Raised by Wolves

Raised by Wolves
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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

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

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

This book restored my faith in YA paranormal fiction. Don't get me wrong...I love fantasy, paranormal romance, and if you couldn't tell...I'm addicted to YA books! Lately, though, everything seems to be fitting this genre...published just to get money from the Twilight addicts, I'm sure. Raised by Wolves, though is a great, really, really outstanding addition to this genre.

For as long as I can remember, I have loved books about werewolves. Vampires used to give me nightmares, but I always imagined cozying up (and not in a gross way!!) with a wolf that would later be able to talk to me...so cool! Post-Twilight it seems as if everyone jumped on the vampire/werewolf bandwagon and lots of...let's say, not stellar, books came out.

This book totally stood out from the pack, though. *wink, wink*

Bryn is a strong heroine...which I LOVE. She stubbornly refuses to give in...ever. What she considers hers, she will defend to the death. Even when she is totally outclassed by a bunch of supernaturals! Her connection to Chase was very sudden, but very believable, as they had been hurt in the same ways. Though Bryn isn't technically pack, she was raised to think like a wolf. This gives her insight into the ways that they think and react...and lets them react to her almost as if she could change in an instant.

Her relationship with Callum was so intriguing. I kept being drawn in by his almost fatherly attitude towards her...even when he's keeping enormous secrets from her. His concern for her welfare was always utmost, even when she couldn't see it, and I'm dying to see how things evolve there in Trial by Fire.

This plot twists, excellent characters, and just general shapeshifting fun in this book just really, truly reminded me why I LOVE werewolves and will defend them as a paranormal character over vampires any day!!!

Full disclosure: Purchased and read on my Nook!

Teaser Tuesday - Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots by Abby McDonald

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

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


Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots
by Abby McDonald

p. 158

Let go? Walk Backward? Just?
I stay frozen in place, fear washing over my body in a cold shiver. I should never have tried this; I should be safely on the ground. Bad things happen to people who think they can cheat gravity; things involving falling, and pain, and bloody, bone-shattering death.

Anxiously Awaiting...

Blessed
by Cynthia Leitich Smith

The publication date has been moved up. The novel will be available beginning Jan. 25, 2011 from Candlewick Press.

Flap Copy

With a wink and a nod to Bram Stoker, bestselling author Cynthia Leitich Smith unites the casts of Tantalize and Eternal in a delicious dark fantasy her fans will devour.

Quincie Morris, teen restaurateur and neophyte vampire, is in the fight of her life — or undeath.

Even as she adjusts to her new appetites, she must clear her best friend and true love — the hybrid-werewolf Kieren — of murder charges; thwart the apocalyptic ambitions of Bradley Sanguini, the seductive vampire-chef who “blessed” her; and keep her dead parents’ restaurant up and running.

She hires a more homespun chef and adds the preternaturally beautiful Zachary to her wait staff. But with hundreds of new vampires on the rise and Bradley off assuming the powers of Dracula Prime, Zachary soon reveals his true nature — and his flaming sword — and they hit the road to staunch the bloodshed before it’s too late.

Even if they save the world, will there be time left to salvage Quincie’s soul?

PS - LOVE the cover art...

In My Mailbox - September 19, 2010

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme, hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren, inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Every week bloggers can share what they received in the mail or at the bookstore or at the library. The goal is that everyone can be exposed to more books this way!

For My Birthday:

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare *Thanks Dad!*

Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich

For Review: *Thank you Hachette!*

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Bloodthirsty by Flynn Meaney

Jane by April Linder

From the Library:

Meanwhile by Jason Shiga

The Summer of Moonlight Secrets by Danette Haworth

Zombiekins by Kevin Bolger

Change of a Dress by Maya Gold

I Now Pronounce You Someone Else - Blog Tour Stop for Sept. 19th!

Welcome to day three of the "I Now Pronounce You Someone Else" Blog Tour!!
I'm stoked to offer you a review of this great book today and then later this week I'm going to have a guest post from the author, Erin McCahan, herself!

First, let me tell you about the book:

Eighteen-year-old Bronwen Oliver has a secret: She's really Phoebe, the long lost daughter of the loving Lilywhite family. That's the only way to explain her image-obsessed mother; a kind but distant stepfather; and a brother who has a small personality complex (he thinks he's Jesus). Bronwen must have been switched at birth, and she can't wait to get away from her family for good.

Then she meets Jared Sondervan. He's sweet, funny, everything she wants - and he has the family Bronwen has always wanted, too. She falls head over heels in love, and when he proposes marriage, she joyfully accepts. But is Jared truly what she needs? And if he's not, she has to ask: What would Phoebe Lilywhite do? (description taken from jacket copy)

This was a book that I connected with on several levels...Bronwen comes from a family that cannot openly communicate. Tragedy tore them apart and mother, sister, brother...never really drew back together for solace. I also come from a family where oftentimes appearance and politeness mask unaddressed issues. It is a very English thing to "put on the happy face" and not really talk about the things that are lying beneath the surface. When Bronwen's mother tells her that she looks beautiful as a blonde, and though Bronwen doesn't like dying her hair, but refuses to tell her mother that she'd like to be brunette like her father was...that totally struck a cord with me.

Even as Bronwen doesn't feel like she fits in with her family, she does not let that affect her ideals, her morals, or let anyone sway her from her beliefs...even if she's not sure how she came about them. She stands firm on her belief in not having premarital sex (which I thought was handled very well in this book - not at all preachy!) and when she decides a relationship isn't working, she stands firm though it may hurt to break up with someone. The times that Bronwen may not stand up for herself may seem incongruous with her character, based on my family history, I can totally understand. Even though Bronwen doesn't eat meat, she does with Jared's family, because she's been raised that it's the polite thing to do...she doesn't talk about family issues, because that's what she's been raised to do...those were all things that I was raised to do, and it takes time to break those habits.

As much as I related to Bronwen, what really struck me about this book was that it has a very refreshing, healthy outlook about relationships. Not just romantic ones, either, but families and friendships, as well. Bronwen, her Mother, and Stepfather have some major issues to address, but once they open up communication with each other, they become much closer and really get to know and understand each other. When Bronwen seeks a family that she thinks is much more "her," and she embraces the Sondervans, she witnesses a family that talks. Unfortunately, as she becomes more involved with them, she does a very typical thing and drops her bestfriend for her boyfriend.

It's not until Kirsten confronts her about it that Bronwen even realizes that she has neglected her friend. McCahan also addresses this very realistically, both in the problem in the first place, and in that there is no easy solution. When the girls begin college, their relationship is never quite the same. In fact, one minor complaint that I had about the book was that the end scene is Bronwen and Kirsten sitting in a cafe having coffee, which has always been their thing, reconnecting, only to have them interrupted with a romantic moment. It would have been better if the happy ending had happened outside the coffee shop afterwards.

I'm trying to be spoiler-free, so I'll only say that the romantic relationship in the book is more like real life than most. Where a lot of books are all about the happy ending and scorching heat and readers not caring how they stay in that moment afterwards, I Now Pronounce You Someone Else reaches the happily ever after moment and then plunges Bronwen into the morass of "what happens next?" that comes beyond. Things do not always work out. Real life can be a mess...but, if it's really meant to be, then it will happen. That is a message that I can really get behind.

I thought this was a really great read. I am very excited now to learn more about Erin McCahan's storycrafting process and I hope you will be, too, so keep your eye out for my followup guest post later this week!

If you are interested in checking out other stops on the INPYSE blog tour, stop by The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly to get the complete tour stop schedule!

Full disclosure: ARC provided by publisher for blog tour

Dark Life

Dark Life
by Kat Falls

The oceans rose up, swallowing up the lowlands. Earthquakes shattered the continents, toppling entire regions into the rising water. Now, humans live packed into stack cities. The only ones with any space of their own are those who live on the ocean floor: the Dark Life.

Ty has spent his whole life living deep undersea, helping his family farm the ocean floor. But when outlaws attack his homestead, Ty finds himself in a fight to save the only home he has ever known. Joined by Gemma, a girl from the Topside who has come subsea to look for her brother, Ty ventures into the frontier’s rough underworld and discovers some dark secrets to Dark Life . . . secrets that threaten to destroy everything.

Life undersea. Though this idea terrifies me in some ways, all I can think when I read the author's descriptions of the sealife...is WOW! The jellyfish floating by like "fireworks" bursting to life in the dark sea...that is an image that will stick with me. Similarly, the idea of having to suck in liquid oxygen to breathe is both exciting and panic inducing...

Ty is a cool character. He feels such a sense of responsibility for everyone around him, to the point that he'll take crazy risks to protect others. Living underwater gives him a freedom to explore and grow in a world of new possibilities, but also provides ample opportunity for breaking the rules.

When a "Topsider" girl shows up looking for her brother, Ty takes her under his wing. As the two get to know each other, they discover secrets that could threaten their very lives under the oceans. This made for an exciting adventure, full of dangerous chases, confrontations, surprising revelations and pioneers that finally take a stand.

A fun and interesting new dystopia. I would love to see a follow up!

Cover Love...The Orchid Affair by Lauren Willig

Coming January 2011, The Orchid Affair is book eight in the highly addictive, fantastically written Pink Carnation series. LOVE this cover, though all the books in this series look great!

Heads Up! Hard Bitten by Chloe Neill

So, I'm a couple days late on this, but Chloe Neill got the go-ahead this week to reveal the cover for book four in the Chicagoland Vampires series. It is gorgeous!! I'm obsessed with these books and cannot wait until Hard Bitten comes out in May 2011. Merit totally rocks!

Get to Know...Valerie Thomas

Photo by Julienne Schaer
(click on photo to go to the Karma Bites website)

Recently I reviewed Karma Bites, an adorable, fun, and soul-searching middle grade novel. Valerie Thomas, one of the authors, very graciously granted me an interview for my blog!!

1. I love the title Karma Bites because it not only speaks to all of the great little recipes that are mentioned then shown in the book, but also because it references how karma can come back around if someone is constantly awful. How did you come up with that specific title?

As is often the case, we had a hard time coming up with a title at first. We had a few that were quite long, too long, and some that were just bad. The phrase “Karma Bites” was in the book before we realized it would make a great, punchy title. And we love it because it really is what the book is about. The idea that your actions matter, and that they will come back to you, good or bad.

2. If you could ask for one recipe from the Karma box…what would you want it to do?

In all honesty I think I wouldn’t want one, because, as Franny finds out, once you begin to tinker with things like that, it’s a bit of a domino effect. But…if I had to choose one, I would say a recipe that keeps my whirling mind at peace a little more. Especially as a writer, I find that my constant stream of thoughts, good and bad, gets in the way of my work, and my life, so I’d love a recipe that could counter that.
*Ohhh! That's a good one...

3. How was the process of working with another author to create a novel? Different from working with other authors for TV/movies?

Stacy and I have a great working relationship which we’ve honed over the years. We used to write screenplays together, and though the formats are different, it’s the same basic process when you’re writing with a partner. We are very honest with one another, and we respect each other, so we are able to plough forward without getting our feelings hurt too much. We talk about plot and story a lot, and then one of us dives into a chapter, eventually passing it back to the other. This goes on and on and on, with constant rewrites and polishes, until there’s a draft.

4. Will you and Stacy Kramer be writing another book starring the same characters?

At the moment we are writing a YA novel which we just sold (partial manuscript) to Simon and Schuster!! *squee!!* So, we are very excited about that. It has nothing to do with Karma Bites, but we would be delighted to write a sequel to Karma Bites if that’s in the cards.

5. What was the last book that you read that you would recommend to other readers?

I read a lot, but the last YA book I read that really blew me away was BEFORE I FALL. I thought it was incredibly well crafted, and even though it’s kind of glossy on the surface, it’s very moving and meaningful.
*One of my top picks for this year, too. Excellent book...you can see my review here.

6. Quick Picks: Favorite Vacation Destination? Favorite Childhood Book? Favorite Movie? Favorite Food? Favorite Clothing Item?

Hawaii. Island of the Blue Dolphins. Silence of the Lambs (partly because it was the first movie I worked on). My Mom’s Chinese noodles. Perfect tank top.


Thank you so much, Valerie, for answering my questions!
If you haven't already picked up Karma Bites, check it out!!

My Birthday = Your Presents!!

Hey Everybody! Guess what...today is my 29th birthday! So, to celebrate...and to help clean off my bookshelves a little...I'm going to giveaway some books!

My Birthday = Your Presents

So, here's what's up for grabs:

Princess Academy (paperback) by Shannon Hale
City of Bones (paperback) by Cassandra Clare
City of Ashes (paperback) by Cassandra Clare
Liar ... by Justine Larbaleister - TAKEN
The Unidentified ... by Rae Mariz - TAKEN
Snow Flower ... by Lisa See - TAKEN
Stiltsville (ARC) by Susanna Daniel
Jane Eyre (hardcover) by Charlotte Bronte
Karma Bites (ARC) by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas
The Naming (paperback) by Alison Croggin
Impossible (paperback) by Nancy Werlin
Hold Me Closer, Necromancer (ARC) by Lish McBride
The Maze Runner... by James Dashner - TAKEN

So, does anything on the list scream, "Ooh, ooh! I want. I want!"? If so, comment!! Let me know what you want and where I can email you... These books are going to be first come, first serve. You comment that you want The Maze Runner, I email you, get your address, I send you the book!

Simply spreading the book love today!
I'll keep everyone posted as books become taken.

Have a great day!

Ok, since it's been almost three weeks and no one else seems interested, I'm sort of closing off this giveaway...however, if you still desperately want one of these books...let me know!

Keys to the Repository

Keys to the Repository
by Melissa De La Cruz
Blue Bloods companion novel

Lavish parties. Passionate meetings in the night. Bone-chilling murders. Midterms. The day-to-day life of Schuyler Van Alen and her Blue Bloods friends (and enemies) is never boring. But there's oh-so-much more to know about these beautiful and powerful teens. Below the streets of Manhattan, within the walls of the Repository, exists a wealth of revealing information about the vampire elite that dates back before the Mayflower. In a series of short stories, journal entries, and never-before-seen letters, New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz gives her hungry fans the keys to the Repository and an even more in-depth look into the secret world of the Blue Bloods.
(description taken from Amazon.com)

I happen to really enjoy series companion books, but I know that there are people out there who think that they are a waste of time. This one is not! If you read the Blue Bloods series, not only does this give you slightly more indepth info on all of the characters, there are also new short stories, scenes written from different character viewpoints, and also previews for both Misguided Angel (book five) and a spin-off series called Wolf Pact.

This was a quick read, but very good, and left me holding my breath to read both Misguided Angel and Wolf Pact, book one ASAP!

Cat O'Nine Tails

Cat O'Nine Tails
by Julia Golding
The Cat Royal Adventures, book four

Cat is finally living a life of luxury--and so bored she's going out of her mind. But then she and her friends are kidnapped and forced to work on a ship bound for the New World. With a mystery to solve and survival at stake, Cat must use her wits to save herself and her friends.
(description taken from Amazon.com)

Another great addition to the Cat Royal series! Book four sees Cat inadvertantly set upon by a pressgang during a search for Syd, who'd been missing. Well...luck would have it...when Cat wakes up she finds Syd. Unfortunately, she, Pedro, and Frank have all been forced upon the same ship and all four friends are now unwilling members of the Royal Navy.

After some adversity, Cat makes a daring escape attempt and luckily is taken in by a friendly Native American family. Maybe too friendly...they try to keep Cat! In a new country, separated from every one of her friends, can Cat keep true to herself and push through to find happiness again?

Full of adventure, mystery, new cultural experiences, and some intriguing budding romantic moments, this newest Cat Royal adventure had me totally captivated. Now I need to find out when the next one will be coming out!

In My Mailbox - September 12, 2010

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme, hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren, inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Every week bloggers can share what they received in the mail or at the bookstore or at the library. The goal is that everyone can be exposed to more books this way!


For Review:


Cruisers by Walter Dean Myers

Revelations by Melissa De La Cruz

*actually a reread for me

A Wizard of Mars by Diane Duane

Water Steps By A. LaFaye

Monster High by Lisi Harrison

Firelight

Firelight
by Sophie Jordan

A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.

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

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

OMG! This book is SMOKIN' hot! I want book two...NOW!

Whew. I love Sophie Jordan's steamy adult romances, too. It's funny...when I first got this book, I was stoked. The cover is GORGEOUS. The main character is a red-head...and descended from dragons. Awesome, right? Then, I saw that this was Sophie Jordan's YA debut and I was absolutely blown away with excitement!

GO TEAM DRAKI.

Well. Actually reading it...finally...totally lived up to the hype, I am very pleased to say! These draki are really cool characters. Not quite human, not quite dragon, but all around bad-ass. Jacinda is no exception. I love that not only is she the first fire-breather in hundreds of years, but she is also a faster flyer than any other Draki in her pride. Love, love, love a girl who can outdo the boys!

Ahhh...the pride. My only complaint about this book...and it's not so much a complaint as a need to read more...IMMEDIATELY... :) ...is that you don't get to see too much about the actual pride's homeland in this book. I am stoked to read book two and hopefully get to see a lot more of Draki in their actual habitats.

Meanwhile, as Jacinda is thrown to the wolves, oh wait, in this case, humans...she meets Will.
*POTENTIAL SPOILERS* A reluctant hunter, Will is drawn to Jacinda, just as she cannot seem to stay away from him. He brings out the Draki in her. Without Will, her Draki may just die...killing the part of her that feels most alive.

Whew. Talk about sizzling romance in YA? This book is it. Every scene where these two are just kissing...and I mean, just kissing...practically scorches the pages. Fantastically hot romance. *le sigh. This is how to do tortured, Romeo and Juliet-esque love.

Want a book to heat up your fall as the temperature drops? Pick this one up!

Full disclosure: ARC received at BEA 2010

Scumble

Scumble
by Ingrid Law

Nine years after Mibs's Savvy journey, her cousin Ledge has just turned thirteen . . .

But Ledger Kale's savvy is a total dud--all he does is make little things fall apart. So his parents decide it's safe to head to Wyoming, where it's soon revealed that Ledge's savvy is much more powerful than anyone thought. Worse, his savvy disaster has an outside witness: Sarah Jane Cabot, reporter wannabe and daughter of the local banker. Just like that, Ledge's beloved normal life is over. Now he has to keep Sarah from turning family secrets into headlines, stop her father from foreclosing on Uncle Autry's ranch, and scumble his savvy into control so that, someday, he can go home.
(description taken from Amazon.com)

I had read Savvy a while ago and really loved how Law wove a story. I was pleasantly surprised to receive this audiobook from SLJ to review. Set years after the first book, Scumble further explores the savvy families in America and how they survive.

Poor Ledger, hoping to be a phenomenal runner, ends up with a junk savvy...literally. He creates junk. At least that's what he believes at first. His talent is so hard to control, he is left on the remote family ranch for the summer to try to learn to "scumble." Scumbling allows their family to successfully use their special talents, but no one seems to really be able to explain how to scumble...

When Ledge accidentally reveals his savvy to the town's biggest mouth, he has to try and do some damage control. In his quest to make things right, Ledge meets the girl of his dreams, helps his wayward electric cousin find his way, saves the family ranch, and learns quite a few things about himself.

A magical coming of age story, mixed with just the right touches of danger, adventure, and romance. The audiobook version is fun, whimsical, and fits Ledge's voice to a "T."

Full disclosure: Audiobook sent by SLJ for review

The Grimm Legacy

The Grimm Legacy
by Polly Shulman

What if Fairy Tale magic really existed?

Lonely at her new school, Elizabeth takes a job at the New-York Circulating Material Repository, hoping to make new friends as well as some cash. The repository is no ordinary library. It lends out objects rather than books - everything from tea sets and hockey sticks to Marie Antoinette's everyday wig.

It's also home to the Grimm Collection, a secret room in the basement. That's where powerful items straight out of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales are locked away: seven-league boots, a table that produces a feast at the blink of an eye, Snow White's stepmother's sinister mirror that talks in riddles and has a will of its own.

When the magical items start to disappear, Elizabeth and her new friends embark on a dangerous quest to catch the thief before they're accused of the crime themselves - or the thief captures them.
(description taken from inside jacket copy)

I loved this book...really loved it. I borrowed it from the library, but I think I'll be purchasing this one so that I can read it again. As a Librarian, I was tickled pink with both the setting and premise of this book. As a fantasy lover, the plot rocked. While I was reading, all I could think was that when I'd been a tween this probably would have become my absolute new favorite book.

The description of Elizabeth's new job is really cool. The Repository is a fascinating place, even without the "magical" collections. I love decorative arts items, things like furniture, clothing, jewelry, sculptures...all of the "things" that represent daily life in a culture's art. The idea of being able to run through stacks of objects like these...so cool!!

The idea of a Grimm Collection...even cooler. The objects that Shulman inserts into the story are fun, interesting, and actually fit realistically into the plot of the story, which was really well done. I'd been worried that a lot of things would just be described and then passed by, but almost all of them are actually used by the characters!

The relationships that build between the teens working at the Repository are rich and complex. At first, they are all friendly, then they all become suspicious of each other as objects begin disappearing, and its not until they are forced to work together to solve the mystery and do some rescuing that they are brought together and they determine who really is trustworthy.

A very, very well done, fun read. Great for anyone who loves magic and the idea of being able to live in a fairy tale...even for just a short while!

Wildwing Official Book Trailer

Wildwing by Emily Whitman
OMG! I officially loved Radiant Darkness and now I'm so excited for her second book already...and I love the trailer! It comes out on Sept. 21st.

Karma Bites

Karma Bites
by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas

Life seems to have it in for Franny Flanders. Her best friends aren’t speaking, her parents just divorced, and her hippie grandmother has moved in. The only karma Franny’s got is bad karma. Then Franny gets her hands on a box of magic recipes that could fix all of her problems. It could even change the world! Finally, life is looking up. But Franny is about to learn that magic and karma aren’t to be played with. When you mess with the universe, it can bite back in unexpected ways. Ouch!
(description taken from Amazon.com)

This was such a cute middle-grade read! Written by two authors used to doing TV and movies, including "Lizzie McGuire" which I loved, this book reads like you could see it on a screen. The characters just about jump off the page at you and the plot is hilarious.

I really liked Franny, the main character. She's twelve and sort-of generally unhappy with life, but she's also plucky and warm-hearted. When she gets the chance to try and "fix" things for everyone around her, she jumps at the chance...

Her two BFFs, Joey (uberpopular cheerleader) and Kate (eclectic skatergirl/band geek), are each special in their own ways, balance out each other and their roles in Franny's life, and each end up respecting her and showing their BFF love in their own way. Franny's Granny, Mathilda, just generally rocks and totally had me in stiches. LOVE her!

This book was great because it was fantasy, but in a light way. There was mostly just realistic middle school angst and humor...it really reminded me of being back in middle school. The recipes that were included in the book were easy, interesting, and just a little "mystical," as they included Franny's special instructions from the recipe box.

Definitely a fun read for your tweens!

Full disclosure: ARC received from publisher at author's request

Anxiously Awaiting...

Rich and Mad
by William Nicholson

At first I was just drawn to this somewhat "steamy" cover, but then I read the description (here)
and thought it actually sounded like a great book. I'm very curious...it's getting good reviews!

Coming out September 14, 2010.

Radiance Book Trailer

Okay, I know it seems like all I've been posting lately is book trailers, but...
I'm a big fan of Alyson Noel's Immortals series and the first book in the spin-off series, Radiance looks really great! I love that this one is middle grade, since Riley is a tween when she crosses over.
Here's the trailer...



...did you see the castle? I'm pretty sure that's a shot of Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria...my favorite castle in the whole world and a place that's on my list of must-go locations! *squee*

Anyway, you can get more info on this book and the Immortals series at Alyson Noel's website:
http://www.alysonnoel.com/

Teaser Tuesday - Karma Bites

This meme is hosted by MizB at Should be Reading.

The rules are simple:
-Grab your current read.
-Let the book fall open to a random page.
-Share 2 "teaser" sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
-Give the title of the book that you're getting your "teaser" from - that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given!
-And remember - please avoid spoilers!


Karma Bites
by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas

p. 112

I cleaned my room, picking up my jeans and the Fix-It-Formula I'd taken from Granny's closet that I'd dropped onto the floor. I figured I should probably use it or lose it.

Happy Release Day! - Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Happy Release Day to Sophie Jordan! Her first YA novel, Firelight hits bookshelves today. Congratulations!!

Apocalypse 2012:The Ticking of the End Time Clock

Apocalypse 2012: The Ticking of the End Time Clock
by John Claeys

Did Nostradamus, the Mayans, and others have a glimpse of God's plan for the end of the earth? If so, will anyone survive 2012, or will that be the end of humanity? Is there a link between these ancient prophecies and what the Bible presents about the end times?

Apocalypse 2012: The Ticking of the End Time Clock reveals incredible and shocking information about the future of this world.
(description from back jacket copy)

Okay, this is not the typical type of book that I read...but if you read my blog regularly, you know that I have a fondness for dystopia. Yes. In fact, I believe I've even posted once or twice about my fascination with the idea of an apocalypse. I have a place, deep in the back of my brain that wants to dwell on the end of the world. I want to ponder if I would survive!

So...when I was offered the chance to review this book I took a chance. Now, I am NOT a non-fiction reader. I normally avoid it like the plague. I just have never been one to seek out non-fiction books...reading has always been my escape from real life. Occasionally, though, a topic will catch my interest to such a degree that I seek out books to gather more info.

The 2012 prophecy has definitely been on my radar for awhile now. I'm not really a religious person. I don't go to church regularly, but I do believe that there are plenty of things that we cannot explain ourselves. There has to be something out there...

So, I decided to read this book about the 2012 prophecy and truthfully it was both interesting and too dull for me. I know...quite the contradiction! As a person who cannot read a whole non-fiction book straight through, I fell into an old pattern. I skimmed. I know, shame!

However, it was interesting in different sections. While I may not have read the entire book cover to cover, I did read certain sections all the way through. I learned a lot about the history of the prophecy itself, which I'd only vaguely referenced before, and I found out that Christians can link a lot of the Biblical writings to a timeline that fits the prophecy.

Overall I am glad that I got to read through this book. While not exactly my cup of tea, it was written clearly enough that I was not at all confused and even though I'm not really practicing my religion, I understood a lot of the Biblical background and concerns.

Not something I'd recommend to everyone, but interesting to those concerned with our future.

Full disclosure: Received from publisher for review

Voices of Dragons

Voices of Dragons
by Carrie Vaughn

On one side of the border lies the modern world: the internet, homecoming dances, cell phones. On the other side dwell the ancient monsters who spark humanity's deepest fears: dragons.

Seventeen-year-old Kay Wyatt knows she's breaking the law by rock climbing near the border, but she'd rather have an adventure than follow the rules. When the dragon Artegal unexpectedly saves her life, the rules are abruptly shattered, and a secret friendship grows between them.

But suspicion and terror are the legacy of human and dragon inter­actions, and the fragile truce that has maintained peace between the species is unraveling. As tensions mount and battles begin, Kay and Artegal are caught in the middle. Can their friendship change the course of a war?
(description taken from Amazon.com)

Vaughn creates a fascinating world in her YA debut. Here is a world where humans and dragons exist together, albeit with a fine line between them. Years before there had been war, then the dragons became reclusive in order to keep peace. Now, with the threat of an all new war, humanity is torn.

The military seems to be provoking a war. Is there any way to prevent this cataclysmic event? Kay Wyatt hopes so. Months ago, she accidentally became friends with a young dragon named Artegal. Can the two friends show the world that the two societies can co-exist...for real?

The dragons in this book are marvelous. I would have liked to see even more of them, but I'm hoping that a follow-up book may give me that chance. Learning about the dragons anatomy through Kay's learning to fly on a harness on Artegal's back was fascinating. The flying scenes were exhilirating...I want to do it!

Kay is a strong character. She is a rock-climber. She stands up for herself and what she believes in. One of my favorite things about the book was her relationship with her "boyfriend." Kay's best friend starts to pressure her into having sex with him, but Kay stands strong. What's even better is that he doesn't pressure her. He lets her decide what their relationship will be like. A great model for readers!!

I really hope that there is a follow up to this book. I would love to see where Kay and Artegal end up next.

In My Mailbox - September 5, 2010

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In My Mailbox is a weekly meme, hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren, inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Every week bloggers can share what they received in the mail or at the bookstore or at the library. The goal is that everyone can be exposed to more books this way!

In the Mail:

Virals by Kathy Reichs

*Thanks to Angela at Dark Faerie Tales

Sapphique by Catherine Fisher

From the Library:

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

Firelight Twitter Party!

I got this info from Monica at The Bibliophilic Book Blog.
Basically the details are as follows:

We are going to meet up on twitter (perhaps use a tweetchat site to make it easier) and we are going to hang out with author Sophie Jordan and discuss her new book 'Firelight'. There will be trivia, some swag packs to win, and some finished copies of the book to giveaway as well. It's going to be fun...an evening filled with fun and you can ask Sophie Jordan your questions.

Be on twitter September 8th at 9pm EST and when you are tweeting use the hashtag #Draki in order to participate!

Trailer - Clockwork Angel

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Another book that I am stoked to read...with a great trailer!!

Trailer - Zombies Vs. Unicorns

Zombies Vs. Unicorns ed. by Holly Black and Justine Larbaleister

Okay, just had to post this, because well I loved it!!
See my review of the book here.

A Spy in The House

A Spy in the House
by Y.S. Lee
The Agency, book one

Rescued from the gallows in 1850s London, young orphan (and thief) Mary Quinn is surprised to be offered a singular education, instruction in fine manners — and an unusual vocation. Miss Scrimshaw’s Academy for Girls is a cover for an all-female investigative unit called The Agency, and at seventeen, Mary is about to put her training to the test. Assuming the guise of a lady’s companion, she must infiltrate a rich merchant’s home in hopes of tracing his missing cargo ships. But the household is full of dangerous deceptions, and there is no one to trust — or is there? Packed with action and suspense, banter and romance, and evoking the gritty backstreets of Victorian London, this breezy mystery debuts a daring young detective who lives by her wits while uncovering secrets — including those of her own past.
(description taken from Amazon.com)

Once again I am beyond impressed with the quality of historical fiction in YA! I had heard such great things about this series that I finally picked it up. I don't know why I seem to have it set in my head that I do not particularly care for historical fiction...as soon as I sit down to read them, I love them. Almost every time!

I am really looking forward to the second book in this series now, The Body at the Tower because I found Mary Quinn to be a wonderful character. She is smart, quirky, snarky, big-hearted, and beguilingly vulnerable. I loved the fact that she is half-Chinese in such an interesting time as Victorian England when having Asian descent was considered so "unfortunate." The way that she doesn't really fit in anywhere makes for such great opportunities for her to learn to disguise herself everywhere!

The London setting was perfectly crafted. I could almost taste the palpably odiforous stench, referred to as the "The Great Stink." Lee does a fantastic job inserting details that make the entire city come alive, inviting readers into new worlds, not just those of London's elite.

Alongside the setting, Lee imagined wonderful, rich characters. I loved to learn more of Mary's teachers, the horrendous family she is sent to work for, the potential love interest/detective partner/friend (Oh, yes, definitely liked meeting James!), and the other quirky secondary characters like the Cook, the Coachman, and Mr. Chen.

I tore through this book and cannot wait to pick up the second!

The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker

The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker
by Leanna Renee Hieber

Six young men and women are called to protect the living world from the dead in Hieber's Gothic romance debut. Mysterious powers give Alexi and his peers the mission of keeping the restless dead in line and seeking a prophesied seventh guardian. Miss Percy Parker, an albino orphan with a talent for languages, fills none of their expectations, but Alexi is drawn to her all the same. Hieber draws Victorian London as beautiful and grim, with depictions of Jack the Ripper as a nightmarish many-headed hound alongside charming descriptions of the Athens Academy, Percy's boarding school, and Greek mythology that smartly draws together various elements of the story. (description taken from Publisher's Weekly)

I picked this book up after reading a blog review about it and becoming intrigued. It sounded like a fantastic, almost steampunkish paranormal romance.

It was well written. I like Hieber's style; It's fluid and lyrical. Percy Parker is a great character, as is her love interest Alexi. My favorite characters, though, actually turned out to be two of the secondary characters who were exceedingly well drawn. Though this book didn't really turn out to be what I'd expected, it has a very novel mythology.

*Spoiler Alert* Percy is the reincarnation of the Roman goddess Persephone, parted from her love when Hades takes her, attempting again to find him...and save the world. The Ripper was an awesome hell-hound type demon that terrorized London.

It was an awesome blend of history and mythology. The fantasy is light, but thoroughly entertaining. This was not my favorite book, but it was good.

Teaser Tuesday - A Spy in the House

This meme is hosted by MizB at Should be Reading.

The rules are simple:
-Grab your current read.
-Let the book fall open to a random page.
-Share 2 "teaser" sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
-Give the title of the book that you're getting your "teaser" from - that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given!
-And remember - please avoid spoilers!


A Spy in the House
by Y.S. Lee
The Agency, book one

p.173

When at last he spoke again, his voice was crisp and startling. "I don't believe you." Instinctively, Mary drew breath to protest, but he shook his head gently and she closed her mouth again. "You are not looking for work," he continued, more mildly. "Your hands are too soft; they are not a servant's hands. You are looking for something else."

Enna Burning

Enna Burning
by Shannon Hale
The Books of Bayern, book two

*SPOILER ALERT* If you haven't read The Goose Girl yet and you plan to, skip this review!!

Enna and Princess Isi became fast friends in The Goose Girl, but after Isi married Prince Geric, Enna returned to the forest. Enna's simple life changes forever when she learns to wield fire and burn anything at will. Enna is convinced that she can use her ability for good--to fight Tira, the kingdom threatening the Bayern borders--and goes on secret raids to set fire to the Tiran camps and villages. But as the power of the fire grows stronger, she is less able to control her need to burn. In her recklessness she is captured by the Tiran army and held captive by a handsome, manipulative young captain who drugs her to keep her under his influence. Can Isi and her old friends Finn and Razo rescue her without sacrificing themselves? And with the fire still consuming her, will Enna find a way to manage the gift that threatens to destroy her?
(description taken from Amazon.com)

I was really impressed with this book. It never ceases to amaze me when an author can take a fairy tale or legend, something where the story is already known, and create a whole new, believable world or twist on it...but then to actually compound on that and continue in the world with a fresh NEW story. That's just reading magic! Shannon Hale is a master.

Enna is a great character. I loved her in The Goose Girl as Isi's forthright and passionately loyal friend, but here you get to see her in much greater depth. Finn also reappears, much to my delight! The two of them must face new challenges and Enna is tested to the depths of her very soul.

The concept of fire, as an element, burning you alive...with impatience, with anger, with passion...very, very cool idea. I loved that this is central to the book, yet Enna never fades to the background in the face of the magic she holds. Enna's struggles, her morality, her essence never disappear.

An excellent book. I cannot wait to get my hands on River Secrets soon!

In My Mailbox - August 29, 2010

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme, hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren, inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Every week bloggers can share what they received in the mail or at the bookstore or at the library. The goal is that everyone can be exposed to more books this way!

In the Mail:

I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan

From the Library:

White Cat by Holly Black

The Karma Club by Jessica Brody

Enchanted Glass by Diana Wynne Jones

I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore