Teaser Tuesday (August 30)

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

·         Grab your current read

·         Open to a random page

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

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

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

My teaser:

So many things had been stolen from me: my mother, the house with blue shingles where I had taken my first steps, those finished canvases stacked against the classroom wall. But this was the most painful of all, the control ripped from my tender grasp.

Eve by Anna Carey--digital galley for Kindle

Now share your own teaser with a link to your blog in the comments.

In My Mailbox (4)

In My Mailbox (IMM) was started over at the The Story Siren by Kristie and has evolved to over 200 participating blogs.  It is a way for bloggers to network and socialize and to show everyone the various books that they received, either in the mail, from the library or from their local bookseller.  Postings may vary by blog, some bloggers post weekly, bi-weekly and so forth.

I did not get any new books this week. I can't believe it. Nothing from NetGalley, nothing for my Kindle, nothing new. I'm sort of sad, but at the same time, it shortens my TBR list!

I hope some of you got some good books this last week!

Book Blogger Hop and Follow Friday (1)

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme that is hosted by Jennifer over at Crazy-For-Books.  It is a place for book bloggers and readers to find and follow new book blogs; to share their love of the written word, support other book bloggers and find new friends. So, HOP on over to Crazy-For-Books to grab the button, post about the hop and answer the question on your blog, then visit the other links to make new friends.

This week's question:  Non-book related week: Do you have pets? I do have pets, 3 dogs--2 Border Collies and a Jack Russell Terrier, plus an extremely annoying bird. The Jack Russell is my baby, her name is Lilly and I can't live without her!

Follow Friday is hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View and Alison at Alison Can Read.  It is another way for bloggers to make new friends and followers.  So jump in and say hi! Than jump over to either blog and post a link to your blog (be sure to follow the required steps!).

Follow Friday's question this week is:  In some books like the Sookie Stackhouse series the paranormal creature in question "comes out of the closet" and makes itself known to the world. Which mythical creature do you wish this would happen with in real life?

Hmm, this one was a tough one! I would have to say faeries, like those in Melissa Marr's wonderful series. That would definitely be interesting!

Have fun finding new blogs to follow!

Dark Eden by Patrick Carman

Title:  Dark Eden 

Author:  Patrick Carman

Genre:  Young Adult

Publisher:  HarperCollins

Format:  Kindle

Release Date:  November 2011

Will Besting suffers from phobia, a phobia so crippling that his parents and doctor feel they must send him away to be cured.  So Will joins six other teenagers in the mysterious Fort Eden where they will all face their fears, led by the mysterious Rainsford. Facing their fears will embolden the teens in ways they never imagined, but what will it cost them?

Patrick Carman deftly weaves an interesting tale, combining current social issues with a subject usually found in paranormal stories. There is no lack of intrigue in this story, it keeps you constantly guessing at the motivations of all the characters; you never know who can be trusted. Dark Eden also shows a side of phobias that is not always explored—the fact that those phobias can strike even the young. Carman keeps the reader guessing right up until the end, pushing the reader to solve the mystery themselves.

While I found Dark Eden to be an interesting read, it was not an appealing story to me. I am sure this is in no way a reflection on Carman, but rather on my particular tastes.  I also figured out a couple of things early on, leaving no mystery for me to solve.  That kind of took the excitement out of the ending for me. While Dark Eden is a good book, it just wasn’t the book for me.

Teaser Tuesdays (August 23)

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

·         Grab your current read

·         Open to a random page

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

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

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

My teaser:

"That's all I needed. Some seventeen-year-old pretty boy trying to track me down. I started for the bomb shelter, clutching Marissa's note in my hand, hoping Davis wouldn't search Mrs. Goring's basement anytime soon."

Dark Eden by Patrick Carman--digital galley for Kindle

Now share your teaser by posting a comment with a link back to your blog!

In My Mailbox (3)

In My Mailbox (IMM) was started at The Story Siren by Kristie and has evolved to over 200 participating blogs. It is a way for bloggers to network and socialize and show everyone the various books they received, either in the mail, from the library or from their local bookseller. Postings will vary by blog-some bloggers post weekly, bi-weekly and so forth. If you choose to participate, comment here and then head over to The Story Siren to post a link to your list. Then try to comment on a few other blogs.

I usually post not only books I receive, but also galleys I receive from NetGalley and books I purchase for my Kindle.

This week, I received five books.

Dark Eden by Patrick Carman--NetGalley

Eve by Anna Carey--NetGalley

Circle of Fire (The Maya Brown Missions) by S.M. Hall--ARC from the publisher

Central: Daughter of Saraqael Trilogy Book 2 by Raine Thomas--Kindle

Foretold: Daughters of Saraqael Trilogy Book Three by Raine Thomas--Kindle

Thanks for checking out what I received in my mailbox this week!

The Black Stiletto by Raymond Benson

Title:  The Black Stiletto
Author:  Raymond Benson
Genre:  Adult/Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Publisher:  Oceanview Publishing
Format:  NetGalley/Kindle
Publishing Date:  9/5/2011 (subject to change)

Imagine finding out that your mom is a famous superhero from the 1950s and you never had a clue.  This is the discovery Martin Talbot makes about his elderly mother. All his life, his mom was really the Black Stiletto, a vigilante crime fighter. Martin has a million questions--What caused his mom to become the Black Stiletto? Where did she learn to fight? But most importantly, why didn't she ever tell him? Martin begins reading his mother's diaries, hoping to learn more about the woman known as the Black Stiletto.

Raymond Benson weaves an intriguing tale of the early life of a superhero. The Black Stiletto-aka Judy Cooper-is a very relatable character. Her innate humanness, despite her special abilities, is just one of the many likable qualities of Benson's leading lady.  Judy is a superhero that is real, she suffers the bumps, bruises and black eyes that any normal person would get in a fight. There are no miracle cures for the Black Stiletto.  Benson also very skilfully utilizes various points of view. He switches back and forth between first person and third person, but manages to do so effectively and in a clear-cut manner.  The story is aided by Benson's talent as a writer of James Bond adventures as well. I believe that helps him weave the mystery and suspense throughout the story very well.  The Black Stiletto never disappoints, it keeps the action moving and the story flowing.

I was a little reluctant to read this story at first, but I decided to give it a shot.  I am very glad I did.  It was well-written and fun to read.  The story was interesting and original. It even left you hanging with a few unanswered questions. Maybe Benson is planning a sequel, which would definitely be a great read. I recommend this book to any one who likes mystery or suspense books. If you are looking for a great escape read, this is the book for you.

Teaser Tuesdays (August 16)

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

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

My teaser:

"They were still trying to get a hold of me. They were still trying to find out who I was."

Double by Jenny Valentine page 1--NetGalley digital galley (I literally just started this book and I didn't feel like flipping ahead, sorry!)

Now, share your teasers by posting a comment or a link to your Tuesday Teaser blog!

In My Mailbox (3)

In My Mailbox (IMM) was started over at the The Story Siren by Kristie and has evolved to over 200 participating blogs.  It is a way for bloggers to network and socialize and to show everyone the various books that they received, either in the mail, from the library or from their local bookseller.  Postings may vary by blog, some bloggers post weekly, bi-weekly and so forth. Not all of my books will be from my mailbox either, some might be from NetGalley (digital copies), and some might be for my Kindle. And of course, I will always include physical copies of books I have actually acquired.

I seriously thought I had not received or bought any books this week. Sort of surprised me. So I checked my email and lo and behold, there was a book! I also bought a book for my Kindle this morning and my daughter brought home a book from the library she wants me to read.

Becoming (Daughters of Saraqael Trilogy) by Raine Thomas--Kindle (I love this cover by the way!)

Waking Hours by Lis Wiehl--NetGalley, Kindle

And finally, The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson--Library book my daughter brought home and she wants me to read it.



Variant by Robison Wells

Title:  Variant 

Author:  Robison Wells

Genre:  Young Adult/Thriller

Publisher:  HarperCollins

Format/Pages:  NetGalley/Kindle

Release Date:  October 18, 2011 (subject to change)

Benson Fisher has nothing in his life—no family, no friends, no ties to anything. So when he receives a scholarship to Maxfield Academy, it seems too good to be true.  And it is. Now he’s trapped in a school that there is no escape from. There are no adults, breaking rules could mean death and the students survive by aligning themselves with the most powerful group.  When Benson discovers the real secret that the school is hiding, he has to decide if following the rules is going to keep him alive or if escaping is his only option.

Variant is a fast-paced, roller coaster ride of a book. It literally grabs you from page one and never lets go. Wells knows how to pace a book perfectly, keeping the reader interested while still developing character and plot. The story is also original, which is always a nice change from the standard young adult fare. Variant will also appeal to both male and female readers, something that is often lacking in the young adult genre; rarely does one find a book that both will enjoy. Variant is that book.

On a more personal note, HOLY CRAP was this a good book! It was entertaining, chilling and just flat out good. I love a book that keeps me guessing. Every time I thought I had it figured out, it took another twist I just wasn’t expecting. I enjoyed everything about this book:  great characters, well-thought-out plot, fantastic writing. The only thing I disliked was the last sentence in the book—which upon further thought, I won’t give away. Read it for yourself, you’ll see.

This was a great book, I will be recommending it to my girls and my librarian friends, and quite frankly, anyone else I can think of.

The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

Title:  The Way We Fall 

Author:  Megan Crewe

Genre:  Young Adult Thriller

Publisher:  Hyperion

Format/Pages:  NetGalley eBook

Release Date:  1/24/2012 (subject to change)

Kaelyn is trying to change, to be more friendly and outgoing. She wants things to be different this school year. But she never realized how different things would end up being. A virus, one that kills, is spreading across the sleepy little island she lives on. A virus that will change her life and the life of everyone she knows. The government quarantines the island, no one can leave and no one can come home. Food is becoming scarce, as are other supplies.  Kaelyn must survive losing her friends, her family and her life as she knows it. Will things ever get better?

Megan Crewe has crafted a taunt, page-turning thriller in The Way We Fall.  Intelligently written and perfectly executed, it keeps you interested from the very beginning. Crewe takes the story of a deadly virus, in the vain of The Stand by Stephen King, and lets the reader experience it from a teenager’s point of view.  The reader experiences what Kaelyn experiences through her journal pages, written to a childhood friend. We feel her pain, her confusion, her sorrow and every other emotion imaginable. It felt like I was reading a young woman’s heartfelt emotions poured out on paper.  Crewe’s writing is smart and believable; she pulls the reader into the story and the life of her characters.

This was an extremely entertaining book. I always enjoy a well-written thriller, especially one written with such as amazing clarity. Crewe never falters in her writing, crafting a superb story. I will be recommending this book to not only my girls but also my librarian friends, as I believe it would make a great addition to any library.

Night Walker (The Night Series #1) by Lisa Kessler

Title:  Night Walker (The Night Series #1)
Author:  Lisa Kessler
Genre:  Adult/Paranormal/Romance
Publisher:  Entangled Publishing, LLC
Format:  NetGalley/Kindle
Publication Date:  8/2/11

Calisto has walked the earth for centuries, waiting for the woman he loves to return.  Sometimes, he thinks she never will, despite what the Old One said. So Calisto waits, surviving on the blood of humans and hiding from the sun.

Kate Bradley decides to return home to San Diego after breaking up with her fiancee, despite the painful memories of her parents' death or the recurring nightmares she suffers when home. Nightmares of a woman being hunted down and hurt, nightmares so real that Kate wakes screaming and in pain, so real they seem more like a memory.

Kate is not looking for romance. But when she sees Calisto, she is inexplicably drawn to him. And Calisto knows that Kate is the reincarnation of the woman he loved so long ago. Now, he must protect her from enemies, both old and new, if their love is to survive.

I really enjoyed Night Walker. It was well-written and fast-paced; it kept me turning pages to learn what would happen next.  While this was a romance, it took awhile for the two main characters to make a connection. I actually enjoyed that! It was nice to read a story where the characters didn't hop in bed together right away. The flashbacks to Calisto's and Kate's former lives were perfectly placed and they added to the beauty of the story. I envied Kate and Calisto's love. It was pure and fresh and exciting. This was a fun summer read!

This is not normally the type of book I review, as it is not young adult. I will not be recommending this book to my girls, it is most DEFINITELY a book for adults. But I will recommend it to my other adult friends.

Liebster Blog Award

I would like to thank Kristen @ The Cozy Reading Corner for nominating me! The goal of this award is to spotlight up and coming bloggers who currently have less than 200 followers.

The rules of the award:

1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.
2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers.
5. And most of all--have bloggity-blog fun!

Whew, this is going to be hard. I have come across so many great bloggers since I started blogging in June. But I do have several favorites:

1. Chelsea @ Chelsea Fine (awesome author, funny blogs!)
2. Emma @ Lost in a YA Book
3. Shanan @ The Book Addict
4. Pam @ So Many Books...So Little Time
5. Grace @ Paging Through Life

Please check out these awesome bloggers!

Teaser Tuesdays (August 9)

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

·         Grab your current read

·         Open to a random page

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

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

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

My teaser:

"The first shipment from the mainland came today. The government was supposed to be making sure the distribution was done fairly and safely, with people going door to door so everyone got some food without having to go out and risk being exposed."

The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe, page 80--digital galley from NetGalley.

Share your teasers by posting a comment or a link to your Teaser Tuesday blog post! 

In My Mailbox (2)

In My Mailbox (IMM) was started over at the The Story Siren by Kristie and has evolved to over 200 participating blogs.  It is a way for bloggers to network and socialize and to show everyone the various books that they received, either in the mail, from the library or from their local bookseller.  Postings may vary by blog, some bloggers post weekly, bi-weekly and so forth.

This week I got only galleys from NetGalley and Kindle books.  So here's what's in my mailbox this past week.

Waterfall:  A Novel (River of Time Series) by Lisa T. Bergren—Kindle

Meant to Be by Tiffany King—Kindle

Firelight by Sophie Jordan—Kindle

The Black Stiletto by Raymond Benson—Netgalley

Night Walker by Lisa Kessler—Netgalley

Double by Jenny Valentine—Netgalley

Hmmm, interesting collection if I do say so myself!  Night Walker is definitely not a YA book, if you couldn't tell by the cover.  I can't wait to read these books!

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

Title:  Cold Kiss 

Author:  Amy Garvey

Genre:  Young Adult, Paranormal

Publisher:  HarperCollins/HarperTeen

Format/Pages:  Netgalley/Kindle

Expected Release Date:  9/20/11 (subject to change)

Wren loves Danny. More than she ever thought possible. So, when Danny dies in a car accident, Wren does the only thing she can think of; she brings him back from the dead. But this Danny is different—cold and stiff. Wren has to keep Danny hidden from the world, a feat that is wearing on her day by day. Then, she meets Gabriel. He seems interested in her.  But, he also knows, somehow, he knows. Now Wren has to do the right thing, but she’s not even sure what that is.

This book was absolutely amazing!  I could not put it down. I wanted the real world to fade away so I could stay in the world Garvey created. The characters were so well written that I felt an almost palpable connection to them. Garvey is able to capture Wren’s emotions—the guilt, the sadness and the longing—so poignantly that I could nearly feel the pain of those emotions myself.  Even the secondary characters, those not so vital to the story like Geoff and Trevor, are well-rounded and intriguing.  Garvey was able to create characters I cared about and liked, something that is not always easy to do.  The story was wonderful, very original and thought-provoking. While this is a young adult, paranormal book, it is not the typical storyline those who read the YA genre have become accustomed to.  I loved that about this book. Who am I kidding? 

I loved everything about this book. This is a definite must read! I will be buying this book for my girls when it comes out!

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

Title:   A Beautiful Dark 

Author:  Jocelyn Davies

Genre:  Young Adult/Paranormal

Publisher:  HarperCollins 

Format/Pages:  Netgalley/229 pages

Publication Date: 9/27/2011

Birthdays are a time for change, a time for growth. But Skye could never have imagined how much her life would change on her 17^th birthday.  Skye suddenly has two extra boys in her life, vying for her attention.  Devin is blond, blue-eyed, tortured, seemingly shy and uncomfortable while Asher is the polar opposite, dark hair, dark eyes, cocky and self-assured. Not only does their attention change Skye, but the things they tell Skye about herself change all she ever believed about her life.  Now Skye must make a choice, a choice with consequences she never could have believed possible.  Light and Dark. Peace and Chaos. Which one will Skye choose?

A Beautiful Dark was an unexpected surprise!  Jocelyn Davies provides the reader with a different twist to the typical young adult paranormal story—a twist I will not give away in my review.  I’ll just say that what I expected to happen did not happen, the motivations of the characters were not what I expected and the end of the book blew me away.  It was really refreshing to read a book where the characters were not predictable or typical; in fact, a couple of times I caught myself sitting with my mouth hanging open, surprised by what had just occurred. Like I said, this was a very refreshing book.

A Beautiful Dark is a good book, well-written and obviously well thought out. I really enjoyed it.  I will be recommending this book to my girls. And can I just say—there had better be a sequel!

Dark Arc Giveaway

Check out YA Bound for a great contest over the next four weeks. This is one of my favorite blogs with great book recommendations!  Give it a look!

Teaser Tuesdays (August 2)

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

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

My teaser:

"Do you think I care?" the dark-haired guy whispered loudly. "Your rules mean nothing to me, Devin."
In a blur, he pushed the blond guy, sending him toppling back into a stack of wooden chairs that went crashing to the ground.

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies (page 17)--digital galley from NetGalley

Share your teasers by posting a comment or a link to your own Teaser Tuesday blog post!

July In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox (IMM) was started over at the The Story Siren by Kristie and has evolved to over 200 participating blogs.  It is a way for bloggers to network and socialize and to show everyone the various books that they received, either in the mail, from the library or from their local bookseller.  Postings may vary by blog, some bloggers post weekly, bi-weekly and so forth. This time, I will try to post the books that I received in July.  Not all of my books will be from my mailbox either, some might be from NetGalley (digital copies), and some might be for my Kindle. And of course, I will always include physical copies of books I have actually acquired during the previous month. 

I received A LOT of books in July, so I am afraid I might miss some.  Hopefully, I won’t!  I won’t post pictures of the books I have already reviewed; I will only post pictures of unreviewed books. As time progresses, that might change, but for now, that is what I will do.  So here goes!

1. Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellom (NetGalley)
2. Too Many Pears by Jackie French (NetGalley)
3. Back to School Rules by Laurie B. Friedman (NetGalley)
4. Sophie and Carter by Chelsea Fine (Kindle)
5. Gravity by Abigail Boyd (Kindle)
6. The Sleepwalkers by J. Gabriel Gates (NetGalley)
7. Shattered Dreams: A Midnight Dragonfly Novel by Ellie James
8. Dark Territory by J. Gabriel Gates and Charlene Keel  

9. The Rites and Wrongs of Janice Wills by Joanna Pearson   

10. Moonglass by Jessi Kirby     

11. A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies (NetGalley) 

12. Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey (NetGalley) 

13. The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe (NetGalley) 

14. Cry Uncle by Judith Arnold (Kindle)--no image available 
15. Reckless by Cornelia Funke (Kindle) 

16. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith (Kindle) 

Wow!  Even I didn’t realize how many books I got my hands on in July!  I have read the first seven books on the list, plus several others not on the list because I received them in June.  I am intimidated by my own list of books to read!  As I read, I will post reviews.  Wish me luck! 

I think I will try to do the IMM weekly now, we'll see how it goes.

NetGalley July Wrap-Up

This month was NetGalley Month at http://redhousebooks.blogspot.com/. I kept track of all the books I read from NetGalley. It wasn't as many as I anticipated as I stumbled across Melissa Marr's wonderful Fey series. But I did manage to read a few!  Here they are, in no particular order!

If you are curious about any of the books, use the archives to the left to check out my reviews of each book!