GIVE@WAY & REVIEW: WinterTown by Stephen Emond @lbkids @stephenemond

Book Description

Publication Date: December 5, 2011

Every winter, straight-laced, Ivy League bound Evan looks forward to a visit from Lucy, a childhood pal who moved away after her parent's divorce. But when Lucy arrives this year, she's changed. The former "girl next door" now has chopped dyed black hair, a nose stud, and a scowl. But Evan knows that somewhere beneath the Goth, "Old Lucy" still exists, and he's determined to find her... even if it means pissing her off.

Garden State meets Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist in this funny and poignant illustrated novel about opposites who fall in love.

About the Author

Stephen Emond is the creator of Emo Boy, which ran for twelve issues and two collections with Slave Labor Graphics. He also won a national contest for his comic strip series Steverino, which ran for several years in his local Connecticut newspaper. His first novel, Happyface, was published in March 2010. You can find him at www.stephenemond.com. 

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (December 5, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316133329
• ISBN-13: 978-0316133326

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

Evan has lost his best friend, Lucy, in more ways than one when she moves away from New England to Georgia to live with her mother after her parents divorce.  They still see each other once a year during Christmas vacation when she comes back to stay with her father, but in the last year or so, Evan has noticed Lucy has begun to change.  She isn't the "Old Lucy" anymore and he finds her difficult to connect with as well as some other physical changes.  Evan has always been the perfect son, striving in school and extra curricular activities so he can get into an Ivy League school for college.   The story mostly covers a two week period over their latest holiday break and is told through a combination of cartoon strips, drawings and words.  Both Evan and Lucy are gifted artists, but while Evan has tried to downplay his, Lucy has stopped caring about everything in her life.

Without being judgmental, Emond depicts a fact of life for most teens these days; that their parents are divorced, they must shuttle from one household to another and at times, their parents don't even notice them.  Evan sees what is happening to Lucy, but is clueless as to how to help her.  She is in such a dark place because neither of her parents take them time to make sure she is ok. This pretty much broke my heart.  Evan tries everything to get her back to the "Old Lucy" but he only sees glimpses of the happy girl he used to know.   He also has his own issues at home, with a father who only wants him to get into a good university and not whether he is happy in his life or not.

Overall, this is a very classic look about how childhood friends try to stay close while growing apart and the sad fact of life that not everyone has the perfect family unit and most are quite dysfunctional.  The illustrations go a long way in providing the feel for this book and provide some much need humor to a story that could be extremely sad.  Lucy and Evan do end up losing touch with each other by the end of the book and I only hope that they reconnect in better circumstances.  There are mentions of alcohol, alcohol abuse and sex, but not in any graphic form. 




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Happy New Year! Give@way: BOOK OF YOUR CHOICE!

Welcome to the Happy New Year  Giveaway Hop! 

This hop is hosted by I Am a Reader, Not a Writer (HERE) and Babs Book Bistro (HERE)

There are hundreds of blogs participating and each has their own entry rules and geographic limits, so be sure to read the rules for each one.  This hop starts December 30th and and runs through January 3rd,  midnight.

HERE IS WHAT I HAVE FOR ONE LUCKY WINNER:

Either 

US Only

$10 USD Credit

WANT TO WIN A $10 Gift Card or Book Depository Credit to order the book of your choice?

 Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old and living within the delivery areas of Amazon or Book Depository
This ends 1.3.12 midnight Pacific Time and the winner will be chosen by Random.org on 1.4.12.
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AND THE WINNER IS: Daughter of Smoke & Bones by Laini Taylor @osnapitzAngie

 ANGIE


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AND THE WINNER IS: Mid Winters Giveaway Hop @rlawrence110

 Michele Lawrence


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REVIEW: Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay

Publication Date: December 27, 2011

My wish is to fall cranium over Converse in dizzy daydream-worthy love.
(If only it were that easy)
Marcie has been dragged away from home for the summer—from Idaho to a family summerhouse in New Hampshire. She’s left behind her friends, a group of freaks and geeks called the Leftovers, including her emo-rocker boyfriend, and her father.
By the time Labor Day rolls around, Marcie suspects this “summer vacation” has become permanent. She has to start at a new school, and there she leaves behind her Leftover status when a cute boy brings her breakfast and a new romance heats up. But understanding love, especially when you’ve watched your parents’ affections end, is elusive. What does it feel like, really? Can you even know it until you’ve lost it?
Love & Leftovers is a beautifully written story of one girl’s journey navigating family, friends, and love, and a compelling and sexy read that teens will gobble up whole.

About the Author

Sarah Tregay is a graphic designer. When she isn’t jotting down poems at stoplights, Sarah can be found hanging out with her “little sister” from Big Brothers Big Sisters. She lives in Eagle, Idaho, with her husband, two Boston terriers, and an Appaloosa named Mr. Pots.

 Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (December 27, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062023586
• ISBN-13: 978-0062023582

MY THOUGHTS

LOVED IT

I am so in awe of authors who can write in free verse and so far, I have been very lucky with my choices in this genre.  This is truly a heart warming story that is a bittersweet and will have so so emotionally involved by the end of the first chapter your head will spin.  Marcie's parents have been breaking up and the final straw is her father announcing he is gay, while her mother proceeds to fall apart.  She is dragged off to a family vacation home in New Hampshire for the summer while her mother tries to collect herself.  With no friends and the school year fast approaching, Marcie finds herself in the middle of new school far away from the safety of her nerdy friends known as the leftovers.  She is also without her wonderful boyfriend who composes songs in her honor for his band to play.

While stuck in New Hampshire, Marcie finds that to get anywhere she must walk, so when the walking turns into an enjoyable run, she find that she is losing weight.  She also get all of the long hair she used to hide behind cut off and discovers that she has become someone all together new.  Which doesn't go unnoticed by the new boy that turns out to be one of the popular kids and the total opposite of her school life in Idaho.  With mixed feelings, she must now return to Idaho and her old life to live with her father since her mother is not quite capable of caring for her.  With some truly awkward moments, she reunites with her old friends and boyfriend that is now her ex.

There were so many emotional issues discussed in this book about divorce, learning to trust yourself, depression that, at times, it seemed like such an endurance trial that Marcie is forced to live through. She has to become the caregiver for her mother, that she can't face the fact that she was dishonest to her boyfriend and the feelings that she has for her father even though she thinks he has destroyed his life as well as her own.  The ending nicely brings together all these complicated feelings that Marcie is having and shows how much she has grown. 

Waiting on Wednesday: The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Book Description

Publication Date: January 24, 2012

It starts with an itch you just can't shake.  Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat.  A few days later, you'll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they're old friends.  Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in.

And then you're dead.

When a deadly virus begins to sweep through sixteen-year-old Kaelyn’s community, the government quarantines her island—no one can leave, and no one can come back.
Those still healthy must fight for dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest.
Because how will she go on if there isn't?
Megan Crewe crafts a powerful and gripping exploration of self-preservation, first love, and hope. Poignant and dizzying, this heart-wrenching story of one girl’s bravery and unbeatable spirit will leave readers fervently awaiting the next book in this standout new series.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (January 24, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1423146166
• ISBN-13: 978-1423146162

BOOK TRAILER TUESDAY: Leisl & Po by Lauren Oliver

GIVE@WAY: Best of 2011 Across the Universe by Beth Rivas

Welcome to the Best of 2011 Giveaway Hop! 

This hop is hosted by I Am a Reader, Not a Writer (HERE) 

There are OVER a hundred of blogs participating and each has their own entry rules and geographic limits, so be sure to read the rules for each one.  This hop starts December 27th and and runs through January 1st, midnight.

HERE IS WHAT I HAVE FOR ONE LUCKY WINNER:

WANT TO WIN AN ARC OF ACROSS THE UNIVERSE BY BETH RIVAS

 Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old and living within the delivery areas of Amazon or Book Depository
This ends 1.1.12 midnight Pacific Time and the winner will be chosen by Random.org on 1.2.12.
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen
This giveaway is sponsored by me for ONE WINNER.

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Happy Holidays

AND THE WINNER IS: Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday @ReadingAddict17

AMBER

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COVER REVEAL Chosen Ones by Tiffany Truitt

What if you were mankind’s last chance at survival?

            Sixteen-year-old Tess lives in a compound in what was once the Western United States, now decimated after a devastating fourth World War. But long before that, life as we knew it had been irrevocably changed, as women mysteriously lost the ability to bring forth life. Faced with the extinction of the human race, the government began the Council of Creators, meant to search out alternative methods of creating life. The resulting artificial human beings, or Chosen Ones, were extraordinarily beautiful, unbelievably strong, and unabashedly deadly.

            Life is bleak, but uncomplicated for Tess as she follows the rigid rules of her dystopian society, until the day she begins work at Templeton, the training facility for newly created Chosen Ones. There, she meets James, a Chosen One whose odd love of music and reading rivals only her own. The attraction between the two is immediate in its intensity—and overwhelming in its danger.

            But there is more to the goings-on at Templeton than Tess ever knew, and as the veil is lifted from her eyes, she uncovers a dark underground movement bent not on taking down the Chosen Ones, but the Council itself. Will Tess be able to stand up to those who would oppress her, even if it means giving up the only happiness in her life?

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tiffany Truitt was born in Peoria, Illinois. A self-proclaimed Navy brat, Tiffany spent most of her childhood living in Virginia, but don’t call her a Southerner. She also spent a few years living in Cuba. Since her time on the island of one McDonalds and Banana Rats (don't ask), she has been obsessed with traveling. Tiffany recently added China to her list of travels (hello inspiration for a new book

Besides traveling, Tiffany has always been an avid reader. The earliest books she remembers reading belong to The Little House on the Prairie Series. First book she read in one day? Little Woman (5th grade). First author she fell in love with? Jane Austen in middle school. Tiffany spent most of her high school and college career as a literary snob. She refused to read anything considered "low brow" or outside the "classics."

Tiffany began teaching middle school in 2006. Her students introduced her to the wide, wonderful world of Young Adult literature. Today, Tiffany embraces popular Young Adult literature and uses it in her classroom. She currently teaches the following novels: The Outsiders, Speak, Night, Dystopian Literature Circles: The Hunger Games, The Giver, The Uglies, and Matched.

 Isn't this cover gorgeous!  I can't wait for this one! 

REVIEW: Wherever You Go by Heather Davis

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 2011

A poignant story about making peace with the past and opening your heart to love. Seventeen-year-old Holly Mullen has felt lost and lonely ever since her boyfriend, Rob, died in a tragic accident. But she has no idea that as she goes about her days, Rob’s ghost is watching over her. He isn’t happy when he sees his best friend, Jason, trying to get close to Holly—but as a ghost, he can do nothing to stop it. As their uncertain new relationship progresses, the past comes back to haunt Holly and Jason. Her Alzheimer’s-stricken grandfather claims to be communicating with the ghost of Rob. Could the messages he has for Holly be real? And if so, how can the loved ones Rob left behind help his tortured soul make it to the other side?

About the Author

HEATHER DAVIS is the author of Never Cry Werewolf. She lives in Seattle.

www.heatherdavisbooks.com

 Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; None edition (November 15, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 054750151X
• ISBN-13: 978-0547501512

SOURCE:  AMAZON VINE / PUBLISHER


MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT


Holiday Mullen is struggling with life after a devastating car accident in which her boyfriend, Rob, dies.  Her mother is working two jobs, her ailing grandfather has moved in with them, she has to babysit her little sister Lena and now Holly must do everything all while trying to be a high school senior.  Her grandfather, Aldo,  is suffering from Alzheimer's and begins to hear and see a young man named Roberto.  Roberto turns out to be Rob, Holly's boyfriend in ghost form with whom he can communicate easily with even though he has problems getting his point across with everyone else.  To complicate matters even more,  Holly and Rob's best friend, Jason, are now finding themselves falling in love. 


The story is told by each character, Rob, Holly and Jason in alternating chapters.  As Holly and Jason start to have feelings for each other, Rob confides to Aldo everything he thinks he did wrong in his relationship with Holly and confesses that he believes he caused the accident.  Rob seems to wander the earth in an endless progression from place to place trying to help where he can.  Jason steals my heart when he tries to lighten Holly's load while Holly tries really hard to do it all herself. 


This book brought tears to my eyes several times since there are parts so sad you wonder if Holly will ever make it out of her sad existence and find some happiness.  You wonder if Rob will ever find peace and if Aldo will find some way to communicate.  Davis does a wonderful job of bringing together a struggling family and shows that a teen can be responsible while still being true to herself.  I really wonder how many teens there are like Holly in this world, struggling to help keep their family just exisiting and getting by.

Name Your Link

Waiting on Wednesday: A Million Suns by Beth Revis

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Book Description

Series: Across the Universe | Publication Date: January 10, 2012

Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.

It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies.

But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart.

In book two of the Across the Universe trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Beth Revis mesmerizes us again with a brilliantly crafted mystery filled with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship.

About the Author

Beth Revis (www.AcrosstheUniverseBook.com) is the New York Times bestselling author of the Across the Universe trilogy. A Million Suns is her second book. Beth lives in rural North Carolina with her husband and dog, and believes space is nowhere near the final frontier. 

 Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Razorbill; 1 edition (January 10, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159514398X
• ISBN-13: 978-1595143983

Mid Winters Eve Give@way

Welcome to the MidWinters Ever  Giveaway Hop! 

This hop is hosted by I Am a Reader, Not a Writer (HERE) and Oasis for YA (HERE)

There are hundreds of blogs participating and each has their own entry rules and geographic limits, so be sure to read the rules for each one.  This hop starts December 21th and and runs through December 27th,  midnight.

HERE IS WHAT I HAVE FOR ONE LUCKY WINNER:

WANT TO WIN A  2012 Book Lover's Calendar PLUS 3 Mystery ARCs ?

 Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old and living within the delivery areas of Amazon or Book Depository
This ends 12.27.11 midnight Pacific Time and the winner will be chosen by Random.org on 12.28.11.
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen
This giveaway is sponsored by me for ONE WINNER.

Complete the below form

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BOOK TRAILER TUESDAY: Veronica Roth & Lauren Oliver in Discussion

SHELF AWARENESS: Meg Rosoff

Meg Rosoff: Confronting the Big Questions

We spoke with Meg Rosoff during her recent visit to the U.S. from England, where she now resides, to promote her new YA novel There Is No Dog (reviewed below). The book depicts God as a sex-starved 19-year-old smitten with a human named Lucy. Its content got her blackballed from an event this fall in Bath, England. Here she discusses the roots of the idea, and the surprises that evolved with its flowering (or should we say, "de-flowering").
Where did this idea come from?
My husband's a painter and he happened to be home doing some drawing one day and listening to Radio 4, the English equivalent of NPR. They were doing a program about all the actors who'd ever played God in the movies. My husband said, "Why is it that it's only old white guys who get to play God? Why not a teenager?" And I thought, "Oh a teenage God! That explains everything."
How did you come up with the idea of "team leaders" Bob and his "assistant," Mr. B?
Mr. B and Bob were the central relationship from the beginning. Mr. B is me, really. I worked in advertising for 15 years, and they were always bringing in a guy who's 22 and hadn't done anything. They'd say, "We think he's got potential." Nearly always they turned out to be complete f*&%-ups. Mr. B gives Bob the benefit of a doubt. Mr. B's the one who's seen all the creative directors come and go. He's sort of a lovable character because he doesn't lose his faith in humanity. Here I am an atheist, and the only two characters I care about in the book end up taking over the role of God. You could almost read that as a confirmation of faith.
Tell us more about the Eck, Bob's pet.
The Eck was a turning point. Once God had a pet, things just kind of clicked. He started being more three-dimensional. I love that the Eck is so full of attitude, kind of resentful and funny, and yet it's terrible this poor little guy is going to get eaten. He's one of my favorite inventions. What's the point of writing if you can't invent the last in a species that's nearly extinct? I have an old friend in New York [Nicholas Godlee, a renowned costume designer] who designed the plush Eck for me. Each has a tag: #22 from extinction, or #23.
We have a soft spot for Bernard, the vicar.
I like looking at those characters whose lives might have gone in directions that have a slight sense of puzzlement. Like in that David Byrne song, "How did I get here?" You wonder a bit about Laura [Lucy's mother]. She doesn't seem to be happily married yet wants to marry off her daughters. You see snapshots of people in early youth, and then you see Lucy's mother and Bernard, and you see, "Okay it doesn't always turn out perfectly."
Judy Blume's editor, Dick Jackson, has said that it was the word "God" that got the book Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret banned. Do you think it's your depiction of God that got everyone riled up in the recent cancellation of your scheduled appearance in England at the Daily Telegraph Bath Festival of Children's Literature?
That's what's so memorable about that book, that wonderful title and the fact that Margaret is talking to God. I said in my blog, "Burn the Witch," I'm not the one who's going to bring God down. I'm interested in the discussion of theology and why people believe. I always get pissed off at people like [Richard] Dawkins who say that people who believe in God are morons. We have billions of people on the planet, and five or six billion have faith. To say there's no God does not deal with the fact that something important is going on.
And adolescence is precisely when kids begin searching for their own answers.
Even people who are devout believers have to struggle with faith. Religion is not a static state any more than marriage or love is. It has to be explored and questioned. I wonder if it's left over from that idea that there has to be some kind of priest who comes between God and the individual, which is a bit medieval. I think religion can handle discussion. It's a big topic with a lot of depth and history behind it. If it's going to crumble the first time someone writes a book that says maybe God is a 19-year-old, we're all in trouble. I think it's the job of writers to confront big questions, and that's why people read books. --Jennifer M. Brown

Link to Web site and Eck:
http://www.megrosoff.co.uk/shop/buy-an-eck/

REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM SHELF AWARENESS here

REVIEW: There Is No Dog by Meg Rosoff

Book Description

Publication Date: January 24, 2012

What if God were a teenaged boy?

In the beginning, Bob created the heavens and the earth and the beasts of the field and the creatures of the sea, and twenty-five million other species (including lots of cute girls). But mostly he prefers eating junk food and leaving his dirty clothes in a heap at the side of his bed.

Every time he falls in love, Earth erupts in natural disasters, and it's usually Bob's beleaguered assistant, Mr. B., who is left cleaning up the mess. So humankind is going to be very sorry indeed that Bob ever ran into a beautiful, completely irresistible girl called Lucy . . .

About the Author

Meg Rosoff (www.megrosoff.co.uk) was born in Boston and currently lives in London with her husband and daughter. Her debut novel, How I Live Now, won the Michael L. Printz Award and was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. Her second novel, Just in Case, won the 2007 CILIP Carnegie Medal and was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. What I Was, Rosoff's third novel, was shortlisted for the 2008 CILIP Carnegie Medal. 

Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (January 24, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399257640
• ISBN-13: 978-0399257643

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

Bob, like most teen boys thinks about one thing and one thing only:  sex. The problem with this is that Bob has a job as GOD and he is moody, a slob and well, a teenaged boy!  He has created the earth and everything that goes with it and the earth responds to his moods with earthquakes, tsunamis and bizarre weather patterns. Especially if he forgets his running bath and well, you know what happened when it rained for 40 days.  Mr. B is his personal assistant and roommate, but in all actuality, really runs the place taking care of paperwork and responding to prayers worldwide.  Bob doesn't really pay attention to such things except every once in awhile, so when he does happen to intercept a prayer of Lucy wishing to fall in love, all hell breaks loose.

Oh and Bob has found out that his mother got him the job as god, that and no one else really wanted it.  Mona who probably stars in the Real Housewives of the Heavens also has an insane gambling problem and has lost Bob's pet ECK in a multi galaxy card game to Estelle's father, a probable gangster as a featured dinner.  The ECK was my favorite little furry, penguin with an anteater nose creature ever!  He squeaks and squeals and shouts ECK!  whenever he is truly disturbed with Bob, which is quite often.  Bob and Lucy really connect over the Eck since she works in a zoo. Of course the romance doesn't work out since Lucy will have none of Bob's nonsense.

I just adored the tongue in check, sarcastic tone of this story.  Much like Neil Gaiman and Christopher Moore, the wittiness and fantasy are just so pleasurable that this really was a quick read for me.  I still kept hearing Joan Osborne's song "What if God Were One of Us" while reading this.  Overall a fun and quirky read that should enable discussions about what else is out there. 

REVIEW: Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

Book Description

Series: Nightshade | Publication Date: January 3, 2012

The third and final installment of the international bestselling Nightshade trilogy!

Calla has always welcomed war. But now that the final battle is upon her, there's more at stake than fighting. There's saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay's wrath. There's keeping Ansel safe, even if he's been branded a traitor. There's proving herself as the pack's alpha, facing unnamable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers' magic once and for all. And then there's deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out alive, that is. In this remarkable final installment of the Nightshade trilogy, international bestselling author Andrea Cremer crafts a dynamic novel with twists and turns that will keep you breathless until its final pages.

About the Author

Andrea Cremer (www.andreacremer.com) lives in Minnesota, where she teaches at Macalester College and hangs out with her husband, pug, border collie and parakeet. 

 Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Philomel (January 3, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399256121
• ISBN-13: 978-0399256127

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

No way around it:  SPOILER ALERT

ARGHHHH -- NO MORE NIGHTSHADE. 

Ok, now that it is out of my system, I can try and write this review, but how to keep it spoiler free?
The conclusion of the Nightshade trilogy left me wanting more, but satisfied with the ending since I got what I wanted.  I know I don't hold the popular position with a lot of readers since I didn't care for Ren.  Calla drove me up the wall at times since she couldn't make up her darn mind about which one she wanted.  For one that is supposed to be a leader, she didn't seem able to decide one way or the other until the very end, when I guess when it was most important.  She did show some leader like skills when she force Ren and Shay to pretty much fight for her affections and keep them both from becoming liabilities.

The story starts out by setting the stage for an epic battle to be fought between the Keepers with the Guardians at their side and Calla right behind Anika.  Shay has come into his own powers both as a wolf and a mage as the Scion.  There are several trials the trio must go through in order to capture key components necessary for the group to succeed and the struggles and demons they each face will only make them stronger as a group.  There are some serious page turning moments and once you start, you won't be able to put this book down.

You could probably hear me yelling at Ren begging him to not be so annoying and for Shay to grab that golden ring that is Calla.  Yes, there, I have said it:  Team Shay.  I fell in love with Shay's humor and personality while thinking Ren was just a giant alpha wolf and nothing more.  There were some really interesting twists in the plot that were truly amazing.   I am still thinking about the worlds Cremer has created and can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

AND THE WINNER IS: Gift Card Giveaway Hop

Janine L

and she has chosen the $10 AMAZON GIFT CARD!


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AND THE WINNER IS: Eve by Anna Carey @YearofTiger86

 KRYSTA

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Waiting on Wednesday: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Book Description

Publication Date: January 24, 2012

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she’s returned—to her old life, her family, her boyfriend—before she’s banished back to the underworld . . . this time forever. She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can’t find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.
Nikki longs to spend these precious months forgetting the Everneath and trying to reconnect with her boyfriend, Jack, the person most devastated by her disappearance—and the one person she loves more than anything. But there’s just one problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who enticed her to the Everneath in the first place, has followed Nikki home. Cole wants to take over the throne in the underworld and is convinced Nikki is the key to making it happen. And he’ll do whatever it takes to bring her back, this time as his queen.
As Nikki’s time on the Surface draws to a close and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she is forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole’s queen.
Everneath is a captivating story of love, loss, and immortality from debut author Brodi Ashton.

About the Author

Brodi Ashton received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Utah and a master’s degree in international relations from the London School of Economics. Brodi has an active following on her blog, which can be found at www.brodiashton.blogspot.com. She lives in Utah with her family. Everneath is her debut novel.

 Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Balzer + Bray (January 24, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062071130
• ISBN-13: 978-0062071132

BOOK TRAILER TUESDAY: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Love the music in this one!

GIVE@WAY & REVIEW The Daughter of Smoke and Bones by Laini Taylor @lbkids

Publication Date: September 27, 2011

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

About the Author

Laini Taylor is the author of the National Book Award finalist Lips Touch, as well as the novels Blackbringer, which Kirkus said "belongs at the top of everyone's fantasy must-read list," and Silksinger. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, illustrator Jim Di Bartolo, and their daughter, Clementine.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (September 27, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316134023
• ISBN-13: 978-0316134026

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

If you haven't noticed before, there is a quote from this book at the top of my blog:

You'd have to have, like, a lentil for a soul to hate wiener dogs. ~Zuzana from The Daughter of Smoke & Bones by Laini Taylor 

So if you are a follower of my blog, you know that I insist you adore wiener dogs and thus Zuzana stole my heart.  She is a supporting character in this book but, oh so important, to give comic relief and after attending an author appearance at my local Barnes and Noble, I equally fell in love with the author who explained her writing style and thoughts behind the characters.  I have to agree with her that the way the story unfolds in a circular timeline is the only way it could be told.  So, my thoughts on this book are not the normal format. That adorable feather mask above was a gift from the author at the signing.

Karou grows up believing she is an orphan and that the life she has become accustomed to is normal that she can open doors and find herself in a new location within seconds or that she helps out her foster father by collecting teeth, or that he is also a wishmonger who grants wished for these teeth.  Every birthday she is bestowed with a new language and her natural blue hair, well, that was the one wish she was granted unlike the others she might have thought about.  As the story unfolds, you easily believe this world in which Karou tries desperately to be normal, attending art school with her best friend Zuzana while drawing fantastical pictures of demons and creatures that should only exist in her imagination.  But those creatures are real. 

To say this book is exciting is an understatement.  There are breathtaking fights, a true romance that you will never see coming, bits of angels and demon lore, and characters that truly jump off the page and are suitable for an action movie.  The story starts out in the presents and then flashes back to Karou's past, while again going forward.  I know it sounds really strange, but it all comes together perfectly.  I wish I could put into words how much I enjoyed Taylor's writing but I am at  loss.  It is just such a magical place that she takes you to and the way it is written is completely fabulous! 

tattoos!

You will win this awesome mask as well!  Cute Dachshund model not included!

WANT TO WIN THIS *SIGNED* ARC BOOK, THE ABOVE MASK AND TWO TATTOOS? 

 Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old with a reliable mailing address (PO Boxes OK!)
This ends 12.24.11 midnight Pacific Time and the winner will be chosen by Random.org on 12.25.11.
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen
This giveaway is sponsored by me and Little Brown Young Readers for ONE WINNER.

Complete the below form

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Gift Card Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Gift Card  Giveaway Hop! 

This hop is hosted by I Am a Reader, Not a Writer (HERE) and Attack of the Book (HERE)

There are hundreds of blogs participating and each has their own entry rules and geographic limits, so be sure to read the rules for each one.  This hop starts December 9th and and runs through December 13th,  midnight.

HERE IS WHAT I HAVE FOR ONE LUCKY WINNER:

Either 

US Only

$10 USD Credit

WANT TO WIN A $10 Gift Card or Credit?

 Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old and living within the delivery areas of Amazon or Book Depository
This ends 12.13.11 midnight Pacific Time and the winner will be chosen by Random.org on 12.14.11.
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen
This giveaway is sponsored by me for ONE WINNER.

Complete the below form

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Waiting on Wednesday: There is No Dog by Meg Rosoff

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Book Description

Publication Date: January 24, 2012

What if God were a teenaged boy?

In the beginning, Bob created the heavens and the earth and the beasts of the field and the creatures of the sea, and twenty-five million other species (including lots of cute girls). But mostly he prefers eating junk food and leaving his dirty clothes in a heap at the side of his bed.

Every time he falls in love, Earth erupts in natural disasters, and it's usually Bob's beleaguered assistant, Mr. B., who is left cleaning up the mess. So humankind is going to be very sorry indeed that Bob ever ran into a beautiful, completely irresistible girl called Lucy . . .

About the Author

Meg Rosoff (www.megrosoff.co.uk) was born in Boston and currently lives in London with her husband and daughter. Her debut novel, How I Live Now, won the Michael L. Printz Award and was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. Her second novel, Just in Case, won the 2007 CILIP Carnegie Medal and was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. What I Was, Rosoff's third novel, was shortlisted for the 2008 CILIP Carnegie Medal. 

 Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (January 24, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399257640
• ISBN-13: 978-0399257643

AND THE WINNER IS:Monster High Series by Lisi Harrison

MARY REISS




An email has been sent to the lucky person named above
The winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
Thanks to all who entered.
PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOR THE EMAIL FROM BOOKHOUNDS @ HOTMAIL REQUESTING YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!

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AND THE WINNER IS: Book Lovers Giveaway Hop

Judy Cox


An email has been sent to the lucky person named above
The winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
Thanks to all who entered.
PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOR THE EMAIL FROM BOOKHOUNDS @ HOTMAIL REQUESTING YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!

Didn’t win?  Order your copy from my Amazon link: