Touch of Frost of Jennifer Estep

July 26th 2011, Kensington Publishing
350 pages, Paperback
Teen {Scene} Book Tour Copy
First in Mythos Academy Series
Young Adult

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy — a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.

But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why—especially since I should have been the one who died. . .

Opinion:

If you are a follower for any amount of time you’ll know one truth about me I am obsessed with mythology. Touch of Frost is no exception. The strongest aspect of this book is characterization.

I have to say I jumped to conclusions within the first chapter. Conclusions that I found to be completely false of the overall book. When we meet Gwen she seems to be a bit superficial and angsty. Reading further on I found Gwen to be witty, hilarious, real with herself and others, and a very dimensional character. She is one of the most believable characters I’ve read.

Logan is simply smexy. I didn’t really get that word until Logan. Smart and sexy defines him perfectly. Logan is always the first to the rescue. He has secrets I’m dying to know. We didn’t get to truly know his character although as he only appears rarely.

Daphne is an interesting girl that is full of techy goodness. The family and faculty was a minor aspect, but had such an overwhelming aspect on the entire book.

Regarding the plot, nothing major happened until the very end and yet because of it’s unique voice was such an incredibly quick fun read. Not to say it didn’t have real depth, because a child lost after the death of her mother thrust into a school where she has no clue what is going on is not light.

This was one of my favorite mythology books of the year.

Rating:

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Wanna be?

Okay guys, I’m looking for 2 things.

The first on that list is I’m starting a new feature and need some recommendations for blogs with great design and this design has been created by the blog owner.

I love great design and would love to feature bloggers that have put the effort to create a design for their blog.
If you would like to be featured or recommend someone please fill out the form!

Secondly, I’m looking for someone that doesn’t already have their own blog to come and review at minimum 2 books a month. I will provide e-copies of books, but you are free to review anything else you’d like to as well.

I would prefer someone that would enjoy vlogging as well.

Just contact me!

Thanks guys!

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Character Interview: Beautifully Broken: Ari

Hi Everyone! I thought it might be entertaining if I did an interview with one of the the main characters from my recent release, Beautifully Broken. I decided to interview the snarky and out-going, Ariana Parsons.

If you’ve already read the novel, this interview should be amusing and insightful. If you haven’t read the novel yet, hopefully the character interview will pique your interest.

Description: They say every town has its secrets, but that doesn’t even begin to describe Whispering Pines. The townsfolk are a superstitious lot and the mystical disappearance of a local teen has everyone murmuring about a centuries old witch’s curse.

Sixteen-year-old Shiloh Ravenwolf is a heritage witch from the Broussard family, a family both destined and cursed. When she takes a summer job at Ravenhurst Manor, she discovers a ghost with an agenda. That’s where she meets the new town hottie, Trent Donovan, and immediately becomes spellbound by his charms.

Finally, Shiloh's met someone who is supercute and totally into her, but Trent may be the next victim on the supernatural hit list. And Shiloh is the only person with the power to save him. Complicated much?

It sucks to have a destiny, especially since Shiloh would rather spend her summer being a normal girl who worries about clothes and boys, not the supernatural. But she’s never been normal, and the stranger things become the more her own magical senses awaken.

With cryptic messages from a pesky wraith, she will begin to understand the mysterious significance of the strange mark branded on her wrist and decide how much she's willing to sacrifice to protect the other teenagers in town.
Unfortunately, for Shiloh, not all ghosts want help crossing over. Some want vengeance.

Please state your name:

Ariana Elizabeth Parsons. But people just call me, Ari

Astrological sign:

Libra

Age:

16

Dog/Cat: 

Hamster

Favorite food: 

Cheeseburgers

Describe yourself in three words: 

Sassy, fun, dynamic

Wardrobe/Personal Style:

I’m so into fashion! I love to wear sparkly tops and dark denim jeans with my Steve Madden heels.

What do you do for a living?

High school student, duh

Are any other people living with you? Who are they?

 Oh…uh, just my aunt Amanda and I. Not sure where my parents are…

What were three things you liked to do when you were younger? 

I had this shoplifting habit in junior high, but after I got caught and grounded, I stopped. It was just to get attention. It was really stupid and I wish I hadn’t done it now. And not just because I got caught!

What makes you happy?

 Hanging out with my friends, getting pedis, shopping and watching The Vampire Diaries. I heart Stefan!

What is your greatest fear? 

That the evil skulking around Whispering Pines will kill all of my friends. Or worse—get me too!

What would you change about yourself if you could? 

Nothing! I’m perfect. Well, I guess, my nose. It’s sorta crooked. Um…is that what you meant?

What is it that you have never told anyone? 

The dark truth about my family and what really happened to my older sister. (the curse got her!)

What's the worst thing you've ever done? Why? 

Sheesh! Haven’t we already gone over this? I was a shoplifter—duh. And not a very good one.

If you could be an animal, what would it be? 

Easy. A lioness. They are badass!

To learn more the characters, please go here:

http://sherrysoule.blogspot.com/p/character-gallery.html

About the Author:


Sherry Soule is the author of the Spellbound series and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her black cat. Sherry writes tales of magick, romance, and demon slaying.

Where you can find Sherry Soule:

Official website: http://sherrysoule.com/
Her blog: http://sherrysoule.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/writersherry
Book Trailer/YouTube: http://youtu.be/5uqVXKygvUs
goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11634793-beautifully-broken

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Author Interview: Victoria Schwab

Website | Blog | Twitter | Youtube

I love fairy tales, and folklore, and books that make me wonder if the world is really as it seems. I love writing about doors, and places between, and the cracks where reality slips into something darker, stranger, and invariably more interesting.

I grew up on the west coast, but went to high school in the south, an all girls’ prep school complete with plaid skirts I used to doodle on during math.

I went to Washington University in St. Louis, where I changed course SIX times (and would have done it a seventh time, but my family and advisors said you couldn’t switch majors in your last semester). I went from Physics, to Film, to Set Design, to Art History, to English, to Communication Design.

Job-wise, I have been a clerk in a department store, where I met a very nice Erotica writer while re-hanging bras. I have been an assistant caterer and a personal chef. Because of this, I bake some mean chocolate chip cookies, can plate hors d’oeuvres, and know how to make twirling napkin towers. I was a dog daycare attendant for a few summers, and have the scars to prove it. In college, I worked in a bookstore, where I never made ANY money because I spent every check feeding my book-buying habit.

And now, I am an author. That’s still really fun to say, and I feel like I need to fact-check myself just to make sure it’s true.

I’m repped by the fiercely awesome Holly Root of Waxman Literary, and my debut novel, The Near Witch, will be released by Disney*Hyperion in August 2011.

Near Witch has such a great moral in that we should learn about someone before judging them. Have you explored other cultures very much?


I've explored fairy tales and folklore and fables, and the way those worlds work. One of the classic elements in fables is the moral, and I thought it would be fun to have one, but in a very twisted way. This is no "And the moral is..." tale, but a darker, more sinister example of what happens when we do judge, and the costs of fear. But it's certainly not meant to be preachy (that is common in classic fables and lore, and I did NOT want that), but rather one element in the larger narrative.

Near witch has such a eeriness about it, that I was pulling the covers a little tighter. Do you like ghost/horror stories?


I get asked this a lot, and I always laugh because I am the BIGGEST scaredy cat. Like, I cannot watch scary movies, especially not if I have any plans of sleeping. My imagination will take the smallest spark and run with it.

I love watching your YA Rebels vlogs. How do you feel behind the camera? Getting comfortable?


At first I was SOOOO nervous, and it showed. But over the last year and a half, I've become much more comfortable with the camera. I quite enjoy vlogging now! It's a nice way to mix things up, and lends itself, for me, more toward spontaneous posting, like the Nimbus the Narwhal post.

What is your current WIP (Work in Progress)? Can you tell me a little about it?


My next book is called THE ARCHIVED (Disney*Hyperion). I am not supposed to say much about it because it's still a ways out, but oh my love for this book. I first started playing with it almost two years ago, while waiting for my first round of NW edits, and am now in edits. It's kind of like Buffy meets The Shining meets If I Stay. With a library.

Do you have a favorite place to sit and write? Where is your favorite place to read?


It changes with each book. I tend to favor one place for a book though, if possible, because I start to associate the place with writing. NW was written almost exclusively in a coffee shop in St. Louis called Kayaks between 9 and 11 pm.

As for reading, my favorite place is either on my bed, or walking outside. My ability to read and walk is quite impressive. I only ran into one pole last year.

As a reader do you write in the same genre as you write? What is your current paranormal obsession?


I read across the entire spectrum. Right now, for instance, I'm reading a non-fiction on getting lost. Before that, I read an upcoming dystopian, Legend. So. I do enjoy fairy tales, and books with an oddness to them--The Book of Lost Things, Neverwhere--and I will say that I lean toward the supernatural, but only because I read for escapism, and I have a major weakness for magic. That said, two of my favorite books of the past year were realism--Between Shades of Gray, and Stolen.

Amazon | Goodreads

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.



And there are no strangers in the town of Near.


These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

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Follow Friday

Note: I'm looking for someone to do a minimum of (2) reviews a month. I would prefer someone that would feel comfortable vlogging. I will provide e-books that need to be reviewed, but you are free to review other books as well.  If you would be interested please contact me. 

Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee's View.

This week's question:

Let's step away from books for a second and get personal. What T-Shirt slogan best describes you?

Answer:

 

This week's question is:

Not sure it’s happening this week. But if it is I’ll update.

Answer:

This week’s question:

If you could be one character from a book, who would you choose and why?

Answer:

It seems like this question gets asked repeatedly and I have a stock answer for it, so I’ll just give you that.

No one. Every single person/character has problems and I’m not willing to trade my problems for someone else’s. I know my life. I adore my life.

What character’s other world would I must enjoy for a day?

Many. Merit’s in Chicagoland. Harry Potter. Tris in Divergent.

I’d like to experience these other worlds, but not these characters lives.

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The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

April 12th 2011, HarperTeen
359 pages, Hardcover
Secret Summer Santa
First in Darkness Rising
Young Adult Fiction

Sixteen-year-old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn't know much about her background - the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip - but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical-research community on Vancouver Island.

Until now.

Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town - from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend's hidden talent for "feeling" out people and situations, to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel . . . . different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya's biological parents and it's easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet.

 
Opinion:

Maya is a great character. She has flaws, but mainly she has courage. Courage to face down obstacles outside herself an inside herself. Maya is surrounded by a group of characters that make this courage possible. Always being there for her regardless if she is in the wrong.

Daniel, her best friend, is a great character that I would love to delve into deeper. He has depths that are undiscovered. He has an abusive father, but instead of simply allowing his father to be abusive he stands up to him. This is not a trait that you see much of within fiction and can be a rarity even within reality. Even if he wasn’t such an upstanding citizen, great friend, and overall nice guy this would have me loving him, but he is so much more. He is popular and what he says goes most of the time.

There are 3 overall plots. The mystery Serena, which we are introduced to just as the book opens. The drug cooperation's secrets that isn’t fully developed in this book and lastly the biggest plot point which is Maya herself.

Maya works with animals. She sees wild animals that others don’t have encounters with, heals animals that are wounded, and protects others from the wild animals. The paw print birthmark and her physical traits are the only clues she has as to where she came from, but this doesn’t stop her from being a great daughter.

Maya’s parents are one of the only ones I’ve seen that are truly good parents within YA. Most parents are absentee at best, but her parents are always there to help her out.

Oh, and Rafe, I don’t really like him. He seems like a very flat character in comparison to Daniel. No, I’m not team Daniel. I don’t want Maya with anyone at the moment. I think she’s the type that would benefit from not having a boyfriend at the moment. Daniel is a great friend and I would hate to see him be with Maya.

The only problem I had with this book was it felt at times to be like Lost. More and more questions were brought up and none were answered. Even in the end we don’t have a real clue as to what is going on and I’m the type that wants to understand the book before going into it. If you like suspense this will give it to you.

I can’t wait to read the next to find out more about Maya, Daniel, and her abilities. I really enjoyed reading the first installment of the Darkness Rising series.

Rating: 

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Waiting on Wednesday: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Button from Bewitched Bookworms

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme by Breaking the Spine that allows us bloggers a chance to spotlight upcoming books that we are dying to read!

January 24th 2012, HarperCollins
320 pages, Hardcover
Second in Unearthly Series
Young Adult

For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

Described by Richelle Mead as “utterly captivating,” Unearthly received outstanding reviews, garnered accolades from New York Times bestselling authors, and was named an Indie Next Pick. In this heart-wrenching sequel, Cynthia Hand expertly captures the all-consuming joy of first love—and the agony of loss. This beautifully woven tale will appeal to fans of Lauren Kate, Becca Fitzpatrick, and Aprilynne Pike.

Why I can’t wait:

I loved the first in this series and can’t wait to see the adventures this one takes us on. You can read my review of Unearthly to see how much I adored it!

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Circle Cast: Cover Interview

Amazon | Goodreads

How did an exiled girl become the most powerful witch in legend?
Britain, 480 AD. Saxon barbarians are invading, pushing the civilized British out of their own island. Morgan is the daughter of the governor of Cornwall. But when her father is murdered and her mother taken as the King's new wife, she has to flee to Ireland to avoid being murdered herself.

But Ireland is no refuge. She's captured in a slave raid and sold to a village witch. As Morgan comes of age, she discovers her own immense magical powers. She falls in love with a young Irish chieftain, and makes him powerful.

But will her drive for revenge destroy her one chance for love and happiness?

Did you have a much input on the cover design?

Absolutely none whatsoever. But I couldn’t be happier with it.

My wife Lisa and I came up with our own cover design. It was a spectacular photo of a stone circle, overlaid with an extreme closeup of a teenage girl looking right at you. We made one of her blue eyes green.

Of course, neither the stone circle photo nor the girl was public domain. (She was Scarlett Johansson!) We sent it off to my publisher as a concept. He may or may not have sent it on to the cover artist.

I actually much prefer the cover art we got. Stefan Czernecki came up with the really simple, striking “raven” image. You can tell he read the book. Ravens are Morgan’s totem. They are the avatars of her patron goddess, the Morrígan. There’s a raven ritual in the book, and a battle won by ravens. And the raven on the cover is guarding an egg, or the Moon, depending on what you see in that white circle it’s got its wing around. I love that.

Morgan herself only makes the back cover, in a neat drawing that reminds me a bit of ancient cycladic goddesses. It’s counterintuitive, but I think it really sets the book apart on the shelves.

(In fact, I love my cover so much I made a Café Press site selling schwag: . In Canada, it’s here.)

I see that three different people worked on the cover. How did the cooperation make what it is today?

Jacqueline Wang designed the insides of the book. Therefore either she or Elisa Gutíerrez picked out the spectacular degraded CCNearMythFables for the title and CCNearMythLegends for the subtitle. Elisa did the cover design, meaning, I assume, that she placed the title on the cover art.

Does the cover have any symbolism?

Ravens are huge in the book. The ancient Irish, and probably the ancient British, worshipped a war goddess known as the Morrígan (in Irish) and Bellona Morigenos (in Latin and British). Warriors who died in battle were likely to be eaten by crows; they believed that the Morrígan, in her guise as Crow Goddess, would transport valiant warriors to the afterlife by eating them. There they would get to fight all die, be resurrected, and party all night, forever. Morgan is all about revenge; of course the Morrígan had to be her chosen goddess.

But the crow on the cover is guarding a white circle. Is that an egg, symbolizing Morgan’s talent, which hatches in the book? Or the Moon, which is another, more peaceful goddess? Or just pure light, symbolizing her talent?

My son insists it’s a cheese. You know, the crow and the cheese. I could ask Stefan, but that would spoil the mystery.

The font certainly draws my attention, was it custom made for the book?

It’s CCNearMythFables. I had to ask the book designer. I love it, too. Comicraft designed it.

Thanks for being with us today. Is there anything else you would like to add about the cover?

Oh, just that authors like to complain about how little input they have on their covers. I actually had input on the cover of my first book, Crafty Screenwriting, and I even rejected a cover design on my second, Crafty TV Writing. But this surprised me. If I had had more input on it, it might not be as good as it is.

Thanks for telling us all about the process of creating a book cover.

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Vlog it! She Loves You, She Loves You Not by Julie Anne Peters

I cannot wait for November when this event will be taking place. I will be devoting an entire week to contemporary in honor of this month.

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The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

August 2nd 2011, Hyperion Books

288 pgs, Paperback

From the publisher

Standalone

Young Adult

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

Opinion:

Although, it never actually says where or when this book takes place other than in Near in my minds eye I see colonial America throughout the description. I wasn’t actually expecting a historical when I opened this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. It has rich descriptions of the surroundings and how life is ran within the village of Near.

The book opens up to a pleasant little scene between Lexi and her little sister, Wren. We get a wealth of information within a few words, but it never seems overwhelming. We see Lexi’s love for her sister, how the death of her beloved father has impacted the family, the spooky tale of the heritage of the village Near, and the strength that has been cultivated within Lexi. She is a remarkable girl with a kind heart.

At times the story is so eerie that my heart beats faster and other it lies silent hoping all will be well. Honestly, I am like the biggest scardey-cat and it had me a bit on edge.

But at the heart of this story is a message that fear of that which is unknown can bring about real dangers including loosing your own morality. I will likely read this book again and again as it was one of the best books I’ve read in a long while.

Rating:

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Traveling Box of Books

I heard about the Traveling Box of Books after some squeeing on twitter and had to sign up immediately. It is such a good idea! I constantly have ARC’s that I’m done with and this is a great way to pass on the books I loved and get books I’m dying to read. The sign-ups are closed sadly, but hopefully another box of books will be traveling soon.

I’m not telling what I put in as I would like it to be a surprise for the next recipient. There were many squee worthy books within the box, but I only took 3 books. Of these 3, 2 are historical fiction. I’ve been lacking some good history lately especially since I’m out of school right now and it’s not the only thing I ever get to think of.

I took out:

In the simmering hot summer of 1492, a monstrous evil is stirring within the Eternal City of Rome. The brutal murder of an alchemist sets off a desperate race to uncover the plot that threatens to extinguish the light of the Renaissance and plunge Europe back into medieval darkness.Determined to avenge the killing of her father, Francesca Giordano defies all convention to claim for herself the position of poisoner serving Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, head of the most notorious and dangerous family in Italy. She becomes the confidante of Lucrezia Borgia and the lover of Cesare Borgia. At the same time, she is drawn to the young renegade monk who yearns to save her life and her soul.Navigating a web of treachery and deceit, Francesca pursues her father’s killer from the depths of Rome’s Jewish ghetto to the heights of the Vatican itself. In so doing, she sets the stage for the ultimate confrontation with ancient forces that will seek to use her darkest desires to achieve their own catastrophic ends.

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.

The same questions whirl round and round in my head:

What does he want from me?


How could I have let this happen?


AM I GOING TO DIE?


17-year-old Grace wakes up in a white room, with a table, pens and paper - and no clue how she got here.


As Grace pours her tangled life onto the page, she is forced to remember everything she's tried to forget. There's falling hopelessly in love with the gorgeous Nat, and the unravelling of her relationship with her best friend Sal. But there's something missing. As hard as she's trying to remember, is there something she just can't see?


Grace must face the most important question of all. Why is she here?

A story of dark secrets, intense friendship and electrifying attraction.

I hope the books I put in will be well liked. I certainly enjoyed them!

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Little Known Blogs: Once Upon a Prologue

Once a month I will be hosting a new feature Little Known Blogs, in order to give the spotlight to blogs that I love that need need deserve a little more attention. In order to be considered for this feature you must have less than 200 followers and have great content. If you’d like to be considered for this feature please fill out this form.  The form isn't working so just comment or email me to be considered for the feature.

This month’s feature: Once Upon A Prologue

Why did you start your blog?

Once Upon a Prologue was created in early March 2011 out of this yearning I had to find people who would discuss books with me.  I am not lucky enough to have that many friends who love books as much as I do.  I have posted over at LiveJournal for the past seven years or so, but even there, there wasn't the outlet I wanted, the...community, the sense of belonging somewhere.  I wanted to dig deep and share my joy and my heartache over really, really good books, and know that people understood.  And I wanted to get more involved in the book community in general: be up to date on news, branch out and read books I normally wouldn't, and improve on my own writing by learning to write for various audiences.

   What is your favorite part of blogging?

Like I mentioned above in my reasoning for starting my blog,  I wanted that sense of familiarity, of people knowing my name and associating me with literature.  I love when I connect with a fellow blogger, when we love the same book or character, and get to bond over that.  I think my absolute favorite part is the sense almost, in a way that I hope sounds genuine and not trite, of coming home.  I get a kick out of coming home and checking my Dashboard for new reviews/memes/etc from other book bloggers.

    What book is your current obsession? (The one that you're so in love with at the moment)

Kelley Armstrong's Bitten.  I'd read some of her YA books but none of her adult paranormal romance.  I don't give 4 or 5 star reviews easily but I finished Bitten with a happy, sated sigh.  I'd read something fantastic.  It gets as many stars as possible; it's been on my mind since I finished it.  I HAD to go right out and buy the sequel.  I'm really invested in the mythos and in the characters, as well as the (fantastically written) main couple. 

    What do you when you aren't blogging or reading?

I'm a writer, so even when I am in a dry spell where I'm not writing I'm always, always thinking about this character or that, planning some new twist in the stories I tell.  My best friend and I have this sprawling 'verse where we've set up several big families to mix with plenty of drama, romance, and mystery.  Writing is my heart.  : )  I also love to shop (I am a bit of a shopaholic), especially for scarves, shoes, and purses, and, even though this will make me sound insane, I love my job. I'm a Installed Sales coordinator with Lowes, and after over two years the job continues to fascinate me.  I'm also a huge TV geek (I love me some Bones, The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, and Doctor Who.)  And of course, my friends!  I adore them and spending them with them just chilling and being silly and awesome.

    Please link any posts you'd like to give more attention.

I have a link on my navigation bar for my reviews and I'd love to get a little more feedback on them from fellow bloggers!  I want my reviews to be succinct since I kind of consider that (while I'm being honest on if I liked the book or not) I am writing not just for myself but for an audience of book bloggers. 

Sample Review:

Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly

Published: Del Rey

Pages: 352

Final Rating: 3 1/2 of 5 stars

When the Black Dragon seized the Deep of Ylferdun, young Gareth braved the far Winterlands to find John Aversin, Dragonsbane — the only living man ever to slay a dragon. In return for the promise of the King to send help to the Winterlands, Aversin agreed to attempt the nearly impossible feat again.

With them, to guard them on the haunted trip south, went Jenny Waynest, a half-taught sorceress and mother of Aversin's sons.

But at the decadent Court, nothing was as expected. Rebellion threatened the land. Zyerne, a sorceress of seemingly unlimited power, held the King under an evil spell, and he refused to see them. Meantime, the dragon fed well on the knights who had challenged him.

In the end, Aversin, Jenny, and Gareth had to steal away at night to challenge Morkeleb, largest and wisest of dragons.

But that was only the beginning of the perils they must face.

_______

John Aversin, Dragonsbane, hasn't actually slain a dragon in quite some time when Gareth, the King's messenger, arrives to beseech him to return to the Court to rid them of the beast currently plaguing them.  John reluctantly agrees and Barabara Hambly's intelligent and gripping fantasy tale ensues. 

Dragged out of semi-retirement, John still has a few tricks up his sleeve.  I absolutely love him, with his spectacles, and his love of lore and trivia and old books.  John meets his match in Morkeleb, a different sort of dragon.  It was hilarious and fascinating, watching their interaction - and seeing a dragon, usually the villian, in a new light.  Morkeleb has a dry sense of humor and was one of my favorite characters.

Along with the dragon, trouble - serious trouble - is brewing at the Court for John and for Jenny, his lover and a half-trained witch, in the form of a younger and more powerful sorceress, Zyerne.  She has bespelled the king, and only Jenny can see through her.  Jenny's struggles with accepting her power and her limitations are thrown into sharp relief, and Barbara Michaels writes about Jenny's insecurities with aching clarity.  When Jenny and Zyerne finally clash, my heart was pounding along with Jenny's. 

I loved the mythos of this book - from Jenny's remembrances of the mage who trained her, to the villiages, to the keep of the dwarves, and their particular brand of magic, Hambly creates a believable backdrop for her delightful and sinister tale of magic, deceit, and politics.

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Thanks for being with us today!

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Follow Friday

Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee's View.

This week's question:

Name 3 authors that you would love to sit down and spend an hour or a meal with just talking about either their books or get advice on writing from?

Answer:

Just three?

Okay, firstly Veronica Roth. She’s around my age and so nice from what I’ve seen of the live feeds from author events. I would love to get writing advice from her.

I’m gonna group my Slackers together. I haven’t really talked too much about them before but I’ve been friends with some published and unpublished authors for years. One of them that you might recognize is Michelle Argyle whose Monarch is coming out in September. I think the deeper relationships help because they can give an honest opinion and you will take it while knowing their intentions are the best.

And thirdly I would love to talk to Dani Harper. My number one fault currently within my writing is tightness and Dani writes some of the tightest writing I’ve ever read.

This week's question is:

What’s the ONE GENRE that you wish you could get into, but just can’t?

Answer:

Steampunk. I should love it. I love history, I love technology, I love the supernatural, but I just don’t. I hate it. To me it’s like a Frankenstein of writing. Things that shouldn’t go together are meshed together and I can’t seem to get past that. I really wish I could love it though because it’s all my interests combined.

This week’s question:

Where do you keep your books at home? 

Are they organized?

Answer:

Ugh, the hubby is asleep next to my bookcase right now. Otherwise I would take you on a bookcase tour.

Right now all the books that are already read are in a box and all the books that haven’t been read are on the top shelf. I usually have my TBR shelf organized by when I have to read it.

Books that are already read are organized by series first, then by when I read them.

So I have some organization, but not much at the moment.

As soon as I get moved I’ll give you a full tour of my bookcase.

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Announcements: Winners and more

Update: Okay, I lied. I couldn't resist putting up the banner for the celebration. So yeah, it's a secret no longer.

I have like a bajillion things to tell you, so I’m compiling it all into one rambling random post. Since it’s so long I’ve bolded paragraphs that are important.

I’ll do a more formal announcement of the following later once I get everything inputted, but I’ve noticed how many times I have something on someone's wish list, but they have nothing I want or I see that they have something I’m dying for but I don’t have something they want. So how awesome would it be to have a paperbackswap type program exclusive to book bloggers and ARC’s.

If you want to go sign up now so I can get a good list of ARC’s together before start spreading the word too much. I’d like to see if there is a want for this before I really start marketing it.

Midnight Summer Wrap-Up

Midnight Summer Festival was a success and while I didn’t get to my original goal I did get 50 new followers within the last two weeks. I want to welcome all my new followers and assure you more events are coming. I’m actually so super excited about the next event, but it’s a “secret project” so I can’t talk about it and it’s driving me NUTS with wanting to tell you!

So for winners:


Mega-Giveaway:

Tina Wheatley and Marissa!

Betrayal-


Signed Copy:

Donna a.k.a. BLHmistress

E-copy-

Lindsay Writes and Diana

Tempest Rising:

Penelope @ The Reading Fever

Random:

For a bit of housekeeping.

I’ll be getting things back on schedule until the end of September and that’s all I’m letting you know about the “secret” project until about a week before, but trust me it’s awesomeness.

I’ve been a complete slackard on the front of comments and twitter lately due to IRL stress, but we have postponed moving until Sept. 1st. I might schedule an entire week off for that, because I was ultra stressed about leaving you all behind.  I will rectify the commenting and twitter situation immediately.

Btw, if you have a youtube page where you do reviews etc. leave me a link. I am currently LOVING youtube.

Also, my facebook will be disappearing sometime soon. Probably at the same time G+ opens to everyone. If you want to find me and other bloggers on Google Plus I have a list. If it you want please link up and share it so we can get one central location for us all.

What else?

Oh, yes. This is a personal rant type thing at myself. Ever since I began this blog I’ve been ultra-conscious of the “rules”. Well, I’m no longer going to be self censoring myself. I’m very political, I have strong opinions on what I read, I have strong feelings about certain things and I think my readers deserve the undiluted real me. So yeah there’s that.

So, yeah I think that’s all. I love you all!

XOXO,

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Changeling Dream by Dani Harper

June 28th 2011, Kensington
368 pages, Paperback
Received from Publicist
Second in Changeling series
Adult Fiction
Others in Series: Changeling Moon

In times of stress Jillian Descharme has always found calm in her dream of a great white wolf with haunting blue eyes. But she is startled when the visions return and this time seem so real. Late at night he comes to her, speaks to her, touches her. It's almost as if he's alive...
Thirty years ago James Macleod lost his wife and unborn child to a killer bent on destroying the Changelings. Though he longed for death, his animal instinct fought for survival and James has been a wolf ever since. Yet now a woman has reawakened the man in him, taming wild instincts but arousing still wilder needs. With his ancient enemy hunting the legendary white wolf, James must fight for new life, new hope, new love.

 
Opinion:

I loved the first one in this series, but this has surpassed that one. I love Jillian. She’s gone through so much and she is still standing strong with the help of her white wolf that has rescued her in more ways than one.

Let me go over a couple of issues I had with the book. They are minor, but they bugged me some. James’ (justifiable) selfishness has truly hurt his family and I’m not sure he had really fixed this hurt by the end of the book. The other issue was that Jillian didn’t find out her white wolf and James until the very end and couldn’t figure it out on her own. She’s so super smart in other ways so I thought she would figure it out. This may be a fact of her being told the wolf was made up to help her cope, but it annoyed me.

Otherwise this book was beyond amazing. The characterization makes them seem like friends and the plot is never dull.

Zoey from the first book barely appears, but Connor has POV parts which brings us continuance of the first book. Also there are themes started in the first book that are followed through fully in this book.

The plot was intense from the very first page. Every facet that I want to talk about is spoilery because this book is so well threaded. Meaning everything has a point and everything is important to the overall story. This is an extremely tight story.

This is my favorite adult series at the moment.

Rating:

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Guest Post: Ashley @ Bookish Brunette

Hey everybody! I’m Ashley, from The Bookish Brunette… I’m wicked excited that Rie asked me to be a part of this awesome mythological festival! I have LOVED Greek mythology since I was like 10 and we had to do some project in school about Ancient Greece!

Alright, so MY favorite Greek myth is of how Athena gave Medusa snakes for hair… (What? I’m kind of vicious like that) See the story goes that Medusa was very very beautiful, but extremely arrogant about it.

One day while in Athena’s temple she said that she was more beautiful than Athena herself and that someone should build a temple bigger and better than Athena’s in honor of her own beauty.  Well you can imagine how well that went over with Athena…

After everyone had gone from the temple Athena appeared to Medusa, told her she was very foolish and even then Medusa tried to argue her great beauty with Athena! Finally tired of Medusa’s rambling, Athena transformed Medusa into a hideous monster…  Her once beautiful face- now horrendously ugly and where her hair once was- disgusting snakes took its place.

Then Athena told her anyone who dared look at her, including Medusa herself, at her reflection would then be turned to stone.

Dude- I know right? (So I know the pic isn’t exactly perfect… but um… I freaking want Athena and Medusa Barbies!!)

Now, to say I have ONE favorite book with mythological characters would be a lie… but I do have a favorite series! The Dark Hunter’s series by Sherrilyn Kenyon is AMAZING.  It has every Greek god/goddess and myth you can think of.

My FAVORITE book from this series is the FIFTEENTH one (yeah… there are like 20 to date) Archeron who personally deals with the goddess Artemis constantly!

This book is heartbreaking… and by the 15th book in a series you grow fairly attached to the characters. Ash is one of my all-time favorite fictional men, I love him. Oh and he is ooooooh so yummy.

See what I mean? If you haven’t read this series you are totally missing out!

Thanks for having me chick!!!

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Author Interview: Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman

Stop by tomorrow for a live chat with the authors of Sirenz tomorrow at 7-8 CST.

Amazon | IndieBound

Char: Twitter 

Nat: Twitter | Blog

MTR: Can you tell me about your book in 20 words or less?


C: 2 girls, 1 pair of designer shoes, a freak accident, and a Greek god looking for trouble.

N: Oooo that's good. Hmmm... How about,  “Fashion and feathers fly when Hades sees killer potential in two apparently mismatched teens” ?


MTR: Why did you decide to co-write and how has this relationship helped you craft the novel?


C: We had worked on a previous project. I was taking care of Nat's evil bunny Rosebud when she went on vacation and he bit me. I 'made' him confess to Nat in an email. She responded back, in the voice of her cat who was home alone and telling Rosebud to stop complaining, she had it worse. The concept, called E-Meow, was hysterical, a lot of fun, and went no where. We realized though, that we're both a little twisted and together we knew we could write a book. Whether it would sell was a different story, but it did!

N: Funny how things like this come about by accident—but that's exactly what happened with us. We didn't plan to co-author a book, but the joke that started it all got us thinking that we COULD. Even with the bunny (who is much maligned) and the cat, our individual voices came through in the writing. The first thing we were certain about when we started Sirenz was that there had to be two voices—one for each of us. In that way the relationship directly influenced the book.

MTR: One of the driving forces behind this book is their love of material items, e.g. they are fighting over shoes when they get sentenced to being sirens.

C: Kids this age tend to be that way; whether it's the newest phone, or clothes they want, living out of Starbucks, etc. It was fun to poke at that trend, especially when we see it in ourselves...

N: When the story started out, both girls were total fashionistas, and even though they had different styles, they were too much alike. Now the girls are foils to each other—but still, the “stuff” remains. Char is right—to some degree everyone—kids and adults love their stuff. It's a human thing and we're no exception... bags, shoes, sparkly pens...

MTR: What's up with the bird feet and feathers? I thought sirens where beautiful women of the sea?

C: That's the misconception!! In our research, we discovered that in true Greek tradition, Sirens were more half bird-half woman. There are mermaid stories coming out, or out already, so ours will surprise people. Makes it funnier to shock people-and the main characters. Hades explains it in the book.


N: Research for Sirenz led us to all sorts of discoveries about not only the sirens, but other myths we thought we knew so well. There are many obscure tales that inspired us to give the gods in the novel interesting traits and depth. So many gods are related to each other as siblings and half siblings...

MTR: What is your current WIP (Work in Progress)? Can you tell me a little about it?


C: Which one? Besides the Sirenz series, we each have our individual projects. I have a an MG I'm working on revising with my agent Natalie Fischer of Bradford Lit (she represents us together and separately), plus another YA that isn't finished, and now at the suggestion of our agent, we are planning an MG series. This new series will be funny like Sirenz, but for a younger grade.


N: Together we're working on the Sirenz series; we're waiting on our editorial letter for Sirenz Back in Fashion, and we're about ¼ done with Book 3 (this one doesn't have a title yet) but we don't want to get too far ahead until we see if there are going to be big changes to the second installment. We actually proposed four books, but the last is tentative right now. On my own I'm in revisions with Natalie (the agent one—and yes, it's kinda strange—I sometimes feel like I'm emailing or talking to myself...) for my YA Victorian Fantasy—quite a departure from Sirenz...


MTR: Do you have a favorite place to sit and write? Where is your favorite place to read?

C: My favorite place to write is where ever I don't get distracted. I don't like to write with music on, phones ringing, being interrupted, although if the mood and the deadline strike me I can write anywhere. I do have an office and the family knows not to bug me if I'm in there. Not that they obey that rule. I can read everywhere except in my pool. Kindle, are you listening? Waterproof reading device!!!


N:  I'll write whenever and where ever I can. I do have an office, but its open to the world. When I need to I run out to the library or Starbucks, or outside if I can. That's one way that Char and I differ in our process. I LOVE having music (or even a movie) playing in the background as I write :) I also read whenever and where ever I can, so I'm always carrying books with me. I'm building up some dangerous muscle. Am seriously considering buying a Kindle. Kindle? Nook? Ipad?


MTR: If your house was on fire (everyone was safe), what one book would you rescue?


C: Forget books- they can be replaced and boost sales for authors. I would save my laptop with all my works, my books and notes.


N: Totally agree with Char on that one. Save the unfinished unpublished WIPs (Writers—always keep an off site backup. Quick-n-dirty method—email your documents to yourself). Oh and if you ever have to buy (or re-buy) books—do it at an indie bookstore!


MTR: As a reader do you write in the same genre as you write? What is your current paranormal obsession?


C: I love almost all genres except political stuff or anything really depressing (hence I don't read a lot of Nobel/Pulitzer stuff.) I'm waiting on the paperback version of Sherrilyn Kenyon's Retribution. She's one of many authors that I like. I go by the description on the back of the book. If it sounds exciting, dangerous, has a different take on something familiar, (she has Greek mythology, vampirism magic and romance) then I buy it. I try to read as many authors as I can, especially debut authors to give them a chance.


N: I like to mix it up when it comes to reading, although I have a thing for history—especially British history when it reads like fiction. Some of my fave authors in this area are Simon Schama, Allison Weir and Antonia Fraser. Fiction-wise I have a thing for Neil Gaiman and Phillip Pullman, but currently I've been gushing over Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone. OMGosh do I love this book! I was lucky enough to snag an ARC at BEA and I read it whenever I can (see above). I'm almost done and it is AMAZING.


MTR: Besides Hades, what is your favorite ancient mythology tale?

C: Oh, tough one. Depends on the mood I'm in. I like our twist on the Persephone tale (please, like she didn’t know he was hot for her. She manipulated him. Probably wanted to get away from her overbearing mother).  But Hera, queen of the pantheon is brutal and not to be toyed with. Then there are the tales of those innocents who tangle with the gods.


N: Hmmmm... if we're sticking to Greek, I would have to say (today) that it would be Arachne. Am revisiting future Sirenz installments in preparation for our editorial letter and I really like her tale and what we've done with her >:)


Thanks for being with us today! And I can't wait to hear more about Sirenz and your writing process during the live chat tomorrow night at 7-8 CST here at Mission to Read.

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Guest Post: Mayandree Michel and Giveaway

Website | Twitter

Mayandree grew up in Brooklyn, went to school in Florida, and now lives in New York with her husband and two adorable sons. She writes young adult paranormal romance and historical fantasy. When she's not writing, she's playing with her kids, reading or sketching. Her first novel, Betrayal (The Descendants, #1),is available now. The second novel in the series, Sacrifice, will release in Dec. 2011.

I’ve always loved the beautiful and horrific stories of Greek mythology, and knew that if I ever wrote a novel, I would base it on the myths. I don’t even think I could pick a favorite. I enjoy many aspects of the myths. I think mostly because they sometimes mirror real life and don’t end happily ever after.

I enjoy the tales of the heroes and their journeys that usually take a twist in a direction that is always unexpected. The obstacles they face and trials they must skillfully overcome are fascinating.

But I think my favorite aspects of Greek mythology are the gods and goddesses. Their strengths and supernatural powers have always been an interest of mine. How they play with the lives of mortals whose worship they depend on often makes me wonder who has all the power, the gods or the mortals.

The complexity and richness of the stories has always left me wondering, long after reading, of other ways the stories could have ended. The myths provide for so many possibilities which is why I’ve based the Descendants trilogy on Greek mythology. I know that the possibilities were endless.

Amazon | Goodreads

Where there is love and power, there is always... betrayal.

At seventeen, Cordelia is an ordinary teen with an extraordinary and frightening secret. A secret that induces vivid dreams which she not only experiences true love, but crippling fear while barely escaping with her life each night.
After a life altering event, Cordelia has an unexpected encounter with Evan, the mysterious boy from her dreams, who reveals who and what she is, a descendant of the Greek gods. At that moment everything she knows of her world is a lie, and she must leave the present and go into the past to assume the role she was put on this earth for, safeguarding her ancient empire amidst evil forces that toil hastily to destroy it.

In a race against time, Cordelia must decide if she is truly a part of this dangerous world, or risk defying the gods, and ultimately lose the boy who has put a claim on her heart.

Visit my co-hosts!

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