tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75286005852032929872024-03-14T05:59:04.612-07:00The Eager ReadersViolethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.comBlogger250125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-60664719362485497242011-04-20T02:20:00.000-07:002011-04-20T02:24:50.568-07:00Scene of the Blog on Kittling: Books!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kittlingbooks.com/2011/04/scene-of-blog-featuring-violet-of-eager.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21CmeXe68fahwMyMc1Dme5q3sxaVRV9qeMdR-z_A5kpMDWJztDGEYjKAcaQpZ-qd9BDxl7MxmQEL5Gx9JOOaXeZPIptZWB1L85ozHXvGU_7IDEZRMlB14AQIbc30RClsvh9pNw4znUQd1/s1600/scene+type+267x200pxl.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Want to take a peek at some of our bookshelves or hear about my favorite spot to read and blog? The very sweet Cathy of <i><a href="http://www.kittlingbooks.com/">Kittling: Books</a> </i>is featuring <i>The Eager Readers</i> in her awesome <i>Scene of the Blog</i> feature today! Please stop by and say hello! :)</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hop over to <i><a href="http://www.kittlingbooks.com/2011/04/scene-of-blog-featuring-violet-of-eager.html">Kittling: Books</a></i> to see us on <a href="http://www.kittlingbooks.com/2011/04/scene-of-blog-featuring-violet-of-eager.html">Scene of the Blog</a>!</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A brief health update:<i> </i>Unfortunately, my condition has worsened in the week since my <a href="http://theeagerreaders.blogspot.com/2011/04/personal-note.html">original health post</a> (hence the lack of blog posts recently). My neurologist and primary physician both believe that the symptoms I'm encountering now are due to an allergic reaction to one of the medications I was originally given to treat the pseudotumor by reducing the amount of cerebrospinal fluid my body produces. I had to wean off that medication gradually, but I have now started a new course of treatment and should begin to see improvement as the old medicine works its way out of my system. This past week felt like a 'one step forward, two steps back' situation, but I am optimistic about seeing some lovely leaps forward in the weeks to come.</span></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-73596075457858968162011-04-13T14:01:00.000-07:002011-04-13T14:12:22.750-07:00Book Review: City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQd_U8vFlsoAbG_eERokhElcNQF6wCtC1EKmzyFbeGhJ4a1HXr8ASwI8ut-RPXx5oZd0YlR1uP4_BOXsg9nSit07GDii_EmRkqhGQ_KUpULQYRN6gBxd3pYUBT4rTu86yvKaam5qDvQqr/s1600/City+of+Fallen+Angels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQd_U8vFlsoAbG_eERokhElcNQF6wCtC1EKmzyFbeGhJ4a1HXr8ASwI8ut-RPXx5oZd0YlR1uP4_BOXsg9nSit07GDii_EmRkqhGQ_KUpULQYRN6gBxd3pYUBT4rTu86yvKaam5qDvQqr/s400/City+of+Fallen+Angels.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Title: City of Fallen Angels</b></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Author:</b> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Cassandra Clare</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Publisher:</b> Margaret K. McElderry </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Genre:</b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">YA / urban fantasy</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Hardcover:</b> 424</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> pages</span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Summary from Goodreads:</span></span></span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace. As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever. <br />
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Meanwhile, internecine warfare among vampires is tearing the Downworld community apart, and only Simon — the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side — can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics. Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></i></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLFaJxmEXZN_ibpjIaIFcELk33rMtJ_0ddiyneog5mh0DsgQhVTqiyYEe0owEGT0vV7uQ0X_f7A5QnpBoZa4eT4RgBmndslZc8vrKo2zoqdd83GO5qXla_xqPXaVG1RksjJIUouj6nTmI/s1600/10-flower-rating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="32" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLFaJxmEXZN_ibpjIaIFcELk33rMtJ_0ddiyneog5mh0DsgQhVTqiyYEe0owEGT0vV7uQ0X_f7A5QnpBoZa4eT4RgBmndslZc8vrKo2zoqdd83GO5qXla_xqPXaVG1RksjJIUouj6nTmI/s320/10-flower-rating.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><ul style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><i><i><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><i><i><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
<li style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><b>Overall rating: 10/10 flowers</b></li>
<li style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://theeagerreaders.blogspot.com/2011/04/personal-note.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">*click here to read why I actually want to give this book 100/10 flowers*</span></a></li>
</span></span></i></i></i></span></i></span></span></span></i></i></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></ul><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><b>To buy this book: </b><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781442403543">IndieBound</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9781442403543/City-of-Fallen-Angels">The Book Depository </a>| <a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/18-9781442403543-0">Powell's</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/City-Fallen-Angels-Mortal-Instruments/dp/1442403543/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302674864&sr=1-1">Amazon</a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><b>Add this book to your:</b> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6752378-city-of-fallen-angels">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.shelfari.com/books/12879838/City-of-Fallen-Angels">Shelfari </a>| <a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/8920820">Library Thing </a>| <a href="http://apps.facebook.com/facebookshelf/books/200005593227-cassandra-clare-city-of-fallen-angels-mortal-instruments?ref=search-title">Visual Bookshelf</a><br />
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</div><div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cassandra Clare's <i>City of Fallen Angels </i>has taken the <i>Mortal Instruments</i> series to a new level of amazingness! It was incredibly fun to revisit all the <i>MI</i> characters we adore, and with the shifting perspectives we have the chance to get to know each of them much more intimately. Also, as I've mentioned before, I freaking love Cassandra Clare's wicked awesome storytelling skills! Perfect dialogue, a huge cast of compelling characters, vividly described settings, chemistry and tension that sizzles off the page, and a cleverly-plotted mystery that will keep readers guessing until the final pages. Seriously, what is not to love?! Obviously, I'm already lapsing into gushing fangirl mode, but that is exactly what Cassandra Clare's books bring out in me. Before I move on to discussing the bits that I particularly enjoyed, I feel obligated to say that prior to reading <i>City of Fallen Angels</i>, I truly thought <i>City of Glass</i> was the <u><i>perfect</i></u> ending to the <i>MI</i> series. That book blew me away with its excellence, and it immediately became my go-to example of how to end a series <u>right</u>. So I'll admit to feeling a tiny bit nervous to read <i>City of Fallen Angels. </i>But now that I have read it (twice), I cannot believe I was ever worried at all and I am beyond excited to read the next two books!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What I Liked:</span></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- The characters. One thing I have always liked about this series, is that although the plot threads are sometimes so intricately woven that it feels like reading a really great mystery series or a deliciously intrigue-filled period novel (Remember those wicked storytelling skillz I mentioned?) her stories <u>always</u> feel character-driven. In <i>City of Fallen Angels</i>, the alternating perspectives take that character-driven feeling to a whole new level by placing the reader right inside many of the main characters' heads, so we get to know each of the characters much more intimately. At times, we are privy to Simon's thoughts, Jace's thoughts, Clary's thoughts, Alec's thoughts, and even Magnus's thoughts. (Seriously, who hasn't wanted to get inside <u>Magnus's</u> head since the very first book?!) In theory, I imagined the head-hopping might make the story feel a bit scattered or leave me missing Clary's POV, but in reality it made me love every single one of the characters even more. Understanding their motivations a bit better, seeing their insecurities up close and personal, and feeling their sorrows and yearnings firsthand - you can't help caring about each of them. The first three books familiarized us with the world of Shadowhunters, Demons, and Downworlders, and now the fourth book was able to spend more time subjectively showing us that world from a variety of perspectives. Fun!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- On a related note, the characters are all still in-character! That may sound like a redundant comment, but I truly can't count the number of series books I've read in which at least one main character seems to have inexplicably had a lobotomy or a personality transplant between two of the books. Occasionally, that is actually part of the story (<i>Mockingjay</i>), but often it just seems to be authorial prerogative or it's justified as being in service of the plot. Thankfully, this series is still character-driven and every one of the characters was quite recognizably themselves. When there were subtle changes, which is to be expected as people grow up and mature, they were commented upon and discussed among the other characters. For instance, Clary feels like Alec is carrying himself more confidently and is more generous with others than he used to be. Totally understandable when he has spent the last couple of months officially 'out' and in a happy relationship with Magnus. That type of change is the kind of shift toward adulthood we see in this book. And some of the things we learn in this book, help shine a new light on aspects of the characters' personalities in a <i>'Whoa! I did <u>not</u> see that coming!'</i> way. But it doesn't ever go against anything we already knew about them, so it is perfectly integrated into our previous understanding of the first three books. Isabelle, in particular, shares something that took me completely by surprise, but it explains a lot about her personality.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- If you loved Clary and Jace's relationship at the end of <i>City of Glass</i>, you may implode as their chemistry and the dramatic tension between them hits a new level of intensity in <i>City of Fallen Angels</i>. I am going to attempt to keep this spoiler-free, but let's just say you probably need something nearby to fan yourself with as their chemistry leads them in to delicious uncharted territory, and you will probably also need to have something on hand to dry your tears when their interactions swing from passionate to heartbreaking (and back again). Ah, the swoon-worthy sexiness. Oh, the heartache and angst. I loved every single moment of it! In previous books, they shared some intense romantic moments and said some very sweet (and sometimes heartbreakingly sad) things to one another, but they stepped it way up in this installment. Jace is <i>beyond</i> vulnerable in this book. He is truly broken. You all know what a sucker I can be for broken boys, right? Prior to reading <i>CoFA</i>, I actually believed he had already been broken in nearly every sense of the word .... but wow was I proven wrong in a major way! Like most people with a pulse (my husband, who likes Clary a lot & has always preferred Simon to Jace, will find that statement a bit of an exaggeration), </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was in love with Jace before he and Clary even kissed by the midnight flowers and he tasted like green apples, then came the Seelie Court & the (shirtless) scene in his bedroom as he confronted Clary and suggested that they run away together, and of course the manor house and the letter and the night he told her he was tired of pretending that he wasn't in love with her and pleadingly said that he just wanted to fall asleep next to her and wake up next to her once in his life *swoon*, then they fell asleep holding hands like children in a fairytale. *I choke up every single time I read that beautiful scene, even now that I know what is coming* Then there was Lake Lyn and the kiss they shared on the steps in Idris. But his 'blasphemous' declaration about the sun and the stars in </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>City of Fallen Angel</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">s ... Wowza, Ladies and Gents! If you somehow managed not to fall hopelessly in love with him in the prior books, I doubt you'll be so fortunate this time around. Also, I'm fairly certain that loving Jace will doom you to at least two more years of relentless torture. Sorry about that. But I promise you, he is worth it. ;)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Also, Clary rocks in this book. So much so that I can't wait to see what she will do in <i>City of Lost Souls</i>. She holds her own in a few fights (as well as a minimally-trained Shadowhunter can be expected to), and she draws a couple of very powerful runes. I hope to see more of rune-drawing Clary in the next book. She learns some very valuable lessons about runes this time around, but I am so excited for her to learn even more about them. She also has at least one major hero moment. Yay! But the area that Clary really shines (which also just happens to be her Achilles heel), is that she is unfailingly determined and loyal in a way that is truly admirable. She encourages Simon to solve his dating-two-girls-at-once problem before it blows up in his face, she knows when to be forceful with her mom and when to back off and give her mom and Luke a bit of space, she shares some really astute observations about Simon with Isabelle, and she stands up to Jace on numerous occasions when it was probably the toughest thing anyone could ask of her. As their relationship becomes increasingly strained, she holds her own with impressive resolve and calls him on his mistakes. She also doesn't shy away from doing whatever is necessary to seek help for Jace as soon as she realizes the seriousness of his situation, and she tells him the truth (which is exactly what he so desperately needs to hear and understand when he feels unworthy of her love). I truly admired her belief in love, and I loved her determination to have faith in Jace (even when his sense of self-worth has crumbled to dust). I also loved seeing her stand up for herself when Jace was making her miserable, and I especially enjoyed seeing her hold her ground and make him talk to her even as he was trying to punish himself by retreating from the people who care about him the most. They are perfect for one another.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- One of my favorite things about the <i>MI</i> series is the dialogue that crackles off the page in distinct and memorable voices. Seriously, pick any page in any Cassandra Clare novel and read two or three lines of dialogue from it (ignoring the dialogue tags). I bet you can tell with 99.9% accuracy who said what to whom because every single character in her ensemble casts has a distinct way of speaking. T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">he dialogue is more phenomenal than ever in <i>City of Fallen Angels</i> because of the shifting perspectives. In fact, the shifting perspectives felt a bit like seeing behind the wizard's curtain because it quickly became apparent that the dialogue has been so impressively fantastic all along because Ms. Clare really <u>does</u> know what each character is thinking and feeling motivated by at all times. Wow! Some lines made me laugh aloud while others made me ache with sadness.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- I read aloud a lot, to my husband and to our two children. It is not unusual for me to spend a couple hours of every day reading aloud (if we get immersed in a great book or series, the number of hours can double or triple). And I have to say that the <i>MI</i> books are my absolute favorite books to read aloud to my husband (who <u>loves</u> the <i>MI </i>series). I can't even express how fun they are to read aloud. There are so many likable characters to care about, the dialogue all flows smoothly and believably, the humor and dramatic twists are perfectly timed, the action & suspense keep everything moving tensely forward, and there is something for everyone to enjoy. An imaginative mythology, a variety of paranormal creatures, plenty of charming heroes and heroines to root for, and even little nods to geeky fans like us who have followed Ms. Clare for ages and enjoy the mentions of small details like the <i>Still Not King</i> button Simon gave Clary and Jace's story about the falcon. I am so excited that we will get to read two Cassandra Clare books this year and next. Hurray for the overlap of the <i>MI</i> series & the <i>ID</i> series! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- As in the previous books, t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">he setting is described very visually and viscerally, and most descriptions are blended into the narrative so well that it never seems like the story's stops abruptly for the author to go into pointless detail about the color of every tile in a room. If a character does pause to describe a location, it is probably because their particular reaction to that place is important in defining their character or because that location is about to explode into an action scene and you aren't going to want to pause mid-action to hear about curtain color or the furniture layout but you will want to have your bearings in order to better visualize the scene. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Without careful balance, this could have become a book in which readers spent a lot of time waiting for the POV to shift back to the character(s) they wanted to hear about most. But I am happy to report that no perspective-shift was wasted, each one advanced the story and filled in another piece of the puzzle while helping readers keep track of all the characters in play.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- I enjoyed learning more about Simon's Mark of Cain and his Daylighter status, and I liked seeing him try to pass as a human too (although that proves to be nearly impossible for him). The situation with his mother becomes heartbreakingly difficult in this book, and I am very curious to see where that aspect of the story will lead in <i>City of Lost Souls. </i>I've always really loved Simon, and he has been my husband's favorite character since the very first book, so we were both excited to see him adjusting to life as a much-coveted Daylighter with the Mark of Cain. Neither of us anticipated exactly the way his Mark would work, but we were not at all stunned by his initial reaction to it. Also, I loved hearing about Simon's memories of Clary as a little girl. Seriously, how sweet is Simon? Even his situation with the two girls, Maia and Isabelle, was handled believably and did not make me dislike him. His inexperienced idiocy and desire to avoid confrontation with two formidable young women was understandable (if misguided), but it was really his explanation for his actions that made it virtually impossible to be angry with him. He suffers through a lot in this book, and he still has a lot of adjusting to do so I can't wait to see where the rest of the series takes him.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Speaking of Simon, he spends a fair amount of time with a new bandmate, Kyle, in this book. I don't want to say to much about handsome Kyle and his sexy surfer's drawl, but I think most readers will enjoy his character. I especially loved any scene that involved Jace, Simon, and Kyle in the same room. Hi-larious!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Ah, Magnus and Alec. I love them together. Alec is adorable even when he is jealous and sulking. And of course, Magnus Bane is eternally awesome even when he is toned-down and relatively glitter-free (Okay, there may be a gondolier's hat and a matador's jacket alluded to in a cell phone photo... hee hee). He can't really help having been alive for so much longer than most of the people he's fallen in love with over the years. In fact, I think it is remarkable that he is still willing to give his heart to someone (especially a Shadowhunter, since they live very dangerous lives and tend to die far too young). If you've read <i>Clockwork Angel</i>, you are already familiar with Camille and can probably guess how the tension between Magnus and Alec starts. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The mortality/immortality issue is going to be a struggle for them, and I definitely don't think we've heard the last of that.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I liked how the issue came up as a serious concern because it is sometimes handled quite lightly in immortal/human romances. I am fairly confident they will work it out, but if Magnus could get a spinoff series after <i>CoHF</i> if they need a bit more time to work it out, I fully support that idea too. ;) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Oh man, I thought Clary and Jace faced their toughest obstacles in the first three books, but it appears they still have some very serious challenges to endure. I know that no one really wants to hear that (although admittedly a conflict-free relationship would probably be pretty boring to read about), and I'm biting my nails too. I just have to keep reminding myself that surviving each difficult challenge in the past has made both of them stronger and even more devoted to one another. We all just have to have faith.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Overall, this story seemed a bit darker and more contemplative than the first three, but there is a still a glimmering thread of hope woven subtly into the darkness, so I will be desperately clinging to that until I read the final pages of <i>CoHF </i>in 2013. Also, there is still a fair amount of action, but quite a bit of the mystery and adventure is in piecing the clues together like the pieces of a puzzle. The tensions within their little group of friends have fractured their relationships a bit, so there are a few moments of extreme tension when the reader can guess what is coming but the characters have not shared enough information with one another to figure it out. Torturous. Yet even when I was sure I had certain elements figured out, I was often caught a off guard by a sudden twist. There are a number of well-placed hints that left me suspicious but unsure. And two twists were total blindside moments for me. Love that, especially when upon reading it a second time I spotted so many little clues. Nicely done.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- I won't say too much about the primary villain, just that the entire situation kept me guessing right up until the reveal. And while I am not always a fan of villains giving speeches about their dastardly deeds and nefarious plans, in this case it totally worked for me because it gave me a moment or two to consider how long Ms. Clare must have had this planned. The villain's story and connection to the previous books is both plausible and quite clever. It made me want to read the original trilogy again.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Argh... the ending! Nearly everything I could say would be a spoiler, so I will just say "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well played, Ms. Clare. Well, played." Oh boy, she loves to torture her readers and characters. Since I was so happy with <i>City of Glass</i>, I plan to keep the faith until </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>City of Heavenly Fire </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">either burns the optimism out of me or rewards me for two years of devoted hopefulness. But would Ms. Clare really torture her characters so mercilessly if there was truly no hope of redemption? Where would be the tension in that? Whether the characters will <u><i>believe</i></u> there is hope or not remains to be seen... </span><br />
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</span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>City of Fallen Angels</i> is a terrific addition to the<i> MI</i> series! If you haven't read any of the <i>Mortal Instruments</i> books yet, you seriously must. <u>Immediately</u>! If you are already a fan of <i>Clockwork Angel</i> and the first three <i>MI</i> books, then you will love <i>City of Fallen Angels</i>. If you would like to learn more about <i>City of Fallen Angels</i> or Cassandra Clare's other books, please visit her <a href="http://www.cassandraclare.com/cms/home">website</a>, <a href="http://cassandraclare.livejournal.com/">blog</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Cassandraclare">facebook</a>, or <a href="http://twitter.com/cassieclare">twitter</a>. The next <i>Infernal Devices</i> book, <i>Clockwork Prince</i>, is scheduled for release December 6th. Yay! And the next <i>Mortal Instruments</i> book, <i>City of Lost Souls</i>, is scheduled for release in May of 2012. Can't wait!</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Read the first chapter of <i>City of Fallen Angels</i> <a href="http://www.mortalinstruments.com/excerpt-angels.php">here</a>!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GEAhkUrgJHU" title="YouTube video player" width="500"></iframe></b></span></div></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-14128832045100920462011-04-12T23:56:00.000-07:002011-04-13T03:17:30.573-07:00A Personal Note<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1KzZkTJao4Ubzdau6c1n0MG82bZmav-UQgAs8Fs6kQ4Pe37pVk6hVccn24ES_PHrQ6czNbsg_MTW2a9UF3Kb1DIQgM3Vs2Fok7rxPkZkR3HQ5M0n6hsiRfCkKaOPVMlC4MCGSTsnymix/s1600/M210159-Meningitis_brain_scan%252C_MRI-SPL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1KzZkTJao4Ubzdau6c1n0MG82bZmav-UQgAs8Fs6kQ4Pe37pVk6hVccn24ES_PHrQ6czNbsg_MTW2a9UF3Kb1DIQgM3Vs2Fok7rxPkZkR3HQ5M0n6hsiRfCkKaOPVMlC4MCGSTsnymix/s320/M210159-Meningitis_brain_scan%252C_MRI-SPL.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have spent the past two weeks dealing with an unexpected health crisis involving a relentless splitting headache, debilitating vision problems, several visits to various specialists (including an opthamologist and a neurologist), an MRI, and a lumbar puncture. Thankfully, all of my doctors have been working as quickly as possible to rule out something extremely serious like a brain tumor, vasculitis, or a blood clot in my head. At this point, the swelling on my optic nerve and the elevated spinal fluid levels point to a pseudotumor cerebri (basically a build-up of cerebrospinal fluid that mimics a brain tumor and puts pressure on the optic nerve), and I started taking medication based on that diagnosis last week. I have already seen some improvement (particularly in reducing the pain when I shift my eyes), which is great. I have another visit with my opthamologist tomorrow morning to go over my MRI and lumbar puncture results, and she also plans to do a visual field test so that we can monitor my improvement as my condition </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*hopefully* </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">continues to improve. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Vision is definitely something you don't fully appreciate until you suddenly begin to lose it. Of course, all of my favorite hobbies (reading, working on the computer, gardening, genealogy, and sewing) are quite vision-dependent, so I know that I should actually just be thankful for all the blissful years of 20/20 'sparkle-free' vision that didn't hurt when I shifted my eyes up, left, or right. And I am very lucky to have begun treatment before the vision in my right eye worsened to the degree that my left eye has. I really haven't had too much difficulty with reading since it is up close and not off to the side (except when I was trying to limit my reading time because my doctor initially believed that the headache and eye pain could be related to eye strain and/or a tension headache), but the computer with its bright screen was initially more of a challenge. I am ecstatic to report that looking at the computer seems to pose less and less of a challenge with each passing day. Yay! </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For the past couple of weeks, I've felt uncertain about whether to discuss my health issues here on <i>The Eager Readers</i> because I didn't want to use this space to whine about my ailments. Plus, I was very scared of receiving unbearably sad news after the MRI (i.e. brain tumor) and that whole concept was frightening to an immobilizing degree. I couldn't really force myself to discuss that fear with anyone outside of my immediate family. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Basically, it has been an exceedingly scary and miserable two weeks, but I wanted to tell all of you how much I still appreciate having this forum to talk about books I adore with other book-lovers. I was at my most stressed and panicked last week, right after my opthamologist first mentioned the possibilities of a brain tumor or pseudotumor and I overheard her on the phone with the radiology department at the hospital requesting an 'emergency MRI' that afternoon because she felt it was critical not to wait until the MRI appointment that my neurologist had already scheduled at a later date. <i>*insert panic here*</i> At first, I couldn't make myself focus on anything else to take my mind off the overwhelming amount of stress that hit me in that moment. My headache seemed worse than ever, and I'd started taking three medications, each with upsetting side effects like nausea, fatigue, body aches, and numb/tingling hands and feet. Blech. Even if I hadn't been feeling physically wretched that day, hearing that the best-case scenario was one in which my condition may cause blindness? Not particularly ideal.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That was quickly shaping up to be among the most stressful days of my life until we came home from the MRI and my husband put <i>City of Fallen Angels</i> in my hands and asked me if I would continue reading it aloud to him. Have I mentioned that I love that man more than words can express? When I am overwhelmed by stress, he often knows just how to be the perfect calm that I need. What I needed most that day was <i>normalcy</i>, to immerse myself in a shared activity that was reassuringly familiar, and to feel like we would have a ton of tomorrows to spend reading aloud together just as we have for the past fifteen years. As I read <i>City of Fallen Angels</i> aloud to my husband that day (and each time we were both free over the next three days), I found myself pleasantly distracted from my nervousness about test results, medical bills, and upcoming appointments. Reading has been my escape of choice for as long as I can remember, and in the midst of all my anxiety it turned out to be the perfect stress-relief. This time, it wasn't just because I loved immersing myself in an imaginative fictional world {Which I obviously did, Cassandra Clare's books are freaking phenomenal and so much fun to read aloud!}, but I also loved knowing that I'd get to sit down afterward and think about the whole book all over again in order to write the review here on the blog. And I loved knowing that the book blogosphere is such a friendly, welcoming place to find other people who are just as passionate about books. People who are probably just as eager to discuss what they loved or were tortured by in this latest installment of the <i>MI</i> series. Fun! I feel so fortunate to be part of a community like that. So thanks and heartfelt hugs to all of you book-lovers out there! :)</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Also, I would give <i>City of Fallen Angels</i> 100 flowers out of 10 if I could because it was exactly what I needed, and I adored every minute of it despite physical discomfort and my potentially paralyzing anxiety level during some of the most nerve-wracking days of my life. It seriously helped save my sanity when all signs were pointing toward a stress-induced meltdown. Do you guys have a book like that? A book that proved to be exactly what you needed to get you through a trying time? I'd love to hear about it in the comments. If my opthamologist doesn't keep me in town for another barrage of tests tomorrow or start me on a new medication that knocks me out, I plan to head up to see Cassandra Clare and Holly Black on tour tomorrow evening. I'll be the one with a giant stack of books and a ridiculous fangirl smile whose husband will probably be by her side reminding her to take one of her medications every couple of hours. Haha! Can't wait! :-)</span></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-40742684457541346062011-04-11T14:29:00.000-07:002011-04-11T14:29:03.791-07:00Book Review: Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1pf3zLXSbWV3dBQdGeL-ky43hNzmWuCPj-LYK24ARFcAecQVvxP1TyNMQBKSTisZrBsVgS0ZqSBqeniIvhxGJLmqPNrfTzF8qrktz3tPyxG16_xRWc4WAo87i1CkJtgEGLXj4o7PRwpU/s1600/Ten+Miles+Past+Normal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1pf3zLXSbWV3dBQdGeL-ky43hNzmWuCPj-LYK24ARFcAecQVvxP1TyNMQBKSTisZrBsVgS0ZqSBqeniIvhxGJLmqPNrfTzF8qrktz3tPyxG16_xRWc4WAo87i1CkJtgEGLXj4o7PRwpU/s400/Ten+Miles+Past+Normal.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Title: Ten Miles Past Normal</b></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Author:</b> Frances O'Roark Dowell</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Publisher:</b> Atheneum Books </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Genre:</b> contemporary <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">YA</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Hardcover:</b> 224</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> pages</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>My copy:</b> Received from the publisher for honest review.</span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Summary from Goodreads:</span></span></span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Janie Gorman wants to be normal. The problem with that: she’s not. She’s smart and creative and a little bit funky. She’s also an unwilling player in her parents’ modern-hippy, let’s-live-on-a-goat-farm experiment (regretfully, instigated by a younger, much more enthusiastic Janie). This, to put it simply, is not helping Janie reach that “normal target.” She has to milk goats every day…and endure her mother’s pseudo celebrity in the homemade-life, crunchy mom blogosphere. Goodbye the days of frozen lasagna and suburban living, hello crazy long bus ride to high school and total isolation—and hovering embarrassments of all kinds. The fresh baked bread is good…the threat of homemade jeans, not so much.<br />
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It would be nice to go back to that old suburban life…or some grown up, high school version of it, complete with nice, normal boyfriends who wear crew neck sweaters and like social studies. So, what’s wrong with normal? Well, kind of everything. She knows that, of course, why else would she learn bass and join Jam Band, how else would she know to idolize infamous wild-child and high school senior Emma (her best friend Sarah’s older sister), why else would she get arrested while doing a school project on a local freedom school (jail was not part of the assignment). And, why else would she kind of be falling in "like" with a boy named Monster—yes, that is his real name. Janie was going for normal, but she missed her mark by about ten miles…and we mean that as a compliment</span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></i></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA69Wm5rzi-IX5vnNdpIH7-NhE_ztqE0POlfoAq-LzEJzSOjlLfc4eBqpam-92ZhkhaZXhYHFLzGK2jl_y4fzSzd55X-QwZvVF3SdaTT9Bl3t3YkeYKJ14IeseFIZzWBDoUvX-lt3pT93C/s1600/9-flower-rating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="35" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA69Wm5rzi-IX5vnNdpIH7-NhE_ztqE0POlfoAq-LzEJzSOjlLfc4eBqpam-92ZhkhaZXhYHFLzGK2jl_y4fzSzd55X-QwZvVF3SdaTT9Bl3t3YkeYKJ14IeseFIZzWBDoUvX-lt3pT93C/s320/9-flower-rating.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><ul style="list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>
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<div style="text-align: center;">Overall rating: 9/10 flowers</div></b></span></ul><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><b>To buy this book: </b><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781416995852">IndieBound</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9781416995852/Ten-Miles-Past-Normal">The Book Depository </a>| <a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9781416995852-0">Powell's</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416995854/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0DJGRCPCMKR2DGDACHDV&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846">Amazon</a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><b>Add this book to your:</b> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10691825-ten-miles-past-normal">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.shelfari.com/books/16400619/Ten-Miles-Past-Normal">Shelfari </a>| <a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/10493469">Library Thing </a>| <a href="http://apps.facebook.com/facebookshelf/books/200005330024-frances-o-roark-dowell-ten-miles-past-normal?ref=search-title">Visual Bookshelf</a><br />
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</div><div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Frances O'Roark Dowell's <i>Ten Miles Past Normal</i> is a funny and insightful novel overflowing with charmingly quirky characters. When Janie was nine years old her class took a field trip to an organic farm. She loved it so much that she suggested to her parents that their whole family would be happier living on a farm, raising goats, and baking fresh bread. Janie had no idea that the concept would appeal to her parents so much, and she could never have predicted that five years later that perfect-sounding farm life would leave her feeling completely ostracized during her freshman year of high school. Part of her is desperate to fit in and feel like a normal girl, but perhaps life truly is better at ten miles past normal ...</span><br />
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</span></div><div></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What I Liked:</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>- </b>This book had me laughing aloud from start to finish. Janie is a very funny narrator with a self-deprecating sense of humor and a wry wit.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- I loved that civil rights played such an important role in this novel. The teens admire and are inspired by courageous individuals who worked toward equality and justice when that was an unpopular and dangerous choice.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- This is a book in which the teenage girls are more excited about changing the world than chasing after the hottest boy in school. Of course, there is a bit of boy-chasing too, but that plays out in a hilariously satisfying way.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- I thoroughly enjoyed the mommy-blogger angle of the story. Since moving to the country, Janie's mother has taken up blogging to document her family's farm-life adventures. In fact, she has become a bit of a local celebrity because of her blog, and I liked hearing about that whole experience from Janie's perspective.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- I enjoyed the quirky collection of characters, from Monster to Emma to Mr. Pritchard. We should all be lucky enough to encounter memorably awesome people like that in our lives. There are also characters like Jeremy Fitch, who bear a striking resemblance to people most of us probably knew (or still know) in high school. I was thrilled that Janie has the good sense to recognize the reality that isn't always obvious when you are distracted by a handsome face and flirtatious banter.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Janie has loving parents and they play a vital role in the story, so that sets <i>Ten Miles Past Normal</i> apart from the bulk of YA novels in which parents are absent/evil/negligent.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- I loved seeing Janie mature as she realizes that being normal is overrated and starts embracing life at ten miles past normal.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<div></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What I Wished:</span></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- I wanted this book to be longer. Honestly, the author chose the perfect time and place for the story to end. I just enjoyed the characters so much that I wanted the story to go on for another hundred pages or so.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Ten Miles Past Normal</i> is a sweet coming-of-age tale with a funny, intelligent narrator. Fans of Deb Caletti's <i>Honey, Baby, Sweetheart</i>, John Green's <i>An Abundance of Katherines</i>, Jerry Spinelli's <i>Stargirl </i>or Adriana Trigani's <i>Viola in Reel Life</i> will want to pick up <i>Ten Miles Past Normal</i>. It is also a very clean read, so I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to fans of middle-grade novels like Lisa Schroeder's <i>It's Raining Cupcakes</i>. I look forward to reading more of Frances O'Roark Dowell's books. If you would like to learn more about <i>Ten Miles Past Normal</i> or Frances O'Roark Dowell's other books, please visit her <a href="http://www.francesdowell.com/">website</a> or <a href="http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Frances-O'Roark-Dowell/1811319">Simon & Schuster page</a>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Read the first chapter of <i>Ten Miles Past Normal</i> <a href="http://books.simonandschuster.com/Ten-Miles-Past-Normal/Frances-O'Roark-Dowell/9781416995852/excerpt_with_id/17417">here</a>!</span></b></div></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-86869570297902172422011-04-08T09:37:00.000-07:002011-04-08T09:38:38.481-07:00Book Review: Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzs3AouwwQQbo6HdjD6zwrNaqVnA0prttBhsHxFwsOY8qTHXd-_u4nmuYaaw8w1PqX3mmyjFyse9lSbMdIWbXy7BtjbR3PDY0EDe4kvCCmqBqUqt9NtEFsaJluNg2pmNDMS3zlKFhl1iK/s1600/Demonglass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzs3AouwwQQbo6HdjD6zwrNaqVnA0prttBhsHxFwsOY8qTHXd-_u4nmuYaaw8w1PqX3mmyjFyse9lSbMdIWbXy7BtjbR3PDY0EDe4kvCCmqBqUqt9NtEFsaJluNg2pmNDMS3zlKFhl1iK/s400/Demonglass.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Title: Demonglass</b></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Author:</b> Rachel Hawkins</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Publisher:</b> Hyperion Books</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Genre:</b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">YA / paranormal</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Hardcover: </b>359</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> pages</span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Summary from Goodreads:</span></span></span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch. <br />
<br />
That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth. <br />
<br />
Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers. <br />
<br />
But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></i></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PXqwKCEnoU1Dk2H1cnfOjPEw12ACpP844cnssnnsfnUCOUOM_GFiDxCmHu8yQI5bBojKXlO4skKEIea_fSbZfsZc8KPPanDvju_Qw-1S9YxXXnx_h4ENRs_pHcfKcnsETsXgyn_WRUhJ/s1600/7-flower-rating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PXqwKCEnoU1Dk2H1cnfOjPEw12ACpP844cnssnnsfnUCOUOM_GFiDxCmHu8yQI5bBojKXlO4skKEIea_fSbZfsZc8KPPanDvju_Qw-1S9YxXXnx_h4ENRs_pHcfKcnsETsXgyn_WRUhJ/s1600/7-flower-rating.jpg" /></a></div><ul style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>
<li><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><i><i><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><i><i><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"></span></span></i></i></i></span></i></span></span></span></i></i></i></span></i></span></i></li>
<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><i><i><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><i><i><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
<li style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><i><i><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><i><i><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"></span></span></i></i></i></span></i></span></span></span></i></i></i></span></i></span></i></span></li>
<li style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Overall rating: 7/10</div></li>
</span></span></i></i></i></span></i></span></span></span></i></i></i></span></i></span></i></b></span></span></ul><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><b>To buy this book: </b><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781423121312">IndieBound</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9781423121312/Demonglass">The Book Depository </a>| <a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9781423121312-0">Powell's</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Demonglass-Hall-Novel-Rachel-Hawkins/dp/1423121317/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1301723598&sr=1-1">Amazon</a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><b>Add this book to your:</b> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7862667-demonglass">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.shelfari.com/books/15319854/Demonglass">Shelfari </a>| <a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/8363470">Library Thing </a>| <a href="http://apps.facebook.com/facebookshelf/books/200004941713-rachel-hawkins-demonglass-a-hex-hall-novel?ref=search-title">Visual Bookshelf</a><br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div>Rachel Hawkins' <i>Demonglass</i> picks up six months after the conclusion of <i>Hex Hall</i>. Sophie is awaiting word from her father, the head of the Council, regarding her request to undergo the Removal process. When he arrives, her father persuades her to spend the summer with him at the Council headquarters in England before making a final decision about the Removal, and they set off for England with her friends Jenna and Cal in tow. Sophie is shocked by the grandeur of the expansive Abbey where they will be staying, but the beautiful and luxurious setting does not necessarily mean she'll have a peaceful summer vacation in the English countryside. Instead, she finds herself hunted by the Eye, keeping secrets from her best friend, and unsure who to trust in this fun sequel to <i>Hex Hall</i>.<br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div><b>What I Liked:</b></div>- Sophie's sense of humor is my favorite part of this series. She has a sarcastic reply to lighten almost any uncomfortable situation, and her snarkiness helps make this book an entertaining, fast read.<br />
- Cal plays a much larger roll in this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed his interaction with Sophie. He is kind, compassionate, and good with his hands. Plus, he really does have the best power ever. <i>Demonglass</i> put me firmly on Team Cal.<br />
- I enjoy Sophie and Jenna's friendship. They complement each other well, and I like that they both try to be supportive and encouraging even when dealing with tricky situations or disagreements.<br />
- A number of new characters are introduced in this book, and they add some exciting twists to the story. I also liked that characters from the first book played unexpected roles in <i>Demonglass</i>, specifically Elodie, Cal, and Mrs. Casnoff.<br />
- Demons, witches, warlocks, werewolves, vampires, and ghosts ... this series has a wide variety of paranormal creatures.<br />
- I enjoyed learning more about Sophie's long-absent father. Sophie gains a better understanding of her abilities in this book, and I look forward to discovering what the third book has in store for her.<br />
<br />
<div></div><div><b>What I Disliked:</b></div>- I found myself distracted by comparing certain aspects of this story to other book series, like <i>Evernight,</i> <i>Harry Potter</i>, and <i>Twilight. </i><br />
- I was a fan of Sophie and Archer's chemistry in <i>Hex Hall</i>, but I didn't find their chemistry nearly as compelling in <i>Demonglass</i>. Perhaps that was because of Archer's minimal page-time, Cal's abundant charms, or the general seriousness of the situation keeping Sophie and Archer apart, but their Romeo & Juliet-style romance felt a bit forced to me this time around.<br />
- The second book in a trilogy can sometimes be more frustrating than fulfilling since none of the major conflicts will be resolved until the final book, and unfortunately this book felt that way to me. The conclusion definitely leaves readers hanging in a <u>huge</u> way.<i> </i><br />
<br />
<div><i>Demonglass</i> is an entertaining sequel to <i>Hex Hall</i>. Fans of paranormal novels that blend suspenseful and romantic elements with a hefty dose of humor, like Kiersten White's <i>Paranormalcy</i>, will want to pick up this series. If you would like to learn more about <i>Demonglass, </i>or Rachel Hawkins' upcoming projects like<i> Rebel Belle </i>and the <i>Hex Hall</i> spinoff series she plans to start writing this summer, please visit her <a href="http://www.rachel-hawkins.com/">website</a>, <a href="http://readingwritingrachel.blogspot.com/">blog</a>, or <a href="http://twitter.com/LadyHawkins">twitter</a>. Or check out the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7528600585203292987&postID=8686957029790217242"><i>Hex Hall </i>facebook page</a>. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Read the first chapter of <i>Demonglass</i> <a href="http://www.hexhallbooks.com/demonglass_chapter1.pdf">here</a>!</b></div></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-49915624750817010992011-04-01T17:59:00.000-07:002011-04-01T17:59:27.759-07:00Winners!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3O4Pj7TGRslmndmJf4oOMkyEqJR-Y6P_HXfvLpEB_SEOd_g3TXLTibHFG1OjusSkdFPipNkk12E0mpN3BLVTvdOO4hnpozt5WMBgJFaWui6O8QrCKtUpN3fsE-8oIKS5CD4qVIGP_H3ZA/s1600/Desires-of-the-Dead-contest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3O4Pj7TGRslmndmJf4oOMkyEqJR-Y6P_HXfvLpEB_SEOd_g3TXLTibHFG1OjusSkdFPipNkk12E0mpN3BLVTvdOO4hnpozt5WMBgJFaWui6O8QrCKtUpN3fsE-8oIKS5CD4qVIGP_H3ZA/s320/Desires-of-the-Dead-contest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thank you to everyone who entered our <a href="http://theeagerreaders.blogspot.com/2011/03/book-giveaway-desires-of-dead-by.html"><i>Desires of the Dead</i> giveaway</a>! :) All the winners have been emailed and have 48 hrs to respond before new winners will be drawn.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Marlene</span></b> won:</span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Prize #1 - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">A signed hardcover copy of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Desires of the Dead</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> by Kimberly Derting</span></span></b></div><div style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Morgyn</span></b> won:</span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Prize #2 - </b>A signed <i>Desires of the Dead</i> poster and bookmark</span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Tracy</span></b>, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Ambur</span></b>, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Lucie Z.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"> </span>and <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Sniffly Kitty</span></b> each won:</span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Prize #3 - </b>A signed <i>Desires of the Dead </i>bookmark</span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We hope to see Cassandra Clare and Holly Black on tour later this month, so keep an eye out for the chance to win more signed books! :)</span></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-57825863529377862052011-03-30T06:45:00.000-07:002011-03-30T06:56:20.337-07:00"Waiting on" Wednesday: Exile by Anne Osterlund<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780142417393"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTT6bUpZolKyETOA5BHfF6CksGt6t6-XXtUX0jywjr9LWlSG8bXHXbQrpNoaII6K4wKlcS7vf-suextIwdxrR1AK6ABGdZZS6htBGKWXM9BoOmNnhFIvcvCdlkfXxicG1NlKWkuPHF1QTN/s400/Exile.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b>Title:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"> <b> </b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Exile-Anne-Osterlund/dp/0142417394/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1301490806&sr=1-1"><b>Exile </b>(Aurelia #2)</a></i></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Author:</b> Anne Osterlund</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Publication date:</b> April 28, 2011</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em;"><b>Anne Osterlund's: </b> <a href="http://anneosterlund.com/" style="color: #72179d;">website</a> | <a href="http://www.anneosterlund.blogspot.com/">blog</a> | <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #72179d;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000408952661" style="color: #72179d;">facebook</a> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b>Pre-order <i>Exile</i>:</b> <a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9780142417393-0">Powell's</a> | <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780142417393" style="color: #72179d;">IndieBound</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Exile-Anne-Osterlund/dp/0142417394/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1301489701&sr=1-1" style="color: #72179d;">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=0142417394" style="color: #72179d;">Borders</a> | <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Exile/Anne-Osterlund/e/9780142417393/?itm=1&USRI=exile+anne+osterlund">B&N</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b>Add <i>Exile</i> to your: </b> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7411232-exile" style="color: #72179d;">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.shelfari.com/books/16238263/Exile" style="color: #72179d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #72179d;">Shelfari</span> </a>| <a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/10249284" style="color: #72179d;">LibraryThing</a></span></span></div><br />
<div style="font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/10613087" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;"></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><b>Summary</b><b> from Goodreads </b>(c</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">ontains spoilers for </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>Aurelia</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">):</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">Crown Princess Aurelia stands in the face of exile. Behind her are the sister who tried to kill her and the father who ignored it. In front of her are the entire kingdom and Robert—the friend she can't help but fall in love with. Aurelia may finally be living her dream . . . but danger is not far behind. When Aurelia and Robert are betrayed by the very guards assigned to protect them, their expedition becomes a fight for survival that carries them from frontier to desert sands. Even with a hunter on their tail, the risks—to their lives, the throne, their hearts—only fuels Aurelia's determination to see her kingdom. And when their perilous journey is finally complete, she will discover just how much her people need her, and just how much of a risk loving Robert can be. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTIcnF3STX3o-2xg2HdzRbqU2BNpAZmWZkZiglUTK7v1fz2-0J1Hc8EuQ-BEvAZm1m38S6-aWI4wusnfy8WAcvYa8lLtyUsKkkBR9j5ymVZtnM2_xVRIDJjrgRZThCzlsvbJXd6RGtH4t/s1600/Aurelia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTIcnF3STX3o-2xg2HdzRbqU2BNpAZmWZkZiglUTK7v1fz2-0J1Hc8EuQ-BEvAZm1m38S6-aWI4wusnfy8WAcvYa8lLtyUsKkkBR9j5ymVZtnM2_xVRIDJjrgRZThCzlsvbJXd6RGtH4t/s200/Aurelia.jpg" width="133" /></a><b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Exile is the companion novel to <i>Aurelia</i>.</b></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Read an excerpt from <i>Aurelia</i> <a href="http://anneosterlund.com/Prologue.htm">here</a>!</b></span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b>Buy <i>Aurelia</i>:</b> <a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/2-9780142405796-1">Powell's</a> | <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780142405796" style="color: #72179d;">IndieBound</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Aurelia-Anne-Osterlund/dp/0142405795/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1" style="color: #72179d;">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Aurelia/Anne-Osterlund/e/9780142405796/?itm=4">B&N</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b>Add it to your: </b> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2420340.Aurelia" style="color: #72179d;">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.shelfari.com/books/3974199/Aurelia" style="color: #72179d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #72179d;">Shelfari</span> </a>| <a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/5246935" style="color: #72179d;">LibraryThing</a></span></span></div></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjjA7cM30w0zhQyAaqnaZ6QH0Ya9xsrLkJt9YZHRIdq29TsMxh1HSG7qzsMBs2bwr1fdoBkimkluq7innpsAZOSwf0mCOdBGpuS63lR9zYtAT08yCJRq0_p0O25cpdlUhbH9tiwehThqc/s1600/New_WoW.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #72179d; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjjA7cM30w0zhQyAaqnaZ6QH0Ya9xsrLkJt9YZHRIdq29TsMxh1HSG7qzsMBs2bwr1fdoBkimkluq7innpsAZOSwf0mCOdBGpuS63lR9zYtAT08yCJRq0_p0O25cpdlUhbH9tiwehThqc/s1600/New_WoW.JPG" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" /></a></div>"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;">Breaking the Spine</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">. It </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-27861618856298217022011-03-29T12:41:00.000-07:002011-03-29T12:41:40.965-07:00Teaser Tuesday: Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins<div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>My teaser:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzs3AouwwQQbo6HdjD6zwrNaqVnA0prttBhsHxFwsOY8qTHXd-_u4nmuYaaw8w1PqX3mmyjFyse9lSbMdIWbXy7BtjbR3PDY0EDe4kvCCmqBqUqt9NtEFsaJluNg2pmNDMS3zlKFhl1iK/s1600/Demonglass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><b><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzs3AouwwQQbo6HdjD6zwrNaqVnA0prttBhsHxFwsOY8qTHXd-_u4nmuYaaw8w1PqX3mmyjFyse9lSbMdIWbXy7BtjbR3PDY0EDe4kvCCmqBqUqt9NtEFsaJluNg2pmNDMS3zlKFhl1iK/s200/Demonglass.jpg" width="136" /></b></a></div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktjIHh9mdARf7xxQUOmXanbkUyDBEZHPnucnky10SaU9_vWvV3WXY4LSvGDwrS5sk7oMYI75e_X-su-AflbQvneqTTKxtu9RURjrwKIp-AtRcOnrbCfabSGj3vc-Qjrov9VFb1zaxxswm/s1600/StarCrossed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #72179d; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>"The woman was Elizabeth, and with her soft gray hair and little round glasses, I thought she looked like someone's nana; but when I went to shake her hand, she yanked me to her and sniffed my hair. Great. Another werewolf."<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"></span></b></span></blockquote><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>- page 42 of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Demonglass-Hall-Novel-Rachel-Hawkins/dp/1423121317/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295365183&sr=8-1">Demonglass</a> </i>by <a href="http://readingwritingrachel.blogspot.com/">Rachel Hawkins</a></b></span></blockquote><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXHkVpWudUENjy2DJyR3Gihyphenhyphenz0ubhVwZlIocztJIUhGCQrwfiqLGzMSfFuboqLKD0cahvdwW4DAB-9Zq3ProT8hnh8nY1dRjsTrovqhfLQpI4ZP7TsDdlU0LoPMZaDxNy2WkjvljK35G0/s1600/teasertuesdays31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #72179d; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXHkVpWudUENjy2DJyR3Gihyphenhyphenz0ubhVwZlIocztJIUhGCQrwfiqLGzMSfFuboqLKD0cahvdwW4DAB-9Zq3ProT8hnh8nY1dRjsTrovqhfLQpI4ZP7TsDdlU0LoPMZaDxNy2WkjvljK35G0/s320/teasertuesdays31.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Teaser Tuesdays are hosted by MizB of </span></span><a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/" style="color: #245911; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Should Be Reading</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:</span></span></div></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><ul><li style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Grab your current read.</span></span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Open to a random page.</span></span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Share a few 'teaser' sentences from somewhere on that page.</span></span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Be careful not to include major spoilers.</span></span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Share the title and author, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser!</span></span></span></li>
</ul></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-11112539857475132122011-03-29T01:13:00.000-07:002011-03-29T01:18:42.271-07:00Book Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACIQ8qZUw87UEhcOZTgejsU_alH5hesWGpSTdE0wQJOxjGBgIMRAyFSwyhka0WMU55sWIzoyzumAuuzke96pZbgy76hkIE9xbaT7EJjLw3FfWqpMD9Rzl3Z2mS-P1a1Aon1OFURw8nudy/s1600/Across+the+Universe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACIQ8qZUw87UEhcOZTgejsU_alH5hesWGpSTdE0wQJOxjGBgIMRAyFSwyhka0WMU55sWIzoyzumAuuzke96pZbgy76hkIE9xbaT7EJjLw3FfWqpMD9Rzl3Z2mS-P1a1Aon1OFURw8nudy/s400/Across+the+Universe.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Title: Across the Universe</b></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Author:</b> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Beth Revis</span></span></span></span> </div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Publisher:</b> Razorbill</span></span></span> </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Genre:</b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">YA</span></span></span></span></span> / sci-fi / dystopian<br />
<div style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Hardcover:</b> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">398 pages</span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>ISBN: </b></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1595143971</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Summary from Goodreads:</span></span></span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br />
Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.<br />
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Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.<br />
<br />
Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlftjjaWocxB5hKAqihQH10WxPzUsCqftKh2tOx5_5tvDORTIvBcLuDPLRZ5ELI-vpkZqtWtwx5TUUnVaBiM6UmCgI1nxVd1jM-jh_FYDX5G49T3MqMSY-3gRMVkH0xwUQDmoieBjDb-DF/s1600-h/8-flower-rating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #72179d; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlftjjaWocxB5hKAqihQH10WxPzUsCqftKh2tOx5_5tvDORTIvBcLuDPLRZ5ELI-vpkZqtWtwx5TUUnVaBiM6UmCgI1nxVd1jM-jh_FYDX5G49T3MqMSY-3gRMVkH0xwUQDmoieBjDb-DF/s320/8-flower-rating.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" /></a></span></span></i></span></div></div><ul style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
<li><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"></span></span></i></b></i></b></i></b></span></span></i></b></span></span></span></i></b></i></b></i></b></span></span></i></b></span></i></li>
<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<li style="text-align: center;"><b>Overall rating: 8/10</b></li>
</span></span></i></b></i></b></i></b></span></span></i></b></span></span></span></i></b></i></b></i></b></span></span></i></b></span></i></span></span></span></ul><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><b>To buy this book: </b><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781595143976/beth-revis/across-universe">IndieBound</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9780141333663/Across-the-Universe">The Book Depository </a>| <a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9781595143976-2">Powell's</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Across-Universe-Beth-Revis/dp/1595143971/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1301385451&sr=1-1">Amazon</a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><b>Add this book to your:</b> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8235178-across-the-universe">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.shelfari.com/books/15326119/Across-the-Universe">Shelfari </a>| <a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/10129182">Library Thing </a>| <a href="http://apps.facebook.com/facebookshelf/books/200005259727-beth-revis-across-the-universe?ref=search-title">Visual Bookshelf</a></div><div></div><div><br />
Beth Revis' <i>Across the Universe</i> is the first book in an intriguing dystopian sci-fi trilogy. After spending two hundred fifty years cryogenically frozen on a spaceship bound for an uncharted planet, Amy is shocked when she is awakened fifty years before her parents are scheduled to be unfrozen. At first, the prospect of not seeing her parents until she is nearly seventy seems like the worst of her problems. But in addition to the nightmare of being trapped on a claustrophobic ship and the horror of discovering that many of the ship's inhabitants behave more like drones than humans, she soon learns that a killer is targeting the cryogenically frozen people and her parents may be among the next victims. From the largely homogeneous and eerily obedient crew members to the ship's dictatorial leader, Amy finds herself very short on allies. Thankfully, the young man who is next in line to lead the ship is intrigued by Amy, and he may be exactly the ally she needs to keep her parents alive and to figure out how the ship's population has gone in such a disturbing direction in the two hundred fifty years since it left Earth. But Elder grew up on the ship, and what seems horrifying to Amy has always been described as normal and necessary to him. Together they must unravel the truth and stop the killing before it is too late.<br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div><b>What I Liked:</b><br />
- This book is set on isolated ship hundreds of years away from Earth and some of its inhabitants have made difficult (and troubling) decisions regarding resource management, diversity, and personal freedom. I was impressed by how disturbing and claustrophobic the atmosphere on the ship feels.</div>- Half the chapters are from Amy's point of view and half are from Elder's point of view, which helped keep the tension high from start to finish. This book is essentially a dystopian novel set aboard a spaceship, so being introduced to the world from two different perspectives, that of a character who is an outsider and that of a character who has only ever known life aboard the ship, really helps set the stage for the story.<br />
- Elder's friend Harley, an artist who is considered an oddity because of his creativity, is one of the most compelling characters in the book. Elements of his situation reminded me of <i>One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest</i>, and his outlook as the story progressed brought to mind some interesting questions about what life could have been like if things had progressed differently on Godspeed. <br />
- My favorite sci-fi novels (as well as my favorite dystopian novels) tackle ethical and political issues that are relevant right here on present-day Earth. If the setting is well conceived and the story is compelling, great sci-fi and dystopian novels can encourage us to examine hot-button issues like genetic engineering and reproductive rights a bit more thoroughly. I liked that <i>Across the Universe</i> didn't shy away from pushing some of those concepts to disturbingly plausible extremes.<br />
- There are some very unlikeable individuals on Godspeed, but some of their motivations held shades of gray, and I like villains who are painted in shades of gray. They are much more frightening and believable.<br />
- There is plenty left to be explored in the next two books and the story is wide open for a million different possibilities, but this first book is also surprisingly conclusive. I look forward to seeing where the rest of the trilogy will go.<br />
<br />
<div></div><div><b>What I Liked Less:</b></div>- One of the primary mysteries in this story, the identity of the person unplugging the cryogenically frozen individuals, is too easy to deduce. Thankfully, that is not the only twist in the story, so there are other surprises and deceptions to keep readers on their toes.<br />
- While I liked that Elder and Amy's story is not of the whirlwind-romance variety, I was hoping to feel more chemistry between them. I respected and pitied them both, but I didn't really care whether their relationship ventured beyond friendship. Perhaps the second book will change my mind about that.<br />
- I found the plot and setting a bit more compelling than the protagonists. Amy and Elder both have to deal with some sad and traumatizing situations in this book, but I was more wrapped up in the plot than the characters, so I never found myself in tears.<br />
<br />
<div>I would recommend <i>Across the Universe</i> to fans of sci-fi and dystopian novels. The story moves along at a fast clip, with short chapters and quite a bit of life-and-death drama, so it may also be a good pick for reluctant readers. If you would like to learn more about <i>Across the Universe</i> or author Beth Revis, please visit her <a href="http://www.bethrevis.com/">website</a>, <a href="http://bethrevis.blogspot.com/">blog</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/authorbethrevis">facebook</a>, or <a href="http://twitter.com/bethrevis">twitter</a>. Or check out the <a href="http://acrosstheuniversebook.com/#!/book"><i>Across the Universe </i>website</a> where you can explore the ship and listen to an excerpt from the audiobook.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Read the first chapter of <i>Across the Universe</i> <a href="http://acrosstheuniversebook.com/assets/pdf/ATU_ch1.pdf">here</a>!</b></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vVEaYz4-LdE" title="YouTube video player" width="500"></iframe></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-11691916082441608362011-03-23T20:15:00.000-07:002011-03-23T20:17:28.768-07:00Book Review: Wildwing by Emily Whitman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MX9gDMyKjnAo38vO29iTh4-tZnHJM8SYuW2G7wNPshq6Vp1ZwnO-KpNrNyjE9EE4_GnFyiZasfjKbWgdwzp7l9AmRVmLYJsmmFSkpqx-ZW2s1hrX5CntQyCmabOBXzzyf9Z2iyJdLakA/s1600/Wildwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MX9gDMyKjnAo38vO29iTh4-tZnHJM8SYuW2G7wNPshq6Vp1ZwnO-KpNrNyjE9EE4_GnFyiZasfjKbWgdwzp7l9AmRVmLYJsmmFSkpqx-ZW2s1hrX5CntQyCmabOBXzzyf9Z2iyJdLakA/s400/Wildwing.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Title: Wildwing</b></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Author:</b> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Emily Whitman</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Publisher:</b> Greenwillow Books </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Genre:</b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">YA / fantasy</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Hardcover:</b> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">320 pages</span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>ISBN: </b></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">0061724521</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Summary from Goodreads:</span></span></span></span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When Addy is swept back in time, she couldn't be happier to leave her miser-able life behind. Now she's mistaken for Lady Matilda, the pampered ward of the king. If Addy can play her part, she'll have glorious gowns, jewels, and something she's always longed for—the respect and admiration of others. But then she meets Will, the falconer's son with sky blue eyes, who unsettles all her plans.<br />
<br />
From shipwrecks to castle dungeons, from betrothals to hidden conspiracies, Addy finds herself in a world where she's not the only one with a dangerous secret. When she discovers the truth, Addy must take matters into her own hands. The stakes? Her chance at true love . . . and the life she's meant to live.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></i></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjjJmyxwiC5nnc4kmUgfrQUqmUlO6eHYshheDxzY39KQOBryta5-2mBEIDnF63xoWNKcXPIet-thsPSVUtmjzyrXaZXmZ2kEfGwP8B26_qk3NJ3RLbX0j68In2LNEu3C8jcfyrvo8MPbK/s1600/7-flower-rating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjjJmyxwiC5nnc4kmUgfrQUqmUlO6eHYshheDxzY39KQOBryta5-2mBEIDnF63xoWNKcXPIet-thsPSVUtmjzyrXaZXmZ2kEfGwP8B26_qk3NJ3RLbX0j68In2LNEu3C8jcfyrvo8MPbK/s1600/7-flower-rating.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><b>Overall rating: 7/10</b><br />
<b>To buy this book: </b><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780061724527">IndieBound</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9780061724527/Wildwing">The Book Depository </a>| <a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780061724527-4">Powell's</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wildwing-Emily-Whitman/dp/0061724521/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1300588365&sr=1-1">Amazon</a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><b>Add this book to your: </b> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7554826-wildwing">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.shelfari.com/books/11719030/Wildwing">Shelfari </a>| <a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/9688823">Library Thing </a>| <a href="http://apps.facebook.com/facebookshelf/books/200004988865-emily-whitman-wildwing?ref=search-title">Visual Bookshelf</a><br />
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</div><div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Emily Whitman's <i>Wildwing</i> is a time-travel fantasy about a girl who leaves her life as a maid in the early 20th century for the life of a Lady in 13th century England. Born out of wedlock to a mother who is a hardworking, lower class seamstress, Addy has spent the first fifteen years of her life being harassed and taunted by her wealthier classmates who have made her life miserable. When she is withdrawn from school after getting into one too many fights with her classmates, she is mortified by the idea of spending the rest of her life as a maid. But her job as a maid turns out to be more pleasant than she expected, especially when she discovers a time machine in her employer's library. Suddenly she is whisked back to the 13th century where she is mistaken for a wealthy Lady. But her life as a Lady comes with certain obligations, and as she begins to fall in love with a handsome young falconer who is far below her station, she may realize that wealth doesn't always mean freedom.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What I Liked:</span></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- I liked that the time travel occurred between one non-modern time period and another. It is like two historical novels in one. :)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- You can feel the author's appreciation for the beauty and majesty of falcons in the way falconry is presented within the story, and that fascination and enthusiasm is contagious. The tethered freedom of the wild, untameable birds parallels Addy's longing for freedom quite nicely.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Addy is not always particularly likeable. But even when I disliked her behavior or disagreed with her choices, I sympathized with her and still found her believable as a self-absorbed fifteen year old who is enchanted by the wealth and respect she receives as Lady Matilda. There are plenty of opportunities for character growth throughout the novel, and Addy learns some valuable lessons as the story progresses.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Will and Addy's romantic moments are sensual and suggestive without being graphic or explicit.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- This story is a quick and absorbing read. I read the whole book aloud, and I was impressed by the pacing and the smooth, easy flow of the narrative.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- It is refreshing to read a YA novel that is not a part of a series. Sometimes it is nice not to have to wait a year or more to read the second half (or even the second third) of a story.</span><br />
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<div></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What I Wished:</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>- </b>I wanted the story to be less predictable.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- I tried not to be distracted by the lack of scientific explanation as far as the time travel is concerned because <i>Wildwing</i> feels much more like fantasy than sci-fi, but I still struggled to accept the way the time machine is used in the story.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">SPOILER WARNING!</span> Do not scroll over the following text if you want to avoid spoilers.) <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">I found it difficult to believe that in the fifteen years Mr. Greenwood spent mourning the loss of his son, he never once attempted to use the time machine to venture back to a date shortly before his son's disappearance. If he was that worried about the potential dangers of the modern wiring, then I am truly surprised he would let his only son (who he has just found after years of searching) hop in a machine that was constructed using only rustic medieval tools and components. And why wouldn't he return to the 20th century with Will? </span></span><br />
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<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I would recommend <i>Wildwing</i> to fans of light, engaging historical fantasy novels. If you would like to learn more about <i>Wildwing</i> or author Emily Whitman, please visit her <a href="http://www.emilywhitman.com/">website</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/emilywhitman">facebook</a>, or <a href="http://www.harpercollins.com/author/index.aspx?authorID=35031">Harper Collins author page</a>.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Read the first twelve chapters of <i>Wildwing</i> <a href="http://harpercollins.com/browseinside/index.aspx?isbn13=9780061724527">here</a>!</span></b></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ez1q5-h4JAQ" title="YouTube video player" width="500"></iframe></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-53695972510830875942011-03-18T23:55:00.000-07:002011-03-19T01:24:39.788-07:00Book Review: StarCrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlq_ox0Wr61wZRhF9ziwP7c4lDt6hlsbH5D2arJH9a5DwgqanKvchxe73fY35B7MreqmHCtc0yj9WBGYR1jWU-OThXjLRUozjAxE86wLfkV0vxh9rNBccfwzxG-cZsd5-rdh0Js4hmcAg/s1600/StarCrossed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlq_ox0Wr61wZRhF9ziwP7c4lDt6hlsbH5D2arJH9a5DwgqanKvchxe73fY35B7MreqmHCtc0yj9WBGYR1jWU-OThXjLRUozjAxE86wLfkV0vxh9rNBccfwzxG-cZsd5-rdh0Js4hmcAg/s400/StarCrossed.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Title: StarCrossed</b></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Author: </b><b style="font-weight: normal;"> </b>Elizabeth C. Bunce</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b></b></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Publisher:</b> Arthur A. Levine</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Genre:</b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">YA / fantasy</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Hardcover:</b> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">359 pages</span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>ISBN: </b></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">0545136059</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Summary from Goodreads:</span></span></span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Digger thrives as a spy and sneak-thief among the feuding religious factions of Gerse, dodging the Greenmen who have banned all magic. But when a routine job goes horribly wrong and her partner and lover Tegen is killed, she has to get out of the city, fast, and hides herself in a merry group of nobles to do so. Accepted as a lady's maid to shy young Merista Nemair, Digger finds new peace and friendship at the Nemair stronghold--as well as plenty of jewels for the taking. But after the devious Lord Daul catches her in the act of thievery, he blackmails her into becoming his personal spy in the castle, and Digger soon realizes that her noble hosts aren't as apolitical as she thought... that indeed, she may be at the heart of a magical rebellion.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PXqwKCEnoU1Dk2H1cnfOjPEw12ACpP844cnssnnsfnUCOUOM_GFiDxCmHu8yQI5bBojKXlO4skKEIea_fSbZfsZc8KPPanDvju_Qw-1S9YxXXnx_h4ENRs_pHcfKcnsETsXgyn_WRUhJ/s1600/7-flower-rating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PXqwKCEnoU1Dk2H1cnfOjPEw12ACpP844cnssnnsfnUCOUOM_GFiDxCmHu8yQI5bBojKXlO4skKEIea_fSbZfsZc8KPPanDvju_Qw-1S9YxXXnx_h4ENRs_pHcfKcnsETsXgyn_WRUhJ/s1600/7-flower-rating.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Overall rating: 7/10</span></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<ul style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: small;">
<li style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"></span></span></i></b></i></b></i></b></span></span></i></b></span></span></span></i></b></i></b></i></b></span></span></i></b></span></i></li>
<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
<li style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"></span></span></i></b></i></b></i></b></span></span></i></b></span></span></span></i></b></i></b></i></b></span></span></i></b></span></i></span></li>
<li style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Buy <i>StarCrossed</i>: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780545136051" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;">IndieBound</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9780545136051/Starcrossed" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;">The Book Depository</a><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9781606840832/Shadow-Hills" style="color: #245911; text-decoration: none;"> </a>| <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545136059/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1TQ2G7TTVPZ1KYB7XV7E&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/2-9780545136051-1">Powell's</a> </span></b></span></span></b></span></div></li>
</span></span></i></b></i></b></i></b></span></i></b></span></span></span></i></b></i></b></i></b></span></i></b></span></i></span></span></ul><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-weight: normal;"><b>Add this book to your:</b> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7877549-starcrossed" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;">Goodreads</a> |<a href="http://www.shelfari.com/books/14651079/StarCrossed" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;">Shelfari</a> | <a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/9712527" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;">Library Thing</a> | <a href="http://apps.facebook.com/facebookshelf/books/200004628029-elizabeth-c-bunce-starcrossed" style="color: #245911; text-decoration: underline;">Visual Bookshelf</a></span></b></span></b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Elizabeth C. Bunce's <i>StarCrossed</i> is an intrigue-rich historical fantasy about Digger, a talented thief who finds herself running for her life after a job goes terribly wrong. She is desperate to escape the streets of Gerse and must assume a false identity in order to evade the dangerous Greenmen. In a world filled with political tension, religious persecution, and forbidden magic, will Digger be safe posing as a lady's maid among the nobles of Bryn Shaer, far away from the treacherous streets of Gerse? Or will she become entangled in another deadly dance of secrets and lies?</span><br />
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</span></div><div></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What I Liked:</span></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Digger is a very capable heroine. She is a skilled thief, spy, and counterfeit artist. I admired her fearlessness and self-confidence.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Many of the inhabitants of Bryn Shaer are more intriguing than they appear at first glance. I particularly enjoyed getting to know the formidable Lady Lyll and her wounded patient.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- I enjoyed Digger's clever, survivalist personality, but it was also lovely to see her begin to open herself up to friendship over the course of the book.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- The historical aspects of the setting, from the clothing to the weapons to the architecture, are all described in beautiful detail and give Llvraneth a believable magical-Renaissance atmosphere.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- There are a number of plot twists in this book, and two of the larger ones took me totally by surprise. Fun!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- I liked the unique type of magic the Sarists practice, which involves finding, gathering, and shaping. It has an organic and cooperative feel.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Several personal and political conflicts are revealed in <i>StarCrossed</i>, and many of the characters and conflicts seem poised to reappear in the second book, <i>Liar's Moon</i>. I look forward to seeing where the story goes next.</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What I Wished:</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- I wanted the story to unfold more quickly and with more consistent tension. After the initial excitement surrounding Digger's escape from Gerse, the tension lags a bit until her position at Bryn Shaer is put into jeopardy about a third of the way into the book. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Merista and Wierolf are central to two of the most interesting parts of the story (the unique magic system and the looming civil war), but I didn't feel like either of them received enough page-time since the story is told from Digger's point of view and the supporting characters are not always central to her daily activities.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- I wanted more romance, even if it was only in Digger's memories of Tegen.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- A few parts of the story seem slightly too convenient, like secretive nobles who seem surprisingly open to confessing key details to Digger.</span><br />
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<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>StarCrossed </i>is an intrigue-filled historical fantasy with a bold heroine. Fans of Tamora Pierce, Leah Cypess, Shannon Hale, or Kristin Cashore will enjoy the world-building and the gutsy protagonist. If you would like to learn more about <i>StarCrossed</i> or Elizabeth C. Bunce's other books, please visit her <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.elizabethcbunce.com/elizabethcbunce/Home.html" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;">website</a>,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://elizabethcbunce.livejournal.com/" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;">blog</a>, or</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000241050990&v=info&ref=ts" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;">facebook</a>.</span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Read the first chapter of StarCrossed <a href="http://www.elizabethcbunce.com/StarCrossed-chp%201.pdf">here</a>!</span></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/y9L4uH3f0b8" title="YouTube video player" width="500"></iframe></span></span></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-14528582303296691932011-03-16T00:02:00.000-07:002011-03-16T00:05:01.069-07:00"Waiting On" Wednesday: Lola and the Boy Next Door<div class="post-body entry-content" style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9961796-lola-and-the-boy-next-door"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqbm0pJJDQEr6_0xqrF8WUDAp6rEwTmGczlaVkhFtvuzMpp0qYLf7Ontu2kIdJBMFsYix_buSVW5Lp3VnmbABxA6pLXrcsa-CemaKK2OkKvt7Oqs2w4m1ucPnm0gCJ9FhURKsoj2ueCNa/s400/Lola.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></div><b>Title:</b> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lola-Next-Door-Stephanie-Perkins/dp/0525423281/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1300255504&sr=1-1"><i>Lola and the Boy Next Door</i></a><br />
<b>Author: </b>Stephanie Perkins<br />
<b>Publication date: </b>September 29, 2011<br />
<b>Stephanie Perkins':</b> <a href="http://www.stephanieperkins.com/">website</a> | <a href="http://naturalartificial.blogspot.com/">blog</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/naturallysteph">twitter</a><br />
<a href="http://twitter.com/#!/naturallysteph"></a><b>Pre-order it<i>:</i></b> <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Lola-and-the-Boy-Next-Door/Stephanie-Perkins/e/9780525423287/?itm=1&USRI=lola+and+the+boy+next+door">B & N</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lola-Next-Door-Stephanie-Perkins/dp/0525423281/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1300255504&sr=1-1">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9780525423287/Lola-and-the-Boy-Next-Door">The Book Depository</a><br />
<b>Add it to your: </b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9961796-lola-and-the-boy-next-door">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.shelfari.com/books/17869721/Lola-and-the-Boy-Next-Door">Shelfari </a>| <a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/10613075">LibraryThing</a></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/10613087" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;"></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><b>Summary</b><b>:</b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For budding costume designer Lola Nolan, the more outrageous, the outfit—more sparkly, more fun, more wild—the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins move back into the house next door. <br />
<br />
When the family returns and Cricket—a gifted inventor and engineer—steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjjA7cM30w0zhQyAaqnaZ6QH0Ya9xsrLkJt9YZHRIdq29TsMxh1HSG7qzsMBs2bwr1fdoBkimkluq7innpsAZOSwf0mCOdBGpuS63lR9zYtAT08yCJRq0_p0O25cpdlUhbH9tiwehThqc/s1600/New_WoW.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #72179d; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjjA7cM30w0zhQyAaqnaZ6QH0Ya9xsrLkJt9YZHRIdq29TsMxh1HSG7qzsMBs2bwr1fdoBkimkluq7innpsAZOSwf0mCOdBGpuS63lR9zYtAT08yCJRq0_p0O25cpdlUhbH9tiwehThqc/s1600/New_WoW.JPG" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" /></a></div>"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;">Breaking the Spine</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">. It </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="post-footer" style="color: #11593c; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; font: normal normal normal 78%/normal 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.1em; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.75em; text-transform: uppercase;"></div><div style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="color: #11593c; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; font: normal normal normal 78%/normal 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.1em; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.75em; text-transform: uppercase;"></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-14762419452626006502011-03-09T11:37:00.000-08:002011-03-11T01:03:14.209-08:00"Waiting On" Wednesday: The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Day-Before-Lisa-Schroeder/dp/1442417439/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299698323&sr=1-1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKRpcOLe5GPCF9h5VYXrrvHKkA8c5rXFByqHg_udFbj96DlQkjmItcDcy2JGRD2VU5riQl_GENceFhSO5UJ_3AqFAyQ4LqsZGEfUUkb_AYJWKK2yj0E_CnjwxuHMppnFJdeSeJiQEfrkD/s400/The+Day+Before.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b>Title:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8922087-the-day-before">The Day Before</a></span></span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Author:</b> Lisa Schroeder</span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Publication date:</b> June 28, 2011</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b>Lisa Schroeder's: </b> <a href="http://www.lisaschroederbooks.com/">website</a> | <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #72179d;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-Schroeder/163990816952306?ref=ts">facebook</a> </span>| <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/lisa_schroeder">twitter</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b>Pre-order <i>The Day Before</i>:</b> <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781442417434" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;">IndieBound</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Day-Before-Lisa-Schroeder/dp/1442417439/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299698323&sr=1-1" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=1442417439" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;">Borders</a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b>Add <i>The Day Before</i> to your: </b> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8922087-the-day-before" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.shelfari.com/books/17658697/The-Day-Before" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #72179d;">Shelfari</span> </a>| <a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/10609116" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;">LibraryThing</a></span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/10613087" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;"></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><b>Summary</b><b>:</b></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sometimes there's no turning back. <br />
<br />
Amber's life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of her family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself. <br />
<br />
Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell that he's also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets. <br />
<br />
The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she's drawn to him. And the more she's troubled by his darkness. Because Cade's not just living in the now--he's living each moment like it's his las</span>t.</div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjjA7cM30w0zhQyAaqnaZ6QH0Ya9xsrLkJt9YZHRIdq29TsMxh1HSG7qzsMBs2bwr1fdoBkimkluq7innpsAZOSwf0mCOdBGpuS63lR9zYtAT08yCJRq0_p0O25cpdlUhbH9tiwehThqc/s1600/New_WoW.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #72179d; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjjA7cM30w0zhQyAaqnaZ6QH0Ya9xsrLkJt9YZHRIdq29TsMxh1HSG7qzsMBs2bwr1fdoBkimkluq7innpsAZOSwf0mCOdBGpuS63lR9zYtAT08yCJRq0_p0O25cpdlUhbH9tiwehThqc/s1600/New_WoW.JPG" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;">Breaking the Spine</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">. It </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span></div><div class="post-footer" style="color: #11593c; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; font: normal normal normal 78%/normal 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.1em; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.75em; text-transform: uppercase;"></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-17526931404565590302011-03-09T10:58:00.000-08:002011-03-09T10:58:06.579-08:00Book Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigh5n5Fv7Jd0BIcCRPOxF5Mw3ReMRWWiYIy83RPABx5QGWq8WDTRht3VnQkM76LNtnwGnmfiMuuJ13xN-P4jr8_m28qOzh7tniQtmV952RjgcFPOauLEXOW_UQge5AuNItynnZKGvMmQbT/s1600/Anna+and+the+French+Kiss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigh5n5Fv7Jd0BIcCRPOxF5Mw3ReMRWWiYIy83RPABx5QGWq8WDTRht3VnQkM76LNtnwGnmfiMuuJ13xN-P4jr8_m28qOzh7tniQtmV952RjgcFPOauLEXOW_UQge5AuNItynnZKGvMmQbT/s400/Anna+and+the+French+Kiss.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Title: Anna and the French Kiss</b></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Author:</b> Stephanie Perkins</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Publisher:</b> Dutton </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Genre:</b> Contemporary YA</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Hardcover:</b> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">372 pages</span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>ISBN: </b></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">0525423273</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Summary from Goodreads:</span></span></span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris—until she meets Étienne St. Claire: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.<br />
<br />
As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near-misses end with the French kiss Anna—and readers—have long awaited?</span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></i></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcq85yjNLuzq8yg5fiekBBd1yIhv71XZOJOC2mISFE2poLsjH1qHdj99FwmJKujyJqw0XPucT94g_yWaMFParciZOa6KvLHXXYQNhCQS46YUySFVKe3M7q58UZu_0tlcNRk5kpT_257XK/s1600/9-flower-rating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="35" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcq85yjNLuzq8yg5fiekBBd1yIhv71XZOJOC2mISFE2poLsjH1qHdj99FwmJKujyJqw0XPucT94g_yWaMFParciZOa6KvLHXXYQNhCQS46YUySFVKe3M7q58UZu_0tlcNRk5kpT_257XK/s320/9-flower-rating.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><ul style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
<li><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"></span></span></i></b></i></b></i></b></span></span></i></b></span></span></span></i></b></i></b></i></b></span></span></i></b></span></i></li>
<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<li style="text-align: center;"><b>Overall rating: 9/10</b></li>
</span></span></i></b></i></b></i></b></span></span></i></b></span></span></span></i></b></i></b></i></b></span></span></i></b></span></i></span></span></span></ul><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><b>To buy this book: </b><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780525423270">IndieBound</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9780525423270/Anna-and-the-French-Kiss">The Book Depository </a>| <a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780525423270-1">Powell's</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Anna-French-Kiss-Stephanie-Perkins/dp/0525423273/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299694586&sr=8-1">Amazon</a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><b>Add this book to your:</b> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6936382-anna-and-the-french-kiss">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.shelfari.com/books/14399048/Anna-and-the-French-Kiss">Shelfari </a>| <a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/9527855">Library Thing </a>| <a href="http://apps.facebook.com/facebookshelf/books/200004951959-stephanie-perkins-anna-and-the-french-kiss?ref=search-title">Visual Bookshelf</a><br />
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</div><div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Stephanie Perkins' <i>Anna and the French Kiss</i> is blissfully romantic, sweet, and funny! I loved so much about this book, but before I start raving about its excellence, I must make a quick confession. It took me <u>way</u> too long to get around to reading <i>Anna and the French Kiss</i>, and I took my time in picking it up for the silliest reason ever. I had heard so much positive buzz about it that I was afraid it could not possibly live up to the hype. Kids, don't be like me. Don't let glowing reviews scare you away from amazing books. And if you don't own it already, don't wait another second before buying <i>Anna and the French Kiss</i>! It is made of awesome and exceeded all of my expectations. Also, it is under $10 at <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9780525423270/Anna-and-the-French-Kiss">The Book Depository</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Anna-French-Kiss-Stephanie-Perkins/dp/0525423273/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299694586&sr=8-1">Amazon</a> right now. Just FYI. ;-)</span><br />
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</span></div><div></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What I Liked:</span></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Um... all of the words on all of the pages. Okay, I'll try to be slightly more specific...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- I loved that the characters feel genuine. Anna and her classmates (and former classmates and former co-workers) all have flaws and realistically complex relationships and personalities. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Every character has a distinct voice. Meredith doesn't interact with Rashmi in the same way that she interacts with St. Clair. And St. Clair doesn't talk to Anna the same way he talks to Josh. If you covered up the names associated with any line of dialogue on any page, I bet you could still tell exactly who said what to whom just by their distinct ways of interacting with one another. I adore that.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- This story is totally in harmony with its setting. Some books have vividly drawn atmospheres, allowing readers to thoroughly immerse themselves in the sights, smells, and flavors of a particular location and time period. Other books have richly imagined characters that pop off the pages and make readers laugh and cry along with them. This book has both.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- The pacing is perfect, so Anna and the reader fall in love with Étienne and Paris simultaneously.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Anna is such a dynamic character. She grows and changes and learns from her mistakes and keeps moving forward right to the very last page. Her perspective on virtually everything in her life shifts over the course of the year, but she isn't simply redefined by the person (or the place) she falls in love with. She is still very much herself by the end of the book, just a wiser, more independent, more confident, and perhaps more forgiving version of herself. I found her likable from start to finish, and I think she is proof that protagonists don't have to be generically good or utterly bland and static to feel like an 'every-girl' character to whom we can all relate.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- This book is filled with tension, and not just romantic tension. From friendships, to familial relationships, to romantic entanglements, every relationship in this book captures realistic tension and conflict. Even her relationship with Paris itself is rich with tension and conflict. Anna deals with jealousy, frustration, fear, and longing while navigating the streets of Paris <u>and</u> while navigating her increasingly complicated relationships with her old friends, new friends, family, and potential boyfriends. I loved that she doesn't always make the easiest choices or the kindest choices, but she always makes believable choices. I enjoyed following every step of Anna's journey from the moments of frustrated anger to the moments of impressive clarity.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">É</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">tienne St. Clair ... what can I say about that boy? He is a charming and witty history buff who loves his mother. And his sexiness doesn't depend solely upon his more obvious charms like his British accent or his perfect hair, it is in his crooked bottom teeth, his shorter-than-average stature, his tidy room full of books, the way he bites his nails, and his willingness to wear the unfashionable stocking cap that his mum knitted despite his friends' objections. It is also in Point Zero, in his enthusiastic support of Anna's passion for films, in the way he is there for her when she needs encouragement or distraction, and in the way his eyes light up when she says his name. I can't say for certain when he won my undying allegiance, but it may have been the moment he first said "Fo' shiz" and made me burst into laughter in the middle of a quiet room.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- I am such a sucker for best friend romances, and this particular story has so many heart-racing flirtatious moments and so many emotionally intimate moments that it feels like watching two people fall in love in deliciously torturous slow-motion. It is beautiful, sweet, flutter-inducing, heart-breaking, nerve-wracking... and did I mention <i>romantic</i>? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- The plot element that I worried could stand in the way of my being able to fully adore this book, the fact that the boy Anna loves is in a serious relationship with someone else, was handled so honestly (and so painfully) that it did not stop me from loving Étienne or from relating to Anna.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- I loved that the end of this book is conclusive without feeling like the end of Anna's story. Instead, it feels like a wonderful beginning.</span><br />
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<div></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What I Wished:</span></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- I wished that Stephanie Perkins had already written ten more books because <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lola-Next-Door-Stephanie-Perkins/dp/0525423281/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1292835978&sr=1-1">Lola and the Boy Next Door</a></i> (9/29/11) and <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9627755-isla-and-the-happily-ever-after">Isla and the Happily Ever After</a></i> (Fall 2012) seem too far away.</span><br />
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<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Anna and the French Kiss</i> is a sweet, funny, and romantic story about friendship, growing up, and falling in love. If you are a fan of contemporary romance or sweet coming of age stories, then you will want to check out <i>Anna and the French Kiss</i>. If you would like to learn more about <i>Anna and the French Kiss</i> or Stephanie Perkins' upcoming companion novels, please visit her <a href="http://www.stephanieperkins.com/">website</a>, <a href="http://naturalartificial.blogspot.com/">blog</a>, or <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/naturallysteph">twitter</a>.</span></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-44939959458746785282011-03-08T17:45:00.000-08:002011-03-08T17:46:29.604-08:00Teaser Tuesday: StarCrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce<div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">My teaser:</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktjIHh9mdARf7xxQUOmXanbkUyDBEZHPnucnky10SaU9_vWvV3WXY4LSvGDwrS5sk7oMYI75e_X-su-AflbQvneqTTKxtu9RURjrwKIp-AtRcOnrbCfabSGj3vc-Qjrov9VFb1zaxxswm/s1600/StarCrossed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktjIHh9mdARf7xxQUOmXanbkUyDBEZHPnucnky10SaU9_vWvV3WXY4LSvGDwrS5sk7oMYI75e_X-su-AflbQvneqTTKxtu9RURjrwKIp-AtRcOnrbCfabSGj3vc-Qjrov9VFb1zaxxswm/s200/StarCrossed.jpg" width="132" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"For a moment I was distracted. Books always did that to me, almost more than a locked jewelry chest or a fat purse dangling from a fat nob. I liked the creamy pages, the smell of ink, all the secrets locked inside."<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></blockquote><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">- page 111 of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/StarCrossed-Elizabeth-C-Bunce/dp/0545136059/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1299634369&sr=8-2">StarCrossed</a> </i>by <a href="http://www.elizabethcbunce.com/starcrossed.html">Elizabeth C. Bunce</a></span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Read the first chapter of <i>StarCrossed</i> <a href="http://www.elizabethcbunce.com/StarCrossed-chp%201.pdf">here</a>.</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXHkVpWudUENjy2DJyR3Gihyphenhyphenz0ubhVwZlIocztJIUhGCQrwfiqLGzMSfFuboqLKD0cahvdwW4DAB-9Zq3ProT8hnh8nY1dRjsTrovqhfLQpI4ZP7TsDdlU0LoPMZaDxNy2WkjvljK35G0/s1600/teasertuesdays31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #72179d; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXHkVpWudUENjy2DJyR3Gihyphenhyphenz0ubhVwZlIocztJIUhGCQrwfiqLGzMSfFuboqLKD0cahvdwW4DAB-9Zq3ProT8hnh8nY1dRjsTrovqhfLQpI4ZP7TsDdlU0LoPMZaDxNy2WkjvljK35G0/s320/teasertuesdays31.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Teaser Tuesdays are hosted by MizB of </span></span><a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/" style="color: #245911; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Should Be Reading</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:</span></span></div></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><ul><li style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Grab your current read.</span></span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Open to a random page.</span></span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Share a few 'teaser' sentences from somewhere on that page.</span></span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Be careful not to include major spoilers.</span></span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Share the title and author, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser!</span></span></span></li>
</ul></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-89519030910229257392011-03-07T23:47:00.000-08:002011-03-08T00:29:48.803-08:00Book Giveaway!! Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHmoZXqqkkdljkpXhq1SEiMKFG5Ji1WGIsERIvxoSyRAMkTKRGJnxfnoavM45rjOJi6zLnURH2-1IxP318jMHrLUkC280Awg96VA-hA6Voi4h54dKQp3drJaJV0Z3rs4u08VPSs0an3Kp/s1600/Desires-of-the-Dead-contest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHmoZXqqkkdljkpXhq1SEiMKFG5Ji1WGIsERIvxoSyRAMkTKRGJnxfnoavM45rjOJi6zLnURH2-1IxP318jMHrLUkC280Awg96VA-hA6Voi4h54dKQp3drJaJV0Z3rs4u08VPSs0an3Kp/s400/Desires-of-the-Dead-contest.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b>A signed copy of Kimberly Derting's <i>Desires of the Dead</i> + signed swag!</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Kimberly Derting's <i>Body Finder</i> books have become favorites in our house, so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to attend one of Kimberly's recent booksigning events! You can read my full event report <a href="http://theeagerreaders.blogspot.com/2011/03/awesome-book-event-kimberly-derting.html">here</a>. If you haven't read <i>The Body Finder</i> or <i>Desires of the Dead</i> yet, I highly recommend both books! If you happen to have an ereader, HarperCollins is currently offering <i>The Body Finder</i> (with bonus material) for just $1.99 at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Finder-Price-Bonus-Material-ebook/dp/B004LLIHYU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1299571177&sr=8-3">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Body-Finder-Low-Price-with-Bonus-Material/Kimberly-Derting/e/9780062089014/?itm=1&USRI=the+body+finder">Barnes & Noble</a>, and <a href="http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=0062089013">Borders</a>, so it is an awesome time to give this fantastic series a try if you haven't already. I'm excited to be able to share some fabulous signed <i>Desires of the Dead</i> goodies with our readers!</span><br />
<div><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></b></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>Desires of the Dead</b></i><b> summary:</b><br />
<i> The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.<br />
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Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.<br />
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As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Read an excerpt from Desires of the Dead <a href="http://kimberlyderting.com/desires-of-the-dead.pdf">here</a>!</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/x3CqvvPzSXs" title="YouTube video player" width="500"></iframe></span><br />
<div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Contest Details:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Prize #1 (US only - one winner): <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">A signed hardcover copy of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Desires of the Dead</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> by Kimberly Derting</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Prize #2 (US only - one winner): </b>A signed <i>Desires of the Dead</i> poster and bookmark</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Prize #3 (US & International - four winners): </b>A signed <i>Desires of the Dead</i> bookmark</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The deadline: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> March 31st at 11:59 pm (PST)</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How to Enter:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fill out the form below.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Extra Entries:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">+1 for every place you help spread the word about this contest - twitter, blog, sidebar, etc. (Up to +3)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="700" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://spreadsheets.google.com/embeddedform?formkey=dGlfdmVDcFg3anpmOW5jOFJlZkljc2c6MQ" width="500">&lt;p&gt;Loading...&lt;/p&gt;</iframe></span></div></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-81820071223276098142011-03-07T15:55:00.000-08:002011-03-08T00:53:28.753-08:00Awesome Book Event!! Kimberly Derting!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-8TdPamJzKTx3Ont1vRRIiIaLSYhnnLGe58GnMcEoOTLvrM2OVs1CPBmPEvEzOkv2OR4RW60Q61eg0csTCPme47rsg9fJw2TYIWk5eWEPYorMbhTYzyOc4ZL4hCJDapBbHLMocRgiaKH/s1600/Kimberley+Derting+signing+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-8TdPamJzKTx3Ont1vRRIiIaLSYhnnLGe58GnMcEoOTLvrM2OVs1CPBmPEvEzOkv2OR4RW60Q61eg0csTCPme47rsg9fJw2TYIWk5eWEPYorMbhTYzyOc4ZL4hCJDapBbHLMocRgiaKH/s400/Kimberley+Derting+signing+017.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="276" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Kimberly Derting, author of <i>The Body Finder</i> and <i>Desires of the Dead</i></b></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yesterday I attended a Powell's book signing event featuring the lovely Kimberly Derting! It was fantastic to see her again and to hear more about her upcoming projects. She read an excerpt from <i>Desires of the Dead</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, answered several questions from the audience, talked about her upcoming fantasy-dystopian novel <i>The Pledge</i>, and signed lots of books! If you would like to win a signed copy of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Desires of the Dead</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, be sure to check out our giveaway post <b><a href="http://theeagerreaders.blogspot.com/2011/03/book-giveaway-desires-of-dead-by.html">here</a></b>. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> :-)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">For a video recap of the event, check out <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/TheEagerReaders#p/u/6/lt4GoT93vBQ">TheEagerReaders YouTube Channel</a>:</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><object style="height: 390px; width: 500px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lt4GoT93vBQ?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lt4GoT93vBQ?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="500" height="390"></object></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/TheEagerReaders#p/u/10/ngC8dP7k9vk">Part 1</a> - Kimberly discusses a creepy scene in the third <i>Body Finder</i> book.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/TheEagerReaders#p/u/9/8nlffMHefmU">Part 2</a> - Kimberly talks about the cover art for the <i>Body Finder</i> books.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/TheEagerReaders#p/u/8/08LDwrfzD5Y">Part 3 </a>- Kimberly describes <i>The Pledge</i>, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;">her upcoming fantasy-dystopian novel</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;"> (Release date: 11/15/11)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/TheEagerReaders#p/u/7/Ny1dW4QXe5o">Part 4</a> - Kimberly discusses one of the challenges of working on two books at once.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Candace of <a href="http://www.candacesbookblog.com/">Candace's Book Blog</a> also recorded several videos, and you can check them out <a href="http://www.candacesbookblog.com/2011/03/book-signing-kimberly-dertings-signing.html">here</a>. It was tons of fun visiting with Candace and her sister-in-law, and it was also awesome to see </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;">Sara from</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://novelnovice.com/">Novel Novice</a>, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;">Inara Scott (author of the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;"><i> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Candidates-Delcroix-Academy-Book/dp/1423116364/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299536714&sr=1-1">Delacroix Academy</a></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;">series), and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;">Suzanne Young (author of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Need-So-Beautiful-Suzanne-Young/dp/0062008242/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299536740&sr=1-1">A Need So Beautiful</a></i> and <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Naughty-List-Suzanne-Young/dp/1595142789/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299536774&sr=1-1">The Naughty List</a></i> trilogy). Suzanne is completely responsible for my crazy lack of sleep last night because I simply could not put <i>A Need So Beautiful </i>down until I reached the final page! I absolutely loved it! (<i>Thank you, Suzanne!</i>)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">The other huge highlight of the day was having the chance to visit with Kimberly before her Q & A session. We talked about her upcoming appearance at the <a href="http://www.rtconvention.com/profile.php?pid=5811">RT Booklovers Convention</a> in LA, and she also shared a bit of news that surprised me in the best way ever. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;">When I first met Kimberly last April at an <a href="http://theeagerreaders.blogspot.com/2010/04/awesome-book-event-kimberly-derting.html">event for <i>The Body Finder</i></a>, she mentioned that she loved my name (not my online nickname, Violet, but my actual name, Avonlea) and wanted to steal it to use in one of her books. It turns out that she was totally serious, and there will be a character in <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10462550">The Pledge</a></i> with my name. *insert giddy fangirl squee here* How cool is that?! In related news, I'm going to need to pick up a bazillion copies of <i>The Pledge</i>, and we will definitely be giving away a copy here on The Eager Readers. Is it November yet? ;-)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;">If you would like to learn more about </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><i>The Body Finder </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;">series or </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><i>The Pledge</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;">, please check out Kimberly Derting's </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://kimberlyderting.com/">website</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;">, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://kimberlyderting.blogspot.com/">blog</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;">, or </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://twitter.com/kimberlyderting">twitter</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;">.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8iUJYNea9cPLayEbAEp3Ffp_ctKuPVcvZaHhwxD_ElGbRoNpE4EK0ysz4j7-PQQsYGsX6ZsfmKf4uK0kTt_R4e8gyzp6drWvx-RjvvI34mrlDM9QuEfHWQo7azCd6zLwxRPFEpG9Dt8J/s1600/Desires+of+the+Dead.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8iUJYNea9cPLayEbAEp3Ffp_ctKuPVcvZaHhwxD_ElGbRoNpE4EK0ysz4j7-PQQsYGsX6ZsfmKf4uK0kTt_R4e8gyzp6drWvx-RjvvI34mrlDM9QuEfHWQo7azCd6zLwxRPFEpG9Dt8J/s320/Desires+of+the+Dead.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></div><ul style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"></span></span></i></b></i></b></i></b></span></span></i></b></span></span></span></i></b></i></b></i></b></span></span></i></b></span></i></span></span></span></ul><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Buy <i>Desires of the Dead</i>: </b><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780061779848">IndieBound</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9780061779848/Desires-of-the-Dead">The Book Depository </a>| <a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780061779848-1">Powell's</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Desires-Dead-Finder-Kimberly-Derting/dp/0061779849/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299533488&sr=1-1">Amazon</a></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Add this book to your:</b> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7827221-desires-of-the-deady">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.shelfari.com/books/17469276/Desires-of-The-Dead">Shelfari </a>| <a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/10110676">Library Thing </a>| <a href="http://apps.facebook.com/facebookshelf/books/200005111542-kimberly-derting-desires-of-the-dead?ref=search-title">Visual Bookshelf</a></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYkxGBc-NYgUWmnBcFkAHWrXj8mO7hCk01ufyzOUNLdmNB1vu3ZVpGyQFouM2JOw5M5s2mGMU0ZBPYtbHYK9PXwXHSDhGUVymqRRj5coQvC9QySbgo3P0zeDUxMm190MsBX7NXTv7MkEE/s1600/The+Pledge.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYkxGBc-NYgUWmnBcFkAHWrXj8mO7hCk01ufyzOUNLdmNB1vu3ZVpGyQFouM2JOw5M5s2mGMU0ZBPYtbHYK9PXwXHSDhGUVymqRRj5coQvC9QySbgo3P0zeDUxMm190MsBX7NXTv7MkEE/s320/The+Pledge.jpeg" width="211" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Pre-order <i>The Pledge</i> (11/15/11): </b> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pledge-Kimberly-Derting/dp/1442422017/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299535054&sr=1-7">Amazon</a> </span></div></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Add this book to your:</b> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10462550">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.shelfari.com/books/21914753/The-Pledge">Shelfari </a>| <a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/11020780">Library Thing </a></span></div></div></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-17009140520467650402011-03-06T06:40:00.000-08:002011-03-09T15:45:06.235-08:00Book Review: Nevermore by Kelly Creagh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExXdoHGfcJMmOmZuFGMLl5OSV80Ffd9dVDxqYuybPXPGFvOi_ZOPMZqGTdzUQUAC2Mj7dvjkaVqsAR-x_sBmOCrN-G7z4cXU59gzfqc_vVnFdSyezJDDiHVsJFXEJr44yhugiWl7WRnDt/s1600/Nevermore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExXdoHGfcJMmOmZuFGMLl5OSV80Ffd9dVDxqYuybPXPGFvOi_ZOPMZqGTdzUQUAC2Mj7dvjkaVqsAR-x_sBmOCrN-G7z4cXU59gzfqc_vVnFdSyezJDDiHVsJFXEJr44yhugiWl7WRnDt/s400/Nevermore.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Title: Nevermore</b></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Author:</b> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Kelly Creagh</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Publisher:</b> Atheneum</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Genre:</b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">YA/paranormal</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Hardcover:</b> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">543 pages</span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>ISBN:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1442402008</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Goodreads Summary:</span></span></span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game.<br />
<br />
Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.<br />
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Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.<br />
<br />
As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind.<br />
<br />
Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.<br />
<br />
His life depends on it.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlftjjaWocxB5hKAqihQH10WxPzUsCqftKh2tOx5_5tvDORTIvBcLuDPLRZ5ELI-vpkZqtWtwx5TUUnVaBiM6UmCgI1nxVd1jM-jh_FYDX5G49T3MqMSY-3gRMVkH0xwUQDmoieBjDb-DF/s1600-h/8-flower-rating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #72179d; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlftjjaWocxB5hKAqihQH10WxPzUsCqftKh2tOx5_5tvDORTIvBcLuDPLRZ5ELI-vpkZqtWtwx5TUUnVaBiM6UmCgI1nxVd1jM-jh_FYDX5G49T3MqMSY-3gRMVkH0xwUQDmoieBjDb-DF/s320/8-flower-rating.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" /></a></span></span></i></span></div></div><ul style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">
<li><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"></span></span></i></b></i></b></i></b></span></span></i></b></span></span></span></i></b></i></b></i></b></span></span></i></b></span></i></li>
<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<li style="text-align: center;"><b>Overall rating: 8/10</b></li>
</span></span></i></b></i></b></i></b></span></span></i></b></span></span></span></i></b></i></b></i></b></span></span></i></b></span></i></span></span></span></ul><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><b>To buy this book: </b><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781442402003">IndieBound</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9781442402003/Nevermore">The Book Depository</a> | <a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9781442402003-0">Powell's</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nevermore-Kelly-Creagh/dp/1442402008/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1298568401&sr=1-1">Amazon</a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><b>Add this book to your:</b> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7129598-nevermore">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.shelfari.com/books/12939315/Nevermore">Shelfari </a>| <a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/9272713">Library Thing </a>| <a href="http://apps.facebook.com/facebookshelf/books/100502798965-kelly-creagh-nevermore?ref=search-title">Visual Bookshelf</a><br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Kelly Creagh's <i>Nevermore</i> is a YA romance with a deliciously dark supernatural edge. When popular cheerleader Isobel is unwillingly paired with gothic loner Varen for a school project, she is surprised to find herself increasingly charmed by his quiet intensity. As they each learn to see beyond their preconceived notions about one another, their unlikely friendship takes a turn toward romance. But behind Varen's guarded exterior lurks a dark secret that could prove very dangerous for them both. Will Isobel unravel the mystery in time to save him or will she need saving herself?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What I Liked:</span></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Isobel and Varen's relationship evolves enjoyably slowly, and it never feels like a recycled, opposites-attract story. Both characters are easy to like, and their relationship feels builds naturally and never feels contrived.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- I liked seeing Isobel take a stand against her 'friends' as their true colors began to show.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Isobel's parents and little brother figure prominently in the story. I love seeing parents and siblings play a realistic role in paranormal YA novels! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- I was pleased to find that <i>Nevermore</i> is much more of a 'Gentleman in Distress' than a 'Damsel in Distress' kind of story.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Reynolds is cleverly imagined and infuriatingly mysterious. I hope to see much more of him.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- I was glad that Isobel proved to be so thoroughly likable because it made me question my own tendency to make snap judgments about popular, pink-loving cheerleaders.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- The nightmarish, Poe-inspired dreamworld imagery is beautifully dark and creepy.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Varen is intelligent and thoughtful, and so refreshingly different from Brad (Isobel's football player boyfriend at the start of the novel). Varen's rooftop visit is particularly sweet, and I loved his interaction with Isobel's mom and little brother.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- This book made me want to read more about Edgar Allan Poe's life (and death).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Not exactly a complaint, but...</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b></b>- Be warned that this is the first book in a trilogy, so don't expect the story to be thoroughly resolved by the 543rd page. In fact, the ending feels a bit more like an intermission than a conclusion. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Nevermore</i> is an excellent debut novel that will make readers want to check out Edgar Allan Poe's work. I would recommend this book to fans of YA romances with spooky paranormal atmospheres, like Julie Kagawa's<i> Iron Fey</i> series. If you would like to learn more about <i>Nevermore</i> or Kelly Creagh's upcoming projects, please visit her <a href="http://www.kellycreagh.com/">website</a>, <a href="http://blog.kellycreagh.com/">blog</a>, or<a href="http://twitter.com/Kelly_Creagh"> twitter</a>.</span></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-16152460008389012602011-02-17T06:44:00.000-08:002011-02-17T06:44:30.704-08:00Our Books With Love Winner!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Bfn7Fi3vuazacI2HZ5SDsHQqkmVP0NbNhdjjZqmE1oOla6bQhDX4QFM9agoSfh0AMM9f0gUPyTvrO2dDWBeNUlgbTaDFrTj2dUTbuSDeg1dNOoxhlld4bAUGXHv_xveg1craXJ2jjxg3/s1600/Books+With+Love+Hop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Bfn7Fi3vuazacI2HZ5SDsHQqkmVP0NbNhdjjZqmE1oOla6bQhDX4QFM9agoSfh0AMM9f0gUPyTvrO2dDWBeNUlgbTaDFrTj2dUTbuSDeg1dNOoxhlld4bAUGXHv_xveg1craXJ2jjxg3/s1600/Books+With+Love+Hop.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thank you to everyone who entered our Books With Love giveaway!</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The winner is: </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mithee! </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Congratulations! You won a copy of <i>Clockwork Angel </i>and Stupid Shiny Designs' lovely William Herondale bookthong! </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day! Please check back for more giveaways coming up very soon. :)</span></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-7541157108266382402011-02-14T00:01:00.000-08:002011-02-14T00:34:57.766-08:00Valentine's Day - Books with Love Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy Valentine's Day and thanks for stopping by to check out our Books with Love giveaway! Be sure to check out the Books with Love blog hop links at the bottom of this post for a chance to enter lots of awesome bookish giveaways. :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7d79A7piCMSYjQCmOus1c_UxfqxXyC2gLEKoDWwJmEdJeHdngnJCdaXQCoZNwzvWc90t0nygDeGIwkn-tQRipH7d9DVfWEXCoRBXNq6cH9AVfN9tt5PfspcJ0Nvf2CCvW6JZKMQ52p1d/s1600/Team-Jem-or-Will.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7d79A7piCMSYjQCmOus1c_UxfqxXyC2gLEKoDWwJmEdJeHdngnJCdaXQCoZNwzvWc90t0nygDeGIwkn-tQRipH7d9DVfWEXCoRBXNq6cH9AVfN9tt5PfspcJ0Nvf2CCvW6JZKMQ52p1d/s400/Team-Jem-or-Will.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Are you <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/57918474/jem-inspired-by-clockwork-angel">Team Jem</a> or <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/57912424/william-herondale-inspired-by-clockwork?ref=v1_other_2">Team Will</a>?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Because we love all things Victorian and steampunkish and because we can't resist a tantalizing love triangle, we are giving away a copy of Cassandra Clare's <i>Clockwork Angel</i> as well as a hand-beaded <i>Clockwork Angel</i>-inspired bookthong from Stupid Shiny Designs' fabulous etsy shop! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To see more gorgeous novel-inspired bookthongs, be sure to visit <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/StupidShinyDesigns?ref=top_trail">Stupid Shiny Designs' Etsy shop</a>!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b>Contest details:</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The prize:</b><b> </b>Cassandra Clare's<i> Clockwork Angel</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> and a "Will" or "Jem" bookthong from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/StupidShinyDesigns?ref=top_trail" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;">Stupid Shiny Designs</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Contest deadline: </b>February 16 at 11:59 pm PST.</span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>How to Enter: </b> Fill out the form below to let us know which book thong you would like to win. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">*required* </span>(This contest is INTERNATIONAL so long as The Book Depository ships to your location.)</span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Extra Entries:</span></b></div><div style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">+1 if you "Favorite" Stupid Shiny Designs on <b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/StupidShinyDesigns" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;">Etsy</a></b></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">+1 if you "Like" Stupid Shiny Designs' <b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Stupid-Shiny-Designs/145043139492" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;">facebook page</a></b></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="624" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://spreadsheets.google.com/embeddedform?formkey=dEVqcFM5M24zak5oajE0MU5vaE1IckE6MQ" width="500">&lt;p&gt;Loading...&lt;/p&gt;</iframe></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Many thanks to <a href="http://www.goodchoicereading.com/">Good Choice Reading</a> and <a href="http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/">Once Upon a Twilight</a> for organizing this fun Books with Love giveaway hop! Be sure to check out the contest links below:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><script src="http://www.simply-linked.com/listwidget.aspx?l=e9c492fb-1ef8-4644-a5ab-dc26ddb6e4d5" type="text/javascript">
</script>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-7190351137163915702011-02-02T01:00:00.000-08:002011-02-14T00:17:53.831-08:00Winners!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">Thank you to everyone who entered our <i>Bonded by Blood</i> giveaway! </span></b></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></b></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">The winners are: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Wendy</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;"> and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Latishajean</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">! </span></b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">Congratulations! :)</span></b></div></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-57466325267679256302011-01-19T03:01:00.000-08:002011-01-19T12:59:28.498-08:00"Waiting on" Wednesday: A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b></b></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b></b></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PerAenwmZfyjD41MCO-H1FelZxoG8WR5pNUkq2fC7D0EqXVm6SjrgdKTqMWavAnznyX_joDzX6rbTmTZdoz4t-fxRC2iAy4cVJqpKe5fI_ZxfZr9sgQ1pKE5aTS0KXuLvpVftxQVLbEt/s1600/A+Need+So+Beautiful2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PerAenwmZfyjD41MCO-H1FelZxoG8WR5pNUkq2fC7D0EqXVm6SjrgdKTqMWavAnznyX_joDzX6rbTmTZdoz4t-fxRC2iAy4cVJqpKe5fI_ZxfZr9sgQ1pKE5aTS0KXuLvpVftxQVLbEt/s400/A+Need+So+Beautiful2.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></b></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b>Title:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7656231-a-need-so-beautiful">A Need So Beautiful</a></span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Author:</b> Suzanne Young</span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Publication date:</b> June 21, 2011</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;"><b>Suzanne Young's: </b> <a href="http://www.suzanne-young.blogspot.com/">blog</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/suzanne_young">twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.facebook.com/suzanneyoung?ref=profile">facebook</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;"><b>Pre-order it here:</b> <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062008244">IndieBound</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Need-So-Beautiful-Suzanne-Young/dp/0062008242/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295432612&sr=8-1">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=0062008242">Borders</a> |<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_642409303" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;"> </a><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/A-Need-So-Beautiful/Suzanne-Young/e/9780062008244/?itm=1&USRI=a+need+so+beautiful">B & N</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;"><b>Add it to your: </b> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7656231-a-need-so-beautiful">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.shelfari.com/books/17526358/A-Need-So-Beautiful"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #72179d;">Shelfari</span> </a>| <a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/10613087">LibraryThing</a></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/10613087"></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><b>Summary </b>(from <span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://suzanne-young.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html">Suzanne's Blog</a></span>)<b>:</b></span></span></div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger. </span></blockquote><blockquote style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There have been others before who’ve felt the Need, but they’re gone—erased from the memories of everyone whose lives they had touched. It's as though they never existed. This is the fate that awaits Charlotte. But the last thing Charlotte wants to do is disappear, to be Forgotten. She wants to stay with her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend’s arms forever. She wishes she could just ignore the Need, but she can’t. And as everyone important in her life begins to slowly forget her, she has to decide if she’ll fight the Need in order to remain herself—no matter how dark the consequences. </span></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjjA7cM30w0zhQyAaqnaZ6QH0Ya9xsrLkJt9YZHRIdq29TsMxh1HSG7qzsMBs2bwr1fdoBkimkluq7innpsAZOSwf0mCOdBGpuS63lR9zYtAT08yCJRq0_p0O25cpdlUhbH9tiwehThqc/s1600/New_WoW.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjjA7cM30w0zhQyAaqnaZ6QH0Ya9xsrLkJt9YZHRIdq29TsMxh1HSG7qzsMBs2bwr1fdoBkimkluq7innpsAZOSwf0mCOdBGpuS63lR9zYtAT08yCJRq0_p0O25cpdlUhbH9tiwehThqc/s1600/New_WoW.JPG" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 20px;">"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/" style="color: #72179d; text-decoration: none;">Breaking the Spine</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 20px;">. It </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 20px;">spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 20px;"> </span>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-51531002704256607762011-01-18T09:00:00.000-08:002011-02-02T03:07:21.224-08:00Book Giveaway!! Bonded by Blood by Laurie London!<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bonded-Blood-Hqn-Laurie-London/dp/037377544X/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVan1De3ZJG0QrZd9ByuZKwGob_47n6eKrvxpEOHQO9G2snM9-7DZQMcZbz3CrlyrGuAUxDE262qPW6qo5awCszX0t_TJ4L1aKgG45OXoN5yRc5QuhZxr8TZEOP61_gkLmYYoj3N2brCk-/s400/Bonded+by+Blood.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My friend Laurie London's debut novel arrives in stores today, and I am very excited to celebrate by giving away two copies of <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bonded-Blood-Hqn-Laurie-London/dp/037377544X/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1">Bonded by Blood</a></i></b> here on The Eager Readers. :-)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Title:</b> <i>Bonded by Blood</i> (<i>A Sweetblood Novel</i>)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Author:</b> Laurie London</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Summary:</b></span><br />
<blockquote>Movie location scout Mackenzie Foster-Shaw has always known that she's cursed to die young. No one can protect her from the evil that has stalked her family for generations—vampires who crave her rare blood type. Until one afternoon in a wooded cemetery, she encounters an impossibly sexy stranger, a man she must trust with her life.</blockquote><blockquote>For Dominic, a man haunted by loss, Mackenzie satisfies a primal hunger that torments him—and the bond they share goes beyond heat, beyond love. She alone can supply the strength he needs to claim his revenge. But in doing so, he could destroy her….</blockquote></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Click <a href="http://www.laurielondonbooks.com/excerpt.html">here</a> to read an excerpt.</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b></b></span><br />
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Want to learn more about the <i>Sweetblood</i> series? Visit Laurie London's <a href="http://www.laurielondonbooks.com/">website</a> and be sure to check out her <i>Bonded by Blood</i> blog tour:</span></span></div></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Normal-C1" style="line-height: 1.23em;"><a href="http://escapismthroughbooks.blogspot.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Escapism Through Books</a> -<wbr></wbr> January 18</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.literaryescapism.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Literary Escapism</a> -<wbr></wbr> January 18</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.candacesbookblog.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Candace’s Book Blog</a> -<wbr></wbr> January 19</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Normal-C1" style="line-height: 1.23em;"></span><span class="Normal-C1" style="line-height: 1.23em;"><a href="http://www.silkandshadows.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Silk and Shadows</a> -<wbr></wbr> January 20</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.demonloversbooksandmore.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Demonlovers Books and More</a> -<wbr></wbr> January 24</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://allthingsurbanfantasy.blogspot.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">All Things Urban Fantasy</a> -<wbr></wbr> January 27</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://justyourtypicalbookblog.blogspot.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Just Your Typical Book Blog </a>-<wbr></wbr> January 27</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://paranormalromanceblog.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Harlequin’s Paranormal Romance Blog</a> -<wbr></wbr> January 28</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.romrevtoday.blogspot.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Romance Reviews Today</a> -<wbr></wbr> January 31</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://vampchix.blogspot.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">VampChix</a> -<wbr></wbr> February 1</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://verandaview.blogspot.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Veranda View</a> -<wbr></wbr> February 1</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.nightowlreview.blogspot.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Night Owl Reviews</a> -<wbr></wbr> February 2</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://client0.addonchat.com/sc.php?id=102122" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Mo’s Book Buzz live chat</a> -<wbr></wbr> February 2 -<wbr></wbr> 9pm Eastern</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.lovlivlifereviews.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">LovLivLife Reviews</a> -<wbr></wbr> February 3</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.romconinc.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">RomCon</a> -<wbr></wbr> February 4</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://madamedsboudoir.blogspot.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Madame D’s Boudoir</a> -<wbr></wbr> February 5</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://star-crossedromance.blogspot.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Star-<wbr></wbr>Crossed Romance</a> -<wbr></wbr> February 7</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://dikladiesrule.blogspot.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Desert Island Keepers</a> -<wbr></wbr> February 8 and 9</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.shywriters.blogspot.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Shy Writers</a> -<wbr></wbr> February 14</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.savvyauthors.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Savvy Authors</a> -<wbr></wbr> February 15</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Reading Between the Wines</a> -<wbr></wbr> February 18</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.smexybooks.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Smexy Books</a> -<wbr></wbr> February 21</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Normal-C1" style="line-height: 1.23em;"><a href="http://www.romanceuniversity.org/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Romance University</a> -<wbr></wbr> February 23</span><span class="Normal-C1" style="line-height: 1.23em;"><a href="http://1stturningpoint.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">1st </a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://1stturningpoint.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Turning Point</a> -<wbr></wbr> February 25</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Normal-C1" style="line-height: 1.23em;"></span><span class="Normal-C1" style="line-height: 1.23em;"><a href="http://cheekyreads.blogspot.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Cheeky Reads</a> -<wbr></wbr> March 1</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.loveromancepassion.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">LoveRomancePassion</a> -<wbr></wbr> March 3</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://musetracks.wordpress.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">MuseTracks</a> -<wbr></wbr> March 7</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://qwillery.blogspot.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">Qwillery</a> -<wbr></wbr> March 16</span></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Contest Details:</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>First prize (two winners):</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9780373775446/Bonded-by-Blood">Bonded by Blood (A Sweetblood Novel)</a> </i>by Laurie London</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Contest deadline:</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b></b>February 1st at 11:59 pm (PST)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>How to Enter:</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fill out the form below. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">*required*</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This giveaway is open to our US & international followers ages 18 & up (so long as The Book Depository ships to your location - click </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/help/topic/HelpId/27/Countries-we-ship-to#helpContent">here</a> for their current country list</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Extra Entries:</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Stop by Laurie's <a href="http://laurielondon.blogspot.com/">blog</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/LaurieLondonAuthor">facebook page</a>, or <a href="http://twitter.com/LaurieBLondon">twitter</a> to earn extra entries! :-)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">+1 Follow <a href="http://laurielondon.blogspot.com/">Laurie's blog</a> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">+1 "Like" Laurie's </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/LaurieLondonAuthor">facebook page</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">+1 Follow Laurie on <a href="http://twitter.com/LaurieBLondon">twitter</a> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">+2 Help spread the word about this giveaway on your blog/facebook/twitter</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-67448664723333994312011-01-18T08:48:00.000-08:002011-01-18T08:48:38.404-08:00Teaser Tuesday: Nevermore by Kelly Creagh<div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15.6px;"></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 20px;"><b></b></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 15.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My teaser:</span></b></b></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 15.6px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 15.6px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 15.6px; text-align: center;"></div><blockquote style="font-size: 15.6px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0A9xKhphMbfJKiyidVB-zSNwItAQAf7ckyxmrNHR0F0NOPalDXxc2NEvH9pA9lIsWY1Qqy0nUtdhjuJ5sUCEd_CY4of05W1OFuDFGxAMvGSRlcDPLvDyNMouv04D4DKW7s-o3MgZ7zgV/s1600/Nevermore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0A9xKhphMbfJKiyidVB-zSNwItAQAf7ckyxmrNHR0F0NOPalDXxc2NEvH9pA9lIsWY1Qqy0nUtdhjuJ5sUCEd_CY4of05W1OFuDFGxAMvGSRlcDPLvDyNMouv04D4DKW7s-o3MgZ7zgV/s200/Nevermore.jpg" width="130" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Whatever it was in the woods, it followed her. Out of the corner of one eye, she thought she saw the edge of a dark something. Then there was another at her left. Figures, tall and long, rushed through the black gate of trees on either side of her, their movements too fast."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;"><b><b></b></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></b></span></b></span></span></span></blockquote><blockquote style="font-size: 15.6px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">- page 117 of <i><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9781442402003/Nevermore">Nevermore</a> </i>by <a href="http://www.kellycreagh.com/">Kelly Creagh</a></span></b></span></b></span></span></span></blockquote><br />
<div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15.6px; line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15.6px; line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXHkVpWudUENjy2DJyR3Gihyphenhyphenz0ubhVwZlIocztJIUhGCQrwfiqLGzMSfFuboqLKD0cahvdwW4DAB-9Zq3ProT8hnh8nY1dRjsTrovqhfLQpI4ZP7TsDdlU0LoPMZaDxNy2WkjvljK35G0/s1600/teasertuesdays31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXHkVpWudUENjy2DJyR3Gihyphenhyphenz0ubhVwZlIocztJIUhGCQrwfiqLGzMSfFuboqLKD0cahvdwW4DAB-9Zq3ProT8hnh8nY1dRjsTrovqhfLQpI4ZP7TsDdlU0LoPMZaDxNy2WkjvljK35G0/s320/teasertuesdays31.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(85, 170, 131); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15.6px; line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15.6px;"></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Teaser Tuesdays are hosted by MizB of </span></span></span></span><a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/" style="color: #245911; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Should Be Reading</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:</span></span></span></span></div></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content"><ul><li style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Grab your current read.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Open to a random page.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Share a few 'teaser' sentences from somewhere on that page.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Be careful not to include major spoilers.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Share the title and author, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser!</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul></div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528600585203292987.post-62943999099832965812011-01-18T08:46:00.000-08:002011-01-18T08:46:43.348-08:00Happy Winter! :)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwKsvPqpV9KGObjRVHjeUIZQs3nqsXj_7Oz49cdYia3WZW-d5S5s6JRI8Dlhyzin-IXSzd4uugX3ikfudTIcV4gW04I17ZMflQOA2czXv9_VL20CqI2V9DAbF53kMf43hrsuaJKjOukqv/s1600/December+2008+141+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwKsvPqpV9KGObjRVHjeUIZQs3nqsXj_7Oz49cdYia3WZW-d5S5s6JRI8Dlhyzin-IXSzd4uugX3ikfudTIcV4gW04I17ZMflQOA2czXv9_VL20CqI2V9DAbF53kMf43hrsuaJKjOukqv/s400/December+2008+141+%25283%2529.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hope you are all having a lovely January! :-) We fell out of our blogging routine while dealing with computer woes and enjoying the holidays with family and friends, but it is fun to jump back into the thick of things and we look forward to hearing what all of you have been up to lately. What books have you fallen in love with so far this winter? Some of our family's favorite winter-break reads were Ellen Potter's <i><a href="http://www.ellenpotter.com/journal/2010/1/22/the-kneebone-boy.html">The Kneebone Boy</a>, </i>Richelle Mead's <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Last-Sacrifice-Vampire-Academy-Book/dp/1595143068/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1">Last Sacrific</a>e, </i>and the first two books in Cressida Cowell's <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Train-Your-Dragon-Book/dp/0316085278/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295365609&sr=1-1">How to Train Your Dragon</a></i> series. What books are you most eagerly anticipating in 2011?</div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13679587020101376314noreply@blogger.com2