Jill over at Breaking the Spine started this and I believe that it's awesome" This blog post is to alert those that visit about "the" book that we cannot wait to get our hands on.

This Wednesday I have selected RAGE WITHIN by Jeyn Roberts. I am a fan of her first novel DARK INSIDE and cannot wait for the next installment in this series. The cover is also one of the most disturbing I have seen in a long while...EEEP!!

09/04/12
RAGE WITHIN
Dark Inside, Book Two
by Jeyn Roberts
ISBN-13: 978-1442423541
Simon & Schuster BYR, 384 pages.
Amazon, B&N, Goodreads

Aries, Clementine, Mason and Michael have survived the first wave of the apocalypse that wiped out most of the world's population, and turned many of the rest into murderous Baggers. Now, they're hiding out in an abandoned house in Vancouver with a ragtag group of surviving teens, and trying to figure out their next move.

Aries is trying to lead, but it's hard to be a leader when there are no easy answers, and every move feels wrong. Clementine is desperate to find her brother Heath, but it's impossible to know where he'd be, even if he is still alive. Michael is still haunted by the memories of his actions during his harrowing struggle to survive. And Mason is struggling with something far worse: the fear that he may be a danger to his friends.

As the Baggers begin to create a new world order, Aries, Clementine, Mason and Michael will have to trust and rely on each other in order to survive.

I am a fan of The Dark Divine series from Bree Despain and Egmont Publishing is running a promotion offering the e-book of the first two books in the series, The Dark Divine and The Lost Saint for just $1.99 during the next two weeks leading up to the on-sale day of the series finale. The promotion is running on all online bookstores. So, if you have not read this amazing series yet then this is the perfect opportunity.

Then keep an eye out for the third book - The Savage Grace coming out on March 13/2012!

For more info on Bree and her series visit: BREE DESPAIN
Friend her on FACEBOOK to receive updates, participate in contests and more.

Sneak a Peek Saturday is a feature that I like to indulge in because I cannot wait to read the tasty tid bits that are put out there for us ravenous readers to enjoy.

This week I am showcasing THE BOOK OF BLOOD AND SHADOW by Robin Wasserman. I was drawn to the cover of the book because I was intrigued at what was illustrated within the eye. Then upon further inspection and reading the synopsis I became further intrigued and looked around until I found a tasty bit that had me marking it down for my wish list.

Just click on the book cover below to enjoy a chapter sample.

04/10/12
THE BOOK OF BLOOD AND SHADOW
by Robin Wasserman
ISBN-13: 978-0375868764
Knopf BYR, 448 pages.

Amazon, B&N, Goodreads

One girl is determined to find the truth and avenge the dead.
It was like a nightmare, but there was no waking up. When the night began, Nora had two best friends and an embarrassingly storybook one true love. When it ended, she had nothing but blood on her hands and an echoing scream that stopped only when the tranquilizers pierced her veins and left her in the merciful dark.

But the next morning, it was all still true: Chris was dead. His girlfriend Adriane, Nora's best friend, was catatonic. And Max, Nora's sweet, smart, soft-spoken Prince Charming, was gone. He was also--according to the police, according to her parents, according to everyone--a murderer.

Desperate to prove his innocence, Nora follows the trail of blood, no matter where it leads. It ultimately brings her to the ancient streets of Prague, where she is drawn into a dark web of secret societies and shadowy conspirators, all driven by a mad desire to possess something that might not even exist. For buried in a centuries-old manuscript is the secret to ultimate knowledge and communion with the divine; it is said that he who controls the Lumen Dei controls the world. Unbeknownst to her, Nora now holds the crucial key to unlocking its secrets. Her night of blood is just one piece in a puzzle that spans continents and centuries. Solving it may be the only way she can save her own life.

Jill over at Breaking the Spine started this and I believe that it's awesome" This blog post is to alert those that visit about "the" book that we cannot wait to get our hands on.

I always enjoy a great paranormal novel and IRONSKIN by Tina Connolly seems to fit the bill. It has a great premise full of mystery and darkness. Yes! I also adore the cover because is screams of pretty. That is my choice for this week, what is yours? My curious mind wants to know.

Fall 2012
IRONSKIN
Ironskin Duology, Book One
by Tina Connolly
Tor
Goodreads---------------
IRONSKIN, a steampunk retelling of JANE EYRE with fairies. Coming in Fall 2012 from Tor Books, with a sequel in 2013!

Jane Eliot wears an iron mask.

It's the only way to contain the fey curse that scars her cheek. The Great War is five years gone, but its scattered victims remain -- the ironskin.

Now Jane returns to the war-torn country to help a fey-cursed child. Helping the unruly Dorie suppress her curse is hard enough -- she certainly didn't expect to fall for the girl's father, the enigmatic artist Mr. Rochart. But her blossoming crush is stifled by her own scars, and by his parade of women. Ugly women, who enter his closed studio -- and come out as beautiful as the fey.

Jane knows he cannot love her, just as she knows that she must wear iron for the rest of her life. But what if neither of these things are true? Step by step Jane must unlock the secrets of her new life -- and discover just how far she will go to become whole again.

Now check out this gorgeous cover!! I cannot wait to read this.

INBETWEEN (Kissed by Death, #1) by Tara Fuller (August 7, 2012)

Blurb:

Since the car crash that took her father’s life three years ago, Emma’s
life has been a freaky—and unending—lesson in caution. Surviving
“accidents” has taken priority over being a normal seventeen-year-old, so
Emma spends her days taking pictures of life instead of living it. Falling
in love with a boy was never part of the plan. Falling for a reaper who
makes her chest ache and her head spin? Not an option.

It’s not easy being dead, especially for a reaper in love with a girl fate
has put on his list not once, but twice. Finn’s fellow reapers give him
hell about spending time with Emma, but Finn couldn't let her die before,
and he’s not about to let her die now. He will protect the girl he loves
from the evil he accidentally unleashed, even if it means sacrificing the
only thing he has left…his soul.

Paperback Available for Pre-Order from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Inbetween-Tara-Fuller/dp/1620610833/ref=lh_ni_t

Add to your Goodreads TBR:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13055677-inbetween

Sneak a Peek Saturday is a feature that I like to indulge in because I cannot wait to read the tasty tid bits that are put out there for us ravenous readers to enjoy.

This week I have selected HANA: A Delirium Short Story by Lauren Oliver. I cannot wait for Pandemonium to arrive in the book stores because it was a favored read of mine and I really enjoy Lauren Oliver's writing style. Since it is still a few days before Pandemonium hits the shelves, this tasty morsel will have to suffice, but I am not complaining.

Just click on the book cover to enjoy.

02/28/12
HANA
A Delirium Story, eBook
by Lauren Oliver
ASIN: B005MMNZYE

Harper Teen eBook, 144 pages.

Amazon, B&N, Goodreads

Lauren Oliver’s riveting, original digital story set in the world of her New York Times bestseller Delirium.

The summer before they’re supposed to be cured of the ability to love, best friends Lena and Hana begin to drift apart. While Lena shies away from underground music and parties with boys, Hana jumps at her last chance to experience the forbidden. For her, the summer is full of wild music, dancing—and even her first kiss.

But on the surface, Hana must be a model of perfect behavior. She meets her approved match, Fred Hargrove, and glimpses the safe, comfortable life she’ll have with him once they marry. As the date for her cure draws ever closer, Hana desperately misses Lena, wonders how it feels to truly be in love, and is simultaneously terrified of rebelling and of falling into line.

In this digital story that will appeal to fans of Delirium and welcome new admirers to its world, readers will come to understand scenes from Delirium through Hana’s perspective. Hana is a touching and revealing look at a life-changing and tumultuous summer.

I know that I can't wait for The Hunger Games and I know I am not the only one. In the mean time there are a few books to keep us satisfied with great dystopian alternatives.

JAMES DASHNER became an overnight sensation with the 2009 publication of The Maze Runner, the first book in the Maze Runner series. A novel about a group of boys dropped into a maze and forced to work together to survive the challenges of their isolated world, while recalling nothing from their past lives struck a chord with both teenage and adult readers. The book landed on numerous state award lists, and was also optioned for film by 20th Century Fox. The series is often compared to The Hunger Games, and has spent over 40 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. The subsequent books in the series, The Scorch Trials and The Death Cure had an even larger following, and firmly established Dashner as a favorite amongst readers. The fourth book in the series, a prequel novel entitled The Kill Order, will debut this August. The series has sold over a million copies.


LISSA PRICE’s Starters (On sale March 13, 2012), is the first in a high-concept, two-book, futuristic thriller by a tremendous bestselling author in the making. Starters is a total thrill ride, smashing clichés and creating a character-driven pulse-pounding read that will be one of the most talked about books for teens in 2012. Sixteen-year-old Callie lost her parents when the genocide spore wiped out everyone except those who were vaccinated first—the very young and very old. But with no grandparents to claim them, she and her little brother have been forced to live their lives on the dangerous streets. Hope comes via Prime Destinations, a corporation that hires teens to rent their bodies to seniors, known as Enders, who get to be young again. Lured by the offer of a better life for her and her brother, Callie signs on with the corporation. But what happens when Callie’s renter intends to use her body to commit murder? And how is she aware of what is happening to her? Evil lurks at every corner in this unforgettable new novel, with a second book coming in December. Three ebook original shorts will also be released to tie-in to Callie’s story. The first, Portrait of a Starter, releases on February 14th.

THE DISENCHANTMENTS by Nina LaCourReading level: Ages 14 and up
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (February 16, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0525422196
Source: Publisher
Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Colby and Bev have a long-standing pact: graduate, hit the road with Bev's band, and then spend the year wandering around Europe. But moments after the tour kicks off, Bev makes a shocking announcement: she's abandoning their plans - and Colby - to start college in the fall.

But the show must go on and The Disenchantments weave through the Pacific Northwest, playing in small towns and dingy venues, while roadie- Colby struggles to deal with Bev's already-growing distance and the most important question of all: what's next?

Morris Award–finalist Nina LaCour draws together the beauty and influences of music and art to brilliantly capture a group of friends on the brink of the rest of their lives.

My Thoughts:

Upon learning that local bay area author, Nina LaCour was penning another contemporary novel I was beyond excited. Nina's Hold Still was an amazingly moving novel that still remains one of my favorite contemporary reads and now she has written THE DISENCHANTMENTS. A novel about a less than fabulous girl band going on tour, narrated from the perspective of Colby, their lone male roadie whom is facing some pivotal changes.


THE DISENCHANTMENTS is a touring road trip story but as soon as I began reading it, I knew it was going to be so much more. What actually started off as four close friends going on an adventure turns into a novel of deeper emotions one of self discovery, friendships and the choices that shape their lives and you will enjoy every moment that you are a witness of.

I must say that originally I was not a fan of the male perspective in my reading repertoire, but over the last few years some novels have change my mind about that. THE DISCENCHANTMENTS is one of those very novels. Colby is not what you consider the typical guy in fact he is embodies both the classic and uncommon traits that make you want to hug and smack him at the same time. I adore him to bits and love to see his character evolve and grow throughout the process of this book. He is by far my favorite character, but Bev follows close behind. Initially I did not find it easy to relate to her and her choices but I know that with your life ahead of you sometimes the least popular choice is hard to follow. The other cast of characters are not to be forgotten, everyone makes an impression and you cannot help but want to see them all succeed and know what happens to them down the road. I also enjoy the soundtrack that seems to always run in the back of my mind as I was reading this story, a testament to Nina's ability at creating a story with the perfect atmosphere.


THE DISENCHANTMENTS is a great novel that showcases the possibility of change, growth and how we all matter to one another. Our choices are ours to make regardless of outside influences and if we remain true to ourselves we will find what we are looking for. An endearing story that everyone can enjoy.

This contest is now closed. Thank you for entering.

Today I have a wonderful giveaway featuring Faery Tales and Nightmares from Melissa Marr and A Beautiful Evil by Kelly Keaton. Both of these authors have generously offered a personally signed set of these two novels to a lucky winner. Giveaway rules are located at the end of this post. Good luck!!

02/21/12

FAERY TALES AND NIGHTMARES

by Melissa Marr

ISBN-13: 978-0061852718
Harper Collins

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

Dangerous promises and beguiling threats swirl together in a dozen stories of enchantments, dark and light, by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr. Uncanny and unexpected creatures appear from behind bushes, rise from under the seas, or manifest from seasonal storms to pursue the objects of their attention—with amorous or sinister intent—relentlessly.

From the gentle tones of a story-teller’s cadences to the terror of a blood sacrifice, tales of favorite characters from Marr’s Wicked Lovely novels mix with accounts of new characters for readers to fall in love with . . . or to fear.

Lush, seductive, and chilling, Melissa Marr’s stories revel in the unseen magic that infuses the world as we know it.

A BEAUTIFUL EVIL
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: February 21, 2012
Pre-order at Amazon
Pre-order at B&N
Pre-order at Indiebound

A power she can’t deny. A destiny she’s determined to fight.

When Ari first arrived in the dilapidated city of New 2, all she wanted was to figure out who she was. But what she discovered was beyond her worst nightmare. Ari can already sense the evil growing inside her—a power the goddess Athena will stop at nothing to possess.

Desperate to hold on to her humanity and protect her loved ones, Ari must fight back. But Athena’s playing mind games, not just with Ari but with those she cares about most. And Athena has a very special plan for the brooding and sexy Sebastian.

Ari is determined to defeat Athena, but time is running out. With no other options, Ari must unleash the very thing she’s afraid of: herself.

“If I could become a character in a fictional world, I would pick this one. Action and romance combine with good storytelling and an alluring world. More, please!” —Melissa Marr, New York Times bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely series, on A BEAUTIFUL EVIL, the sequel to DARKNESS BECOMES HER


Kelly Keaton: WEBSITE

• Kelly on Facebook
• Kelly on Goodreads
• Kelly on Twitter

GIVEAWAY: A personally signed set of A BEAUTIFUL EVIL and FAERY TALES AND NIGHTMARES.
GIVEAWAY RULES: Please respond in the comments section with your email address so that I may contact you upon winning. Giveaway begins today and ends on February 29, 2012 at midnight PST.

**Giveaway books are generously donated by both authors whom will personalize their novel and send them out to the lucky winner themselves. SO AWESOME**

Jill over at Breaking the Spine started this and I believe that it's awesome" This blog post is to alert those that visit about "the" book that we cannot wait to get our hands on.

This week I have selected REBEL HEART by Moira Young as my WoW. Can I just say that I cannot wait for this sequel ever since I finished BLOOD RED ROAD. I am eager to return to Saba's world and all that it has to offer. It was one of my favorites for 2011 and I want to read this so bad I can taste it. So, now that you know what my WoW is what is yours?

10/30/12

REBEL HEART
Dustlands, Book Two
by Moira Young
ISBN-13: 978-1442430006
Marion Lloyd Books, 448 pages.
Amazon, B&N, Goodreads

-------------
Danger. Betrayal. Destiny. Passion.

Saba has rescued her kidnapped brother and defeated the fanatical Tonton. But the price to be paid for her violent victory is terible. Jack has disappeared - and can no longer be trusted. A new and formidable enemy is on the rise in the dustlands. No one is safe. And Saba must confront the terrible secret hidden in the darkest depths of her soul.

2/16/12 7PM @ Diesel, A Bookstore in Oakland, CA: Launch Party!

The Disenchantments comes out on February 16th, and we're celebrating that night with a party/reading at Diesel, A Bookstore in Oakland at 7PM (5433 College Ave.). I used to work at this bookstore and it's owned and staffed by wonderful people. There will be live music and snacks, a brief reading and a Q&A. I hope to see you there!

For more details, click here.

The Disenchantments tells the story of friends Colby and Bev, who have a long-standing pact: graduate, hit the road with Bev's band, and then spend the year wandering around Europe. But moments after the tour kicks off, Bev makes a shocking announcement: she's abandoning their plans - and Colby - to start college in the fall. But the show must go on, and The Disenchantments weave through the Pacific Northwest, playing in small towns and dingy venues, while Colby struggles to deal with Bev's already-growing distance and the most important question of all:

Youth Event: Meg Rosoff

Thursday, February 16, 7:00 p.m.

There Is No Dog

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...

Meg Rosoff's debut novel, How I Live Now, won the Michael L. Printz Award and was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. Just in Case won the 2007 CILIP Carnegie Medal and was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. What I Was was shortlisted for the 2008 CILIP Carnegie Medal.

Author Photo Credit: Zoe Norfolk

BORN WICKED by
Jessica Spotswood
Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (February 7, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0399257454
Source: Publisher
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship - or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word . . . especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood - not even from each other.

My Thoughts:

When BORN WICKED first caught my attention I was mesmerized by it's stunningly sumptuous book jacket, then as I read the back cover I knew that this was a book that I would adore. Needless to say, I was not disappointed in the least.

Jessica Spotswood had created a world of magic, mystery and romance that will keep you entranced and voraciously reading until it's very last word, for she has created a spellbinding and intriguing story that you cannot help but treasure.

BORN WICKED centers on a trio of sisters that are also witches in a time when even breathing the word magic could result in certain banishment and possible death. Cate Cahill is the eldest of this enchanted trio who trying her best to fulfill her mother's wishes by keeping her sisters safe. Then she locates her mother's diary and finds a frightening prophecy that does not allow her to trust anyone. What is Cate going to decide about their futures while trying to understand that she may be the most powerful witch of all time. What is a girl to do?

Wow! what an amazing read. I truly enjoyed BORN WICKED and the world that Jessica Spotswood has created. While the subject of witches is not vogue or original, the storyline that she has penned is captivating and it's characters are appealing. I was thoroughly invested with these sisters and I wanted to see them thrive and succeed. It is also great to witness characters that you can adore and hate in equal measure. It is never easy to be the bad "guy" in a book but if it that character is well written you cannot help but see RED when you think of them. Besides having moments of grrrrr...frustration I also appreciated the romance that was entwined within this storyline and it gives me a whole new appreciation for feathers.

Another aspect that I acknowledge about this story was the element of mystery and slow building suspense that built to a nail biting crescendo. Not knowing whom to trust and what confidences would turn bad made it such a worthy read. I am sure readers teen and adult alike will enjoy this story and be left begging for more. I know I am.



If you need further convincing you can read BORN WICKED: http://www.scribd.com/doc/78040471/BORN-WICKED-by-Jessica-Spotswood
Become a fan of BORN WICKED: http://www.facebook.com/cahillwitchchronicles

Sneak a Peek Saturday is a feature that I like to indulge in because I cannot wait to read the tasty tid bits that are put out there for us ravenous readers to enjoy.

This week I am showcasing a book that I am most excited about. THE NIGHTMARE GARDEN by Caitlin Kittredge is one of my highly anticipated reads for this year. WOW!!! I could not rave about THE IRON THORN enough last year and in a couple of days. If you are as excited as I am about this series hopefully this chapter sample will keep you satiated until then.

Just click on the book cover and enjoy.

02/14/12

THE NIGHTMARE GARDEN

Iron Codex, Book Two

by Caitlin Kittredge

ISBN-13: 978-0385738316
Delacorte BYR, 432 pages.
Amazon, B&N, Goodreads

Everything Aoife thought she knew about the world was a lie. There is no Necrovirus. And Aoife isn't going to succomb to madness because of a latent strain—she will lose her faculties because she is allergic to iron. Aoife isn't human. She is a changeling—half human and half from the land of Thorn. And time is running out for her.

When Aoife destroyed the Lovecraft engine she released the monsters from the Thorn Lands into the Iron Lands and now she must find a way to seal the gates and reverse the destruction she's ravaged on the world that's about to poison her.

This contest is now closed. Thank you for entering.

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Weeks ago I had the pleasure of reading GRAVE MERCY by Robin LaFevers and was blown away by how original and amazing it was. Since I enjoyed it so much (my review is HERE) I believe that someone else should have the same pleasure and I am giving away a signed copy to a lucky winner.

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

GIVEAWAY Prize Information, Rules and FORM are located HERE
GOOD LUCK!!
**giveaway ends 2/29/12 midnight PST**

Youth Event: Love Maia Thursday, February 9, 6:00 p.m. DJ Rising The first thing I hear is music. The first thing I've always heard is music. Meet Marley, an unassuming high school junior who breathes in music like oxygen. In between caring for his heroin-addicted mother, and keeping his scholarship at a fancy prep school, he dreams of becoming a professional DJ. When chance lands Marley his first real DJ job, his career as "DJ Ice" suddenly skyrockets. But when heart-rending disaster at home brings Marley crashing back down to earth, he is torn between obligation and following his dreams. Love Maia share Marley's passion for music and his belief in dreaming big. She loves the freeing energy of the club world, as well as pizza, kickboxing, butterflies, death metal, and underground hip-hop. When not writing, Love can be found playing drums in an alternative rock band in and around San Francisco.

Location: KEPLER'S

1010 El Camino Real

Menlo Park,California

94025-4349

Jill over at Breaking the Spine started this and I believe that it's awesome" This blog post is to alert those that visit about "the" book that we cannot wait to get our hands on.

This week I have selected THE RAVEN BOYS by Maggie Stiefvater. I have enjoyed all of Maggie's novels and have a particular fondness for her work. She is an amazing writer and if this novel is half as good as it sounds then I am in heaven. Now that you know my WOW what is yours? My Ravenous mind wants to know.

09/18/12
THE RAVEN BOYS
Raven Cycle Trilogy, Book One
by Maggie Stiefvater
ISBN-13: 978-054524929
Scholastic Press, 416 pages.
Amazon, B&N, Goodreads

Filled with mystery, romance, and the supernatural, The Raven Boys introduces readers to Richard “Dick” Campbell Gansey, III and Blue Sargent. Gansey has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on the hunt to find Glendower, a vanished Welsh king. Legend has it that the first person to find him will be granted a wish—either by seeing him open his eyes, or by cutting out his heart.

Blue Sargent, the daughter of the town psychic in Henrietta, Virginia, has been told for as long as she can remember that if she ever kisses her true love, he will die. But she is too practical to believe in things like true love. Her policy is to stay away from the rich boys at the prestigious Aglionby Academy. The boys there—known as Raven Boys—can only mean trouble. When Gansey and his Raven Boy friends come into her life, Blue realizes how true this is. She never thought her fortune would be a problem. But she was wrong.

Congratulations to the winners of the two Audiobook contests hosted by Macmillan

CINDER AUDIOBOOK: Yan @Books By Their Cover
TEMPEST AUDIOBOOK: Mindy @Magical Urban Fantasy Reads

For all of those that entered, please stay tuned because I have a few awesome contests coming up very soon.

I am very fortunate to live in the San Francisco, bay area. Because I believe we have the most amazing events featuring authors that are recognized and admired in the YA community. We also have many indie stores that host a plethora of events but not are as well orchestrated, engaging and fun as a NYMBC event.

So, If you ever in the bay area or enjoy one of the authors coming out this way. It would be well worth your effort and time to come to a NYMBC event. If you cannot attend any event that they host you can always call ahead and have your books signed for you.

I will be at both events and hope you will also.

Hello everyone! Today I compiled a list of upcoming author events in our lovely San Francisco bay area. I am super happy that we will be have such amazing opportunities to meet such talent.

A word of caution, please keep in mind that any event can change so please check online or call the bookstore in advance.

Love Maia@Kepler's
DJ Rising
Thursday, February 9, 6:00 pm

Meg Rosoff@A Great Good Place for Books
THERE IS NO DOG
Monday, February 13, 7:00 pm

Meg Rosoff @ Kepler's
THERE IS NO DOG
Thursday, February 16, 7:00 pm

Nina Lacour @ Diesel Oakland, CA
THE DISENCHANTMENTS
Thursday, February 16, 7:00 pm

Michael Grant @ Copperfield's Petaluma
BZRK
Thursday, March 8, 3:00 pm

Lissa Price, Nina LaCour and Caitlin Kittredge @ Books Inc. Berkeley
THE DISENCHANTMENTS
STARTERS
THE NIGHTMARE GARDEN
Wednesday, March 14, 7:00 pm

Caitlin Kittredge @ Borderlands
THE NIGHTMARE GARDEN
Saturday, March 17, 3:00 pm

Ally Carter @ Kepler's
OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND
Wednesday, March 21, 7:00 pm

Barry Lyga and Robin LaFevers @ NYMBC Burlingame
I HUNT KILLERS
GRAVE MERCY
Wednesday, April 4, 7:00 pm

Always keep in mind that if you cannot attend you can call ahead and request a signed copy. It is really easy and these independent book stores would appreciate it greatly. Just click on the bookstore for the individual event and order.

FEVER
by Lauren Destefano
Reading level: Ages 14 and up
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (February 21, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 144240907X
Source: Publisher
Rating: ♥♥

The second book in The Chemical Garden Trilogy reveals a world as captivating—and as dangerous—as the one Rhine left behind in Wither. Rhine and Gabriel may have escaped the beautiful prison of Wither’s mansion, but they are far from escaping danger. First they’re chased for stealing a getaway boat, and then the fleeing pair ends up in the eerie den of Madame, an old woman who collects girls and sells them to the highest bidders. Worst of all, Vaughn, Rhine’s sinister father-in-law, seems to be on her trail every step of the way. Rhine remains determined to get to her brother in Manhattan—but the road they are on is long and perilous.

Now that Rhine has finally regained her freedom, what lengths will she need to go to in order to keep it?

My Thoughts

FEVER by Lauren Destefano was a much anticipated novel for me because I enjoyed reading it's predecessor, WITHER and was very intrigued on how this new storyline would play out. Although I anticipated a few plot points, on a whole it was not what I expected.

Upon returning to the bleak world that Rhine and Gabriel inhabit we find them on the run, fleeing a madman that is hell bent on cruel experimentation. Unfortunately they do not enjoy their freedom for long before they are held prisoners in a different kind of torture of which Rhine becomes a feature attraction. They barely escape with another in tow and travel up to Manhattan but the journey is long and they encounter a few hardships along the way but nothing prepares Rhine for what awaits her back home.

When I read WITHER I was drawn to it's heroine Rhine, and her storyline. I admired her spirit and drive to escape her captors and return to the free world and find her brother. I am scarcely into a few pages of FEVER and Rhine quickly becomes ensnared in a fresh kind of hell that is brutal and sexually driven. This new place reminds me of some perverse carnival of the flesh, filled with withered and broken girls, illicit drugs and nightmares. Although this new situation is uncomfortable to read about I do find Madame, the flesh carnival's keeper, to command the pages that she inhabits because she is a ridiculously excessive character that is a perverse shell of a human whom is cunning and crazed by the ghosts in her past. Yet, despite my fascination with her I was eager to leave that place and move on. It is their first of many harrowing moments on their travels but they seem to manage despite their bleak circumstances.

As I witnessed Rhine and Gabriel on their arduous mission to find Rhine's brother I had hoped that their relationship would grow stronger.The frail bond between Rhine and Gabriel is constantly tested by the strain of their situation; Gabriel is dealing with his own personal demons while Rhine seems to drown in memories of her past. While I could tolerate her recollections of her life with her brother I could not stomach her nostalgia of being with Linden and her sister wives. If she was so eager to leave that hellish situation why did she have so many fond memories of it and of Linden? Why didn't she take off her wedding band? Of all the things she does, that fact I find the most off and incomprehensible.

Besides that issue there are several factors that initially threw me off. Some where explained as the story progressed, especially one that caused my head to ache, but at that point I did not care. I guess I became overwhelmed with Rhine's turmoil and delirium and was left dazed and confused. What I previously enjoyed about this series seemed to be lacking with this current novel, too much confusion and shock value situations seemed to prevail, weighing it down.

Despite my thoughts on this novel I enjoy Lauren's writing style for it is well detailed and poetic in nature and the world that she has created is imaginatively original. I just cannot say with certainty if I will return to finish this series.

Sneak a Peek Saturday is a feature that I like to indulge in because I cannot wait to read the tasty tid bits that are put out there for us ravenous readers to enjoy.

This week I have selected THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED because I find it to be one of the most anticipated reads for me. Once I read the first chapter I knew I that this book is going to be amazing.

Just click on the book cover to read the first chapter and enjoy.

04/10/12
THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED
by April Henry
ISBN-13: 978-0805092622
Henry Holt, 240 pages.
Amazon, B&N, Goodreads

Gabie drives a Mini Cooper. She also works part time as a delivery girl at Pete's Pizza. One night, Kayla-another delivery girl-goes missing. To her horror, Gabie learns that the supposed kidnapper had asked if the girl in the Mini Cooper was working that night. Gabie can't move beyond the fact that Kayla's fate was really meant for her, and she becomes obsessed with finding Kayla. She teams up with Drew, who also works at Pete's. Together, they set out to prove that Kayla isn't dead-and to find her before she is.

On USA today it was formally announced that Paranormal Romance author Kresley Cole is writing a YA series for Simon and Schuster. You can read that article HERE.

KRESLEY COLE

THE ARCANA CHRONICLES

POISON PRINCESS

Poison Princess centers on 16-year-old Evangeline "Evie" Greene, a privileged teenager from Louisiana. When an apocalyptic event decimates her hometown, killing everyone she loves, Evie realizes the hallucinations she'd been having for the past year were actually visions of the future — and they're still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux. As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophecy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of teens have been chosen to re-enact the ultimate

battle between good and evil. But it's not always clear who is on which side …

ZOMG!! talk about an amazing author writing a wicked cool book. I adore Kesley Cole and have read many of her Paranormal books and I have enjoyed them all. It will be interesting to see what she has created for the YA genre. What do you think? Have you read any of her novels? If so would you venture into this new world that she ahs created?

GRAVE MERCY

by Robin LeFevers

Reading level: Ages 14 and up
Hardcover: 560 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (April 3, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 054762834X
Source: Publisher
Rating: 5 star
Buy This if you enjoy Game of Thrones, La Femme Nikita

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.
Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

My Thoughts:

When I was first introduced to GRAVE MERCY by Rovin LaFevers I was completely taken in by it's jaw dropping premise: Teen female assassins, political intrigue, mystery and romance. Wow! that is a story that I want to read and become lost within it's pages.

The main character of GRAVE MERCY is Ismae, a teen that has led a rough life led by the back of her father's hand and cruel temper. When she is old enough her father sells her off to marriage she soon realizes that her father is not the only one with cruel intentions. Yet, she is saved from her dire situation when she is offered a new life at St. Mortain. Within those walls of the convent she is trained to become an assassin, an instrument of death that will stop at nothing until her mission is completed. Ismae has yet to graduate from training when she is called upon infiltrate the royal court to save the young queen from impending destruction. She is the handmaiden of death but unprepared for the callousness of court, and while trying to decide whom is friend or foe Ismae finds her heart traitorously longing for someone she does not think she can trust.

I am more than overjoyed at how amazing GRAVE MERCY is and how much I enjoyed reading it. Robin LeFevers has created a world that while cruel and unique is filled with political intrigue, mystery and a slow building romance that is a welcome relief. Ismae, is a well fleshed out character that has much depth and emotion and you come to understand and support her. I also have a soft spot for Duval because he was such a noble character and his interactions with Ismae were always a welcome respite amongst the backdrop of mystery and death.

The concept that Robin LaFevers has brought to life with this book, I believe to be an amalgamation of La Femme Nikita and Game of Thrones and it is well presented and detailed. I recognized the research and work that has gone into this book and I truly appreciate it. What I also welcomed about this story is that it is written in modern English and not old English. I personally found it easier to digest and less intimidating.

GRAVE MERCY is well worth your time, and has everything you could as for in an entertaining read. You will not regret one moment enveloped in this story and will only be left begging for more. I know I cannot wait for the next installment and regret that I have to wait a year before DARK TRIUMPH

I have been neglectful on posting contest winners, but I say it's better late than never.

Cinder: SWITCHED by Amanda Hocking
Zoe: UNDER THE NEVER SKY by Veronica Rossi
Munnaza: CINDER by Marissa Meyer

I still have two contest that are still up until tomorrow, make sure to enter and stay tuned for a few more that are on the horizon.

Jill over at Breaking the Spine started this and I believe that it's awesome" This blog post is to alert those that visit about "the" book that we cannot wait to get our hands on.

This week I have selected Revived by Cat Patrick because the concept of this book sounds wicked cool and the cover has got my attention.

05/08/12

REVIVED

by Cat Patrick

ISBN-13: 978-0316094627

Little, Brown BYR

Amazon, Goodreads

As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life.

A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency’s true goals, she realizes she’s at the center of something much larger — and more sinister — than she ever imagined.