Book Bound

Sweet Venom Cover Reveal!

2011-02-15T01:18:00.000-07:00

Along with many of my fellow bloggers, I’ve been given the privilege of revealing the cover to Sweet Venom, the first book in the Medusa Girls Trilogy by Tera Lynn Childs.

Three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful gorgon maligned by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in a world where monsters lurk in plain sight.

I don’t know about you but I think this looks & sounds like it’s going to be an awesome book. If you want to find out a little bit more about it, check out Sweet Venom’s page. Can’t wait to read it? Add it to your Goodreads. If Facebook is your site of choice, then Like the Sweet Venom Fan page.

Aren’t those bookmarks gorgeous? All you have to do to be entered to win one is comment below & make sure you leave a name, email address & your twitter name if you have one. This giveaway is international & ends on February 28th.

Angelfire Release Giveaway!

2011-02-14T03:11:00.002-07:00

Tomorrow is the release day for Angelfire, an amazing book from debut author Courtney Allison Moulton.

Because I loved this book so much, I’m going to bribe to spread the word. Normally I hate extra entries from the entrant side & when trying to calculate results, but this time I’ll make it so every tweet, & post counts as an entry. Tweet a link to this post with @CAMoulton & #Angelfire in your tweet all day today (the 14th) & tomorrow (the 15th) & then come back here & leave all of your entries in the comments.

For an example tweet, which you can copy & paste: “I want to win #Angelfire by @CAMoulton from #BookBound! http://bit.ly/fXs2tJ”

When you comment the 1st time, leave the link & an email with your name. If you comment multiple times, you don’t need to leave your info again as long as it’s from the same account as the 1st comment. If you would like to provide a running total of you points, you may, but it isn’t required.

Feel free to post a blog with the info as well. As an added incentive because I know this takes more time, a blog post will be worth 2 points.

Summary:

When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.

A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once.

While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember.

Trailer:

Add it to your Goodreads.
Website (With excerpt, playlist & other goodies)

Shadow Hills Paperback Puzzle

2010-11-14T11:00:00.070-07:00

Shadow Hills is getting a new cover for its paperback release so the street team is doing a little contest leading up to the release of the cover. On the 20th, Anastasia will post it on her blog. On each of the 12 days leading up the 20th, 1 puzzle piece will be posted & 2 trivia questions on 2 different blogs.

Ready for the prize info? Anastasia is giving away 24 signed posters of the original cover. Each of the participating blogs will pick a winner out of those who get the trivia answer correct, so make sure to enter all the giveaways! Winners will be posted on the 20th. To enter you must fill out the form & have a US mailing address.

Here's my piece:

Trivia:
14. What symbol is engraved on Phe's ID bracelet? Enter here.

If you missed yesterday's trivia & puzzle piece: Books Out of the Bookshelves Fictionally Yours

Today's other Trivia question: The Book Cellar

Tomorrow's puzzle piece & Trivia: Sit Here and Read Candace's Reading Blog

Visit Anastasia's site, blog & twitter

Shadow Hills Facebook

Buy Shadow Hills:
Indiebound Amazon B&N Book Depository

The Crossroads giveaway!

2010-10-31T23:58:00.000-06:00

If you've been keeping up with the Crossroads posts, you'll know I said I'd pick winners from commenters.

I have tons of swag & Zombie Queen of Newbury High to give away.
2 people will be chosen from Days 1 through 8 to win swag.
2 people who commented on days 9 through 16 will also win swag.
I will chose 1 person from all the comments to win Amanda Ashby's signed book.

Go comment (real comments please.) & then come over here & leave me your contact info (or just watch the blog for the winner.)

I'll choose a winner in 1 week. The giveaway is open internationally.

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 16

2010-10-31T21:16:00.000-06:00

What was it about Anastasia Romanov’s story that made you want to write your own story about it?

I have always been drawn to the Romanov story because it’s just so darn tragic. Anastasia was so filled with promise – young and pretty and smart and funny and snarky and witty. And she was murdered before she had an opportunity to reach her adult potential – which I’m sure would have been amazing. She died because of politics, because of people who wanted to get rid of her parents. (obviously that’s an over-simplification, but it’s part of the truth) And it’s just so horribly sad. I totally understand why so many people over the years just couldn’t believe that she was really dead. And I wanted to pay homage to her here – even though I’ve created some definite fictions inside the historically accurate parts. If anyone could survive being held captive in a witch’s hut, I think Anastasia could definitely do it!

What are 3 of your favorite books or series?

I am a voracious reader. I can’t get through a day without reading something. So I really do have more than three favorites. But if I can be so bold as to alter your question a bit, three of my current favorite books have been Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games series (because it is total awesomeness in plotting, character development and romance); Maggie Stiefvater’s Shiver and Linger (because the werewolf nooky is beyond compare and they are deeply romantic books); and my friend Lauren Strasnick’s Nothing Like You -which is out in paperback now and which has the funniest book trailer I’ve ever seen except maybe Libba Bray’s book trailer for Going Bovine where she dresses up the cow costume, which is hysterical – ( because Nothing Like You’s ending makes me cry every time I read it. Beyond those, if I was absolutely pressed, my favorite piece of American lit is F.Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, which just blows me away at how it manages to stay fresh and contemporary in its view of the corruption of the American Dream.

Thanks for stopping by & taking part in The Crossroads!
Make sure you stop by Joy's blog & Twitter!

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 15

2010-10-30T20:52:00.000-06:00

If you could live in any one of your books, which would it be & why?

SHAMROCKED, the 2nd book in the STRANGE ENCOUNTERS midgrade trilogy. It takes place in Mt. Shasta – a city I love to visit – but adds magic of a secret world underneath the mountain with fantastic rooms where anything you imagine becomes real and shadowy storytellers come out of the walls to tell real stories. The other two books (OH, NO! UFO and SEA SWITCH) in this series have some magical fun, too, like alien pets and mermaids.

Where is one of your favorite places to go camping?

Near Bodega Bay, CA, at a campgrounds with no electricity or hookups, but it’s by the beach and dunes and I love the salty breezes and overcast ocean sky. My family went there a few weeks ago and we walked along the surf with the dogs, had campfires at night and I found a sand dollar.

I hope you've been checking out all of the authors' blogs & twitters!
Don't forget to check out Linda's blog & Twitter too!

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 14

2010-10-30T01:44:00.000-06:00

What kind of cat is Fat Cat? (Do you have a picture you could share?)
Sad, sad news my fat cat of 15 years died of old age. (Four months ago.) She was a 15 yr old brown and butterscotch tabby and I miss her. :( I won’t be getting another cat for awhile I still have Jensen

This is Jensen, he’s two.

You love writing & reading, but you set some of Freaksville in a theater, do you also have a love of acting?
Ah you caught me! I was a theater minor before I changed my major. I did some acting, spent many years in theater working on sets hanging lights etc. And yes every theater IS haunted. It’s weird maybe the energy that’s form there from all the human emotions used on stage.

Make sure you follow Kitty on Twitter & then check out her blog!

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 13

2010-10-28T22:47:00.011-06:00

What were the last 5 books you read?

Hi Catie, thank you so much for hosting the Crossroads Tour! We are thrilled to be with you.
Karma Bites, Crescendo, The Ghost and the Goth, Girl Vs. Boy, and Jekle love Hyde (do you see a theme in those?)

Your motto is “Life is about the journey, not the destination.” Have you always lived life this way or did something make you realize it?

No, I wish I could say that had always been my motto, however, it hasn’t been. And I’ve never been asked this question! So, I’m going out on a limb here because I’ve been (surprisingly) caught off guard. Yes, something happened in my life. I lost my closest sibling to a long battle with a serious illness. It was a very emotional, painful and heartbreaking experience- one that I was unprepared for and left my whole life upside down. After he was gone, I realized I couldn’t wallow in the misery and pretty much started to chase every dream I’ve ever had. The experience made me realize that everything molds us into the people we become. I know my brother is looking down on me, proud of the things I’ve accomplished since he’s been gone.

So, not bring everyone down, I assure you there have been a lot of positives that have come out of this experience and there are many characters that share my brother’s charm, wit and sarcasm. He lives on through my writing and I’m glad I get the chance to share him with the world.

Make sure you check out Jordan's blog, & follow her on Twitter!
I hope you're all commenting on all the posts for a chance to win books & swag!

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 12

2010-10-27T11:33:00.000-06:00

Did you ever expect your cell phone novel to become a series?

Not at all. It certainly was a pleasant surprise. Of course, I also never expected that my first published novel would include werewolves.

What’s one of your favorite places to travel to?

I love Europe and would especially like to return to Spain and Germany and expand my travels to include Eastern Europe as well (and, of course, return to the UK on my way home to the States).

If you want to learn more about Shannon or her books, stop by her blog & add her on Twitter!

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 11

2010-10-26T22:27:00.000-06:00

What more can you tell us about Witch’s Shadow?
Witch’s Shadow is a novel within the Origins series I’m co-writing with Kitty Keswick. We are each writing separate novels, set in the same town – with crossover characters. Talk about a plotting challenge! We’re still writing these babies, but I can share some info with you and the prologue (just for fun).

The plot for WS in a nutshell: When a vengeful spirit threatens the uneasy truce between Norms and Paranorms in the pseudo-Salem town of Origins, it’s up to a fledgling witch to keep everyone alive.

Witch’s Shadow: Prologue
Origins 1672

Vengeance, cried the wind skimming over long midday shadows. High on a hilltop stood a lone Arbutus tree, its knotted, twisted copper trunk in stark relief against the sunlight. Bare of leaves, the skeletal branches rattled together like bones. A murder of ravens settled in the tree, ready to dine.

“No!” a boy yelled down at the ground from his perch upon a mare’s back, a ring of rope across his neck, his hands bound. “Choose this path and choose your ruination.” He spit his oath as if at the fiery depths of the earth.

The magistrate slapped his cane on the mare’s trembling flank. She bolted, and the boy slipped from her back. Rope taut, his neck broke with a crisp snap.

“Where’s your magic now, eh, boy?” The black-robed magistrate jabbed his cane at the lean body suspended in the air, sending it into a slow spiral. “Where are your unholy fires?” On the dust beneath their feet, the boy’s shadow widened, then narrowed with each turn.

Gathered to witness the death of Jonah Cale, the small crowd exchanged uneasy glances as the magistrate continued to prod the corpse. Young Cale had been accused of witchcraft, and his final words lingered in their murdering ears.

“You see, brethren,” the magistrate said, “even the devils he served fear our wrath and abandoned the boy to his fate. We have done goodly work here this day. Our families will be much relieved.” The magistrate led the villagers down the hill, leaving the boy to swing.

And he did.

His wind-tossed hair, black as pitch, his blue eyes bulging in their sockets, vacant. Dead.

All was silent save for the wind’s mournful howl and the branch that creaked with the boy’s swaying weight. For long minutes his shadow diligently shifted on the earth. Then with a subtle ripple as if suddenly under knee-deep water, the shadow detached from the boy and drifted across the land.

Vengeance.

Your blog proclaims you to be a writer, musician & geek. What are some things that show your musician & geek sides?

Oh, there are lots of ways I show my band-geeky sides. ;) Just check out my website and vlog page – nuf said. www.judithgraves.com/vlogs

As always, make sure to check out Judith's blog & follow her on Twitter.

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 10

2010-10-25T09:24:00.000-06:00

You have quite a diverse work history, what made you want to write books?

I think of myself as a storyteller – no matter the format. If there’s a story I want to tell, I pick which format would best suit the story. I did write ghostgirl as a script first, which was optioned by Robert DeNiro’s company, but eventually found that there was more to the story, something I just couldn’t give up on, and so I made it into a book series.

Did you get the idea for Ghost Girl from personal experience, outside influence, or something else altogether?

Both.

As an FYI, most of my questions seem random, but they are in fact not entirely random. I looked at each author's website. I recommend you do the same. You might be surprised what you didn't know about some of your favorite authors.
Check out Tonya's blog here & her Twitter here.

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 9

2010-10-24T16:10:00.000-06:00

You must have your hands full with being a literary agent, writer, & journeyman jeweler. Do you have a favorite?

It depends on the day. When that shiny new idea is calling to me, still full of possibilities and not giving me any grief whatsoever, I adore being a writer. Or when that awesome review comes in. When I’m struggling with a scene or a character just won’t behave…well, writing is the toughest job you’ll ever love. The only thing I love as much as my characters (and, of course, my family) is my authors. Working with the brilliant, creative people I represent is as much a dream come true as publication. My authors blow me away on a daily basis with their talent, determination and originality. Their triumphs feel like mine, and it’s a privilege to be part of all that. Journeyman jeweler… I enjoy making the jewelry, but that’s more of a hobby which has had to fall by the wayside to make time for everything else. Publishing is my obsession.

What made you want to write about vampires?

The funny thing is that I didn’t want to write about vampires. I wanted to write about Gina. That’s how it all starts for me – with character. Gina started talking in my head, a teen fashionista who wakes up to her own personal hell when she rises from the grave, totally ruining her manicure, to find that she’s become one of the undead, with no way to fix her hair and make-up. It was the concept of this high-maintenance mama having to cope with having her life…afterlife?...turned upside down that really appealed to me in Vamped. The best way to mess with Gina was to vamp her out.

I think that you never really know what a person is made of when things are going well. It’s when life (or death) comes at you that a person finds her inner strength or a table to hide under. Gina, as it turns out, is a kick-butt kinda gal, a natural born leader, who cares far more about other people than she’d like to admit, particularly Bobby, her hot geek boyfriend. In Revamped I had the chance to mess with her again. [Spoiler alert to book 1!] At the end of Vamped, the Feds have discovered Gina and her gang and made them an offer they couldn’t refuse. So Revamped sees my hero and heroine going undercover on their first assignment. Gina is forced go goth…no color palette to speak of, more chains than a bike rack, and don’t even get her started on the shoes. Among other things, like exactly what wickedness is stirring in the sleepy town of Wappingers Falls, NY, she learns that goths are people too. Only now she has to face the fear that her new-found friends know more about the insanity than they should.

If you haven't already, make sure to stop by Lucienne's blog & then follow her on Twitter.

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 8

2010-10-23T11:46:00.000-06:00

Your 2nd novel is tentatively titled String Theories, what can we expect?

It’s a contemporary YA about a 14 y.o. girl who gets in over her head, a stream, the physics of relationships, and getting even.

Are there going to sequels, or companion novels to Forget-Her-Nots?

I hope so! I’d love to write a companion novel with a more international flair. :)

Thanks for having me, Catie!

Hey everyone! Don't forget that the prize pack winners will be drawn from the commenters!
Also, make sure you go visit Amy's blog & follow her on Twitter!

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 7

2010-10-22T22:35:00.000-06:00

Do you have a favorite time period you’d like to research?

I have researched many time periods, but the one that eludes me is the American Revolution. I know a little bit, but would love to take the time and learn more.

Which end of writing do you like better, writing or editing?

Oh most definitely the editing part of it. First drafts are torturous for me. I like having a finished draft in front of me and then being able to hack away and polish it up.

Make sure to visit Angie's blog & follow her on Twitter!

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 6

2010-10-21T17:02:00.000-06:00

If you went back to working in theatre, what would you want to do?

I love acting. I love creating a characters and playing a role, telling a story, trying to make the audience connect with the character and root for her. I get to do the same thing as writer, but I don’t get to dress up in a costume. On the flip side, however, I don’t have to stay on a diet.

Does music influence your writing? If so, how?

I listen to either classical music or movie soundtracks while I work. I lot of people can write to music with lyrics, but I have a hard time ignoring voices. Instrumental, though, sort of blends into the background and drowns out other distractions. Usually I’ll have one or two CDs or playlists that I’ll keep on repeat--they’re different for every book. It sets the mood, but it also seems to be a subliminal cue to my brain that it’s time to work. If I’m having trouble focusing, one of my familiar mixes will put me right into the zone.

I hope you're all having fun! Don't forget to check out Rosemary's Blog & follow her Twitter!
Don't forget to comment for a chance to win!

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 5

2010-10-20T11:50:00.000-06:00

Do you have a favorite season or episode of Roswell?

Oh yes, my two favorite episodes are The Pilot (Max saves Liz!) in season one and The End of the World (Future Max, SO GORGEOUS and heartbreaking) in season two.

How much difference is there between writing The Ghost & The Goth and the sequels?

I haven’t started the third book just yet, but I will be shortly. The second one was harder, I think, because I had to maintain consistency with the first book and yet make it different enough that it didn’t seem repetitive. I also had to make sure that I didn’t go too far or reveal too much, which would have messed up plans for the third book. Quite the balancing act! :)

Don't forget to stop by the other Crossroads posts & make sure to visit Stacey's blog & follow her on Twitter!

I hope you're all enjoying my random questions. Make sure to keep coming back throughout the tour! Comments will be used to pick winners for swag!

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 4

2010-10-19T11:53:00.000-06:00

What made you want to write about anorexia & famine?

I wanted to write a book that tackled eating disorders to help people understand that the ED mindset isn’t something you turn on and off; it’s a disease. (I’ve had body image issues for as long as I can remember; for a while, I was bulimic.) Eating disorders suck. That’s why I’m donating a portion of proceeds to the National Eating Disorders Association.
I’ve had the idea for HUNGER for about 10 years, but I didn’t think anyone would want to read about it. I told my agent, “Eating disorders aren’t sexy; no one will care.” And she told me I was crazy, and that I should write the book. Thankfully, I listened to her.

Do you still draw any comics just for fun?

Sadly, no. But I had the opportunity to script two short comics for Dark Horse. Set in the Buffyverse, “Carpe Noctem” Pt. 1 and Pt. 2 is a Tales of the Vampires story about two vampires, one of whom is unhappy with the new world order while the other one is thriving. I had a lot of fun! (And dude: THE BUFFYVERSE.)

I hoped you all enjoyed Jackie's stop & are planning on going out & buying HUNGER today since it was just released! Lets make release day fantastic!
Check out Jackie's blog & Twitter too!

Teaser Tuesday - Nightshade

2010-10-19T07:11:00.002-06:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This week's Teaser comes from Nightshade.

"Calla. That is not a spider," he moaned. "Spiders do not get that big."
Pg 293

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 3

2010-10-18T13:14:00.000-06:00

What is the main difference in how you write between your Adult & YA books?

I think the main difference is that in my YA books the plot is more streamlined, with fewer tangents. But I’m not sure if that’s because it’s YA or because it’s a different story, with a different editor.

What can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects?

In November, I’ll have a short story in a YA vampire anthology called ETERNAL: MORE LOVE STORIES WITH BITE. Then SHADE’s sequel SHIFT comes out in May. My fourth vampire book for adults, LET IT BLEED, comes out in August. In the fall, Logan Keeley from SHADE and SHIFT gets to tell his story in an anthology called ENTHRALLED, which is a collection of stories by the authors on this year’s Smart Chicks Kick It Tour.

Don't forget to visit Jeri's blog & follow her Twitter!

Make sure to visit all the other bolgs to find the clues!

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 2

2010-10-17T12:06:00.001-06:00

What is one of your places in the forest to go?

Deep into the trees, where the sunlight trickles down through a gap in the canopy, and the scent of ruffled leaf litter and rain-soaked moss rises in the heat of the day… I like to run between the trees and bound over logs, then sit with my back against the bark of a tree. Comes in handy when I write one of my pooka or werewolf scenes later.

Why did you pick a serial killer?

I wanted the threat to the Others in the story to be deadly, mysterious, and something that would strike again without warning… also, since the police look the other way, it forces Gwen to find the killer before the killer finds her. If I chose a different sort of antagonist—like a violent group, or a known threat—then the plot would likely not allow Gwen to do much sleuthing on her own.

Thanks for stopping by Karen!

Make sure to visit Karen's blog & Twitter!
Don't forget to visit the other blogs & gather the clues, not to mention that each blog has prizes to give out as well.

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 1

2010-10-16T11:10:00.001-06:00

Welcome to the 1st day of the Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour!
I'd bet you're wondering what exactly we're up to.
If you want to find more info on this wonderful blog tour click here for all the details. (Including prizes!)

Today Amanda Ashby stops by to answer a couple of questions!

What are some things you do to help you write?
I annoy my critique partners and husband ALL the time about whatever I’m working on. Especially if I’m having problems. It probably drives them crazy but I’m such a sharer that if my writing is going badly, then I want everyone to know!!!!!! Apart from that I make sure that I have lots of Diet Coke in the house and I try and limit my Internet access (which I normally fail to do!!!!!!)

If you could sit down for lunch with any 5 people, who would they be & why would you pick them?
Trent Vanegas who runs Pinkisthenewblog.com because I love reading his blog and he makes my day so much happier!
David Boreanaz because he’s so gorgeous!
Steven Gerrard the captain of Liverpool Football Club, because he’s awesome!
David Bowie because I think he is an amazing song writer
Richelle Mead so I could find out what’s going to happen in Last Sacrifice

Visit Amanda's blog & add her on Twitter.
Don't forget to check out all the other stops on the Crossroads tour today!

In My Mailbox (29)

2010-10-03T18:28:00.000-06:00

IMM is brought to you by Kristi at The Story Siren & inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Aren't sure which books to include in your IMM? Here's Kristi's explanation.

From The King's English:

The Clockwork Three by Matt Kirby (signed!)

Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr

From the awesome Lena:

Firelight by Sophie Jordan (signed!)

Did you get anything exciting this week?

In My Mailbox (28)

2010-09-26T10:15:00.000-06:00

IMM is brought to you by Kristi at The Story Siren & inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Aren't sure which books to include in your IMM? Here's Kristi's explanation.

From Around the World Tours:
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
You by Charles Benoit
Aces Up by Lauren Barnholdt
Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler

What did you get this week? Anything you're waiting to get this week?

Fins Are Forever Cover!

2010-09-24T17:46:00.000-06:00

I am very lucky to be part of Tera Lynn Child's Splash Team. The Splash Team helps spread the word about the Forgive My Fins & the upcoming sequel Fins Are Forever.

If you haven't read Forgive My Fins, what are you waiting for?

If you have, here's the summary from Goodreads for Fins Are Forever:

(Last warning, you want want to read this is you haven't read Forgive My Fins, you'll be spoiled!)

On Lily Sanderson’s eighteenth birthday she’ll become just a girl—still a mer girl, true, but signing the renunciation paperwork will ink Princess Waterlily of Thalassinia out of existence. That leaves plain old Lily living on land, dating the boy she loves, and trying to master this being human thing once and for all.

Now that Lily and Quince are together, mer-bond or not, she’s almost content to give up her place in the royal succession of Thalassinia. But just when she thinks she has everything figured out, Lily’s father sends a certain whirlpool-stirring cousin to stay with her on land. What did Doe do to get herself exiled from Thalassinia and stuck in terraped form, when everyone knows how much she hates humans? And why why why is she batting her eyelashes at Lily’s former crush, Brody?

The seafoam on the surf comes when a merboy from Lily’s past shows up. Tellin asks Lily for something that clouds her view of the horizon. There’s a future with Quince on land, her loyalty to the kingdom in the sea, and Lily tossing on the waves in the middle. Will she find a way to reconcile her love, her duty, and her dreams?

Are you ready to see the cover?

I can't wait! Mark your calendars! Fins Are Forever will be out June 28th 2011!

Waiting on Wednesday (25)

2010-09-22T13:54:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to you by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This weeks book is: Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

It releases: October 12th 2010

Summary:

This is book 2 or a series, so there may be spoilers, read at your own risk.

Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.

Sometimes life-ending.

Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

What are you waiting for this week?

Review: Firelight - Sophie Jordan

2010-09-09T07:11:00.001-06:00

Title: Firelight
Author: Sophie Jordan
Released: September 7th 2010
Published by: Harper Teen
Pages: 336

Where to purchase:
US: IndieBound B&N Borders Books A Million
Canada: Chapters
International: Book Depository

Trailer:

Review:
I loved this book. Jacinda’s story is told so well I pictured everything as if I was her. I became so involved that there were scenes where I was holding my breath, as if it would help Jacinda. There was none of the instant love between her & Will as many books have now. I kept trying to guess where the story was going.

The story opens as Jacinda & her best friend Azure have snuck out to go flying during the day. This quickly leads to trouble. There are those that hunt the Draki, the decendants of dragons, for their skin & blood. Jacinda hides in a cave and holds her breath, I did too, hoping the hunters wouldn’t find her there. I kept reading to see what was going to happen. Will, a hunter, does find her, but he leaves without telling the other he found her. Finally, I could breathe. Jacinda isn’t out of the woods yet though, she’s in big trouble. Her Mom knows what’s coming and takes her and her sister somewhere she thinks will be safe.

I felt Jacinda’s despair as they arrived in a town in a desert. I could only imagine how empty I’d feel if I knew that part of me was going to wither away like Jacinda’s Draki would living in the desert. There is a bright spot. Will makes Jacinda’s Draki feel alive. They have a push & pull kind of relationship, which is nice to see amidst so many books where they characters instantly fall for each other & don’t stop to question anything. Will has his own secrets and problems so he’s reluctant to have any kind of relationship with Jacinda. Jacinda not only has her secret & family to protect, but she knows Will is a hunter, so she wants to stay away from him.

I love guessing where a book is headed, even if I’m totally wrong. I kept trying to guess why Jacinda was so drawn to Will and every guess was nowhere near the reason. I love that this wasn’t a predictable book. Fair warning: the ending is a killer & makes you want the next book.

Waiting on Wednesday (24)

2010-09-08T07:11:00.011-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to you by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This weeks book is: The Clockwork Three by Matthew J Kirby

It releases: October 1st 2010

Summary:
Three ordinary children are brought together by extraordinary events. . . Giuseppe is an orphaned street musician from Italy, who was sold by his uncle to work as a slave for an evil padrone in the U.S. But when a mysterious green violin enters his life he begins to imagine a life of freedom.
Hannah is a soft-hearted, strong-willed girl from the tenements, who supports her family as a hotel maid when tragedy strikes and her father can no longer work. She learns about a hidden treasure, which she knows will save her family -- if she can find it.
And Frederick, the talented and intense clockmaker's apprentice, seeks to learn the truth about his mother while trying to forget the nightmares of the orphanage where she left him. He is determined to build an automaton and enter the clockmakers' guild -- if only he can create a working head.
Together, the three discover they have phenomenal power when they team up as friends, and that they can overcome even the darkest of fears.

Who else thinks this sounds cool?
What are you waiting for?

In My Mailbox (27)

2010-09-05T22:42:00.000-06:00

IMM is brought to you by Kristi at The Story Siren & inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Aren't sure which books to include in your IMM? Here's Kristi's explanation.

I apologize for the lack of picture, but the combination of work & lack of sleep means I'm being too lazy to round up all the stuff & take a picture & then upload.
From Around the World Tours:
Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

Won from Bitten By Books:
Hex Hall book & T-shirt

Gift:
The Ghost & The Goth by Stacey Kade

Bought:
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Won from Maggie!!!:
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Won from Lisa Desrochers:
Personal Demons swag

What did you get this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (23)

2010-09-01T21:18:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to you by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This weeks book is: Ascendant by Diana Peterfreund

It releases: September 28th 2010

Summary:
Now a fully trained unicorn hunter, Astrid Llewelyn is learning that she can’t solve all her problems with a bow and arrow. Her boyfriend has left Rome, the Cloisters is in dire financial straits, her best friend’s powers are mysteriously disintegrating, and her hope of becoming a scientist seems to be nothing but an impossible dream.

So when she’s given the opportunity to leave the Cloisters and use her skills as part of a scientific quest to discover the Remedy, Astrid leaps at the chance. Finally, she can have exactly what she wants—or can she? At Gordian headquarters deep in France, Astrid begins to question everything she had believed: her love for Giovanni, her loyalty to the Cloisters, and—most of all—her duty as a hunter. Should Astrid be saving the world from killer unicorns or saving unicorns from the world?

What are you dying to read?

Teaser Tuesday (20)

2010-08-31T07:11:00.007-06:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This weeks Teaser comes to you from Monster High by Lisi Harrison

"My masseuse had to piggyback me outta there. I was scared stiff."

"You mean, you are a scared stiff."

Pg 124

Who wants to share their teaser with me?

Unraveled Hunt

2010-08-30T20:44:00.000-06:00

Gena Showalter’s YA series, Intertwined, about sixteen-year-old Aden Stone, a paranormal magnet who has had four souls trapped in his head, continues this fall with the release of UNRAVELED (Harlequin, September 2010). Now, Aden is down to three souls bossing him around, but along the way he’s picked up the title of Vampire King to add to his ever-growing list of worries (which includes a prophecy that says he’ll bite the dust after a knife through the heart). To celebrate UNRAVELED’s release, Gena and her YA buds are hosting a scavenger hunt on their blogs.

The all-star lineup of hunt participants includes authors Rachel Caine, PC Cast, Marley Gibson, Rosemary Clement-Moore and Tina Ferraro, as well as Gena, natch, and The Knight Agency blog. Three grand prize winners will each win a $100 Visa gift card, plus Gena's giving away signed copies of UNRAVELED to five lucky runner-ups. All you have to do is find all eight letters, unscramble them and email the word to Contests(AT)KnightAgency.net. To find out where the letters are hiding in the great internet universe, click here for a contest road map and rules.

This contest runs from Monday, August 30th to Thursday, September 2nd. All entries must be received by Monday, September 6th at midnight ET.

I don't know about you, but this sounds like tons of fun to me!

To make things easy for you here are all the links to the Hunt sites:

Rachel Caine - http://www.rachelcaine.livejournal.com/

Gena Showalter - http://www.genashowalter.blogspot.com/

PC Cast - http://www.pccast.blogspot.com/

Rosemary Clement-Moore - http://www.readrosemary.blogspot.com/

Marley Gibson - http://www.yawriters.blogspot.com/

Linda Gerber - http://www.lindagerber.blogspot.com/

Tina Ferraro - http://www.yafresh.blogspot.com/

The Knight Agency - http://www.knightagency.blogspot.com/

In My Mailbox (26)

2010-08-29T16:47:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday (22)

2010-08-25T07:11:00.001-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to you by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This weeks book is: Firelight by Sophie Jordan

It releases: September 7th 2010

Summary:
A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

What can't you wait for?

Shadow Hills ebook!

2010-08-24T18:45:00.000-06:00

If you have a Nook or a Kindle here's a book you need to add to your collection!

If you haven't heard of the fanasticness that is this book, here's the summary for you:

His love captivated her... his secrets might kill her.

Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts—the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.

After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all.

But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town…might cost her her life.

B&N Shadow Hills ebook

Amazon Shadow Hills ebook

Did you know that both Amazon & B&N have readers for your desktop? How cool is it that you don't have to buy an ereader to ebooks?

Teaser Tuesday (19)

2010-08-24T07:11:00.003-06:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This weeks Teaser comes to you from Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Tasers are one-size-fits-all paranormal butt kicking option. Mine's pink with rhinestones. Tasey and I have had a lot of good times together. (Pg. 1)

Skip a Starbucks Day

2010-08-23T11:27:00.000-06:00

The idea behind Skip a Starbucks Day is simple, skip your Starbucks stop today & use the money you would have spent to help bring a little girl home to her family.
There's a little girl in China who's been waiting almost 5 years to be able to leave the orphanage she's been living in to live with a family who loves her here in the US. After several detours & delays, the only standing in the way of her finally getting to come home is being short on funding due China raising the orphanage & court fees.

Please everyone head over to CJ's blog & read her story. There's so much more to the story & I want you read it straight from her.

If you need an incentive, there are several people (including me) who have donated items that people who donate will be entered to win.

Please spread the word & donate to this wonderful cause.

In My Mailbox (25)

2010-08-22T19:01:00.001-06:00

IMM is brought to you by Kristi at The Story Siren & inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Aren't sure which books to include in your IMM? Here's Kristi's explanation.

From Around the World Tours:
Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

From The Fantastical Em:
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
Awesometastic bookmark
Season 1 of Bones (which is based on an Author & Forensic Philanthropist.)

What did you get this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (21)

2010-08-18T10:09:00.008-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to you by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This weeks book is: The Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

It releases: August 31st 2010

Summary:
Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: Jem, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa.

As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

Giveaway time!

2010-08-17T21:20:00.001-06:00

I found out today that Kiersten White will be signing at The King's English here in Salt Lake in September.

To show my excitement, I'm going to give a signed copy away to one lucky person.

If you'd like a chance to win, leave your name, email address & twitter name (if you have one) in the comments.

There are no extra entries, but I'd appreciate it if you spread the word anyways.
It is US only, because international postage is expensive.

The giveaway ends at 11:59 PM Pacific Time on September 5th. I will announce the winner here & on twitter on the 6th. You will have 24 hours to email me your address or I'll have to pick a new winner.

Comment away!

Teaser Tuesday (18)

2010-08-17T09:54:00.000-06:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This weeks Teaser comes to you from Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine. (FYI, this is book 8 in the Morganville Vampires series.)

This was not a Morganville Vampire.

This was something else.

(Pg 161)

In My Mailbox (24)

2010-08-15T16:02:00.002-06:00

IMM is brought to you by Kristi at The Story Siren & inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Aren't sure which books to include in your IMM? Here's Kristi's explanation.

You get 3 weeks worth because I was camping.

Week 1:
Bought:
Keys To The Repository by Melissa de la Cruz
Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus
Princess & The Bear by Mette Ivie Harrison

Week 2:
From Around The World Tours:
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Matched by Ally Condie

Week 3:
Gift:
Kiss Me Deadly Antho
Bought:
White Cat by Holly Black

What did you get this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (20)

2010-08-11T21:49:00.011-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to you by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This weeks pick is: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

It releases: August 31st 2010

Summary:
Sixteen-year-old Evie's job is bagging and tagging paranormals. Possessing the strange ability to see through their glamours, she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency. But when someone--or something--starts taking out the vamps, werewolves, and other odd beasties she's worked hard to help become productive members of society, she's got to figure it out before they all disappear and the world becomes utterly normal.

Normal is so overrated.

What are you excited for?

Teaser Tuesday (17)

2010-08-10T22:39:00.000-06:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This weeks teaser comes from One Night That Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdt.

"I'll go in 1st," she offers. Which is really nice of her, since (a) it's my notebook that we're trying to get back and (b) we don't know for sure that there are not snakes and/or someone waiting down there to kill us.

Waiting on Wednesday (19)

2010-08-04T07:11:00.019-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to you by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This weeks book is: My Fake Boyfriend Is Better Than Yours by Kristina Springer

It releases: August 31st 2010

Summary:

Seventh grade was supposed to be fun, but Tori is having major drama with her BFF, Sienna. Sienna changed a lot over the summer on the first day of school she’s tan, confident, and full of stories about her new dreamy boyfriend. Tori knows that she’s totally making this guy up. So Tori invents her own fake boyfriend, who is better than Sienna’s in every way. Things are going great unless you count the whole lying-to-your-best-friend thing until everyone insists Tori and Sienna bring their boyfriends to the back-to-school dance.

What are you waiting to read?

Teaser Tuesday (16)

2010-08-03T07:11:00.018-06:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

(make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This week's teaser comes from You Wish by Mandy Hubbard.

If I were the glass-half-full type, I might say the good thing about my 16th birthday is that every future birthday is bound to be better.
But right now, I'm not even feeling like the glass is half empty - I'm feeling like I want to break the damn glass.
(Page 28)

What are you reading right now?

If I had all day to read (8)

2010-08-01T07:11:00.002-06:00

This is a meme from Kristin at Bookworming In The 21st Century. This month, 5 books I hope to read.
Last month I read (How many & which ones from the previous list.)

It really does seem like 2 is my lucky number on here. I only read 2 books off last months list, but I did read more than last month. I read Brightly Woven & Sea that were on my list.

1. The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

2. Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

3. Perchance To Dream by Lisa Mantchev

4. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

5. Firelight by Sophie Jordan

If you had all day, which 5 would you pick?

Winner!

2010-07-28T11:37:00.000-06:00

The winner in the Princess books by Mette Ivy Harrison giveaway is:

SANDY

Keep an eye out for more giveaways!

Waiting on Wednesday (18)

2010-07-28T07:11:00.002-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to you by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This weeks book is: You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

It releases: August 5th 2010

Summary:
What if all your wishes really came true?

Kayla McHenry’s sweet sixteen sucks! Her dad left, her grades dropped, and her BFF is dating the boy Kayla’s secretly loved for years. Blowing out her candles, Kayla thinks: I wish my birthday wishes actually came true. Because they never freakin’ do.

Kayla wakes the next day to a life-sized, bright pink My Little Pony outside her window. Then a year’s supply of gumballs arrives. A boy named Ken with a disturbing resemblance to the doll of the same name stalks her. As the ghosts of Kayla’s wishes-past appear, they take her on a wild ride . . . but they MUST STOP. Because when she was fifteen? She wished Ben Mackenzie would kiss her. And Ben is her best friend’s boyfriend.

What books are you waiting for?

Teaser Tuesday (15)

2010-07-27T07:11:00.002-06:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

(make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This week's teaser is from Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken.

“You have no idea what you’ve done for us in bringing the rain.”
“Anything we can give in return, anything, we’ll give you.”
“If you’re still willing to give up what we discussed before, then there’s nothing more I could ask for.” –Pg 15

In My Mailbox (23)

2010-07-25T18:11:00.001-06:00

IMM is brought to you by Kristi at The Story Siren & inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Aren't sure which books to include in your IMM? Here's Kristi's explanation.

From Around The World Tours:

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Monster High by Lisi Harrison

For review:

Passing Strange by Daniel Waters

Waiting on Wednesday (17)

2010-07-21T16:42:00.001-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to you by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This weeks book is: The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

It releases: August 1st 2010

Summary:
Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the ...more Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron Fey, iron-bound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's alone in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

Giveaway Time!

2010-07-21T16:04:00.002-06:00

Next week Mette Ivie Harrison will be signing at The King's English.

I'll be going & I'll get one of you one of her books. Signed to you if you want.

These are your choices:
(Click the covers to see the summary on Goodreads)

Just leave me an email address with a comment.

Contest closes Tuesday night at midnight pacific time.

I'll email the winner Wednesday & you have to get back to me within 24 hours.

This is a US only giveaway. I'm sorry, but international postage is too much. If you are outside the US & have a friend who will ship it to you who lives in the US that works too.

Teaser Tuesday (14)

2010-07-20T07:11:00.007-06:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This weeks teaser comes from Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

It was a night full of tiny coincidences that collided into something bigger.

Rilke says: We are not permitted to linger, even with what is most intimate.

Nothing was the same after that night.

Pg 108

In My Mailbox (22)

2010-07-17T23:51:00.004-06:00

IMM is brought to you by Kristi at The Story Siren & inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Aren't sure which books to include in your IMM? Here's Kristi's explanation.

Pretty sure this was the most awesome week yet. Lots of pictures this week because I can.

From Natasha @ Maw Books (because she's awesome!)

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Won from Sophie Jordan:

Firelight ARC

From Around the World Tours:

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

From the Absolutely Awesome Andrea:
Nightshade by Andrea Creamer

Ascendant by Diana Peterfreund

Red Glove excerpt

(& because she knows I love them)

an Extraordinary bookmark

Won from BuzzboSLC:

Twilight Saga prize pack

Can I say how awesome this week has been? I don't think I can.

I'm already excited for next week!

What did you get this week?

Anyone else get Crescendo or Desires of the Dead?

Added bonus if you read all the way to the end, if you would like some eclipse swag & possibly a bookmark or 2, please comment saying you want to be entered. I will pick one (maybe more) winner Tuesday. Please leave me a way to contact you.

Review: White Cat - Holly Black

2010-07-15T07:11:00.003-06:00

Title: White Cat
Author: Holly Black
Released: May 4th 2010
Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Pages: 310 pages

Where to purchase:
US: IndieBound B&N Borders Books A Million
Canada: Chapters
International: Book Depository

Trailer:

Review:

This was a fabulously written story. The characters all had realistic, individual personalities complete with their own set of flaws. It held my attention from the beginning clear until the end. I was invested in what had happened & what was going as Cassel was trying to piece things together.

The story opens with Cassel on a steep & slightly slippery roof with no way down. This leads to the school suspending him until he can prove he’s not a liability & something like that won’t happen again. Being suspended means he has to go home & help his Granddad clean up Cassel’s family home before his Mom gets released from jail. Granddad is a bit tough, but a likeable & pretty funny guy. He’s a death worker & our 1st real look at blow back. Every time a worker curses, they have to deal with blowback from the curse. Granddad is a death worker, this is why he has several stubby fingers. Throughout the book, pieces of information are given a little bit a time, giving us a better idea of the world Cassel lives in.
Cassel is the only non-worker in a family full of workers. He’s the baby of the family. He might not be a worker, but his Mom taught him all about being a con artist. I loved that he was always thinking about the various advice on how to pull a con & when he wasn’t he was trying to remember what exactly happened to Lila. He remembers the body, the blood & the knife, but doesn’t remember what led up to it. His brothers covered it up because Lila was the Daughter of the crime boss their family worked for. I found myself wondering what could have led up to him killing her. I felt kind of bad for Cassel, he went to the school he was at because he wanted to be a regular person, since he wasn’t a work, but he never quite fits in. I loved watching him piece things together & pull off a con here & there. He grows a lot by the time the book ends.

The way Holly leaves clues reminded me a bit of following a trail of breadcrumbs. There were just enough hints left that I could sometimes guess some of the things that were coming, but not all of them. I liked how even when everything seemed like it might fall apart at any second, Cassel never gave up. I can’t wait to read the sequel, Red Glove when it comes out.

Waiting on Wednesday (16)

2010-07-14T07:11:00.012-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to you by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This weeks book I can't wait for is: Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

It releases: July ~~20th~~ 13th!!! 2010

This is a bit of a different WoW. I had it scheduled to be before it came out, but then it got moved up, which is awesome. I was also lucky to get an ARC, so I've read it, but I'm dying to get my finished copy.

Now, I'm giving you fair warning above the picture.

SPOILER WARNING!!!

Summary:
In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past...and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabel, who already lost her brother to the wolves...and is nonetheless drawn to Cole. At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love--the light and the dark, the warm and the cold--in a way you will never forget.

Teaser Tuesday (13)

2010-07-13T07:11:00.017-06:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This weeks teaser comes from Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus.

“It isn’t you,” a voice said behind me, deep & melodic.
I turned and saw him. Raven black hair and eyes that seemed to shift colors – gray, blue, and pale green.
I looked at the headstone, then down at my dirty and torn clothes.
“But it is me,” I whispered.
“It doesn’t have to be.”
The gravestone was changing, the letters shifting.
“You know who it is. You just have to wake up.” He put his hand on my shoulder. “Phe, wake up.”

Pg 1/2

I know its longer than my usual teasers but there there was too much good stuff on one page to pass up.

In My Mailbox (21)

2010-07-11T07:11:00.001-06:00

IMM is brought to you by Kristi at The Story Siren & inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Aren't sure which books to include in your IMM? Here's Kristi's explanation.

From Around the World Tours:
Friend Is Not A Verb by Daniel Ehrenhaft
One Night That Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdt

Waiting on Wednesday (15)

2010-07-07T07:11:00.001-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to you by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This weeks pick is: Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

It releases: July 13th 2010

Summary:

His love captivated her... his secrets might kill her.

After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all.

But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town…might cost her her life.

Teaser Tuesday (12)

2010-07-06T07:11:00.001-06:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This weeks teaser comes from Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson

The memory of the night before bubbled to the surface of Claire's mind, and her heart sank before she's even opened her eyes. Welcome to My Life As a Monster, Day One.

Pg 50

In My Mailbox (20)

2010-07-04T07:11:00.013-06:00

IMM is brought to you by Kristi at The Story Siren & inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Aren't sure which books to include in your IMM? Here's Kristi's explanation.

Won from Shannon:

The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Trade from Jessica:

You Are So Undead To Me by Stacey Jay

Bought at Gail Carson Levine's signing at The King's English:

Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand by Gail Carson Levine

Fairies and the Quest for Never Land by Gail Carson Levine

What did you get this week?

If I had all day to read (7)

2010-07-01T07:11:00.010-06:00

This is a meme from Kristin at Bookworming In The 21st Century. Every month we pick a few books we hope to read during the month that we would read if we had all day to just read.

My lucky number seems to be 2. I read Linger & White Cat during the month of June. Lets see if I can do better in July.

Sorry, to be boring but some of these books will reappear until I actually read them.

1. Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

2. The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

3. Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

4. Perchance To Dream by Lisa Mantchev

5. Sea by Heidi R. Kling

If you could pick 5 books to read if you had all day, what would they be?

Waiting on Wednesday (14)

2010-06-30T07:11:00.003-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to you by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This weeks book is: Kiss Me Deadly by Trisha Telep (Editor), Maggie Stiefvater, Becca Fitzpatrick, Rachel Vincent, Karen Mahoney, Diana Peterfreund , Daniel Waters, Carrie Ryan, Justine Musk, Daniel Marks, Sarah Rees Brennan, Michelle Rowen, Michelle Zink, Caitlin Kittredge (Contributors)

It releases: July 27th 2010

Summary: Full of dark seduction and modern romance, this short story collection presents a variety of talented voices sure to satisfy every werewolf, ghost, fallen angel, zombie, and shape-shifter’s dark desires.

Teaser Tuesday (11)

2010-06-29T07:11:00.003-06:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This week's teaser comes from White Cat by Holly Black. It is probably one of my favorite lines in the whole book.

"You know what they say about boys like you? Clever as the Devil and twice as pretty." - Pg 122

In My Mailbox (19)

2010-06-26T23:09:00.001-06:00

IMM is brought to you by Kristi at The Story Siren & inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Aren't sure which books to include in your IMM? Here's Kristi's explanation.

Here's what was in my mailbox this week:

Stuff I won from Kristina Springer:

The Espressologist (signed Hardcover)

My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours (Signed ARC)

Mr. Perfect

$25 Borders Gift Card

Signed Bookmarks (Stay tuned for a giveaway!)

From Around The World Tours:

The Mark by Jen Nadol

Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

Claire de Lune - Christine Johnson

Bought from B&N:

Sea - Heidi R Kling

Perchance To Dream - Lisa Mantchev

What did you get this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (13)

2010-06-23T07:11:00.004-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to you by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This weeks book is: Keys To The Repository by Melissa De La Cruz

It releases: June 29th 2010

Lavish parties. Passionate meetings in the night. Bone-chilling murders. Midterms. The day-to-day life of Schuyler Van Alen and her Blue Bloods friends (and enemies) is never boring. But there's oh-so-much more to know about these beautiful and powerful teens. Below the streets of Manhattan, within the walls of the Repository, exists a wealth of revealing information about the vampire elite that dates back before the Mayflower. In a series of short stories, journal entries, and never-before-seen letters, New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz gives her hungry fans the keys to the Repository and an even more in-depth look into the secret world of the Blue Bloods. Won't you come inside?

Teaser Tuesday (10)

2010-06-22T12:28:00.000-06:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This weeks teaser come from Sleepless by Cyn Balog.

"It took me nearly all night to convince him to try the seduction on a cat. I'm not sure he will ever learn to put his charges, even Julia, ahead of himself."
Pg 57

In My Mailbox (18)

2010-06-20T15:31:00.001-06:00

IMM is brought to you by Kristi at The Story Siren & inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Aren't sure which books to include in your IMM? Here's Kristi's explanation.

This week was actually a little slower, which was nice.

From Kelsey:

The Lonely Hearts Club - Elizabeth Eulberg

Swoon At Your Own Risk - Sydney Salter

An awesometastic laminated signed Shadow Hills bookmark

From Around The World Tours:

Sleepless - Cyn Balog

What did you get this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (12)

2010-06-16T13:07:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to you by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This weeks book is: One Night That Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdt

It releases: July 6th 2010

Summary:

Eliza is in a full-blown panic. Her notebook has been stolen—the one that lists everything she wants but is afraid to go after. And the absolute worst person in the world has it: her ex-boyfriend, Cooper.

Like it’s not enough Cooper was lying to Eliza for their entire relationship, now he and his friends are blackmailing her. They’re giving her just one night to complete the most humiliating tasks on her list or they’ll post her secrets online—including the ones that aren’t just about her.

Eliza’s sure of only one thing: she isn’t going down without a fight. Cooper may have what’s left of her dignity, but she’s not the only one with something to hide …

Teaser Tuesday (9)

2010-06-15T16:26:00.000-06:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This week's Teaser comes from Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson.

Notes: Sign on highway: Call *csp IN CASE OF ROAD RAGE. But is this your road rage? Or someone else's? Unclear.
Pg. 156

In My Mailbox (17)

2010-06-13T20:55:00.000-06:00

IMM is brought to you by Kristi at The Story Siren & inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Aren't sure which books to include in your IMM? Here's Kristi's explanation.

Books:

Swag:

From Around the World Tours I also got:
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer (ARC)

From Kimberly Pauley:
A signed copy of Sucks To Be Me, & swag. (Its the stuff on the bottom of the bag.)

ARCs from Sharon:
Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George
Crashed by Robin Wasserman
Wish by Alexandra Bullen

From Kelsey:
Rampant by Diana Peterfreund (ARC)

From Sherry:
Another Pan by Daniel & Dina Nayeri (ARC)

From Karen:
Vlad Tod bag

From B&N signing:
Wolves, Boys & Other Things That Might Kill Me by Kristen Chandler
(The stars are milk chocolate.)
The Princess & The Snowbird by Mette Ivie Harrison
The Adventures of Hashbrown Winters by Frank Cole

What did you get this week?

An update on The Debut Author Challenge

2010-06-10T07:11:00.002-06:00

I am terribly behind on reviews. I also noticed that:

I have 8 of the 13 on my list to read.

I have read 2 of the 13.

Debut books I have read:

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White
The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia
A Love Story: Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner
Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

I'm right where I should be right now, lets see if I can get ahead of schedule.

Waiting on Wednesday (11)

2010-06-09T12:24:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to you by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This weeks book I'm dying to be able to own is: A Love Story: Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner
It releases: June 10th 2010 (TOMORROW!!)

Summary:

For months, Cass Meyer has heard her best friend Julia, a wannabe Broadway composer, whispering about a top-secret project. Then Julia is killed in a sudden car accident, and while Cass is still reeling from her death, Julia’s boyfriend and her other drama friends make it their mission to bring to fruition the nearly-completed secret project: a musical about an orphaned ninja princess entitled Totally Sweet Ninja Death Squad.

Cass isn’t one of the drama people. She doesn’t feel at home with Julia’s drama friends, and she doesn’t see a place for her in the play. Things only get worse when she finds out that Heather Galloway, the girl who made her miserable all through middle school, has been cast as the ninja princess.

Cass can’t take a summer of swallowing her pride and painting sets, so she decides to follow her original plan for a cross-country road trip with Julia. Even if she has a touring bicycle instead of a driver’s license, and even if Julia’s ashes are coming along in Tupperware.

Totally Sweet Ninja Death Squad is a story about friendship. About love. About traveling a thousand miles just to find yourself. About making peace with the past, and making sense of it. And it’s a story about the bloodiest high school musical one quiet suburb has ever seen.

I was lucky I got to read this one. It was slightly different then what I was expecting, but in a good way. Pick this one up if you get the chance!

Teaser Tuesday - Sing Me to Sleep

2010-06-08T13:35:00.000-06:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This weeks teaser comes from Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison.

His deep brown eyes capture mine. "You sing me to sleep."

Pg. 88

If I had all day to read (6)

2010-06-08T13:31:00.001-06:00

This is a meme from Kristin at Bookworming In The 21st Century. Every month we pick a few books we hope to read during the month that we would read if we had all day to just read.

Out of last's month's 5, I read 2. Beautiful Creatures & Wings.

Some of last month's are reappearing this month.

1. Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

2. Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

3. The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

4. Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

5. White Cat by Holly Black

In My Mailbox (16)

2010-06-06T19:04:00.000-06:00

IMM is brought to you by Kristi at The Story Siren& inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Aren't sure which books to include in your IMM? Here's Kristi's explanation.

For review as part of an ARC tour from Around the World Tours:

Sing Me To Sleep by Angela Morrison
THE TRANSFORMATION
Beth has always been “The Beast”—that’s what everyone at school calls her because of her awkward height, facial scars, and thick glasses. Beth’s only friend is geeky, golden-haired Scott. That is, until she’s selected to be her choir’s soprano soloist, and receives the makeover that will change her life forever.
THE LOVE AFFAIR
When Beth’s choir travels to Switzerland, she meets Derek: pale, brooding, totally dreamy. Derek’s untethered passion—for music, and for Beth—leaves her breathless. Because in Derek’s eyes? She’s not The Beast, she’s The Beauty.
THE IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE
When Beth comes home, Scott, her best friend in the world, makes a confession that leaves her completely torn. Should she stand by sweet, steady Scott or follow the dangerous, intense new feelings she has for Derek?
THE HEARTBREAK
The closer Beth gets to Derek, the further away he seems. Then Beth discovers that Derek’s been hiding a dark secret from her …one that could shatter everything.

From Cindy:

Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin
Avery Hood is reeling from the loss of her parents--and the fact that she can't remember what happened to them even though she was there.
She's struggling to adjust to life without them, and to living with her grandmother, when she meets Ben, who isn't like any guy she's ever met before.
It turns out there's a reason why, and Ben's secret may hold the key to Avery finding out what happened to her parents...
But what if that secret changes everything she knows about--and feels for--Ben?

Sincerly by Courtney Sheinmel
Two girls across the country from each other connect through letters in Sincerely: Sincerely, Sophie/Sincerely, Katie

Geek Abroad by Piper Banks Summary (To avoid spoiling you.)

Take Me There by Susan Colasanti In one short week . . . three lives change.
Rhiannon is devastated after the breakup with her boyfriend and wants him back. Nicoles ex is still in the picture, but she can't help having a new crush. James and Rhiannon are just friends, though he may try to take it to the next level. Will their desire to take a mean girl down a notch bring these three friends what they want . . . and more?

Burned by P.C. & Kristen Cast Summary (To avoid spoiling you.)

The Six Rules of Maybe by Deb Caletti
Scarlett Hughes is overly involved in the lives of everyone around her, and exceptionally interested in the habits of her neighbors. But Scarlett is thrust solidly into her own life when her sister, Juliet, returns home from school—pregnant and surprisingly married to a sweet, handsome man whom she seems to have no interest in, but who is hopelessly in love with her. Forced to take a look inward for the first time, Scarlett discovers the necessity of dreams, as well as the necessity of facing reality and speaking the truth.

Waiting on Wednesday (10)

2010-06-02T12:01:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to you by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This weeks book is:Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

It releases: June 8th 2010

Summary (From B&N.com):

Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two.

But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.

But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?

In My Mailbox (15)

2010-05-30T18:52:00.000-06:00

IMM is brought to you by Kristi at The Story Siren & inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Aren't sure which books to include in your IMM? Here's Kristi's explanation.

I am not going to list each book this week, because it turned into an insane week.

As part of an ARC Tour hosted by Around the World Tours I got:

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Something Like Fate by Susan Colasanti

I won Thirst book 1 & 2 by Christopher Pike from Fallen Archangel

Thirst No. 1: The Last Vampire, Black Blood, Red Dice

Thirst No. 2: Phantom, Evil Thirst, Creatures of Forever

I won the paperback of If I Stay by Gayle Forman from Penguin on Facebook.

I also got 2 boxes of books from 2 very awesome bloggers as well.

What did you get this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (9)

2010-05-26T20:06:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to you by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This weeks pick is: Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs
It releases: June 1st 2010

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid – she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview high school ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems – like her obnoxious, biker boy neighbor Quince Fletcher – but it has that one major perk – Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type – when they “bond,” it’s for life.

When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily-ever-after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

Teaser Tuesday (8)

2010-05-25T12:22:00.000-06:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My pick this week is A Love Story: Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner

"Okay. Obviously you have not lived. C'mon."
"I was once kissed in a motel hallway by a bass player, at two in the morning."
"Impressive, but unconvincing. I'm buying, so get in the car."

pg 78

In My Mailbox (14)

2010-05-23T09:27:00.000-06:00

IMM is brought to you by Kristi at The Story Siren & inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Aren't sure which books to include in your IMM? Here's Kristi's explanation.

I sent some of my books to a friend so she could take them to signings I couldn't go to & they came back this week. With all sorts of swag included. (We share a bookmark habit as well.) Thanks Andrea!

Borrowed from Heather:
Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz (Book 2 in the Touch Series)

Last fall, sixteen-year-old Camelia fell for Ben, the mysterious new boy at school who turned out to have a very mysterious gift--pyschometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. But just as Camelia and Ben's romance began to heat up, he abruptly left town. Brokenhearted, Camelia has spent the last few months studying everything she can about psychometry, and experiencing her own strange brushes with premonition. Camelia wonders if Ben's abilities have somehow rubbed off on her. Can the power of psychometry be transferred?

Even once Ben returns to school, Camelia can't get close enough to share her secret with him. Despite the romantic tension between them, Ben remains aloof, avoiding contact. Then when an unexpected kiss leads to a frightening argument, Camelia makes the painful decision to let Ben go and move on. Adam, the hot new guy at work, seems good for her in ways Ben wasn't. Adam is easygoing, and seems to really care about her.

But when Camelia and Adam start dating, a surprising love triangle results. A chilling sequence of events upturns secrets from Ben's past--and Adam's. Someone is lying, and it's up to Camelia to figure out who-before it's too late.

Darklight by Lesley Livingston (Book 2 in Wonderous Strange Series)

Much has changed since autumn, when Kelley Winslow learned she was Faerie royalty, fell in love with changeling guard Sonny Flannery, and saved New York City from a rampaging Faerie war band. When a terrifying encounter in Central Park sends Kelley tumbling into the Otherworld, her reunion with Sonny is joyful—but cut short. For they’ve been plunged into a game of Faerie deception and wavering allegiances in which the next move could topple a kingdom...or part them forever.

The fans who flocked to Lesley Livingston’s Wondrous Strange will fall hard for Darklight, the soaringly romantic second book in the trilogy. Breathless high stakes and vividly magical characters make this a can’t-miss fantasy for readers of Melissa Marr and Holly Black.

Won from Crystal during Cindy's Contest Craze:
20 Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

"Don't worry, Anna. I'll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it."
"Okay."
"Promise me? Promise you won't say anything?"
"Don't worry." I laughed. "It's our secret, right?" According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.

Books from Carol:The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong (ARC) (Book 1 in The Darkest Powers Series)
Yes, I have this book & loved it. I was lucky to get the ARC. Now for the summary:

After years of frequent moves following her mother’s death, Chloe Saunders’s life is finally settling down. She is attending art school, pursuing her dreams of becoming a director, making friends, meeting boys. Her biggest concern is that she’s not developing as fast as her friends are. But when puberty does hit, it brings more than hormone surges. Chloe starts seeing ghosts–everywhere, demanding her attention. After she suffers a breakdown, her devoted aunt Lauren gets her into a highly recommended group home.

At first, Lyle House seems a pretty okay place, except for Chloe’s small problem of fearing she might be facing a lifetime of mental illness. But as she gradually gets to know the other kids at the home–charming Simon and his ominous, unsmiling brother Derek, obnoxious Tori, and Rae, who has a “thing” for fire–Chloe begins to realize that there is something that binds them all together, and it isn’t your usual “problem kid” behaviour. And together they discover that Lyle House is not your usual group home either…

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (ARC)

What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all—looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12th should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it’s her last. The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. In fact, she re-lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she had ever imagined.

From Around The World Tours:
Forget You by Jennifer Echols

There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four-year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. With her life about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon.

But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people—suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug.

That's what I got this week. What about you?

Waiting on Wednesday (8)

2010-05-19T14:03:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to you by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This weeks pick is: Sea by Heidi R Kling

It releases: June 10th 2010

Summary:

Haunted by recurring nightmares since her mother’s disappearance over the Indian ocean three years before, fifteen-year old California girl Sienna Jones reluctantly travels with her psychiatrist father’s volunteer team to six-months post-tsunami Indonesia where she meets the scarred and soulful orphaned boy, Deni, who is more like Sea than anyone she has ever met.

She knows they can’t be together, so why can’t she stay away from him? And what about her old best friend-turned-suddenly-hot Spider who may or may not be waiting for her back home? And why won’t her dad tell her the truth about her mother’s plane crash? The farther she gets from home, the closer she comes to finding answers.

And Sea’s real adventure begins.

What's a book you can't wait to read when its released?

Teaser Tuesday (7)

2010-05-18T10:04:00.000-06:00

This weeks teaser comes from Spells by Aprilynne Pike

"Is it safe?" Laurel asked dubiously.

"Of course not," Jameson replied.

In My Mailbox (13)

2010-05-16T09:41:00.000-06:00

IMM is brought to you by Kristi at The Story Siren

I had yet another fabulous book week. Or maybe I'm just easy to please.

I bought Spells by Aprilynne Pike for a friend (& one to giveaway.) It is book 2 so I'll link to the goodreads page so no one gets spoiled.

A Love Story: Starring My Dead Best Friend is one I got as part of an ARC Tour hosted by Around The World Tours.

For months, Cass Meyer has heard her best friend Julia, a wannabe Broadway composer, whispering about a top-secret project. Then Julia is killed in a sudden car accident, and while Cass is still reeling from her death, Julia’s boyfriend and her other drama friends make it their mission to bring to fruition the nearly-completed secret project: a musical about an orphaned ninja princess entitled Totally Sweet Ninja Death Squad.

Cass isn’t one of the drama people. She doesn’t feel at home with Julia’s drama friends, and she doesn’t see a place for her in the play. Things only get worse when she finds out that Heather Galloway, the girl who made her miserable all through middle school, has been cast as the ninja princess.

Cass can’t take a summer of swallowing her pride and painting sets, so she decides to follow her original plan for a cross-country road trip with Julia. Even if she has a touring bicycle instead of a driver’s license, and even if Julia’s ashes are coming along in Tupperware.

Totally Sweet Ninja Death Squad is a story about friendship. About love. About traveling a thousand miles just to find yourself. About making peace with the past, and making sense of it. And it’s a story about the bloodiest high school musical one quiet suburb has ever seen.

The Fabulous Lena let me borrow her copy of Sea by Heidi R Kling.

Haunted by recurring nightmares since her mother’s disappearance over the Indian ocean three years before, fifteen-year old California girl Sienna Jones reluctantly travels with her psychiatrist father’s volunteer team to six-months post-tsunami Indonesia where she meets the scarred and soulful orphaned boy, Deni, who is more like Sea than anyone she has ever met.

She knows they can’t be together, so why can’t she stay away from him? And what about her old best friend-turned-suddenly-hot Spider who may or may not be waiting for her back home? And why won’t her dad tell her the truth about her mother’s plane crash? The farther she gets from home, the closer she comes to finding answers.

And Sea’s real adventure begins.

The Swag:
The pin & wristband not on the paper, I got from Aprilynne Pike at the signing for Spells.
I joined the Splash Team. (The Street Team forForgive My Fins) The pin resides on my bag & the bookmark on with my collection. I think the mermark temporary tattoos are pretty fun!

What did you get this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (7)

2010-05-12T12:20:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to you by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This weeks WoW is 13 to Life: A Werewolves Tale by Shannon Delany
It releases: June 22 2010

Summary:

Something strange is stalking the small town of Junction…

When junior Jess Gillmansen gets called out of class by Guidance, she can only presume it’s for one of two reasons. Either they’ve finally figured out who wrote the scathing anti-jock editorial in the school newspaper or they’re hosting yet another intervention for her about her mom. Although far from expecting it, she’s relieved to discover Guidance just wants her to show a new student around—but he comes with issues of his own including a police escort.

The newest member of Junction High, Pietr Rusakova has secrets to hide--secrets that will bring big trouble to the small town of Junction—secrets including dramatic changes he’s undergoing that will surely end his life early.

Teaser Tuesday (6)

2010-05-12T10:44:00.001-06:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My Teaser Tuesday this week is Wings by Aprilynne Pike.

"I told her I left my phone in the car all night and we slept in your Dad's room." "Well, half of that is true."

Contests I Think You'll Like (5)

2010-05-10T11:18:00.002-06:00

I'm a bit behind on my May edition of this post. I blame school. It isn't really its fault, but I'm going to blame it anyways.

As usual, I will add to this post through out the month of May so keep checking back.

Fire & Ice has several contests going right now, they are on the right side, right below the blog button. There are always new ones so make sure to ckeck often.

Kimberly Pauley giveaway on CJ's blog. (Prizes from Kimberly, she isn't the prize. I figured I should clarify.) (Ends 5/13 8 pm Eastern)

Signed copy of THE RISE OF RENEGADE X on CJ's blog (Ends 5/13 8 pm Eastern)
SEA BLUE PEOPLE WIN MYSTERY BOOKS CONTEST: WEEK #7 (Ends 5/14 midnight Pacific)

Reggie is giving away a SIGNED copy of My Invisible Boyfriend by Susie Day (5/25 4 pm Central)

A Very Vampire May Giveaway from Sara McClung (Ends 6/2)

Epic Still Sucks to Be Me Launch! (Ends 6/11)

If I had all day to read (5)

2010-05-10T10:47:00.000-06:00

This is a meme from Kristin at Bookworming In The 21st Century. This month, 5 books I hope to read.

1. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
2. Wings by Aprilynne Pike
3. Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken
4. The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy
5. Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Yes, 2 of the books are reappearing this month as I read nothing on my list last month.

In My Mailbox (12)

2010-05-09T22:29:00.001-06:00

IMM is brought to you by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Another good book week for me.

Prize from YABC: Gone by Lisa McMann

OPEN YOUR EYES.

Janie thought she knew what her future held. And she thought she’d made her peace with it. But she can’t handle dragging Cabel down with her.

She knows he will stay with her, despite what she sees in his dreams. He’s amazing. And she’s a train wreck. Janie sees only one way to give him the life he deserves: She has to disappear. And it’s going to kill them both.

Then a stranger enters her life — and everything unravels. The future Janie once faced now has an ominous twist, and her choices are more dire than she’d ever thought possible. She alone must decide between the lesser of two evils. And time is running out....

Borrowed from Heather: Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

Sydelle Mirabil is living proof that, with a single drop of rain, a life can be changed forever. Tucked away in the farthest reaches of the kingdom, her dusty village has suffered under the weight of a strangely persistent drought. That is, of course, until a wizard wanders into town and brings the rain with him.
In return for this gift, Wayland North is offered any reward he desires—and no one is more surprised than Sydelle when, without any explanation, he chooses her. Taken from her home, Sydelle hardly needs encouragement to find reasons to dislike North. He drinks too much and bathes too little, and if that isn’t enough to drive her to madness, North rarely even uses the magic he takes such pride in possessing. Yet, it’s not long before she realizes there’s something strange about the wizard, who is as fiercely protective of her as he is secretive about a curse that turns his limbs a sinister shade of black and leaves him breathless with agony. Unfortunately, there is never a chance for her to seek answers.

Along with the strangely powerful quakes and storms that trace their path across the kingdom, other wizards begin to take an inexplicable interest in her as well, resulting in a series of deadly duels. Against a backdrop of war and uncertainty, Sydelle is faced with the growing awareness that these events aren’t as random as she had believed—that no curse, not even that of Wayland North, is quite as terrible as the one she herself may carry.

Received from Around the World Tours: Beautiful Dead: Jonas by Eden Maguire

Something strange is happening in Ellerton High. Phoenix is the fourth teenager to die within a year. His street fight stabbing follows the deaths of Jonas, Summer and Arizona in equally strange and sudden circumstances.

Rumours of ghosts and strange happenings rip through the small community as it comes to terms with shock and loss. Darina,Phoenix's grief-stricken girlfriend, is on the verge. She can't escape her intense heartache, or the impossible apparitions of those that are meant to be dead. And all the while the sound of beating wings echo inside her head! And then one day Phoenix appears to Darina.

Ecstatic to be reunited, he tells her about the Beautiful Dead. Souls in limbo, they have been chosen to return to the world to set right a wrong linked to their deaths and bring about justice. Beautiful, superhuman and powerful, they are marked by a 'death mark' - a small tattoo of angel's wings. Phoenix tells her that the sound of invisible wings beating are the millions of souls in limbo, desperate to return to earth.Darina's mission is clear: she must help Jonas, Summer, Arizona, and impossibly, her beloved Phoenix, right the wrong linked to their deaths to set them free from limbo so that they can finally rest in peace. Will love conquer death? And if it does, can Darina set it free?

Traded with Cindy:

Mistwood by Leah Cypess

The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwod.
But when she is needed she always comes.

Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be, or the powers she is supposed to have.

Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift to animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty--because without it, she may be his greatest threat.

Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can't help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court . . . until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them.

Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart . . . and everything she thought she knew.

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

Love can be a dangerous thing....

Hanna simply wants to be loved. With a head plagued by hallucinations, a medicine cabinet full of pills, and a closet stuffed with frilly, violet dresses, Hanna's tired of being the outcast, the weird girl, the freak. So she runs away to Portero, Texas in search of a new home.

But Portero is a stranger town than Hanna expects. As she tries to make a place for herself, she discovers dark secrets that would terrify any normal soul. Good thing for Hanna, she's far from normal. As this crazy girl meets an even crazier town, only two things are certain: Anything can happen and no one is safe.

Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two.

But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.

But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?

The Espressologist bookmark & Sticker

Bought: The Golden Spiral by Lisa Mangum

His eyes. His touch. His kiss. Dante was unlike anyone Abby had ever met. Now he’s gone, and Abby will do anything to get him back…
The hourglass door has closed behind Dante, sending him back in time to hunt down Zo, Tony, and V. Abby knows that Dante, as a Master of Time, is the only one who can stop them from destroying time itself. She also knows that he will need her help. But almost immediately, things start to change and Abby’s worst fears are realized when Zo begins targeting her past specifically.
With each new change that ripples into her present, Abby’s life continues to spiral out of control. Her relationships with Jason, Natalie, and even her family, are threatened to the breaking point – and beyond. Zo’s power is greater than Abby ever imagined, and as she struggles to free Dante, she receives help from an unexpected – and unlikely – ally.

As Abby’s world fractures around her, she must face a terrible truth: either Dante didn’t make it through the door, or he is lost forever. So with Dante’s blueprints in hand, she begins construction on a new door, a new time machine that will either save Dante – or doom him.

The river of time is running wild, churning up secrets and betrayals, revelations and promises. With each new turn of the river, Abby faces a new challenge. Who can she trust? And how many more changes can she survive?

The bank is eroding, the barriers are thinning. And time is running out.

What was in your mailbox?

As an added question, do you prefer me just listing or this way where there's a summary?

Teaser Tuesday (5)

2010-05-04T14:57:00.000-06:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This week I'm reading:

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
"Maybe sometimes a hurricane is just a hurricane, Lena."
"As long as I'm around, I am hurricane season in Gatlin County."
(Pg 182)

In My Mailbox (11)

2010-05-04T11:24:00.000-06:00

IMM is brought to you by Kristi at The Story Siren

This week is late, I got books from a combination of places:

I bought from B&N:

Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine

Vampire musician Michael Glass has attracted the attention of a big- time producer who wants to cut a demo and play some gigs-which means Michael will have to enter the human world. For this, he's been assigned escorts that include both a dangerous immortal as well as Michael's all-too-human friends. And with that mix of personalities, this is going to be a road trip from hell...

Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr

Hunger for nourishment.
Hunger for touch.
Hunger to belong.

Half-human and half-faery, Ani is driven by her hungers.

Those same appetites also attract powerful enemies and uncertain allies, including Devlin. He was created as an assassin and is brother to the faeries' coolly logical High Queen and to her chaotic twin, the embodiment of War. Devlin wants to keep Ani safe from his sisters, knowing that if he fails, he will be the instrument of Ani's death.

Ani isn't one to be guarded while others fight battles for her, though. She has the courage to protect herself and the ability to alter Devlin's plans—and his life. The two are drawn together, each with reason to fear the other and to fear for one another. But as they grow closer, a larger threat imperils the whole of Faerie. Will saving the faery realm mean losing each other?

I borrowed from Lena:

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.

Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.

In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

I got from Little & Brown

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris-- the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.

Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts fiercely alongside her. Now Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves and finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax-- but loving him means betraying her sister and has the potential to destroy all they've worked for.

Twenty-five-year-old Jackson Pearce delivers a dark, taut fairy tale with heart-pounding action, fierce sisterly love, and a romance that will leave readers breathless.

What did you get this week?

Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev coming soon!

2010-04-30T21:48:00.000-06:00

There's less than a month until the release of Perchance to Dream. If you want to be exact, it will be released it will be released on May 25th. I was lucky enough to win a contest last year & received an ARC of Eyes Like Stars. I could have read it all in one sitting, but I made myself read it in small chunks. (For those who don't know, Eyes like Stars is book one in The Théâtre Illuminata series. Perchance to Dream is book 2.) I'm very excited to read this book since I loved Eyes Like Stars so much.

Perchance to Dream:
(Synopsis from Goodreads)

The stuff that dreams are made on.

Act Two, Scene One

Growing up in the enchanted Thèâtre Illuminata, Beatrice Shakespeare Smith learned everything about every play ever written. She knew the Players and their parts, but she didn’t know that she, too, had magic. Now, she is the Mistress of Revels, the Teller of Tales, and determined to follow her stars. She is ready for the outside world.

Enter BERTIE AND COMPANY

But the outside world soon proves more topsy-turvy than any stage production. Bertie can make things happen by writing them, but outside the protective walls of the Thèâtre, nothing goes as planned. And her magic cannot help her make a decision between—

Nate: Her suave and swashbuckling pirate, now in mortal peril.

Ariel: A brooding, yet seductive, air spirit whose true motives remain unclear.

When Nate is kidnapped and taken prisoner by the Sea Goddess, only Bertie can free him. She and her fairy sidekicks embark on a journey aboard the Thèâtre’s caravan, using Bertie’s word magic to guide them. Along the way, they collect a sneak-thief, who has in his possession something most valuable, and meet The Mysterious Stranger, Bertie’s father—and the creator of the scrimshaw medallion. Bertie’s dreams are haunted by Nate, whose love for Bertie is keeping him alive, but in the daytime, it’s Ariel who is tantalizingly close, and the one she is falling for. Who does Bertie love the most? And will her magic be powerful enough to save her once she enters the Sea Goddess’s lair?

Once again, LISA MANTCHEV has spun a tale like no other—full of romance, magic, adventure, and fairies, too—that readers won’t want to put down, even after the curtain has closed.

That's not enough?
You want more?
Ok, here's the Trailer.

Now you really want to read it, right?
Then you can go preorder it.
Perchance to Dream:B&N

What's that?
You haven't read Eyes Like Stars yet?
Well, you're in luck. The paperback came out this month.
Here's the link: B&N

You still want more?
Ok, here's the website: http://www.theatre-illuminata.com/

Winners of the 25 follower giveaway

2010-04-29T15:56:00.000-06:00

Again, I apologize for the delay.

Winners are:

chokingondust

Lena

Shannon

& the International winner:

Tegan

Email me me your address & your choice of which prize.

Princess for Hire Winner!

2010-04-29T14:05:00.000-06:00

My apolgies in the delay of the results.
The winner of a signed copy of Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt is:

Megan S.

Email me your address so I can send that out to you.

In My Mailbox (10)

2010-04-25T12:27:00.000-06:00

IMM is brought to you by Kristi at The Story Siren.

This week was particularly a good week for me.

The 1st book I got was Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins.
I won it from her on her blog. Its personalized & I love that.

The next package I got was 4 books & 2 very cool bookmarks I traded Cindy for.

White Cat by Holly Black
Forgive my Fins by Tera Lynn Childs
Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr
Yes, that is Linger by Maggie Stiefvater.
The awesome booksmarks are for Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus & Sea by Heidi R Kling.

The same day I got that package of awesomeness, I also got one more book:

Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia
This one is not mine to keep.
It was sent to me as part of an ARC tour hosted by Around the World Tours.

What did you get?

In My Mailbox (9)

2010-04-18T12:18:00.000-06:00

IMM is brought to you by Kristi at The Story Siren.

I love coming home to packages!

I got a Shadowed Summer bookmark & Sticker from Saundra Mitchell.

I got an ARC of The Reinvention of Edison Thomas from Emilee at The Penultimate Page.

I bought Palace Beautiful at Sarah Deford Williams signing at The King's English yesterday.

What did you get?

In My Mailbox (8)

2010-04-11T20:41:00.000-06:00

IMM is brought to you by Kristi at The Story Siren.

After weeks of no books, I bought some. (Yes, I went nuts & bought a bunch.)

The Blade of Shattered Hope (The 13th Reality Book 3) by James Dashner

Knightley Academy by Violet Habberdasher

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting (I needed to get a hardcover version!)

The Reckoning (The Darkest Powers Book 3) by Kelley Armstrong

The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott

Challenge (Desert Tales Book 2) by Melissa Marr

Aries Rising by Bonnie Hearn Hill

I also got my Sea postcard from Heidi Kling last week.

What did you get?

Princess Bookie's Contest Craze

2010-04-10T20:59:00.000-06:00

Today was the Readathon. Its still going.
Cindy @ Princess Bookie is holding a ton of contests that end either tonight or monday night.
Many of the books were donated by other bloggers or authors.

I wasn't exaggerating, there really are a lot of contests. Enter only the ones you really want, or you'll burn yourself out.

If I had all day to read (4)

2010-04-04T13:54:00.000-06:00

This is a meme from Kristen. I missed last month. I didn't forget, but I was trying to stay away from things that I could use to procrastinate doing my homework.

Here are the 5 books I hope to read this month:

The Cinderella Society - Kay Cassidy
Beautiful Creatures - Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Aries Rising - Bonnie Hearn Hill
Before I Fall - Lauren Oliver
Princess For Hire - Lindsey Leavitt

If you had all day, what would you read?

Contests I think You'll Like (4)

2010-03-31T21:38:00.002-06:00

Welcome to the April Edition of Contests I Think You'll Like.

Fire & Ice has several contests going right now, they are on the right side, right below the blog button.

~~CJ is giving away~~ ~~Hex Hall book & t-shirt.~~ ~~(4/2 8 PM Central)~~

~~Sharon LovesBooks & Cats is giving away her~~ ~~ARC of Tell Me A Secret~~ ~~(4/3)~~

~~Shannon is giving away~~ ~~signed books~~ ~~signed books to celebrate getting an agent. (4/10)~~

~~Princess Bookie is hosting an~~ ~~ARC giveaway~~ ~~(4/11)~~

Abby McDonald is giving away a Boys, Bears & a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots gift pack. (4/13)

I Heart Monster is giving away A Signed ARC of Kiss of Death (4/15)

Heidi is giving away a book a week! (4/16 Midnight PST)

Tiger's Turnarounds: Twilight Graphic Novel (4/19)

Ramblings of a Teenage Bookworm wants to be your Book Fairy (4/25)