The Farmer's Daughter's Bookshelf

Apology

2010-08-18T11:05:00.000-04:00

I'm really sorry that I have not posted anything recently! I've just been so busy getting ready for school, leaving the farm, etc. I'm working on some reviews right now. The two below are of two really good books, I hope you get a chance to read them too.

I'm also working on a proposal for book review... type thing. Can't say much more than that, other than that I think could really help people find the books they want to read.

As I get back to blogging, I'll tone down what I used to do. I won't have much time in the future but Book Bag Bounty and the reviews are so far the only constants. We'll see. Thanks to all those that kept checking for updates!

Wild Spirits

2010-08-18T10:49:00.000-04:00

Love animals? Then this novel is for you! A farm of wild animals, a young girl just out of high school and a neglected little boy may not have much in common in this story it really works. Wild Spirits by Rosa Jordan, a Canadian author, is the tale of the healing powers of love. The amazing thing is that other than Wendy's fear I could see this plot being real life. Just you are on the same page as I am:
Newest book from author Rosa Jordan focuses on burgeoning friendship between young girl and boy. 19-year-old Wendy Marshall is a bank teller and has a special kinship with animals of all kinds. While closing for the night, Wendy’s bank is robbed. Terrified of a repeat incident, she is unable to work and retreats to the country. 11-year-old Danny Ryan, neglected at home and ostracized by his peers, befriends Wendy as they rescue and care for injured or orphaned wildlife. Over the next three years Wendy and Danny go beyond caring for animals to caring for each other… But, the robbers from that fateful day are still at large, and in a whirlwind series of events, Danny, now 14, must act to save Wendy’s life.
Wendy has a very normal fear, that she deals with in her own way. She has the support of more than Danny but telling you would spoil the surprise. The research of the different species that show their furry faces in the books was impressive. Wendy seemed so knowledgeable about all kinds of wildlife. She is overall an awe-inspiring character. When she has to quit her job because her fear is just too high to handle the people anymore, she starts a small business from her new home, the farm.
Danny is a special character. Neglected at home, he turns to Wendy for support and Wendy, being the kind soul she is, gives it to him. There is a third character who I loved as well but his name would ruin a pleasant surprise for those that have not read this book.
The plot is about as twisted as a strand of barbed wire. The climax is a brief few pages however, now that I think about it there are other climaxes that are much slower and better than the life-saving event. The whole book lacks the darker emotions but for once this was fine by me.
This tale of love is for animal lovers, girls and those who just want a good story. I'd have to say that this book is 4 and a half stars to me. The twisted plot tangled too much of story for me. Still a good read though! Thanks to Dundurn Press for letting me review a book from another great Canadian author!

Shadow Riders

2010-08-18T10:47:00.000-04:00

Suspense, wit and history all mixed up with adventure is the only recipe you need for Shadow Riders by B.J. Bayle. Rob and Luke take readers on a ride wilder than a Bill Cody-style rodeo. This book should definitely be on your list, just so you can give it to a 12-16 year old boy who doesn't always like to read.
Author B.J. Bayle is back with her newest book, set in Canada circa 1874. After their father is wounded by a band of horse thieves, 16-year-old Rob McCann and his adopted Native brother, Luke, are determined to find the culprits. The boys ride to Fort Ellice, Manitoba in hopes of cutting the thieves off, but instead learn that a new force called the North-West Mounted Police have formed and are bringing law and order to the Canadian wilderness. After a trying journey to locate the NWMP, the boys share their story with commander Colonel George French who agrees to help locate the thieves. Amid life-threatening hardships, Rob wonders if the bandits will ever be found and if he and Luke will make it back home.
The writing in the book is simple but still in-depth. I am absolutely shocked at the amount of research the author did. I have studied a bit about the NWMP myself so I was very curious to learn more. Bayle has my respect for refraining to call the horses by their 21st century breed names, instead sticking to terms actually used during that time period. The accuracy of the historical content is astonishing. Half of the time I was more into the history than the actual plot.
The plot started off fast with the harebrained ideas of two boys faced with starvation the next winter if they don't get their stolen horses back. This part was not developed enough for my liking. I don't know many people who would just ride out for the next 5 months or so. However, I am aware that the ages of the main characters, Luke and Rob, were at this time the age where a boy became a man. The boys are cunning and smart... loved that! You feel for the characters at all part of story even if the emotion is lacking at points through the story. This could be in part due to the pace of the plot.
I highly recommend this book to boys, and historical literature lovers. There is action and history plenty. The best part of the deal for me (besides getting to review this book for Dundurn Press) has to be the fact that Bayle is Canadian! Totally worth the 5 stars I'm gonna give it!

Book Bag Bounty (26)

2010-06-07T21:08:00.002-04:00

I got Runaway by Meg Cabot! Review to come!

Used Book Sales

2010-06-04T21:32:00.000-04:00

If you happen to be one of my readers who lives in the same area as I do... HUGE book sale at the Festival! I am so totally going by after the show tomorrow. I love used book sales. There is just something about getting so many books for such a low price. I have my fingers crossed that I will be home before the sale closes. After all tomorrow is my first horse show in years! Excited!

The Pace

2010-06-02T20:33:00.000-04:00

I won this book in a contest from The Extreme Reader and LOVED it! The Pace by Shelena Shorts is an amazing book. Intrigue, immortallity, a smart heroine and romance in abundance. I don't think I have enjoyed a YA novel this much in several weeks. This book needs to be on your to read list!

Weston is not immortal and he is of this world. But, aging is not part of his existence, and eighteen-year-old Sophie is determined to find out why. In doing so, she could also uncover something about her own life expectancy that she may not want to know. Suddenly, immortality will mean everything and nothing all at the same time.

That is a rather poor blurb from Goodreads. Sophie has been moving around the country. She goes to a virtual high school because of this. Her mother would like her to have some social outings. At one of these she crashes into Weston. Fate plays her hand. The sparks fly.
The romance is very normal. They have a strong relationship and unlike Twilight, these two still live their own life. Yes, the words "I love you" surface but only about 5 months into the relationship. Weston carries a secret that could kill him, Sophie and destroy the life the two of them would like.
I enjoyed the character development, the plot, the writing... in short the whole works. I highly recommend this book, 5 stars! Now I can hardly wait to get my hands on The Broken Lake which continues the story!

Guest Post: Cynthia Roberts

2010-05-23T21:52:00.000-04:00

Native Historical Fiction Author, Cynthia Roberts is here to do a guest post!

A bit about her:

I’ve always had a passion for writing from that very moment a Crayola was placed in my hand and throughout my career in marketing, public relations and sales writing creatively came easy... I chose to write an historical Indian romance because the first fiction I ever read was a novel from Cassie Edward’s Savage series and instantly became hungry to read more. I tracked down every one of those babies; let me tell you, until I read them all. However, every one I read from that point on was based on a Plains tribe. I wanted to focus on a tribe indigenous to my area and decided to write a series based on the tribes that make up the Iroquois League of Nations here on the east coast. Their warriors were the fiercest ever known to strike terror in the hearts of early settlers from Pennsylvania to Canada. They were referred to as "People of the Longhouse" because their families lived together in wooden structures upward of 40 feet long. They were an extremely powerful nation that was sadly torn apart by the American Revolution. I fell in love with the simplistic beauty of their culture and folklore. We could learn so much from our Native American brothers and the reverent love and respect they have for everything that is natural and of this earth. They knew how to live in balance with plants, animals and the natural elements ... never taking more than what was needed to sustain their people and way of life.

I asked her to write about why she thinks readers seem to love romance so much. Over the past few years I have noticed that romance seems to be spreading to every genre including YA.

Romances were strictly written as prose starting as early as the 13^th century. But I think it’s pretty safe to say true romance began after Eve ate the apple in the Garden of Eden and ticked off Adam. He had to do some real “wooing” back then to populate the world and according to scholars he lived to be 930 years old.

It has become such an inherent part of our society that as little girls we fantasize about a Cinderella world, being carried off by Prince Charming and living happily ever after. Our daddy’s revere us as their little princess at birth, treat us with tenderness, make us feel special and promise to always protect us. Most every woman want a man in their life like their daddy with a little bit of bad boy mixed in.

It’s what makes our heart go pitter-pat, our step lighter, our smile brighter, our day seem easier to cope with. If it’s lacking in our lives, we make up for it escaping into a fictional world where the hero is all man and the woman is US. It’s not the real world that’s true and as women we are nurturing, strong, independent, problem solvers, heads of businesses and multi-tasking managers of households.

We escape into genres filled with romance because while in that world we forget that the men in our lives are wired differently, come from Mars and gave up romancing us once the chase was over.

Thanks so much, Cynthia! Be sure to check out Wind Warrior, her book! Wish I could get the graphics to work, the cover is so pretty. This book is on my 2RBL.

I See a Finish Line...

2010-05-16T12:20:00.000-04:00

To the lack of reviews on this blog! Yes! School is soon out, not counting days yet but well I think its down to down to five weeks. Anyway... once I survive this week, you can bet that I will be back on here. A romance author by the name of Cynthia Roberts is going to do a guest post in a little bit. I have some reviews of books like Shadow by Jenny Moss waiting for you. And on the book, Princess For Hire, all I can say it was everything promised and more. Feisty heroine, thrilling adventures and witty writing, this is some debut! You have to read it while you wait for me to battle it out with an evil physics project and a biology essay (oh yes, essays in science class!). So hold your horses, grab a good book and I'll be back before you know it!

Book Bag Bounty (25)

2010-04-25T12:39:00.000-04:00

Ah, yes, I'm back! Believe it or not, I did not read very many books these past few weeks. In fact I only have one to share with you today.

Princess For Hire by Lindsey Leavitt
I wanted to read this so badly. The library finally got and it was as amazing as I expected it to be. Magic makes Desi into a princess but only Desi herself can get herself back out of the trouble that comes with her new job! I'll share a review later this week!

MIA For a While

2010-04-08T09:15:00.002-04:00

I have some exams, major projects and other stuff coming up so no blogging for while. Hope y'all understand! I shall be back someday soon.

Heist Society

2010-04-01T19:46:00.000-04:00

Ally Carter captured the YA world with her action-packed, humoruos books right from the start but Heist Society proves that her range can not just be limited to the Gallenger Girls books. This book is a 16-day wild ride from New York to Paris and back again. I LOVED it!! Therefore, I can only say one thing, get yourself a copy of this book ASAP! Kat is a kick-butt heroine and oh, yes there is romance in the air. A must read!

Book Bag Bounty

2010-03-27T21:24:00.000-04:00

Just doing this fast... I'm away all day tomorrow to go see my dream school! :D

I got Very LeFreak by Rachel Cahn this week. So excited!

Sharp North

2010-03-25T20:24:00.000-04:00

Patrick Cave is not a name you would hear about often in the YA world. Yet for some reason, his slightly-off-the-beaten track novel, Sharp North, is something of interest. I have no idea why I liked this book. Sadly Goodreads has nothing to quote so I'll write this up myself.

Mira has always lived quietly until the day a stranger is shot and killed in front of her. The woman's body is quickly removed, leaving bloodstained snow and a crumpled piece of paper on the ground as the only clues to her murder. Mira discovers that the paper contains a list of names, including her own - but why? Terrified, she begins to view everyone with suspicion, and attempts to follow the clues that the dead woman left behind, unaware of the danger she is stumbling into.
For Mira lives in an environmentally damaged and socially dangerous Great Britain that is ruled by the caste of the Great Families, forming a society where reproduction is strictly limited and where families keep illegal clones - or "spares" - of themselves, just in case a replacement is ever needed...

Now how does that sound? Very, very dystopia. This world is not one I would ever want to live in. Sadly, certian parts could easily happen. But that's another topic for another day... This book is well written. You can not predict anything at all. Even the protagonists and antagonists seem to jump around. To be honest, some of Mira's actions early in the book almost made me not finish the book. This book is about as dark as Patrick Ness's books but there is more hope and explainations. This author is a master of suspense and illusion. The book was extremely well thought out. I'm handing out 4 stars. There is a star missing because I felt that the characters were not as solid as they should have been. According to the last page, Sharp North has a sequel coming, The Selected. Will have to check it out!

Hex Hall

2010-03-23T21:42:00.000-04:00

Dark, sinister and secret best describe Rachel Hawkins' witchy debut, Hex Hall. A place for the exiled 'monsters' that the world should be protected from, Hex Hall has some dark twists to present to those that thought they knew it all this semester. Murder, curses and a dark romance all added up to an amazing book!

When Sophie Mercer turned twelve, she discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-Gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hecate Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward prodigium, a.k.a. witches, fae, and shapeshifters. By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard. Three powerful enemies who look like supermodels; a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock; a creepy, tag-along ghost; and a new roommate, who happens to be the most-hated person and only vampire on campus. Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her friend Jenna is the number one suspect. Meanwhile, Sophie has a more personal shock to grapple with. Not only is her father the head of the prodigium council, he's the most powerful warlock in the world, and Sophie is his heir. As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all prodigium, especially her.

If that cover doesn't make you want to read this book, I hope my review can convince you! This book is everything I hoped it would be and more. Sophie's character is very strong and well, sassy. She will not back down to anybody, something I really liked. The romance is actually one I can relate to. I know what is like to fall for a guy that you can't have and to like him so much that looking at him hurts. Like me, for some reason Sophie has the strenght to steer clear. The dark twists that come in the form of a mystery are totally worth reading. The writing is solid without holes or going over the top. Although a bit more humorous dialog would be good. I give this 5 stars. The plot is a winding path of sinister happenings. Think there's no why this author would kill off a few characters, well think again! This has be on your to-read list!

Book Bag Bounty (24)

2010-03-21T10:25:00.000-04:00

Wow! My book bag is overflowing. I got some really cool books this week!

Bought:

Tate by Linda Lael Miller
If you have been following my blog for sometime, you might know that LLM is my favorite adult author. This gal can truly write good western romance. I was a bit shocked to not see this on the bestsellers shelf but I found it anyway. Almost done reading it!

Heist Society by Ally Carter
Again, been waiting for this book for so long. Even though its a hardcover and pretty pricey, I had to get it! Can hardly wait to get through the rest of my books so I can read this. I love teen crime stories!

Little Miss Red by Robin Palmer
I saw this book on another blog. Its one of those "looks cool, there's a sale, I'll buy it" books. I believe it is a rewrite of Little Red Riding Hood. I have enjoyed other books by this author so I hope I can say the same for this.

Library Finds:

Witches Incorporated (Rogue Agent 2) by K. E. Mills
I read the first book in this series and got addicted. Therefore I was so happy to see this on the shelf. All things paranormal in an alternative universe with some heavy shots of humor added in. Not a romance, this is mystery and fantasy.

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Just read the first few chapters and I'm loving this! I placed a hold as soon as I found out that the library was ordering this book. Witches are my favorite paranormal subject. There is promise of more than just a naughty witch exiled into boarding school. Some dark twists await me apparently!

North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
No clue what this about. I think its about a pretty girl and whats under the skin. Other than that I know nothing. I just liked the title and cover.

Nice Recovery by Susan Judy
This is a memoir of the author's adolescent years. I have read some good memoirs lately so I thought this would be worth checking out.

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan
I could barely get through the first book but I might get through this one. Zombies are not typically my thing.

Sold by Patricia McCormick
An award-winning book that I wanted to read. Apparently about child slavery.

That's all folks! What did you get this week?

Canterwood Crest Books

2010-03-20T20:33:00.000-04:00

Jessica Burkhart is attempting to join the leagues of the Saddle Club, Thoroughbred and the other horse-crazy girl series. The question is will she make it? Personally, I don't think so. Out of the 7 books in the series I have read, I would not give any of them over 3 stars. The Canterwood Crest books are a horse-themed version of The Clique. The content is about as good as the entire Gossip Girl series summarized. Harsh? Maybe. I had hopes for the first two books but by the time I got to the fifth, I was cringing about every other chapter.
The writing is not bad. Great mechanics, good lenght, not too wordy. For a reader, the books are very solid if you just look at the writing. The content however, is where I have my problems. The lead characters are all 13 years old but the situations they are in are more approtiate for 15 year olds. Honestly, the school in seventh grade is not going to kill you. I never did seventh grade. And half the stuff they are apparently learning are things I did last year, in grade 11!
Then the boy trouble. Who in seventh grade has a boyfriend? Very few people, that's how many. Yet the main idea in about all the books after the 4th is Sasha's boyfriends. The main idea in all the books is either a huge horse show coming up, a really tough test or boy trouble. There is nothing new or interesting. I was extremely disappointed.
The books would have been better had the characters been older, there was an actual point to the whole storyline and Sasha stopped acting like the scholarship student among the rich. I probably will never finish this series.

Dying to Buy

2010-03-17T21:10:00.000-04:00

No reviews right now so I thought I would share with you some books I am buying at the first chance I get (if I have the money, LOL).

Heist Society by Ally Carter
My lil' sis just reported seeing this in a bookstore that she saw down south. Therefore, I'm going to hunt it down on Friday. Who doesn't love a teen criminal inthe high society? Especially if there is a promise of having Carter's custom humor included!

White Cat by Holly Black
I heard about this one a while ago. Magic, curses and other paranormal stuff. The truth is the title is what grab me on this one. Any thoughts?

Very LeFreak by Rachel Cohn
Techology addict? I come close that. I also know some people who will go to amazing lenghts to never miss anything. Interested in seeing how the author pulls this off in a book.

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg
Now this book is one I've had my eye on for a while. Swearing off boys would be so easy yet I get the feeling it would not be. As they say, love happens when you least expect it.

What do you think? Worth my hard-earned money?

A Match Made in High School

2010-03-15T20:18:00.003-04:00

Calling all YA addicts... this is one book you have to read. And one author that you need to keep an eye on. Kristin Walker is playing with dynamite in her debut novel, A Match Made in High School. This book is pure high school with a dash of trouble and 277 pages filled with laughter. The whole concept was a recipe for a book you will not be able to put down.

When the principal announces that every senior must participate in a mandatory year-long Marriage Education program, Fiona Sheehan believes that her life can’t get any worse. Then she marries her “husband”: Jerky jock Todd, whose cheerleader girlfriend, Amanda, has had it in for Fiona since day one of second grade. Even worse? Amanda is paired with Fiona’s long-term crush, Gabe. At least Fiona is doing better than her best friend, Marcie, who is paired up with the very quiet, very mysterious Johnny Mercer. Pranks, fights, misunderstandings, and reconciliations ensue in an almost Shakespearean comedy of errors about mistaken first impressions, convoluted coupling, and hidden crushes.

What struck me most about this book right away was how close to reality the setting and circumstances are to that of a real high school. Walker has the reactions, the responses all down pat. And the humor, oh the humor. This is like Kate Brian on a sugar high. I love books that can make me laugh and AMMIHS filled this requirment in spades. The characters are all well developed. Parts of the plot are of course nothing new but the twists they add are worth reading again. Fiona will make you laugh, make you mad but if you're like me, then you'll love her anyway. I give this 5 stars. Great humor, unique plot and awesome writing technique. I can't wait to read more by this author!

Book Bag Bounty (23)

2010-03-14T10:35:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posts! I will have more time next week, I get a week off! Anyway, just one book this week.

The Midnight Twins by Jacquelyn Mitchard
I ordered in this book because I heard it was good and there's a sequel coming out soon. The concept is intruiging. Being able to see in the future and in the past would be interesting. Can't wait to read it!

Also what titles do you recommend? I have a chance to go shopping in a large city later next week so that means a chance to hit a big bookstore. So throw some titles out there!

The Line

2010-03-13T21:15:00.000-05:00

Teri Hall has made an amazing debut into the world of YA! The Line is futuristic but a future that seems possible. A pure mystery, the book captured me right from the beginning. Teri shows amazing potential. This book's end is not predictable thanks to many twists and turns.

An invisible, uncrossable physical barrier encloses the Unified States. The Line is the part of the border that lopped off part of the country, dooming the inhabitants to an unknown fate when the enemy used a banned weapon. It’s said that bizarre creatures and superhumans live on the other side, in Away. Nobody except tough old Ms. Moore would ever live next to the Line. Nobody but Rachel and her mother, who went to live there after Rachel’s dad died in the last war. It’s a safe, quiet life. Until Rachel finds a mysterious recorded message that can only have come from Away. The voice is asking for help.
Who sent the message? Why is her mother so protective? And to what lengths is Rachel willing to go in order to do what she thinks is right?

Like any teenager Rachel would like some excitment. Rules are ment to be broken, right? The Line is therefore a source of imagination and exploring for Rachel. When a call for help comes Rachel becomes the character that I came to love. She was with normal teenaged ideas and such but also brave and fearless. The book sets the stage for what I believe could be a very good series. I give The Line 5 stars because there is no predictablity to the book at all. In a book world where most books have a predictable ending, this is rare and I treasure the book for this reason. The setting is extremely detailed and very vivid. The writing is also fabulous. This book should really be on your must read list. Can't wait for book 2, Away!

Contest Winner!!!!

2010-03-08T20:07:00.000-05:00

Contest is officially over! A huge thank you to all those that entered. Random.org picked the winning entry number and *drum roll please* the winner is.... Maria B.!
Congratulations! The winner has 72 hours as of this post to get back to me with mailing details. Translation, there's an email waiting for you in your inbox. I hope you enjoy reading the book. Thanks again to all those that entered, I had lots of entries.

Book Bag Bounty (22)

2010-03-07T10:39:00.001-05:00

I got some great books this week! Some I have been wishing for and some that I stumbled across in the library.

Sharp North by Patrick Cave
A futuristic book in a world that sounds somewhat scary. I've just read the back of the book. Something about illegal clones, and a society going downhill rapidly. Sounds intruging!

A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker
Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for this book?! It finally came in so I had to rush to town to go pick it up! This books sounds like riot and judging by the first few pages, I'm going to love this!

The Line by Teri Hall
I got an RC of this book, hardcover from Penguin Canada. Very impressed. I have been hoping to get my hands on this book for sometime. Another futuristic book about an opperisive society and the Line that makes a border. Really excited to read this!

Several book in the Canterwood Crest series by Jessica Burkhart
This series has been on my to-read list for sometime so when I saw about 6 of these books sitting on the shelf in the library I had to get them. I love horse books!

PS The contest to win Wish by Alexandra Bullen ends tonight so if you have not entered yet, make sure you do!

Once a Witch

2010-03-06T09:31:00.000-05:00

Carolyn MacCullough brought back the witches and there better be a sequel! Once a Witch is dark, twisted but not that deep either. There is more to the storyline than a bunch of powerful witches, there is time-travel, villians and a hint of romance too. Really enjoyed this book!

Tamsin Greene comes from a long line of witches, and she was supposed to be one of the most Talented among them. But Tamsin's magic never showed up. Now seventeen, Tamsin attends boarding school in Manhattan, far from her family. But when a handsome young professor mistakes her for her very Talented sister, Tamsin agrees to find a lost family heirloom for him. The search—and the stranger—will prove to be more sinister than they first appeared, ultimately sending Tamsin on a treasure hunt through time that will unlock the secret of her true identity, unearth the sins of her family, and unleash a power so vengeful that it could destroy them all.

The book started out slow, to be honest, I was not impressed. Tamsin comes across as somebody who can not go one minute without thinking about how she was cheated out of her Talents by Fate. The introduction to the villian was poorly executed. Then about halfway through the book, things started to look up. The romance between Gabe and Tamsin heated up and the witchy powers came to work. There was time-travel and secrets. Overall, this book is only 4 stars, no more. It lacked depth and polish. The plot could have been much stronger if Tamsin had been more confidentant and less of a self-pitying, angry character. I could not stand her. The dark and sinister elements add to the second half of the book and make things better as well. The best part was the romance but I would still like a sequel to see if there are any improvements. I did enjoy the book once I accepted that Tamsin would not change.

An Explaination

2010-03-02T20:43:00.000-05:00

You are probably wondering were I'm hiding and why there seems to be a great shortage of posts. In short, if I'm not in the barn, I'm in school. I feel like I've been hit by a truck and staying awake long enough to do my homework is becoming a talent. My marks look like somebody tied a rock to them, which does not bode well because I got conditional acceptance into my dream school! So I have read very few books, taken out even fewer books. I promise to come back soon but 'till then hold on tight. The contest is still on, you can still enter that. I might have some reviews later this week. Thanks to all my loyal followers, you've been great!

Book Bag Bounty (21)

2010-02-28T15:10:00.000-05:00

No books today. However I'm looking getting Teri Hall's The Line as well as some other debut books.

Wish

2010-02-25T21:01:00.000-05:00

I finished this book! I am giving away my copy of this book in a contest so be sure to enter! Since I've summed it up so many times already, I'll just jump right into the reveiw. Alexandra Bullen has made an amazing debut with Wish. The book started out lukewarm with Olivia moping and struggling to bring out any energy. Then she is forced to go to one of her Mom's socials and needs a dress. The rest could be history. With one wish made wearing a magical dress, Olivia has her twin, Viola, back. Happy beyond believe, even if her sister is now a ghost, the book picks up here. I loved how well the dresses and in general every was described. It was not over the top, just enough. The relationships between characters feel real and are a enjoy to read about. I was not too much of a fan of the romance, it lacked conviction. Overall 5 stars! You have to read this debut if you love fashion, ghosts or a coming-of-age story!

The Line

2010-02-23T20:29:00.001-05:00

Talent, emotion and the pure power of words come together in The Line by Olga Grushin. Due out for release in late March by Penguin Canada, this book is one of those you might not finish all at once but are guaranteed to remember. Here's what Goodreads had to say:

The line: the universal symbol of scarcity and bureaucracy that exists wherever petty officials are let loose to abuse their powers.
The line begins to form on the whispered rumor that a famous exiled composer is returning to Moscow to conduct his last symphony. Tickets will be limited. Nameless faces join the line, jostling for preferred position. But as time passes and the seasons change and the ticket kiosk remains shuttered, these anonymous souls take on individual shape. Unlikely friendships are forged, long-buried memories spring to life, and a year-long wait is rewarded with unexpected acts of kindness that ease the bleakness of harshly lived lives. A disparate gaggle of strangers evolves into a community of friends united in their desire to experience music they have never been allowed to hear.
The Line is a transformative novel that speaks to the endurance of the human spirit even as it explores the ways in which we love-and what we do for love.

While this book is not something I normally read, I got an ARC of it from Penguin Canada. I have to say for a second novel, this is an amazing show of writer's talent. Grushin can string together words in a way that you normally only find from authors that go down in history as 'great'. She brought out an emotion and depth to her writing that I have rarely read. As you read this story you can feel the black clouds hanging over Anna and her family's head. You can get a great sense of what Russia was like back when it was the USSR without needing a history lesson. Which reminds me, the cover is really cool. I like the black and white of the people and then the butterflies of hope over top. What I liked best was how the characters always seemed to hope for something and no matter how terrible things got, they clung to this hope. The kiosk becomes a way of living and a daily part of their lives after the first time somebody asks, "What do you want?". The Line is about wishes, hope, family and sacrifices. There are, according to the author's note, several true historical facts in the book. Because I am just awe-struck by the emotion and the power pulled from words by the author, I give this 4 stars. Where's the 5th star you ask? Well, it got lost somewhere in a plot that sometimes lacked direction. This book is more for an adult and sophisticated audience than for leisure reading so it gets an IT Book Ranking of On The Shelf. Overall a good read!

Book Bag Bounty (20)

2010-02-21T09:49:00.000-05:00

Just one book this week and a whole bunch of kids! Today's total is 4 goats with the 5th just starting and its not even 10 o'clock yet!

Gone by Micheal Grant
I've been hoping to read this for some time now so when I saw it in the library earlier this week, I had to get it! A world with no adults? I see trouble on the horizon.

What did you get?

Blogger to Check out!

2010-02-20T20:08:00.000-05:00

Be sure to visit the Climbing Rose of The Wild Rose Press blog. There are some great crush stories over there! I am loving them. Totally worth your time! There is also a chance to win a book and a cute free story to read.

Mini break

2010-02-18T20:41:00.002-05:00

I am sorry but I'm taking a mini break from blogging to try and understand my school work better, I've been having trouble of late. I'll be back soon though, I should have something by Saturday!

Other Side Of The Shelf

2010-02-16T07:54:00.001-05:00

This is just a short post about 3 books I read that come from my closet book addiction, romance novels. Totally cliche and probably not the best choice in reading material, but hey, I like them. So here it is for the snippet reviews on the other side of the shelf.

To Wed a Scandalous Spy by Celeste Bradley
Willa has bad luck with suitors, they always end up in accidents. However, this time, her poorly aimed rock caught her a husband! And as the title suggests, we have spies. Nathaniel and Willa were prefect together. I loved Willa's character. It's not often you read a Regency novel and find a fiesty heroine in it. 5 stars!

A Highlander Christmas by Janet Chapman
Luke is on a one-man mission to save Camry from herself. Two rocket scientists, a whole lot of magic and a bar room brawl read to one good read. This is not my favorite book by Chapman but I still liked it. It was missing something, that flair that makes you want to read a book again. 4 stars!

Moonlight Warrior by Janet Chapman
This is the first of a new series and I have to say I'm impressed. Kenzie is on a mission to save missplaced souls. Eve does not want to be on Kenzie's list of people to save. This book was halarious as Kenzie struggled to understand modern women and Eve tried to forget her mother's illness that had her talking to dragon. Looking forward to the next book in the Midnight Bay series. 4 stars!

Ok, that it for the next couple of weeks. Tomorrow it's back to YA!

Leviathan

2010-02-15T07:54:00.000-05:00

In two words, more please! Scott Westerfeld is amazingly talented and Leviathan shines thanks to this. Amazing detail, crazy suspense and to die for character development had me crying when I got to the last page. I want more!

Prince Aleksander, would-be heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battletorn war machine and a loyal crew of men.
Deryn Sharp is a commoner, disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.
With World War I brewing, Alek and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way…taking them on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure that will change both their lives forever.

Now I must give credit to one talented artist, Keith Thompson, for making this book so much more vivid thanks to his illustrations. This book is hands down 5 stars and if this does become a Bestselling Hit then people don't know what good books are. The historical details are very accurate and fit in seamlessly with the steampunk genre. It is very easy to figure out that the Darwinist are the Allied and the Clankers the Axis powers. The main reason I loved this book though, it the characters. The Uglies series showed that Westerfeld can write and bring out a setting that very detailed and vivid. Leviathan showed that he can make characters come alive as well. Alek could be very stuck-up but for all his mistakes, he is extremely likeable. And Deryn, well, she's just stunning. Together you get a pair of characters that could and should easily be the stars of a series. I am praying for a sequel! Highly recommend this!

Book Bag Bounty (19)

2010-02-14T10:58:00.000-05:00

Ah, another week has gone by. Another party, another night of little sleep [in case you have not guess, Febuary is party month for farmers. This time it is my Dad's birthday.] Anyway I did get some books this week.

The Line by Olga Grushin
I requested The Line from Penguin Books only to find out that there are two books due for release by the same title! This is set in Moscow. I hear this author had an amazing debut, so I'm looking forward to reading this!

Wish by Alexandra Bullen
Magical dresses? Sign me up! This book just arrived and I have just started reading it. I am giving away my copy early March so be sure to enter the contest to win Wish!

Once A Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
This sounded so good and the cover was really interesting so I had to order it in. Plus witches are my favorite paranormal phenomoen so this is prefect! Can't wait to read this!

Heartless by Sara Shepard
This is the seventh book in the Pretty Little Lairs series. Of course, for once the book thief paid for her own books and due to this fact, the book is currently an ocean away. It's probably sitting on some Swiss chalet kitchen table while the book thief tries to remember which turn will take her skis into Austria and which turn ends on a double black diamond!

Half World by Hiromi Goto
A White Pine novel. No idea was it about other than bravery and courage.

I also got some amazing swag from Jenn over at Extreme Reader Book Reviews. I got a signed Shadow Hills bookmark, pin and magnet. She also made me the sweetest bookmark ever. Now if my camera was not with the book thief on her ski trip, that has me seeing green for at least the next month, I would post a photo of this totally cool, awesomely wicked jewelled bookmark! Thanks so much, Jenn!!

The Knife of Never Letting Go

2010-02-12T20:27:00.000-05:00

An entirely different world, a whole set of issues but human nature's flaws are as present as ever. Patrick Ness's The Knife of Never Letting Go is set in the New World, a dark, sad and twisted place. The book is huge and took me sometime to get through but I really enjoyed it.

Todd Hewitt is the last boy in Prentisstown.
But Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in a constant, overwhelming, never-ending Noise. There is no privacy. There are no secrets.
Or are there?
Just one month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd unexpectedly stumbles upon a spot of complete silence.
Which is impossible.
Prentisstown has been lying to him.
And now he's going to have to run...

This book is so hard to make a review about it. I really liked it, 4 stars, but I had to leave it there for a long while to think about it. The material was very deep but the execution at times was not the best for the reader. Its about living in a whole of lies and hanging on to a glimmer of hope. The world is very detailed. Reminds me of the article I read in the latest National Geographic on colonizing Mars. I really liked Todd and Viola. Their characters were honest and fit well to the setting and circumstances. I would like to read the next part in this series but somebody returned the book on me!

White Pine: Getting The Girl

2010-02-10T19:34:00.000-05:00

There's one in every crowd and when it comes to White Pine and books, there's always one book involving a guy who really, really wants a girl. And, sigh, just like most times, he, err... the book, falls short. Now don't get me wrong, Getting the Girl by Susan Judy is not that bad. I just wish it was more like Another Kind of Cowboy than 5th-Grader-Goes-to-HS.

Meet Sherman Mack. Short. Nerdy. Amateur P.I. and prepared to do anything for Dini Trioli.
Nobody knows who began it or when it became a tradition, but every girl at Harewood Tech fears being D-listed, a ritual that wipes her off the social map forever. When Sherman believes Dini is in danger of being D-listed, he snatches up his surveillance gear and launches a full-scale investigation to uncover who is responsible.
Could it be the captain of the lacrosse team?
The hottest girls in school, the Trophy Wives?
Or maybe their boyfriends?
One thing is for sure: Sherman Mack is on the case. And he's not giving up.

This book was great except for one tiny detail... I think the author got the lead male's age wrong. Sherman Mack is 14 going on 5. I know plenty of guys but I have never met one that acts like this character. He does mean well, and yes, he is smart but this book is like YA written in the language of MG. I was very frustrated because so far this year, the White Pine books have been great and I've read other books by this author and like them. This one not really. The idea behind the book is very much one that should be covered more often but the execution fell short. I did have to laugh at parts and I was able to connect to characters on the rare occaision. I will give this book 3 stars because I think the idea was good, the writing ok but the overall package fell short. The mystery part was drowned in clown acts by a guy trying to get the girl of his dreams.

The Cupcake Queen

2010-02-09T19:44:00.000-05:00

Cupcakes are sweet and delicious, just like this book! Heather Hepler putting the icing on the cake with The Cupcake Queen. This is an ultimate sweet and feel good novel. I read this in a really short time frame and loved it!

When her mother moves them from the city to a small town to open up a cupcake bakery, Penny’s life isn’t what she expected. Her father has stayed behind, and Mom isn’t talking about what the future holds for their family. And then there’s Charity, the girl who plays mean pranks almost daily. There are also bright spots in Hog’s Hollow—like Tally, an expert in Rock Paper Scissors, and Marcus, the boy who is always running on the beach. But just when it looks as though Penny is settling in, her parents ask her to make a choice that will turn everything upside down again.

High school is rough but moving from NYC to the Middle-Of-Nowhere just adds to it. Without knowing it Penny starts a decades old rivalry up again. Now she's got a lock full of pennies, a job she never really wanted and it all started with 6 dozen pink cupcakes. Penny is intelligent, somewhat shy and overall a great character. Her friends Tally and later Marcus, are the people who help her become the Cupcake Queen. The story is about friendship, boys and life. It's a coming-of-age story but will appeal to both MG and YA readers. Hepler is a very talented writer, she can really bring out good characters. I got plenty of laughs along the story. Overall, 5 stars for a real feel-good story. Highly recommend it to everybody!

Palace of Mirrors

2010-02-08T19:39:00.000-05:00

This book had to gather a whole lot of dust before I got around to reading it. Margaret Peterson Haddix returned to the world of Just Ella in this new book, Palace of Mirrors. I felt this book was a touch too prefect and had a forced feel to it.

Cecilia knows that she is not just another peasant girl; she is actually the true princess, in hiding until the evil forces that killed her parents are vanquished. A commoner named Desmia is on the throne as a decoy.
As she gets older, Cecilia finds it harder to study statesmanship and palace protocol secretly at night and then pretend that she has nothing on her mind other than scrubbing the gruel stains out of her best apron by day.
Cecilia knows that it is time to take charge. Along with her best friend, Harper, she flees to the capital city, determined to reclaim her throne and face the danger head on.
When Harper and Cecilia reach the famed Palace of Mirrors, they discover complications: Princess Desmia believes an entirely different version of the story.

I was not too impressed with this book, Haddix missed with this book. Cecilia came across as very stuck up and arrogant. She tries to sound like a good person but fails miserably. I had issues finishing the book due to this. Harper on the other hand was better, a true guy and loyal friend. The plot idea was excellent, very cool from my point of view but poorly executed. I think the whole book was just trying to hard. The ending was good and a relief. Again, too prefect and certainly not age fitting but I did like it. That's about the only time that I liked Cecilia. I can barely see to fit to Just Ella. This gets 3 stars for readable writing and plot. I can't this being a hit like the other one though.

Book Bag Bounty (18)

2010-02-07T12:40:00.000-05:00

Not feeling that great right now (think Kenny Chesney "We went out last night") but here's the books I got this week.

Leviathan by Scott Westerfield
A steampunk novel set in WW1 and has some amazing artwork! Can't wait to read it!
The Cupcake Queen by Heather Hepler
A sweet tale about a girl living hundreds of miles from her home and struggling to fit in. Mean Girls meets artsy shy girl. Review in the works.
Getting the Girl by Susan Judy
Another White Pine book about a guy ready to take on an entire school to stop the degrading of his female friends. Review in the works.

[Can you tell just how out of it I am? I will have something better after about 14 hours of sleep.]

Contest!!

2010-02-04T19:40:00.001-05:00

Alrighty, folks, the contest is here! This is my first so please be patient with me. I am giving away a hardcover copy of Wish by Alexandra Bullen!

For broken-hearted Olivia Larsen, nothing can change the fact that her twin sister, Violet, is gone... until a mysterious, beautiful gown arrives on her doorstep. The dress doesn't just look magical; it is magical. It has the power to grant her one wish, and the only thing Olivia wants is her sister back.
With Violet again by her side, both girls get a second chance at life. And as the sisters soon discover, they have two more dresses-and two more wishes left. But magic can't solve everything, and Olivia is forced to confront her ghosts to learn how to laugh, love, and live again.
In a breathtaking debut from Alexandra Bullen, Wish asks the question: If you could have anything, what would you wish for?

Now I will read this book once it gets here before I send it off to the winner but I promise you will not be able to tell that anybody read the book before you. I take good care of my books. There are extra entries in particular for those participating in the Debut Author Challenge. So without further ado, the rules:

Must be a follower and live in either Canada or the USA (sorry international readers!)
Contest ends March 7th, 2010 at midnight, my time.
Extra entries can be earned -

Post about the contest somewhere +1
Participate in Debut Author Challenge +2
Old Follower (only 42 can say this) +1
Guess who my favourite author is +2

Good Luck! The form to enter is HERE!

Heartbreak Hills

2010-02-03T20:06:00.000-05:00

What a cute and suspensive book! This is series is perfect for the horse-crazy young girl. Sharon Siamon scored another hit with Wild Horse Creek: Heartbreak Hills! A little romance and a whole lot of hot water. I really recommend this. The characters could be more mature but being 13 works fine here. Fast and a good read, this is 4.5 stars!

White Pine: The Uninvited

2010-02-02T19:45:00.000-05:00

This book is a suspense mystery to the core. Tim Wynne-Jones pulls all the stops to make this work. A family drama plays at the center and the reader is more informed than The Uninvited.

Mimi Shapiro had a disturbing freshman year at NYU, thanks to a foolish affair with a professor who still haunts her caller ID. So when her artist father, Marc, offers the use of his remote Canadian cottage, she’s glad to hop in her Mini Cooper and drive up north. The house is fairy-tale quaint, and the key is hidden right where her dad said it would be, so she’s shocked to fi nd someone already living there — Jay, a young musician, who is equally startled to meet Mimi and immediately accuses her of leaving strange and threatening tokens inside: a dead bird, a snakeskin, a cricket sound track embedded in his latest composition. But Mimi has just arrived, so who is responsible? And more alarmingly, what does the intruder want? Part gripping thriller, part family drama, this fast-paced novel plays out in alternating viewpoints, in a pastoral setting that is evocative and eerie — a mysterious character in its own right.

The cover has this book down to the heart and soul of it. It has the mysterious element and setting all in one shot, I love it! The book itself was a surprise. I honestly did not expect to like this book, I am not a fan of thrillers. This book though is much more than that. Tim has the characters who are very developed and he switches points of view often. This could spoil the book, however the author is talented enough that you can not predict the ending for the most part. Cramer, Jay and Mimi star at the center of a twisted family drama that starts and ends with the cottage on the syne. The story is pure Canadian setting. I really like the storyline so 4 stars! I have no clue how popular this could be but I hope it is On The Shelf! A must read if you want something with depth and feel.

Girl In The Arena

2010-02-01T02:19:00.000-05:00

Urban legend and eerie close to reality... Lyn has always lived in the gladiator's world. Seven fathers have died during her life. This book is a thrilling suspense that I had did not want to put down! Lisa Haines draws on a world that could be reality in Girl In The Arena.

Lyn is a neo-gladiator’s daughter, through and through. Her mother has made a career out of marrying into the high-profile world of televised blood sport, and the rules of the Gladiator Sports Association are second nature to their family. Always lend ineffable confidence to the gladiator. Remind him constantly of his victories. And most importantly: Never leave the stadium when your father is dying. The rules help the family survive, but rules—and the GSA—can also turn against you. When a gifted young fighter kills Lyn’s seventh father, he also captures Lyn’s dowry bracelet, which means she must marry him...

The book starts with a very helpful history of the Gladiator Sports Association. It is very detailed and ensured that I understood what was happening to a higher degree. Lyn is introduced right after that and within a few pages you get the jist of the relationships between characters. Lyn's seventh stepfather, Tommy, is about to face Uber. If he lives and wins, Lyn and her family will be free of the GSA. Life does not happen that way though. What happens next shows how truly well thought out the character of Lyn is. She is incredibly strong despite the sad and lonely life she has. I really did admire her ablities. It takes very strong women to survive what the wives and daughters of gladiators have to do.
I was not happy with the writing format, it had the feel of a rough draft that got published. I was ill and suppose to study for math exams while I read this. I was also confused by the constant bouncing around in the time of the setting. The character of Uber was very rough and had to understand until the end. The ending of course is amazing and I loved it. Overall I still give this book 5 stars for an amazing plot and a super-heroine. The cover also has a clue to the end but I won't give that away. This should be at least On The Shelf. Looking forward to more books by Lisa Haines (but praying for a better writing format)!

Book Bag Bounty (17)

2010-01-31T04:20:00.000-05:00

Books were rare this week so I only have one to share with you. However, there is great news, so scroll all the way down.

Heartbreak Hills by Sharon Siamon
This is the third book in the middle grade series, Wild Horse Creek. The author is one of my favourite for writing great Canadian horse storys. Can't wait to read this one!

For all followers... there is a contest on the horizon!!! Be sure to come back soon. I'm just ironing out the details at the moment but if you are hoping for a clue to the title, check out the Between the Pages post I did a few days ago.

Jessica's Guide To Dating on The Dark Side

2010-01-29T20:59:00.000-05:00

Vampires and royalty? I'll bet its been done before but this twist by Beth Fantaskey is really, really good! It's a refreshing new take on the same old. For once Edward and Bella have no influence on a romance.

The undead can really screw up your senior year ... Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction.

I did not read this book until now because, frankly, vampires are over-rated. The makeover given in this book has, however, renewed my hopes. Jessica is very normal for our standards. She has good grades and to date has never lost her head over a boy. From my point of view she is also a good character because she likes Jake, the farm boy, and horses. That's my bias though, so beware. Jessica resists Lucius's advances around every corner. She does get upset when he decides the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.
There are letters home by Lucius every once in while that add to the depth of the story. This made it easier for me to relate to the characters and their motives as whole. The ending was rather predictable with a Jessica touch to it. The girl shows some serious guts and emotional strength. For great characters, a refreshed plot and witty writing, I give this 5 stars and say it shall be a Bestselling Hit. And get this... there is more to the book on the author's website! [No links so that you have to read the book first, ;)]

Prada & Prejudice

2010-01-29T02:47:00.000-05:00

A great debut for Mandy Hubbard! A dash of fashion, a hint of mystery and a spoonful of timetraveling history gets you Prada & Prejudice. I found this book to be an enjoyable, fun read on a cold winter's day.

To impress the popular girls on a high school trip to London, klutzy Callie buys real Prada heels. But trying them on, she trips…conks her head…and wakes up in the year 1815! There Callie meets Emily, who takes her in, mistaking her for a long-lost friend. As she spends time with Emily’s family, Callie warms to them—particularly to Emily’s cousin Alex, a hottie and a duke, if a tad arrogant.
But can Callie save Emily from a dire engagement, and win Alex’s heart, before her time in the past is up?

Others have said that the beginning almost made them put this book down and I have to agree with them. The first glimpse at Callie is not a good one for most readers as she comes across as insecure and impressible. Then the story gets good. I love all historicals and this one was no exception despite the unique timetraveling aspect. Callie did improve as a character and the others made it a highly enjoyable read.
The quoted text is a bit misleading as Callie finds Alex extremely arrogant and basically all those two is fight. The mystery part is good but underdeveloped. I would really like a sequel to explain what happened after the last few pages. Saving Emily and the hystics involved make this book the comedy it is. I gave the book 5 stars and an It Book Ranking of On The Shelf because this would be read by everyone who likes historicals at some point. Definately looking for new books by this author!

Between the Pages (8)

2010-01-28T15:22:00.001-05:00

I have survived exams! [They should really hand out badges to those of us who do!] Anyway, now that I'm back, I need to ask some things. Do you like Caught in Print? Should I keep doing that?
In other news, I am contemplating hosting a contest. Would you be interest in winning Wish by Alexandra Bullen? It would be hardcover, open to CND and USA followers. And yes, just so you know I will read it beforehand. Please leave comments. Contests cost money and it doesn't grow on trees!

Stupid Cupid

2010-01-26T19:51:00.000-05:00

What would happen if when you went to for a job interview you found out that Cupid does exist? ... And you just landed the job. There's just one minor roadblock, a list of rules that seem so simply yet so difficult to follow. Welcome to Felicity's world. Rhonda Stapleton's first novel, Stupid Cupid, is a cute and funny read for everybody.

Felicity's no ordinary teen matchmaker...she's a cupid!Felicity Walker believes in true love. That's why she applies for a gig at the matchmaking company Cupid's Hollow. But when Felicity gets the job, she learns that she isn't just a matchmaker...she's a cupid! (There's more than one of them, you know.)
Armed with a hot pink, tricked-out PDA infused with the latest in cupid magic (love arrows shot through email), Felicity works to meet her quota of successful matches. But when she bends the rules of cupidity by matching her best friend Maya with three different boys at once, disaster strikes. Felicity needs to come up with a plan to set it all right, pronto, before she gets fired...and before Maya ends up with her heart split in three.

I quite liked this book, Felicity was a very realistic teenaged character. Her brother annoyed me too but added to the comedy of this book. You had to know as soon as she was told the rules, she was going to break at least on of them. Lucky for the reader, she aims her arrows at her best friend, Maya, not herself. I did like how the author sticks to the true-and-tried when it comes to writing, no dictionary required! The plotline is straight forward and clear. The book is fairly fast and definately not that deep but I still give it 4 stars and an IT Book Ranking of On The Shelf for humor, unique topic and writing style. I am looking forward to the next book, Flirting With Disaster.

Book Bag Bounty (16)

2010-01-24T09:34:00.000-05:00

Still on a book-ban for studying but that does not mean I didn't get any this week.

The Knife of Never Letting Go & The Ask and The Answer by Patrick Ness
One is here and the other is waiting for me to get it. They sound interesting. Probably won't get around to them for the next while though. Plus the cover has horses on it. Anybody who knows me knows I love anything to do with horses.

Girl In The Arena by Lisa Haines
So excited for this book. It had such an interesting synposis, I had to get it!

Define "Normal" by Julie Anne Peters
No clue what this is about so this is my mystery read for the month.

What did you get?

Over and out...

2010-01-20T19:27:00.002-05:00

Exams, exams and even more exams. I drowning in study sheets (I really should start charging for those, just think of the number of books I could buy), exam reviews and essay prep. So the chances of you hearing from me until Saturday are zero to none. I have read most of my book bag though so reviews are on the horizon. Now I must get back to the world of logarithms and binomial distributions....

WANTED: Linda Gerber

2010-01-19T07:42:00.001-05:00

YA Spy author, Linda Gerber has agreed to an interview! She's here to talk about her next book, the Olympics and many other things! Thanks!

What are your plans for the future? Will there be another "Death By" book soon?

Unfortunately at the moment, there is not another Death By book in the works. I do have other adventures in mind for Aphra and Seth (and Ryan!) but there are a few other projects under contract that I need to finish first.
My YA paranormal TRANCE hits the shelves in October. Fans of Seth in the Death by books will love Jake in TRANCE. Meanwhile, I'm hard at work (read: really, really having fun) with my new MG series. It's part mystery, part travel adventure and part romance. The first installment of that series is set in Spain and will be released early next year.

What got you started in your writing career?

The writing part has always been with me - I've been jotting down stories for as far back as I can remember - but the career part was kind of a leap. I'd been invited to join a writing group whose criteria for membership was that participants had to be actively submitting. Until that time, I hadn't dared to cross the submission threshold. Writing for my own pleasure was one thing, attempting to sell it was quite another. But I got a few pieces out the door and they made the rounds, collecting very nice rejections.
That's when my (Canadian author Marsha Skrupuch) alerted me to Puffin's call for submissions for their Students Across the Seven Seas series. They were looking for stories about American students traveling abroad and I happened to be living in Japan at the time, so it was a perfect fit. I quickly threw together an outline and some sample chapters to submit - and they bought it! I wrote two books for that series, NOW AND ZEN and THE FINNISH LINE.*
That was my foot in the door. I've since sold eight more books to Puffin and have had the good fortune to keep working with my original editor with all of them. Yes, I have been very, very lucky.
*Note: THE FINNISH LINE is especially poignant to me because it features a girl ski jumper who wants to compete in the Olympics. I wrote it during the Turino Olympics when I learned that women ski jumpers were not allowed to compete (the women's event had not been approved by the IOC.) In my research, I had the opportunity to meet with the athletes and coaches of the US Women's Ski Jump team. I watched and supported their struggle for inclusion over the past several years and was certain I would be able to see them compete in this year's games in Vancouver. Sadly, that is not the case. The IOC ruled yet again not to allow a women's ski jump event, a fact that I find unjust and very, very wrong. You can read more about it and voice your support at WSJUSA.com.

For the "Death By" series, what were your inspirations?

The first book, Death by Bikini, evolved from a short story I had written as a writing exercise for one of my online groups. I liked the characters that grew from that piece and decided I'd like to hang out with them more.
The setting was inspired by a the drive to Hana when I visited Maui a few years ago. There's a portion of the island that feels completely primitive and remote - in fact, one of the beaches was featured in the filming of Jurassic Park. I wondered what it would be like to live in a place so beautiful yet so far removed from the outside world.

Describe your writing in less than 5 words.

Always evolving.

Are you similar or relate in particular to any of your characters?

In a way I'm like Aphra - I'm impulsive and make a lot of mistakes - but I'm also a lot like Natalie - a fiercely protective mom who has to step back and remind herself how independent her kids can be.

What are your writing "must-haves"?

Actually, I started out writing with little kids in the house and while living and traveling abroad so I've learned to be very adaptable. I don't have too many "musts" because I couldn't be choosy for such a long time. I can write in my office, at the library, in airports, in the car, you name it. I prefer to write on the computer (I'm much faster typing than writing longhand) but I can hang with a pen and notebook if I have to.
If I have a choice, though, I'd choose a quiet book-lined room with a comfortable chair, spectacular view, my laptop, and plenty of Diet Coke and chocolate on hand!

What are you currently reading?

I just barely finished THE HUNGER GAMES and CATCHING FIRE (love!) and I'm about to jump into an ARC of THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY by TFC sister Kay Cassidy.

Favourite book or books?

Let's see... Nope. Can't do it. That would be like trying to number the stars. I have too many favorites to list!

Who in all history would you like to work with for a week?

Wow. That's another tough one. Maybe Corrie Ten Boom because I think I could learn a lot from her about attitude and about life.

Are there any pets that are involved in your life?

Absolutely. In fact, she's sleeping on my feet right now. We have a Jack Russell named Kali who lives up to her name (the Hindu goddess of destruction). When she's not chasing squirrels or tearing up the house, she's my writing buddy.

Anything else you want to add?

Happy 2010 to your readers! Wishing you the best year ever!

*****

Thanks Linda! You can find more out at:

lindagerber.com
lindagerber.blogspot.com
twitter.com/gerbsan

White Pine: Wondrous Strange

2010-01-18T19:25:00.001-05:00

I feel like I'm the last person to read this book but I always thought it was a Melissa Marr so I was not too interested. Now I'm kicking myself, Lesley Livingston is so much different from Melissa Marr. Wondrous Strange started slow but I really came to love it in the end.

17 year-old Kelly Winslow doesn’t believe in Faeries. Not unless they’re the kind that you find in a theatre, spouting Shakespeare—the kind that Kelley so desperately wishes she could be: onstage, under lights, with a pair of sparkly wings strapped to her shoulders. But as the understudy in a two-bit, hopelessly off-off-Broadway production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, wishing is probably the closest she’s going to get to becoming a Faerie Queen. At least, that’s what she thinks... In this fun, urban fantasy, Kelly's off-stage life suddenly becomes as complicated as one of Shakespeare’s plot twists when a nighttime trip to Central Park holds more than meets the mortal eye.

Although this book shares several things with Wicked Lovely, it is also very different. I found that I really came to like Kelley. In the being I was unsure of her and Sonny's motives seemed sinister. Then Kelley seems to pull together and get to work. Sonny seems to be a touch out of a regency novel, older than the book says he is. This might seem strange to readers not familar with the regency novels but he really stood out in that way to me. He was very protective, had a best pal that constantly made jokes about Kelley and a career he wishes to shield from Kelley.
The writing in the beginning was almost boring and seemed to be trying too hard. Then it took off like a bottle rocket into the night sky. The twists and turns made a suspenseful story that I loved. You never knew just what would attack. The beasts were described and introduced in a way that made it believable. I mean a horse in a bathtub... but call it a kelpie and I'll accept it. It was entertianing, dark and for once the romance was secondary. I give this book 5 stars and an IT Book Ranking of Bestselling Hit! This tale of lost Faerie queen might not be new but Lesley brings a refreshing take on it. I am going to get me a copy of Darklight as soon as possible. If you haven't read it, please do!

Book Bag Bounty (15)

2010-01-17T01:06:00.000-05:00

Plenty of good books this week... so let's see what my book bag yeilds this week besides study sheets and textbooks.

The Uninvited by Tim Wynne-Jones
A White Pine novel that's according to the inside flap part thriller and part romance if I remember correctly. It's sitting in my locker waiting for me to get around to it. A young NYU student heads north to her father's cottage only to find somebody else there. Sinister events begin and a mystery evolves. My goal is to read all the 2010 WP novels so if it means reading a thriller, I'll do it.

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
I feel like I'm one of the last people to read this but it came into the library thanks to White Pine. I always thought it was like Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely which was ok but I'm not a huge fan of. I was so wrong. This book was amazing and there is a review to come.

Stupid Cupid by Rhonda Stapleton
Now who has not thought about being a cupid? For about a fleeting 3 seconds I thought it might be a cool job. This means I had to get this book. Library order lists showed up and I ordered this one. I'm hoping it will be really good.

Prada & Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard
Did anybody say YA Historical? This has been on my list for so long! I finally picked it up earlier this week with the order lists. LOVED it! Review to come! Time-travel is wicked!

Jessica's Guide to The Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
Cool cover except the guy's teeth which is clue one to this book. I started this one Friday between studying for Data and doing Advanced Functions. I got as far as Jake the farm boy... Yumm. Even the title of this book sounds cool. Can't wait to finish it! [Must study first. Maybe I can bribe myself to study by going one chapter of math, one chapter of this book...]

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
Impuse pick out. The main character only dates girls with the name Katherine. Interesting.

A Creed Country Christmas by Linda Lael Miller
Oh yeah... LLM's gone and done it again. I'm such a sucker for historical romance and LLM is my favourite. Guess who tripped over her own two feet to get to this book faster? Yep, I did. Montana winters are about to get a good does of love and trouble...

And several more guilty-pleasure novels, aka historical romances. What did you get?

Award Time

2010-01-15T19:39:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Polish Outlander, I have another award, Who Loves You Baby! This award is given to those bloggers whom you love and who have awarded you in the past!
This one goes out to:
Extreme Reader Book Reviews

Living Outside the Lines

2010-01-15T07:43:00.001-05:00

Another Mini-Review, but this time because I honesty don't know how to give this one a long review. Lesley Choyce, I just realized wrote another book that I read one year. That book too was hard to review. Living Outside the Lines is about Nigel, a high school student who writes a book in creative writing class. The book becomes a huge success but Nigel is too torn up about his new girlfriend, Michelle. Michelle is from the future where Nigel's book is reality and she has to return there.
This book definitely has an IT Book Rank of Specific Special. I still gave it 4 stars even though it was very short and lacked true development. The whole point seemed to be to say that teenagers should run things. Aside from this point, it was really good. Nigel is great character. I just really don't know who to recommend this to which is upsetting.

Between the Pages (7)

2010-01-14T09:15:00.000-05:00

This has been a crazy week for me. We're now milking 72 goats and the pregnancy check revealed another 84 by March Break! About 40 will be dried off by then with a lactation range of 340 to 420 days, impressive for a group of imported first-timers.
Anyway now that you've survived the farm jargon, on to the book stuff. I'm going to be missing on and off for a bit due to exams and final projects. Just so you know, there will be a couple of White Pine reviews, several YA reviews that you've seen in Book Bag Bounty and an author interview on Jan 19 with Linda Gerber! Till then I leave you with this awesome vlog (NOT me! Jackson Pearce, it was over on the Story Siren and I LOVED it)!

Fablehaven

2010-01-13T01:42:00.000-05:00

For centuries, mystical creatures of all description were gathered to a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic in a cynical world. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite... Kendra and her brother Seth have no idea their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws give relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken, an arcane evil is unleashed, forcing Kendra and Seth to face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save her family, Fablehaven, and perhaps the world, Kendra must find the courage to do what she fears most.

[This will have to be a mini-review as exams are looming and I'm going crazy]

An excellent MG and YA read, even for the boys. It has easy language but a cute and addictive plot line. I gave this 4 stars and an IT Book Rank of "On The Shelf". I loved the adventure and the fact that the predictablity was low. Recommended for a fast, fun and wicked read?

[Told you it would be small. :D]

Caught in Print (3)

2010-01-12T01:06:00.000-05:00

A biweekly collection of some authors and anything else if key interest in the bookworm world. Caught in Print is inspired by The Story Siren's YA Connection post. Thanks Kristi for the inspiration!

Upcoming Releases
January
The Mark by Jen Nadol (19)
Undead Much by Stacey Jay (21)
I Kissed A Zombie and I Liked It by Adam Selzer (26)

**If I'm missing something or you want to add a book, please let me know. My list is not that big yet.

IT Book Rank
A new system I want to try out. This will be my opinion of how well received I think the book will be. It will have very little to do with the star rating. The ranks will be 3-tier.

Top tier - Bestselling Hit (very popular, most audiences; The Season)
Middle tier - On the Shelf (well-liked but only with in a certain area, eg YA; Trickster's Choice)
Bottom tier - Specific Special (mainly read by one demographic, one genre; Medina Hill)

So what do you think? Good idea? I came up with it because often I'll read a book, maybe not like but still know that there are going to be others out there who will. I'm rarely off the mark with this. I'm planning on adding it into my reviews.

Caught: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
My pick for a book to keep your eye on for the next while is Leviathan. A steampunk novel set during WWI, I love the premise and synopsis of this book. I'm going to splurge on the cost and buy it. You have to know that's saying something. Steampunk is a relatively new genre compared to others. It is also one of the few that could have been reality. I even saw this for sale out here in the Middle of Nowhere, which is saying something (also saw Beautiful Creatures and Shadowland). Can't wait to read it!

Debate Question
Detail, either you love it or hate it. So how much is too much? Do you prefer descriptive detail or need-to-know detail only? Does it depend on the book? Personally I love detail but don't go overboard. The only time overboard-type detail is good is the first book of a fantasy series. Don't go Stephanie Meyer on me, that's just too much. Need-to-know only is often not enough for me as then things that I might consider important are left out. What's your opinion?

White Pine: Sister Wife

2010-01-11T07:30:00.007-05:00

Meet a book where the character lives in the same country and same year as you but she might as well have lived in historical times. Shelly Hrdlitschka's book, Sister Wife, is a difficult tale of independence, beliefs and love.

In the isolated rural community of Unity, the people of The Movement live a simple life guided by a set of religious principles and laws that are unique to them. Polygamy is the norm, strict obedience is expected and it is customary for young girls to be assigned to much older husbands.
Celeste was born and raised in Unity, yet she struggles to fit in and to accept her ordained life. At fifteen she is repulsed at the thought of being assigned to an older man and becoming a sister wife. She wants something more for herself, yet feels powerless to change her destiny because rebelling would bring shame upon her family.
Torn from the headlines and inspired by current events, Sister Wife is a compelling portrait of a community where the laws of the outside world are ignored and where individuality is punished.

This book reminded me for some part of Road to Bliss, a book I reviewed last year. This is another book about polygamy and cult-like religions. The viewpoints alternate between Celeste, Nanette (her sister) and Taviana, a girl who is brought to Unity after being found on the streets by a member. Unity is a large community, but there is description lacking. The author makes you guess too often what the setting looks like. There is very little background present, another assumption that you have a precvious knowledge of what polygamy is and how they often operate. This really disappointed me. As a White Pine nominee this book should have covered more on this topic because the chances are slim that others will have looked into polygamy before picking up this book.
The beliefs are very clear in this book and well presented to the reader. Individuality is not desired and often punished. The Prophet is God's word. No matter how much Celeste pleas with her father, he will not let her choose her own husband or better yet, let her put the marriage off. Celeste is a good character but I like Taviana better. Celeste does not want to live in Unity but no matter how many times an opportunity to leave arises. Her reasons are good but her worries become reality anyway no matter what happens. Taviana is a great character, solid and knowledgeable. I would love a book about her specifically. I gave the book 4 stars overall for the author's handling of the topic but there were disappointing flaws as well keeping from being a 5 star book. A good read for people interested in religion and different ways of growing up.

Book Bag Bounty (14)

2010-01-10T06:18:00.001-05:00

Exams are closing in so I'm limiting my book and blog time. Therefore I only picked out 2 books this week.

The Law of Three by Caroline Rennie Pattison
A book about a girl detective, the second one in a series. This one apparently has Wiccas in it so I thought it was intriguing. The cover is also a stand out.

Sister Wife by Shelley Hrdlitschka
A book about headlines from that last few years, this is one of the White Pine nominees for 2010. I'm looking forward to finishing this book. It's really good so far. What do you think of this one based on the title and cover?

What did you get for this week?

Half Broke Horses

2010-01-08T07:45:00.001-05:00

If you can relate to the Montgomery Gentry songs, Something to Be Proud Of or Daddy Won't Sell the Farm, then this is your book! Jeannette Walls is an amazing storyteller. I LOVED this book. Lily is one special breed of woman, tough as nails and very independent.

The book is a memior about the author's grandmother, Lily Casey Smith. It's in Lily's point of view, her life's path until the author is born. This gives the novel a story-telling feel. The tales held me spell-bound and I read this book in one day. Each chapter starts with a photo of something important that will happen. I, personally, loved the range and ranch stories best. Lily was a teacher on top of everything else she did. I liked how driven she was. The only part that bothered me was that Lily felt it was alright to beat her own daughter, Rosemary. I understand this was common at the time and it did match the character's personality and ideals. This only happened once and Lily did regret it to some extent later so it did not kill my love of the book. It was the title that drew me in and the constant horse-breaking references. I loved the tales of the ranch and how they did things. Therefore, 5 stars and I highly recommend you read Half Broke Horses!

The Book of Tomorrow

2010-01-07T08:00:00.002-05:00

I have never read a Cecelia Ahern before but boy, can she weave a spellbinding tale. Tamara is angry, and greiving after her father commits suicide and lands her and her mother into poverty. Slowly she changes after a mysterious book shows up with the travelling library. The ending is totally unpredictable which is really good. Tamara might be catty and gratting in another book but in this as a narator, she works out perfectly. I give this 5 stars for the suspense, lies and characters. You must read!

How To Ditch Your Fairy

2010-01-06T06:25:00.000-05:00

Great idea, cute topic and interesting setting! How To Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier is a quick and fun read. I loved the concept but at times the main character could get annoying.

Everyone in New Avalon has a fairy. Though invisible, a personal fairy is vital to success. It might determine whether you pass a math class or find the perfect outfit. But all fourteen-year-old Charlie can do is find parking spaces—and she doesn’t even drive. At first, teaming up with Fiorenza (who has an all-the-boys-like-you fairy) seems like a great idea. But when Charlie unexpectedly gets her heart’s desire, she’ll have to resort to extraordinary measures to ditch her fairy, just to make the choas end again.

Karma bites, just ask Charlie. This is another consquences book about what happens when you try to do the impossible. I liked the story but Charlie sometimes got on my nerves for being overly clueless. It's a personal thing and I can understand her point of view but she got a bit gratting every once in a while. The story was also not every well strung together. The important bits of the book take a really long time to show up. There is potential for a sequel as well, one on Fiorenza. It was funny and Charlie's attempts to get rid of her fairy are entertaining (and please don't try them at home!). I had a hard time rating this book as it was funny and good but there are backdraws as well. I've decided 4 stars is good. This is for readers just getting into YA as the character is younger than usual and the topics are really not that tough. It was a sweet read anyway and I'm now convinced I have a horse charmer fairy :D

WANTED: Courtney Summers

2010-01-05T04:31:00.003-05:00

The lovely Courtney Summers has agreed to an interview! Author of the White Pine Award nominee, Cracked Up To Be and the just soon to be released Some Girls Are, talks about how she comes up with her ideas and who she would be in fiction. Thanks Courtney!

Cracked Up To Be is a tough subject. What made you write that particular story?
I love writing about tough subjects and I love exploring characters who have been pushed to their limits--or are about to be. As a reader, I have always wanted to be challenged and pushed by what I'm reading, and that's my objective when I write. I want to write the gritty stuff. I want to "go there" as much as I possibly can. Cracked Up to Be was inspired by my interest in writing an abrasive female character and the question, "What's the worst thing you've ever done?"

How do you feel about the fact that Cracked Up To Be was nominated for the 2010 White Pine Award?
Shocked and totally thrilled! The Forest of Reading program is so fantastic and so much work and passion goes into it; I know about the awards and have followed them in the past. It is a HUGE honour and I'm extremely humbled to see Cracked Up to Be nominated alongside the work of so many incredibly talented authors.

What do you hope readers learn from Parker?
Once a book is out there, it's not "mine" anymore. I hope people felt the time they spent with Cracked Up to Be was well spent, but what they take away from it, and from Parker, is ultimately up to them. :)

What are you currently reading?
Right now I'm re-reading Imagining Canadian Literature: The Selected Letters of Jack McClelland, which I love, and I just finished reading The Line by Teri Hall, which is an awesome YA novel that comes out March 2010.

Favourite book or books?
I love absolutely anything by Robert Cormier. The Chocolate War. The Bumblebee Flies Anyway. Fade. I also love Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke, Dani Noir by Nova Ren Suma, The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney, One Lonely Degree by C.K. Kelly Martin.

Where do you draw inspiration for your books from?
Everywhere! I like to look at everyday situations and then ask myself how they can go horribly wrong. :)

What are your writing "must-haves"?
Headphones, a bottle of water and a cup of coffee.

How would you describe your writing in less than five words?
To the point, I hope.

If you could be any character in fiction writing, who would you be and why?
I sort of want to say Edward Cullen, in Twilight, because it must be something to be a sparkly vampire. But then I was thinking Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series because she's the coolest witch on the block!

Do you have any pets that help you with your writing?
Pets? I have pets, but they only watch me write. They're not a big help. I wish they were, though, especially when I'm on a tight deadline. :)

Anything else you want to add?
Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to be interviewed! I really appreciate it. :)

More at www.courtneysummers.ca!

Wolf Cry

2010-01-04T07:34:00.001-05:00

Remember my Viking fix of the month, which was by Julia Golding? Read it and loved it. Even if you are not a fan of Vikings, this is a great book. The settings and characters are just amazing and the plot line is tenticing. Wolf Cry should really be a book you read.

Freydis has been left for dead following a raid by pirates on her father's Viking stronghold. Her brother has been kidnapped-and Freydis's father is hell-bent on revenge. But this is a volatile man who loathes his daughter and is driven by love of his son. Reluctantly he takes Freydis with him on his journey, giving her a slave-Enno-to tend her. As Freydis's father becomes more bitter and cruel, and the hunt for his son becomes increasingly desperate, Freydis and Enno draw closer together. But when battle looms on the horizon, the bonds of friendship, obedience and loyalty are tested to the limit.

Some knowlege of the time period is a good idea as this will help you understand the motives behind the characters. On Goodreads, this book is not earning good ratings but I do understand where those readers are coming from. This is however, YA Historical, not romance, folks. The viewpoints alternate which is helpful. The facts in this book make it possible to be true. The plot line is well-planned out. If you can't see this ending coming, I suggest you read more books set further back beyond 1700. Freydis is determined and dispite the fact her father dislikes her to the extreme, she makes the best of things. The settings are just stunning. I gave this book 5 stars for taking on a tougher plot line and a little read topic. Highly recommend it!

Book Bag Bounty (13)

2010-01-03T07:32:00.000-05:00

Only one book this week. I haven't had much time for reading. I bought a new, err used, saddle and I've spent the week biting my nails prayering that when the fitter finally shows up, the saddle fits. But I have this bad feeling in my stomach that it won't. A 28" skirt is just big and my horse is rather small at 14.3hh, a stupid size when it comes to buying tack. *Fingers crossed.

The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern
The main character is 16 years old and finds a book in the travelling library that changes everything. This book intrigued me so I picked it out. Hope I enjoy it!

What did you get?

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T00:03:00.001-05:00

Best Wishes in 2010!

Caught in Print (2)

2009-12-30T20:25:00.000-05:00

A biweekly collection of review snippets from other book bloggers out there, some authors and anything else if key interest in the bookworm world. Caught in Print is inspired by The Story Siren's YA Connection post. Thanks Kristi for the inspiration!

Author Arena

Allan Stratton is busy in South Africa because his book Chanda's Secrets is being made into a movie! He talked with me for an interview a few days ago, so take a look at that.

Up Coming Releases
Januray

Wish by Alexandra Bullen (1)
My Love Lies Bleeding by Alyxandra Harvey (4)
Bad Blood by Mari Mancusi (5)
Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves (5)
Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers (5)
Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder (5)
Heartless by Sara Shepard (5)
The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard (7)
All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab (12)
Very LeFreak by Rachel Cohn (12)

Reviews

Due to time issues over the next couple of weeks, I'll leave this part out. School is gearing up and I need really good marks. I'll still be reading others' reviews and commenting but this part of Caught in Print will suffer. Instead I'm adding a weekly debate question. I'll also be adding Mr. Linky for you to post your blog, contest or whatever. Consider it the Network.

Up For Debate

We have children, middle grade, young adult and adult books to choose from each time we pick a book. Each is geared to a specific age group. A hot topic lately around my school is what is the difference between adult and young adult. What do you think?
I've come up with the age of the protagonists and the topic covered but then I'm stumped. For instance, The Host is sold as adult but Breaking Dawn (young adult) is considerably rougher. There are several others I could mention. My younger sister who is 13 reads young adult but I really don't think she should read some of these books. Mind you I read my first Harlequin at 12 but that's 'cause it was shelved wrong and had a pretty horse on the cover. Any thoughts?

The Network

The Sixth Star Books of 2009

2009-12-30T09:05:00.000-05:00

These are the books that were released in 2009 that deserve that extra star on a 5 star rating system. They're the books I really think you should read.

Best Middle Grade Novel: The Shifter by Janice Hardy
Best YA Novels: Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers
Being Nikki by Meg Cabot

Alexandria of Africa by Eric Walters
Best Adult Novel: Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs
Top YA Fantasy: Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce
Fire by Kirstin Cashore
Top YA Historical: The Season by Sarah MacLean
Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle
Top YA Suspense: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

There are others too, but these stand out at the top of the list. Other authors that released great books this year include Sarah Dessen (Along for the Ride), Kim Wilkins (Unclaimed Heart), Linda Lael Miller (The Bridegroom), Kate Bridges (Alaskan Renegade), Lisa Klien (Lady Macbeth's Daughter), Sara Shepard (Killer), Tera Lynn Childs (Goddess Boot Camp) and Sarah Beth Durst (Ice).

What do you think of these books? Are there others you think should make this list?

**Caught in Print is suspended temporarily as I am high-high in work at the moment. There is an author interview for Jan. 5 so watch out for that!

As You Wish

2009-12-29T08:13:00.001-05:00

Charming, cute and an amazing romance, about sum up Jackson Pearce's debut novel, As You Wish. The characters are real, the details are all there. The perspective flips between Viola and Jinn, adding to story. I loved this story.

Ever since Viola's boyfriend broke up with her, she has spent her days silently wishing—to have someone love her again and, more importantly, to belong again—until one day she inadvertently summons a young genie out of his world and into her own. He will remain until she makes three wishes.
Jinn is anxious to return home, but Viola is terrified of wishing, afraid she will not wish for the right thing, the thing that will make her truly happy. As the two spend time together, the lines between master and servant begin to blur, and soon Jinn can't deny that he's falling for Viola. But it's only after Viola makes her first wish that she realizes she's in love with Jinn as well . . . and that if she wishes twice more, he will disappear from her life—and her world—forever.
Jackson Pearce spins a magical tale about star-crossed lovers, what it means to belong . . . and how important it is to be careful what you wish for.

Imagine wishing to belong everyday, then one day you get the chance to fulfill all your dreams. This is the tale Jackson Pearce wove in a web of hope, dreams and forbidden wants. Viola is strong, but broken at the same time. Her best friend and ex-boyfriend, Lawrence, broke her heart when he admitted he was gay. Everyday she wishes she could belong to something special, to be part of something like she used to be when she was with Lawrence. Enter Jinn, a genie to grant her three wishes. Viola paid attention to all those fairy tales. She's terrified of making the wrong wish.
I loved the relationships and bonds between characters. They felt real. You can't even hate Aaron, even though you want to. The ending is just gorgeous. The love and friendship between Viola and Jinn seems everlasting.
The book is a spellbinding tale. There are parts you want to cry and others you have to admit are funny. I can easily relate to the characters. The magic makes sense. The writing is stunning, trust me. The power of words in this books is not weak. I gave this book 5 stars. I recommend it to anybody that can handle the tale of star-crossed, forbidden love.

Firefight

2009-12-28T16:13:00.000-05:00

Kate Wild has continued her Gypsy tale with, Firefight. Freedom Smith is back only this time he's headed to Malta. He's done some bad things and now he has to save somebody. I liked this adventure better than the first.

Goodreads has no quote for me to borrow. So, time for my summoning abilities. Freedom has joined Phoenix, the paranormal investigation unit of England. His Gypsy tendencies are not taking a backseat and soon he's back in trouble up to his nose. Now he's on the way to Malta to save his girlfriend, Java.
This book was a touch better than the first but I'll leave it at 3 stars. I do not understand the title's connection to the book but if you do, please tell me. Freedom's arrogance has grown me somewhat, which means I don't dislike him as much as I used to. Wild does not draw the entire story out this time and even uses explanations for once. The storyline is a bit more complex and makes more sense. I liked all the myths and otherworldly elements in it. I recommend this book more for guys as they can probably relate better to Freedom.

Book Bag Bounty (12)

2009-12-27T13:13:00.000-05:00

Santa brought me one book but I got others too.

Palace of Mirrors by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Santa came through with this sequel to Just Ella. I picked it out for my sister, turns out its for me.

How To Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier
This was picked out by my librarian after she heard that I review books on a blog. It sounds really good and funny. Can't wait to read it!

Living Outside the Lines by Lesley Choyce
A Canadian author book also set aside for me. The concept is unique. It will not be released in the USA until 2010. I really like how this one is set up so watch out for it!

What did you get? (My librarian is just amazing if you ask me!)

The Shifter

2009-12-27T07:49:00.002-05:00

What a debut! Fantasy, meet the latest member, Janice Hardy. Her book, The Shifter, is a fantasy genre dream. I devoured this, I loved it and now I can't wait for more! No matter how hard I try, I can not find a flaw (if you ignore the fact that the book is not as deep as it could be).

Nya is an orphan struggling for survival in a city crippled by war. She is also a Taker—with her touch, she can heal injuries, pulling pain from another person into her own body. But unlike her sister, Tali, and the other Takers who become Healers' League apprentices, Nya's skill is flawed: She can't push that pain into pynvium, the enchanted metal used to store it. All she can do is shift it into another person, a dangerous skill that she must keep hidden from forces occupying her city. If discovered, she'd be used as a human weapon against her own people.
Rumors of another war make Nya's life harder, forcing her to take desperate risks just to find work and food. She pushes her luck too far and exposes her secret to a pain merchant eager to use her shifting ability for his own sinister purposes. At first Nya refuses, but when Tali and other League Healers mysteriously disappear, she's faced with some difficult choices. As her father used to say, principles are a bargain at any price; but how many will Nya have to sell to get Tali back alive?

It's textbook perfect, character development, intriguing plot and unique ideas. Nya does seem to be younger than she is and the whole book could have gone deeper but other than that it was pretty close to straight amazing. I wonder where they hid this book for so long? It is shelved as middle grade but the idea will attract YA readers anyway. For the middle grade readers this book is prefect, for us YA folks, well, I've pointed out the issues. I had issues putting this book down. Pain is a movable medium in this book and a weapon on top of that. It's dangerous, tricky and what makes the idea of this book so addicting.
I loved the premise and storyline of this book. Depth could have been added by making Nya more her age. It could also have been added to the storyline for extra intruige. Nya and Tali have a strong bond and Nya's beliefs are tested around every corner for her sister. The romance is budding and I think it will be there in future books. I would like to see some of the loose ends tied up in the next book which is due out in Fall 2010. This book earns a 5 star rating from me when I'm considering it is MG. I recommend this to young readers who are nearing the transistion from MG to YA. It's a perfect step before Tamora Pierce.

Lady Macbeth's Daughter

2009-12-26T04:56:00.001-05:00

Shakespeare is rarely somebody's favorite subject in school but this book is worthwhile getting over your aversion to ol' Will. The play, Macbeth, has been altered to fit in a daughter. Taking historical facts and the play, author Lisa Klein seamlessly weaves in a daughter who fought to change it all, Lady Macbeth's Daughter.

Albia has grown up with no knowledge of her mother of her father, the powerful Macbeth. Instead she knows the dark lure of the Wychelm Wood and the moors, where she’s been raised by three strange sisters. It’s only when the ambitious Macbeth seeks out the sisters to foretell his fate that Albia’s life becomes tangled with the man who leaves nothing but bloodshed in his wake. She even falls in love with Fleance, Macbeth’s rival for the throne. Yet when Albia learns that she has the second sight, she must decide whether to ignore the terrible future she foresees—or to change it. Will she be able to save the man she loves from her murderous father? And can she forgive her parents their wrongs, or must she destroy them to save Scotland from tyranny?

I've heard some about this book and picked it out last week. It was a pleasant read. Albia is a strong character, determined and convinced of her mission. She accepts what is given to her and does not try to change fate. Lisa managed to place Albia in the story without changing any of the major events. I admire this ability because my friends and I had enough trouble just modernizing a short scene from the play last year.
The book alternates viewpoints between Albia and her mother, Grelach (Lady Macbeth). This is useful but also slightly unnecessary. If you have read the play, it's almost boring. What Grelach's viewpoint does do is ensure that you can not completely hate her as much as you might after reading the play. I still don't like her too much but at least her reasoning here is strong and much more logical. Lisa also looks at what happens after Macbeth is killed. I found this cool, it's something not covered in the play.
The ending was strange and I can not say that I like it. Towards the end Albia became too influenced by others. I know why she did what she did but her method of handling the situation could have been different. There are other characters as well that change to the extreme, a complete 180 degree turn around. Maybe I just missed the clues. The romance is cute but underdeveloped and sudden. Fleance is one of those characters you can never be sure of.
The historical aspect of this book was research really well. I have friend who can call King Duncan an ancestor so I hear plenty about this time in Scotland's history. The magic elements leave the story with a better flair than Shakespeare did. It is not too far overboard. The story is for the most part very believable. Even the history part matches true history better than ol' Will managed to do. He went for dramatic, and Lisa for the truth.
Overall I gave this book a 4 star rating. The storyline was interesting, the characters unique and the setting well research. It was a good read and I recommend it to people who like Shakespearean-themed books or heroines in an impossible dilemma. It was worth my time.

All I Want for Christmas...

2009-12-24T03:15:00.001-05:00

Christmas Eve, folks! Like any good girl and boy, I'm spending time with family for the next few days so minimal blog venturing for me. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday all around! May you receive many books from old Saint Nick.

All I want for Christmas...

A Tough Duck Buck
15" used brown Western trail or ranch saddle
Good health for a whole year (forever works too but that's asking a bit much, don't ya think ;)
Plenty of books

What do you want from Santa?

Movie vs. Books: Heartland

2009-12-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

As I've said before, there are no TVs in this house. However that does not mean we forgo the occasional movie. The one we're watching right now is the TV show, Heartland based on Lauren Brooke's bestselling books. I've read probably every single Heartland book out there but this has to be the first time that I say a the movie adaption is on par and in many ways better than the books.
Why? First of all the setting, in Alberta foothills. Just gorgeous! Such stunning vistas! It's a ranch which makes more sense to why it is the way it is than in the books which are set in Virginia. The setting in general is more appealing to me.

Then Tim Flemming, Amy and Lou's father, is on hand and not in Australia. This makes for some fun and you get more background information. The ranch settings lend to more events happening. Ty is also better in the movie. He has a reason for mot wanting to be there. And he's not out of commission for 2 books, er, episodes in a coma. Mallory just adds a whole another factor.
Did I mention the actress playing Amy is from a city just a bit over an hour south of me?! I think the reason I like the show better is because its Canadian and the events are much more exciting. Keep in mind, I've only seen Season 1, so I might change my mind. This is totally rare for me. Most of the time I like the books way better (not that I watch a whole lot of TV 'cause of the no TV thing).

WANTED: Allan Stratton

2009-12-22T08:57:00.001-05:00

Today I'm sharing with you an interview with Allan Stratton, a Canadian author. Currently he is in South Africa filming a movie adaption of his book, Chanda's Secrets. Thanks so much, Allan!

You've been in many places around the world. Out of all the places you've been, where would you return in a heartbeat?

Egypt. But China is right behind.

What are your writing "must-haves"?

I have to have a clear idea of the characters and story. These will change and develop in the writing, of course, but I need to know where I'm going before I set out, even if I end up somewhere I never expected in the end. Oh yes, and a quiet space by myself (can be anywhere, but usually my office). And a computer. I hate handwriting.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

Life, dreams.

What are you currently reading?

Lawrence Hill's "The Book of Negroes".

Favourite book or books of all time?

Tom Jones, Withering Heights, Crime and Punishment

Chanda's Secrets was first published in 2004. In 2008 you released Chanda's Wars, a sequel. What made you return to this particular story?

I wanted to know if Chanda and her family ever patched up their feud. And then I woke up from a dream of fire and blood and realized Soly and Iris had been captured to become child soldiers. I, as Chanda, knew I had to save them.

Now Chanda's Secrets is being made into a movie. How do you feel about that?

Very excited.

When can we except to see this movie in theatres?

It should be out in Germany, South Africa and Europe in May. The distributor, Bavarian International will be looking to sell North American rights at festivals over the next year.

Do you write the script?

No. Dennis Foon. I asked the producers to hire him. I wanted to devote my time to new work, and I've known and trusted Dennis for thirty years.

You've been writing for a long time. Any advice for all those young writers out there?

Enjoy writing for its own sake. If you're like me, it's like breathing. Don't let rejection crush your passion for the art. Keep going. Keep writing...

What's next for you after wrapping up this movie?

My new book, BORDERLINE, comes out in Canada in January and in March in the States. (Plot, blurbs and cover on my website: www.allanstratton.com)

Anything else you want to add?

Thanks so much for this chance to talk to your readers. To learn more about the new book and the process of turning Chanda's Secrets into a movie, visit my website at www.allanstratton.com It links to my blog where I discussed the movie in December on location in South Africa!
If you like the blog, please spread the word on Facebook etcetera. I'd love to share my experiences and photos with everyone who's interested in filmmaking and Africa.

The Lit Report

2009-12-21T07:35:00.001-05:00

I went in the backroom yesturday to pick up a White Pine book or two for Winter Break. Instead I walked out with a new Canadian release by Sarah Harvey, The Lit Report. That sounds like homework but is far from it. This book was from the heart, witty and overall an really good read.

Julia and Ruth have been unlikely best friends since they first met in Sunday school-Ruth was standing on the Bible-crafts table belting out 'Jesus Loves Me.' Now that they're a year away from graduation, they're putting the finishing touches on their getaway plans. But their dream of a funky big-city loft and rich, interesting older men is threatened when preacher's daughter Ruth goes to a wild party without studious Julia, and all hell breaks loose. Ruth gets pregnant; Julia gets creative. Determined to support her friend and stay on track for life after high school, Julia comes up with a plan that will require all her intelligence, compassion, ingenuity and patience. Drawing on some great (and some not-so-great) works of literature, Julia proves that you can learn a lot just by opening up a book.

Like Sarah Dessen's Someone Like You, this is a story about friendship, choices and consequences. Julia loves classic novels including Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. She's the narrator of this wild ride. Every chapter starts with a quote and an analyse of a book. Julia is right there when Ruth annouces she's pregant. The two of them put their heads together to figure out how to handle this. Ruth is after all, a preacher's daughter.
I loved how strong and solid the different relationships between the characters are. Each character stayed true to their form even when you didn't want them to. The book was funny, sad and hopeful all mixed up in one. Julia's plans are a bit out there somedays but really great. I highly recommend this book to all Sarah Dessen fans and anybody else too.

Book Bag Bounty (12)

2009-12-20T10:44:00.001-05:00

I got my first prize pack! And plenty of other cool books...

Medina Hill by Trilby Kent and Swag
I won this book on Bookurious.com! I got a hardcover copy. Another historical but different this time. With it I got some pins and two bookmarks. Very cool!

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Several of my friends said I should read this so I picked it up when it finally came back on the shelf. Mythical creatures, hmm...

The Lit Report by Sarah N. Harvey
I was suppose to grab a White Pine novel for the break but I grabbed this instead. The title alone should get your attention. Bonus: it's by a Canadian author!

Wolf Cry by Julia Golding
I like Viking period books so this is my Viking fix for the month. Interesting cover.

Lady Macbeth's Daughter by Lisa Klein
Shakespeare is not my favourite subject but we did read Macbeth in school so I picked this out yesterday.

The Shifter by Janice Hardy
This finally came in! I really, really wanted to read this. Magic and war, sounds good to me! And the cover, pretty!

Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
My non-fiction book for the first time in while. I hear it is really good. The title is right up my alley. I've been riding half broke horses since I was 11 and climb on a pony nobody had touched in 3 years. Yeeha!

And in my email inbox there are three interviews with authors waiting. One will be up this week, Tuesday, I think. The other won't be until January. Now I'm going to nurse my nasty bruises that I have from a fall into the milking parlour last night (and to top it all of I got hit over the head with a falling 2x6 ten minutes later).

ETA - Holy smokes! I just realized this blog is over a year old! Whoa!

A Curse as Dark as Gold

2009-12-19T09:55:00.000-05:00

Ever wondered what a fairy tale really is like? In A Curse as Dark as Gold, Elizabeth Bunce tackles the fairy tale of Rumpelstiltskin. This is beautiful, wicked tale retold with unique twists and turns.

"If you'll allow me to demonstrate, I do think I could be of some help to you here."
I smiled tightly. "You'd have to be able to make gold appear from thin air to be much help to us now, I'm afraid."
"Gold, you say?" he said quietly. "Well, not out of the air, maybe, but--" He reached toward Rosie and drew a length of straw free from her hat. From out of a pocket in his jacket appeared an old-fashioned handheld drop spindle, the kind no one uses anymore, and he sent it spinning with a turn of his hand. Slowly, as we watched, he drew out the straw and spun it--spun it!
As if it were a roving of wool! Rosie and I stood there and watched him, moment by moment, as the spindle bobbed and twirled. Something pulled out from the brown straw and through his knobby fingers, and where it should have gone onto the spindle, the finest strands of gleaming gold threads appeared. Round and round the spindle went, and the gleaming of gold turned with it. I don't know how long we watched it, turning and turning, flashing gold with every revolution. I could not take my eyes away.

Set in roughly the 1700's around the time steam engines are used, this book is an ultimate historical fiction read. I did not hear one mention of thing out of the ordinary for this time. Charlotte is just the sort of character I like. She's independent, hardworking and determined. At times she got a bit annoying but I still liked her. All the characters fit a fairy tale script, evil and good. There are curses, magic and superstitions abound. A romance that is solid but a bit sudden. The twists and turns are what make this story so amazing. The prefect fairy tale for me!

Good Girls

2009-12-18T20:56:00.000-05:00

What happens when a photo changes everything? That is the question Laura Ruby tackles in her book, Good Girls. This book is about the aftermath of choices and how we deal with it.

Audrey Porter is a "good girl" -- a good student, a great daughter, a fab friend. She's also the last person anyone expects to be hanging out with Luke DeSalvio, the hottest guy at Audrey's school. But Luke is a liar, a player, a dream, and Audrey knows it. She dumps him at her friend's Halloween party with no intention of looking back. But everyone else is looking -- looking at a mysterious and humiliating photograph that has popped up on their cell phones and computers. But who took it? And why? And how will she ever live it down?

First of all, I need to state what the synposis does not mention. This book is not PG13. It's probably something like 14A. Since I read adult novels about 1/3 of the time, none of this really bothered me. Other than that Laura Ruby is a talented author. It takes somebody who really knows how we teens think to pull this story off successfully. Audrey is similar to me with one major exception, I don't party and I don't hook-up. Gossip changes everything for her. Her father can't look her in the eye, her teachers want to take away her good marks and her mother schedules a doctor's appointment. The changes that Audrey has to make to redeem herself are a long journey. I recommend this for anybody looking for a quality read that does not mind the 14A aspect of the book.

WANTED: Sarah MacLean

2009-12-17T07:55:00.003-05:00

Meet Sarah MacLean, the author of the amazing YA historical novel, The Season. She has taken the time to answer a few questions for me for an author interview (my first!). So here's what she had to say:

Why did you decide to write historical fiction? It is not a common genre to be written in particular for YA.

Honestly, I couldn't imagine writing a book set outside of Regency London...there's something about that time period that I just can't get enough of. Jane Austen, stunning dresses, the ballrooms rich with the scent of wax and perfume, the dreamy men in cravats and leather boots, I mean, is it possible to remain unmoved in the face of the Regency? Not for me.

I spent most of my life reading books either from or about the Regency, so the history came pretty easily for me, but whenever I had a question, thanks to the magic of the Internet and some remarkable nonfiction authors who came long before me, answers were never too far away. I did spend some incredible time in the New York Public Library reading the Times of London from the Spring and Summer of 1815, which turned up WAY more fascinating story ideas than I could ever use...many of which will make an appearance in future books, I hope!

What are your writing must-haves?

Journal, pen, classical music. Everything else is gravy.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I think that you have to take your inspiration from whatever is around you. Right now, photographs of English country houses, The West Wing, my Tumblr feed (sarahmaclean.tumblr.com).

What are you currently reading?

I'm on deadline, so I'm not reading anything right now. But I did finish Megan Frazer's The Secrets of Truth & Beauty a few weeks ago...and I LOVED it. It's such a beautiful, fresh story. Everyone should go read that book. Now.

Favourite book or books of all time?

The Great Gatsby, A Prayer for Owen Meany, The Life of Pi

If you can release any information on this, will fans of The Season see another book on adventures by Alex and her friends? Is there another YA book in the works?

Unfortunately, I don't have any news on the sequels to The Season yet...I'm currently working on a series of adult romances, the first of which will be released in April. It's called NINE RULES TO BREAK WHEN ROMANCING A RAKE. Once those are done and turned in, I've got a contemporary YA knocking around in my head, so, yes. I'm definitely not through with YA.

Is Alex anything like you?

She's probably way more like me than I'd like to admit.

And for the final question, any pets helping with the writing?

My dog, Baxter, is an exceptional writing partner. He's very sweet and always willing to get up early or stay up late with me. And he thinks I'm brilliant. Which is very motivating.

Thanks so much, Sarah! Since I read both genres she writes, you can bet your boots I'll keep an eye out for her next book. You can learn more about Sarah and her books at the following links:

http://www.macleanspace.com
http://www.twitter.com/sarahmaclean
http://www.facebook.com/macleanspace

Generation Dead & The Kiss of Life

2009-12-16T04:09:00.001-05:00

A double review for Daniel Waters's two books. I should have done this one a while ago, I owned both copies. Now I'm donating them to the library so it is high time for a review. Different, paranormal and heartfelt about sums up these two.

You’ve heard of Generation "X" and Generation "Y." Get ready for Generation Dead. Generation Dead being known for its, well, undead. Science can’t explain it, and no one really knows why it happens, but American teenagers are coming back to life. Known to the living as differently biotic or the living impaired. These zombie teenagers try to "live" their undead lives, but as with any group of people that vary from the norm, there are always prejudices.

- The Story Siren

Daniel Waters introduces us to Phoebe, a normal Goth girl. She's best friends with the football star, Adam. Adam has a crush on Phoebe. She's got another best friend named Margie. Margie does not always agree with Phoebe. And Phoebe has a crush on Tommy. Tommy is dead... or rather undead.
Phoebe is good character, I liked her in both books. She's friendly, a good student and does not loose her head when it comes to boys. Generation Dead introduces the prejudices and mysteries that surround the differently biotic. Phoebe convinces her friends to join the Hunter Foundation run by a man and his daughter to help the differently biotic. There is one harsh cliffhanger at the end of this book to ensure you want to pick up the next book.
The first book is Phoebe helping the differently biotic, trying to understand them. There are no laws protecting these kids and they are sometimes killed again. Daniel Waters's writing in this book is stunning and just plain amazing. He can really make you believe that Phoebe and Tommy will get somewhere to having the undead accepted by society. And discovering the secret to life...

Kiss of Life was, therefore, going to have to stand to high expectations. It did not really succeed in this. I felt that whatever advances Phoebe made were undone and pushed back to levels even lower than before the first book. She did shine through as a level-headed and strong character. She knew what she wanted. I was sorely disappointed by this book but the writing quality was still there. The characters are just as strong as before but I think the plot lost focus.
For these two books you learn that Rome really was not built in a day. You can not change opinions in a heartbeat. But every little thing counts towards something. For once we have a female lead with guts and brains. The covers are funny and cool. After all Disney published these two books so why not?
I just heard the next book, Passing Strange, is due out sometime in May 2010. I will pick this up if I can but I doubt I'll spend more of my hard-earned money for another hardcover. The cover is just as amusing as the others but only Goodreads has it! I donated these to books in hopes a paranormal-loving reader out there loves them.

Caught in Print

2009-12-15T03:24:00.001-05:00

A new feature! Caught in Print is a biweekly collection of review snippets from other book bloggers out there, some authors and anything else if key interest in the bookworm world. Caught in Print is inspired by The Story Siren's YA Connection post. Thanks Kristi for the inspiration!

Book Buzz From the Bloggers

Jill from Reading is Bliss is hosting the 25 Guests of Christmas. Check out her blog to see just who is talking today. I can't imagine how much work that took!

Jennifer from Devouring Books Whole reviewed A Curse as Dark as Gold: "I was amazed. Despite being a smidge bored at some parts. Elizabeth Bunce is incredible at storytelling."

Chick Lit Teens has this to say: "I’d been warned prior to reading Brightly Woven [Alexandra Bracken] that it was a sublimely wonderful read that would have me up frantically flipping pages late into the night. And let me tell you, it lived up to all of the hype."

Charlotte from Charlotte's Library talked about one of Janice Hardy's books: "The Shifter is one of those books that just goes to show that fascinating ideas are still out there, waiting to be written about. That is to say that, I, at least, have never before encountered the magical idea at the center of this book."

Taschima from Bloody Bookaholic reviewed The Dark Divine by Bree Despain: "This story has some intriguing elements. The whole mystery factor and the ending I think were my favorite parts of the story."

Sarah from Book Reviews from inside an Igloo read Gone by Michael Grant: "I loved this book. I think its because of the sheer brilliance of this concept, a world without adults, which when you think about it is scary enough for a bunch of children under 16, but when you think of all the things that only adults can do; drive a car, work as doctors, there would be no such thing as a fair judicial system, economy would fail, currency would cease to be important, and the world would be run by bullies (sounds like high school anyone?), it all makes for a fascinating read."

Author Arena

I found a great site, AuthorTracker.com hosted by HarperCollins, that lets you get the latest on some of the best authors out there including Meg Cabot and Aprilynne Pike.

Another site I found is BookArmy.com, a site that has a ton of information on up-coming books, author interviews and much, much more.

Goodreads is hosting the first-ever 2009 Goodreads Choice Awards. If you have an account, go vote now!

Author, Bree Despain, has her first book coming out, The Dark Divine, on December 22. Just in time for last minute shopping :)

Death By Denim

2009-12-14T19:54:00.000-05:00

The newest book by Linda Gerber and I just finished it! Another fast-paced, enjoyable read.

Aphra Connolly is being chased by some very dangerous people. She knows her survival depends upon staying far away from love interest Seth, and listening to her mom’s lectures on the finer points of anonymity and survival. But how is a girl supposed to live under the radar and not think about her boyfriend when she’s in Paris—the most romantic city in the world? When her mom’s contact in Paris is found floating in the Seine with a deadly message stuffed in his mouth, Aphra realizes that she will never be able to stop running unless she confronts the situation head-on.

This time Aphra is in Europe. Seth is nowhere to be found, or is he? It becomes a race against time and a game of trust. Who is on which side, who will stay alive. This might just be the most thrilling yet out of this series. I really do wish that Gerder drew these books out a bit more. They would be amazing if she added in some more suspense. It gets a bit cut and dry. The predictability is relatively low other than you have to Aphra will not die. Now I'm crossing my fingers for more adventures.

Book Bag Bounty (11)

2009-12-13T10:43:00.002-05:00

My bag is looking really nice right now. We got snowed in from Wednesday to Friday this week so I put a big dent in it. Saturday we all ran out to the library desperate for more.

Rage: A Love Story by Julie Anne Peters
This is one loud cover. I picked this up yesterday and its my Out-of-the-Box read for this week. I've never read a book about a girl-girl relationship so this is a new branch out for me.

As You Wish by Jackson Pearce
Wishes, something everybody has. Only for Viola they're is about to get true. This is a story about a genie and a girl who can't make up her mind. It sounded really good so I ordered it in and it came yesterday.

Good Girls by Laura Ruby
One photo taken at a party changes everything for Audrey. In minutes her dad can't look at her anymore, her mother sends her to the doctor and her best friends are threating bodily injury to the photographer. Another book I just picked up so we'll see what in this one.

A Curse as Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce
I love historical fiction so I splurged and bought this book. This is Rumpelstiltskin retold and what's better than historical fiction and a fairy tale thrown in? Not much I tell you. I am so excited to read this!

Death by Denim by Linda Gerber
I also bought the third book in this series. The book thief has not discovered I own it so for right now it is still in my possession. Going to pick this up after I finish my project on agriculture awareness.

For those of you who read this week's Between the Pages, I am scheduling the first Caught in Print feature on Tuesday. I'm still looking for more quotes so if you have blog and wrote a good review on an not-too-often mentioned book or a book soon to be released, leave your link in the comments and I'll check it out. If you want to know what Caught in Print is, scroll down the page to the post on Thursday. Thanks!

Hush, Hush

2009-12-12T07:17:00.001-05:00

I wanted to enjoy this, honestly, I did. Becca Fitzpatrick really knows how to write from the mechanical stand-point. The idea behind Hush, Hush is unique and a really good one. I just could not stand the holes and the characters.

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.
But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

First of all, let me say, I love the cover of this book. It is just stunning! Then the idea of fallen angels and how well it was thought out is also really cool. If you read the quote from Goodreads, would you agree with me that a book with such a synopsis sounds wicked? Reality did not match up, much to my disappointment. After 3 weeks of toying around with reading more of the book, I finally got it done. Hush, Hush is, to me, a combination of Pretty Little Liars and Twilight.
Becca Fitzpatrick obviously had higher marks than me in English class. Her writing is just beautiful. She must have kept a dictionary and a thesaurus close by. The mechanics are great. What disappointed me was the context of the writing. There were more holes then I care to recall. Several noticeable details were overlooked. This made it seem choppy and rough. The book was extremely lacking in orientation for well over the first half. I had no idea where it was going and what the point of the story was. Lucky for me the last few chapters were better and had excitement, thrill and just about everything the synopsis promised. That salvaged this book for me and ensured that I might read the next one. The last few chapters are what make this book and I'm guessing what pull in all that hype. The romance in Hush, Hush is rather daring and entertaining.
The characters drove me crazy. Personally, I would not call Vee my best friend. She was just, well, something. Nora is not much better than Bella from Twilight. I liked Nora up until I figured out that while she might have read plenty of books at the library and studied lots, she forgot to check Common Sense. Lordy, she just invited half the stuff that happened to her. I recommend this if you like romance, thrill and ... wait for it... Twilight. If you are a more picky reader that needs a well coorinated book, you might want to exercise some caution. I gave it 3 out of 5 stars.

The Book of Luke

2009-12-11T14:17:00.000-05:00

Nope, I did not cave and read the Bible. I read something much more entertaining than that, The Book of Luke by Jenny O'Connell. This is a novel about guilt, fear, friendship and boys.

Emily Abbott has always been considered the Girl Most Likely to Be Nice -- but lately being nice hasn't done her any good. Her parents have decided to move the family from Chicago back to their hometown of Boston in the middle of Emily's senior year. Only Emily's first real boyfriend, Sean, is in Chicago, and so is her shot at class valedictorian and early admission to the Ivy League. What's a nice girl to do?
Then Sean dumps Emily on moving day and her father announces he's staying behind in Chicago "to tie up loose ends," and Emily decides that what a nice girl needs to do is to stop being nice.
She reconnects with her best friends in Boston, Josie and Lucy, only to discover that they too have been on the receiving end of some glaring Guy Don'ts. So when the girls have to come up with something to put in the senior class time capsule, they know exactly what to do. They'll create a not-so-nice reference guide for future generations of guys -- an instruction book that teaches them the right way to treat girls.
But when her friends draft Emily to test out their tips on Luke Preston -- the hottest, most popular guy in school, who just broke up with Josie by email -- Emily soon finds that Luke is the trickiest of test subjects . . . and that even a nice girl like Emily has a few things to learn about love.

Ah, boys. Love them, hate them, can't live without them. I must say that Emily and her friends' idea is a good one. It would safe a lot of heartache and nerves for future generations of teenaged girls. However, like all good ideas involving reform of the opposite gender, it backfires rather specatularly. Emily had many lessons to learn, maybe more than the number of lessons she was trying to teach Luke. I could really see this happening in realty as most girls can probably tell you that they wish there was a handbook for guys on what not to do.
At times this book was slow and the sense of something bad coming a little overbearing but I enjoyed it. The tips for guys at the start of each chapter where humorous and clever. O'Connell's voice was strong and real through Emily. The characters stayed true to themselves but could come across as a little flat at times. As far as context goes, this story is really not all that deep. It makes for a nice read that avoids the usual teenaged drama unless it is called for. If it were summer, I'd say this should be in your beach bag as light-weight reading material.

Between the Pages (7)

2009-12-10T13:33:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Jennifer over at Extreme Reader Book Reviews, I have been nominated for a blog award, "One Lovely Blog Award". My first! How cool is that?!

The requirements are as follows:

Accept the award, post it on your blog together including the name of the person who has granted the award, and their blog link.
Nominate the award to 15 other blogs that you've newly discovered.
Contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

My Nominations:
Polish Outlander
In The Hammock
The Book Obsession
Chick Lit Teens

A Garden Of Books
devouring books whole

Charlotte's Library
On the Nightstand
Relax! Read a Book
Pirate Penguin's Reads

Hope's Bookshelf
Once Upon a Bookcase Book Reviews
The Book Reader
Book Reviews from Inside an Igloo
Everything To Do With Books

In other news, I finally went for a ride yesterday, in, well, less than optimal weather. It was a snowday at school (there's another one today). I went riding in sleet, rain, snow and 50+ km/h wind on ground covered in about 2" of slush. Let's just say Jenny (my horse) was not impressed. First she had a month's worth of burrs pulled out of her mane and then I harassed her outside in conditions she hates. She was a good girl though and even helped close up the shed for the heifers (and *sigh* bit a curious Doreen).
And... I'm adding one more feature, Caught in Print, which will run every other week. I love reading YA Connection over at The Story Siren and want to do something similar. It's quite some work but I'm hoping you'll like it. Right now I'm collecting quotes to put up. Look for it sometime soon!
Keep turning those pages! (I know I will. Old Man Winter really showed up today, blowing snow, squalls, freezing temperatures and a kidding goat)

Wishlist (3)

2009-12-09T07:29:00.002-05:00

It's that day again. And boy, oh boy, do I have a nice collection picked out!

First off, Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins. Have you seen the just released cover of this book?! Absolutely love it! And since my favorite paranormal is witches, this is on my must read list. I'll even shell out the money for this book, which should tell you just how excited I am to read this book. I almost never buy debuts. The only two others to get this honour are Daniel Waters and Sarah MacLean.

Then we have Sarah MacLean's next novel, Nine Rules To Break When Romancing a Rake. Yep, a Regency and a romance. Hey, nobody said I just read YA. This sounds really funny. I can't wait to read this book. This author shows huge promise.

Up next, The Naughty List by Suzanne Collins. Crazy cover, totally interesting plot line. What more could a girl want?

Tera Lynn Childs also has a new book coming soon, Forgive My Fins. I loved her other books so this is also a must read for me!

Now that we've covered the girls-only books, how about some wicked science fiction? I'm looking no farther than Escape Velocity (H.I.V.E. #3) by Mark Walden. Enter the world of a hidden school, a school that produces the next top villians. I've loved the books that came before this one, so therefore this is really high on my list!

And the biggest news comes from my all-time favourite adult author, Linda Lael Miller. Her next book, Tate, is due out in January. I can hardly wait.

That's it for now! Maybe I will find more later but I'm not going hunting because as a fellow bookworm, you should know what happens when you go looking for books...

Maximum Ride: Final Warning

2009-12-08T19:29:00.000-05:00

So the first series is over but James Patterson has brought Max and the flock back for the first book in the Protector series, Final Warning. Just as fast-paced as it's precedors, this book also has the bonus of a good message.

Maximum Ride is a perfectly normal teenager who just happens to be able to fly, the result of an out-of-control government experiment. Max and the other members of the Flock-six kids who share her remarkable ability-have been asked to aid a group of environmental scientists studying the causes of global warming. The expedition seems like a perfect combination of adventure, activism-and escaping government forces who watch the Flock like a hawk.
But even in Antarctica, trapped in the harshest weather on our planet, Maximum Ride is an irresistible target in constant danger. For whoever controls her powers could also control the world . . .

Max and the flock just can't seem to find a safe place except maybe in Antarctica among hundreds of penguins and plenty of ice. Now that I've read several of these books, I'm used to the unimpressive writing. I guess it grows on you. The humor and just plain halirous lines are ever present. This book has to be my favorite so far because this time the flock decides to stand up to something else, global warming. There is more to it now. You don't miss much if you start the series at this book. Patterson does ensure that this is a pick-up-anytime series. Fast, funny and cool in general, this might be one of the books you should give to a YA reader that prefers sci-fi.

Tempting Fate

2009-12-07T19:49:00.000-05:00

Esther M. Friesner has many books to her credit but my all-time favorite is Tempting Fate. This is a real play on words kind of title. Like all books where they mix gods and morals, this is a laugh and a half. A fine read that I keep getting back to.

Until she stumbled upon the Divine Relief Temp Agency, Ilana Newhouse was having a hard time finding a summer job. Apparently, a t-shirt that reads “ORC: the Other Green Meat” isn't appropriate for an interview. But when she reports for her first day as a temp, Ilana discovers why Divine Relief isn't shy about hiring someone a little left of ordinary. Ilana is temping for the extraordinary greek mythological goddesses, the Fates. The three Fates are responsible for spinning, measuring, and cutting all the life-threads on the planet. Ilana will be working—literally—with life and death. Now her summer is going to be less about surviving a stuffy office and more about avoiding a catastrophe.

From a sister with many secrets to goddess that are just a little out of control, this book is filled with page-turning adventure. Ilena is incredibly easy to relate to. She didn't want to job but it was a requirement. She has to admit that it gets her away from her sister's crazy wedding plans. Greek mythology is always entertianing in the hands of the right author. For Friesner, it works out really well. I enjoyed this book more than her other one. But don't take my word for it, read it yourself!

Book Bag Bounty (10)

2009-12-06T10:55:00.000-05:00

Lots of books this week and more on the way! I wish a you Frohe Saint Nikohlas Tag as well.

The Book of Luke by Jenny O'Connell
Sounds entertaining! Emily is done with being a good girl. Together with her friends, she is going to write a book for the next generation of guys on 'Guy Don'ts'. This was published a while ago but I've never read it.

Sisters in Sanity by Gayle Forman
A bit different. Brit is going into a rehab center that promises to do more harm than good. I'm on the fence line about this book. I might read it and I might not. It is very far from my usual. This will be my challenge read.

Firefight by Kate Wild
The second book in this series. I was not impressed by the first. I hope this one is better.

Silverhorse by Lene Kaaberbol
This could just be amazing! Set far in the future in a time when women rule the world because man almost killed them all, this is about one girl's adventure to becoming a bredanari. Fantasy, the future and horses, all mixed in one book? What more could I want?!

Maximum Ride: Final Warning by James Patterson
Yep, I got the fourth book. The plot is afterall, addicting. I just wish the writing was better.

So that's what I picked up this week. Looks pretty good if you ask me!

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

2009-12-05T07:24:00.001-05:00

Carrie Ryan ventures into dark and twisted territory with her book, The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Zombies have taken over the world. Only the area circled by fence is safe, or is it? This story was downright weird but still good.

In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

I must say that I did not understand some parts of the book, they were confusing. As a whole, though, the book made sense. Mary is by far not your typical heroine. She faces choices that nobody should have to make. I do not like how she only seems to care for herself and her love. Her over-the-top love seems to almost fall into the Bella-and-Edward catagory. Mary stops at nothing to find the answers she wants, even at the cost of harm to herself and those around her. There are parts that are poorly explained and researched in terms of the setting. You can not feed hundreds on nothing. I had no clue where their food supply came from or their tools. That's just the farmer and survivor in me asking that. I think this is a background book. I like the way the mystery and secrets are exposed to capture the reader. I would like the answers to those. I will keep an eye out for The Dead-Tossed Waves, the next book. My response to this book is luke-warm because zombies are about the hardest creature in paranormal literature to write effectively. I can't think of one author at the moment that had me praying for more when it comes to zombies. I read the next books but I'm not deading for them, if you catch my drift. If you want to read about a girl making impossible choices when she gets to make a choice, then this book is for you.

Hush

2009-12-04T07:44:00.002-05:00

Donna Jo Napoli has crafted a Icelandic saga into an amazing tale with her book, Hush: An Irish Princess' Tale. This book goes deep into the legends and history. As a lover of historical fiction, this book was a rare treat for me.

Melkorka is a princess, the first daughter of a magnificent kingdom in mediæval Ireland -- but all of this is lost the day she is kidnapped and taken aboard a marauding slave ship. Thrown into a world that she has never known, alongside people that her former country's laws regarded as less than human, Melkorka is forced to learn quickly how to survive. Taking a vow of silence, however, she finds herself an object of fascination to her captors and masters, and soon realizes that any power, no matter how little, can make a difference.

Melkorka is like any princess, arrogant, ignorant and priveleged. This comes to an end when her family is placed in moral danger. As a slave, she takes a vow of silence, something that is really hard of her. I loved how this character changed as her story progressed. In an instant her entire life changes but she adapts well for the type of person she is. She learns that even a small thing like silence can make a huge difference. The other characters are stunningly well drawn out. This is truely a historical novel. The details are very clear and accurate. The Norse era of this book means that what takes place will not always match what the reader wants. I really liked it anyway. Melkorka is, afterall, royalty. Not everybody could have done what she did. I admired both the characters and how the story was presented. If you like historicals, this is for you!

Between the Pages (6)

2009-12-03T07:24:00.001-05:00

Another week, another episode of drama, insanity and other crazy things. The heavens seem to be crying here all week. Jack Frost can't decide if he wants to cast us under the spell called 'Canadian Winter' or if we are living in England for this year. It's enough to make any girl cry. Lucky us, field work is done for this year. Give it a week or two and the parties will start. Nobody knows how to party like immigrant farmers.
My friends and I are kicking off this season with semi-formal tomorrow night. Breaking the laws of fashion, my dress is bombshell red and short. I even got new heels, cute ones from American Eagle (I love their shoes). I know I'm making a wicked treat to take with me for the party itself (coconut-coffee glazed cake, yum!). The party promises to be a ton of fun!
Here in book blog world, fellow bloggers have been busy spreading holiday cheer with contest. I'd like to direct your mouse over to Extreme Reader's contest (link here). It looks really cool. There are dozens of other ones to be found as well but since very few of them are international, I'll let you find them.
I would also like to mention PulseIT! and Harlequin TEEN Panel. Both of these are great ways to get access to the newest books. I've just joined PulseIT and while I rarely read e-books, I think this opportunity is worth it. I also got a sneak peek at some of the White Pine books for this year. How much do you want to bet I'll be able to read them before you (if you haven't read them yet that is)?

In other news, I have button! Do you like it? The only problem I'm having is posting the code so that you can get it and add it to your blog if you have one. Anybody know how to do this? The code works, I've checked all of that out already. Any help is great!

Thanks to the rain, I've read a number of books over the last few days. Still not done Hush, Hush but I'm a few pages deeper. Right now I just opened The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Looks good!

Death By Latte

2009-12-02T08:49:00.001-05:00

The next action-packed adventure of Aphra is just as good as the first one. Linda Gerber has another hit on her hands with Death By Latte. I'm so glad I bought the next book because I can't put this series down.

It was only a few weeks ago that Aphra Connolly’s life changed completely. She had been living a quiet existence on her father’s secluded island resort, until Seth Mulo turned up and stole her heart . . . and provided information that led her to find her mom in Seattle. But the reunion isn’t quite what she expected. Aphra’s mom, Natalie, doesn’t seem happy to see Aphra, and Natalie’s boyfriend, Joe, insists that Aphra go home. Even worse, Seth shows up, only to ask her to return the ring he gave her the previous summer. At least Natalie’s hunky neighbor is sympathetic. But when Joe is found dead at a nearby coffee shop, Aphra discovers her whole trip to Seattle has been based on a lie. And now someone just might be trying to kill her. . . .

Now things get exciting. Aphra has taken the matter in her own hands and gone to find her mother. The exciting part comes when the boat explodes. After that you have high-impact action and insane twists and turns. I read this book in a few hours and loved it. This series is really cool and should be a must have on everybody's shelf. I have now handed the books over to the book theif because I think she'll love them too. Seth's appearance is really sudden and takes a while to explain but it adds to the craziness of the book. I highly recommend this series.

Killer

2009-12-01T08:50:00.000-05:00

Sara Shepard knows how to write a cliff-hanger. This book is the sixth addicting addition in the Pretty Little Lairs series. Killer is where things go a little bit crazy. These girls just can not seem to learn from past mistakes.

In picture-perfect Rosewood, Pennsylvania, ash-blond highlights gleam in the winter sun and frozen lakes sparkle like Swarovski crystals. But pictures often lie—and so do Rosewood's four prettiest girls.
Hanna, Aria, Spencer, and Emily have been lying ever since they became friends with beautiful Alison DiLaurentis. Ali made them do terrible things—things they had to keep secret for years. And even though Ali was killed at the end of seventh grade, their bad-girl ways didn't die with her.
Hanna's on a mission to corrupt Rosewood's youth, starting with a very attractive sophomore. Aria's snooping into her boyfriend's past. Spencer's stealing—from her family. And pure little Emily's abstaining from abstinence.
The girls should be careful, though. They thought they were safe when Ali's killer was arrested and A's true identity was finally revealed. But now there's a new A in town turning up the heat. And this time Rosewood is going to burn.

And burn will Rosewood, literally. These girls just can seem to leave well enough alone. The only one that learned a little something was Aria but even she falls for a trick in the end. Nothing that could be prefect ends that way for these girls. The way things played out in this book, ensures that the next one will be twice as explosive. The cliff-hanger is going to kill me. I think this is the best book so far as things are no longer that insane but still a bit out there. There is something resolved in the end, something I've suspected for several of the books. This series is the ulimate nothing is what it seems plot line. If you want suspense and thrill, this is your series. Can't wait the hear what happens next!

Death By Bikini

2009-11-30T09:01:00.000-05:00

If you can't guess it from the title, this series is a murder mystery (ok, multiple murders. Linda Gerber weaves an intoxicating tale in a cool setting. Despite the fact that this book is really thin, it is action-packed.

Aphra Behn Connolly has the type of life most teenage girls envy. She lives on a remote tropical island and spends most of her time eavesdropping on the rich and famous. The problem is that her family's resort allows few opportunities for her to make friends - much less to meet cute boys. So when a smoldering Seth Mulo arrives with his parents, she's immediately drawn to him. Sure, he's a little bit guarded, and sure his parents are rather cold, and okay he won't say a word about his past, but their chemistry is undeniable. Then a famous rock star's girlfriend turns up dead on the beach - strangled by her own bikini top - and alarm bells sound. Is it too great a coincidence that Seth's family turned up just one day before a murder? As the plot thickens, Aphra finds that danger lurks behind even the most unexpected of faces...

I can tell you that you can not predict who killed the girl with the bikini. It is not possible. Aphra is an entertianing heroine. Resourceful and a take-action type of character, she's the kind you will actually like. Of course, no YA is complete without a little romance and Death By Bikini is no exception. There are hundred and one unanswered questions in this book but the promise of the next book will ensure that you keep reading. I really like how this is set up. You have a murder in each book but there is a bigger plot as well. There is not lack of disaster either, making the book more real. Now I'm going to go finish the next book.

Book Bag Bounty (9)

2009-11-29T07:35:00.003-05:00

Not a whole to be found in my book bag this week.

Death By Bikini
Death By Latte both by Linda Gerber
Both of these are on my list because I saw really good reviews for them and I ordered the third book, Death By Demin, which means I have to read the others first.

Hush: An Irish Princess's Tale by Donna Jo Napoli
This sounded really cool so I ordered it on a whim. I like legends and such rewritten.

Hush, Hush by Bekka Fitzpatrick
Reading this on the sly, as I'm approving to give as a gift to a friend. Not too impressed yet but then again I just started. I'm just having a deja vu thing with the fact that the boy and girl meet in a classroom. The main idea is rather inturging. I love the cover.

I also ordered a bunch of really cool books from the library which I hope will be here soon. On top of that I bought 2 books from the book orders. Next week this bag will be full.

OMG! I forgot a book!

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
This is the third time I've taken this book out. Maybe I'll get around to reading it this time. I don't even know what it is about so I'll be in for a surprise.

I guess this means my book bag is not as empty as I thought.

Tempted

2009-11-28T19:35:00.001-05:00

Tempted to continue, tempted to like... oh the tempations of the It Girl novels by Cecily von Ziegesar. Book #6, Tempted, is the best one so far. Written by the same author that wrote the infamous Gossip Girl books, this series is much more likeable. Fast, cute and petty, these books are the kind you read when you don't want to think about the plot.

When Jenny Humphrey confessed to a crime she didn't commit-starting the rampant fire that burned down Miller Farm-she thought her life at elite Waverly Academy was over. But her last-minute escape from expulsion made her the most talked-about girl in school. What nobody knows is who saved her. Now at the annual Halloween masquerade ball, Jenny has a plan to unveil her secret admirer.

Callie Vernon knows who her Prince Charming is: Easy Walsh. But when he discovered she and Tinsley Carmichael tried to get Jenny kicked out, Easy dumped her on the spot. Now Callie is dressing up as Cinderella in hopes of winning back his heart. Can she convince him she's the one before the clock strikes midnight? Or will her glass slipper-and her heart-be permanently broken?

Unlike the Gossip Girl books, the characters in It Girl are much more likeable. Of course, they're still rich and spoiled but they seem to have a touch more common sense and a better understanding of reality. Drugs, alcohol and beer are ever present so if you dislike reading that, avoid this author all together.
I think I like this one best so far because it was varied. There is excitement and a noticeable decrease in cat-fights. The drama decreases to some extent while the adventure part increases. Easy is still high and drunk most of the time. Jenny is as bubbly and naive as ever. Tinsley gets taken down a notch or two. Brett can't seem to learn from past mistakes. Cassie is getting a harsh dose of reality and Heath is well... Heath, drunk and tactless as ever. Kara, the relative newcomer is definately my favorite, as she seems real and stands up for her beliefs. I recommend this book to those that want to see how the rich deal with their problems. It's a petty, guilty-pleasure type of book, the kind you read to remind yourself that your life is better.