Red House Books

Book Review: Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe

2012-01-30T08:04:00.000-05:00

***2011 Debut Author***
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: October 2011
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Pages: 458
Series: no
Acquisition: received a copy for review

Summary:

When high school junior Sara wins a coveted scholarship to study ballet, she must sacrifice everything for her new life as a professional dancer-in-training. Living in a strange city with a host family, she's deeply lonely-until she falls into the arms of Remington, a choreographer in his early twenties. At first, she loves being Rem's muse, but as she discovers a surprising passion for writing, she begins to question whether she's chosen the right path. Is Rem using her, or is it the other way around? And is dancing still her dream, or does she need something more? This debut novel in verse is as intense and romantic as it is eloquent. (from Goodreads)

I was: very, very happy I read it, even though contemporary tales usually aren't my thing.

My thoughts:
One of the first things that struck me about Audition is the fact that it is written in verse. One of the second things that struck me was the fact that, even if pages 3 - 458 were written in braille, I would have found a way to finish it. That's all it took - about 2 pages in and I knew I wouldn't be putting this book down any time soon.

I should probably stop saying that contemporary fiction really isn't my thing because time and time again, I have found myself really enjoying a non paranormal young adult book. Maybe my view of contemporary stories has been skewed by adult literature. Nay sayers be damned, I have yet to find a purely contemporary 'adult' book that I've liked more then the handful of YA contemps that I've read.

But I digress.

Audition is the story of a young girl trying to find her place in the world. She believes that studying ballet and moving away from everything she has ever known is the right thing to do. We, as readers find out that she is right but she is also very wrong. Audition is a journey with a lot of possible destinations. Not knowing now Sara's journey was going to end really brought life into the story for me.

Have to say, as much as I did enjoy the story. I wasn't too keen on some of the characters. Most notably Remington. I don't think I ever liked him. His relationship with Sara always felt a little wrong. Maybe it was the age difference, maybe it was because it was suppose to feel wrong. I'm not sure but, overall, he really didn’t' do anything for me.

Sara on the other hand was a character I felt fully attached to. Her world and her dreams are so removed from anything I have ever even thought about doing in my life but somehow I still felt a very strong connection to her. I cared about her as a person so that pretty much equals a really great read.

Final verdict:
A book I might not have picked up on my own. I will forever be grateful to Stasia for offering me a copy because now, not only do I have a fantastic new author on my radar, I have the satisfaction of carrying Sara's story around with me for quite some time.

Overall Rating:

4.5 / 5 Stars

Linkage Love:
Author's website
Goodreads
IndieBound

In My Mailbox - January 28, 2012

2012-01-28T13:35:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren :)

Instead of not posting an IMM if I don't have the chance to film a vlog, I think I'll make vlogging the exception instead of the norm :)

I'm really making up for not buying a lot of books last month ;)

Bought from Books A Million

Angel Fire (Angel #2) by L.A. Weatherly
Why? I really loved book 1, Angel Burn and I'm curious to see how this story plays out. Gotta say though - this book is huge at 600+ pages!

Bitten (Dangerous Girls #1-2) by R.L. Stine
Why? I love R.L. Stine and I'm pretty sure I haven't read these already

Maximum Ride Manga Vol 5 by James Patterson
Why? I love manga and these series has really grown on me. Vols 1-4 were really good!

Soul Screamers Vol 1: My Soul To Lose #.5, My Soul To Take #1, My Soul to Save #2 by Rachel Vincent
Why? I didn't realise until I got this one home that it included the prequel, My Soul To lose - first time in print! I already have copies of books 1 and 2 but I love omnibus editions :)

The Secret of Ka by Christopher Pike
Why? I read this but didn't own it. The paperback cover, which I bought, is so much different from the hardcover but I still love it. Christopher Pike forever!

Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Why I've been hearing so many great things about this book for so long! It's Brodi's debut and if you don't follow her blog, you really need to because she is hilarious! Can't wait to read this one

For Review

Overbite (Insatiable #2) by Meg Cabot
Why? I'm almost done with Insatiable and while I'm not loving it I don't want give up on Meg just yet! A great deal smaller then book 1, I'm hoping I like book 2 just a little bit more

OMG this just came in the mail!

For Review

Perception (Clarity #2) by Kim Harrington ARC
Why? Loved loved loved book 1! Thank you so much Scholastic! This one is getting read asap :)

So, what's in your mailbox?

Free e-Book Alert

2012-01-26T22:16:00.000-05:00

11:15 The Making of a Halfling by Heather Burch

An illustrated novella prequel to the Halflings Trilogy

Kindle / Nook / Sony

Also available from iBooks (find it by searching for the publisher, Zondervan)

Halflings, Heather's debut releases February 1st!

Book Review: Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

2012-01-26T13:00:00.005-05:00

Reading Level: Middle Grade
Publication Date: September 2011
Publisher: Scholastic
Illustrated by: Brian Selznick
Pages: 640
Series: no
Acquisition: BEA 2011

Summary:

From Brian Selznick, the creator of the Caldecott Medal winner THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET, comes another breathtaking tour de force.

Playing with the form he created 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

Ben and Rose secretly wish their lives were different. Ben longs for the father he has never known. Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mother's room and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing.

Set fifty years apart, these two independent stories--Ben's told in words, 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. Rich, complex, affecting, and beautiful--with over 460 pages of original artwork--Wonderstruck is a stunning achievement from a uniquely gifted artist and visionary. (from Goodreads)

I was: captivated from page one and I was very sorry to see this book end.

My thoughts:
If you're browsing through a bookstore or library and you see Wonderstuck on shelf, you might be tempted to pass it by. It's a hefty looking tome. 600 + pages and a hardcover to boot! However, you should, under no circumstances, walk away from this book. I assure you, once you have it in your hands - once you see the very first page - you will not be putting it down. You won't have a choice. It's coming home with you and you're going to read it all in one sitting. I promise you!

Wonderstuck is a visually stunning book with a powerful story to back it up. Not that the illustrations need any back up! They can very easily stand on their own. There are 2 stories being told here - one with pictures and one with words. It isn't until the end that everything is brought together. Such a heartfelt story with so much emotion behind every picture and every word.

A fantastic journey of the senses! If you've read Brain's previous book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, you should have a feel for what I'm talking about. (And if you haven't read it - do it now!). The same beauty exists within the pages of Wonderstruck. I found the same sense of awe and amazement and I loved it!

Final verdict:
Wonderstuck isn't a children's book or a young adult book it is simply a book. A book I would recommend to everyone as it should be read by everyone. I dare you to give it a try and not be affected.

Overall Rating:

5 / 5 Stars

Linkage Love:
Webstie
Goodreads
IndieBound

NetGalley January - Link Up Your Reviews!

2012-01-25T21:27:00.000-05:00

If you've signed up for my

NetGalley January read-a-thon

2012 NetGalley Reading Challenge

it's time to share some reviews!

Haven't signed up yet?

No problem! You can still join in the fun.

Head over HERE and add your name to the list. Even if you only read 1 NetGalley book in 2012 it's worth it ;)

Now for the rules :)

1. Be sure you are signed up for either my 2012 NetGalley Reading Challenge or NetGalley January read-a-thon

2. Link up 1 of your NetGalley reviews below. Preferably one from January but you can choose any review from the last 4 months. The link "Name" should be the book title and author

3. Visit other links! Read reviews and leave thoughtful comments :)

4. For every review you visit and comment on, you can post another one of your reviews in the linky

5. You can post up to 5 of your own reviews (1 for 'free' and 4 others IF you visited and commented on 4 other reviews)

6. Please be honest and please leave actual thoughtful comments (the same type you yourself would like to receive)

I'll be doing this every month in 2012 so again, if you're a NetGalley member and haven't signed up for my 2012 NetGalley Challenge, now is your chance :)

To get us started, I've linked up a couple of my recent NetGalley reviews, if you're one of the first to visit, be sure to leave your link and check back later for others.

If you have any questions at all, please let me know either in the comments or via email :)

Can't wait to get my hands on...

2012-01-24T07:51:00.000-05:00

Just in case anyone needs help filling up their wishlists and adding to their TBR piles, here's what I

Can't wait to get my hands on....

2012 is going to be the year of sequels for me as I read so many great book 1s (and book 2s) last year!

Wings of the Wicked (Angelfire #2) by Courtney Allison Moulton

January 2012

Pandemonium (Delirium #2) by Lauren Oliver

February 2012

Perception (Clarity #2) by Kim Harrington

March 2012

Spell Bound (Hex Hall #3)

March 2012

Loss (Riders of the Apocalypse #3) by Jackie Morse Kessler

March 2012

What can't you wait to get your hands on?

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

2012-01-23T07:00:00.001-05:00

***2011 Debut Author***
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: August 2011
Publisher: Hyperion
Pages: 282
Series: no?
Acquisition: NetGalley

Summary:

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget. (from Goodreads)

I was:...lost for words

My thoughts:
Love love love this book! <--- See those words? Those were the only words I managed to write directly after finishing The Near Witch. I was so overcome with how much I was enchanted by this story that I literally could not type any other words!

After composing myself, I really hope I can do this book justice because it really was one of my favorite reads of 2011. It fits into a couple of different categories, for me at least.

It's a fantasy - not quite sure where or when the people in this story exist but at the same time, it doesn't matter. What happens to them and what they do about it - that matters.

It's also, at least for the time being, a stand alone novel. If Victoria ever does write more about Lexi and her world I'm sure to read it - but - not for the sake of the story. I'll be reading it because I want more - crave it in fact!

It's also a love story. A truly sweet and heartwarming and love-as-it-should-be, love story. There really shouldn't be any other type in my opinion.

Final verdict:
The Near Witch is a book I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to just about everyone I know that likes to read. Even if you don't love fantasy - you'll probably love The Near Witch. Even if (you think ;) YA really isn't your thing - you'll love this story. It's the perfect package!

Overall Rating:

5 / 5 Stars

Linkage Love:
Author's website
Goodreads
IndieBound

In My Mailbox - January 21, 2012

2012-01-21T21:07:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren :)

No IMM last week because...wow, I can't remember why...and no vlog this week because I'm lazy! Ha!

Got tons of great books though!

Bought - all from my local Indie bookstore - love that place!

Phoenix (Beautiful Dead #4) by Eden Maguire
Why? I loved the first 3 books and as this is the last I really want to know how it all ends

By These Ten Bones by Clare B. Dunkle
Why? I really enjoyed Dunkle's The House Of Dead Maids and wanted to check out more of her writing

Away (The Line #2) by Teri Hall
Why? The Line was a book I wished I hadn't read early (I was on a blog tour). As soon as I finished it, knowing it would be more then a year before book 2 was out was killer! I cannot wait to get started on this one!

Death Sentence (Escape From Furnace #3) by Alexander Gordon Smith
Why? One of the best horror / dsytopian / thriller series I have ever read. I'm hoping Gordon keeps the suspense going.

Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Why? 2012 Debut Author and I've heard a lot of good things so far

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
Why? I have a hard copy of book 2...and the audio of book 3...and it was on sale :)

A Million Suns (Across The Universe #2) by Beth Revis
Why? Because OMG I loved Across The Universe! I started reading this waiting on line to pay for it today - so far, it's awesome!

Out of Oz (The Wicked Years #4) by Gregory Maguire
Why? I have, but haven't read book 3, but I love this series and I'm pretty sure this is the last installment

Won from dreamonus.com

Altar of Bones by Philip Carter
Why? The type of book I could pass around to my book loving family members. Also, I don't read nearly as many adult mystery / thrillers as I would like

For Review

Vamplayers by Rusy Fischer ARC
Why? Sounds interesting and as much as might say I'm done with vampire stories...I really do love them!

BookMooch

Rage (Riders of the Apocalypse #2) by Jackie Morse Kessler

Why? I've already read this but didn't own a copy. Loved it!

Corsets and Clockwork: 14 Steampunk Romances edited by Trisha Telep
Why? While I'm aware of the issues surrounding Trisha, I still wanted to give this one a try since there are a bunch of great authors in this book who I love! I wouldn't have bought the book at this time but I felt ok swapping for it.

Until The End (Final Friends 1-3) by Christopher Pike
Why? Because it's Christopher freaken Pike - in omnibus form! Yes I've read (and own) the 3 Final Friends books...but...it's Christopher Pike - you can never have to many!

"Bought" from Kristi at The Story Siren (proceeds are being donated)

The Vampire Diaries Stephan's Diaries Vol 5 The Asylum by L.J. Smith
Why? Because I like books with ridiculously long titles - jk! I read the original Vampire Diaries way back when they were first released. I liked the first 2 Stephan's Diaries and would like to continue with this series 'written' by Smith

Tighter by Adele Griffin
Why? I've enjoyed everything by Griffin I have read in the past and this one as been on my wishlist for a while

Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves
Why? Because wow! Reeves sure knows how to write outside of the box. I loved loved loved Bleeding Violet and Slice of Cherry takes place in the same f**ked up world. Can't wait to get started!

So, what's in your mailbox?

NetGalley January Twitter Chat Questions and Answers

2012-01-19T21:58:00.000-05:00

Another huge thank you to everyone who attended last night's NetGalley Twitter chat! And to the lurkers as well ;)

Judging from the questions, I'm thinking it was our biggest one to date.

Since there were a lot, I'm not going to bore you with a bunch of preamble (too late?) EXCEPT to ask any NetGalley fans reading this to consider joining my 2012 NetGalley Reading Challenge :)

Click the link above or on my sidebar to the right ----->

...ok....I'm done....for now! Mwahahahahah!

ok really...here is the transcript :)

NETGALLEY JANUARY TWITTER CHAT QUESTION AND ANSWER

All answers were given by Lindsey from NetGalley and both questions and answers have been summarized and / or expanded on for clarity.

Q: What is the 'quick' answer for how we are approved and how we should get started on NetGalley?
A: For approval guidelines, see HERE.

Q: What is the best way to deal with having the same title in your request queue twice?
A: If you have a duplicate, you can archive one.

Q: Can publishers see how many titles we have archived? How about the number we have reviewed verses what we have requested?
A: Publishers cannot see how many titles you have archived but they do see how many you've been approved / declined for across all publishers. They can also see how many reviews you've sent to all publishers.

Q: Will anyone from NetGalley be at ALA Mid Winter this year?
A: Yes, Community Concierge Kristina will be there. Check out Follow The Reader for more info.

Q: Is there anything that users can do when an e-galley is formatted badly or is unreadable?
A: You can email NetGalley, support[at]netgalley[dot]com if formatting is really bad and they can pass the information along to the publisher.

Q: Any special guidance for reading on a Kindle? Sometimes the formatting is way off.
A: Galley formats are either pdf or epub as publishers don't have mobi/Kindle formats available at the galley stage. Amazon converts to their proprietary format and that is why Kindle galley formatting is sometimes off.

Q: If / when I decline a review, is there way to let the publisher know why?
A: You can use the EMAIL PUBLISHER button to tell them why you declined on the review.

Q: Where do reviews go once we have entered them?
A: When you use the pencil icon to send your review in NetGalley, it goes directly to the publisher via an email in their account.

Q: If you're behind, is it better to still submit a review if a title's been out for a few months?
A: YES! It's always worth it as publishers want to know that you read the book.

Q: Can you still post your review after the publisher has archived the title?
A: Yes! You can still go to MY REVIEWS and click the pencil icon.

Q: Is there an app for iPads?
A: Yes, it's called Bluefire. See instructions HERE.

Q: Can I use my Nook to read galleys? What if I'm having problems?
A: Yes, you can use your Nook. Trouble shooting is HERE or email NetGalley support for help.

Q: What is the "Review Complete-Editorial Pass" and the "Community" section at the bottom of our account page?
A: You can ignore these as they don't mean anything :)

Q: What does archiving actually do? When are we suppose to do it?
A: Archiving titles is just for your organization needs. You can archive when you don't what to see a title in your list anymore.

Q: Does archiving your review delete it on the publisher's end?
A: No. Archiving does not affect publishers. They get your review via email as soon as you send it.

Q: Is there a place in our account where we can see what publishers have auto approved us?
A: You will get an email as soon as a publisher auto approves you - keep these emails! There isn't currently a list in your account that you can see but NetGalley is hoping to change this in the future.

Q: Why did a publisher archive a title right after they approved me for it?
A: Sometimes this happens. It's usually a miss-communication in their organization.

Q: Is there any chance an "Archived Date" column could be added?
A: NetGalley is working on it! In the meantime, they are also urging publishers to put archive dates in the book description. (Some have already started).

Q: Should we be putting our full reviews in the review box or is just a link to our blog post enough?
A: Full review AND a link directly to your review is preferred.

Q: What is the difference between the Full Review and the Brief Review?
A: Full Review is for your review, Brief Review box is for any comments you want to make outside of the review itself.

Q: What if we have been declined by a publisher for a book in genre "B" when they have already approved us previously for books in genre "A"?
A: Make sure your bio states all the types of genres you read and review. The publisher might not realize you review genre "B". Also, be sure to check out Publisher Criteria.

Q: Do publishers expect to see reviews from booksellers who are reading purely for ordering and store recommendations?
A: Booksellers and Librarians are not expected to send reviews BUT it is nice to send feedback if you have ordered a book for your collection.

Q: Do Kindle books every expire?
A: No. Kindle books currently do not have an expiration date. More info can be found HERE.

Q: What is best practice for books that have been archived before you read them?
A: Email the publisher to tell them you ran out of time. For books that archive right after you get approval, email NetGalley support.

2012 NetGalley Reading Challenge

2012-01-16T22:49:00.000-05:00

I know I said I wasn't doing any reading challenges this year (except DAC) BUT starting one myself doesn't count, right? ;)

I've been hosting NetGalley Month Read-A-Thons, held every three months in January, April. July and October for a while now and I thought - What better way to accompany these events then a

YEAR LONG CHALLENGE!

I'm a casual kind of gal so my 'rules' are very simple

1. Link up your blog below

Or wherever it is you post your NetGalley reviews

2. Pick a level:

I tried to come up with cute names for each level but failed miserably

So instead, each level gets a colored star :)

Blue Star - read 1-10 NetGalley Books in 2012

Green Star - read 11-20 NetGalley Books in 2012

Red Star - read 21-30 NetGalley Books in 2012

Gold Star - read 30+ NetGalley Books in 2012

3. Put my challenge button on your blog, if you want

code is to the right in my sidebar

4. Read the Books :)

5. Come back every month to share some reviews and visit other blogs participating!

Every month I'll have a linky up where you can post your NetGalley reviews

What do you guys think?

Who's in?

NetGalley Twitter Chat this Wednesday!

2012-01-12T23:29:00.000-05:00

NetGalley Twitter Chat Hosted by Red House Books :)

Join me and The Lovely Lindsey Rudnickas from NetGalley on

Wednesday January 18 at 6pm EST

Bring your NetGalley questions, talk about what NetGalley books you've read and good time will be had by all!

Use the hashtag #NetGalleyMonth to follow along.

I'm partial to TweetChat and this link will work for everyone (even if you've never used it before):
http://tweetchat.com/room/NetGalleyMonth

Have a question for Lindsey but can't make it on Wednesday?
Let me know below and I'll ask it for you!
Q and A transcript will be posted after the chat

Thanks guys!

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Reading, Reviews and....Republicans?

2012-01-10T23:34:00.000-05:00

A READING System
Back in November, Galleysmith blogged about a method of reading inspired by a friend. Basically it involves making a list of books to read and then, well, reading them :)

I love this idea because I swear, I feel like I spend just as much time choosing a book to read as I do reading it.

I'm doing it a bit differently though. Instead of listing out particular books I've made a list of the types of books I want to read.

It actually wound up being a fairly complicated math equation (don't ask) BUT in the end I have a system that has been working pretty well for me.

My list is 20 (yes 20) items long and is made up of 8 different types of books - each one repeating randomly.

Now, I warn you, this might not make any sense at all to anyone but in case you are curious, here is how it brakes down (the number after each category is the number of times it appears on my list of 20)

Review Book NEW -- ARCs and galleys of titles that haven't been released yet (4)
Review Book OLD -- ARCs and galleys of titles that have already been released. Also, finished books I have received for review (4)
Review Book REALLY OLD -- books from past BEAs, ARCs that I've had for a while (4)
On My Shelf -- any book that has been sitting on my shelf for a good amount of time (2)
Popular Titles -- books from my shelf that have generated a buzz. Includes books I've bought on the recommendations of others (2)
Series -- 2nd or 3rd or 4th books from a series I have already started
Adult -- non YA or MG books
Non Fiction -- self explanatory

The order is random and after a book is read I move it's category to the bottom, creating a never ending list!

Like I said, it's working so far for me. Knowing what category of book I'm looking for makes it a lot easier to actually pick one! My categories are also kind of fluid so it's easy for some books to fall into more then one and I have no problems skipping a category here and there if needed.

What do you guys think?!?

Reviews!!!
As some of you might have noticed, I haven't posted many reviews in the past couple of months. I've been reading a ton but...I've been having a hard time sitting down and getting my thoughts out (reviewer's block?). I would rather post nothing then post a half hearted, sloppily written review. Does that make sense?

I'm making a very conscience effort to remedy the situation. One thing I have found that works is to write my review immediately after finishing the book. Close book, open computer - done!

SO! For both my old and new followers, you can look forward to more reviews posted in 2012! (I don't do new years resolutions but if I did this would be one of them ;)

If anyone has tips on how to get out of a reviewing slump I would love to hear your thoughts!

and last and certainly least....

Republicans....or something....
YES I live in New Hampshire
YES the Republican Primary was held here today
YES GOP does stand for "Grand Old Party"
NO I was not partying today
NO I am not looking forward to many more months of political hoopla
....and please don't get me started on the Electoral College

I think that's enough out of me for now ;)
Expect actual awesomeness in the future! Ha!

NetGalley January: General NetGalley Info

2012-01-09T07:00:00.001-05:00

How was everyone's first week of NetGalley January?

What have you been reading?

In this first check in post I wanted to share with you some general information about NetGalley AND announce our upcoming Twitter Chat!

Some helpful NetGalley Links:

NetGalley Sign In Page - I have this one bookmarked as it makes getting to my account just that much faster ;)

Reading Devices - Great information on using all kinds of e-readers, phones and of course, your computer

Publisher Approval Preferences - before you request it's a good idea to check out what a particular publisher is looking for

NetGalley Blog - "Follow The Reader" love this title :)

NetGalley on Facebook - Do you "Like" NetGalley?

NetGalley on Twitter - run by Lindsey Rudnickas, NetGalley Digital Concierge. She is supper helpful if you ever have a question!

AND!

Speaking of Lindsey and questions.
Next week you can join us in another fabulous Twitter chat. Once I have the exact date and time I'll let you know! Past months chats have been fantastic and I'm hoping for even more participating this month.

AND!

Speaking of participation ;) If you haven't already signed up for NetGalley January there is still time! Head on over to the sign up post and get started.

AND!

no...that's it ;)

Recent Contest Winners

2012-01-08T20:56:00.000-05:00

I'm so bad about announcing winners!

Everyone has been contacted at least :)

Glow Audio Book

Katie R

Pure ARC

Rachelle

Angelina's Secret ARC

Brianne S

More giveaways coming soon!

Thanks everyone :)

On My Wishlist - Debuts!

2012-01-06T08:53:00.000-05:00

On My Wishlist is hosted by Book Chick City :)

2012 Debut hitting shelves soon!

Destiny's Fire by Trisha Wolfe

January 10, 2012 by Omnific Publishing

It’s the year 2040, and sixteen-year-old Dez Harkly is one of the last of her kind—part of a nearly extinct race of shape-shifters descended from guardians to the Egyptian pharaohs. Her home and her secret are threatened when the Council lowers the barrier, allowing the enemy race to enter the Shythe haven.

As the Narcolym airships approach, Dez and her friends rebel against their Council and secretly train for battle. Not only is Dez wary of war and her growing affection for her best friend Jace, but she fears the change her birthday will bring. When Dez’s newfound power rockets out of control, it’s a Narcolym who could change her fate… if she can trust him.

Dez’s guarded world crumbles when she discovers why the Narcos have really come to Haven Falls, and she's forced to choose between the race who raised her and the enemy she's feared her whole life. (from Goodreads)

2011 Debut I'm still wishing for!

I Am J by Chris Beam

March 2011 by Little Brown

J always felt different. He was certain that eventually everyone would understand who he really was; a boy mistakenly born as a girl. Yet as he grew up, his body began to betray him; eventually J stopped praying to wake up a "real boy" and started covering up his body, keeping himself invisible - from his family, from his friends...from the world. But after being deserted by the best friend he thought would always be by his side, J decides that he's done hiding - it's time to be who he really is. And this time he is determined not to give up, no matter the cost.

An inspiring story of self-discovery, of choosing to stand up for yourself, and of finding your own path - readers will recognize a part of themselves in J's struggle to love his true self.(from Goodreads)

What are you wishing for?

DEBUT FEATURE: May B. Author Caroline Starr Rose on Reading Verse Novels + A Giveaway

2012-01-04T07:18:00.000-05:00

A big welcome to

Caroline Starr Rose

whose debut novel

May B.

releases January 10, 2012

from Schwartz and Wade

an imprint of Random House Children's Books

I've known it since last night:
It's been too long to expect them to return.
Something's happened.
May is helping out on a neighbor's Kansas prairie homestead—just until Christmas, says Pa. She wants to contribute, but it's hard to be separated from her family by 15 long, unfamiliar miles. Then the unthinkable happens: May is abandoned. Trapped in a tiny snow-covered sod house, isolated from family and neighbors, May must prepare for the oncoming winter. While fighting to survive, May's memories of her struggles with reading at school come back to haunt her. But she's determined to find her way home again. Caroline Starr Rose's fast-paced novel, written in beautiful and riveting verse, gives readers a strong new heroine to love. (from Goodreads)

IndieBound / Goodreads

Website / Blog / Facebook

Caroline spent her childhood in the deserts of Saudi Arabia and New Mexico, camping at the Red Sea in one and eating red chile in the other. As a girl she danced ballet, raced through books by Laura Ingalls, and put on magic shows in a homemade cape. She graduated from the University of New Mexico and went on to teach both social studies and English in New Mexico, Florida, Virginia, and Louisiana. In her classroom, she worked to instill in her students a passion for books, the freedom to experiment with words, and a curiosity about the past. (from Random House)

Today Caroline share with us her thoughts on reading verse novels - something I have only just begun to do.

Reading Verse Novels

Verse novels are stories told through unrhymed poetry. It’s a format that can be intimidating to some readers, so to make the genre feel more accessible, I thought I’d try to demystify them a bit. Here are some things verse novels usually have in common:

Subject matter must be right for poetry
Some topics lend themselves more easily to poetry than others. Some subjects refuse to be written as prose. Many times an author will use verse to mimic the rhythm of the story. Here are a few books that come to mind:
• Sharon Creech’s HEARTBEAT, about a girl who loves to run
• Karen Hesse’s OUT OF THE DUST, where the spare language reflects the stark Dust Bowl setting
• Lisa Schroeder’s FAR FROM YOU, about a girl who sings and and writes songs

Protagonists must be right for poetry
Often (though not always) verse novels are told from a very close first-person point of view. Such writing calls for a lot of introspection on the protagonist's part. Other times verse is used as a way for multiple voices to be heard, almost like a Greek chorus. Here are some examples:
• Thanhha Lai’s INSIDE OUT AND BACK AGAIN, about a Vietnamese girl’s efforts to understand her new American home
• Karen Hesse’s WITNESS, where the Ku Klux Klan moves into a quiet Vermont town, and citizens reflect on the change they bring

Poems should be able stand alone
Each poem in a verse novel must capture one moment, scene, idea, mark of change in your character's life. Poems should also be able to function separately from the rest of the story.

Poems must contribute to the whole
When I worked through my own verse novel, MAY B., I kept a quilt in mind, treating each poem like its own square of fabric. Each patch had to be able to function separately while at the same time move the story forward. I trusted that if certain patterns and shades in my story quilt were repeated (think themes or story strands), eventually the interconnectedness would surface -- a much more organic approach than is normally taken with prose.

Varied poem lengths
Some scenes flow, some end abruptly. Some thoughts wander, some jab. Without the structure of chapters, verse novels are simultaneously abrupt and fluid -- poem lengths can be jagged yet aide the plot in moving through scenes swiftly. It is often difficult to find a place to stop reading, as one poem often bleeds into the next.

Varied line lengths
Verse novelists play with key phrases or words they want to bring to their reader’s attention by the way they arrange words on the page. Line breaks can be used to slow down reading, to draw the eye to important phrases, and to best "speak" the poem.

Emotion and structure
The structure of a poem often communicates to readers a character’s emotional state.

How might fear look structurally? A verse novelist might use little punctuation or words tightly packed together. Maybe the language of the poem will unfold in short bursts, reminiscent of a child peeking into a darkened room and quickly slamming the door.

Poetic form
Some verse novelists use specific types of poetry (sonnets, for example), as Pat Brisson did with her book, THE BEST AND HARDEST THING. In writing about Sylvia Plath in YOUR OWN, SLYVIA, author Stephanie Hemphill chose to mirror the format of several of Plath's poems, giving her readers a sense of the poet's style, subject matter, intensity, and character.

The visual and the aural
When I was a teacher, I used to tell my students that poetry should be seen and heard. There is something special that happens when a reader experiences seeing, hearing, and saying a poem all at once -- the fullness of the poem is discovered this way.

If you ever feel stuck with a verse novel, find a private corner and try reading it aloud.

Verse novels aren’t books with strange line breaks. They are stories best communicated through the language, rhythm, imagery and structure of poetry. Don’t be afraid to give books in this unique genre a try!

To show you some of the techniques mentioned above, I’ve included a sample poem from my verse novel, MAY B.

I play a game inside my head, (1)
counting plum trees that dot a creek bed, (2)
rabbits that scatter at the sound of wagon wheels,
clouds that skirt the sky.
For hours, that is all
and grass (3)
always grass
in different shades and textures (4)
like the braids in a rag rug.

Miss Sanders told us that lines never end,
and numbers go on forever.
Here, (5)
in short-grass country,
I understand infinity. (6)(7)

(1) Much of the story is told through thought, not dialogue. We have a real sense of May’s internal life.
(2) Verse allows for the opportunity to play with language. Here’s a bit of rhyme.
(3) Repetition for emphasis. The line break here also slows down the reader, emphasizing the miles of grass.
(4) Poetry should be visual and figurative language fresh, even unexpected.
(5) Line break for emphasis
(6) The two stanzas mirror each other in appearance, reinforcing the visual aspect of experiencing poetry.
(7) Notice the poem is about place and uses measurements/counting as a way to make sense of things. The few trees and rabbits are a contrast to infinity. The poem fits into the overall story -- May leaving for a new place -- but can also stand alone as a poem about the short-grass Kansas prairie.

Thank you so much Caroline!

As a special treat for those of you reading this today, I have some lovely May B. swag to giveaway :)
Fill out THIS FORM to enter
(ends January 18, 2012 at 11:59pm EST / open to everyone 18 years or older)
Please only enter if you have actually read this post :)

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

If you are a 2012 debut author of a middle grade or young adult book and would like to be featured at Red House Books this year, LET ME KNOW!

Book Review: Eve by Anna Carey

2012-01-03T07:15:00.000-05:00

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: October 2011
Pages: 318
Series: 1st in the Eve series
Acquisition: BEA 2011

Summary:

Where do you go when nowhere is safe?

Sixteen years after a deadly virus wiped out most of Earth’s population, the world is a perilous place. Eighteen-year-old Eve has never been beyond the heavily guarded perimeter of her school, where she and two hundred other orphaned girls have been promised a future as the teachers and artists of the New America. But the night before graduation, Eve learns the shocking truth about her school’s real purpose—and the horrifying fate that awaits her.

Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Arden, her former rival from school, and Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust . . . and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.

In this epic new series, Anna Carey imagines a future that is both beautiful and terrifying. Readers will revel in Eve’s timeless story of forbidden love and extraordinary adventure.

I was: A little underwhelmed by the adventure but curious as to how things will turn out for Eve and her friends.

My thoughts:
A dystopian world on the edge but on the edge of what, I'm not quite sure. A confusing description perhaps, but Eve was a bit of a confusing read for me. It's dystopian world lacked some cohesion. I'm still not quite sure exactly what’s going on or rather, I was confused by the actions of those in power. There is this force driving society but it isn't really explained. I can only assume more answers will be revealed in book 2 but even knowing a book is the first in the series, I still expect some closure at the end. Have to say, at the end of Eve I wasn't very happy at all.

That isn't to say I didn't enjoy the story. Eve herself is an interesting character. She starts off very naive about her world - very much in the dark about her place and purpose. I liked the fact that she is thrown into things and has to adapt and change her way of thinking very quickly. I didn't like how it happened however. I didn't feel like I got enough information about where Eve came from and I didn't understand the place she was hoping to find. Some things are explained as the story progresses but it still very much felt like a book 1 with too many holes in the story.

Will I read book 2? I think yes. Even though I didn't fall in love with the characters or the setting of Eve, I did feel invested in the story and I really do want to know how it turns out. I do have to say though, that ending really had me. I very much felt like I was missing a page or two. There is this build up to a climax that doesn't really happen and for me, I'd have to say Eve suffers from Titanic movie ending syndrome aka make room on the damn raft for him already!

Highlight below for a spoiler filled explanation on what I mean:

So Eve and Caleb makes this perilous journey to...San Francisco was it? In any case, they travel long and hard and they face danger and they are pretty much in love with each other. So they get where they are going and Caleb is hurt and the rulers of the sanctuary they seek are all like 'sorry, no boys allowed' and Caleb's all like 'it's cook, I knew' and Eve's all "oh..ok...well don't die! I'll see you soon right?" - What? Why did she leave him? Why did she go with these strangers and leave her friend alone and hurt and possibly dying? Make room on the damn raft for him! Or rather, don't go with the creepy man hating strangers - find some other way!

End spoilers...and mini rant :)

Again, I hoping things will make a bit more sense in book 2.

Final verdict:
Don't let my lack luster review steer you away from Eve. Overall, it's a book I'm happy to have read. If dystopian is your thing, I think you'll enjoy Eve's story. If series books aren't, you might want to skip it.

There are a few very specific questions I'm really looking forward to have answered and I'm really curious as to how they are going to be answered.

Overall Rating:

3.5 / 5 Stars

Books in the Eve Series:
Eve
Once (July 2012)

Linkage Love:
Harper Teen
Author's Website
Goodreads
IndieBound
Read an excerpt

Goodbye 2011! AKA Lots of updates and organization that you really don't have to read ;)

2012-01-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

I know everyone is tired of reading (and writing?) end of the year / wrap up / old challenges / new challenges / 2012 goals posts, right?

That's what I thought!

Here's another one!

Ha!

Really though, a lot of what follows is just for my peace of mind so if you're already bored, go read a book instead!

I'm tying a more relaxed take on blogging in 2012. Still lots of content and hopefully some new excitement but no stress. If I don't post every day you won't hate me ;)

Some DOs for the coming year:
*NetGalley Read-A-Thons every 3rd month - in January, April, July and October -- might be hard to come up with new and exciting features each time but there will be read-a-thoning goodness going on!
NetGalley January is happening RIGHT NOW!

*LOTS of debut author content! I have a bunch of stuff scheduled - guest posts, feature posts, giveaways - should be a blast

*MORE REVIEWS! I'm really behind - like - a few months worth of books behind. I'm hoping for at least 3 reviews a week - some weeks more some weeks less - we'll see!

*A READING SCHEDULE -- nothing strict but I have a pretty good system that I started last month and so far it's helping me get in tons of reading :)

*ONE spreadsheet and ONE notebook to organize my reading / reviewing - not 4 or 5 like I am currently trying to use

Some NO THANK YOUS for the coming year:
*Reading challenges...not so much as I failed pretty bad in 2011 (see below for more details) Debut Author Challenge for sure but nothing else.

*NO DRAMA -- ok, I don't really need to state this one as I never get involved in blogging / reading / author online drama BUT I'm making a special effort to actually ignore it all this year.

*NO STRESS -- in my reading habits, in my blogging habits - in everything! (woo hoo for trying to eliminate all stress from everything! Who's with me? :)

*NO GUILT -- I don't know about your but when I get behind on things (reading, emailing, getting back to people) I feel so GUILTY about it...and my guilt keeps me from actually getting anything done. A viscous cycle that I'm hoping to break myself out of this year.

Ok so let's see what else I need to wrap up and get myself ready for 2012 book awesomeness...

Challenges in 2011 and 2012
I rocked The Debut Author Challenge in 2011...and pretty much failed every other challenge I challenged myself to! Oops! Here's a more complete look at my failure.

In 2012 I'm only committing to the Debut Challenge. It feels like a bit of a cheat because even without the official challenge (hosted by The Story Siren) I would still read a ton of debuts this year.

Books Read in 2011 and 2012
I read...books... this year :) It's actually hard for me to count them because I kept switching up the way I tallied things though out the year. But Emily, how can you change the way you COUNT? Isn't a simple 1, 2, 3... Well, yeah, for most people it would be but for me, not so much! If you're interested you can see all my wonderful anal retentiveness HERE and I've started my books read in 2012 page HERE.

Places to Find Me
I started blogging in 2009 but it wasn't until 2011 that I really expanded my online presence. For a complete list of places you can find me check out this post. I've also fully updated my sidebar!

Ok folks, I think that's it!

Hope you all had a Happy New Year and that your 2012 is off to a good start!

Places to find me in 2012

2012-01-02T01:14:00.000-05:00

I'm everywhere!! Mwahahahaha!

Ok...not really...but I do love the Internet and there are many places you can find me on any given day :)

I'll add to and edit this list as needed

Ways to follow / contact / find me :)

All of these can also be found in my side bar

Google Friend Connect
Google will be disallowing GFC on non Blogger sites...soonish? So you won't see this widget on Wordpress or LiveJournal blogs in the future. I'm still all Blogger and I've kept my GFC for those folks who like to use it. I still use it to follow blogs because I like Blogger's dashboard interface and I use Google Reader's blogs I follow feature to keep track of my subscriptions.
It's awesome to see my followers increase (and anyone who tells you it really doesn't make any difference to them is probably lying to someone) BUT even if I had 1 follower / reader I would still do what I do because I started this blog for me and I'm having a blast with it!
So, if you are so inclined you can click on the little 'Join This Site' button off to the right

RSS Feed
Another way to follow along with all the ~~nonsense~~ wonderfully interesting things I post here at Red House Books :) You can also input my url directly into your favorite Reader (http://redhousebooks.blogspot.com)

Twitter
I absolutely love Twitter!
I ~~stalk~~ follow so many great people! Sometimes I do feel like I am ease dropping in on other people's conversations but if you didn't want it to be public you should not be saying it on Twitter :)
I don't auto follow back but I do follow back most bloggers and authors that follow me if we have things in common.
I'm also obsessively compulsive about checking my @ mentions so if you say something to me I'm most likely going to respond to you!

Goodreads
Say what you will about the ridiculousness of the star rating system of Goodreads, I still love it. So much information in one place. I use it everyday! I also accept every friend request I get - if you want to see what I'm reading, I'm not going to stop you.
I do not however, respond to emails nor do I pay any attention to alerts or notices about contests, blog hops, special events or anything of the sort. If you try to get my attention this way, you will fail :)

LibraryThing
LT holds a special place in my heart as it's what lead me to blogging in the first place. I'm not as active in the discussion groups as I used to be but I try to keep my bookshelves organized and I love their widgets - much better then Goodreads IMO.
I'll accept any friend request and reply to messages but I don't check very often so don't take it personally if I don't respond quickly.

Tumblr
Something I just started this year...it's not really much of anything yet but I can myself using it a lot more in the future. I'm not on very much but I would like to add to my followers so if you have Tumblr let me know and I'll follow you!

YouTube
So far only my In My Mailbox vlogs. I don't think that will change in the future as I'm not much of a vlogger but who knows :)

Facebook Page
This one is tied to an account that is only for my online presence. Yes, the FB gods may strike me down for having more then one FB account and not using my real name on one of them *gasp* but I don't really care. My 'real' FB account is only for people I have actually met and / or know really well...and I don't even use it that much anyway ;)
If you're into FB you can "Like" my page as all my blog posts will appear in Red House Book's Fan Page feed. You can also follow via Networked Blogs (link is in sidebar)

Google +
I still don't really know how to use Google+ to it's fullest potential and I can't figure out a way to publish my blog posts to my G+ feed...but I do plan on working on this more in the future - and help would be appreciated too :)

Amazon
A not so great way to find and buy books online :) Say what you want about how evil it is, it's hard to avoid and really, for some, it's the only way they can buy books. I buy local whenever I can but for me that means 1 bookstore to shop in with the closest 'big' chain store over an hour away.
I'm not an affiliate so any links I might post here will in no way equal a potential commission. I do however upload my reviews to my account because even though I don't love Amazon, I'm usually asked to post reviews here by publishers, publicists and authors and I really don't mind or care if Amazon uses my words to take over the world!

Pinterest
Now this is just for fun :) I do have a book related awesomeness board so it's not completely unrelated :)

Email Me
Anytime! WilowRaven at gmail dot com

Books Read in 2011

2012-01-01T21:12:00.000-05:00

Here is my list of books read in 2011.

I'm pretty particular about how I group things so my lists might look a little weird :)

Not sure if I'll do the same kind of thing for 2012...

Here it is!

Books (number of pages)
01. Reckless by Cornelia Funke (400)
02. Escape from Furnace: Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith (304)
03. The Vampire Diaries Stefan's Diaries Vol 1 Origins by L.J. Smith (256)
04. Almost to Die For by Tate Hallaway (241)
05. Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr (336)
06. Escape from Furnace: Solitary by Alexander Gordon Smith (240)
07. Hold Me Closer Necromancer by Lish McBride (352)
08. Drought by Pam Bachorz (400)
09. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (392)
10. Human .4 by Mike A. Lancaster (240)
11. Gone by Lisa McMann (224)
12. The Iron Queen by Julie Kagaway (358)
13. Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors (336)
14. Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble (310)
15. Haunted by Joy Preble (290)
16. XVI by Julia Karr (325)
17. The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher (240)
18. Clarity by Kim Harrington (242)
19. Beautiful Dead: Summer by Eden Maguire (274)
20. Across the Universe by Beth Revis (398)
21. The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner (208)
22. Jenna and Jonah's Fauxmance by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin (240)
23. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith (317)
24. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After by Steve Hockensmith (320)
25. The Girl Who Was On Fire edited by Leah Wilson (194)
26. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (485)
27. The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell (293)
28. Those That Wake by Jesse Karp (340)
29. Percival's Angel by Anne Eliot (224)
30. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (435)
31. In The Arms of Stone Angles by Jordan Dane (320)
32. Cinderella: Ninja Warrior by Maureen McGowan (150)
33. Sleeping Beauty Vampire Slayer by Maureen McGowan (150)
34. Rage (The Horseman of the Apocalypse: The Rider's Quartet #2) by Jackie Kessler (213)
35. OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy (256)
36. Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson (304)
37. Divergent by Veronica Roth (487)
38. Undercurrent (Siren #2) by Tricia Rayburn (352)
39. Wildefire by Karsten Knight (393)
40. Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey (352)
41. Witches of East End by Melissa de la cruz (272)
42. Bumped by Megan McCafferty (336)
43. Delirium by Lauren Oliver (441)
44. Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly (449)
45. Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky (320)
46. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (309)
47. The 39 Clues: Vesper's Rising Book 11 by Rick Riordan, Peter Lerangis, Gordon Korman and Jude Watson (240)
48. The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers: The Medusa Plot Book 1 by Gordon Korman (224)
49. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab (288)
50. Calli by Jessica Lee Anderson (198)
51. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling (341)
52. Beyond the Grave (Past Midnight #3) by Mara Purnhagen (256)
53. Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut (174) -- out of order, forget what month it belongs in!
54. Everblue by Brenda Pandos (304)
55. Between by Jessica Warman (447)
56. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (450)
57. The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch (288)
58. The House of Dead Maids by Clare B Dunkle (146)
59. Skyship Academy: The Pearl Wars by Nick James (384)
60. Between The Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore (240)
61. After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel (320)
62. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard (286)
63. Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan (307)
64. Alison Wonderland by Helen Smith (189)
65. Fury by Elizabeth Miles (330)
66. Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout (281)
67. Reasons to be Happy by Katrina Kittle (277)
68. The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa (361)
69. Flyaway by Helen Landalf (176)
70. On A Dark Wing by Jordan Dane (384)
71. The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison (336)
72. Floors by Patrick Carman (272)
73. The Book Of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman (448)
74. Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick (352)
75. Cinder by Marissa Meyer (400)
76. Shatter Me (342)
77. The Springsweet by Saundra Mitchell (288)
78. Bleeding Hearts by Alyxandra Harvey (304)
79. Dearly Departed by Lia Habel (470)
80. The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg (400)
81. Eve by Anna Carey (336)
82. Red Moon Rising by Peter Moore (336)
83. Bleeding Violet by Alyxandra Harvey (304)
84. Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout (266)
85. Enclave by Ann Aguirre (259)
86. Embrace by Jessica Shirvington (368)

Short Stories (number of pages)
1. The New World by Patrick Ness (about 24)
2. Beasts and BFF's by Shannon Delany (about 12)
3. Cotton Candy Skies by Melissa Marr (9)
4. Raising the Dead (Past Midnight #1.5) by Mara Purnhagen (84)
5. Turned at Dark (Shadow Hills #0.5) by C.C. Hunter (71)
6. Hare Moon (The Forest of Hands and Teeth #0.5) by Carrie Ryan (27)
7. Giovanni's Farewell by Claudia Gray (from Entralled anthology) (26)
8. Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan (from Entralled anthology) (28)
9. Dream Dark by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (45)

Books In Verse (number of pages)
1. Family by Micol Ostow (376)
2. Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe (458)
3. May B. by Carolin Starr Rose (240)
4. Impluse by Ellen Hopkins (666)

Mixed Media (number of pages)
1. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick (608)
2. Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (352)
3. The Raven (Skeleton Creek #4) by Patrick Carman (240)
4. Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Carral (272)

Manga
01. Spirited Away Vol 1 by Hayao Miyazaki
02. Spirited Away Vol 2 by Hayao Miyazaki
03. Spirited Away Vol 3 by Hayao Miyazaki
04. Spirited Away Vol 4 by Hayao Miyazaki
05. Spirited Away Vol 5 by Hayao Miyazaki
06. Maximum Ride The Manga Vol 1 by James Patterson
07. Maximum Ride The Manga Vol 2 by James Patterson
08. Maximum Ride The Manga Vol 3 by James Patterson
09. Daniel X The Manga Vol 1 by James Patterson
10. Laddertop Vol 1 by Orson Scott Card and Emily Janice Card
11. Daniel X The Manga Vol 2 by James Patterson

Graphic Novels
1. The First Escape (The Dopple Ganger Chronicles #1) by G.P. Taylor
2. The Secret of Indigo Moon (The Dopple Ganger Chronicles #2) by G.P. Taylor
3. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies The Graphic Novel by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
4. Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident The Graphic Novel by Eoin Colfer
5. The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby by George Beard and Harold Hutchins
6. The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby 2: The Invasion of the Potty Snatchers by George Beard and Harold
7. Serenity Vol 3: The Shepard's Tale
8. Witch and Wizard Battle for Shadowland by James Patterson
9. The Flying Beaver Brothers and The Evil Penquin Plan by Maxwell Eaton III

Chapter Books (number of pages)
1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (224)
2. Captain Awesome to the Rescue by Stan Kirby, Illustrated by George O'Connor (128)
3. Heidi Heckelbeck Has A Secret by Wanda Coven, Illustrated by Priscilla Burris (128)
4. Sally's Bones by MacKenzie Cadenhead
5. The Warrior Sheep Go West by Christine and Christopher Russell
6. Clara Lee and The Apple Pie Dream by Jenny Han (160)

Picture Books
1. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
2. A Pocket Full of Kisses by Audrey Penn
3. A Kiss Goodbye by Audrey Penn
4. Chester Raccoon and The Big Bad Bully by Audrey Penn
5. A Bedtime Kiss for Chester Raccoon by Audrey Penn
6. Scooped by Kevin and Rebecca Kelly

Audio Books (number of hours)
1. Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (16 hours)
2. The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillio (3 hours)
3. The Ask and The Answer by Patrick Ness (13 hours)
4. The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan (11 hours)
5. Graceling by Kristin Cashore (12 hours)
6. The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff (10 hours)
7. The Dark and Hallow Places by Carrie Ryan (11 hours)
8. The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge (16 hours)

TOTALS:
Books: 85
Short Stories: 18
Books In Verse: 4
Mixed Media: 4
Children's Chapter: 6
PAGES: 30624
Manga: 11
Graphic Novels: 9
Picture: 6
Audio 8
HOURS: 92

GRAND TOTAL: 127

2012 Debut Author Challenge

2012-01-01T17:38:00.000-05:00

This post will be updated through out the year as I read and discover debut authors :)

Debut Author Challenges are held every year by The Story Siren and I personally think it's a great way to introduce yourself to new authors. And man on man - there are a TON of them in 2012! My list is huge! And I've already managed to sneak read a few in in 2011 (which don't 'officially' count for the challenge ;)

*To sign up yourself, visit The Story Siren HERE

*There is also a fabulous Goodreads List (but be careful because anyone can add to it. Folks will be checking it but I encourage you to do your own research if you are unsure on a particular book)

*I've tagged debuts in Goodreads as well so if you want to follow my list / reviews you can do so HERE (but be careful because I can add to it - hehehe...seriously though, it's my personal list so it's pretty accurate - and if you do see a mistake, please let me know!)

And finally! There is my MASSIVE LIST! A year long work in progress - with pictures!
It's pretty sad looking at the moment but should get spiffed up soon!

2012 Debut Authors - Books Read

(read in 2011 - don't count for the challenge but count as books because ALL BOOKS COUNT! :)

THE BUTTERFLY CLUES by Kate Ellison
MAY B. by Carolin Starr Rose
CINDER by Marissa Meyer
THE CATASTROPHIC HISTORY OF YOU AND ME by Jess Rothenberg
EMBRACE by Jessica Shirvington

Books read in 2012 - I'm aiming for at least 20
01.

In My Mailbox - December 31, 2011

2011-12-31T11:05:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren :)

Last Mailbox of 2011!

Woo hoo!!!

No vlog this week - although we didn't get buried in snow this year I still feel like I'm digging out of a storm. My house is mess and you do not want to look at my ugly mug right now ;)

For Review:
Gun Games by Faye Kellerman
Archon by Sabrina Benulis
Hailey Twitch and The Wedding Glitch by Lauren Barnholdt
Graveminder by Melissa Marr

Gift:
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness -- my family managed to get me a book I didn't have! hehe

Bought:
39 Clues Cahills vs Vespers Book Two A King's Ransom by Jude Watson

So, what's in your mailbox? Leave links!
Happy Reading everyone!

Pure and Angelina's Secret Giveaway

2011-12-26T07:00:00.001-05:00

After Christmas Happy Holidays Giveaway :)

I have 2 wonderful books from Spencer Hill Press to give away today!

ARC of Pure (Covenant #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout - April 2012

ARC of Angelina's Secret by Lisa Rogers - February 2012

DETAILS
*2 Winners, US only, 18 years or older
*Ends January 2, 2012 11:59pm
*Fill out the form to enter :)

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Happy Christmas Eve Eve :)

2011-12-23T07:00:00.002-05:00

Happy day before the day before Christmas!

Or, Christmas Eve Eve :)

I'm just popping in to say that I will be away from my desk (and computer and INTERNET!) for a few days.

Christmas for me means New York and Family and Iavarone (aka The Best Christmas Dinner Ever!) and Presents under the tree for my little one and More Family and Lots and Lots of Smiles!

Hopefully this year it won't snow and I won't (a) get STUCK IN NY because of the fabulous job the city does NOT clearing the roads and (b) come home to EVEN MORE SNOW covering my pretty red house :)

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, I hope you all have a very good weekend!

Check back on Monday for a giveaway and I'll see you all sometime next week!

While I'm away, don't forget to SIGN UP FOR NETGALLEY JANUARY if you haven't already :)

Later gators!

Cover Reveal: The Chosen Ones by Tiffany Truit

2011-12-22T00:01:00.002-05:00

The Chosen Ones (The Lost Souls #1) by Tiffany Truit

Spring 2012 from Entangled Publishing

What if you were mankind’s last chance at survival?

Sixteen-year-old Tess lives in a compound in what was once the Western United States, now decimated after a devastating fourth World War. But long before that, life as we knew it had been irrevocably changed, as women mysteriously lost the ability to bring forth life. Faced with the extinction of the human race, the government began the Council of Creators, meant to search out alternative methods of creating life. The resulting artificial human beings, or Chosen Ones, were extraordinarily beautiful, unbelievably strong, and unabashedly deadly.

Life is bleak, but uncomplicated for Tess as she follows the rigid rules of her dystopian society, until the day she begins work at Templeton, the training facility for newly created Chosen Ones. There, she meets James, a Chosen One whose odd love of music and reading rivals only her own. The attraction between the two is immediate in its intensity—and overwhelming in its danger.

But there is more to the goings-on at Templeton than Tess ever knew, and as the veil is lifted from her eyes, she uncovers a dark underground movement bent not on taking down the Chosen Ones, but the Council itself. Will Tess be able to stand up to those who would oppress her, even if it means giving up the only happiness in her life.

Goodreads / Entangled

I absolutly love it!
What do you guys think?

I declare January to be NetGalley Month - Sign Up Now :)

2011-12-20T20:21:00.005-05:00

Happy New Year!

Ok, so I'm a few weeks off ;)

BUT, what I am in time for is Red House Book's 4th NetGalley Month Read-A-Thon!

Between January 1st and January 31st, I challenge you to read as many NetGalley books as you possibly can!

NetGalley October was a ton of fun and for January I've taken into account some participant suggestions:
*I'm using a linky tool for people to sign up with -- lets us all see and hopefully visit each other over the course of the month

*A Twitter hashtag? THERE IS ONE! It's #NetGalleyMonth and you can use it anytime you tweet about your NetGalley reads in January. I'll be checking the feed just about every night and hopefully crashing a few conversations ;)

A few of you also made some suggestions or requests regarding access to NetGalley titles. I just want to make clear that I have no affiliation with NetGalley and your participation in my read-a-thons in no way affects your personal NetGalley approvals. I'm doing this just for fun! If you're a NetGalley member, I'm sure there is at least 1 or 2 (or 10 or 20) titles you've already been approved for that need some love :)

For old and new participants alike, Greetings and Welcome!

The 'rules' are really simple:

1. Declare yourself!

Write up a post, share it on Facebook, Tweet, sky writing, carrier pigeons...Somehow, let the world know you're participating and link it up below.

2. Read NetGalley books in January!

And tell us about them in February :)

Any questions, let me know! (email: WilowRaven@gmail.com OR tweet me @WilowRedHouse)

**UPDATE**

Thanks to Sarah from Workaday Reads, NetGalley January now has a wonderful button!

Sarah created NetGalley October's button and once again, she has done a fabulous job.

I've included the code in case you want to add it to your site as well.

THANK YOU SARAH!!

Use the linky below to DECLARE YOURSELF!
*The URL link should be a direct link to your declaration post OR just your blog if you haven't written up a post yet OR some other place to find you online (if you have none of these, email me and we'll work something out)
If you link just your blog but do write up a post later, let me know and I can edit your link
*Name should be something like Emily @ Red House Books or Emily's Twitter -- some way for everyone to know who you are :)
*Your email will only ever be seen by me!

10 Harper TEEN e-Books for $10!

2011-12-20T09:06:00.000-05:00

You might have seen this around the interwebs already but I can't help my urge to share!

10 e-Books from HarperCollins / HarperTeen for $10

I've already read a few and I bought a few others :)

I'm pretty sure the prices are only good for Kindle and Nook but I'll update if I hear otherwise

Bumped by Megan McCafferty

Kindle / Nook

Entwined by Heather Dixon

Kindle / Nook

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Kindle / Nook

Lucky by Rachel Vail

Kindle / Nook

The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood

Kindle / Nook

Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

Kindle / Nook

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Kindle / Nook

The Unidentified by Rae Mariz

Kindle / Nook

Vesper by Jeff Sampson

Kindle / Nook

Withering Tights by Louise Rennison

Kindle / Nook

Blog Tour: On A Dark Wing hosted by YA Bound

2011-12-19T10:00:00.002-05:00

I am a huge fan of Jordan Dane's so I am supper excited to help get this blog tour started!

In my excitement over On A Dark Wing, I actually posted my review early, so, sorry if this is the second time you're seeing it!

The tour runs from today, December 19th until January 2nd - with over 40 blogs participating!

Ten of these blogs will be hosting giveaways for copies of On a Dark Wing with winners being announced on a live chat with Jordan Dane on January 5 at 7pm EDT.

Also - Jordan is giving away a Kindle Fire to one lucky person!!

Visit YA Bound for all the details :)

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: December 2011
Pages: 384
Series: no
Acquisition: NetGalley

Summary:

"The choices I had made led to the moment when fate took over. I would learn a lesson I wasn’t prepared for.

And Death would be my willing teacher."

Five years ago Abbey Chandler cheated Death. She survived a horrific car accident, but her lucky break came at the expense of her mother’s life and changed everything. After she crossed paths with Death—by taking the hand of an ethereal boy made of clouds and sky—she would never be normal again.

Now she’s the target of Death’s Ravens and an innocent boy’s life is on the line. When Nate Holden—Abbey’s secret crush—starts to climb Alaska’s Denali, the Angel of Death is with him because of her.

Abbey finds out the hard way that Death never forgets. (from Goodreads)

I was: Captivated by the exploration of the human capacity for love and it's effect on Death himself.

My thoughts:
On A Dark Wing plays out pretty much the way it's synopsis reads however, I suspect, that like me, you'll be surprised and fascinated with the depth and emotion of this story. I wasn't sure what to think going into it. Stories around Death as a main character are usually really great or really bad for me. I guess I have my own notions on how Death should be portrayed. I was more then happy to realize that Jordan must have gotten into my head at some point because her Death? Pretty much spot on.

Loved Tanner! He is sweet and genuine and he really would do anything for Abby and sure, he might be a tad unrealistic but that's what I love about him. More boys (in books and real life) should act like him!

It took me a little while to warm up to Abby. I couldn't believe some of the things she did, or thought. I guess some of it could be classified as typical teenage behavior but sometimes I really wanted to yell at her. She does figure it all out though - and I don't know if I would have been able to do that.

Final verdict:
On A Dark Wing was a unique read for me. I love paranormal tales but sometimes they can be a bit heavy. The elements of the fantastic in this book were realistic to me. No complicated 'you aren't what you think you are' revelations. Death is a constant in everyone's life and whether you view it has a concept or as conscience being, it isn't too far fetched to believe that depth of human emotion could have an effect on 'him'.

My second Jordan Dane book, and defiantly not my last.

Overall Rating:

5 / 5 Stars

Linkage Love:
Harlequin Teen
Author's Website
Goodreads
IndieBound

FREE e-Book Alert

2011-12-19T07:00:00.002-05:00

Tortured (Birthmarked #1.5) by Carah M. O'Brien

A bridge story set between Book 1, Birthmarked and Book 2, Prized

Also includes a teaser chapter of Prized

**contains spoilers if you haven't read Birthmarked!**

Kindle / Nook / Sony / Kobo / Roaring Brook Press

Also available from iBooks for your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch

In My Mailbox - December 17, 2012

2011-12-17T13:49:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren :)

Vlog in which you can see my mad editing skills in action! Seriously, it's not the greatest but I'm proud of it! Let me know what you think!

Links are to Goodreads :)

For Review:
Taft 2012: A Novelby Jason Heller - January 17, 2012

UnCONventional by various authors, edited by Kate Kaynak and Trisha Wooldridge - January 2012

Cinder by Marissa Meyer - January 3, 2012

The Magician's Apprentice by Kate Banks - August 7, 2012

All These Lives by Sarah Wylie - June 5, 2012

Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne - June 15, 2012

The Raft by S.A. Bodeen - August 12, 2012

Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama - August 21, 2012

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks - May 22, 2012

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth - May 8, 2012

So, what's in your mailbox?

Happy Book Birthday! The Onyx Talisman by Brenda Pandos

2011-12-16T07:00:00.001-05:00

I hope you'll all join me in

wishing Brenda a

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY!

Today, the 3rd and final installment of her Talisman series, The Onyx Talisman is being released in ebook form. (The physical book will be out in January)

Buy it now for your Kindle or Nook for only $3.99!

And for an added bonus, the Kindle version of Book 1 in the series, The Emerald Talisman, is currently FREE! (and only $.99 for Nook)

AND! For those who post reviews of The Onyx Talisman on Amazon and BandN before January 1st, Brenda is hosting a giveaway of a life-sized Onyx Talisman. Sign-ups are on her blog.

Say it with me now:

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY BRENDA :)

Brenda Pandos is the author of 2 series:

Talisman Series
The Emerald Talisman
(see my review)
The Sapphire Talisman
The Onyx Talisman

The Mer Tales Series
Everblue (see my reivew)
Evergreen - 2012

Places to stalk, I mean find her ;)

Goodreads / Website / Blog / Facebook

Giveaway: Audio Book of Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

2011-12-15T17:16:00.000-05:00

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

What if you were bound for a new world, about to pledge your life to someone you'd been promised to since birth, and one unexpected violent attack made survival—not love—the issue?
Out in the murky nebula lurks an unseen enemy: the New Horizon. On its way to populate a distant planet in the wake of Earth's collapse, the ship's crew has been unable to conceive a generation to continue its mission. They need young girls desperately, or their zealous leader's efforts will fail. Onboard their sister ship, the Empyrean, the unsuspecting families don't know an attack is being mounted that could claim the most important among them...
Fifteen-year-old Waverly is part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space; she was born on the Empyrean, and the large farming vessel is all she knows. Her concerns are those of any teenager—until Kieran Alden proposes to her. The handsome captain-to-be has everything Waverly could ever want in a husband, and with the pressure to start having children, everyone is sure he's the best choice. Except for Waverly, who wants more from life than marriage—and is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.
But when the Empyrean faces sudden attack by their assumed allies, they quickly find out that the enemies aren't all from the outside. (from Goodreads)

What a sneak peak of what you could win?
Play the clip below to get a taste!

CONTEST DETAILS:
*1 (one) US resident 18 and older will win a AUDIO BOOK copy of Glow by Kathleen Ryan
*Prize will be shipped by the publisher
*Contest ends on December 29, 2012 at 11:59pm EST
*Fill out the form below to enter :)
*Comment or email me if you have any questions! Thanks guys!

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

FREE e-Book Alert

2011-12-14T20:36:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow Is Today by Julie Cross

A short prequel to Julie's Tempest (January 17, 2012)

To get a sense of how time travel works in this world, Julie recommends reading the first four chapters of Tempest before reading Tomorrow is Today. (link is from Julie's blog)

Kindle / Nook / Sony / Kobo / St. Martin's Press

Also available from iBooks for your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch

On My Wishlist: January 2012 Debuts!

2011-12-14T07:18:00.000-05:00

On My Wishlist is hosted by Book Chick City :)

With a new year comes a new crop of fantastic debuts!

The Massive List 2012 is still under construction but if have a minute you should still check it out :)

Here is a taste of some January releases (and a late December one that snuck in :)

Living Violet by Jamie Reed
December 27, 2012 from Dafina
Goodreads / Website / IndieBound

He's persuasive, charming, and way too mysterious. And for Samara Marshall, her co-worker is everything she wants most--and everything she most fears. . .
Samara Marshall is determined to make the summer before her senior year the best ever. Her plan: enjoy downtime with friends and work to save up cash for her dream car. Summer romance is not on her to-do list, but uncovering the truth about her flirtatious co-worker, Caleb Baker, is. From the peculiar glow to his eyes to the unfortunate events that befall the girls who pine after him, Samara is the only one to sense danger behind his smile.
But Caleb's secrets are drawing Samara into a world where the laws of attraction are a means of survival. And as a sinister power closes in on those she loves, Samara must take a risk that will change her life forever. . .or consume it. (from Goodreads)

Tempest by Julie Cross
January 3, 2012 from St. Martin's Griffin
Goodreads / Website / IndieBound

The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.
That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.
Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.
But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.
Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world. (from Goodreads)

Fracture by Megan Miranda
January 17, 2012 from Walker Children's
Goodreads / Website / IndieBound

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine
-despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?
Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening? (from Goodreads)

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
January 31, 2012 from Katherine Tegen Books
Goodreads / Website / IndieBound

NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.
NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?
HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all? (from Goodreads)

In My Mailbox - December 10, 2011 - EPIC EDITION!

2011-12-10T11:14:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren :)

Guys! It's been FOREVER since I posted my mailbox! I've gotten tons of awesome books over the last month :)

First, you can watch my vlog...in which I talk and stuff...sorry...still sick...witty comments have fled...

Just watch the thing ok? :) hehehe

Awesomeness Mentioned! And there is a lot of it! With links and thanks and info and stuff!
Links are to Goodreads :)

For Review

Ringworld by Larry Niven Audiobook -- 1970's sci-fi classic!

The Thorn and The Blossom by Theodora Goss -- A two-sided love story bound up accordion-fold style. Can't wait to read this one!

Angelina's Secret by Lisa Rogers -- A 2012 debut!

Pure (Covenant #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout -- loved book 1, Half-Blood!

Big Thanks to Audiobook Jukebox, Eric + Quirk Books, Kate + Spencer Hill Press

Bought

Prized (Birthmarked #2) by Carah M. O'Brien -- loved loved loved book 1, Birthmarked

3:15 Season One: Things That Go Bump In The Night by Patrick Carman -- Middle Grade thriller, interactive wonderfulness! Love love love Patrick Carman!

The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4) by Julie Kagawa -- love this series! Final book with a great ending

Won from Nikki and Danielle's YA Spooktacular

Frost (Stork #2) by Wendy Delsol ARC-- A modern take on "The Snow Queen" by Hans Christian Andersen

Frost by Marianna Baer ARC-- A haunted boarding school tale with a psychological twist

Bitter Frost (Frost #1) by Kailin Gow
Forever Frost (Frost #2) by Kailin Gow -- A world filled with fairies that sounds a lot like Marr's Wicked Lovely series

R.A.K. (Random Acts of Kindness)

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern -- THANK YOU Michele!

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs ARC-- THANK YOU Briana!

BookMooch

Ashfall by Mike Mullin ARC -- Debut! Super-volcanic eruption! Love the cover!

Traded

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby ARC -- Contemporary Debut that sounds fabulous -- THANK YOU Margay!
Nora's Soul by Margay Leah Justice -- THANK YOU AGAIN Margay :)

Damage by Anya Parrish -- An imaginary friend who isn't so imaginary - creepy! -- THANK YOU Lindsay!

Whew! Didn't know if I'd make it through...now I need a nap :) I'm never waiting a month between IMM posts again!

So! What's in your mailbox! I really want to know :) Link it up in the comments.

Happy Reading everyone!

Cover Reveal: Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

2011-12-08T15:30:00.000-05:00

Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

March 1, 2012 from Sourcebooks Fire

It starts with a whisper.

“It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Strange dreams leave her with very real injuries and there’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms. The guy she thought she could fall in love with just told her he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her. And she keeps hearing a distant fluttering of wings.

Violet Eden is having a very bad 17th birthday.

But if angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…

Embrace Cover Shoot from Sourcebooks Inc on Vimeo.

Website / Facebook / Amazon / IndieBound

What do you guys think? Are you excited to read Embrace?

Book Review: On A Dark Wing by Jordan Dane

2011-12-07T07:55:00.001-05:00

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: December 2011
Pages: 384
Series: no
Acquisition: NetGalley

Summary:

"The choices I had made led to the moment when fate took over. I would learn a lesson I wasn’t prepared for.

And Death would be my willing teacher."

Abbey finds out the hard way that Death never forgets. (from Goodreads)

Overall Rating:

5 / 5 Stars

Linkage Love:
Harlequin Teen
Author's Website
Goodreads
IndieBound

Has technology changed the way you read?

2011-12-05T23:09:00.000-05:00

After probably frying my daughter's stereo tonight by leaving it too close to the humidifier, it took 2 grow adults half and hour to figure out how to sooth our precious (and particular) 5 year old to sleep. She needed her music and what should have been a simple task turned into an incredibly silly ordeal.

It got me thinking. What about all those times when you only had 1 option? I had a Walkman once. It broke and I upgraded to a portable CD player - which I had for years! I had a stereo system - with 2 tape decks thank you very much. It was the only one in the house. If anyone wanted to listen to music, they came to my room. My first car, didn't even come with a tape deck! If at any time, that one device broke - I was out of luck. No music for me that day. And you know what? Oh well.

So tonight, after running through every possible scenario of the seemingly simple task of getting music into my daughter's room it strikes me as very funny that after: dismissing the old 'boom box' (it doesn't always play CDs right) my work lap top (because I didn't feel like disconnecting it from it's external monitor), my other lap top (because, hello? I need that one tonight!), the old Mac in the bedroom (but what if we want to watch a movie before bed?) - my brain finally settled on the ancient lap top gathering dust under the dresser. No one needed that one tonight and it still works! Now...if I could only remember the password....

My daughter is finally asleep basking in the soft glow of a 10 year old Toshiba.

Really?

Now granted, my guy works in IT and sometimes it feels like our house is a place technology comes to die. But still. Think about it. How many things do you have in your house that do exactly the same thing? How many can openers? How many pairs of scissors? How many things that can make music happen? Or that you can watch a movie on?

Now think about how many ways you can read. Do you have a computer? More then one? What about a smart phone? iPod or iPad? Nook? Kindle? ACTUAL PAPER AND INK BOOKS?

Some of you may only have one or two of these things and a few years ago, I really didn't have any. I'm lucky in my life at the moment but sometimes I ask myself, how much is too much?

When I was younger and I wanted to read a book, I did just that, I went to my bookshelf and I picked up a book. No other option was ever available to me.

Today? I have to ask myself not only WHAT I want to read but HOW I want to read it. Did I put that NetGalley book on my iPad or my Nook? Did I start reading it on my computer at work? What about that short story I downloaded? Is it still on my phone?

How much time do I waste with these ridiculous 'problems'? More then I should.

Now, I feel that I work hard and when I do spend money on myself it's almost always book / reading or technology related. I just never thought that the two would be so very connected - at least in my life.

So I ask you, how has technology changed the way you read? Has it affected you at all?

I for one could never envision a world without hard copy books. Books you have to hold in your hand and open to read. Books make out of paper and ink. Digital just isn't the same. But it is here and it's hard to ignore at times.

In a lot of ways, technology has made my reading experiences better. On a very basic level, without technology, there wouldn't be book bloggers (or any bloggers for that matter). There wouldn't be this wonderful virtual community where we can all gather and share. So for that, I will always be grateful.

But sometimes? It's too much. And even in the end, if I do choose to pick up that paper and ink book, the journey to my bookcase now takes a little bit longer.

Cover Reveal: Onyx (Lux #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

2011-12-05T00:01:00.003-05:00

Book 1 in Jennifer L. Armentrout's, Lux series, Obsidian, releases tomorrow, December 6th

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Book Depository

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don’t kill him first, that is. (from Goodreads)

I personally believe the world needs more books about aliens :)

And if that wasn't enough to get your excited, check out the cover for book 2:

Onyx (Lux #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

May 2012 from Entangled Publishing

AND! How about a sneak peak at the official blurb....

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…

What do you guys think? Anyone planning on picking up Obsidian tomorrow?

Thank you so much Jennifer for sharing!

Book Review: Flyaway by Helen Landalf

2011-12-01T06:57:00.002-05:00

***2011 Debut Author***
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: December 2012
Pages: 182
Series: no
Acquisition: NetGalley

Summary:

Fifteen-year-old Stevie Calhoun is used to taking care of herself. But one night, her mom, who works as an exotic dancer in a downtown Seattle nightclub, never comes home.

That’s the night Stevie’s life turns upside down.

It’s the night that kicks off an extraordinary summer: the summer Stevie has to stay with her annoyingly perfect Aunt Mindy; the summer she learns to care for injured and abandoned birds; the summer she gets to know Alan, the meanest guy in high school.

But most of all, it’s the summer she finds out the truth about Mom.

FLYAWAY is the story of a teen girl’s struggle to hold on to what she’s always believed, even as her world spins out of control.(from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
Flyway is a dramatic contemporary story that I pretty much read in one sitting. It was very easy to get sucked into Stevie's life and story and it was very hard to push her to the side, even for a short time. She's a pretty demanding character. Full of issues and really not sure of herself at all, I found myself liking her, even though I really didn't want to.

Stevie has a life that nobody would want. Her mother is a drug addict and Stevie worships her. She would do anything for her mother and at times this was frustrating. She made excuses and she covered things up because all she wanted was to have her mother home. I wanted her to get mad, but she never did. I wanted her mother to have to pay for actions but that doesn't really happen either.

When it comes down to it, Flyway is about a young girl's struggle with addiction - even though it isn't her own. There is no real redemption for Stevie's mother but this isn't her story - it's Stevie's. We view everything through her eyes and even thought she fillers a lot of her life, it's hard not to feel for her in the end. I wanted to scream at her for her tolerance of her mother's behavior but at the same time, I wanted someone to be there to take care of her.

A really good read for me. I can't say I loved every character (Stevie's aunt got on my nerves) but I very much enjoyed the story as a whole. I'm not at all familiar with drug addiction and how it affects families so I can't speak to the accuracy of the scenarios but I can say that the depth of feeling that these characters experiences felt real to me.

Overall Rating:

4 / 5 Stars

Linkage Love:
Houghton Mifflin / Harcourt Children's
Author's Website
Goodreads
IndieBound

Book Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

2011-11-28T07:25:00.002-05:00

***2011 Debut Author***
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: November 2011
Pages: 346
Series: 1st in the Shatter Me series
Acquisition: BEA 2011

Summary:

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior. (from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
I really didn't know what to expect when I picked up Shatter Me. I've heard a lot of really great things about it from readers that I trust so I had some pretty high expectations. I'm not sure it quite filled all of them but I do have to say, Shatter Me was a fantastic read.

A dystopian world that didn't always follow the rules - A romance that I felt like I was walking into the middle of before it really got started - Characters that didn't fit any norm that I had a hard time making sense of. You would think these factors might make for a less then enjoyable read but you would be very wrong! Tahereh combined everything so perfectly, making for a seamless dystopian adventure story filled with characters you won't soon forget. Especially Adam! He's almost too good to be true.

So hard to actually classify this one. Dystopian, yes. But there is also something perhaps paranormal going on? Or maybe it's entirely normal but we just don't have all the pieces yet? I really just don't know! But I loved the journey of this book. I loved watching Juliette and I loved learning about her world with her.

Final verdict:
For a dystopian novel, Shatter Me is up there among my favorites. The romance felt true, with no clichés or love triangles. A lot of memorable characters and a world that has a lot more secrets to offer up. A fantastic debut!

Overall Rating:

5 / 5 Stars

Books in the Shatter Me Series:
Shatter Me
Untitled (2012)

Linkage Love:
HarperCollins
Author's Website
Goodreads
Facebook Page - READ THE FIRST CHAPTER!

Official Trailer:

Black Friday! My book giving recommendations :)

2011-11-25T07:00:00.001-05:00

Hello brave souls who face the crazy hoards of manic holiday shoppers on this holiest of retail days!

And yes, I am one of them!

Every year stores are opening earlier and earlier. I would never even think of shopping on Thanksgiving Day but Midnight usually works for me ;)

No matter when you shop this year, at least one person on your holiday gift giving list deserves a book! Or two! Or three! :)

Here are some of my recommendations for the book lovers in your life.

All are young adult books I've read this past year and absolutely loved!

Fantasy

Reckless by Cornelia Funke

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Between The Sea and The Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

Thriller

Escape From Furnance Series by Alexander Gordon

Sci-fi

Human .4 by Mike A. Lancaster

Across The Universe by Beth Revis

Skyship Academy by Nick James

Contemporary

The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner

Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe

Paranormal

Wildfire by Karsten Knight

Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Dystopian

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch

Is anyone getting books from you as gifts this year?

A Day To Be Thankful!

2011-11-24T07:01:00.001-05:00

For those of you that celebrate,

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am currently enjoying the comfort of my home town - visiting with friends and family and eating way too much food!

I'm thankful that I can enjoy this time with my loved ones and I'm hoping the same for you!

I am also currently in the land of little to no internet (the horror!)

I'll be back next week!

What are you thankful for today?

Have a safe and happy holiday!!

Book Review: Between The Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

2011-11-22T07:00:00.001-05:00

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: October 2011
Pages: 240
Series: no
Acquisition: NetGalley

Summary:

For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren--the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood--a dashing young man named Alander, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alander band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air. (from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
I picked up Between the Sea and Sky and literally couldn't put it down. A couple of hours later, I was done and I wished I weren't. I very easily got lost in the world of merfolk and winged folk. What a fabulous world this is! Humans and fanatical creatures living in a Victorian like time. Such a great fantasy setting!

I pretty much fell in love with Esmerine and Alander instantly. Each is such a unique character and each has such a complex background but when it really comes down to it, they want the same things most people do. They want to be loved and accepted. They want to be happy and thankful for what life has to offer. It was so wonderful watching these two discover the possibilities that their lives could offer them if they just gave it a chance.

I very much felt transported into Esmerine and Alander's world. A fantasy world yes, but one that also felt very real to me. Fantasy at it's best!

Like I said, I really couldn't put this book down! If you're a fan of Jaclyn or really just a fan of fantasy, you'll love Between the Sea and Sky as much as I did, I'm sure!

Overall Rating:

5 / 5 Stars

Linkage Love
Bloomsbury
Author's Website
Goodreads
IndieBound

On My Wishlist: January 2012 Debut Authors

2011-11-19T08:01:00.000-05:00

On My Wishlist is hosted by Book Chick City :)

With the new year fast approaching, it's almost time for a whole new crop of fantastic debuts!

The Massive List 2012 is still under construction

(*but you should still check it for the pretty pictures*)

Here is a taste of some January releases that are currently on my wishlist:

Shadow's Edge by Maureen Lipinski
January 8, 2012 from Flux
Goodreads / Website / IndieBound

Sixteen-year-old Leah Spencer didn't mind being a natural-born Shaman to the Créatúir. Until she broke Rule #1 and traveled to the Other Realm, where she quickly lost time. Like, a whole year of time. She missed out on everything—holidays, school, her sixteenth birthday, the boyfriend who ditched her. So Leah swore to leave all things magical behind her and lead the life of a normal high school girl.
But when a mysterious dark force starts offing the Créatúir, both Light and Dark, Leah must choose between her new life and "getting all CSI" on the Other Realm murder spree. With the help of her three sisters (each with their own magical gift), and three gorgeous guys—who may or may not be part of the evil magic—Leah must vanquish an ancient dark force that is connected to her family in unimaginable ways. (from Goodreads)

Cracked by K.M. Walton
January 3, 2012 from Simon Pulse
Goodreads / Website / IndieBound

Sometimes there's no easy way out.
Victor hates his life. He has no friends, gets beaten up at school, and his parents are always criticizing him. Tired of feeling miserable, Victor takes a bottle of his mother's sleeping pills—only to wake up in the hospital.
Bull is angry, and takes all of his rage out on Victor. That makes him feel better, at least a little. But it doesn't stop Bull's grandfather from getting drunk and hitting him. So Bull tries to defend himself with a loaded gun.
When Victor and Bull end up as roommates in the same psych ward, there's no way to escape each other or their problems. Which means things are going to get worse—much worse—before they get better….(from Goodreads)

The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams
January 3, 2012 from Simon and Schuster
Goodreads / Twitter / IndieBound

Seraphina’s first love made her immortal…her second might get her killed. After spending six hundred years on earth, Seraphina Ames has seen it all. Eternal life provides her with the world’s riches, but at a very high price: innocent lives. Centuries ago, her boyfriend, Cyrus, discovered a method of alchemy that allows them to swap bodies with other humans, jumping from one vessel to the next, taking the human’s life in the process. No longer able to bear the guilt of what she’s done, Sera escapes from Cyrus and vows to never kill again.
Then sixteen-year-old Kailey Morgan gets into a horrific car accident right in front of her, and Sera accidentally takes over her body. For the first time, Sera finds herself enjoying the life of the person she’s inhabiting—and falls for the human boy who lives next door. But Cyrus will stop at nothing until she’s his again, and every moment she stays, she’s putting herself and the people she’s grown to care for in great danger. Will Sera have to give up the one thing that’s eluded her for centuries: true love? (from Goodreads)

The Book of Wonders by Jasmine Richards
January 17, 2012 from HarperCollins
Goodreads / Website / IndieBound

Magic, Djinn, Ogres, and Sorcerers. Thirteen-year-old Zardi loves to hear stories about fantastical beings, long banned from the kingdom of Arribitha. But anyone caught whispering of their powers will feel the rage of the sultan—a terrifying usurper who, even with his eyes closed, can see all.
When her own beloved sister is captured by the evil ruler, Zardi knows that she must go to any lengths to rescue her. Along with her best friend, Ridhan—a silver-haired, violet-eyed boy of mysterious origins—and an unlikely crew of sailors led by the infamous Captain Sinbad, Zardi ventures forth into strange and wondrous territory with a seemingly impossible mission: to bring magic back to Arribitha and defeat the sultan once and for all. (from Goodreads)

Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
January 3, 2012 from HarperCollins
Goodreads / Website / IndieBound

Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction.
As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions.
They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers a barbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY. (from Goodreads)

Everneath by Brodi Ashton
January 4, 2012 from Balzer and Bray
Goodreads / Website / IndieBound

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.
She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.
Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.
As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's... (from Goodreads)

Book Review: Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

2011-11-17T07:36:00.000-05:00

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: September 2011
Pages: 307
Series: 1st in the Sky Chasers Series
Acquisition: BEA 2011

Summary:

If a violent battle destroyed the only world you’ve ever known, would you be brave enough to save who was left? Would love be strong enough to survive the fight? Either way, there’s no turning back.

The Empyrean is the only home 15-year-old Waverly has ever known. Part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space, she and her boyfriend Kieran will be pioneers of New Earth. Waverly knows she must marry young in order to have children who can carry on the mission, and Kieran, the handsome captain-to-be, has everything Waverly could want in a husband. Everyone is sure he’s the best choice. Still, there’s a part of Waverly that wants more from life than marriage, and she is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.

Suddenly, Waverly’s dreams are interrupted by the inconceivable – a violent betrayal by the Empyrean's sister ship, the New Horizon. The New Horizon’s leaders are desperate to populate the new planet first, and will do anything to get what they need: young girls. In one pivotal moment, Waverly and Kieran are separated, and find themselves at the helm of dangerous missions, where every move has potentially devastating consequences, and decisions of the heart may lead to disaster. (from publisher's website)

My thoughts:
There were a lot of aspects to Glow that I really found intriguing. Space travel has always fascinated me and the well used plot is always one I seem to gravitate towards. Humans taking to the stars in search of a new Earth - a new home where the human race can survive and thrive and begin again. Doesn't matter how many authors tell this tale, I'm always draw in. So Glow had that going for it with me.

The dual aspect POV was interesting but it didn't switch around enough for me. Too many chapters focused on one set of characters had me forgetting what the other set was doing and the timeline of the entire book was thrown all out of whack. I also never got a clear view on exactly what the ships looked like so the movements of the characters sometimes didn't seem to make any sense.

The characters themselves were enjoyable. All seemed pretty flawed from the start and when the trouble begins, these flaws served as catalysts. The way the characters interacted with each other, especially the boys, was a little predictable though and a lot of actions seemed inconsistent.

Overall, I can't say that I enjoyed the last 1/4 of the book. There was this underlying religious / God aspect running through the entire book but it took a strange turn. I got the feeling that I was suppose to agree with and feel sorry for a character that really did some horrible things to his 'friends'. Waverly's reactions at the very very end were so out of line in my opinion that I lost a little respect for her.

So I can't say that I loved this book but I am glad I read it. Loved the space travel and the dystopian feel but never really connected to any of the characters. An ok read for me.

Final verdict:
I can only assume by the ending, or really the lack of ending, that this is going to be the first book in a series. I wish more loose ends had been tied up in Glow and I wish it was a standalone book. I'm not sure if I'll pick up book 2 because even though I'm curious as to what happens to these characters I'm not really all that invested in their story. I don't know though.

A science fiction, young adult thriller that I couldn't help but compare to Across the Universe by Beth Revis while reading but without the same draw, for me at least. I would still recommend Glow to fans of sci-fi. There is a lot going on in this story and I hope my indifference doesn't turn you off because I do think there are a lot of people who will really enjoy this story.

Overall Rating:

3.5 / 5 Stars

Books in The Sky Chasers Series:
Glow
Spark (July 2012)

Linkage Love:
Macmillan / St. Martin's
Author's Website
Goodreads

Book Review: Fury by Elizabeth Miles

2011-11-15T06:59:00.002-05:00

***2011 Debut Author***
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: August 2011
Pages: 352
Series: 1st in The Fury Trilogy
Acquisition: BEA 2011

Summary:

It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...

Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better--the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend.

On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed.

In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay.

Em and Chase have been chosen.(from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
One of the things I loved best about Fury was the way in which the paranormal elements of the story were introduced. As a reader, I knew what was going on but the characters I was reading about didn't. I could scream at them all I wanted to 'not open that door' or to not 'run up those stairs' but in true horror movie fashion, they never listened. They were in the dark and even though their sleepy little Maine town was neck deep in some pretty freaky paranormal trouble, they never saw it coming.

The characters in Fury were interesting. Em is a pretty average high school girl - complete with flaws that most people, regardless of age, possess. We don't see much of Gabby, Em's best friend, even though she plays a huge part in what happens to Em. And the parts I did see of her, I didn't like much. It was hard to envision her and Em being as close as they say they are. But I could understand why they were friends. How they played off of each other and when it came down to it, they were there for each other. Zach is an ass and it got to me how neither Em or Gabby can see this about him. I also had some issues with what exactly happens (and doesn't happen) to him...but you'll have to read Fury for yourself to know what I'm talking about :)

There are a lot of other characters involved in the complex story behind the strangeness going on. I loved how every character has a purpose. Everyone was important and people were connected in ways that you didn't always see coming.

The entire concept of Fury was new and intriguing to me and once I really got into the story, I found it a hard book to put down. There were a bunch of unanswered questions for me and I'm really interested to find out what happens next.

Overall Rating:

4 / 5 Stars

Books in The Fury Trilogy:
Fury
Envy (Oct 2012)
Eternity (?)

Linkage Love:
Simon and Schuster / Simon Pulse
Author's Website
Goodreads

NetGalley October - Totals and WINNERS!

2011-11-13T22:46:00.001-05:00

NetGalley October was full of WIN!

Before I show you how much awesome actually took place, it's time to pick some winners!

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

Julie Witt (@jwitt33)

and

Marlene (Escape Reality, Read Fiction!)

You each have won $15 worth of books from The Book Depository!

Be sure to use the US site - http://www.bookdepository.com/ - and email me your choices at WilowRaven@gmail.com

Now - on to the totals!

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

NetGalley October Stats and Totals

A total of 70 people signed up to participate and in the end, 51 of the 70 checked back in with their totals + 3 others who hadn't initially signed up.

SO! The lists below represent the NetGalley October reading totals of 54 persons :)

TOP 3 MOST READ BOOKS FOR NETGALLEY OCTOBER
7 people read: Ashfall by Mike Mullin (with 1 other partial read) -- 3 people marked as their favorite read
8 people read: Eve by Anna Carey
9 people read: Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel (with 2 other partial reads) -- 5 people marked as their favorite read

The following titles were each read by 5 people:
Variant, The Iron Knight, Lord of the Abyss

The following titles were each read by 4 people:
You Are My Only, Tirs and Izzie, Touch of Power, The Butterfly Clues, Real Men Will, Lord of the Wolfyn

The following titles were each read by 3 people:
Until There Was You, The Juliet Spell,The Demon Lover, Jane Austen Made Me Do It, Fracture, Demons Like It Hot, Crave, Bad Boys Do, A Vampire for Christmas

The following titles were each read by 2 people:
A Midsummer Night's Sin, A Shot in the Dark, Avenger's Angel, Beauty and the Werewolf, Blood Rights, Brass and Bone, Cinder, Dark Eden, Darker Still, Ecstasy Untamed, Enticed by His Forgotten Lover, Franklin's Halloween, Graffiti Moon, How to Save a Life, If I Tell, In Session, Lord of the Vampires, Naomi's Gift: An Amish Christmas Story, Prized, Saving June, Seers, Steampunk!: An Anthology of Fantastically Rich and Strange Stories, Tempest, The Edinburgh Dead, The Kingdom of Childhood, The Merchant's Daughter, Touch, Turnabout's Fair Play

An additional 193 books were each read by 1 person

That adds up to a grand total 342 books read!

That is awesome!

And remember, I didn't hear back from everyone who signed up so I'm sure the actual numbers are much higher.

This post is a little long, so I'm going to end it here - I have a few more stats to share but I'll leave that for another day.

I huge huge thank you to everyone who participated!

NetGalley January is a go and I'm hoping to make it the best one yet!
If you would like a reminder in December - fill out my form and I'll email you.

Thanks again guys!!

What is a 'noreply-comment' and why is it important?

2011-11-13T12:37:00.000-05:00

**Everything below relates to Blogger blogs and profiles. Other blog platform may handle comments differently**

As most bloggers do, I adore comments on my posts. I'm proud of my blog and I work hard at it and when people comment, it makes me happy :)

I use Blogger and I have all comments emailed to me. I love this because I'm always checking my email and I know right away when someone has stopped by.

Another cool feature to having your comments emailed to you is being able to reply back via email.

What makes me sad and often a little frustrated, is when I receive a comment and I really want to respond back and maybe even a question has been asked that I would very much like to answer. So, I move my little mouse pointer up and get ready to click on that wonderful 'Reply' button and this is what I see...

What is this noreply-comment@blogger.com?

Basically, when you comment with your Blogger account - meaning you signed in via Google to make your comment - your account is now linked to your comment.

Depending on how you set up your account, when you comment on blogs, your email address either WILL or WILL NOT appear.

On my end, as a blog owner, I'll either see your email address - (WilowRaven@yahoo.com) OR I'll see Blogger's default email address (noreply-comment@blogger.com)

Your email won't appear on your comment, but it will (or will not) appear as the Sender on comment relayed emails.

SO! Why is this important?

You may, for reasons your own, wish to remain as anonymous as you possibly can in an on-line environment. You don't have a blog yourself and / or you don't want people to ever be able to contact you for any reason and your Blogger Profile only has the barest of information on it. And you know, that's fine!

BUT! Don't most of you want people to be able to contact you?

It is my belief that a lot of people don't realize their account is set up to NOT SHOW their email address.

Here is an easy way to find out - and change it if you wish! (please?)

1. Log into your account and view your Dashboard (here's mine with some info blanked out for privacy reasons)

*I'm using the old Blogger interface - if you updated to the new one, you can easily switch back - it's a little easier that way*

2. Click on Edit Profile

3. Click on the box next to "Show My Email Address" and set an email address - it can be any email address you want. So if you're worried about privacy - create a new email account for yourself and use that one. OR, if you're a blogger, use the one on your contact page so all bloggy related things are all in once place :)

4. Scroll down, save your settings and - DONE!

Now when you comment, blog owners will see:

And all will be right with the world!
Ok, maybe not ALL but I know, I'll be a lot happier :)

Hope this makes sense to everyone and I hope it's at least a little helpful.

Let me know if you have any questions! AND if you do have your account set to not show your email address on purpose, I'm curious to know why, so let me know :)

Thanks guys!

Book Review: Reasons to be Happy by Katrina Kittle

2011-11-10T07:08:00.000-05:00

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: October 2011
Pages: 224
Series: no
Acquisition: received for review

Summary:

Hannah's parents are glamorous Hollywood royalty, and sometimes she feels like the ugly duckling in a family of swans. After her mother's tragic death, Hannah's grief is compounded by her desperate need to live up to her mother's image. She tries to control her weight through Bulimia, and her devastated father is too distracted to notice. The secret of her eating disorder weighs heavily on Hannah, but the new eighth grade Beverly Hills clique she's befriended only reinforces her desire to be beautiful. The only one who seems to notice, or care, that something is wrong is Jasper, the quirky mistfit. (from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
A contemporary story about a girl grieving for her mother's death and her father's indifference. She turns to food as a way to coping. She finds friends in unlikely places and after a lot of struggles, she also finds herself. A good read, but not as heartwarming as I had hoped.

Hannah's mother and father are movie stars. Their faces are all over billboards and on the sides of buses. But her mom has cancer and dies a few chapters into the book. Her father looses it and becomes a Hollywood statistic - he drinks and he looses movies deals and he winds up in jail and then rehab. At the same time, Hannah develops an eating disorder. She steals food from her elite, perfect private school - complete with kids way to rich for their own good, security to fend off the paparazzi and of course, the poor charity, scholarship kid. She eventually goes to Africa to help her aunt film another award winning documentary about starving orphans. And in the end everything falls into place.

My main issue with Reasons to be Happy was its extremely unrealistic setting. Eating disorders are very serious and Hannah's experiences are no exception. What was exceptional was her life in general. Her parents are famous, she's rich, she's never had to really worry about anything in life, she goes to Africa which helps heal her, making life long friends along the way and reconnecting with her father who also gets his life back on track and gets nominated for an Emmy. Not a whole lot there to relate to.

I did really enjoy Hannah's reasons to be happy list. She finds joy in the simplest of things. So although, I really couldn't relate to her outward life, I did fell a connection to her secret inner most thoughts, wishes, hopes and dreams.

An ok read for me. Readers who are more in tune with and bigger fans of contemporary YA would probably enjoy this one better then I did. I wouldn't hesitate to read another book by Katrina as I did really enjoy the writing and style of Reasons to be Happy. It's actually inspired me to stat my own reasons to be happy list.

Overall Rating:

3 / 5 Stars

Linkage Love:
Sourcebooks
Author's Website
Goodreads

NetGalley October - MY TOTALS :)

2011-11-09T21:52:00.000-05:00

Almost all of you have reported back in with your NetGalley reads for October

Woo hoo!

I'm holding out for a few more days and then I'll post the massive list of books read and I'll pick giveaway winners!

SO! If you haven't already - now's the time to check in!

In the mean time, I thought you all might want to see what I read last month.

I basically read nothing but NetGalley books for all of October and I was really able to catch up.

I started out with my Nook but found that reading on my iPad wasn't as hard on my eyes as I thought it would be.

Ok, here we go!

The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4) by Julie Kagawa

Flyaway by Helen Landalf

On A Dark Wing by Jordan Dane

The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison

The Flying Beaver Brothers and The Evil Penguin Plan by Maxwell Eaton III

The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman

Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick

May B. by Carolin Starr Rose

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

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

I tried a few new things in October - most of them behind the scences but I've been getting tons of feedback about what you guys want for January!

October participants have been given the option of receiving a NETGALLEY JANUARY EMAIL REMINDER from me. If you didn't participate in October but want to in January and would like an email reminder as well then please

FILL OUT THIS FORM!

I never share and I'll only be contacting you one time! I'll also have the sign-up sheet ready in mid December to give you time to prepare.

Check back in a few days for October's totals and winners!
Thanks guys!

Book Review: Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

2011-11-08T07:00:00.002-05:00

***2011 Debut Author***

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: October 2011
Pages: 281
Series: 1st in the Covenant series
Acquisition: BEA 2011

Summary:

The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden.Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck. (from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
Half-Blood is a book I wish I had had the time to read in one sitting. I really did not want to put it down! Drawn into the story from page 1, I soon fell in love with the characters and really just could not get enough of the world Jennifer created. I'm writing this after just turning that last page and I wish I had book 2 in my hands already.

Paranormal elements that were new and fresh and a setting that felt very much real. You might be reminded of other paranormal YA books while reading Half-Blood - the boarding school like setting, the hidden family secrets, the ridiculously hot guy(s?) that aren't as out of reach as they should be - BUT - the story itself and the characters were very unique. I never felt like I was reading the same old thing and I was never bored with the story.

I was engaged as a reader and I fell for the characters very quickly. Nerve racking at times, not sure who's side I should be on, full of mystery and hidden meanings; rules that just beg to be broken and characters that you will not be able to stop thinking about, Half-Blood is a thrill ride of a tale that fans of YA paranormal romance will absolutely love!

Overall Rating:

5 / 5 Stars

Books in the Covenant Series:
0.5 Daimon
1.0 Half-Blood
2.0 Pure (April 2012)
3.0 Deity (November 2012)
4.0 Untitled (2013)

Linkage Love:
Spencer Hill Press
Author's Website
Goodreads

What book are you most grateful for?

2011-11-06T22:37:00.000-05:00

Whenever I'm asked what my all time favorite book is I always know what my answer will be. It's strange because although I remember the story well, if I had to write up a full review of the book, or even give a detailed account on why I like it so much, I would fall short.

The reason The Great Gatsby is the book I'm most grateful for starts long ago, in high school. Now, I have always been a very active reader. I have my parents to thank for that. I read for pleasure - everything and anything I could get my hands on. But when I started high school I was suddenly faced with reading deadlines. There were books I had to read and I had to read them now! I hated this and I found myself blaming the books. It wasn't until I was forced to read The Great Gatsby that I finally started to actually pay attention. There was a reason these books were being forced on us. I'm not saying I suddenly became a huge fan of every classic out there but I defiantly began to pay more attention to them. I no longer dismissed my required reading list and just another chore to get done and I have The Great Gatsby to thank for that!

So, what book are you most grateful for? Beth Revis wants to know and she's holding a fabulous contest to find out. Head on over to her site and find out how you can give thanks and enter to win some awesome books!

Random Acts of Kindness Wishlist

2011-11-06T12:14:00.000-05:00

Isalys and Vanessa from Book Soulmates have started something I think it pretty awesome. It's called Random Acts of Kindness or R.A.K. -- an awesome (did I say that already?) -- an AWESOME way to brighten a fellow book lovers day with a surprise gift.

As Isalys and Vanessa have said "There's nothing like the feeling you get when doing something thoughtful for another person without expecting something in return." I couldn't agree with them more!

Here are the rules:

• Sign up each month you'd like to participate in.

• Show off your participation! Grab one of the buttons available :)

• Create a wishlist and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.

{Post on your blog, Amazon, where ever as long as there's a link to it.}

• If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wishlist and contact that blogger for their address.

• At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K!

{Make a post saying 'Thank You' to whoever granted one of your wishes :)

Check out their blog for more information

Thanks Isalys and Vanessa for coming up with such a terrific idea!

For those participating in R.A.K. or looking to trade here is

MY R.A.K. WISHLIST

In no particular order :)

(last updated: 11/6/11)

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart
Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts
Bloodborn (Other #2) by Karen Kincy
Dark Angel by Eden Maguire
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
Envy by Gregg Olsen
Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs
Damage by Anya Parrish
Every You, Every Me by David Levithan
The Vision by Jen Nadol
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
I Am J by Cris Beam
Errant by Diana Peterfreund
Entwined by Heather Dixon
Moonglass by Jessi Kirby
Vesper by Jeff Sampson
Away by Teri Hall
Ghost Huntress #4 by Marley Gibson
Challenge (Wicked Lovely: Desert Tales #2) by Melissa Marr
Sea by Heidi Kling
So Many Boys (The Naughty List #2) by Suzanne Young
Crossing Over by Anna Kendall
The Secret of Ka by Christopher Pike
One Hundred Candles (Past Midnight #2) by Mara Purnhagen
Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia
Island Sting by Bonnie Doerr
Stakeout by Bonnie Doerr
Chime by Franny Billingsley
Fire by Kristin Cashore

More books are listed on my Goodreads Wishlist :)

In My Mailbox - October 5, 2011

2011-11-05T10:16:00.000-04:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren :)

3 weeks worth this time! Cause I've been a very lazy weekend blogger ;)

Vlog in which I am very sleepy but the BOOKS ARE AWESOME!

Links are to Goodreads

Traded with Shanyn from Chick Loves Lit
Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari - ARC - I've heard great things about this one!

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann - ARC - Love middle grade fantasy

I just now noticed that Shanyn included a bunch of bookmarks and postcards and stickers in the books :) So very awesome- THANK YOU SHANYN!

Bought from Amazon
The Hour of Dust and Ashes (Charlie Madigan #3)) by Kelly Gay - awesome awesome awesome UF series. ...and I just got totally sidetracked typing up this post because I started reading it....hehehe

Daniel X The Manga Vol 2 by James Patterson - read the first Vol and really loved it

Seizure (Virals #2) by Kathy Reichs - Love love love Kathy and book 1, Virals was fabulous

The Death Cure (Maze Runner #3) by James Dashner - 3rd and final book in the series. I cannot wait to see how it ends!

For Review
Beautiful Chaos (Caster Chronicles #3) by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl - OMG I love this series! Can't wait to get started on this one!

The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff - ARC November 15 from Razorbill

Big thank you to Big Honcho Media and Razorbill!

Other Awesomeness
A post card from Michelle Zink because she is the sweetest person ever!

Beautiful Creatures swag pack I won from @Figmentfiction

Big thank you to Michelle and Figment!

EXTRA EXTRA!!!

TRADE

I still have books to trade if anyone is interested :)

GIVEAWAY

There is still time to enter for a chance to win Beautiful Chaos

NETGALLEY OCTOBER

Is over :( But I still need your responses! Let us know what you read!!

Ok - done! :)
What's in your mailbox? Tell me! Tell me! :)

Happy reading everyone!

Can't wait to get my hands on...

2011-11-03T07:18:00.001-04:00

My little contribution to your ever growing wishlists and TBR piles :)

These 2 are both 2011 Debut Authors that I'm defiantly going to sneak out once they hit the shelves.

Are either of these on your wishlist? Let me know what you think!

Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts
November 1, 2011 from Simon and Schuster
(from Goodreads)

Since mankind began, civilizations have always fallen: the Romans, the Greeks, the Aztecs…Now it’s our turn. Huge earthquakes rock the world. Cities are destroyed. But something even more awful is happening. An ancient evil has been unleashed, turning everyday people into hunters, killers, crazies.

Mason's mother is dying after a terrible car accident. As he endures a last vigil at her hospital bed, his school is bombed and razed to the ground, and everyone he knows is killed. Aries survives an earthquake aftershock on a bus, and thinks the worst is over when a mysterious stranger pulls her out of the wreckage, but she’s about to discover a world changed forever. Clementine, the only survivor of an emergency town hall meeting that descends into murderous chaos, is on the run from savage strangers who used to be her friends and neighbors. And Michael witnesses a brutal road rage incident that is made much worse by the arrival of the police--who gun down the guilty party and then turn on the bystanding crowd.

Where do you go for justice when even the lawmakers have turned bad? These four teens are on the same road in a world gone mad. Struggling to survive, clinging on to love and meaning wherever it can be found, this is a journey into the heart of darkness – but also a journey to find each other and a place of safety.

Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey
December 8, 2011 from Penguin / Philomel
(from Goodreads)

A thrilling debut story of death, love, destiny and danger

Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries.

Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.

NetGalley October -- The End Has Arrived!

2011-11-01T00:01:00.001-04:00

Can you guys believe it? It's November 1st already!

I hope everyone had a wonderful October and I can't wait to see what yummy NetGalley books everyone read!

In the past I've asked you to post about your reads and leave me the link. This month, I've tried to make it a little easier by using a form. Feel free to post if you'd like though! You can leave the link in the comments.

More posts will follow including an easy links page to all things NetGalley at Red House Books, tallies of everyone's reads (including mine :) and our WINNERS (which will include July winners).

So!

What are you waiting for?

There is a form below with your name on it ;)

Any questions - ask in the comments or email me!

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What has you spooked?

2011-10-31T07:50:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween everyone!

Now, I'm not a seasonal reader - I don't search out books about Christmas in December or beach reads during the summer.

I do however enjoy a good scare and at this time of year, it's fun to remember past readings that had me spooked!

In honor of Halloween, I bring to you a sample of books I've read over the last year that got my blood boiling and perhaps lead me to sleep with the lights on!

Lockdown (Escape from Furnace #1) by Alexander Gordon Smith
Futuristic, dystopian world where the young have no say or control over what happens to them, especially after they are sent to Furnace. Gave me chills and ended on a great cliff hanger.
(full review)

Human .4 by Mike A. Lancaster
Technology brought to the extreme...and done right under our noses. What if you woke up one day and everything you thought was true about your world was shattered? This book freaks me out (in a good way!) if I think about it too much.
(full review)

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Pictures. Creepy picture of creepy things in creepy situations combined with a fantastic story that left me breathless. A book to read, close, and walk away from slowly...until it draws you in again and you can't help but look one more time.
(full review)

The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch
Creepy because it just feels so real! This could be our world and that terrifies me. Dystopian like it's meant to be - scary as hell.
(full review)

The House of Dead Maids by Clare B. Dunkle
That cover! I really can't look at it for very long. Fortunately, the story that goes along with it is equally creepy. Gets under your skin kind of creepy. Doesn't let you look away kind of creepy. Just the way I like it :)
(full review)

So, what spooky books have you read this year?

NetGalley October Twitter Chat Q&A

2011-10-30T15:06:00.000-04:00

A HUGE thank you to Lindsey for another wonderful NetGalley Month Twitter Chat on Friday!

Another HUGE thank you to everyone who joined in - I hope everyone had as much fun as I did.

Highlights of the chat:

Sharing of our favorite reads -- among them, The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker, Prized by Caragh O'Brien, Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison, Dearly Departed by Lia Habel, and The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

AND!

The announcement that NetGalley January is a go!

Lindsey and I have both committed to making it the best NetGalley Month yet!

I've collected our questions and Lindsey's answers below
(I think I got them all!)

Both questions and answers have been summarized and / or expanded on for clarity but please let me know if anything looks off.

October NetGalley Twitter Chat Questions and Answers

Q: Lindsey, is there a typical response time we could expect when submitting a request?
A: Great question, but tough to answer since each publisher and individual publicist is different. I would say generally publishers go through their requests at least once a week. But remember some publishers get TONS of requests (if it's a super popular title) so it can take longer than others.

Q: Will Review Organizations have opportunities to update stats with you from time to time?
A: YES! tell us your updated your stats anytime

Q: How would we go about updating our stats?
A: In your NetGalley Bio, you can update that info and if you're listed on our Review Organizations page, email us.

Q: Do publishers set their own guidelines for accepting requests?
A: Yes, publishers come up with their own requirements/guidelines for approving requests.

Q: Any chance publishers will start putting archive dates on their books?
A: Yes! We urge publishers to include archive dates in title description, and we hope to automate that more in future.
(A lot of us expressed our much we would love it if publishers started doing this! A few of us have had requests approved but then archived right away, giving us little time to download and read).
A: I know, we hate that and tell publishers not to approve right before archiving

Q: Lindsey - is it still true that Kindle books never expire?
A: Yes, NetGalley files that are sent to a Kindle device do not expire, due to Amazon's personal doc service. They (Amazon) apply their proprietary DRM to the files, which doesn't include an expiration date. It is not something NetGalley or the publishers can control.

Q: If a publisher sends a direct link to a book, does it have to go to the same email address as the one associated with your NetGalley account?
A: GREAT question. yes, if you get an auto-approved link for a title from a publisher, it's for that specific email address. If you have your NetGalley account set with a different email, reply and let them know so they can give you a new link. You can ALWAYS email us for help, too.

Q: Do publishers look at how many active requests you have outstanding when reviewing a request?
A: Publishers can see how many reviews you've submitted across all publishers, but not how many are pending.

Q: So, some publishers might take into account how many request you have made?
A: Not how many requests, but how many reviews you've submitted, how many approves/declines you got.

Q: Are there any common frustrations publishers have expressed with us reviewers/bloggers?
A: Publishers want to know that you're spreading the word about a title, not just reading for free. So remember to always send a notification of your review back to the publishers, and update your bio.

Q: Is there anyway we could let publishers know we are spreading the word aside from posting our reviews to NetGalley?
A: You can use the email publisher button to contact them, or tweet w/them, sure!

Q: Would publishers rather a negative review posted or a decline to review?
A: I can't answer for all publishers, best to ask them! Some might want you to post negative review, some might not.

Q: Will a 'negative' review affect future chances of getting approved? Up to pubs to decide?
A: Right, totally up to publisher to decide. Some feel that even a negative reviews can attract readers so it's always best to ask the publishers.

Q: What do publishers look for most for auto approval?
A: Usually publishers auto-approve people who they always approve-- it's a time saver for them, if that makes sense.

Q: Are the galleys finished copies?
A: Nope! Galleys are NOT finished copies--so ignore any typos, etc. most galleys have disclaimer at beginning...

Some Friendly Reminders from Lindsey:
Publishers want to work with you, so submit your reviews back to them and ask how you can promote more. For instance, ask if you can post the full size cover along with your review, interview the author, etc. - Just some ideas!
And remember - I'm always around to answer questions, so email or tweet me :)

For more questions and answers, check out NetGalley April and NetGalley July's Q and A transcript.

NetGalley Twitter Chat

2011-10-27T22:18:00.000-04:00

Hi guys!

Can you believe October is almost over!?

I hope everyone has had a fantastic NetGalley October (so far :)

I know I have!

But it's not over yet ;)

Join me and the Lovely Lindsey from NetGalley,

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28th at 5PM EST for a NETGALLEY MONTH TWITTER CHAT!!

Lindsey will answer any NetGalley question you have, we can all talk about the NetGalley books we've read this month and a good time will be had by all :)

I'll be using TweetChat to join along - this link: http://tweetchat.com/room/NetGalleyMonth should work for you as well but however you chose to join in be sure to use the hashtag #NetGalleyMonth when tweeting

If you have a question by don't think you can join in, leave it in the comments below and I'll ask Lindsey for you :)

I'll be posting a Q and A after the chat for those that missed it.

Hope to talk to you all soon!

YA Spooktacular!

2011-10-26T00:01:00.003-04:00

YA Spooktacular has come to Red House Books!

Hosted by Nikki of Wicked Awesome Books and Danielle of Frenzy of Noise, YA Spooktacular combines choose your own adventure stories AWESOME authors and TONS of fabulous prizes.

Today I have for you, a piece of story 2, Party Time, written by Heidi Kling

Heidi R. Kling writes young adult novels and contributes to anthologies about hot vampires, theatre geeks and Firsts. She blogs here about life, lattes and all things in between. WITCH'S BREW the first of ten-books in her SPELLSPINNERS OF MELAS COUNTY series debuts October, 2011, and is about an estranged witch and warlock fighting to save their magic, and their forbidden love. Her first book, SEA (Putnam,2010), Heidi's debut novel about the aftermath of the Indonesian tsunami was an IndieNext Pick, Goodreads Mover & Shaker, an International Teachers Association Best Pick of 2010 and a finalist for Northern California Independent Booksellers Book of the Year.
Find Heidi: Twitter / Blog / Goodreads
Buy her books: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

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

Party Time starts at Reading Teen so be sure to click over there if mine is the first piece of the story you've found!

Heidi Kling – Run to the garage

You do the only logical thing you can do. You dash outside to the garage. That must be where Michael is. His candle burned all the way down and whoever this psycho voice stalker guy is—he’s letting Michael burn.

You have to stop him.

You run, letting your thoughts wander momentarily into the humor zone and think: hope this a-hole is afraid of zombified French maids, because I’m looking pretty badass. There is no way you’re going to play damsel in distress and let your friends be killed by some nut job.

To complete the ensemble, you grab a weed-wacker from Dad’s tool shed, and light that sucker up. Its roaring zip rings through the night. As you stand there wielding it like whatshisname’s chainsaw, heart throbbing, pulse on fire, you feel energized. Until you hear Michael scream.

“I’m coming!” you yell. “Hang on!”

The garage door is locked. Quickly, you move an egg crate under the small, square window and bash in the glass with the handle of the weed-wacker. Glass shatters like dangerous snow, and you shield your face the best you can. Billows of smoke leak from the window. You heave yourself up.

....continue to the next part of the story at I Like These Books!

And make sure you visit Lisa M. Potts tomorrow to enter to win the prize pack for story 2!

AND! Make sure you visit Wicked Awesome Books or Frenzy of Noise on the 31st to enter the Grand Prize Giveaway for a ton of books and ton of swag!

My 'Treat'

Enter NOW for a chance to win a copy of Dick and Jane and Vampires

Open internationally, wherever The Book Depository ships.

FILL OUT THE FORM to enter.

Thanks guys!!

Book Review: The Iron Knight (The Iron Fey #4) by Julie Kagawa

2011-10-25T07:05:00.001-04:00

*** Spoiler Free***

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: October 2011
Pages: 386
Series: 4th and final in the Iron Fey Series
Acquisition: NetGalley

Summary:
See Goodreads Page

My thoughts:
A fantastic end to a fantastic series!

Told from Ash's point of view and I couldn't be happier. Honestly, Meghan is my least favorite character and the fact that we get Ash's voice and not hers? Loved this!

Have to say, I wasn't a huge fan of Ash before reading The Iron Knight but wow! It might have taken me longer to fall in love with him but man was it powerful! He's such a dynamic character and there is so much going on under his cold exterior.

Also - tons of Puck! I loved his interactions with Ash - such tension and raw emotion. And pretty much every time Puck opened his mouth with some wise ass remark I smiled. So, I was pretty much smiling throughout the entire book. Or trying not to cry. Or yelling in frustration. Or gasping in surprise. Seriously! My emotions were all over the place and it was great.

The Fey world that Julie has created is very much the faerie world I imagine in my head when I think of our Good Neighbors. It's very much real to me - not fantasy and I feel very much a part of every story and every character.

If you haven't had a chance to read The Iron Fey series, I highly recommend you start. Fantasy and faerie magic and lore mixed together perfectly with characters you'll be thinking about long after you turn that last page of that last book.

Just downright awesome :)

Overall Rating:

5 / 5 Stars

Books in The Iron Fey Series:
1.0 The Iron King (My Review)
1.5 Winter's Passage
2.0 The Iron Daughter (My Review)
3.0 The Iron Queen (My Review)
3.5 Summer's Crossing
4.0 The Iron Knight

Linkage Love:
Harlequin Teen
Author's Website

Contest! Win Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

2011-10-24T13:00:00.003-04:00

Beautiful Chaos, book 3 in the Caster Chronicles by Kami Garcia and Margaret Sthol

About the Books: Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending.
Ethan and Lena’s mesmerizing romance continues in the highly anticipated new Beautiful Creatures novel, on shelves now!

Check out the Beautiful Creatures website and if you haven't heard it already, you NEED TO listen to Sixteen Moons - I absolutely love this song :)

Giveaway Details:
*Two winners, 13 years and older, from the US will win a copy of Beautiful Chaos
*Contest ends November 7, 2011 at 11:59am EST
*Fill out the form below to enter

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Week 4 NetGalley October Tips: Submitting Your Review

2011-10-24T00:01:00.004-04:00

Welcome to Week 4 of NetGalley October!

Our last full week (can you believe it?!) of this month long read-a-thon.

Lindsey has given us lost of great tips so far and she has a few more to share.

Submitting Your Review

Now, you’ve read the title and you loved it. Or hated it. Either way, you did your part by writing a review and posting it on your blog or whatever other review outlet you use.

Remember, NetGalley members are under no obligation to finish reading a title or write a review—but it is strongly encouraged, and publishers will be more inclined to give you access to future titles if you review.

If you do choose to write a review, you can use NetGalley to send the review to the publisher. Your review is shared with the publisher as a courtesy — but the content and publishing rights for that review belong solely to you. NetGalley does not post or publish your review — instead, we are providing an “electronic tear-sheet.” Most publishers will appreciate if you also include a link or other information with the review that says where the review will be published. You can also use NetGalley to let the publisher know that you are declining to review.

Login to your account, go to MY REVIEWS, and press the pencil icon (“write”) to send your review to the publisher. Make sure to select the REVIEW COMPLETED button, include the link to your review, the date it was published, and anything else relevant. Then hit SAVE!

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

Have questions about Week 4's tips?

Comment below and I'll be sure to ask Lindsey THIS FRIDAY during our TWITTER CHAT!

All are welcome!

Begins at 5pm EST on this Friday the 28th.

Use the hashtag #NetGalleyMonth to join in

Haven't declared yourself yet?

Yes, there is still time to read at least 1 NetGalley book by the end of the month :)

DO IT NOW! :)

Missed past week's tips? Check them out:

Week 1: Registering and Filling Out Your NetGalley Bio

Week 2: Requesting and Getting Approved

Week 3: Downloading and Devices

On My Nook: eBook additions to my TBR pile

2011-10-20T22:45:00.000-04:00

I'm pretty good at including all the physical books in my In My Mailbox posts BUT I do a horrible job highlighting any e-books I might have gathered over the week.

These On My Nook posts are a way to try and rectify that!
I do feel the need to point out that MOST of these books are on my Nook - a few might be on my iPad or still sitting on my computer :)

Recently, from NetGalley (and for this first post, 'recently' really means the last 5 months or so!)

Deviantby Adrian McKinty - Abrams / Amulet Books -- October 1, 2011

Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz - HarlequinTEEN -- June 28, 2011

Flyaway by Helen Landalf - Houghton Mifflin / Harcourt -- December 19, 2011 *read - review to post soon*

Calli by Jessica Lee Anderson - Milkweed Edition -- September 6, 2011 *read - review to post soon*

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa - HarlequinTEEN -- October 25, 2011 *read - review to post soon*

The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe - Disney / Hyperion -- January 14, 2012

Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - Egmont USA -- December 27, 2011

Crave by Melissa Darnell - HarlequinTEEN -- October 25, 2011

Cinder by Marissa Meyer - Macmillian / Feiwel and Friends -- January 3, 2012

Dearly, Departed by Lisa Habel - Random House -- October 18, 2011

On a Dark Wing by Jordan Dane - HarlequinTEEN -- December 27, 2011 *read - review to post soon*

Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick - Lerner / Carolrhoda Lab -- February 1, 2012 (no cover yet)

The Wednesdays by Julie Bourbeau - Random House / Alfred A. Knopf -- August 14, 2012

Precious Bones by Mika Ashley-Hollinger - Random House / Delacorte -- May 8, 2012

The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman - Random House / Alfred A. Knopf -- April 4, 2012

May B. by Caroline Starr Rose - Random House / Schwartz and Wade -- January 1, 2012

Fracture by Megan Miranda - Walker -- January 1, 2012

Ashfall by Mike Mullin - Tanglewood -- October 14, 2011

The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison - Egmont USA -- February 4, 2012 *read - review to post soon*

Wherever You Go by Heather Davis - Houghton Mifflin / Harcourt -- November 14, 2011

Bought

Dream Dark by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl *read - review to come soon*

Book Review: Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly

2011-10-19T07:04:00.000-04:00

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: May 2011
Pages: 449
Series: 1st in the Angel trilogy
Acquisition: NetGalley

Summary:

Willow knows she’s different from other girls, and not just because she loves tinkering with cars. Willow has a gift. She can look into the future and know people’s dreams and hopes, their sorrows and regrets, just by touching them. She has no idea where this power comes from. But the assassin, Alex, does. Gorgeous, mysterious Alex knows more about Willow than Willow herself. He knows that her powers link to dark and dangerous forces, and that he’s one of the few humans left who can fight them. When Alex finds himself falling in love with his sworn enemy, he discovers that nothing is as it seems, least of all good and evil. In the first book in an action-packed, romantic trilogy, L..A. Weatherly sends readers on a thrill-ride of a road trip - and depicts the human race at the brink of a future as catastrophic as it is deceptively beautiful.

They’re out for your soul . . . and they don’t have heaven in mind. (from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
Angel Burn's take on angels is very different. They are paranormal creatures but not heavenly. They aren't from our world, at least I don't think they are, and the world they come from isn't explained very much. I don't really know what this world is but it's not heaven and God doesn't live there. And angels are really more like life-force sucking demons then harp playing embodiments of all that is good.

So! From the very beginning, Angel Burn, like I said, is different! I happen to like this. I liked the evil angels aspect, I liked the characters and I enjoyed the story.

The complete lack of mainstream thoughts on God or religion did confused me a little. There is no talk of heaven or God in Angel Burn and for a book focused solely around the existence of angels that was a little weird. And it's not like the term angel was given to these creatures and they are in fact something else paranormal. They are presented as being actual angels. The same angels that humans have been writing about and believing in forever.

Then there is the romance between Willow and Alex. Have to say - it wasn't what I expected. It actually wasn't love at first sight, I can't possibly live without you even though I just met you love. It was more then 300 pages into the book before they admitted to even liking each other. So, that was refreshing. But then, things progressed a little fast. I didn't mind because I really liked Willow and Alex as characters and I thought they were actually very sweet together. AND! No love triangles!

Angel Burn was hard to put down at times and I have to say, I didn't quite see that ending coming. As the first in a trilogy, I'm very excited to see what happens to Willow as she discovers more of her past and tried to make a future for herself. I'm a big fan of fantasy and paranormal angel stories and I wasn't disappointed with Angel Burn. A great YA paranormal read and I wouldn't have any problems recommending.

Overall Rating:

4 / 5 Stars

Books in the Angel Series - US Editions:
Angel Burn
Angel Fire (January 2012)
Angel Fever (October? 2012)

Linkage Love:
Candlewick Press
Author's Website
Goodreads

Tidbits:
*Originally published in the UK. Book 1 was titled Angel and book 2, Angel Fire was published in October 2011
*L.A. Weatherly is the pseudonym for Lee Weatherly who also writes under the pen name Titania Woods

Week 3 NetGalley October Tips: Downloading and Devices

2011-10-17T06:43:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Week 3 of NetGalley Ocotber :)

We've talked about setting up your bio and requesting titles, now the Lovely Lindsey is back with some more great tips on what comes next.

Downloading & Devices

You got the glorious “you’re request has been approved” email, and you’re ready to start reading! Login to your NetGalley account, and go to MY REVIEWS to see a list of all the titles you’re approved to view. Press on a title name to go to the title details page—which has shiny orange reading options buttons on the right. Those buttons are what you’ll use to download the title.

Be sure to check the Device Guide to learn how best to transfer to your favorite device! You can read on your Android, iPad/iPhone, Kindle, Kobo, Nook, Sony Reader, and more. And of course, there’s always your computer.

NOTE: Most of the galleys in NetGalley are protected with DRM (Digital Rights Management). These security settings are entirely up to the publisher, but many opt to protect their galleys since it is pre-published content. That means that you won’t be able to print, copy, or share the files. And, the file will expire.

There are two kinds of expiration dates on NetGalley:

One type applies to any protected galley you download: the file expires a set number of days (usually 60, though publishers may choose other lengths of time) after you first open it in Adobe Digital Editions. You can see how many days remain until a file expires by looking at the upper right corner of the book’s cover in Adobe Digital Editions’ Library view. However, you can download another 60-day copy of the file from your NetGalley account if you need more time to finish reading, until the publisher archives the title. Just log back into your NetGalley account, click on My Reviews, find the title, and then press the orange Download Galley button again.
Some publishers also list an expiration date in the book description. This is the date the publisher plans to remove the galley from NetGalley’s catalog. After this date, you will not be able to download another copy of the file, or access the galley through NetGalley at all. Any copy downloaded to your computer, iPad, or Adobe-compatible reader will be available until you reach the Adobe Digital Editions expiration date, as described above. If you have used the Kindle option to send a copy of the file to your Kindle, that file will not expire, and will continue to be available to you.

If you wait too long to download the galley, you might run into this: “the publisher has archived this title.” What does it mean if I was approved to view a title but publisher has archived it? Once a publisher archives a title, it is no longer available for readers to download. Most publishers archive titles around the pub or on-sale date, but it is entirely up to each publisher when they choose to archive each title. Some publishers have a note in the title description that says the date they plan to archive the title, so that you’ll know ahead of time. For the sake of your own organization, you may wish to press the Archive button on your MANAGE MY REVIEWS page, so that you don’t see the title in the list of your other active galleys.

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

Have questions about Week 3's tips?

Comment below and I'll be sure to share them with Lindsey when we Twitter Chat on the 28th. OR join us at 5pm EST and ask her yourself :)

Haven't declared yourself yet?

DO IT NOW! :)

Missed Past week's tips? Check them out:

Week 1: Registering and Filling Out Your NetGalley Bio

Week 2: Requesting and Getting Approved

Coming next week: Submitting your review

From Blogger to Book Writer: Stasia Ward Kehoe Shares Her Story

2011-10-16T13:55:00.000-04:00

Today it is my great pleasure to welcome Stasia Ward Kehoe to Red House Books

Stasia is sharing with us today her journey from Blogger to Book Writer

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

It can be hard to admit that you want to be a writer. Over the years, I occasionally summoned the courage to reveal my ambition, and discovered four common reactions. People would either:
(a) Smile while their eyes glazed over
(b) Tell me it’s nearly impossible to get published
(c) Tell me they’re thinking about writing a book, too
(d) Say, “You’re a wonderful writer—you can do it!” (okay, that was my mom)

So, I spent years writing my fiction quietly, while sharing my love for YA literature on my appropriately-titled blog, Writer on the Side. I offered insights from my day job in book marketing, discussed novels I admired, and posted photos of my dog in reading glasses. Then, it happened: In 2010, I got an agent and sold a book. I kind of wasn't expecting it. I had planned to keep my dream on hold until my youngest son was in kindergarten and my house was clean, but you know what they say about the best laid plans…

There are many surprises that come with getting published. One I did not expect, however, was that my sense of identity as a blogger would grow shaky. Could I still call myself a writer ON THE SIDE now that writing was squarely in the middle of my life? I didn't want my blog to become the story of me-me-me, yet I was learning so much through my own publishing process that I wanted to share. Could my convivial relationships with other bloggers remain the same as my pub date approached? When bloggers started writing about my own book’s cover, what was I supposed to do? Finally, my agent, other writers, and pretty much everyone else kept telling me that I should maintain my online presence BUT NOT NEGLECT WRITING THE NEXT BOOK. What they couldn't explain was how to add about six hours to every day!

I’d like to tell you that I did some research, learned to live without sleep, and found my way, but I haven’t. What I have discovered is that the writer-blogger community is as kind and celebratory as it always was, and that a surprising number of bloggers have had the wild experience of becoming published writers and are willing to offer advice. I have decided that, as a blogger, the best I can do is to be myself. I may not always strike the right balance or write the best posts when I’m deep in manuscript revisions. But I am happy to keep on celebrating my love for YA lit with fellow writers, readers, bloggers, and all combinations thereof. Because we all still want the same thing: The perfect reads for the sunny summer afternoon, the chilly winter morning, and the occasional lonely night.

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

Thank you so much Stasia!

Stasia Ward Kehoe blogs at Writer on the Side (www.swardkehoe.blogspot.com) and can also be found at her author site, www.stasiawardkehoe.com. Her debut novel, AUDITION, published by Viking is on sale now!

In My Mailbox - October 16, 2011

2011-10-16T09:51:00.001-04:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren :)

Vlog in which I'm pretty boring...except for when I say "Sweetspring" instead of "Springsweet" -- but I have FABULOUS books to show you!

Awesome Books Mentioned:
Links are to Goodreads

For Review:
Silence (Hush, Hush #3) by Becca Fitzpatrick (Audio Book)

Big thank you to Simon and Schuster Audio

Bought:
Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon -- WHY? I have the ARC with the word 'The' across the cover girl's head - I wanted a finished copy after the word was removed from the title :)

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly -- WHY? This is the paperback version which I like a lot more then the hardcover (which I also own...trade anyone?)

Ruling Passion (Hearts at Stake, Blood Feud, Out For Blood) by Alyxandra Harvey -- WHY? Even though I own these 3 books individually, I love this series and I love Alyxandra's writing so I just couldn't pass this one up!

Ghost Hunt 2: More Chilling Tales of the Unknown by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson with Cameron Dokey -- WHY? The second book in The Ghost Hunter's non-fiction series - tales based on true life events. I love ghosts and I love the Ghost Hunters! Had to have this book.

Ghost Trackers by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson with Tim Waggoner -- WHY? A new fiction series by The Ghost Hunters - again - love these guys! hehe

From Maria V Snyder's Book signing:
Outside In (Insider #2)
Poison Study
Storm Glass

Thank you so much Maria!

From Nikki at Wicked Awesome Books - SHE IS AWESOME!!
Daughters of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor - Signed!
And Then Things Fall Apart by Arlaina Tibensky - Nikki's ARC with all her little post it flags still in it :)
Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood -- ARC (Feb 2012) - OMG!
The Springsweet by Saundra Mitchell -- ARC (April 2012) - OMG! OMG! (and so so sorry Saundra for saying "Sweetspring" in my vlog- big oops!)

Thank you so much Nikki!!

That's what I got! So excited to get these all read!
So, what's in your mailbox?

NetGalley October Facebook Poll

2011-10-12T13:26:00.000-04:00

NetGalley wants to know - how many titles have you read so far this month?

I'm really curious as well as I've only been able to get 2 books finished so far. I'm aiming for at least 3 more - think I can do it?

Hop over to NetGalley's Facebook page and weigh in!

There is still time to join in on the fun - if you haven't declared yourself

DO IT NOW :)

Book Review: The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch

2011-10-12T06:41:00.000-04:00

***2011 Debut Author***

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: September 2011
Pages: 278
Series: no
Acquisition: BEA 2011

Summary:

In an America devastated by war and plague, the only way to survive is to keep moving.
In the aftermath of a war, America’s landscape has been ravaged and two thirds of the population left dead from a vicious strain of influenza. Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his family were among the few that survived and became salvagers, roaming the country in search of material to trade for food and other items essential for
But when Stephen’s grandfather dies and his father falls into a coma after an accident, Stephen finds his way to Settler’s Landing, a community that seems too good to be true, where there are real houses, barbecues, a school, and even baseball games. Then Stephen meets strong, defiant, mischievous Jenny, who refuses to accept things as they are. And when they play a prank that goes horribly wrong, chaos erupts, and they find themselves in the midst of a battle that will change Settler’s Landing forever. (From Goodreads)

My thoughts:
A great read for me. The post-apocalyptic world Jeff has created both thrilled and terrified. It's harsh and there are so many unknowns it's amazing that anyone can survive. Society hasn't yet reformed itself, and it's questionably if it ever will. There is no known governing forces, the landscape is bare and desolate and the people who inhabit it aren't quite old enough to have forgotten how it use to be. It's a world trying to reform and still so very close to imploding.

This world in which Stephen lives is also very real. The remnants of the way things were are still fresh - I could see our world in Stephen's and this was not comforting at all. But, it was this realism that added a thrill to the story for me.

Alongside this scary, untamed world there is a cast of characters that I really enjoyed. Some really got to me and others didn't make much of an impression but it was a good mix.

Overall, I pretty much enjoyed every aspect of The Eleventh Plague and I'm very excited for whatever Jeff has planned next!

The Eleventh Plague is a great read for anyone but I really think younger boys will really be engaged by this story. The bleakness of the society combined with characters that are easy to relate to, in my opinion, makes this a perfect read for reluctant and avid readers alike.

Overall Rating:

5 / 5 Stars

Linkage Love:
Scholastic
Author's Website
Goodreads