflection in order to make them rich and believable.

http://tnt-tek.com/writing/writing-fantasy-beyond-the-archetype/

Characters that are layered, flawed, and unpredictable, characters who transform themselves, characters who break the rules—those characters will win us over, archetypes or not.

Why do archetypes exist in fantasy? Because they work so well in story.


The Demon King is now available in paperback, and The Exiled Queen released September 28. There will be four books in the Seven Realms series, followed by two more Heir books.

Excerpts from each of my books are available on my website, www.cindachima.com. Help for writers can be found under Tips for Writers, including a document called, “Getting Started in Writing for Teens.”

I blog at http://cindachima.blogspot.com/, where you’ll find rants, posts on the craft of writing, and news about me and my books.



Thank you for visiting Cinda and I can't tell you how thrilled I am that there are four books in this series and two more Heir books to come. That news just made my day.

Friday, September 24, 2010

The House of Dead Maids by Clare Dunkle Tour Stop and Giveaway!


Today, I have a very special guest, Clare Dunkle, who is touring to promote her awesome book, The House of Dead Maids. Here's what Clare has to say about Wuthering Heights, the inspiration for her book:

Emily Brontë’s classic novel, Wuthering Heights, is as nebulous as a winter cloud. Brontë refuses to guide us; she steps back and leaves her readers free to make up their own minds. Some call her book romantic because of the undying love between Heathcliff and Cathy. Others call it tormented obsession. Some call it a thrilling tale of revenge against injustice; others, a grotesque portrait of a psychopath.

If I had come across Wuthering Heights in my teenage years, I might find Heathcliff’s brooding passion for Cathy attractive. And if I were to read the book for the first time now, I’m sure I would find him repellant. But I first read Heathcliff’s story when I was just a child, so it is the child Heathcliff who has always mattered most to me. When I was little, I noticed each of the injustices done to this unwanted boy, including the selfish cruelty of his foster father, who kept the child as a kind of pet but couldn’t be bothered to provide for his future even though the old man knew he was dying.

The nine-year-old me found Wuthering Heights absolutely terrifying. Much of it was beyond my comprehension, making what I did grasp even more dreadful. I felt as if I were hiding in a closet and watching gang violence unfold in the room right in front of me.

Poor dead Cathy, wandering home after twenty years, gave me the shivers, but I found Lockwood even more awful for the way he treated the little ghost, rubbing her thin arm against broken glass to try to escape her. She was undead, my fourth-grade brain reasoned; she couldn’t help being scary. He was a grown man, an adult, and adults in my world were supposed to help children, even if those children were undead. But the burgeoning storyteller in me tested his reaction and decided that it was probable, so I learned a horrifying life lesson from Lockwood’s heartlessness.

That same heartlessness—selfish adult against helpless child—occurs again and again in the pages of Wuthering Heights. Solemn little bookish child that I was back then, I felt each new outburst of cruelty deeply. And when the mature Heathcliff stands aside to allow poor, ignorant young Hareton a chance at happiness—to me that was not, as some critics have termed it, a clumsy resolution or a tacked-on dénouement. To me, it was the moment of Wuthering Heights.

So it’s no surprise that these are the major themes of my Wuthering Heights prequel, The House of Dead Maids. Two unwanted children enter that labyrinth of a story with only one another to rely on. The ghosts they meet are scary—because how can a ghost help being scary? It’s in the very nature of the undead. But it is the adults in my book, with their selfish callousness, who have the power to terrify. And it is the one brief moment of compassion from an unlikely source that lights up the whole story for me and makes the journey worthwhile.




Amazing, right? And here's what you can win:



Special Brontë-themed giveaway!

One Grand Prize winner will receive The House of Dead Maids, a gorgeous Brontë sisters pocket mirror, and the HarperTeen edition of Wuthering Heights! Two lucky runners-up will receive the two books.

To enter, send an email to DeadMaidsBook@gmail.com with your name, email address, and shipping address (if you're under 13, submit a parent's name and email address). One entry per person and prizes will only be shipped to US or Canadian addresses. Entries must be received by midnight (PDT) on October 31. Winners will be selected in a random drawing on November 1 and notified via email.


If you'd like to catch Clare on her next stop, she'll be popping up on The Neverending Shelf. Stop by and show your love!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

In My Mailbox (60)

As always, In My Mailbox is brought to you by Kristi, AKA The Story Siren.

Only one book in my mailbox this week, but I literally squealed when I saw it.

For Review:



The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima

Release Date: September 28, 2010 from Hyperion Book CH

Synopsis:

You can't always run from danger...

Haunted by the loss of his mother and sister, Han Alister journeys south to begin his schooling at Mystwerk House in Oden’s Ford. But leaving the Fells doesn’t mean danger isn’t far behind. Han is hunted every step of the way by the Bayars, a powerful wizarding family set on reclaiming the amulet Han stole from them. And Mystwerk House has dangers of its own. There, Han meets Crow, a mysterious wizard who agrees to tutor Han in the darker parts of sorcery—but the bargain they make is one Han may regret.

Meanwhile, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna runs from a forced marriage in the Fells, accompanied by her friend Amon and his triple of cadets. Now, the safest place for Raisa is Wein House, the military academy at Oden's Ford. If Raisa can pass as a regular student, Wein House will offer both sanctuary and the education Raisa needs to succeed as the next Gray Wolf queen.

The Exiled Queen is an epic tale of uncertain friendships, cut-throat politics, and the irresistible power of attraction.


I know, right?! I loved The Demon King and I've been waiting for this one ever since. I'll also be hosting a stop on Cinda's blog tour at the end of September, so stay tuned for that.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

The Danger Box by Blue Balliett


Release Date: Available Now from Scholastic Press

Source: Personal Copy

Synopsis:

A boy in a small town who has a different way of seeing.

A mischievous girl who won't stay in one place.

A mysterious notebook .

A fire.

A stranger.

A death.


These are some of the things you'll find within The Danger Box, the new mystery from bestselling author Blue Balliett.


It's hard to talk about this book without giving too much away. I've never read Blue Balliett's other books, Chasing Vermeer, The Wright 3, or The Calder Game. It's one of those series that I've always meant to get around to but never have. I saw The Danger Box at my local B&N and was immediately drawn in by the cover. Yes folks, I in fact do judge books by their covers, and am I ever glad that I did.

The Danger Box is a phenomenal read. It's hard to explain, but a true joy to read. The cast of characters found a place in my heart from page one, especially the central character Zoomy who lives with his grandparents in the small town of Three Oaks, Michigan. Zoomy is one of those kids who is wise beyond his years, and rightfully so. I've met some curious and lovable kids just like him working at the school and they're always my favorites.

Above all, this is a wonderful mystery with a puzzle at its heart. It's full of history, friendship, intrigue and heart. Check out The Danger Box. I think it'll steal your heart like it did mine.

Oh, by the way, I've already bought Chasing Vermeer. It'll be my next read.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Winner, Winner!!


So, this has been awhile coming, but I'm just getting back into the swing of things. The winner of the book Hannah is:

Dominique

The winner of all three books is:

Alicia

Congrats Ladies!!

I'll be sending you an e-mail shortly, so get back to me as soon as possible.

Thanks!!!!!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (73)--The Devouring #3: Fearscape by Simon Holt


Release Date: October 5, 2010 from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Synopsis:

The Vours: evil, demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on Sorry Night, the darkest hours of the Winter Solstice.

It's been a year since Reggie first discovered the Vours, and the Winter Solstice is approaching once again. It will be another night of unspeakable horror for those unlucky enough to be taken by the Vours, because this time, she won't be able to stop them. The Vours have imprisoned Reggie in a psychiatric hospital, where she is subjected to a daily routine of unfathomably sadistic experiments. Her life is a living Hell, but she won't give up. They attacked her brother. They killed her friend. And Reggie will never stop fighting back.


I really loved the first two books in this series. They're great thrillers that kept me reading well into the wee small hours. Can't wait for this one!

Monday, September 6, 2010

Monster High by Lisi Harrison


Release Date: Available Now from Poppy

Source: From Publisher

Synopsis:

And you thought your high school was scary!

Frankie Stein just enrolled at Merston High School in the quiet town of Salem, Oregon. She is looking forward to all that the future holds: rockin' parties, shopping sprees, and, of course, cute boys!

But high school hides a MONSTER of a secret: The fantastically fabulous kids of the world's most famous monsters hand out in plain sight among the "normie" student body!
Even though she was created only fifteen days ago, Frankie is wise enough to know that if her secret gets out, her high school dreams could be as fragile as her not-entirely-secure body parts!

When she meets normie newcomer Melody Carver, who has a crush on a boy from the monster clique, Frankie begins to wonder if Merston HIgh is big enough for monsters and normies to coexist--but is it worth the risk to find out?


What a fabulous book! I never read Lisi Harrison's Clique series. It just never appealed to me, but after reading this one, I think maybe I should have given them a chance. Her writing is quick and witty and her characters are out of this world.

I love the concept behind this book. All the world's famous monsters, from Frankenstein to the Creature from the Black Lagoon, really do exist and live pretty boringly normal lives in Oregon. They just want to fit and, most importantly, they just want their kids to fit in.

Frankie is one of those kids and she's pretty darned awesome. She loves all the things that most girls love, fashion, boys, and hanging out with the girls. Unfortunately, she has more than just the odd pimple to cover with makeup. I loved Frankie and Melody. They were both wonderfully written and really just fun characters to read about.

I laughed a lot while reading this book, but it also makes some pretty important statements about the quest to fit in with the other kids. And what lengths we go to to be considered "normal". I can't recommend Monster High highly enough. It's one of the funnest reads I've read in quite a long while.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Blog Tour and Giveaway! Hannah: My True Story of Drugs, Cutting, and Mental Illness by Hannah Westberg


Release Date: Available Now from HCI Teens

Source: From Publicist

Synopsis:

Hannah is a girl interrupted.

For Hannah Westberg, life has been one big emotional roller coaster. As a girl, her mother was in and out of mental hospitals, so when it was her turn to visit the psych ward following a suicide attempt the summer after eighth grade, she had an idea of what she was in for. But that was only the beginning of Hannah's journey.

Over the next five years, Hannah has engaged in dangerous behaviors--from pill popping and excessive dieting to cutting--and paid a high price. Her depression, self-harm, and suicidal tendencies have landed her in rehab and therapy and with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. But though she may have a label for her mental illness and tools for coping, for Hannah, life is still something she takes one day at a time.

'The psych ward is where you go to get from fragile to shattered. It's like taking your car to get washed and getting your windshield broken in the process.'

Because Truth Is More Fascinating Than Fiction

www.louderthanwordsbooks.com


Hannah's story is a powerful one, and it gave me new insight into dealing with mental illness. This is an issue that people everywhere are dealing with. I've met kids through my work at the school who are dealing with borderline personality disorder. It's a life-changing diagnosis that doesn't have any quick fixes.

It was inspiring to me to see Hannah face her problems head on. I appreciated the fact that she admits it's not always easy and that her life is a work in progress, which can be said for all of us. I would love to read more from Hannah as she moves further and further into her uncertain future.

This is a book that makes you thankful for what you have, and makes you want to reach out and help those around you. I think this is a really important series for teens and I can't wait to read more.

If you'd like to read Hannah's story for yourself, you can win a copy here. In addition, one lucky winner will receive all three books in the Louder Than Words series:

Hannah by Hannah Westberg

Alexis: My True Story of Being Seduced By an Online Predator by Alexis Singer

Rae: My True Story of Fear, Anxiety, and Social Phobia by Chelsea Swigget

So, one winner gets Hannah's book. And one winner wins all three books.

To enter, simply leave a comment below with your e-mail address. Contest ends Friday, August 27th, hurry up and enter already!

If you'd like to see more of the tour, visit YA Book Queen tomorrow for a review of Rae!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Wow!!

I just realized how close we are to Mockingjay!!! Woo hoo!! Now if I can just make it these last few days.

That is all!!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

It's A Book by Lane Smith Trailer!!

Check this out!! It looks adorable and very timely. I can't wait to read it!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Taking A Short Break



You may have noticed that I haven't posted much in the last two weeks. I'm taking a little bit of a break. This is my last full week off before I head back to school, so I'm trying to take a little me time, while also brainstorming ideas for my library next year.

Also, I've been reading more adult stuff since I bought a Kindle. I've found that since I started blogging, I only have time for YA books and so many of the authors that I used to love have gotten pushed to the back. It's catch up time. I love blogging, but when it starts to become a chore, I know it's time for a little break. I shall return though, probably pretty shortly. I can't seem to stay away for long. I have a couple blog tours coming up, too, so that always gets me back in the mood.

Until then, enjoy some summer fun!!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (72)--Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson


Release Date: October 19, 2010 from Atheneum

Synopsis:

In this compelling sequel to Chains, a National Book Award Finalist and winner of the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction, acclaimed author Laurie Halse Anderson shifts perspective from Isabel to Curzon and brings to the page the tale of what it takes for runaway slaves to forge their own paths in a world of obstacles—and in the midst of the American Revolution.

The Patriot Army was shaped and strengthened by the desperate circumstances of the Valley Forge winter. This is where Curzon the boy becomes Curzon the young man. In addition to the hardships of soldiering, he lives with the fear of discovery, for he is an escaped slave passing for free. And then there is Isabel, who is also at Valley Forge—against her will. She and Curzon have to sort out the tangled threads of their friendship while figuring out what stands between the two of them and true freedom.


So, I don't have a picture of the Forge cover yet. Instead, I posted the lovely cover for Chains, the first book in the series. This is one of my most highly anticipated books of the year. The first book absolutely blew me away and I know this one will not disappoint. It never ceases to amaze me how talented Laurie is. She's always surprises me!

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer


Release Date: October 19, 2010 from Philomel

Source: From Publisher

Synopsis:

Calla Tor has always known her role: as soon as she graduates from the Mountain School, she will become the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the keepers. However, Calla is steered away from her destiny--and the unassailable laws of her masters--when she rescues a beautiful human, Shay. Calla is suddenly torn between her previously unquestioned fate and her natural attraction to Ren, and her growing desire to know more about the mysterious Shay. Following that desire is dangerous, however--and Calla might lose everything she holds dear. Even her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

This book is being touted as the next big thing in YA literature. In many cases, when I hear something is the "next big thing," it fails to live up to the hype. That is so not the case with Nightshade. I picked this book up pretty much immediately after receiving it in the mail and I devoured it very quickly. It's a fantastic read and one of the best paranormals, YA nor not, that I've read in a long time. Just when I think I'm getting tired of the genre, Andrea Cremer comes onto the scene and pulls me back in.

From page one, I was swept into Calla's story. I've always been a werewolf fan, but Cremer puts a whole new spin on the mythology and gives us a kickass heroine who I would follow anywhere. Calla is amazing, tough, and no-nonsense, but she cares so deeply about the people around her that it's her heart that really drew me in. Cheesy, I know, but true.

There's an amazing cast of characters throughout the book. I almost wish I'd waited to read it, because now I have to wait that much longer for the second book. Argh, what was I thinking? Secrets are revealed, but only enough to keep you chomping at the bit for book two. This is what great series are made of, and if the next two books are as good as this one, then this will indeed be the "next big thing." Thank you Andrea Cremer, for making paranormal new again!

Friday, July 23, 2010

Dear Dylan by Siobhan Curham


Release Date: Available Now from AuthorHouse

Source: From Author

Synopsis:

Fourteen year old Georgie Harris feels as if the summer holidays are over before they have even begun. Banned from going to the local drama workshop by her bully of a step-dad and her increasingly fragile mum she is consigned to six long weeks of babysitting her kid sister. Sick of feeling like the outsider at home and at school, she starts emailing the one person she thinks might understand; Dylan Curtland, star of the popular soap opera Jessop Close. And when Dylan starts emailing back Georgie finally feels a spark of hope. At last she has someone who really gets her, someone who really wants to help. But in the faceless world of email all is not as it seems....

This book was totally not what I expected from reading the description, but it ended up being so much more than I expected. This is an absolutely charming novel. There's really no other way to say it...it's just such a sweet and moving read that I didn't want to leave these characters behind.

While I was reading Dear Dylan, I couldn't help but be reminded of the book 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff. While the correspondence in Dear Dylan is fictional, Charing Cross are actual letters shared between two fascinating yet normal people. In both works, you get to see friendships grow through the faceless intimacy that letters and/or e-mails offer.

I really loved Georgie. She's has such an honest voice that you can't help but cheer for her as she's constantly overcoming obstacles. Her experience is one that many children are facing and it's nice to read a story where someone is willing to help.

I was one of those fangirly kids who wrote to her favorite celebrities, of course, it was completely a pencil and paper affair back then. So, I could completely relate to Georgie as she looked to one of her idols for the answers. Those answers sometimes just happen to come from other sources.

Check Dear Dylan out and read 84, Charing Cross Road while your at it. They are both wonderful reads full of laughs, tears, and heart.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!

Okay, I've been MIA the last couple of days. We are switching cable and internet services, so I've been trying to clear the DVR and to move my emails. My new address is sidebar. Sorry for the absence, but I'll be back as soon as I can.

Friday, July 16, 2010

A Visit From Katie Williams, Author Of The Space Between Trees + A Giveaway!!


Dear readers,

You’ve already noticed, haven’t you? My voice sounds different.

That’s because you’re not hearing from Carrie today, but instead from Katie Williams. Your lovely librarian Carrie has been generous enough to lend me her blog to help get the word out about my new novel, The Space Between Trees.

The Space Between Trees opens with the body of a teenage girl found murdered in the woods behind the affluent neighborhood where she lives. Two of the dead girl’s friends, observant Evie and fierce Hadley, team up in an investigation to find the killer…an investigation that goes very wrong, making these girl detectives question not just the facts of the case, but their own capacity for violence.

I was excited to write the story of The Space Between Trees because I’ve always been fascinated by the figure of the girl detective. She’s young and female, so she’s a typical victim. When she’s faced with a crime, one might expect a certain amount of gasping and heaving and running in high-heeled shoes. But the girl detective subverts our silly stereotypes and our all-too-real crime statistics. Instead of being emotional, she’s rational. Instead of running away, she runs toward. Instead of needing saving, she saves the day. In a world that would control her, that would relegate her to victim or (a touch luckier) damsel-in-distress, she exerts control. She uses her intelligence and reason to order the world around her, to keep herself and others safe.

Lest you think I like wooden supergirls, you should know that my favorite girl detectives are not the pert, perfect reason-machines, like Nancy Drew, but rather the fallible gum-shoes, like Veronica Mars, who sometimes get their own needs and life mixed up with their investigation. See, girl detectives are always solving two mysteries at the same time: The mystery at hand, say the murder or robbery, and the mystery of adolescence. That is to say, girl detectives are at a point in their lives where they’re figuring out who they are, who they want to be, and what they can expect from the world around them. The hint of this messier, personal mystery beneath the obvious case-to-be-solved creates the opportunity for the detective to be changed by her investigation, and the reader to be changed along with her.

Thanks for reading my thoughts about girl detectives! You can read more about The Space Between Trees, including the first chapter, at my website katiewilliamsbooks.com.

And now, how about you? Who is one of your favorite girl detectives? And why is she great? Add her to the comment section below.


Hmm....my favorite girl detective? I always loved Nancy Drew growing up, but I have to agree with Katie and her thoughts on Veronica Mars. I think that show pushed Veronica up to the top of my girl detective list. Please share your thoughts below and one lucky winner will receive an autographed copy of The Space Between Trees!! How awesome it that?!

Visit Katie's next stop over at Bookalicious Blog!
Contest ends July 23 and is open to US residents only.

Thanks to Katie for stopping by and sharing your girl detective love with us!!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

The Space Between Trees by Katie Williams


Release Date: Available Now from Chronicle Books

Source: From Publicist

Synopsis:

In this haunting tale, quirky loner Evie is in the wrong place at the wrong time when her sometime friend and total crush, Jonah, discovers a body in the woods--a body that turns out to be that of her childhood playmate. At the funeral, a fateful lie leads Evie into a complicated relationship with the dead girl's father and best friend. Before she realizes what is happening, Evie is on the hunt for a killer, spinning more lies along the way and putting herself in serious danger.

I completely adored this book! It's no secret that I love mysteries and I have to say that this is one of the most exciting, intense, and beautifully-written mysteries I've read in a long time.

It's easy not to like Evie. She rubs people the wrong way, but her quirkiness and abrasiveness only made me love her more. This was such a thrilling read and the tension just kept building and building which incidentally kept me reading and reading. It has such an engaging and yet chilling atmosphere to it which only adds to the mystery.

In Evie's world you never know who to trust and everyone is a suspect, but somehow Evie finds the courage within herself to keep going and keep pushing for the truth. It's such an intriguing storyline filled with fascinating characters. It's also one of the best YA novels I've read this year. Check it out!!

And join me tomorrow when I'll have a guest post from Katie Williams herself and a couple of awesome surprises!!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (71)-- I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore


Release Date: August 3, 2010 from Harpercollins

Synopsis:

Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books—but we are real.

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. we have lived among you without you knowing.

But they know.

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.

I am Number Four.

I am next.


This looks awesome and it's already being made into a movie. It's been on my radar for awhile, but while cruising Amazon today, it popped up on my screen. Figured it was as good a time as any to share it with everybody. And it comes out fairly soon, too. Not too long to wait!

Queen of Secrets Blog Tour---Meet Jenny Meyerhoff!!



Today, I'd like to welcome Jenny Meyerhoff to Carrie's YA Bookshelf. She'd like to share with you a little insight into Queen of Secrets, a book I love, love, loved. You can check out my review here.


I’ve heard people laugh about the fact that more often than not the kids in books are orphans. I’ve also heard the explanation that it’s because child and teen protagonists need to have autonomy in order to be the heroes and heroines of their own stories and if they had parents, the parents would likely (as in real life) step in and help them solve their problems. And I do think this is true. But for me, another reason to write about an orphaned heroine (as I did with Essie in QUEEN OF SECRETS) and the reason I’ve loved so many books with orphans as the main character (Anne of Green Gables and Harry Potter are two of my favorites) is because the parentless state is the ideal backdrop to write about the search for love.


When I say love, I don’t mean romantic love or platonic love or even parental love. Forgive me if I start to sound new age-y, but what I really mean by love is a sort of pure sense of acceptance and envelopment by the universe – ultimate love. I think on a certain level it’s a feeling we are all looking for everyday of our lives and so when we read about it, that where do I belong, who do I belong to journey resonates with almost everyone.


My main character, Essie, certainly got a lot of parental love from the grandparents who raised her, but I don’t think it always felt to her like that pure ultimate love she was craving. In the course of the book she starts to look other places, and often the wrong places for that love. I know I’ve made that mistake in my life before, and in the end I’ve started to learn that this kind of love has to start from within, so Essie’s journey really means a lot to me. Hopefully it’s something that will mean a lot to readers as well.


Thank you Jenny for stopping by. And I'm eagerly looking forward to your next book!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Queen of Secrets by Jenny Meyerhoff


Release Date: Available Now from Farrar, Straus, & Giroux

Source: From Publicist

Synopsis:

This is the year that Essie Green's life is going to be different. Now that she's made the cheerleading squad--and even managed to catch the eye of hunky Austin King, captain of the football team--she's positive that sophomore year is going to be one to remember. So what if her best friend thinks that Austin is bad news, or if Essie doesn't always feel at home with her new crowd? Those are things Essie can deal with.

What she might not be able to deal with is Micah, the football team's newest member. Awkward and not too friendly, Micah is instantly branded the freak of the team for wearing a kippah and praying during games. And Essie doesn't want anything to do with him. Unfortunately for her, he just happens to be her estranged cousin--and the person who may hold the key to uncovering one of Essie's family's long-lost secrets. Essie hates hiding the fact that they're related, especially from Austin, but if she tells the truth, won't everyone think she's a religious freak, too? When the football team's teasing of Micah gradually shifts into hazing, Essie is forced to make a choice. Do her loyalties lie with the boy she thinks she might love or with the cousin she barely knows?

Loosely based on the Book of Esther, Queen of Secrets is the engrossing story of family, first love, and a girl's struggle to do what is right.


Tomorrow, my blog will be hosting a visit from the oh-so-awesome Jenny Meyerhoff, so I figured now was as good a time as any to let you know what I thought of the book. Yeah, I loved it. It wasn't what I expected when I first heard about the book. I'm not sure what I thought it was, but I was pleasantly surprised when I sat down and started reading.

Essie is a fantastic character. She loves her life and her friends, but what's so wrong about wanting to try something new? We've all been guilty of trying to fit in at some point in our lives. It's hard to know sometimes how far to take it. Essie has all of those same emotions that many if not all of us have faced. She chooses what to tell and more importantly not tell her new friends, so that she can remain in their group. Hiding her true self becomes harder and harder as the story continues. Meyerhoff has done a wonderful job of putting us in Essie's head. It's easy for the reader to understand why she does the things she does, simply because we are seeing it through her eyes. One of my favorite elements of the book was watching Essie and Micah become reacquainted as cousins. It's not always easy when it comes to family, but Meyerhoff has given us an honest portrayal of family bonds tested over time.

It's a beautifully written book about finding the courage to be yourself and to share yourself with the world. It takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there and Essie finds that courage with a little help from the people around her.

Read it now, and come back tomorrow for more Jenny Meyerhoff!

Sunday, July 11, 2010

The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride


Release Date: Available Now from EgmontUSA

Source: From Publisher

Synopsis:

When Tessa's best friend Noelle disappears right before the start of eighth grade, Tessa's life changes completely--she shies away from her other friends and stops eating in the cafeteria. Now, two years later, Noelle has escaped her captivity and is coming home, in one piece but not exactly intact, and definitely different. Tessa's life is about to change again as she tries to revive the best-friendship the two girls had shared before Noelle--now Elle--was kidnapped; puts up a futile resistance to the charming new guy at school; pursues her passion for photography while trying to build the bravado to show her photos to the public; and tries to balance her desire to protect and shelter Elle with the necessity to live her own life and put herself first.

This was a great read. It was also a very timely read. It was hard to read this book without thinking about news stories about missing kids who are found years later. When you're thinking about the children being found, it's easy to forget those that were left behind to deal with the loss and now must deal with the return of their loved one. This book perfectly captures those emotions and lets us all in on these troubling events.

Tessa's life basically stopped when her friend Noelle disappeared. She shut herself off from the world around her and from the people around her. Her life and that of the town was changed forever. So when Noelle reappears, we see Tessa trying to figure out how to live again, while dealing with her friend who is not the Noelle she remembers.

It can be a heartbreaking read at times. Rather than focus on Noelle, McBride tells us Tessa's story. We get to see Tessa slowly come back to life and let people in once again. I really enjoyed this book. It grabbed my attention from page one and held it until I turned the last page. It's an absolutely amazing debut. I'm thinking 2010 is a great years for Debs. I can't wait to read more from this talented new voice in YA.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

In My Mailbox (59)

As always, In My Mailbox is brought to you by Kristi, AKA The Story Siren.

Extremely slow week for me this time around, but that it okay, because I've been devouring the Pretty Little Liars books all week. I'm taking a break with Nightshade right now, which is AMAZING so far.

For Review:

Wicked Girls

Release Date: Available Now from Balzer & Bray

Synopsis:

What started out as girls' games became a witch hunt. Wicked Girls is a fictionalized account of the Salem witch trials told from the perspectives of three of the real young women living in Salem in 1692.

Ann Putnam Jr. plays the queen bee. When her father suggests that a spate of illnesses within the village is the result of witchcraft, Ann grasps her opportunity. She puts in motion a chain of events that will change the lives of the people around her forever.

Mercy Lewis, the beautiful servant in Ann's house, inspires adulation in some and envy in others. With a troubled past, she seizes her only chance at safety.

Margaret Walcott, Ann's cousin, is desperately in love and consumed with fiery jealousy. She is torn between staying loyal to her friends and pursuing the life she dreams of with her betrothed.

With new accusations mounting daily against the men and women of the community, the girls will have to decide: Is it too late to tell the truth?

A Printz Honor winner for Your Own, sylvia, Stephanie Hemphill uses evocative verse to weave a nuanced portrait of one of the most chilling and fascinating times in our nation's history.


I've already read and reviewed this one and it was fabulous!!

Purchased:

Wanted by Sara Shepard

Thursday, July 8, 2010

To Nook Or To Kindle? That Is The Question!

Okay folks, I have a decision to make. In the past, I've been vehemently against the e-reader phenomenon. I just love the smell, and feel of good ol'fashioned books. However, we bought my mom a Kindle for Christmas and I've become extremely jealous of it over the past few months. I think it would be a good move for me since books are taking over my life and more importantly my room. I'll still buy books, of course, but those titles I only want to read once and don't feel the need to collect...I'll download. So, which should I get?

Barnes & Noble Nook



Amazon Kindle



Many of you already have one or the other. I'm interested in the availability of MG and YA fiction and also just how you feel about which is better. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to chime in!!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Wicked Girls: A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials by Stephanie Hemphill


Release Date: Available Now from Blazer & Bray

Source: From Publisher

Synopsis:

What started out as girls' games became a witch hunt. Wicked Girls is a fictionalized account of the Salem witch trials told from the perspectives of three of the real young women living in Salem in 1692.

Ann Putnam Jr. plays the queen bee. When her father suggests that a spate of illnesses within the village is the result of witchcraft, Ann grasps her opportunity. She puts in motion a chain of events that will change the lives of the people around her forever.

Mercy Lewis, the beautiful servant in Ann's house, inspires adulation in some and envy in others. With a troubled past, she seizes her only chance at safety.

Margaret Walcott, Ann's cousin, is desperately in love and consumed with fiery jealousy. She is torn between staying loyal to her friends and pursuing the life she dreams of with her betrothed.

With new accusations mounting daily against the men and women of the community, the girls will have to decide: Is it too late to tell the truth?

A Printz Honor winner for Your Own, sylvia, Stephanie Hemphill uses evocative verse to weave a nuanced portrait of one of the most chilling and fascinating times in our nation's history.


Yet another novel in verse. I have to say that I love, love, love them. I find myself getting just as swept up in the story as I do with any other novel, it's just that I can race to the finish even more quickly. This book, however, is one to savor. I found myself turning back to favorite passages and reading them over and over.

The Salem Witch Trials have always been an interesting subject to me. It's so frightening to think about this type of hysteria taking over a community and leading to such awful events. It's happened again and again throughout history, but I think Salem is one of the worst cases and one that is the hardest to digest.

This novel is about that hysteria, but at the heart, it's about mean girls, peer pressure, and taking a cruel idea way too far. I've been reading the Pretty Little Liars books, and crazy as it sounds, many of those same these appear in that series; bored little girls just trying to be heard in their community and making those around them miserable. It just goes to show that not much has changed in the last 300 or so years.

This is an incredibly rich and powerful read. I was concerned when I started the book that I wouldn't be able to keep the girls separate while reading, but they each have such different voices that it was easy to know who's speaking without even glancing at the name. Hemphill has a true gift. She's taken real life, horrific events and put them into a context where we can almost see where these girls were coming from. The story races on and the tension builds throughout, until the reader is swept into this madness plaguing 17th century Salem. Beautifully written, this is a book to be treasured.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (70)--Jane by April Lindner


Release Date: October 11, 2010 from Poppy

Synopsis:

Forced to drop out of an esteemed East Coast college after the sudden death of her parents, Jane Moore takes a nanny job at Thornfield Park, the estate of Nico Rathburn, a world-famous rock star on the brink of a huge comeback. Practical and independent, Jane reluctantly becomes entranced by her magnetic and brooding employer and finds herself in the midst of a forbidden romance.

But there's a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane's much-envied relationship with Nico is soon tested by an agonizing secret from his past. Torn between her feelings for Nico and his fateful secret, Jane must decide: Does being true to herself mean giving up on true love?

An irresistible romance interwoven with a darkly engrossing mystery, this contemporary retelling of the beloved classic Jane Eyre promises to enchant a new generation of readers.


I love Jane Eyre. It's the one classic that I remember really enjoying in school. And I think it's about time someone gave this awesome book an update. This sounds fabulous!! I don't think that's the finished cover, but it's all I could find.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard


Release Date: Available Now from HarperTeen

Source: Personal Collection

Synopsis:

Everyone has something to hide--especially high school juniors Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna.

Spencer covets her sister's boyfriend. Aria's fantasizing about her English teacher. Emily's crushing on the new girl at school. Hanna uses some ugly tricks to stay beautiful. But they've all kept an even bigger secret since their friend Alison vanished.

How so I know? Because I know everything about the bad girls they were, the naughty girls they are, and all the dirty secrets they've kept. And guess what? I'm telling. ----A


This book sat on my shelves for years and I never found time to read it, but when I watched the first episode of the new series on ABC Family, I knew I had to give it a try. I like the show, but I figured the books would be much better, and I was right. This is a great first book in a series. A first book has to give you all the background without getting boring, and it has to keep you wanting more after you turn the last page. Pretty Little Liars did that, and so much more.

I just really enjoyed reading about these girls and their drama. It's like being in on A's game. We get to see all the bad things these girls have done, while watching them slowing fall to pieces before our eyes. It's pretty damn fun. I think Emily is my favorite character. She never sets out to hurt anyone and she seems like the girl I would've hung with in high school.

As I said, I do like the series, but already I'm seeing where it's deviating from the books. I know it's hard to follow the books perfectly, but at least try people. The books just have so much more to offer. I'm still reading them, by the way. I'm up to number 5, so you'll most likely see more reviews coming. I'll try not to be too spoilery.

If you haven't watched the series, give it a try. If you haven't read the books, seek them out now!

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Contest Winners!!


The winner of the Sea Change contest is:

Katelyn


The winner of the And Then I Found Out The Truth/Jennifer Sturman contest is:

Bookworm


Congrats to you both. I'll be sending you e-mails shortly, get back to me as soon as you can and I'll pass your addresses along to the publicists.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

In My Mailbox (58)

As always, In My Mailbox is brought to you by Kristi, AKA The Story Siren.

For Review:

Almost To Die For by Tate Hallaway

Release Date: August 3, 2010 from NAL Trade

Synopsis:

Twilight meets The Princess Diaries in the new series from the author of Honeymoon of the Dead

On her sixteenth birthday, Anastasija Parker learns that her so-called deadbeat dad is actually a vampire king. And he wants Ana to assume her rightful position at his side, in spite of the fact that she has witch's blood running through her veins-from her mother's side.

Too bad witches and vampires are mortal enemies. And now Ana's parents are at each other's throats over her future. It's up to Ana to make a choice, but deciding your eternal destiny is a pretty big deal for a girl who just wants to get through high school.


Tyger Tyger: A Goblin Wars Book by Kersten Hamilton

Release Date: November 10, 2010 from Clarion

Synopsis:

Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.

Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right. The goblins are coming.


Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Release Date: October 19, 2010 from Philomel

Synopsis:

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

All of these were unexpected but most welcome. I'm especially pumped to have finally gotten a copy of Nightshade. It looks so amazing!!

Purchased:

DVD
The Crazies
(I actually really liked this movie and I think Timothy Olyphant is pretty dreamy.)

Books
Feed by Mira Grant
The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade
Killers by Sara Shepard
Heartless by Sara Shepard
Legacies by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill
Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill


and last, but definitely not least,

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater!!!! (I know, right?! It's not supposed to be out until the 20th and it's not even on Amazon yet. Check your Borders, though, mine had a big ol' stack)!!

Friday, July 2, 2010

Glimpse by Carol Lynch Williams

Release Date: Available Now from Simon & Schuster

Source: Personal Copy

Synopsis:


In one moment
it is over.
In one moment
it is gone.
The morning grows
thin, grey
and our lives-
how they were-
have vanished.
Our lives have
changed
when I walk in
on Lizzie
my sister
holding a shotgun.

Twelve year old girl Hope's life is turned upside down when her older sister Lizzie becomes an elective mute and is institutionalized after trying to kill herself. Ever since their dad died Hope and Lizzie have relied on each other from a young age. Their mother is a reluctant and unreliable parent at best, who turns tricks to support the family. Throughout the course of this lyrical and heartbreaking narrative readers and Hope discover that the mother is prostituting Lizzie and it's up to Hope to bring the truth to light to save her sister.

With raw and haunting writing reminiscent of Ellen Hopkins and Elizabeth Scott, Carol Lynch Williams is a promising new YA voice.

This was a truly powerful book that I found it impossible to put down. I read it in a matter of hours and although parts of it were hard to read, I had to finish this book and follow these characters. It definitely made me think of the works of Ellen Hopkins in the best possible way.

I always admire authors like Hopkins, and now Williams for telling such a complete story in relatively few words. I can't imagine how hard it is to put these types of stories into prose, let alone in verse. I had no doubt that this author could do that though, because I loved her novel The Chosen One; another powerful read.

Williams does an amazing job here. I was immediately pulled into the troubled world of Hope and Lizzie. Their's is a disturbing story, but an important one all the same. What I loved most about the book, though, was that beneath the sadness, there's an overwhelming feeling of hope. You can't help but feel for these girls and want them to succeed in life.

A really amazing read!!

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

ghostgirl: Lovesick trailer

I think this trailer is pretty awesome. I love this series, too!! I have the new book, but haven't gotten around to it yet, but after watching this, I'm thinking I need to move it up in the TBR pile!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday(69)--The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Release Date: September 21, 2010 from Razorbill
Synopsis:

Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is fighting to survive in the human world.

Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with his crush, Tate. But when Tate's baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.

Edward Scissorhands meets The Catcher in the Rye in this wildly imaginative and frighteningly beautiful horror novel about an unusual boy and his search for a place to belong.

I've always been fascinated by the idea of changelings, so this one sounds amazing to me!! Also, who can resist that comparison, "Edward Scissorhands meet The Catcher in the Rye?" How awesome does that sound?!