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8.31.2012

Read-A-Thons!

So, since it's Labor Day weekend and I'm gonna be relaxing this weekend with some time to read, I decided to hop onto some read-a-thons.

The 2 I'll be doing are:

 
#LDRAT- Labor Day Read-a-thon sponsored by Letters Inside Out




My Ready, Set, Readathon! sponsored by Booktacular and A Daydreamer's Thoughts



It's not too late to sign-up and both are doing giveaways!

I'm hoping to read 3 1/2 books this weekend!

 
 I plan on finishing Matched by Ally Condie (that would would be the 1/2)
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
The Liar, The Bitch, and The Wardrobe by Allie Kingsley
Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

I'm really hoping that I can do this because I feel like I've been slacking on the reading front lately!
So here I go!

Join the Flirt Squad!

I've always loved the idea of Street Teams, especially for books.  I want as many people as possible to know about awesome books!  Even if I haven't read them yet!  Every author deserves the chance to be known, and I hope that one day, if I ever get around to becoming an author, I can get the kind of support these authors are getting!

So, I'm announcing the new Street Team I just joined:

The Flirt Squad


There are so many fun things to do, and there are awesome prizes too!  If you reach just 150 points, you get your names in the acknowledgements of the next book, A Tale of Two Centuries.  I've just reached the first level but I plan on getting the word out about this book and keep on moving up!  So join the Flirt Squad now, and be sure to mention my name, Katie Hawse, and e-mail (DedicatedReadersOnly@yahoo.com), so that I can get some credit for bringing in even more awesome people to the Team!

Check out all the info here:

You can see all the fun stuff I've been posting on FB and on Twitter!

Here's the book trailer, so you can see what all the hype is about:




Until Next Time

Keep♥Reading

Friday Fun (5)


Just a heads up, I won't be posting next weekend probably at all.  I am going on a much needed vacation with my boyfriend to Rehoboth Beach, since he has a rare Friday off!

Follow Friday (5)

The wonderfulness of Parajunkee @ Parajunkee's View and Alison @ Alison Can Read host this weekly soiree each week! They feature a specific blogger in the book blogger community and ask a question for you to answer! You get to discover a bunch of new blogs, and get a bunch of new followers!

 The rules are simple:
Create a post like this one.
Visit Parajunkee and Alison and follow them.
Leave your name and blog link on their blogs.
Visit the other people on the list.
Leave them a comment saying hi.
Follow them.
They follow you.
BAM!
More followers!


There are actually 2 different questions this week, a snafu over there I believe, but more fun for us!:

Best Cover?  What is the best cover of a book you've read and loved?
The Iron Fey series covers are the most gorgeous covers.  I really love them soooooo much.  They are just perfection in my opinion.  Everything you want in a cover: bright colors, pretty font, swirly things, pretty girl, hot guys. Seeeeeeee:
 

Absolutely. Beautiful.






Best Cover?  What is the best cover of a book you've read and didn't like?
The Mortal Instruments series.  I'm not a huge TMI fan.  I've read all the books because, well, once I start a series I usually continue on, no matter if I like it or not.  But I do love the covers of these books.  I think they're really cool looking.  Especially City of Lost Souls.  That cover is gorgeous.  The insides,  not so much.


 The Friday 56 (5)

 The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda @ Freda's Voice.  The rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56.
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grabs you.
*Post it.

Then hop over to her page and link up!

 This week's book is:



Matched (Matched, #1)Matched
Series: Matched, #1
Author: Ally Condie



 
 
 
 
 
 
The quote:
"'I talked with Patrick and Aida Markham,' he said.  ' I though you'd want to know.  The boy is an orphan.  He's from the Outer Provinces.'
'He is?'  My mother's voice held a note of concern.  The Outer Provinces are on the geographic fringe of the Society where life is harder and wilder."

The first book in the Matched series.  Everyone seems to be enjoying and so far I am too.  I absolutely LOVE dystopian novels.  I think I can say, for certain, that dystopian is officially my favorite genre.  There's just something about them.  I think it's that I can usually imagine what happens in them, actually happening.  Like this book, or Delirium.



TGIF (6)
TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger @ GReads! Every week she asks a fun question to answer and you can recap what you've been up to the past week!
NOTE:  Ginger has announced that this will be the last TGIF until further notice.  You can read more here: Announcement 
I'm really sad because I love this meme!  But I understand wanting to focus on school.  I should be doing that myself.



This week's question is:


Choose Your Next Read: How do you go about choosing
what you read next? Do you have a schedule you follow, or do you read whatever makes you happy at the moment?

Lately, I've been following my TBR list.  I have a bunch of books checked out from the library, so I'm going by due date on those, and I have a lot of review copies from NetGalley I need to get to, so those will be next.  Then, I'm taking a break from the library and NetGalley (unless something really good pops up like when The Lost Prince appeared), and read the book on my IRL TBR shelves on my bookshelf.  There are two of them!  It's crazy.  And I just bought more.  But otherwise I don't usually have a set way of picking.  Just whatever calls to me in the moment.  Or what book an author has given me to review.

Until Next Time

Keep♥Reading

8.30.2012

Creative Writing

So, as I told you guys I'm taking a creative writing class this semester at College, and I promised I would share the stuff I wrote in class.  So, here is the first couple of this from my first two classes so far!



The Honeymoon
What happens when the honeymoon ends?
And you're left standing face to face
With the man you thought you once loved?
And you realize he looks nothing like
The handsome prince riding up in his suit of armor?
His horse, with the shiny white coat,
Turns into a grey donkey with a coarse mane.
The roses he carried proudly to you
Fade away into weeds, grass and thorns.
The perfect words he once said to you
Sound like a different language you can't understand.
The soft hand that held yous, never letting go,
Turns rough as it comes down to strike your face.
The soft lips he once kissed you passionately with
Contain the words he bellows as you cower in the corner.
The arms in which you used to feel safe
Now cause panic and fear to rise up in your chest.
You realize nothing is the same,
And nothing will ever be right again,
Now that the honeymoon is over.



Untitled Quick Prompt
He turned the key in the lock and opened the door.  To this horror, he saw his brand new iPad laying in a pile of Doritos crumbs on the floor.
"Daddy's home," he heard his 5-year-old son, Cody, call from the next room.  His 16-year-old daughter, Erica, bushed past him, walking out of the room he had just heard his son's voice from.
"Ya, Daddy's home.  Now I can stop playing Mom.  Hello, Steve, hope you had a nice day."
He watched her walk upstairs to her room; her sanctuary as she called it.  Just 3 years ago she had been the one celebrating his return, bounding into his lap  as soon as he sat down.  She had never been a Mama's girl.  Maybe that's what drove her away.
When Jill left 2 years ago, Erica had to become the "Woman of the House".  Steve worked all day and never was able to do the things his wife had done: cooking, cleaning, taking care of the kids.
Maybe one day he would figure it out.



This is the start of a short story, but I don't know where to take it from here:
Her lips were ruby red, like a plump cherry, ready to be bitten open.  They were the only part of her body that had not yet been touched by death.  Her face, a pale blank slate and cold as ice, once a beautiful pallet of colors: tan perfect complexion, rosy red cheeks, bright blue eyes.  Oh, her eyes.  You could get lost in those eyes.  Caribbean blue, like a perfect sea.  Boys flocked to her, begging for a chance.  But they never had one.  Only one boy ever did.  He was only gone a few days before we lost her too.  They say it was quick.  That she felt nothing.  But we all know what she felt.  It wasn't nothing.  It was the heartache of a cursed, forbidden love.  There was never a chance,.  They knew they could never be together in life.  Disgusting, wrong, unnatural, illegal.  That's how they described their love.  But what they felt was happiness, enjoyment, love, a bright beacon in the darkness of their lives.  Left to themselves in a loveless home, watching father figure after father figure walk in and out of their lives.



My journal entry for the week: imagery with the scene: "singing horribly in the car to the radio"
"One day my Prince will come," Susie sand at the top of her lungs.  It was a warm sunny day, and I was stuck driving my sister to dance practice.  My car had broken down, so I drove Uncle Jeff's old Bronco to the studio.  The cracked leather seat stuck to my uncovered things, while the monster itself smelled like Old McDonald's and Beer.  Susie's perfume, some flowery concoction that smelled like something our Grandmother would wear, only partially masked the smell.
"My first kiss when a little like this!"  I winced as Susie sang horribly off key, sounding like a howler monkey giving birth.  My sister was young and innocent, not knowing yet of criticism.  Being only 6, she wore her bright pink tutu, not worrying about what other people thought of her.  That was evident from her singing.  I never got mad at her for singing in the car.  I found it refreshing for not everything to be perfect.

Review - Kill Me Softly

Kill Me Softly

Author: Sarah Cross
Series: Stand-Alone (possible series?)
Publisher: EdgemontUSA
Release Date: April 10, 2012
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 336
Order here: Amazon or B&N

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

Mirabelle's past is shrouded in secrecy, from her parents' tragic deaths to her guardians' half-truths about why she can't return to her birthplace, Beau Rivage. Desperate to see the town, Mira runs away a week before her sixteenth birthday—and discovers a world she never could have imagined.

In Beau Rivage, nothing is what it seems—the strangely pale girl with a morbid interest in apples, the obnoxious playboy who's a beast to everyone he meets, and the chivalrous guy who has a thing for damsels in distress. Here, fairy tales come to life, curses are awakened, and ancient stories are played out again and again.

But fairy tales aren't pretty things, and they don't always end in happily ever after. Mira has a role to play, a fairy tale destiny to embrace or resist. As she struggles to take control of her fate, Mira is drawn into the lives of two brothers with fairy tale curses of their own . . . brothers who share a dark secret. And she'll find that love, just like fairy tales, can have sharp edges and hidden thorns.


 
Review:

This book isn't what I was expecting when I picked it up from the library. Not that i didn't like it, because I did! Kill Me Softly is a bit of a dark twist on classic fairy tales. These definitely aren't the Disney versions of fairy tales. They are full on Grimm type fairy tales. They were many times I found myself feeling creeped-out!

There were so many fairy tale references thrown into this book. Sarah Cross did a wonderful job of mixing them together so well! Snow White, Hansel and Gretel, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, and so many more! She even came up with her own random curses as well, like poor Jewel!

I loved the supporting characters! It was so much fun to read about a character and realize what fairy tale they belonged to! Viv (Snow White) was clear from her black hair, ruby lips, and obvious hatred for apples. Layla and Rafe (Beauty & The Beast) were hilarious! Freddie (Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty, if going by Disney) was absolutely adorable! Caspian (Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid) was cute too!

Now, the main characters. Honestly, I didn't too much care about the main characters much. Mira kind of got on my nerves. The whole, "I just met you and I love you 5 minutes later" reminds me of Doug from Up.
[image]
I'm also really unnerved by the fact that she just accepted what's going on around her without question, like a bunch of fairy tale characters in one place isn't weird.

I know it's a curse of Blue and Felix, but it just got annoying. I never really liked Felix from the beginning. Blue was a bit funny. He had some quotable moments. But I didn't find myself falling in love with him or anything.

The ending left me wanting more. The resolution with the antagonist just didn't happen, and it disappointed me. There are other things as well that requires, for me, that there is at least a sequel (more minor characters!!!!!)

Overall, it was a good book, and I have heard that there will maybe be sequels, so I'm kinda excited for that. I hope that the future books will focus more on the stories of the other characters than Mira and Blue.  Sarah is also working on a companion novel about Viv (Snow White) which is exciting because I really loved her!


Sarah Cross also is posting FREE short fairy tale based stories set in Beau Rivage here.  So check those out!

BTT (6)



Booking Through Thursday is weekly meme hosted by the Booking Through Thursday site.  It's a fun meme that proposes a weekly question for you to ponder.  And you are more than welcome to use the picture I made!  Just give me some credit :)





Do you find yourself thinking that the books you read would be good on film? Do you wish the things you watched on TV or in the movies were available as book?
Hmmmm.  It seems like almost everything now has either been turned into a movie or TV series.  Everything has a book origin.  I just found out in my creative writing class Tuesday night that Shrek was a book!  A book!  And now there are like, 70 bajillion movies and etc.

I think a book that I've read that I seriously want a movie of is The Iron Fey series.  Mostly cause it's my favorite series that hasn't yet been turned into something.  I think that there could also be a hit TV series based after The Iron Knight (and maybe even Iron's Prophecy).  Just make all the 4 movies then lead on with a TV series about, you know, their lives. And stuff.
(Speaking of The Iron Fey, The Iron Legends is out! So, go get it! I'm picking mine up after work!)

If I really like a book, I want it to become a movie.  But I am often disappointed by the movie (except for The Hunger Games.  It was incredible!)  So, usually I'm content not having a movie, excited for an upcoming one, and stewing about ones that just didn't get it right.
 

What's your BTT? 

Until Next Time
 Keep♥Reading

8.27.2012

Stacking the Shelves (3)


Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga of Tynga's Reviews. It is a chance for you to showcase what books you've gotten in the past week.

So I missed doing this last week, and I think maybe the week before that too or something.  I've been really busy.

(all links go to that book's goodreads page)

My haul from the library:
Nevermore by James Patterson
Matched by Ally Condie
Lament by Maggie Stiefvater
Princess For Hire by Lindsey Leavitt
Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
My Invisible Boyfriend by Susie Day
Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel




My haul from NetGalley:
The Twisted Window by Lois Duncan
One Pink Line by Dina Silver
Skull Flowers by Jazon Dion Fletcher
Dearly, Beloved by Lia Habel
Frozen by Mary Casanova
Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
 
 
 
My haul from Edelweiss:
 Teeth by Hannah Moskowitz



My haul from bookstores: (B&N and Amazon)
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
The Fallen Star by Jessica Sorensen
The Mind Readers by Lori Brighton
UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn
Nocturnal by Chelsea M. Cameron
Nightmare by Chelsea M. Cameron
Ethereal by Addison Moore


I have a whole lot of reading to do!

Until Next Time

Keep♥Reading

Review - Nevermore (Maximum Ride #8)

Nevermore

Author: James Patterson
Series: Maximum Ride, #8
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Release Date: August 6th, 2012
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 368
Order here: Amazon or B&N

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

One last chance...
For Max, Fang, Angel, Iggy, Nudge, and Gazzy.
Before it all ends.

Are you ready for the final chapter? Are you ready for the ultimate flight? Because THIS IS IT. One last incredible, explosive adventure with an astonishing ending that no one could have seen coming.


Well, it is finally over.

Let me start out by saying that I was in love with this series.  WAS being the key word.  I WAS in love with this series up until the dreadfully terrible book 4.

This series started out amazingly.  Mutant bird kids!  What an awesome idea!  And the always welcome tension between Max and Fang (yes I am completely Team Fang!).  But things changed when the environmentalists invaded...

The first series ruin-er was the Global Warming Epidemic in The Last Warning.  We go from epic kick-assery or evil scientists in the 3rd book to lame-ass global warming in the 4th?  And no, I don't believe in global warming but it has nothing to do with why I hate this concept being in the books.  This series was about action, adventure, romance, and general kick-assery.  But instead it turned into liberal, political propaganda.  Like Avatar (the blue people movie, not the kick-ass show (the original, not the new one) on Nick).

The other series ruin-ers were Dylan and Maya (aka Max II).  WTF were you thinking Patterson?!  We, the true Max fans, waited for 5 books for Fax.  FIVE BOOKS!  Through terrible story lines and plot twists, etc for that one thing.  Then, you give it to us.  And we are happy dancing for that book and the next.  Until you rip our dance floor out from under us and send Fang away.  NO.  Then, to top it off, try to throw new love interests in there for them and just believe us to accept it.  I think not.  I hate them both....

Also, WTF happened to Iggy, Nudge and Gazzy?  I used to love these three, now they're just massive, minor/background characters that barely interact with the other characters and in no way add to the storyline.  He turned Nudge into a blundering. always crying, pathetic idiot.  She used to be strong and amazing.  Now she's just annoying.  Iggy and Gazzy used to blow stuff up all the time and get in trouble and be adorable.  Now they apparently do nothing.  Very disappointing.

Anyway.  This final book wasn't all bad, but it definitely wasn't spectacular or something I'll be reading again.  If you have read the entire MR series, I would urge you to read Nevermore.  It ties up a few strings, like who the mysterious Voice really is (which, honestly, really surprised me, and confused me.  Totally out of left field and doesn't really make sense?).   If you're a die-hard fan, bring some tissues.

Goodbye Maximum Ride.  May you rest in peace and never come back with a spin-of series about Max's kids or some shit.

8.24.2012

Join the Army of TEN!

Check out this awesome new street team in the works!  Information below is taken straight from their website, so be sure to head over to check out all the fun!

This is the Army of Ten, a street team promotional network for 
(Balzer + Bray, September 18, 2012).

In order to win the war of getting the word out about TEN, we're recruiting soldiers for the following ranks in the Army of Ten:

Private
Sergeant
Lieutenant
Major
General

Each ranking entails a different set of assignments, and comes with its own set of medals to earn, including entries into the grand prize gift pack giveaway.

And the best medal of all? If you earn the rank of GENERAL, you might just get your name in the Acknowledgements for Gretchen's next book!


THE GIFT PACKS

We will be giving away five (5) gift bags on Halloween - Tuesday, October 30, 2012. Items in the gift bags will include:

- a signed hardcover of TEN
- a signed paperback of POSSESS
- a signed copy of DEAR TEEN ME
- a signed copy of the anthology TWO AND TWENTY DARK TALES
- a Barnes & Noble gift card
- items from the personal collection of two characters from the book (i.e. a sample size of Minnie's favorite perfume and a key chain bottle opener like Ben's)

In addition, we're giving away a SIGNED ARC OF TEN - the last one either the author or her publisher has - just for signing up for the Army of Ten. To enter, fill out the following form. Winner will be chosen via random.org on Monday, September 10, 2012.

Friday Fun (4)

 This is a Common Potoo. Congratulations, you learned something today!

Follow Friday (5)

The wonderfulness of Parajunkee @ Parajunkee's View and Alison @ Alison Can Read host this weekly soiree each week! They feature a specific blogger in the book blogger community and ask a question for you to answer! You get to discover a bunch of new blogs, and get a bunch of new followers!

 The rules are simple:
Create a post like this one.
Visit Parajunkee and Alison and follow them.
Leave your name and blog link on their blogs.
Visit the other people on the list.
Leave them a comment saying hi.
Follow them.
They follow you.
BAM!
More followers!


This week's question is:
Worst cover? What is the worst cover of a book you've read and loved?
So I went back through my read list on goodreads, and I really can't find one...I would say Owen Meany because of the Armadillo, but once you read the book you realize it should be one there.  So I really don't have an answer lol.




 The Friday 56 (5)

 The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda @ Freda's Voice.  The rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56.
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grabs you.
*Post it.

Then hop over to her page and link up!

 This week's book is:



Nevermore
(Maximum Ride, #8)
Author: James Patterson



 
 
 
 
 
 
The quote:
"Angel had always felt stronger and more capable than everyone - well, than Max - thought she was.  But in the end, she was still just a little kid, with bones that could snap and a heart that could break.
She was broken.  And totally alone."

The last book in the Maximum Ride series.  I'm kind of glad it's over.  It's just kinda went downhill since book 3.  But, nevertheless, I will finish this long adventure I've been on with these freakish bird-human-mutant-children!



Buy here:
 






TGIF (6)
TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger @ GReads! Every week she asks a fun question to answer and you can recap what you've been up to the past week!
NOTE:  Ginger has announced that as of September 1st TGIF will be put on hold until further notice.  You can read more here: Announcement



This week's question is:


Back to school reading:  Which books would you like to see in today's high school Literature classrooms?

I definitely have a few I feel should be included:
  • Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver.  It holds such a powerful message and the writing is so beautiful!
  • Thirteen Reason Why by Jay Asher.  Another book with an incredibly powerful message that every teenager should know/learn.
  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  I think everyone should read this book by default.  It's a powerful dystopian with a great message.
  • Delirium by Lauren Oliver.  Yes I'm an Oliver fangeek but this is a really good book, and could raise so many amazing discussion question.
  • Any of Ellen Hopkins' books.  The woman is a genius and all of her books hold incredible messages and discussion topics.  You could have an entire unit of drugs, suicide, incest, etc.
Teachers are constantly complaining that students are reading.  And I can understand that because honestly, I never read the books we were assigned in school either.  I would skim them and sparknote them.
Kids need books that they can relate to, and the classics are not cutting it.  Yes, the classics are classics for a reason, but not everyone loves reading as much as us book enthusiasts or English teachers.  These books all have something that the books we read in school don't:
they are modern day novels, about modern day, or modern day's idea of the future, and kids can relate!

Until Next Time

Keep♥Reading

8.22.2012

Catching Fire: Finnick Odair casting!

You can finally put a face to those dreams, ladies, because Finnick Odair has officially been cast.

Meet Sam Caflin:

         

English actor Sam Claflin is the son of a finance officer father and a classroom assistant mother. As a child he was a football mad often going to see his local team Norwich City and he was a talented footballer, playing for Norwich schools at city level and Norfolk county level. However, he suffered 2 broken ankles and at 16 gave up thinking about a footballing career. He took up performing arts and a teacher from Costessey High School was impressed with his performance in a school play, and encouraged him to take up drama. He joined the local youth group at Norwich's Theatre Royal and went on to gain entry to LAMDA drama school in 2006 graduating with a 3 year acting degree in 2009. He has the 3rd eldest of 4 boys, his older brothers Dan and Ben are not involved in drama but his younger brother Joe commenced at the same drama school in 2009 also doing a 3 year acting degree.

In 2010, Clafin made his debut screen performances in two award-winning series, "The Pillars of the Earth" (2010) and "Any Human Heart"(2010). His film debut came playing footballer Duncan Edwards, one of the 'Busby Babes', in United (2011). Clafin then came to the attention of filmgoers across the world when he was cast as Philip in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011). Various roles followed, including Jack in "White Heat" (2012) and Prince William in Snow White and the Huntsman (2012).


I think it's a pretty good choice.  Might not be who I necessarily would have chosen, but the other casting they have done is dead on, so I believe that they know what they're doing!

Until Next Time

Keep♥Reading

Waiting on Wednesday (5)






Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Each week you talk about a book that you can't wait for.  You give the title, author, synopsis, and why you can't wait for it!
My WoW this week is:

The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Steifvater
Series: Raven Cycle #1
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: September 18, 2012
Reading Level: Young Adult
Format: Hardcover/E-book


Synopsis:


“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of theShiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.



I love Maggie's work!  I can't wait to read another book by her!

Pre-order now!




Until Next Time

Keep♥Reading

8.21.2012

Top Ten Tuesday (1)

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
Each week there is a list of top tens that you have to write about!

This week's TTT is:

Top Ten Books Read During The Lifespan Of Your Blog!

I've technically had my blog for almost 3 years now!!  Besides the Iron Fey, these are not in order.

1. The Iron Fey Series - I love this series with a passion.  It's definitely at the top for one of my all-time favorite series.  And with the spin-off series starting, I couldn't be happier! Also, Julie Kagawa is one of my all-time favorite people as well!

2. Delirium - Lauren Oliver is a beautiful writer.  I loved everything about this book.  The premise, the writing, the characters, the story line. It was incredible.

3. Pandemonium -  Sometimes sequels soar, sometimes sequels flop.  This book was definitely a soar-er. I loved this book so much.  It was such a great follow-up to an amazing book.  Lauren Oliver has an amazing way with words.  I also loved the back and forth style in which she wrote the book.

4. Before I Fall - Another Lauren Oliver favorite!  I'm telling you, I am seriously hooked on this chick!  This was just a great book.  Again, the beautiful writing and all that.  Just a beautiful story.

5. The Hunger Games - Of course this had to make the list.  Wonderful series.  Just an awesome read.  And the movie was pretty fantastic.

6. The Wings Series - This one has to make the list because it's what originally got me interested in the Fey.  And I'm so glad I did because it opened me up to a lot of books that I normally wouldn't have read!

7. The Pretty Little Liars Series  -  I read all these really quickly!  I have to say though, I'm disappointed now that there are more books.  I was happy before with the ending, and when I was reading them I was so excited that there were going to be more books, but now it just feels like they're just overdoing it because of the success of the show.  (which I love, btw, even though it's completely different than the books!)

8. Thirteen Reasons Why - What to even say about this book?  It is an incredible piece of literature and truly has an amazing message that I think every teenager should learn (and even some adults!)

9. The Crank Trilogy - I love Elen Hopkins.  I LOVE her writing style.  And I love that she took a hard time and a personal demon of her own and turned it into something that everyone can learn from.

10. The Gallagher Girl Series -  I don't know what it is about this series that makes me love it so much, but I do.  I am incredibly in love with this series and I am anxiously awaiting the next book!
(So is my mom!)



What's your top ten this week?

Teaser Tuesday (4)




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

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


This week I'm reading...
Kill Me Softly
Sarah Cross





The quote:


"By the way, garden boy, when you're done trimming the hedges, could you cut out my daughter's heart and bring it to me so I can eat it?  That's a lot to ask of someone you're paying minimum wage"

Buy here:


8.20.2012

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (3)


 It's Monday! What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Teach Mentor Texts and Book Journey.  It's the chance to show what you've read the past week, what you're currently reading, and what you plan on reading next!


I have't read much this week.  Between working 4 days and then I was on vacation and had other stuff and then my classes start tomorrow so I've been prepping

Read

Currently Reading
Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross

TBR for the week
Nevermore by James Patterson



What are you reading?

Be sure to check out my current giveaway!
Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft



8.17.2012

Friday Fun (3)

Follow Friday (5)

The wonderfulness of Parajunkee @ Parajunkee's View and Alison @ Alison Can Read host this weekly soiree each week! They feature a specific blogger in the book blogger community and ask a question for you to answer! You get to discover a bunch of new blogs, and get a bunch of new followers!

 The rules are simple:
Create a post like this one.
Visit Parajunkee and Alison and follow them.
Leave your name and blog link on their blogs.
Visit the other people on the list.
Leave them a comment saying hi.
Follow them.
They follow you.
BAM!
More followers!


This week's question is:
What blogger inspires you?  It can be any kind, it doesn't have to be a book blog.
A lot of bloggers in the book community inspire me.  It really just thrills me to see the amount of people who, like me, enjoy reading so much.  I don't think there's anyone in particular that I can point out!




 The Friday 56 (5)

 The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda @ Freda's Voice.  The rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56.
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grabs you.
*Post it.

Then hop over to her page and link up!

 This week's book is:



 


The quote:
"The were sitting side by side on a stone bench, in the shadow of a tree that dripped with Spanish moss, when Mira took out the photograph she'd brought.  The one she kept beside her bed at home, and whispered good night to before she went to sleep."

Unfortunately, page 56 wasn't all that exciting.  I'm so excited to be reading this book.  It's about a girl who goes back to her home town, only to discover that in the town, fairy tales are real, and they aren't the way Disney made them out to be. It reminds me of the show, Once Upon A Time, on ABC.






TGIF (6)
TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger @ GReads! Every week she asks a fun question to answer and you can recap what you've been up to the past week!



This week's question is:


Pimp Your Review:  Feature a favorite book review you've written that you feel deserves more love!

I'm actually going to go with my most recent review, and my oldest review!

            owen meany Pictures, Images and Photos



Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft Review, Interview and Giveaway! (August 16, 2012) - read my review here
A Prayer For Owen Meany (January 13, 2010) - read my review here


Check out my latest giveaway!
Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft

Until Next Time

Keep♥Reading

8.16.2012

Booking Through Thursday (5)



Booking Through Thursday is weekly meme hosted by the Booking Through Thursday site.  It's a fun meme that proposes a weekly question for you to ponder.  And you are more than welcome to use the picture I made!  Just give me some credit :)
This week there are 2 questions:




What was your most emotional read?
Oh, gosh.  Well, honestly there's only been a few books that I've truly broken down while reading.  I'm tell you, all my answers relate back to Twilight, but seriously, reading Breaking Dawn at the end, I had tears rolling down my face.  Also, I cried like a baby when I read the end of The Iron Queen.  Unless I am really attached to the characters that I'm reading about, I don't find myself getting emotionally involved in a book.  OH!  The end of Delirium.  Another one where I couldn't stop crying.

And I just remembered.  My top emotional breakdown of all time while reading:  
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
If you've read the book, I'm sure you know which part I absolutely bawled my eyes out at.  I went back and read that part like 5 times, and then I went back and read Prisoner of Azkaban about 7 times in a row. 
Worst. Feeling. Ever. 
What's your BTT? 

Be sure to check out my current giveaway:
Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft!
Until Next Time
 Keep♥Reading

Giveaway! - Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft

The wonderful Jody Gehrman provided me not only with a copy of her fabulous new novel, Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft, but also gave an interview AND a signed copy of her book and an e-book version for a giveaway!  The rafflecopter for the giveaway is at the bottom of the post!

Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft
 
Author: Jody Gehrman
Series: Audrey, #1
Publisher: Jody Gehrman
Release Date: June 30, 2012
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Author
Format: E-book
Pages: 308
Order here: Amazon or B&N or Smashwords

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

Falling in Love, baking a magical cake, fighting an evil necromancer—it’s all in a day’s work for Audrey Oliver, seventeen-year-old witch-in-training. When her mother goes missing and her twenty-one-year-old witchy cousin shows up out of the blue, Audrey knows something’s gone horribly, dangerously wrong. Now it’s up to her to get her own magical powers up to speed before everyone she loves is destroyed by the sorcerer intricately connected to her mother’s secret past.


I love the concept of this novel - I've always been a fan of witchy things since first watching "Sabrina the Teenage Witch".  I haven't read a good witch story in a long time so I was itching to get into this one.  Also, the cover, which Judy and her husband designed together, is so pretty!  The red dress really makes it stand out.  And I love the title!

To me, the first few chapters seemed a little rushed.  I feel like it would have been a good beginning had there been a previous book, but it seemed like it really just rushed into the whole, everything is weird phase.  I like my paranormal/supernatural to have a bit of character development before transitioning into the weird stuff.  I mean, creme brulee faces within the first few pages?  It just seemed to happen too fast for me.

But, nevertheless, I really enjoyed this book.  Once I got past the first few chapters and the story really got underway, I found myself not being able to put it down till I finished.  I really like Audrey.  She came across as a typical 17-year-old girl who just found out she is a witch.  She definitely stands up for herself, and I like the fact that she isn't completely obsessed with one guy and is able to focus on other things in life, like training her powers and finding her mom.  The story did not entirely revolve around the romance, which is very refreshing.  I love romance just as much as the next girl, but sometimes it's nice to read about something else for a change, with a little romance thrown in.

When Audrey's mother goes missing, her "cousin" Sadie comes to town with her traveling circus of 2 kittens, Honey and Mo, her Iguana, Captain Zinky, and her boa constrictor, Alistair.  I found it a bit odd how accepting Audrey and her sister, Meg, were of letting Sadie in the house.  Meg, especially, seeming to find it not strange at all that her mother has gone off on a "family emergency" when she hasn't spoken to her family since long before either girl was born.  As the book went on, though, I really came to like Sadie and her "magical" wit.

The characters in the book are all pretty good.  Audrey's sister, Meg, is a high school, rock-star diva.  She always wants to have her way, and when she doesn't get it, she throws a fit.  Audrey is always comparing herself to Meg, and believes that Meg is the better, more pretty and popular sister, while she is like Cinderella to her.  Julian, the love interest in the story, does add some humor to the story, and you always need a good romance!  I can't wait to get to know him more in future novels.

I would have like to see more character interaction between Audrey and her mom.  I think that's part of why I found the beginning to be rushed.  I would have liked to see more interaction between them before she went missing.  Besides knowing that she is Audrey's mom, I couldn't sympathize that she was missing through the book.  I feel that if we had gotten to see them interact in the beginning, it would have made it easier to emotionally connect with her missing.

Above all my small complaints though, I still found myself really really liking this book, and I am definitely anticipating the rest of this series!



Interview with Jody Gehrman

When did you first know you want to be an author? If not your whole life, what did you want to be when you were little?
JG: When I was super little, like four, I wanted to be a pink cement truck when I grew up. Totally random, but true. I soon realized that was a rather unrealistic career goal, so I settled for becoming a writer. My first "novel" was really a very long letter sent to my best friend about us riding around on our flying dogs. I wrote that on a typewriter when I was eight. I still tend to think of each of my novels as long love letters—to a place, a time in my life, a person, a feeling. In college I stumbled into playwriting, and later I freelanced as a journalist. I realized then that I was pretty serious about pursuing writing as a career, in part because these other forms helped with the inherent loneliness that can become an occupational hazard. As a playwright I love working with actors and directors; as a journalist I love doing interviews. These more social aspects of writing balance out the isolation of creating novels.


Do you often find yourself drawing inspiration from your life to put into your characters and other aspects of the story?
JG: All the time! One of the greatest things about writing is you get to observe more carefully; you have permission to really notice the quirks of the people around you and to study the situations you find yourself in. No trip to the DMV is ever wasted! The world is full of material. One thing I've learned to do though is not always tell people I'm modeling a character on them or that I stole this or that from something they told me. I don't want them to take issue with the ways I've changed their story. It's better to be a little secretive, tucking away ideas for later use. Picasso is credited with saying "Good artists borrow. Great artists steal." I wonder if this is what he meant?


How did you feel the first time you were published?
JG: Exhilarated! It's an amazing feeling. There is often a little letdown tucked inside there too though--a mild pub-day sadness. I think as writers we tend to assume that publication will automatically solve all our problems--make our hair shinier, make our bank accounts swell, make everyone who spurned us suddenly realize we're incredibly sexy. When publication doesn't grant us instant god-like super powers, it's a little disappointing. That's why it's so important to savor the writing process itself and not get too caught up in chasing external validation.


Has your life changed since becoming an author?
JG: I'm not sure when, exactly, I "became an author." Was it when I wrote that super long letter to my best friend at age eight? Was it when my first (super bad) play got performed in college? Since publishing novels my reach has become broader and I get to hear from more readers, but I think it's all been a variation on the same theme: me making stuff up and wanting other people to imagine that world along with me. Since publishing books, though, one of my favorite experiences is getting mail from readers. It's really moving to hear from someone who seems sincerely affected by my work. I relish having the power to touch a reader's imagination, to subtly shape their inner life, just as so many writers have shaped my own.


Your novel, Babe in Boyland, has been optioned as a movie. How would you feel about seeing your story come to life on the big screen?
JG: I think it would be so fun! I've wanted this for ages, and the idea that it might actually happen thrills me. Having seen a lot of my plays produced, I'd like to think I'm a little less control freaky in terms of needing the film to match the book exactly. I know it will be a different animal, and I'm okay with that.


Where did the idea for Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft come from?
JG: Well, for starters, witchcraft fascinates me. I've always been a pagan at heart; ever since I was little I felt there was a mysterious power running through the natural world, and the idea of tapping that power appeals to me. As a Northern Californian, I was surrounded by new age mysticism growing up. I knew a few people who practiced witchcraft and even experimented with it some myself, so it wasn't that foreign to me. I wanted to explore what I knew about real witches but also create a universe where their power could be even more awesome and effective.





How did you decide to dive into the more, paranormal side of novels?
JG: It's been a challenge, taking on magic, but I like exploring new genres to keep my writing fresh. I've always been drawn to witches, so it felt more natural to me than, say, writing about werewolves, but still. I have fresh admiration for writers who do it well.
It actually took me about seven years off and on to finish AUDREY. I started writing it as a book for adults, but I never felt like it was quite working. Then I realized I'd like to try it as a YA novel, so I pulled out the old draft and gave it a radical makeover, including a new protagonist.





This story is actually a self-published novel. What is it like to self-publish a novel?
JG: It's very time-consuming but also exciting. It's scary, because you don't have a team of editors and copy-editors to work with you on every little detail. I have a wonderful agent and a network of fellow writers who helped me revise this book thoroughly, though, so that made me more confident about the final product. I was so into designing and photographing the cover! I'd always wanted to do that--to have creative control over the look of the novel--so indie-pubbing gave me a chance to try it. My husband's an artist, so we collaborated on it and had a blast. I also enjoyed playing around with the marketing (writing the blurb, etc.) It's exhausting but so far I'm having fun. I learn something new about the business every day.


You are planning a series for Audrey, right? (Please say yes!)
JG: Yes! A trilogy. The working title for the sequel (though this could change--I'm very fickle when it comes to titles) is AUDREY'S GUIDE TO SLAYING ZOMBIES AND BREAKING HEARTS.


And there will be more Julian this time, right?? (Again, please say yes!!)
JG: There will be way more Julian! And he may have a rival, so stay tuned...




Jody Gehrman is the author of seven novels and numerous plays. Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft is her most recent Young Adult novel. Her other Young Adult novels include Babe in Boyland, Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty, and Triple Shot Bettys in Love, (Penguin's Dial Books). Babe in Boyland won the International Reading Association Teen Choice Award and has recently been optioned by the Disney Channel. Her adult novels are Notes from the Backseat, Tart, and Summer in the Land of Skin (Red Dress Ink). Her plays have been produced in Ashland, New York, San Francisco, Chicago and L.A. She and her partner David Wolf won the New Generation Playwrights Award for their one-act, Jake Savage, Jungle P.I. She is a professor of English at Mendocino College. 




The Giveaway!

  • The contest will run for one week
  • There will be two (2) winners for this contest.  The signed copy is only available to US participants.
  • The contest is open to both US and International entrants
  • You must be 13 years or older to enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

8.15.2012

Just a Warning...

So unfortunately, my college classes start up on Monday.











Yes. This is how I feel about that.  Between continuing to work 4 days a week, gong to school full-time 3 days a week, keeping up with my boyfriend, family, and friends, trying to have some sort of social life and trying to read as much as possible, I feel like my blog is going to be seriously neglected soon.

So all I'm asking is that if I do start to lack. Please don't give up on me.


I promise that I will always come back.  I will try to post at least once a week and try to keep up with my memes and reviews, but it is going to be difficult.  School hasn't even started and I'm already behind on my reading.

Thank you to all my followers.  You guys are what keeps me coming back now, and will be what brings me back during this chaotic semester (I'm taking Intermediate Accounting, 2nd level Economics, College Algebra, and Creative Writing).  And, as I believe I said before, I will be sharing pieces I write from Creative Writing, because my second passion in life is writing, behind reading.

Thanks again you guys! You are seriously the best!

Until Next Time

Keep♥Reading

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