A Lush Budget ProductionTales of a Ravenous Reader

Bay Area Author Event: Kepler's presents JOHN GREEN

2012-01-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

John Green

Friday, January 27, 7:00 p.m.
The Fault in Our Stars
Fox Theatre, 2215 Broadway St., Redwood City

ATTENTION ALL NERDFIGHTERS: John Green is coming to the Fox Theatre on January 27 to celebrate his new book with his brother, Hank. Be prepared for a night of music, readings, comedy, free posters, fancy programs, and vlogbrother mayhem! This will be unlike any other reading or booksigning. Come and be entertained.

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS:

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is John Green's most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

This is a ticketed event; and it is sold out.

Food and drinks are available in the lobby. No outside food and drinks will be allowed in the theatre.

I cannot wait to attend this event because I believe it will be one of the highlights of this year.

Restock Yara's Bookshelves: What Happened and Why We Need Your Help!

2012-01-26T13:05:00.000-08:00

Restock Yara's Bookshelves: What Happened and Why We Need Your Help!:

Members of the book blogging community have joined together to help restock Yara's bookshelf.

Please take a few minutes and stop by to visit Yara's Bookshelf to see if there is something you could do to help. New or gently used books are fine and more than appreciated. There is a book list for Yara and also a list for her boys.

Then take a look at Lani Woodland's Blog to see how authors are helping out: http://www.laniwoodland.blogspot.com/2012/01/helping-out-friend.html

Made of AWESOME!: The Hunger Games Nail Polish

2012-01-25T09:08:00.001-08:00

Dress Me Up: District 8, Textiles

Fois Gras: District 10, Livestock

Fast Track: District 6, Transportation

Hook and Line: District 4, Fishing

Stone Cold: District 2, Masonry

Smoke and Ashes: District 12, Coal Mining

Agro: District 11, Agriculture

Mahogany Magic: District 7, Lumber

Harvest Moon: District 9, Grain

Riveting: District 3, Technology/Mechanics

Electrify: District 5, Power

Luxe and Lush: District 1/The Capitol, Luxury

Are these the shades that you expected to see from the collaboration? Do you think it is missing anything or are you surprised by any of the shades? Sound off below!

The shades will be available in March. $5.99 each at sallybeauty.com.

Waiting on Wednesday: DARK KISS by Michelle Rowen

2012-01-24T21:00:00.000-08:00

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 DARK KISS by Michelle Rowen. I have been a long time fan of Michelle's novels, i.e. The Princess Nikki series (Reign or Shine, Reign Check and Reign Fall) and when I found out about this new series of hers I was more than excited. Harlequin has added another amazing author to their publishing house and May cannot get here fast enough.

05/22/12
DARK KISS
Nightwatchers, Book One
by Michelle Rowen
ISBN-13: 978-0373210473
Harlequin Teen, 304 pages.
Amazon, B&N, Goodreads, Powell's

After her soul is stolen in a kiss, a 16-year-old must join a force of demons and angels to protect humanity from an immortal threat.

Event Recap with Lauren Myracle

2012-01-24T09:00:00.000-08:00

Last night I had the pleasure of meeting Lauren Myracle at Kepler's. It was a great event filled with interesting stories, laughs and meeting new people.

Lauren with some event attendee's

If you were unable to attend and want a signed copy of some of Lauren's books, please contact Kepler's.

Kepler's Books
1010 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, CA 94025
650-324-4321

Store Hours:
Mon - Thurs: 9 am to 9 pm
Fri & Sat: 9 am to 10 pm
Sunday: 10 am to 6 pm

Directions

E-Mail: service@keplers.com

Follow them on Facebook

Follow them on Twitter

Join their Mailing List

Bay Area Book Event at KEPLER'S: LAUREN MYRACLE

2012-01-23T00:00:00.000-08:00

Teen Event: Lauren Myracle
Monday, January 23, 7:00 p.m.
Shine

When her best guy friend falls victim to a vicious hate crime, sixteen-year-old Cat sets out to discover who in her small town did it. This daring mystery mines the secrets of a tightly knit Southern community and examines the strength of will it takes to go against everyone you know in the name of justice.
Against a backdrop of poverty, clannishness, drugs, and intolerance, New York Times bestselling author Lauren Myracle has crafted a harrowing coming-of-age tale couched in a deeply intelligent mystery. Smart, fearless, and compassionate, this is an unforgettable work from a beloved author

Please come and attend this event tonight and meet a great author

Sneak A Peek Saturday: PARTIALS by Dan Wells

2012-01-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

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 PARTIALS by Dan Wells. This upcoming novel has received much praise and after reading this tasty sneak I am more than eager to get my hands on this novel.

02/28/12
PARTIALS
by Dan Wells
ISBN-13: 978-0062071040
Harper Collins, 480 pages.
Amazon, B&N, Goodreads

Just click on the book cover and enjoy your Sneak Peek.

The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.

Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic-in-training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws have pushed what's left of humanity to the brink of civil war, and she's not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will find that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them—connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.

Dan Wells, acclaimed author of I Am Not a Serial Killer, takes readers on a pulsepounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question—one where our humanity is both our greatest liability and our only hope for survival.

Audiobook Giveaway: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

2012-01-18T12:00:00.000-08:00

Add Cinder to Goodreads
Find Marissa Meyer on Twitter - Goodreads - Website

I an avid audiobook consumer so, believe me when I say that CINDER is one of the best audiobooks around. I simply adored listening to this new novel by Marissa Meyer because the characters were well depicted and the story seemed to jump to life. A great choice for new audiobook fans.

Thanks to Macmillan, I have one audiobook version of CINDER for one lucky winner!

Listen to the clip and enter for your chance to win.

Cinder webclip by RavenousReader
Now that you have listened to that great clip I know that you are more than eager to enter this contest.

CONTEST: An audiobook of CINDER by Marissa Meyer copy graciously given by the Publisher (Thank You!!)

CONTEST RULES: Contest is open to USA contestants only and ends at Midnight PST on February 4th 2012

CONTEST REQUIREMENT: Just respond on the comment section and let me know how much you would like to listen to CINDER, and where would you listen to it. Please don't forget to include your email address so that I may contact you if you win.

THANK YOU! and GOOD LUCK!!!!

Waiting on Wednesday: THE BOOK OF BLOOD AND SHADOW by Robin Wasserman

2012-01-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

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 a book that has been on my radar for a bit THE BOOK OF BLOOD AND SHADOW. The cover has a bit of mystery and foreboding that makes you want to take a closer look and when you do you are still left speculating. Then once I read the synopsis I knew it was a book I would want to read.

Now that you know my WOW I am curious to find out yours.

04/10/12

THE BOOK OF BLOOD AND SHADOW

by Robin Wasserman

ISBN-13: 978-0375868764

Knopf Books for Young Readers

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, 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.

Giveaway: CINDER by Marissa Meyer

2012-01-15T12:00:00.000-08:00

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

--~ Book Giveaway courtesy of publisher ~--

WIN a copy of this CINDER!

Open to US and Canada only.

Offer ends: January 29, 2012. Midnight PST

CONTEST:
If you lived in "Cinder's" world and given then choice which would you like to be. Human or Cyborg?

AND, please leave your email so that I may contact you upon winning.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Sneak A Peek Saturday: EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton

2012-01-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

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 EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton because I cannot wait to read this and think that if you are like me you will want this tasty morsel to devour. Just click on the book cover below and enjoy.

Everneath
By Brodi Ashton
On Sale: 1/24/2012

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.

Bay Area Book Event: NYMBC presents Head Injuries, Drugs and Cyborgs

2012-01-13T22:00:00.000-08:00

Head Injuries, Drugs & Cyborgs... Only the Good Stuff

On Thursday January 26th at 7pm NYMBC is hosting another epic event full of amazing authors. Marissa Meyer and Megan Miranda will be there to promote their new novels and how can you resist such awesomeness? You cannot, so please attend and hang out at one of the best book stores around, full of employees that have loads of YA book love and know how to throw an event. I hope to see you there :)

Epic Awesomeness: Meeting Robin LaFevers author of GRAVE MERCY

2012-01-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday night I had the pleasure of attending a pre-pub book event in honor of ROBIN LeFEVERS for her upcoming (AMAZINGLY AWESOME) YA novel GRAVE MERCY. It was a great night filled with book sellers from many bay area locations (Books Inc., Kepler's, Book Passage and Copperfield's) and the conversations were fun and informative. I was pleased to have some time with Robin and I was able to have a few questions answered.

ARC's , buttons and the final cover of GRAVE MERCY were displayed. I was graciously given an extra copy of GRAVE MERCY to give away for a contest that is coming soon.

Video Book Trailer Thursday: HARBINGER by Sara Wilson Etienne

2012-01-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

When sixteen-year-old Faye arrives at Holbrook Academy, she doesn't expect to find herself exactly where she needs to be. After years of strange waking visions and nightmares, her only comfort the bones of dead animals, Faye is afraid she's going crazy. Fast.
But her first night at Holbrook, she feels strangely connected to the school and the island it sits on, like she's come home. She's even made her first real friends, but odd things keep happening to them. Every morning they wake on the floors of their dorm rooms with their hands stained red.
Faye knows she's the reason, but what does it all mean? The handsome Kel tries to help her unravel the mystery, but Faye is certain she can't trust him; in fact, he may be trying to kill her - and the rest of the world too.
Rich, compelling writing will keep the pages turning in this riveting and tautly told psychological thriller

Awesome video book trailer. I cannot wait to sink my teeth into this read.

Don't Forget: THE DARK DAYS TOUR EVENT with NYMBC

2012-01-11T21:00:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! Just a friendly reminder about the @NYMBC event on Thursday, January 12th @7pm. It is going to be an event of epic proportions and I cannot wait to attend.

Waiting on Wednesday: SILENCE: Queen of the Dead, Book One by Michelle Sagara West

2012-01-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

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 SILENCE: Queen of the Dead, Book One because of it's gorgeous cover, amazing premise and the buzz that is going on about it. I cannot wait to devour this little gem.

05/01/12
SILENCE
Queen Of The Dead, Book One
by Michelle Sagara West
ISBN-13: 978-0756407421
DAW
Amazon, B&N, Goodreads

Emma isn’t like
other teenagers.
She can make the dead
her own...

It began in the graveyard. Ever since her boyfriend Nathan died in a tragic accident Emma had been coming to the graveyard at night. During the day she went through the motions at her prep school, in class, with her friends, but that’s all it was. But tonight was different. Tonight Emma and her dog were not alone in the cemetery. There were two others there—Eric, who had just started at her school, and an ancient woman who looked as though she were made of rags. And when they saw Emma there, the old woman reached out to her with a grip as chilling as death….

Audiobook Giveaway: TEMPEST by Julie Cross

2012-01-10T00:00:00.002-08:00

Thanks to Macmillan Audio, I have an audiobook of Tempest by Julie Cross to give away on the blog today! If you want to find out more about Tempest, check out my review HERE.

Listen to the audioclip and enter for your chance to win

Tempest webclip by RavenousReader

Now that you have listened to that great clip I know that you are more than eager to enter this contest.
CONTEST: An audiobook of TEMPEST by Julie Cross copy graciously given by the Publisher (Thank You!!)
CONTEST RULES: Contest is open to USA contestants only and ends at Midnight PST on February 4th 2012
CONTEST REQUIREMENT: Just respond on the comment section and let me know if you could time travel where would you like to go in time? Please don't forget to include your email address so that I may contact you if you win.

THANK YOU! and GOOD LUCK!!!!

Review: The Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

2012-01-10T00:00:00.001-08:00

CARRIER OF THE MARK

by Leigh Fallon
Reading level: Ages 13 and up
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen; 1 edition (October 4, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062027875
Rating: 3.5 Star
Get this book if you enjoyed STARCROSSED

Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÍs.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.

My Thoughts:

Romance, a foreign exciting landscape, a hot guy and a bit of paranormal activity....what is not to like about this story? I am always on the lookout for a good paranormal romance and I was pleased with what I encountered in reading The Carrier of the Mark.

Leight Fallon has done a fine job of creating a story that has great elements of romance, scenic landscapes and great characters with a plot line that is compelling. I enjoyed the story's unique use of the elements and how it was factored into the plot. Although I believe that it bordered on the complex side and made me want to revisit certain passages just to make sure I understood everything properly. The OMG! twist that posed a troubling issue for the main couple was well conceived and I could not wait to see how it could be resolved within the story's plot.

I enjoy paranormal romance and The Carrier of the Mark had a good amount heart pounding moments to keep the romantic side within me satisfied, but it did trespass onto far-fetched territory on a few occasions. Aside from that, it was great to see Megan and Adam navigate a teen romance when the world as we know it, is literally balancing on their shoulder. Like dealing with school, evil forces, scribes and prophecies is not enough.

Review: The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder

2012-01-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

The Probability of Miracles

by Wendy Wunder
Reading level: Ages 14 and up
Hardcover: 360 pages
Publisher: Razorbill (December 8, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1595143688

Source: Publisher

Rating: 5 Star

Dry, sarcastic, sixteen-year-old Cam Cooper has spent the last seven years in and out hospitals. The last thing she wants to do in the short life she has left is move 1,500 miles away to Promise, Maine - a place known for the miraculous events that occur there. But it's undeniable that strange things happen in Promise: everlasting sunsets; purple dandelions; flamingoes in the frigid Atlantic; an elusive boy named Asher; and finally, a mysterious envelope containing a list of things for Cam to do before she dies. As Cam checks each item off the list, she finally learns to believe - in love, in herself, and even in miracles.

My Thoughts:

I was hesitant about this well talked about book because contemporary fiction is not my favored genre, but I am ever grateful for stepping out of my "paranormal" comfort box and devouring this amazing novel.

The Probability of Miracles centers on Cam, one of the most sarcastically witted and completely unforgettable protagonists I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing on the written page. Cam lives in Orlando and comes from a Disney World show performing lineage an interesting plot point that I feel adds a bit of fun that keeps the narrative from being too heavy. As the story begins Cam learns that there are no other treatments available to save her from the cancer that has ravaged her body for years. This declaration causes Cam's mom to take matters into her own hands and move Cam and her sister to Promise a town that has been known for it's miracles. Yet, with the proof of small miracles occurring all around Cam she is not convinced until new friendships, a love interest and a job convince her otherwise. Maybe Promise produces miracles after all...

If you read the back cover you know what the end result that this story has to offer; tears and heartache, but don't let that disway you from picking it up and having a memorable experience with a great book. I loved the story because of it's peculiar setting and it's protagonist, Cam. Her acerbic tongue is a defense that is perfected to shield her from pain, but it did lead to some of the best moments in this story. Watching her soften up and embrace what Promise had to offer is worth every single tear and I will always remember it.

Wendy Wurner has penned a beautiful story that has a quirky edge and a cast of characters that you will not easily forget. A story about a girl with cancer and her journey to embrace and love her life and those around her.

Book Launch with Veronica Rossi

2012-01-08T13:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending a local author book launch event for Veronica Rossi. It was a magical evening full of well wishers, bloggers, authors and book lovers alike. The book event was held at Rakestraw books in Danville. It was the first time that I attended this well known store and it was quite full to overflowing measures. Due to a bad cut on my thumb I was late but I had a great time nonetheless. I was able to catch up with fellow bloggers @bookaliciouspam @arnoldjaime13 @102chicksonbks and @sophieriggsby...kiss kiss hug hug I love ya ladies like crazy. There were also a few authors in attendance Katherine Longshore, debut author of GILT, C.J. Omolalu, Lisa Derochers, Ellen Hopkins and I am sure a few more that I cannot seem to remember. While waiting in line to have Under the Never Sky signed by Veronica, she stood up to thank everyone for attending and to invite them to the THE VINE to enjoy a glass of ROAR wine. The wine is one of her favorites and she named one of her favorite character's in UTNS using that name so I think it was most fitting.

Veronica, signing my book for a contest I am hosting.

The bottle of wine that was signed by the ROAR vineyard owners along side Under the Never Sky book marks and special cocktail napkins.

A signed copy of UNDER THE NEVER SKY by Veronica Rossi with a special napkin and book mark. Contest to enter is HERE

In My Mailbox: January

2012-01-08T10:01:00.001-08:00

In My Mailbox lets you peek into the contents of my mailbox on a weekly basis. I am listing all the lovely books that I have acquired this week. If you would like to participate and have your own “In My Mailbox” post, you can find more information here on the Story Siren's blog, where it all began..(This post was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie

The first week of this year proved to be amazing. I cannot wait to devour these reads. Bitterblue is already being consumed.

Once by Anna Carey
Cold Fury by T.M. Goeglein
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (signed)
Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
Glimmer by Poebe Kitanidis
The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting
Dreaming Awake by Gwen Hayes
The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long
My Life in Black and White by Natasha Friend
Gilt by Katherine Longshore
Zoe Letting Go by Nora Price
The Vindico by Wesley King
Emelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield
The Waiting Sky by Lara Zielin

REVIEW and CONTEST: UNDER THE NEVER SKY by Veronica Rossi

2012-01-07T12:00:00.000-08:00

UNDER THE NEVER SKY
Reading level: Ages 14 and up
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (January 3, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 006207203X
Source: NCIBA (signed!!!)
Rating: 4.5
Get this if you enjoyed: Blood Red Road, Matched

Since she’d been on the outside, she’d survived an Aether storm, she’d had a knife held to her throat, and she’d seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland—known as The Death Shop—are slim. If the cannibals don’t get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She’s been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild—a savage—and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile—everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria’s help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

In her enthralling debut, Veronica Rossi sends readers on an unforgettable adventure set in a world brimming with harshness and beauty.

My Thoughts:

When I picked up UNDER THE NEVER SKY to read, it was upon the recommendation of many. This type enthusiasm always causes me a bit of pause and I enter with more trepidation than normal. That being said I need not have worried, for I was immediately sucked into this novel with the power of a hoover. SERIOUSLY!! and I am very happy to announce that I enjoyed Veronica Rossi's debut novel with much enthusiasm and a bit of awe.

With UNDER THE NEVER SKY we have a new world to explore with a story told from two POV's: Aria a girl from Reverie and Perry a boy from the wilds. Due to their initial meeting that triggers a chain of events and would inevitably force Aria to unite forces with Perry so that that could find those that they love the most. An unlikey and opposing duo that have their predisposed ideas of one another yet, life and death circumstance will turn them into more than just temporary allies. I have to admit that this part of the storyline melts my butter and kept my rapt attention from wavering elsewhere.

Veronica Rossi has created a new and brave world that is brutal and beautiful in equal measure rich with characters that have depth and understandable meaning behind their actions. None are underdeveloped, even those that have small parts because you will remember them all. I will freely admit to adoring PERRY, his quiet demeanor is understood, admired and respected yet he is not without fault and as the story progresses and develops so does he. Our heroine Aria is also a wonder of sorts and as her Reverie blanket of protection withers away her talents and passion for life soar and you cannot help but admire and want her to succeed. Together these two character's produce a bond that you cannot easily dismiss.

With the YA market being saturated with the paranormal genre of which I immensely enjoy it is difficult to find something that is fresh and unforgettable. It is a challenge to find something that will intrigue and excite me. UNDER THE NEVER SKY is that book...truly it is and I am not blowing an Aether storm around to get Perry's attention..even thought that would NOT be a bad idea at all. Let me forewarn you that this book is toted as a Dystopian novel and it is to some extent but It has more of a Sci-Fi edge to it than anything else, and it is way cool. This novel is worth the praise that it is getting and I am more than eager to see what will happen next as this series progresses and this talented author unfurls her talent for the world to see.

CONTEST

CONTEST PRIZE: A Signed copy of UNDER THE NEVER SKY by Veronica Rossi
CONTEST RULES: Leave a comment and tell me why you want a copy of this book, it's that simple. Please leave your email for me to contact you.
1) Must be from the US and over 13 years of age.
2) Contest ends January 21st at midnight PST.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Sneak A Peek Saturday: CITY OF LOST SOULS by Cassandra Clare

2012-01-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

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.

I am BEYOND excited about Cassandra Clare's upcoming CITY OF LOST SOULS. It is due to hit the book shelves In May but you can get a nice sneak peek that EW book buzz posted. Now I am frantic to read this novel in the worst way imaginable. So, I warn you to proceed with caution because you will be left pining for more.

EW has exclusive prologue from City of Lost Souls
Just click on the book cover above and enjoy.

Bay Area Author Event: VERONICA ROSSI

2012-01-06T12:00:00.000-08:00

I love living in the SF bay area not only for it's wonderful culture, scenic views and simple amazement, but because we have some of the top YA authors (and others also) around. Veronica Rossi author of UNDER THE NEVER SKY will be visiting RAKESTRAW books in Danville, CA. I am super excited because it is one of the closest events that has ever occurred near my home and because I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to support another bay area author....WOOT!!

VERONICA ROSSI

Please, come out and meet VERONICA ROSSI author of UNDER THE NEVER SKY on
Saturday, January 7th, 4:00-5:30 PM - Rakestraw Books, Danville, CA

I know I will be there as well other bay area bloggers, authors and book lovers alike. Don't be shy, if you attend please say hello.

AUTHOR EVENTof NON-LAMENESS with NYMBC

2012-01-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

Quoted as per NYMBC

January... Typically Lame

The holidays are over. Your pants don't fit. It's cold outside. Yeah, January is kinda lame. Don't worry though, NYMBC's got your back. This month we've got two awesome events (with SEVEN authors!) to help cure the January blues. First off, we have the DARK DAYS tour at our Opera Plaza store. So come on down and meet :

ANNA CAREY, ELLEN SCHREIBER, VERONICA ROSSI & TAHEREH MAFI!

I will there along with other bay area bloggers and I hope to meet many other book lovers! Don't be shy, say hi and lets talk books.

COVER LOVE: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

2012-01-04T12:00:00.000-08:00

May 8, 2012

In Book 5: City of Lost
Souls, the Shadowhunters struggle to piece together their shattered
world after a betrayal by one of their own leaves them reeling.

I cannot wait to consume this novel. It haunts me and I will not rest until every last word is read. WHO IS WITH ME???

Waiting on Wednesday: IMMORTAL RULES by Julie Kagawa

2012-01-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

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 wanted to start this year off with a much anticipated read and IMMORTAL RULES by Julie Kagawa is just that book. I adored her previous Iron Fey series and could not get enough of her beautiful writing style and unforgettable characters. Ever since it was announced that she had a new series and that it involved vampires I think I did a happy jig. So, I am starting this year with a WOW bang.

What is your most anticipated read for this year?

04/24/12IMMORTAL RULESBlood Of Eden, Book One
by Julie Kagawa
ISBN-13: 978-0373210510Harlequin Teen

Amazon, Goodreads

In a future world vampire's reign.
Humans are blood cattle.
And one girl will search for the way to save humanity.

You will kill. The only question is when.

In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.

Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.

Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.

The Lunar Chronicles - 'Cinder' Book Trailer and Giveaway!!

2012-01-03T12:30:00.000-08:00

I have not enjoyed a book as much as I have enjoyed this read and want to tell everyone about the amazing video and ways that you can catch up on all the "CINDER" awesomeness.

About Cinder:

Cinder: Book One in The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Even in the future, the story begins with Once Upon a Time…. Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future.

LINKS:

Marissa Meyer's Blog:

http://marissameyer.livejournal.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/MarissaMeyerAuthor

There will be an author event on January 9th as a Facebook/ Twitter party at 7:00 EST. Come and Join in on the fun.

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/marissa_meyer

CINDER TRAILER

Check back in a few days for the opportunity to win a signed copy!!!

SWITCHED by Amanda Hocking Giveaway!

2012-01-03T00:00:00.001-08:00

SWITCHED… at birth:

When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. Eleven years later, Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. She’s not the person she’s always believed herself to be, and her whole life begins to unravel—all because of Finn Holmes.

Finn is a mysterious guy who always seems to be watching her. Every encounter leaves her deeply shaken…though it has more to do with her fierce attraction to him than she’d ever admit. But it isn’t long before he reveals the truth: Wendy is a changeling who was switched at birth—and he’s come to take her home.

Now Wendy’s about to journey to a magical world she never knew existed, one that’s both beautiful and frightening. And where she must leave her old life behind to discover who she’s meant to become…

Contest Begins: Tuesday, January 3rd and ends January 10th, 2012, midnight PST.

Contest Rules: Pretty simple. Just tell me one of your new year resolutions and please leave your email address so that I may contact you if you win. Also, you must live in the U.S. (sorry not my policy but the publisher's)

GOOD LUCK!!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

“Each new day is a blank page in the diary of your life. The secret of success is in turning that diary into the best story you possibly can.” I wish you Happy New Year and diary full of best stories ever written in your life.

Douglas Pagels -( Addition to Quote by Muhammad Shaharyar Khan )

Sneak A Peek Saturday: BLACK HEART by Holly Black

2011-12-28T01:02:00.000-08:00

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 last and final Saturday of the year I have selected BLACK HEART by holly black because this series is made of wicked awesome and each book is better than it's predecessor. I am sure fans of this series will love this tasty bit so, click on the book cover below and enjoy.

Cassel Sharpe knows he’s been used as an assassin, but he’s trying to put all that behind him. He’s trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He’s trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy.

But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob, and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet—this time on love.

Happy New Year's Eve.

Waiting on Wednesday: GOD SAVE THE QUEEN by Kate Locke

2011-12-28T00:00:00.001-08:00

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.

As this year is coming to an end I have selected a book that I think is going to be absolutely amazing. God Save The Queen by Kate Locke is that book. An undead monarchy, Werewolves, Vampires and more. Now who can resist a storyline such as that? Not moi.

07/03/12
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN
The Immortal Empire, Book One
by Kate Locke
ISBN-13: 978-03161961230

Queen Victoria rules with an immortal fist.

The undead matriarch of a Britain where the Aristocracy is made up of werewolves and vampires, where goblins live underground and mothers know better than to let their children out after dark. A world where being nobility means being infected with the Plague (side-effects include undeath), Hysteria is the popular affliction of the day, and leeches are considered a delicacy. And a world where technology lives side by side with magic. The year is 2012 and Pax Britannia still reigns.

Xandra Vardan is a member of the elite Royal Guard, and it is her duty to protect the Aristocracy. But when her sister goes missing, Xandra will set out on a path that undermines everything she believed in and uncover a conspiracy that threatens to topple the empire. And she is the key-the prize in a very dangerous struggle.

REVIEW: CROSSED by Ally Condie

2011-12-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

CROSSED
by Ally Condie
Reading level: Ages 14 and up
Hardcover: 367 pages
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (November 1, 2011)
Language: English
Source: BEA
Ratings: 2.5 star

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

My Thoughts:

This year was filled with many novels that I was most eager to read and CROSSED was on the top of that very list. I had enjoyed it's predecessor with tepid enthusiasm yet Ally Condie's lyrical writing style and alternate utopia had me coming back for more.

As I return to this world it unfolds before me through two points of view: Cassia and Ky. I don't usually favor this approach but it worked well with how the plot progressed, adding depth and a bit of darkness that was displayed through Ky's POV. Initially through flashbacks the story brings forth Cassia's efforts to find Ky. Meanwhile the horrific conclusion to Ky's encampment comes to light and fuels his desire to find Cassia. When the inevitable reunion comes I did not find the happiness that I expected to be there due to their different ideas regarding the Resistance. Who will lead and who will follow? Only time will tell.

Upon finishing CROSSED I did not have the same intense feelings as I had with MATCHED. The poetic writing style that would sometimes take my breath away only seemed to cause a mild pause and it's current bleakness seemed faded and uninspiring. I wanted that darkness to cause more destruction, not sure why but I feel it would have added a bit of credibility to this new storyline. Also, the intensity of passion between the two main characters lacked the emotional quality that kept my initial interest but this current endeavour could not seem to stoke those same fires. What I did enjoy was this story's crucial twist that took me by surprise and lent a bit of mystery that intrigued me to want to read the next novel despite my lackluster desire for CROSSED.

I am not sure if fans of this series will be sold on this novel but it will be interesting to see if it will be enough to fuel further interest. I will return but with reservation and trepidation and hopeful resolution.

CROSSED Video Book Trailer

Review: DEARLY DEPARTED by Lia Habel

2011-12-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

DEARLY DEPARTED

by Lia Habel
Hardcover: 480 pages
Publisher: Del Rey; 1St Edition edition (October 18, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345523318
Source: Audible (very well done)
Rating: 5 stars

Love can never die.

Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

In Dearly, Departed, romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love.

My Thoughts:

Dearly Departed by debut author Lia Habel is just what the good doctor ordered. A fast-paced adventure filled with Zombies, romance and Steam punk elements that make this whimsical tale of true love from opposites sides of a beating heart, a brilliant read.

Dearly Departed is told from multiple points of view from pivotal characters, but the most memorable are Nora and Bram, the story's most unlikely of love pairings. The romance between these two characters is remarkably sweet and genuine, giving one the warm fuzzies.

Nora is a spirited orphan living with her aunt who is constantly reminding her that she is a spinster in need of a good man, but she can only think of the world that she is forbidden to explore. Bram is part of a secret government undead army created by Nora's father. After a near catastrophic event these two will cross paths and Nora will uncover a hidden secret that will seriously rock her world, but not before the two fall head over heals for one another. Meanwhile a seriously twisted mad man wants to expose and destroy the "secret" army and will stop at nothing until it is done.

Lia Habel did a fantastic job of creating a world that is well detailed, plausible and abundantly vivid with memorable characters that are well fleshed out (no pun intended) and entertaining to witness. I read the prologue I knew it would satisfy all the romantic goodness and adventure that I sorely crave and I was not disappointed. I highly recommend this delightful read to anyone seeking adventure, romance and something a bit more twisted than normal.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

I hope that everyone has a wonderful day filled with laughter and good cheer while being surrounded by their family, friends and loved ones.

Happy Holidays!

Amanda Hocking's Trylle Series - Book Trailer and Images

2011-12-22T12:00:00.000-08:00

SWITCHED… at birth:When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. Eleven years later, Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. She’s not the person she’s always believed herself to be, and her whole life begins to unravel—all because of Finn Holmes.Finn is a mysterious guy who always seems to be watching her. Every encounter leaves her deeply shaken…though it has more to do with her fierce attraction to him than she’d ever admit. But it isn’t long before he reveals the truth: Wendy is a changeling who was switched at birth—and he’s come to take her home. Now Wendy’s about to journey to a magical world she never knew existed, one that’s both beautiful and frightening. And where she must leave her old life behind to discover who she’s meant to become…

From Amanda Hocking, million-copy bestselling author and internet sensation comes the Trylle series... it all begins with Switched, available everywhere 1.3.12. As a special gift to readers, Switched contains a new, never-before-published bonus story, "The Vittra Attacks," set in the magical world of the Trylle.The Trylle series continues with Torn, on-sale 2.28.12, and concludes on 4.24.12 with Ascend.Read an excerpt from SWITCHED and much more at: FACEBOOK

Can we say WOW!

She cannot keep her eyes off him

Would you go with him?

Waiting on Wednesday: DIVINE INTERVENTION by Martha Brockenbrough

2011-12-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

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 DIVINE INTERVENTION by Martha Brockenbrough initially because of it's interesting cover. It sort of reminds me of Heaven Can Wait (movie from a long time ago) but then I read the synopsis and knew that it was something that I would enjoy.

Now that you have my WoW I would like to know yours, my curious mind cannot help it.

06/01/12
DEVINE INTERVENTION
(formerly listed as TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR THE DEAD)
by Martha Brockenbrough
ISBN-13: 978-0545382137
Arthur A. Levine Books
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

Heavenly writing, earthy characters, and humor that is wicked as hell.

Heidi is seventeen. Insecure. Unkissed. Unremarkable, she thinks, in every way but one: She has a guardian angel, Jerome, who whispers in her ear all day long, amusing her, confusing her, but hardly ever saying anything that might help her discover who she's meant to be.

Jerome is also seventeen (for the seventeenth year in a row.) There is only one thing he needs to do to graduate from heaven's soul rehabilitation program for wayward teenagers: Follow the 10 Commandments for the Dead, and in doing so, keep Heidi safe. Instead, he accidentally lets her drown.

Plucked from her body before she ever truly lives, Heidi wants more than anything to say goodbye to her family and best friend. Jerome, afraid he's going to be sent to the lowest level of Hell, wants to sneak her into heaven before he gets caught.
Neither realizes that Heidi has only 24 hours before her soul dissolves forever. And that might not be enough time for them to figure out how they were meant to live.

Sneak A Peek Saturday: FRACTURE by Megan Miranda

2011-12-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

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 FRACTURE by Megan Miranda because it is an amazing read that has received alot of great buzz and once you get a taste of the first few chapters you will understand why.

Just click on the book cover below to read chapters 1 and 2

By the time Delaney Maxwell was pulled from a Maine lake’s icy waters by her best friend, Decker Phillips, her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead.
But somehow Delaney survived—despite the brain scans that show irreparable damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be fine, but she knows she’s far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can’t control or explain, Delaney now finds herself drawn to the dying, and when she meets Troy Varga, a boy who recently emerged from a coma with the same abilities, she is relieved to share this strange new existence. Unsure if her altered brain is predicting death or causing it, Delaney must figure out if their gift is a miracle, a freak of nature—or something else much more frightening….

Megan Miranda TOUR dates

Blog Tour: Review and contest for Tempest by Julie Cross

2011-12-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

"That was all it took to fool me? My older self must be an idiot."

Publisher - Macmillan Children's Books

Publication Date - 6 January 2012

Age - Teen

Isbn: 978 0 230 7526 7 H/back

Jackson Meyer is hiding a secret. He can time-travel. But he doesn't know how he does it, how to control it or what it means. When Jackson, and his girlfriend Holly, find themselves in fatal danger, Jackson panics and catapaults himself two years into his past, further than he's ever managed before, and this time he can't find a way back to the future. All the rules of time-travel he's experienced so far have been broken and Jackson has no choice but to pretend to be his younger self whilst he figures out a solution. Jackson is tearing himself apart with guilt and frustration, wondering if Holly survived. He's also become the target of an unknown enemy force and it seems even his dad is lying to him. Jackson is racing against time to save the girl he loves, but to do that he must first discover the truth about his family and himself.

And stay alive.

Today - Jackson and Holly are in love
Tomorrow - She will lie dying in his arm
Yesterday - Jackson must undo it all

Having read the synopsis for this novel I was totally on board to dive in and devour it. The concept of time travel is truly fascinating to me and I was eager to see how it would be addressed in this debut novel by Julie Cross. I am most happy to say that I found this novel most intriguing and unique among it's concept and delivery.

TEMPEST centers on Jackson Meyer, the main character, who can time travel but the unique twist is that he does not require a machine and he can only travel within the time limits that he has existed on earth. So, he cannot travel into the future and hang with Michael J. Fox and the Delorean, but he can see loved ones that have passed on, which is a pivital point in this love story.

I am not a big sci-fi fan and yet this story kept my interest and made it difficult for me to put down. The concept of the storyline was well explained and easy to follow which I believe is crucial in a novel of this nature, otherwise I would have lost interest, but that was not the case. Along with the paranormal nature of this novel there is the continuing mysterious vibe and danger that grabs you and keeps the story from becoming overly sappy.

Despite the novel having been promoted as a "Twilight-like" novel I found that it would appeal to an even greater genre of readers because it has a great paranormal scientific edge while at it's heart is the love story between Jackson and Holly and I know it is the magic ingredient that makes you NEED to know what happens next.

TEMPEST is fast paced read while featuring characters that are memorable and well fleshed out while interrjected with a scientific paranormal edge that is unique and sure to ensare you.

Links to find Tempest and Julie Cross online: Website / Twitter / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

Signed TEMPEST by Julie Cross Giveaway FORM

and here are other opportunities for you to enter on other blogs participating in this blog tour. Good Luck!!

Tempest by Julie Cross Blog Tour

Hosted by Books Complete Me & Once Upon a Twilight

December 5^th – 16^th, January 2^nd – 6^th

December:

5^th: Yara @ Once Upon a Twilight

6^th: Andrea @ Reading Lark

7^th: Lillie @ Alise On Life (Read My Mind)

8^th: Jen @ I Read Banned Books

9^th: Andye @ Reading Teen

12^th: Damaris @ Good Choice Reading

13^th: Savannah @ Books With Bite

14^th: Hira @ The Chronicles of an Enamored Soul

15^th: Heather @ Fire and Ice

16^th: Nancy @ Tales of a Ravenous Reader

January:

2^nd: Cindy @ Books Complete Me

3^rd: Christin @ Portrait of a Book

4^th: Jenna @ An Avid Reader’s Musings

5^th: Stacey @ Page Turners Blog

6^th: Shannan @ Girls in the Stacks

September 15, 2007 (12:05 a.m.)

Waiting on Wednesday: THE LAST PRINCESS by Galaxy Craze

2011-12-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

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 for my WoW I have selected THE LAST PRINCESS by Galaxy Craze (awesome name, right?) The cover for this upcoming novel is beautifully eerie and colorful, then I read the synopsis and was even further convinced that this novel had to occupy a space on my bookshelf of Dystopian reads.

Now that you know my WoW, my curious mind wants to know what yours is.

05/08/12
THE LAST PRINCESS
by Galaxy Craze
ISBN-13: 978-0316185486
Poppy
Amazon, Goodreads

Happily ever after is a thing of the past.

The year is 2090.

England is a barren land. Food is rationed. Oil has decimated the oceans. The people are restless.

A ruthless revolutionary enacts a plan to destroy the royal family, and in a moment, the king is dead. His heiress, Princess Mary, and her brother, Jamie, have been abducted, and no one knows their fate. Princess Eliza Windsor barely escapes, and finds herself scared and lost in London's dangerous streets.

With a mind for revenge and the safe recovery of her siblings, Eliza joins the enemy forces in disguise. There she is tempted by her first taste of independence -- and true love. Ultimately she must summon her courage and fight to ensure that she does not become... The Last Princess.

BLOG TOUR: Guest Post and Contest LEGEND by Marie Lu

2011-12-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today I have the pleasure of being a part of the LEGEND Blog Tour and I am more than excited about my participation in today's post. Author Marie Lu has shared her technique of dealing with writer's block and at the same time demonstrated another amazing talent. I adore all that she has shared with The Tales of the Ravenous Reader blog and I hope that you take the time to check out this informative post about a rising new talent in the YA reading genre and participate in the contest that is included at the end of this post.

Marie Lu Bio:
Before becoming a full-time writer, Marie Lu was the art director at a video game company. She also owns the children’s brand Fuzz Academy. She was first inspired to write Legend while watching Les Miserables one afternoon, and wondered how the relationship between a famous criminal vs. a prodigious detective might translate into a more modern story. She graduated from the University of Southern California in 2006 and lives in Los Angeles, California.Visit Marie at ww.marielu.org

LEGEND FACEBOOK EXPERIENCE

Click here to read the first chapter of LEGEND

And without further delay Marie Lu shares with us how she deals with writer's block. I am sure that you will agree with me that not only is she a talented author but she is an amazing artist as well.

MARIE LU

My Legend Artwork (or, my cure for writer's block)

I suffer writer's block much more often than I care to admit. On these unpleasant occasions, after I'm done sulking in a corner with my emo hoodie on, I'll retreat into my (almost) foolproof writer's block breaker: drawing. Whenever you see me posting Legend-related artwork online, you can bet that I'm having a writer's block day. Indulging in a different form of creative media almost always helps me loosen the tangles that are preventing me from writing. So, today, I thought I'd share some of the art that I did in the past year that got me through the writing of both Legend and Legend 2 (which comes out in Fall 2012!):

This is what I see in my head for the opening scene of Legend, when Day and Tess are watching the plague patrol make their way down the street. Minus the rain. That was
just for dramatic effect. :) (Day and Tess drawn in Flash. Background commissioned from a small art studio.)

Based on an early Legend scene, where June tries in vain to convince her brother Metias that taking her along onmissions is a good idea. As you can see, my Disney-ish side is sticking out here.

A compilation of various sketches I drew of Day. Top left, Day being apologetic. Top middle, Day being mean. Top right, Day being...bewildered. Bottom sequence, Day flirting with some curly-haired girl.

For some reason, this is everyone's favorite picture. I have no idea why.

Probably the closest I've gotten to capturing how June looks in my head.

I tried a more realistic sketch of how Day and June look in my head. Still not quite right...but I tried!

I don't know about you guys, but I adored every single one of those images and the book trailer is pretty darn great and it makes me want to read this novel all over again. Thank you Marie for sharing your drawings on my blog and I cannot wait to read LEGEND 2.

CONTEST Prize: I have one (1) prize pack to give away to a winner in the US. The prize pack includes:
1 finished copy of LEGEND
1 LEGEND button

CONTEST Rules: Tell me which of Marie's Drawings do you like the best and why?

Must reside in the US to receive this prize pack that is donated by the Publisher
Contest ends December 26th 2011 at midnight PST

GOOD LUCK!!

In My Mailbox: December

2011-12-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

For Review:

Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

Sneak A Peek Saturday: Everything You Need to Survive The Apocalypse

2011-12-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

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 found an excerpt of EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO SURVIVE THE APOCALYPSE by Lucas Klauss. I am always a fan of interesting covers and this cover is so very unique and colorful that one cannot help but be drawn to it. The concept of this book sound like a great coming of age story with a guy that is just trying to find his place in life with a girl that he thinks has seriously "great boobs" once I read that part I had a good snerk and knew this was a book that I had to read.

Just click the book cover below and you will understand why this book is getting such great press.

01/03/12
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO SURVIVE THE APOCALYPSE
by Lucas Klauss
ISBN-13: 978-1442423886
Simon Pulse

Phillip's sophomore year is off to a rough start. One of his best friends ditches him for a group of douchebags. His track coach singles him out for personalized, torturous training sessions. And his dad decides to clean out all of the emergency supplies from the basement, even though the world could end in disaster at any moment...and even though those supplies are all Phillip has left of his dead mom. Not that he wants to talk about that.

But then Phillip meets Rebekah. Not only is she unconventionally hot and smart, but she has seriously great boobs. And she might like him back.

As Phillip gets closer to Rebekah, he tries harder and harder to turn himself into the kind of person he thinks she wants him to be. But the question is, can he become that person? And does he really want to?

Review: POSSESS by Gretchen McNeil

2011-12-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

POSSESS

Gretchen McNeil
Reading level: Ages 13 and up

Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (August 23, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062060716

Source: Publisher

Fifteen-year-old Bridget Liu just wants to be left alone: by her mom, by the cute son of a local police sergeant, and by the eerie voices she can suddenly and inexplicably hear. Unfortunately for Bridget, it turns out the voices are demons – and Bridget has the rare ability to banish them back to whatever hell they came from.

Terrified to tell people about her new power, Bridget confides in a local priest who enlists her help in increasingly dangerous cases of demonic possession. But just as she is starting to come to terms with her new power, Bridget receives a startling message from one of the demons. Now Bridget must unlock the secret to the demons' plan before someone close to her winds up dead – or worse, the human vessel of a demon king.

My Opinion:

Possess is a cleverly crafted novel showcasing a young teenage girl that has the unique ability to banish demons back to hell. A read that is makes you question the movement in the shadows, the voices that surround you and the power of pure evil.

Protagonist Bridget Lui, a Catholic school teen who is part Chinese, part Irish and can list her talents as an accomplished piano player and teen exorcist the later talent manifesting shortly after her father's murder. Early on we witness Bridget navigate through an exorcism and although it isn't her first encounter with demonic forces it proves how green she really is. Yet, Bridget has a strength within her that is tested and proven as she battles the everyday hell that is called high school and an ambitious demon that wants to declare Armageddon on Heaven.

Debut author Gretchen McNeil, has penned a suspenseful and refreshing paranormal novel in a market that is filled with repetitious paranormal stories. A frightening read that gave me the chills and made me want to say a few hail mary's and keep the lights on.

POSSESS Video Book Trailer

A Book You Cannot Miss: THE PROBABILITY OF MIRACLES

2011-12-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

“THE BEST COMING-OF-AGE NOVEL SINCE THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS.” –Les Morgenstein, Executive Producer of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movies

« “Beautiful. . . Fans of Gayle Forman’s If I Stay (2009) and others will find hope and laughs amid tragedy.”
—Kirkus, starred review

« “A witty, clever, meaningful, kind of kooky life-sometimes-stinks-but-it’s-all-we-have tour de force.” –School Library Journal, starred review

“Wunder gracefully balances comedy and tragedy in this debut novel.” – Publishers Weekly

“An unforgettable read.
You will cry, you will laugh, you will love it.”
—Sarah Mlynowski, author of Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn’t Have)

“The Probability of Miracles is a miracle itself—hilarious, wry, heartbreaking.”
—Sara Shepard, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Little Liars and The Lying Game

“I have to gush about this book.
It was bittersweet, beautiful, and inspiring.”
—5 out of 5 stars, BooksByTheirCover.blogspot.com

Razorbill and Alloy Entertainment present one of the best received novels of 2011. Sparkling new talent Wendy Wunder’s debut novel, THE PROBABILITY OF MIRACLES (On sale December 8, 2011 / 9781595143686 / $17.99 / Ages 14 Up), tells the story of an unforgettable seventeen-year-old cancer patient named Campbell Cooper who finds hope, humor, and the strength to live life fully in the face of death. Told in Wendy Wunder’s fresh, satirical voice, Cam’s story is a perfect marriage of unexpected humor and tear-jerking realism.

Wry, sarcastic, and practical-to-a-fault, Cam accepts her fate. But her kooky, fiercely-loving mother, a hula dancer at Disney World, does not. With Cam’s younger sister Perry in tow, they set off on a road trip from Orlando, Florida, to Promise, Maine, where it’s rumored that miracles happen. Cam is reluctant as ever to believe in the intangible, but when a mysterious envelope arrives containing a list of things for Cam to do before she dies, she finally opens her eyes to chasing a life well lived while she can.

THE PROBABILITY OF MIRACLES brings readers through sweeping romance, dream-chasing adventures, and the realization that each day must be lived to the fullest. Wunder reminds readers that the probability of miracles in everyday life is strong if only we look for it.

Wendy Wunder lives in Boston where she writes and teaches yoga. This is her first novel. And yes, Wendy Wunder is her real name. Find Wendy online at www.wendywunderbooks.com, www.facebook.com/wendywunderauthor, and www.twitter.com/wendywunder. Or visit the official website of The Probability of Miracles, www.probabilityofmiracles.com.

THE PROBABILITY OF MIRACLES
By Wendy Wunder
On sale December 8, 2011 / A Razorbill hardcover / 9781595143686 / $17.99 / Ages 14 Up / 368 pages

STAY TUNED BECAUSE AN AUTHOR INTERVIEW AND GIVEAWAY IS COMING SOON!!

Waiting on Wednesday: Wonder Show by Hannah Barnaby

2011-12-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

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 WONDER SHOW by Hannah Barnaby. This novel reminds me of THE NIGHT CIRCUS, of which I enjoyed immensly. Yet, this Circus themed read seems to have a darker edge that I find intriguing.

Now that you know my WoW I would love to know what is yours? My curious mind wants to know.

03/20/12

WONDER SHOW

by Hannah Barnaby

ISBN-13: 978-0547599809
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Amazon, B&N, Goodreads

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, friends and neighbors, allow me to change your lives! Step inside Mosco’s Traveling Wonder Show! You’ve read about them in magazines, these so-called human curiosities, this tribe of misfits—now come and see for yourselves. We’ve got a gent as tall as a tree, a lady with a beard, and don’t miss your chance to see the Wild Albinos of Bora Bora! Ask Madame Doula to peer into your future (only two dollars more if you want to know how you’re going to die).　 And between these covers behold the greatest act of our display—Portia Remini, the strangest of the menagerie because she’s a ‘normal’ among the freaks, searching for a new beginning on the bally, far away from McGreavey’s Home for Wayward Girls, where Mister watches and waits. He said he would always find Portia, said she could never leave . . .

Oh, it’s not for the faint of heart folks. If you’re prone to nightmares or you’ve got a weak ticker, you’d best move on. Within these pages lies a tale of abandonment, loss, misfortune for the rich and glory for the poor (and a little murder doesn’t hurt). It’s a story for the ages, but be warned: once you enter the Wonder Show you will never be the same.

REVIEW: THE IRON KNIGHT by Julie Kagawa

2011-12-03T00:00:00.001-08:00

THE IRON KNIGHT
by Julie Kagawa

Paperback: 400 pages

Publisher: Harlequin; Original edition (October 25, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0373210361

Source: Net Galley
Rating: 5 star

My name—my True Name—is Ashallayn’darkmyr Tallyn.

I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court.

And I am dead to her.

My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl…

To cold faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl—smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the unwelcome company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end—a quest to find a way to honor his vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron Realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. And along the way Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

My Thoughts:

The Iron Fey series is by far one of my very favorite series and THE IRON KNIGHT is proof positive as to why that is so. Julie Kagawa has penned a story that has surpassed all of my expectations and wishes for a wonderful read and whose world I am very sad to say goodbye to.

For fans of the Fey series THE IRON KNIGHT was a bittersweet ending. Witnessing Ash go through hell and back to be with the woman he loves and swore to protect was heart wrenching. I could not get enough of witnessing Ash and Puck work together to accomplish every hard task while testing the boundaries of their friendship. I also enjoyed the return of master trickster, Grimalkin and newcomer, the big bad wolf. Together they comprise a band of unlikely dare devils, each with a personal stake in helping Ash accomplish his goal of attaining a human soul.

Julie Kagawa created a unique world with her Iron Fey Series and while her this final novel is a darker endeavour than her previous novels, it is by far the most satisfying and heart wrenching novel yet. The first half of this story returns us to the past adventures of narrow escapes and acts of heroic brilliance but when Ash reaches the end of the world he is pushed in a manner that changes him forever.

While I enjoyed returning to this series I also felt an great sadness because I knew I would be leaving this world and these amazing characters. They have become a part of my life and I am ever grateful for the adventures that I have had the privilege to witness and enjoy. Thank you, Julie and I cannot wait for what you have in store for us next.

THE IRON KNIGHT Video Book Trailer

Sneak A Peek Saturday: CROAK by Gina Damico

2011-12-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

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 CROAK my Gina Damico. I have had my eye on this little gem and once I read the excerpt I knew I wanted to read this book right away. Now you can enjoy these little gem by clicking on the book cover below for a an excerpt to whet your appetite.

03/20/12
CROAK
Croak, Book One
by Gina Damico
ISBN-13: 978-0547608327
Graphia
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

Sixteen-year-old Lex Bartleby has sucker-punched her last classmate. Fed up with her punkish, wild behavior, her parents ship her off to upstate New York to live with her Uncle Mort for the summer, hoping that a few months of dirty farm work will whip her back into shape. But Uncle Mort’s true occupation is much dirtier than that of shoveling manure.

He’s a Grim Reaper. And he’s going to teach her the family business.

Lex quickly assimilates into the peculiar world of Croak, a town populated entirely by reapers who deliver souls from this life to the next. Along with her infuriating yet intriguing partner Driggs and a rockstar crew of fellow Grim apprentices, Lex is soon zapping her Targets like a natural born Killer.

Yet her innate ability morphs into an unchecked desire for justice—or is it vengeance?—whenever she’s forced to Kill a murder victim, craving to stop the attackers before they can strike again. So when people start to die—that is, people who aren’t supposed to be dying, people who have committed grievous crimes against the innocent—Lex’s curiosity is piqued. Her obsession grows as the bodies pile up, and a troubling question begins to swirl through her mind: if she succeeds in tracking down the murderer, will she stop the carnage—or will she ditch Croak and join in?

The Tour de Nerdfighting 2012

2011-12-02T18:00:00.000-08:00

News like this always makes me ridiculously happy!!!
As quoted by John Green's Tumblr page
"ANNOUNCEMENT: The Tour de Nerdfighting 2012
In January of 2012, Hank and I (and the Katherine and occasionally the Yeti) will be going on tour to celebrate the publication of The Fault in Our Stars, and also because we haven’t been on tour together since 2008. These events will feature music, readings, hilarity, free posters, fancy programs, crossword puzzles, book signing, and many other things"

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10TH - 7:00 PM
WELLESLEY, MA
Dana Hall School (45 Dana Rd., Wellesley, MA 02482)
Hosted by the Wellesley Booksmith. More info here at their site or by calling 781.431.1160.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11th - 6 PM
NEW YORK, NY
Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, New York, NY 10025 (Broadway & 95th)
Tickets at their site or by calling 212.864.5400
NOTE: Tickets are $25 (but do include a book), because everything is more expensive in New York.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13th - 7 PM
BETHESDA, MD
The Crystal Ballroom at the Bethesday Hyatt regency (7400 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814)
Hosted by Politics & Prose - Tickets at 202.364.1919

SATURDAY JANUARY 14TH - 6 PM
RALEIGH, NC
Ravenscroft School (7409 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh, NC 27615)
Hosted by Quail Ridge Books - Tickets at 919.828.1588

SUNDAY JANUARY 15TH - 7 PM
ATLANTA, GA
Presser Hall at Agnes Scott College (141 East College Ave., Decatur, GA 30030)
Hosted by Little Shop of Stories - LSOS is apparently not ready for ticket sales, but they will be soon! I will let you know…

(Then there will be events in Birmingham, AL and New Orleans, LA, but I don’t know when or where yet.)

FRIDAY JANUARY 20TH - 7 PM
PASADENA, TX
Pasadena High School (206 South Shaver, Pasadena, TX 77506)
Hosted by Blue Willow Bookshop - Tickets at 281.497.8675

(Then there will be something in Austin.)

TUESDAY JANUARY 24TH - 7 PM
ALBUQUERQUE, NM
KiMo Theatre (423 Central Avenue Northwest, Albuquerque, NM 87102)
Hosted by Alamosa Books Tickets at 505.797.7101 or info@alamosabooks.com (Also, they have a facebook.)

(Then comes a thing in Arizona, but I don’t know when or where.)

THURSDAY JANUARY 26TH - 7 PM
SANTA MONICA, CA
Lincoln Middle School Auditorium, 1501 California Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90403
Hosted by Children’s Book World. Tickets at 310.559.2665.

FRIDAY JANUARY 27TH - 7 PM (yeah baby, I am sooo there)
REDWOOD CITY, CA (San Francisco-ish)
Fox Theater - Redwood City (2221 Broadway St., Redwood City, CA 04063)
Hosted by Kepler’s. Tickets will be available starting next week.

SUNDAY JANUARY 29TH - 7 PM
PORTLAND, OR
Bagdad Theater (3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97214)
Hosted by Powell’s Books - Tickets will be available soon.

MONDAY, JANUARY 30TH - 7 PM
SEATTLE, WA (Well, Lake Forest Park, anyway)
The Third Place Commons (17171 Bothell Way Northeast, Lake Forest Park, WA 98155)
Hosted by Third Place Books. Tickets will be available starting next week.

That’s it for now! We hope you can make it to a stop on the tour de nerdfighting 2012, and we’re sorry again that we can’t go everywhere. But we’re really excited to see as many of you as possible IRL. I’ll turn on asks for the next couple days in case there are questions I can answer. DFTBA!

Waiting on Wednesday: THE VESSEL by Sarah Beth Durst

2011-11-29T21:00:00.000-08:00

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 VESSEL by Sara Beth Durst. I enjoy her books and this upcoming novel looks and sounds intriguing. What happens because the goddess never comes??? Who knows? but I sure want to find out. What is your WOW for this week?

09/11/12

VESSEL

by Sara Beth Durst

ISBN-13: 978-1442423763

Margaret k. McElderry

Goodreads

In a desert land where serpents made of unbreakable glass fly through the sky and wolves made of only sand hunt within storms, Liyana is destined to be a vessel, to sacrifice herself so that her clan's goddess can inhabit her body... but her goddess never comes.

Contest Winners!! Congratulations

2011-11-26T12:00:00.000-08:00

Thank you! Giveaway: Nancy of My Mind Unveiled and

Jeremy West of Novel Thoughts (his response made me happy)
Daughter of Smoke and Bone: Elise of Hand me Down Books
Shatter Me, Giveaway: Patricia from Two Chicks on Books

Congratulations! to everyone who won and I will have more contests next month so stay tuned.

Waiting on Wednesday: DROWNING INSTINCT by Ilsa J. Bick

2011-11-23T00:00:00.000-08:00

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 chosen DROWNING INSTINCT by Ilsa J. Bick, author of ASHES of which is creepy amazing. I enjoy her writing style and the way that she can totally gross you out and make you cry in the same moment. So, I cannot wait for upcoming novel. It sounds disturbing and I am intrigued. Also, the cover is very eye catching.

01/28/12

DROWNING INSTINCT

by Ilsa J.Bick

ISBN-13: 978-0761377528

Learner Publishing Group

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

There are stories where the girl gets her prince, and they live happily ever after. (This is not one of those stories.)

Jenna Lord's first sixteen years were not exactly a fairytale. Her father is a controlling psycho and her mother is a drunk. She used to count on her older brother—until he shipped off to Afghanistan. And then, of course, there was the time she almost died in a fire.

There are stories where the monster gets the girl, and we all shed tears for his innocent victim. (This is not one of those stories either.)

Mitch Anderson is many things: A dedicated teacher and coach. A caring husband. A man with a certain...magnetism.

And there are stories where it's hard to be sure who's a prince and who's a monster, who is a victim and who should live happily ever after. (These are the most interesting stories of all.)

Drowning Instinct is a novel of pain, deception, desperation, and love against the odds—and the rules.

In My Mailbox: November part deux

2011-11-20T10:00:00.000-08:00

IMMB: For Review

UNRAVELING by Elizabeth Norris
A TEMPTATION OF ANGELS by Michelle Zink
THE SELECTION by Kiera Cass
PARTIALS by Dan Wells
THE DISENCHANTMENTS by Nina LaCour
HARBINGER by Sara Wilson Etienne

Sneak a Peek Saturday: GRAVE MERCY by Robin LaFevers

2011-11-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

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 readers to enjoy. This week I have selected Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers. When I attended NCIBA I approached the Houghton Mifflin booth and was instantly informed of this novel. It was heavily promoted as ALIAS meets GAME OF THRONES....need they have said anything more? NO, I do not believe so. I have read the first two chapters and found it hard to resist reading more but I had to put it down in favor of other books that need my attention now. Yet, I know I will go back soon because it is just too good to leave unread.

03/07/12
GRAVE MERCY
His Fair Assassin, First in Trilogy
by R.L. LaFevers
ISBN-13: 978-0547628349
Houghton Mifflin/ Harcourt

Click on the book cover below for the first chapter and enjoy!

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

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?

Bay Area Book Event: Stacey Jay and Suzanne Young

2011-11-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

Teen Book Event
Authors: Suzanne Young and Stacey Jay
When: Friday, November 18 @ 6:30
Where: Hicklebee's
1378 Lincoln Ave.
San Jose, CA 95125

This Friday, Hicklebee's is hosting a Teen event that you cannot miss. The wonderful Suzanne Young and Stacey Jay will talk about their newest novels and sign their books. It is an evening that you cannot miss. I hope to see you there.

Suzanne Young
A Need so Beautiful

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be forgotten.
Charlotte's best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she's cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what's really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.
But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become—her mark on this earth, her very existence—is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.
Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny—no matter how dark the consequences?

Stacey Jay
Juliet Immortal

The most tragic love story in history . . .
Juliet Capulet didn't take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But what Romeo didn't anticipate was that Juliet would be granted eternity, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light. For 700 years, she's fought Romeo for the souls of true lovers, struggling to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent. Until the day she meets someone she's forbidden to love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy that love.

Waiting on Wednesday: Something Strange and Deadly

2011-11-16T00:00:00.002-08:00

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 Something Strange and Deadly because this book has one of the most wicked covers around (always a plus) and the synopsis sucked me in immediately (but reminded me of another recent read). Zombies are always a welcome subject to read about and then include some corsets and I am totally there. So, now that you know my WOW, what is yours?

07/24/12
SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY
by Susan Dennard
ISBN-13: 978-0062073265

HarperCollins Children's

Amazon, Goodreads

Parasols, corsets, and…zombies?! The Luxe meets The Forest of Hands and Teeth in this compelling and witty debut novel—the first in a trilogy that will thrill fans of A Clockwork Angel and lovers of romance, things Victorian, and the macabre.

When her brother is kidnapped, Eleanor Fitt – a sixteen-year-old with a weakness for buttered toast and Shakespeare quotes – must leave the confines of corsets and courtesy to get him back.

It’s 1876, and Philadelphia is hosting the first American World Fair, the Centennial Exhibition. It’s also hosting rancid corpses that refuse to stay dead. When one of those decomposing bodies brings Eleanor a hostage note for her brother, she resolves to do anything to rescue him. But to face the armies of Dead that have him, she’ll need a little help from the Spirit-Hunters.

The Spirit-Hunters, a three-man team hired to protect the Exhibition, have a single goal: return the Dead to their graves. Yet, what began as a handful of shambling bodies has escalated beyond the team’s abilities, and time is running out. Whoever rules the Dead is losing control, and when the leash finally snaps, Philadelphia will be overrun with ravenous corpses.

Now Eleanor must battle the walking Dead and deal with her growing attraction to the team’s inventor, Daniel, an exasperating but gorgeous ex-con. From the steampunk lab of the Spirit-Hunters to the grand halls of the Exhibition, Eleanor must follow the clues – and the bodies – to find her brother and stop the Dead before it’s too late.

Novel to Screen: The Hunger Games Official Trailer

2011-11-14T17:00:00.000-08:00

OK, Stick a fork in me because I am done.

Bay Area Book Event: Ransom Riggs

2011-11-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

Teen Book Event
Author: Ransom Riggs
When: November 15, 7 p.m.
Where: Kepler's Books
1010 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, CA 94025

About Ransom, the short version:
I live in Los Angeles, where I write books and make movies.
The longer version is HERE

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

Thank You, Giveaway

2011-11-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

This contest is now CLOSED! Thank you for entering.

As Thanksgiving approaches I am ever mindful of what I am thankful for; my health, family, dear friends and my love of reading and what it has given me. I want to extend my good fortune, thanks and love of reading to those that follow my blog and make it a part of their life. I have selected a collection of books that I believe will enrich your library as much as it has mine.
Giveaway Books
The Other Countess by Eve Edwards

My Not So Still Live by Liz Gallagher

All the Earth Thrown to the Sky by Joe R. Lansdale

Every You, Every Me by David Levithan

Tighter by Adele Griffin

The Lost Songs by Caroline B. Cooney

The Silence of Murder by Dandi Daley Mackall

Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey

Starstruck by Cyn Balog

**New books added 11/13/11 5pm PST, but not pictured**

We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

Moonglass by Jessica Kirby

Twisted by Sarah Shepard

The Lucky Kind by Alyssa B. Scheinmel

Giveway Contest: All the above books to a lucky follower and If I receive over 100 entrants then I will add Revived by Cat Patrick to the stack and if over 200 entrants then I will also add Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver.

1) Follow The Ravenous Reader Blog.
2) Enter by telling me one thing that you are thankful for and don't forget to leave your email address so that I may contact you if you win.
3) Spread the word: i.e. blog, twitter, facebook or even word of mouth
4) Contest ends November 25, 2011 PST
5) Contest open Internationally

GOOD LUCK, and THANK YOU!!!

In My Mailbox: November

2011-11-12T21:00:00.000-08:00

Sneak A Peek Saturday: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

2011-11-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

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 readers to enjoy. This week I have selected Cinder by Marissa Meyer. I have had this book on my radar for a long while because this cover is not easy to forget. Then USA today hosted an exclusive excerpt and after reading it, I wanted to read it all the more. Now it is your turn to read this Sneak Peek and see what you think.

Click on the book cover below for a first chapter excerpt

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future. In this thrilling debut young adult novel, the first of a quartet, Marissa Meyer introduces readers to an unforgettable heroine and a masterfully crafted new world that’s enthralling.

A Divine Full-Moon Campaign has Launched

2011-11-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

For those readers of the Bree Despain series or anyone that enjoys a great paranormal read.

Please, join in and you could win great reads and cool prizes.

Egmont Publishing is pleased to announce the publication of The Lost Letters of Brother Gabriel. And starting at the stroke of midnight, Friday, November 11th through Saturday, December 10th, Egmont and acclaimed author of The Dark Divine series Bree Despain will be offering weekly prizes from books to jewelry to celebrate the upcoming paperback publication of TheLost Saint (11/22/11), book 2 in the trilogy. The final book, The Savage Grace, will be available in March.

In addition, for just $1.99 readers can purchase The Lost Letters of Gabriel, a special digital supplement to the series that will add a whole new layer of intrigue and understanding to these books. The letters, first introduced during The Dark Divine(Book 1) to help Grace understand the Urbat curse that has changed her life, were written during the thirteenth century and compiled in the eighteenth century, but some were lost. But those mislaid letters have been found and are now available wherever e-books are sold. Bree Despain is donating a portion of her proceeds from the letters will go to: Kids Need to Read, an organization that provides books to schools and libraries in low income areas.

Look for the next full moon and every full moon between now and the publication of The Savage Grace for more from Bree and Egmont, including exclusive content, additional prizes and maybe a surprise or two.
To win cool prizes during the Full-Moon campaign, visit: EgmontUSA

“Talk about a book that has everything I wanted: A bad boy with a dark, tortured past, a complicated romance, and a mystery that made my heart beat in double-time right up to the last page. …Darkly romantic and surprising, this paranormal rises to the top.” –Becca Fitzpatrick, the NY Times bestselling author of the Hush Hush series on The Dark Divine

The Dark Divine Series by Bree DespainThe Dark Divine Book 1: Available in paperback and e-book

The Lost Saint Book 2: Available in hardcover and e-book now, paperback (11/22/11)

The Savage Grace Book 3: Coming March 2012

Bree Despain's WEBSITE, please go and visit.

2012 Debut Author Challenge

2011-11-09T13:00:00.000-08:00

MORE INFORMATION ON THE 2012 DAC, CAN BE FOUND HERE!

CHALLENGE OBJECTIVE:
To read & review a minimum of twelve young adult or middle grade debut novels between the dates of January 1, 2012 - January 31, 2013.*

Here is my list:

Brodie Ashton EVERNEATH

Julie Cross TEMPEST

Marissa Myer CINDER

Avery Williams ALCHEMY OF FOREVER

Veronica Rossi UNDER THE NEVER SKY

Sarah Wilson Etienne HARBINGER

Kat Hellisen WHEN THE SEA IS RISING RED

Jessica Spotswood BORN WICKED

Aimee Agresti ILLUMINATE

Sophie Crockett AFTER THE SNOW

Jill Hathaway SLIDE

Lisa Bobet ABOVE

Zoraida Cordova THE VICIOUS DEEP

Susan Dennard SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY

Corrine Jackson IF I LIE

Elizabeth Norris THE UNRAVELING

Wendy Higgins SWEET EVIL

Waiting on Wednesday: SWEET EVIL by Wendy Higgins

2011-11-08T21:00:00.000-08:00

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.

With the upcoming 2012 year of YA books you will be hard pressed NOT to find a cover with a pretty girl posing in a gorgeous dress. That is why SWEET EVIL by Wendy Higgins stood out to be because there was an ominiously hot looking man also on the cover. Next I read the snyopsis and it intrigued me enough for me to place it on my WOW for this week? What do you think? Is the cover too much? Would you believe that it was a YA book? Oh, so many questions, in the meantime I will keep staring at the hot guy. LOL

SWEET EVIL
5/1/2012
Teen Fiction
Pb 9780062085610 $8.99
Age: 13 up-; Grades: 8 up
ISBN: 9780061978845

This thrilling romance captivates with its forbidden chemistry and dramatic showdown between good and evil. Sweet Southern girl Anna discovers at age sixteen that she is the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon—the only one of her kind. As Anna struggles to fight the dark legacy of her father, she falls for the mysterious Kaidan Rowe, the ultimate bad boy. Forced to face her destiny, will she embrace her halo or her horns?

Author Interview and Book Giveaway with ANNA CAREY author of EVE

2011-11-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

This contest is now CLOSED! Thank you for entering.

Today I have the pleasure of hosting an Author Interview and Book Giveaway with Anna Carey, debut author of EVE. After my interview I have a great contest opportunity for you to enter, so please stick around and check out the information provided on this wonderful new novel and author.

Anna Carey was a face painter, nanny, horrific cocktail waitress, gift wrapper, sofa saleswoman, and children’s book editor before becoming an author—the one thing that allows her to be all of the above. She graduated from NYU and has an MFA in fiction from Brooklyn College. She developed THE EVE TRILOGY, a post-apocalyptic story of love and survival, with Alloy Entertainment. While she’s authored middle grade novels, EVE is her first series for young adults.

Hello Anna, and thank you for visiting the Tales of the Ravenous Reader blog and answering a few questions. So, let us begin.

RR: Why did you decide to write a novel for Young Adults?

AC: I grew up on THE BABYSITTERS CLUB--I had hundreds of those books. Out
of all the teachers and authors who've I've read or been influenced
by, I can honestly say I owe the most to Ann M. Martin. That series
helped me think of myself as a reader, which in turn helped me realize
I was a writer. THE BABYSITTERS CLUB was my gateway drug to the
reading and writing life.

RR: How did you come up with the idea for EVE?

AC: I wanted to write a character who discovers everything she's ever
learned is a lie. What if everything you believed to be fact were
proven false? How do you recover from that? Would you have the
courage to relearn your life?

RR: What makes EVE stand out in today's market of Dystopian novels?

AC: I wrote EVE as more of a post-apocalyptic book than a dystopian one,
though it has a lot of the same qualities as an adventure-driven
dystopian. It's not a story about some strange, futuristic world with
different rules. It's a story about our world in the wake of an
unfathomable disaster. How would the survivors move on? In the midst
of chaos, would we stay true to the values our country was founded on
or follow the first leader with a clear vision? How can you possibly
fall in love when it's hard just to survive?

RR: Eve is an interesting character that you cannot easily forget. Why
do you believe that is the case?

AC: The adventure follows Eve through three states and over hundreds of
miles. She's fighting against the elements, wild animals and gangs,
all while being chased by the King's army. But in my mind, the book
has always been about how she changes and grows in the process--her
internal journey as opposed to her external one. When she escapes
School she has few supplies and absolutely no survival skills. She's
not only been taught that men are dangerous and violent, she's been
taught that going beyond the School wall means certain death. She's
terrified, but she overcomes that terror. To me, that has always been
the most interesting thing about her.

RR: What are you currently working on and can you divulge the title?

AC: EVE is the first in a trilogy (ONCE, the sequel, comes out July 2012).
I'm writing the last book now. I can't reveal the title yet, but soon!

RR: Because I am curious, what is on your nightstand?

AC: My sleep mask (which makes me seem impossibly high maintenance, but
which is actually the best invention), a pad to write ideas on, and a
book (right now it's THIRTEEN REASONS WHY by Jay Asher).

RR: What is one of your favorite YA reads and why?

AC: I finally read IF I STAY by Gayle Forman and I loved it. I haven't
read a book that moving in a long time.

EVE by Anna Carey
Watch the trailer at TheEveTrilogy.com
HarperTeen, an Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers
9780062048509
$17.99 Ages 14 up
October 2011

THE HUNGER GAMES meets THE HANDMAID’S TALE in EVE (On Sale: October 4, 2011), the powerful first novel in an exciting new trilogy by Anna Carey. Sixteen years ago a deadly virus wiped-out most of the earth’s population. Wildlife has grown over once recognizable landmarks, and the New America is ruled by a controlling King who will stop at nothing to rebuild the nation.

Eighteen-year-old Eve has grown up isolated from boys, and has been taught to fear them. It isn’t until the night before the graduation from her all-girls school that she discovers what really happens to new graduates. To avoid the terrifying fate that awaits her, Eve flees the only home she’s ever known, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rebellious young man living in the wild. Eve knows she shouldn’t trust him, but Caleb slowly wins her confidence and heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between life and love.

Official Eve website: http://www.theevetrilogy.com/
Like Eve on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheEveTrilogy
Follow @AnnaCareyBooks on Twitter: http://twitter.com/annacareybooks
Visit Anna Carey’s blog: http://www.annacareybooks.com/

Book Giveaway: A signed copy of EVE by ANNA CAREY
RULES:
1)Respond in the comments by telling me why you want to read this amazing new novel and make sure to also leave your email address so that I may contact you.
2)US entrants only(sorry)and you must be over 13 years of age, with permission to recieve any contest goodies.
3)Contest ends November 25th, 2011 PST Midnight

GOOD LUCK!!

Contest Book provided by Alloy Entertainment
photo credit: Kristin Hoebermann

CONTEST: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

2011-11-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

This contest is now CLOSED! Thank you for entering

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting Laini Taylor and I was in awe because Daughter of Smoke and Bone is my absolute favorite book of the year. It was beautifully written, poetic and romantic beyond belief and I cannot wait for the next installment in this series. Since I had the good fortune of meeting Laini I wanted to share that with a lucky winner.

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 has 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.

Contest Item: A signed hardcover copy of Daughter of Smoke and Bone and some awesome tattoos.
Contest Question: If you could travel anywhere in the world to collect teeth for Brimstone where would you most want to go and why?
Contest Rules:
1) Answer the question provided and also leave you email so that I may contact you in case you win.
2) Must be over 13 years of age and able to receive contest goodies in the mail.
3) Open Internationally
4) Contest ends November 25th, 2011. Midnight PST

GOOD LUCK!!

Laini Taylor's Blog

Laini Taylor's Twitter

Artwork by Jim Bartolo

Sneak A Peek Saturday: Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams

2011-11-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

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 readers to enjoy. This week I have selected THE ALCHEMY OF FOREVER by Avery Williams. I enjoy a good love story and anything tale that transcends time, involves body swamping and the fact that you cannot kiss the one you want has my complete attention. What also makes this a great choice is that the author lives in the bay area. YEAY!!

Product Details
Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, January 2012
Hardcover, 256 pages
ISBN-10: 1442443162
ISBN-13: 9781442443167
Grades: 7 and up
Click on the book cover below for an exciting sneak peek

People say 'love never dies'… but love might be the death of Seraphina. Seraphina has been alive since the Middle Ages, when her boyfriend, Cyrus, managed to perfect a method of alchemy that lets them swap bodies with any human being. Sera ran away from Cyrus years ago, when she realized that what they were doing—taking the lives of innocent people—was wrong. She doesn't want to die, so she finds young people who are on the brink of death, and inhabits their bodies. When we meet Sera, she has landed in the body of a girl named Kailey who was about to die in a car accident. For the first time, Sera falls in love with the life of the person she's inhabiting. Sera also falls for the boy next door, Noah. And soon it's clear the feelings are returned. Unfortunately, she can never kiss Noah, because for her to touch lips with a human would mean the human's death. And she has even more to worry about: Cyrus is chasing her, and if she stays in one place for long, she puts herself—and the people she's grown to care for—in danger.

Movie News: The Hunger Games Posters

2011-11-04T15:00:00.000-07:00

Seeing this makes me so happy that I cannot even begin to express my feelings in a coherent and proper manner.

March 23, 2012

is going to epic

YallFest: Charleston YA Book Festival

2011-11-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

OMG! How I wished I lived on the east coast so that I could attend this amazing event. Twenty-six amazing YA authors will be in panels and signing books and what can be better that that? NOTHING! If you're interested just click on the above image and you will be taken to the site where you can check out the schedule.

Some authors in attendance will be:
Kami Garcia (Beautiful Creature series)
Margaret Stohl (Beautiful Creature series)
Melissa De La Cruz (The Blue Blood series)
Michelle Hodkin (The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer)
Sarah Rees Brennan (The Demon’s Lexicon)
Caitlin Kittredge (The Iron Thorn)
Victoria Schwab (The Near Witch)
David Levithan (Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist)
Beth Revis (Across the Universe)
Kim Derting (The Pledge)
Diana Peterfreund (Rampant)

and many, many more.

Saturday, Nov. 11, Panels at the American Theater and the Courtyard at Blue Bicycle Books. Authors will sign books at Blue Bicycle Books immediately following panels.

Cover Love:Endlessly and For Darkness Shows the Stars

2011-11-03T13:00:00.000-07:00

Today the most spectacular covers hit the web waves. What do you think?

Is it LOVE? HATE? or JUST LUST?

Bay Area Book Event: Stacey Jay at Kepler's

2011-11-03T00:00:00.001-07:00

TEEN EVENT
Author: Stacey Jay
Date: Friday, November 4, 2011
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Kepler's
1010 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, California
Phone: 650-324-4321

This Friday, Kepler's is hosting an awesome book event with author Stacey Jay. It will be a great opportunity to meet Stacey (who is fun and crazy talented) and to talk books with other event attendee's. Yet, if you cannot attend, you can always call Kepler's and have them personally signed.

Some titles available: Juliette Immortal, The Undead Series, My So-Called Death and more.

click on the image of stacey below to check out her novels at Kepler's

I cannot wait to attend and am super excited to meet Stacey again, because she is so entertaining and her books rock my socks!! Make sure to say hello and let's talk books.

Contest Winners

2011-11-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

SILENCE Giveaway Winner: Jessica

SUPERTACULAR Contest Winner: Jasmine Rose

I want to thank everyone who has entered and to stay tuned for more great contests on the horizon.

Waiting on Wednesday: DARK STORM by Sarah Singleton

2011-11-02T00:00:00.001-07:00

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.

Today I have selected DARK STORM, a novel by Sarah singleton that has gotten my attention. I adore a doomed love story, call me crazy but if it appears that I may shed a tear over a book then I am sure to desire it all the more.

March 2012
DARK STORM
by Sarah Singleton
Simon & Schuster

Ellie is staying with her maternal grandparents for the summer, while her recently bereaved dad takes off on holiday with his new girlfriend. Upset by his apparent callousness, missing her mother, and jealous for her dad's attention, she begins to spiral into depression. Her grandparents suggest she joins a local theatre group, to meet people her own age and get away from the dark thoughts that threaten to engulf her. But then she gets roped into a seance at the theatre, and is the only one who actually sees a real ghost. Now a spirit is contacting her from beyond the grave - and as the dead boy's story unfolds, Ellie finds herself falling in love with him. But if she solves his mystery and helps release his soul, will he be lost to her forever?

CONTEST: (Signed Hard Cover) Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

2011-11-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

This contest is now CLOSED! Thank you for entering.

"You can't touch me," I whisper.

I'm lying, is what I don't tell him.

He can touch me, is what I'll never tell him.

But things happen when people touch me.

Strange things.

Bad things.

No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal, but The Reestablishment has plans for her. Plans to use her as a weapon.

But Juliette has plans of her own.

After a lifetime without freedom, she's finally discovering a strength to fight back for the very first time—and to find a future with the one boy she thought she'd lost forever.

If that doesn't get your reading MOJO going, I don't know what will. I had the pleasure of reading this great novel and an opportunity to receive a hard cover copy that is signed. Because of this good fortune, I wanted to give this copy away so that someone could experience the wonder and awe of SHATTER ME.

CONTEST: A signed Hardcover of SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi
CONTEST RULES:
1) Please tell me what makes you most excited about reading this novel and don't forget to add your email address so that I may contact you in case you're the winner
2) Please spread the word about this contest: i.e. Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Blogs.
3) This contest is open INTERNATIONALLY, must be over 13 years old and able to receive prizes in the mail.
4) This contest ends November 25th, 2011. Midnight PST

Tahereh Mafi is a girl. She was born in a small city somewhere in Connecticut and currently resides in Orange County, California, where the weather is just a little too perfect for her taste. When unable to find a book, she can be found reading candy wrappers, coupons, and old receipts. Shatter Me is her first novel.

Tahereh Mafi website
Shatter Me My Space

Bay Area Book Event(s): Ally Condie with NYMBC and Barnes and Noble

2011-11-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

BOOKS INC.
NYMBC Event
Wednesday, November 2nd: GET MATCHED with Ally Condie at Frjtz in the Mission.

This is a ticketed event and the ticket price includes French Fries, a soda and a copy of CROSSED to be signed. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Opera Plaza Books in or over the phone.

If your not able to attend the above event do not be sad because Ally will also have a book event later that same evening at
Barnes and Noble
Wednesday, November 2nd 7:00 p.m.
Ally Condie
6050 El Cerrito Plaza
El Cerrito, CA 94530

I wish that I could attend both events but my work schedule will not allow it so I will definately attend the later event. I hope to see some bay area regulars there and some new readers also. Please, don't be shy come up and say hello and let's talk about books.

Halloween: books that made me keep the lights on

2011-10-31T00:00:00.000-07:00

Today, in honor of Halloween I am showcasing some of my favorite scary reads. They may not be the typical Halloween read but they made me want to keep the lights on. Now that you know what scares me what books make you afraid of the dark?

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
August 30th 2011

When the cover was revealed for this novel I knew that I had to read it, because it just screamed "SCARY". I was not disappointed, in fact I was scared enough to make sure that I slept with the lights on. If you are a fan of the Supernatural TV show and it's premise you will surely enjoy being "spooked" by this read.

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick
August 30th 2011

This book totally grossed me out and kept me freaked out for a long while. It's descriptive zombie munching is best read on an empty stomach, but you despite the gory details you will not want to stop.
Zombies and the Apocalypse, what more scary can you ask for.

Rotters by Daniel Kraus
April 5th 2011

This book was truly disturbing and months after reading it I cannot forget it. Not only did I never want to be buried but the cast had the most memorable and twisted characters around. I dare you to not twist around in your chair as you read this book.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
October 1st 2008

This novel had one of the best opening lines ever "There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife." An instant chill will run down your spine. Truly memorable and wickedly sharp, this book will keep you entertained.

The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith
November 9th 2010

This book is by far THE most disturbing that I have ever read. I had the most difficult time trying to keep reading and not get totally creeped out and stop. In the beginning I could differenciate between the the two worlds but then the lines began to blur and things only got more disturbing. Yet, despite the issues I had I could not stop reading and that is a testiment to Andrew Smith's unique talent at creating a world that you will not forget.

Giveaway and Excerpt: SLAYERS by C.J. Hill

2011-10-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

Dragons exist. They’re ferocious. And they’re smart: Before they were killed off by slayer-knights, they rendered a select group of eggs dormant, so their offspring would survive. Only a handful of people know about this, let alone believe it – these “Slayers” are descended from the original knights, and are now a diverse group of teens that includes Tori, a smart but spoiled senator’s daughter who didn’t sign up to save the world.

The dragon eggs have fallen into the wrong hands. The Slayers must work together to stop the eggs from hatching. They will fight; they will fall in love. But will they survive?

If that is not enough to make you want to read this fantastic novel then check out this enticing Prologue EXCERPT

Giveaway Prize: A hardcover signed copy of SLAYERS by C.J. Hill with a book mark and "SLAYERS" sticker.
Giveaway Rules: To be entered in the giveaway, respond with your email. One entry per person and you must be from the US to enter (sorry to those outside that country). The giveaway will be open until the end of the day on Saturday, November 26. Each winner has 24 hours to respond once contacted via email, and if I don’t hear from them by then a new winner will be chosen (who will also have 24 hours to respond until someone gets back to me with a place to send the book).

Please note email addresses will only be used for the purpose of contacting the winner. Once the giveaway is over all the emails will be deleted.

Good luck!

In My Mailbox: October

2011-10-29T21:00:00.000-07:00

In My Mailbox lets you peek into the contents of my mailbox on a weekly basis. I am listing all the lovely books that I have aquired this week. If you would like to participate and have your own “In My Mailbox” post, you can find more information here on the Story Siren's blog, where it all began..(This post was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie

A majority of this week's amazing haul was made possible thru attending the NCIBA.

7 Clues to Winning You by Kristin Walker
Diary of a Mad Fat Girl by Stephanie McAfee
Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne
Shatter Me Tahereh Mafi HC (signed)
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (signed)
Illuminated by Erica Orloff
I'm Not Her by Janet Gurtler
Revived by Cat Patrick
Fever by Lauren DeStefano
Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
Illuminate by Aimee Agresti
Switched by Amanda Hocking
Fracture by Megan Miranda
Where it Began by Ann Redisch Stampler
The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams
The Edumacation of Jay Baker by Jay Clark
The Daughter of Smoke and Bone Laini Taylor (signed)
Pink Smog by Francesca Lia Block
Slide by Jill Hathaway
Girl Meets Boy Edited by Kelly Milner Halls
Thou Shalt Not Road Trip by Anthony John
The Springsweet by Sundra Mitchell
Radiant Days by Elizabeth Hand
Irises by Francisco X. Stork
Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
A Million Suns by Beth Revis
Tempest by Julie Cross
Unleashed by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie
Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg

While visiting NCIBA I had the pleasure of attending a blogger panel where a few key subjects were broached. Among the topics discussed:
Interrelations with independent book sellers and their local book blogger's.
Blogger etiquette when approaching publishers/authors for books and receiving book review queries.
Blog Tours and Independent publishers.
Along with the informative advice offered all the blogger's in attendance told everyone how they started blogging and what they do to attract followers and how they like to promote their favorite reads. It was also great that a few book sellers, publishers and authors (Katherine Longhore, Talia Vance) also came to give some of their input. I really enjoyed attending and meeting up with fellow bloggers. I like the fact that we are very supportive of one another and how we all have are so passionate about the books we love. That proved to be very true when we were able to attend the exibit room floor. It was like Christmas and we talked to all the reps and discussed upcoming books with them. I wanted to thank Bookalicious Pam and the NCIBA for making it all possible. I was also very fortunate to meet debut authors Veronica Rossi and Cory Jackson. I would say that it was a great day.

Sneak A Peek Saturday: LEGEND by Marie Lu

2011-10-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

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 LEGEND by Marie Lu and let me tell you, it is AMAZING. If my soon to be raving does not get your attention then hopefully this bit of an excerpt will entice and ensnare you. Just click on the book cover below and enjoy.

On Sale November 29, 2011

Putnam Children's (Penguin Group)

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

Additional sites you will want to explore
www.marielu.org
www.legendtheseries.com
CBS Films' Legend Movie Facebook Page

Review: SHUT OUT by Kody Keplinger

2011-10-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

Review: SHUT OUT
Author Website: Kody Keplinger
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Poppy; 1 edition (September 5, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316175566
My Rating: ♥♥♥

Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part,Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching
her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her
own boyfriend's attention.

Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash
Sterling, coming.

My Thoughts:
SHUT OUT is another entertaining read by Kody Keplinger. She has a unique talent for creating realistic dialogue that could be heard down the halls and across the fields of any high school today while creating some situations that will surely cause you to blush. Kody has tapped into a more sexual vein than most YA reads and while it is a bit frank it is never crude or over the top.

While most high school sports teams host rivalries with other schools, Hamilton High is the exception. It seems that their own Soccer and Football team are engaged in a civil war that has been going on for years. Everyone knows about but Lissa is beyond fed up and one day when she is pushed beyond her limits she comes up with an idea that will involve the power of the V. She enlists her BFF and several key players girlfriend's to host a sex strike against the players from both teams, the idea being that the boys will break down and stop fighting all together. One of the best parts from this exchange is the vow they all take on an issue of Cosmo

I hear by swear to abstain from all forms of sexual activity. This includes but is not limited to anything involving body parts below the belt. That’s either party’s belt. Oh, and second case is outlawed, too. Nothing, um, under the shirt…I’ll stand my ground, even in the toughest of times, and will resist temptation until the rivalry is put to an end.

I enjoyed this novel more so than her debut effort, The DUFF although I did find Bianca a more agreeable character than SHUT OUT's Lissa. What tipped the scale in this current novel's favor was the cast of characters that were engaging and memorable especially Lissa's BFF and her new love interest Cash. It was a quick and fun read while dancing on the racy side.

Bay Area Author Event: Laini Taylor

2011-10-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

Not Your Mother’s Book Club presents former Bay Area bookseller LAINI TAYLOR (and her fabulous pink hair) to celebrate the release of her new, highly buzzed, paranormal novel, The Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I will be there with the most fantistic blue wig. Make sure to say hi and to spread the twitter love.

Date and Time: 10/27/11 7 p.m.
Location: Books Inc. SF Opera Plaza
Street:601 Van Ness
City: San Francisco

Waiting on Wednesday: Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

2011-10-26T00:00:00.002-07:00

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 a book that has a stunning book jacket and a story that is equally as stunning. Now I cannot wait to sink my teeth into this stunner. What do you think?

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Greenwillow Books (April 24, 2012)

Death is impossible and living is impossibly hard for seventeen-year-old Araby Worth in Bethany Griffin‘s The Masque of the Red Death, a sexy, post-Apocalyptic reimagining of Poe’s gothic horror story of the same name.

The year is 1870 and a deadly virus has decimated the population of North America. Masked corpse-collectors travel the streets, removing the bodies before the contagion can spread. Though Araby tries to escape it all with drugs and parties, even at her most intoxicated she can’t forget her brother’s death-or her guilt for causing it. But things begin to change when William, the fascinating proprietor of the club where she searches for oblivion, and Elliott, nephew of the insane dictator, enter her life. One wants her heart, the other her name.

Convinced that he has won over his uncle’s army, Elliott believes that having Araby on his arm will charm the populace into supporting a new government. After all, her father is the inventor of the mask which prevents the spread of the plague-for those who can afford it. In return, Araby asks that he make protective masks available to all citizens, which could save the lives of Will’s young siblings, whom she has come to care about. But nothing is what it seems.

A new contagion called the Red Death is sweeping the city. The revelation that Araby’s father may have created the new virus in his laboratory puts Araby’s life in danger. The mob wants her. The rebels want her. And both boys want her. In this two-book series, what and who Araby chooses may just decide the fate of humanity.

DESTINED Video Book Trailer and Giveway

2011-10-25T18:00:00.000-07:00

This contest is now CLOSED. Thank you for entering.
"...Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side, and preparing to face off against Neferet – which would be a whole lot easier if the High Counsel saw the ex-High Priestess for what she really is. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx's gift of a human form, Rephaim and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together – if he can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow…"
DESTINED VIDEO BOOK TRAILER

Website: HouseofNightSeries.com

CONTEST: This contest that you are entering is for a copy of DESTINED by PC and Kristin Cast
CONTEST RULES: Just tell me which is your favorite HON character.
1) Contest is open to anyone in USA/ Canada only. (sorry)
2) Contest is open until November 6, 2011. Midnight PST
3) You must post your email address so that I can contact the lucky winner.
4) Share the love and spread the word, via blogger, twitter or facebook.
GOOD LUCK!!

**Prize copy given by Zeighost Media**

Review: Shatter Me by Tahera Mafi

2011-10-25T10:00:00.000-07:00

Shatter Me
Author website: Tahera Mafi
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (November 15, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062085484
Source: BEA
Rating: ♥♥♥♥

"You can't touch me," I whisper.

I'm lying, is what I don't tell him.

He can touch me, is what I'll never tell him.

But things happen when people touch me.

Strange things.

Bad things.

No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal, but The Reestablishment has plans for her.

Plans to use her as a weapon.

But Juliette has plans of her own.

After a lifetime without freedom, she's finally discovering a strength to fight back for the very first time—and to find a future with the one boy she thought she'd lost forever.

My Thoughts:

"My life is four walls of missed opportunities poured in concrete molds."

Every time I read that sentence I get a ripple of chills coursing through my body and I am overwhelmed by the myriad of emotions that it elicits. Tahera Mafi has penned a debut novel that is equal parts beauty and savagery. A dystopian/paranormal read whose words will burrow within your mind, envelop your soul and never leave.

Juliette, this story's protagonist is remarkably admirable for she has been subjected to much heartache and cruelty in her young life but instead of letting that defeat and crush her spirit she demonstrates resiliency and fire in the face of absolute evil. This may seem strange since Juliette can’t touch anyone without killing them but trust me, you will not be disappointed in that aspect and how Tahereh demonstrates it. Adam is Juliette's love interest and at first you cannot decide if you can trust him, but as the story unfolds his mystery is revealed and you cannot get enough. Their moments together scorch the page and your heart. Besides having one of the most romantic pairings, Shatter Me also hosts one of the most wicked tyrants I have ever had the pleasure to despise in a long, long time. Warner's depravity and cunning nature is truly disturbing but you cannot deny that he is force that is riveting to behold. His evil smile and vile nature belie his gorgeous physique is the stuff that nightmares are made of.

What is distinctive about this novel is Mafi's use of strike through vocabulary to demonstrate Juliette's inner turbulent dialogue. At first it is a foreign concept that takes a modest amount of time to adjust to and then you find yourself craving these bits of dialogue for it makes you understand her and witness what makes her thrive. What also makes Shatter Me a MUST read is Tahereh’s amazing writing style; it flows well and has a lyrical and poetic quality that is intoxicating. Also the romance between Adam and Juliette has an erotic yet innocent quality that is quite satisfying. The only complaint that I have in regards to this novel is the X-Men type vibe towards the end. I did not favor it at all but that fact will not keep me from reading the next book, not in the least. I can only wait in breathless anticipation.

Cover Reveal: LOVE, HATE or JUST LUST: Until I Die (the UK version) and Timepiece

2011-10-24T13:00:00.000-07:00

ZOMG!!! Another gorgeous cover to enjoy and love. TIMEPIECE by Myra McEntire has hit the world wide web with all its amazingness. I truly cannot wait for this book.
Amy Plum has revealed the UK cover version of IF I DIE. So what do you think? I find that it only increases my want for the book and now cannot wait for the US cover to find it's way to me.

So what do you think about these new cover reveals? Is it LOVE? HATE? or JUST LUST?

Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

2011-10-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Author Website: Laini Taylor
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (September 27, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316134023
Source: BEA
My Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥ yes I love it that much

Around the world, black hand prints 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 otherworldly 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?

My Thoughts:

After reading the first paragraph, it was instantaneously obvious that Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a beautifully penned novel. Laini Taylor’s writing style is decadent and flawless and this story is told in a manner that isn’t casual but isn’t incredibly rigid, either. There is a perfect balance in Taylor’s writing style because it is evocative at moments, and easily conversational at others, and her exceptional talent is well demonstrated in Daughter of Smoke and Bone. As this story maneuvers from the past to the present it always occurs at the right juncture in the story, and never disorients the reader. Gigantic plot points unfold and reveal themselves through these cleverly placed flashbacks, and when the timeline finally returns to the present, you are left breathless with wonder. The world that has been created in this story is so wondrously detailed with it's history and rituals that are beautiful and primitive in equal measure and unlike anything you have witnessed before.

The mythology and backdrop of Prague, among other places of Daughter of Smoke and Bone will instantly ensnare you, but it is it's characters that are truly remarkable and unforgettable. Karou, this story's protagonist, is the most mysterious and memorable girl you will ever encounter on a page. She has blue hair, tattoos, and a passion for wishes. Her story as it unfolds, is equally heartbreaking and beautiful, and by the end of the book you get to know Karou as an almost entirely different person and you adore her all the more for it. Akiva, Karou’s mysterious love interest, is very dark and tortured, but he isn’t stereotypical in any way, by any means. His chemistry with Karou is scorching hot and so romantic that it jumps forth from the page and sears your heart. Although those two characters will consume you, other minor players are quite memorable in Daughter of Smoke and Bone. From Brimstone, the astute keeper of wishes to Karou’s best friend (whom I adore) Zuzana, and the characters that don’t take center stage manage to be paramount to the story.

If you’re looking a book that is deliciously evocative and dark while being unique, and completely amazingly breathtaking, Daughter of Smoke and Bone is the clear choice. NO QUESTION. I have told everyone that I know that this novel is my favorite read of this year. I absolutely adore it, love it, can't get it out of my head and need the next book in this series, like NOW. I am totally serious.

This is the wishbone (yes a real wishbone) necklace that I just made to wear on Thursday when I get to meet Laini Taylor at the NYMBC event.

Sneak A Peek Saturday: The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

2011-10-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

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 WAY WE FALL by Megan Crew. This novel has received quite a bit of buzz and after you read the excerpt you will understand why. Just click on the book cover below and enjoy and if you do then please order it at your local indie book store.

The Way We Fall
by Megan Crewe
Jan 24, 2012
Disney-Hyperion
ISBN: 978-1-4231-4616-2

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 sixteen-year-old Kaelyn lets her best friend leave for school without saying goodbye, she never dreams that she might not see him again. But then a strange virus begins to sweep through her small island community, infecting young and old alike. As the dead pile up, the government quarantines the island: no one can leave, and no one can come back.

Those still healthy must fight for the island’s 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?

Poignant and dizzying, The Way We Fall is the heart-wrenching story of one girl's bravery and unbeatable spirit as she challenges not just her fears, but her sense of what makes life worth living.