Teaser Tuesday - Hush, Hush

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

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

My teaser today is from Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick



I was huddled in the bottom of the phone booth, counting silently to one hundred, trying to remain calm, when a black Jeep Commander glided to the curb. Patch slid the door to the phone booth open and crouched in the entrance.

-p. 275-276

I'm absolutely loving this book. :-D
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Author Interview: Mark Freeman

Mark Freeman is the author of The Kindling of Greenfyr, which I read and reviewed here. Graciously, Mark has agreed to an interview with me! Learn a bit about Mark below and if you have any further questions, you can check out his website or tweet him @greenfyr on Twitter.

Onto the Interview!


Tell me one interesting/quirky fact about yourself (or a few if there's too many to limit to one!).
Hmmm, good question! :) Well, even though I've been writing since high school, I never went to college for writing; I'm educated and trained as a wildlife biologist. I've studied grizzly and black bears, tracked cougars in Arizona, song birds and waterfowl, turtles, and bobcats. I think much of my wildlife work has influenced my writing. It's pretty easy for your imagination, especially when you have an over active one like mine, to run wild when you're alone in the woods for 8 or 10 hours a day. It's funny, I was reading a journal paper on Stellars Jays the other day, the research for which was done in and around Forks, WA, and I immediately thought of Twilight. I think I'm the only biologist alive who laughed when I read that paper and immediately thought of vampires and werewolves.

What inspired the fantasy realm your book is set in?
Again, I think a lot of of it is credited to my field work as a biologist. I first started to imagine Parathas, the world Owen travels to, while working in the Canadian Rockies. Those mountains are amazing and it was easy for me to imagine myself in places like Middle Earth or Narnia. The seeds for the book really started to germinate while I was studying grizzlies in those mountains. That, coupled with my love of the fantasy genre, and I think it just sort of took on a life of its own. I carried Lord of the Rings with me, re-reading it by headlamp in my tent at night, so I credit much of it to Tolkien.

The characters in the book are very different and original. Did you base any of the characters off of people you know personally?
Great question! I have to say, with the exception of two, no. The first is the main protagonist, Owen, and is really an amalgam of me, my four nephews, and really what I envisioned a son of mine - if I had one - would be like. The other character is Boone, who was very much based on a "person" I once knew. I should also say, though, some of the characters are based on many from mythology, theology, or previous fantasy works because of one of the underlying themes of the book. I've always loved and been amazed by the traditions and similarities of so many fantasy books. And even though some of those similarities can be written off with simple explanations, I've always wondered wouldn't it be cool if there was something more or what if? For example, the similarities between characters like Odin, Dumbledore, Merlin, and Gandalf may simply be written off as something as simple as white hair and long beards connote wisdom, but what if there was something more to those characters, or a connection between them?

How many books can we expect in this series and do you have a timeline for when they'll be available to read?
The series is outlined and plotted for 4 books total. The next of which, The Welling of Wisdom, I'm hoping for an early 2010 release.

What types of book do you enjoy yourself?
I am a HUGE YA and Fantasy fan. I do enjoy sci-fi also, as well as other sub genres within the two. I'm currently reading the Gregor the Overlander series by Suzanne Collins and Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Teeth and Hands. With that said, however, I'll really read anything should it catch my interest.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
WRITE! Write, and keep writing. Find some honest and trust worthy people to read your work and have them really tear it apart and then go back and write it again. Develop thick, very thick, skin and send out your work to every appropriate agent and publisher.

Anything else you'd like to tell your readers?
Yes, thank you for reading and reviewing YA literature! YA and children's literature is finally beginning to gain some respect and becoming more mainstream and it's in no small part due to you!

Thank you Mark for taking the time to answer my questions! :) Don't forget to check out his website and my review of The Kindling of Greenfyr!

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Pics of random stuff!

I've been in the picture taking mood lately.

Since people have been asking... here are some pictures of my wedding dress, (yes I had to try it on!):

And I went golfing with my family yesterday and feel like sharing some pics! We go once a year with my grandfather's family (on my dad's side) and call it the Danish Open. Tons of fun.

My fiance :) Isn't he cute in his golf getup?

My mom, my aunt, and then me.

Then, today I decided to reoganize my bookshelves out here today. Here are my fiance's books:

Lots of fantasy and Roleplaying books.

And here are mine, with some closeups. I have two more towering bookcases in the bedroom that I'm too afraid to reorganize.

Ah yes, lots of books and a pile of stuff I didn't want to deal with.

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It's Monday, What are you reading?

J.Kaye hosts this wonderful meme.

Click on titles for my reviews or more info on the book.

Read this past week:
Heartsinger by Karlijn Stoffels
Fade to Blue by Sean Beaudoin
The Kindling of Greenfyr by Mark Freeman
Ash by Malinda Lo

Currently reading:
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

Upcoming:
Rampant by Diana Peterfreund
Candor by Pam Bachorz
Violet Wings by Victoria Hanley
Crash Into Me by Albert Borris
The Family Bones by Kimberly Raiser

I really need to up my reading! Gah, so many books to read.

Quick updates:

• I got my wedding dress last week! So excited for October!
• New job starts in about two weeks. I'm nervous, but excited!
• Two more spotlights were up - Saturday and Sunday
• Posted a new contest for a signed, ARC copy of Ash and a poster. See top of page for a link!
• Poll results are in - so the first 4 books upcoming were my top votes! :)
• Comment contest for August is up. Again, top of page if you haven't heard of it yet. (Yes, feeling lazy)
• And random comment - go adult YA book bloggers! Woot!
  

Thanks for tuning in guys!
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Sunday Spotlight: Tynga's Urban Fantasy Reviews

Welcome to the second spotlight of this weekend! I just love discovering new blogs don't you? I think I'm in love with Cindy's banner. Must be the fairy/paranormal lover in me.

So, on with the show!

Name: Cindy
Nickname and/or blog name: Tynga at Tynga's Urban Fantasy Reviews
Blog URL: http://tyngasreviews.blogspot.com



Tell me a bit about yourself.
I am 24 years old and I am French-Canadian, which is a challenge when it comes to blogging 'cause I learned English by myself playing World of Warcraft * yes I'm kinda geek *. I work as a Lab technician in a great hospital here in Quebec, Specialized in heart disease and transplant. What does a lab tech do? Well, we do all the cool tests (and more) that you see on C.S.I., Bones etc. As you can probably guess thought, these show don't quite represent reality. I really like my job. =)


When and why did you start your blog?
I started my blog on June 28th this year and I've been working really hard on it so far. Why did I start? Well the first "blog" I ran into was Bitten By Books on their anniversary when they had all these great interviews and contest. So I checked in everyday and really enjoyed it! I started looking up other blogs and to be honest what attracted me were the contests. =P I just read so many books that it's getting expensive, and it's always fun to discover new series and authors. After a month or so of cruising different blogs I decided to start one of my own and I truly enjoy it! I just have so many reviews to catch up on now!

What is your blog all about? Any cool features you want to share?
My blog is about Urban fantasy , Young Adult Fantasy, and Paranormal Romance. I love to escape into a world that can't possibly exist, and I really like the emotional aspect. I like my books to have some kind of love story, even if it's a weird one. I don't have any original features yet, but I am contacting some authors/publisher for promotion and interviews and you can expect to see some of those in a near future. =) You can also check out my very first giveaway here.

Do you have a review system? If you do, would you like to explain it for us?
My very first reviews have some kind of rating, but I'm not quite comfortable with rating system. I prefer to simply state my opinion clearly at the end of my reviews.

Any tips or advice for those starting or thinking about starting a blog?
I guess the best tip is go for it and don't hold back. It seems pretty big at the beginning, just a few reviews posted and not many visitors but it grows very quickly. I started just last month and already have 19 reviews posted and 34 followers. So don't give up! Twitter and Facebook are also good ways to let you friends know about your blog!

What are some of your favorite genres and/or books currently?
My favorite genre is definitely urban fantasy. Who could guess? *winks* My favorite series are Vampire Academy at the very top of my list, then Georgina Kinkaid series and Storm Born and, actually, all of Richelle Mead's novels. I love them all! I also really like Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs and Shifters series by Rachel Vincent. I'm only starting those two, but I really like them and they seem very promising! There's a HUGE list of debut novel being released in 2009 and there's lot of them I wanna read as well.

Contest Alert!
Cindy is giving away a copy of The Vampire's Seduction by Raven Hart. Check out the contest here. Ends August 15th!

Thanks to Cindy for sharing her blog today! I also am in love with urban fantasy and paranormal romance when it comes to both young adult and adult.

Are you a new blogger too? Or just getting back into the swing of blogging? Do you want to be featured on my blog? Shoot me an email at bittahsweetharmony@yahoo.com.
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In My Mailbox - August 8th

In My Mailbox is hosted by the wonderful Kristi at The Story Siren.

I feel like these books come out of nowhere! I know that's not possible, but wow. Another good week for me.

Monday I received two packages, which contained these books:


I won ghostgirl and ghostgirl: Homecoming from Nadine-Stella over at Starry Night. Thanks! I'm so keeping these babies. The books are so gorgeous.

Then, the second package contained a book that the author asked me to review. Emily & The Silent King by Irven Keppen. You guys know I love my fantasy, so I just couldn't resist saying yes to this book!

Then I got two more packages on... Thursday? Yep, Thursday.



The first one was a box with my Borders order - which I had to use my giftcard right away. So I got the following:
Curse of the Blue Tattoo by L.A. Meyer
Under the Jolly Roger by L.A. Meyer
Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert

I've read all of the published Bloody Jack books and love them so much, I've decided to collect them in paperback. If you HAVE NOT read these books you need to! They're SO good!

And I couldn't resist the pre-order contests for Stephanie's book and well the book itself! :)

Then, for some reason, I figured it was free and I need to diet so I got this free book:


The Full Plate Diet - looks interesting. Although it's a thin book, but hey, who doesn't want to eat full plates of food and still lose weight? I know I do. :-D You can get one too! Try that link! :)

Just when I thought the week was over. I got a late night text saying a package came for me at my Mom and Dad's place. So I hunkered over there Saturday morning and guess what I got:


From Cynthia Leitich Smith's blog Cynsations, I received a copy of Sideshow, signed by Cynthia. I also got a signed Eternal bookmark, bat stickers, and a bookmark that displays three of her other books.

Then, I went back later to do some laundry and two more packages came!


I won Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress and The ABC's of Kissing Boys, both by Tina Ferraro, from Kay Cassidy's You 2.0 Blog.

Then, I got a copy of The Cave from author Steve McGill for review, which is signed! I'm looking forward to reading this one because well, it looks REALLY good. A historical fiction book set during WWI and possibly some paranormal elements to it - what's not to love?

Then, due to my new, long commute, starting on the 24th - I raided the teen section of the library for audiobooks.


The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong (already on disc 5/7!)
Saving the World and other extreme Sports by James Patterson (Just realized this is #3, *sigh* I meant to grab #2)
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
Hero-Type by Barry Lyga
Undercover by Beth Kephart
Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden
Blue Bloods by Melissa De la Cruz
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor by M.T. Anderson

That should make my commute tons more fun!

Wow. Lots of books again this week! I need to stop. . . hehe. My mom actually told me that I should stop entering contests when I picked up that last package. But how can I resist all of these contests? My fiance followed that up when I got those last two packages Saturday.

I should be getting one or two more gift cards soon, so *wiggles brows* what will I ever get next? :-D

Thanks again for tuning in!
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Saturday Spotlight: Bookjourney

I'm trying to keep things interesting, so here's some different colors. Woot! I love the huge differences between each blogger I've interviewed so far! I'm having tons of fun and I'm hoping all of my followers/readers are finding some amazing blogs to follow.

And here we go!

Name: Sheila DeChantal
Nickname and/or blog name: "Bookjourney" One Persons Journey Through a World of Books
Blog URL: http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/

Tell me a bit about yourself.
I am an adventure-loving 42-year-old. I am mom to two great boys ages 19 and 21 and married to the Super hero (non fiction!) of my life, Al. I am the founder of the Bookies Book Club in Brainerd Minnesota that started in August of 2001 and now, on our 8th year has grown to 18 women! This October we are having a "Come as your favorite fiction Character party"... this idea comes out of the book The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton, which our book club is currently reading. We have done our Queen Event the past three years now and that idea came from the book Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King.

I love trying new things and enjoy long distance biking (this fall I will do a 175 mile, 2 day bike ride with my cousin and his wife), rollerblading, dancing, mission work in Honduras, and planning fun events. I am leading a work team this November 2009 to Honduras (my 6th time going), where we will work with kids who live in the Dump in the main city of Tegucigalpa).

When and why did you start your blog?
I originally started blogging on a different blog called Straight on Through. I have always had a passion to write and blogging seemed to fill that need. After around a year of blogging about everything and nothing, I decided to start a second blog to journal about what I was reading. I had kept paper journals for years on everything I read and found blogging to be a cleaner way to keep records.

It wasn't until this last June of 2009 that I received a random comment on my blog (which was rare as I did nothing to promote it) and they happened to be a member of Book Blogs. I had no idea what book blogs was so I clicked on it and well.... the rest is really history! Once I discovered there were others like me (seriously, I was so sheltered I thought I was the only one that recorded what they read in blog format!), I went full steam ahead.

Since June I have spent many hours learning what I can from other book bloggers. My blog looks nothing like what it did 7 weeks ago. The book blogging community had been wonderfully helpful in answering my questions and welcoming me. I feel like I have friends out there who have the same love for books as I do!

What is your blog all about? Any cool features you want to share?
My blog includes book reviews, author interviews, book related topics and a few memes. I have one meme that I created, Morning Meanderings and that is when I promote a great review on someone else's blog. It is fun to recognize them, I get to read about a great book, and hopefully drive a little traffic their way. I am also still working on one that will be Bookies recommended and that will be book club reads that my book club has highly approved of.

Do you have a review system? If you do, would you like to explain it for us?
You know, I think I am still in the planning stages for that one. I don't rate books like a number. I have, however, started rating them with a rating like G, PG, PG13, or R.... I just like to make sure people know what they are getting into before they invest in a book that may or may not be a fit for them.

I am trying to work out a system where each book I review will start with a personal comment from me (hopefully something witty!). You will see my attempts on this in my more recent reviews. I try to tell what the book is about according to the back of the book, and then my thoughts on the book. If I can jazz it up with some author comments, pictures and links - all the better!

Any tips or advice for those starting or thinking about starting a blog?
If you have a passion to write - just get started! There are so many free and easy formats to work with. I am no computer genius and I am amazed sometimes at what I have learned! I have had people ask me before how to review a book and my advice is to look at other bloggers and see what you like about how they review - and I think most importantly be honest and give your review some heart. Anyone can read a publisher's take on a book, but I think us book bloggers have something that readers want - they want to know how a book makes you feel. Keep it real.

What are some of your favorite genres and/or books currently?
I like most genres and hate to rule any genre out because, when I am about to, I find a really decent one that I like. I like a good mystery, Christian fiction, and lately I have really had a love for Historical Fiction. I love books with strong female characters, yet I hesitate to say chick lit, because I dont think that is the correct category. I am referring to books like Wednesday Sisters (Meg Waite Clayton), Summerhouse (Jude Deveroux), and Same Sweet Girls (Cassandra King).

Some cultural awareness books I've enjoyed lately include Jantsen's Gift, Dradon House (John Shor), Three Cups of Tea, The Book Thief, and Sarah's Key. Really, as I stare at my book cases here, I am all over the board. My favorite reads year to date are Dragon House by Jon Shor, Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton, and Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross.

Contest Alert!
Sheila runs a fun feature on Fridays called Freebie Friday. Currently she is giving away a copy of The Constant Princess. Check it out here.

Thanks to Sheila for volunteering to be featured on my blog! Take a gander at her blog please!


Are you a new blogger too? Or just getting back into the swing of blogging? Do you want to be featured on my blog? Shoot me an email at bittahsweetharmony@yahoo.com.

The Neverending Shelf is doing a similar type of spiel over at her website. So check it out to find out about a different blogger!

Also, The Story Siren had her first Fresh Face Friday this week, in which she briefly introduced a few new bloggers as well.

Tune in tomorrow for another Spotlight! :)

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New contest + Catching Fire Winner

I know you guys are just DYING to know who won Catching Fire, pin, and the earrings set. So here we go... I had nearly 2000 entries total (all added up...) and the lucky number is:

323 - Kim from And Anything Bookish


Congrats!


Now, for my next contest.

This is what I'm giving away:

• ARC copy of Ash by Malinda Lo (signed)
• Ash book poster

And here are the rules!

The Rules:
1. Open to anyone!
2. Please include your email address with your comment.
3. Contest ends Saturday, August 15th at noon CST
4. How to get points:

• +2 for answering this question in a comment: What fairy tale would you like to see revamped and why?
  
• +2 if you're already a follower or become a follower
• +1 for commenting on my review of this book HERE
• +1 for each time you advertise this contest - sidebar, twitter, blog, etc (Please leave a link!)

Easy cheesy right? :) Enter... NOW! :)
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Ash by Malinda Lo

Ash

by Malinda Lo

From the author's website:
In the wake of her father’s death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, re-reading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away, as they are said to do. When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she believes that her wish may be granted.

The day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King’s Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. Though their friendship is as delicate as a new bloom, it reawakens Ash’s capacity for love—and her desire to live. But Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairy tale dreams and true love.

Entrancing, empowering, and romantic, Ash is about the connection between life and love, and solitude and death, where transformation can come from even the deepest grief.

I really fell in love with this book. I felt like the stepmother and stepsisters were a lot more realistic than what you usually see in the tales of Cinderella. I love the spin on it - Ash's love for Kaisa - The King's Huntress. It seemed exactly right for the world that Malinda built to surround it.

And what a world Malinda built us. There was lots of stunning scenes that took my breath away and the assorted fairy tales presented throughout the book really kept me engaged. I love how beautiful this book is, while giving the reader's a different aspect to this well-known fairy tale.

Overall, the book was simply stunning. I do hope she writes another book soon!

5/5 Roses

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Friday Finds

Friday Finds is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

I've been trying not to add too many books, so there's only a few this week. Which means, I won't be lazy. I'll post the descriptions WITH the book. :)


Just Plain Weird
by Tom Upton

Travis MacDuff has always led an uneventful life. His greatest concern was making the high school football, until an odd girl moves in next store, a girl whose secrets threaten not only his existence but the existence of everyone on the planet.

Avielle of Rhia
by Dia Calhoun

Since the blood of her great-great-grandmother, Dolvoka, had sprung up in Princess Avielle-because she looked Dredonian-would Dolvoka's evil magic spring up in her, too?

With her silver skin and silver hair, fifteen-year-old Princess Avielle of Rhia resembles her Dredonian great-great grandmother who practiced evil magic. Everyone in Rhia expects Avielle to turn evil, too. Shunned by those around her, she feels unloved and unable to love others. In addition, Rhia is on the verge of war with Dredonia, which suffers under the rule of evil wizard-priests: the Brethren of the Black Cloaks. They have placed impossible demands upon Rhia, but the king and queen have refused to acquiesce.

One terrible night, the Brethren attack, killing the royal family and hundreds of others. Only Avielle escapes. She must keep her identity secret to avoid death from the enemy. While hiding among the common people, she learns that she has a magical gift for weaving. But will this gift, rooted in her Dredonian blood, lead Avielle to the same evil that possessed her great-great grandmother? Or will it help her free her people from further attacks?

The Iron King
by Julie Kagawa
(no cover yet!)

Meghan Chase has never fit in at her small-town high school, and now, on the eve of her 16th birthday, she discovers why. When her half brother is kidnapped, Meghan is drawn into a fantastical world she never imagined--the world of Faery, where anything you see may try to eat you, and Meghan is the daughter of the summer faery king. Now she will journey into the depths of Faery to face an unknown enemy . . . and beg the help of a winter prince who might as soon kill her as let her touch his icy heart. The Iron King is the first book in the Iron Fey series.



Book Crush
by Nancy Pearl

Parents, teachers, and librarians are often puzzled by the seemingly endless choices for reading material for young people. What's good, what's trash, what's going to hold their interest? Nancy Pearl, America's favorite librarian, has read widely in all the genres and happily points the way in Book Crush. Divided into three sections; Easy Books, Middle-Grade Readers, and Young Adult; Book Crush makes wonderful reading connections by theme, setting, voice, and ideas. For horse lovers, Pearl recalls the classics (Black Beauty, Misty of Chincoteague), but in a creative twist connects Mr. Revere and I to the list. For middle-grade readers, she explores updated retellings of Greek myths and the best coming-of-age stories. Young adult readers get to know chick lit and much more. For those adults who feel stuck in a rut with Caldecott and Newberry winners and the ubiquitous Harry Potters, this fun, informed book offers new ways to stimulate young readers.


That last one was recommended to me by a friend on Goodreads. It looks like a great reference book for YA books! :)

Thanks for tuning in guys! What did you find this week?
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More awards!

I feel like every time I turn around a new award pops up. Which it feels pretty darn good to get these babies. Even if it takes me FOREVER to pick new blogs to give it to. :) That's the main reason I procrastinate on posting these babies.

So let's start! *cracks knuckles*

The Lemonade Award
Thanks to The Book Scout!

Rules:

The Lemonade Award is a feel good award that shows great attitude or gratitude. Here are the rules for accepting this award:
-Put the Lemonade Award logo on your blog or post.
-Nominate at least 10 blogs that show great attitude or gratitude.
-Link your nominees within your post.
-Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
-Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award.

Here is my list of nominees:
Emma at Booking Through 365
Kim at The Book Butterfly
Andrea at The Little Bookworm
Liz at Booklover
Nicole at Books and Bards
Sara at The Hiding Spot
Kate at The Neverending Shelf

Check out their awesome blogs if you haven't already!

The Zombie Chicken Award
Thanks to For the Love of All that is Written!

The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all...

This award is AWESOME! And I'm super freakin' excited to get it. Funniest one EVER.

Here is my list of nominees:
Shayla at The Book Explorer
Kay at You 2.0 Blog
Lee at Lee A. Verday's Book/Writing Blog
Sarah at Green Been Teen Queen
Tina at Fantastic Book Review
Kristi at The Story Siren

Super Comments Award
Thanks to A Flight of Minds!

My nominees:
Mishel at mis(h)takes
Jazz at Miss Danaidae
Vivienne at Serendipidity
WilowRaven at Red House Books
Celi.a at adventures of celia bedelia

Me-To-You Award
Thanks to A Flight of Minds!

My nominees:
Bianca at A Place for Wicked Good Books
April at Good Books & Good Wine
Samantha at Harlequin Twilight's Book Blog
Melanie at Melanie's Musings

I know, I'm choosing random amounts, but oh well. I'm getting tired. So tired I don't know if I have the energy to leave comments notifying all of these peeps. We'll see... it's a long list.. :)

Thanks again to everyone who nominated me for these! And also, check out the blog links okay?



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The Kindling of Greenfyr

The Kindling of GreenFyr
by Mark Freeman

Description from Amazon.com:

The Kindling of GreenFyr is the story of Owen McInish, an awkward fourteen-year-old bullied at school and friendless except for his pet cat, Piper. That is until a snow leopard is chased through the woods behind his house by three huge gray dogs with glowing green eyes. Owen saves the leopard from her pursuers, but the animal escapes him as well, only to return later. The cat’s behavior is peculiar, nothing like a wild animal, making Owen even more curious as to its origin. Eventually, the cat allows Owen to pet her. Owen finds himself experiencing friendships as he has never before. Adventures as he has never imagined. And political intrigue as two worlds, long separated, begin to collide.

The world created in this book is spectacular, with all the fantasy elements you could ever want. The vile creatures of darkness, a deadly beautiful woman, dwarves, elves, trolls both good and bad, shapeshifters, and adventure to keep the reader wanting more. Mark describes the world so beautifully that you want it to exist outside of the book.

Is it sad that the only complaint I have is that I wanted more evilness? I loved the descriptions of Lilith, a beautiful deadly woman who used others to create chaos and pain to the world. I think every time she had a chapter, I stopped and sighed dramatically. Don't judge me for my love of evil characters, please - but I just felt intrigued by her and wanting more.

Of course, I'm sure she will be more prominent as the series continues on and she leaves her home to create more evilness in the world.

What else can I say about this book? Hm... it's fantasy - yep, love fantasy. It's a bit thick, but it forces you NOT to complain that it wasn't long enough... Oh and my biggest complaint is ... where is the next book Mark? I think he may have to send me his work in progress. I'd settle for snippets of it though.

So, 5/5 Roses

Speaking of Mark, I'm hoping to have a guest post/interview up in the next week or so. So, look forward to that.


I read this book for the 1 ARC Tours.

(Therefore, not in the pot for the August Comment Contest.)
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Waiting on Wednesday - Firespell

Firespell
by Chloe Neill
Release Date: January 2010

As the new girl at the elite St. Sophia’s boarding school, Lily Parker thinks her classmates are the most monstrous things she’ll have to face…

When Lily’s guardians decided to send her away to a fancy boarding school in Chicago, she was shocked. So was St. Sophia’s. Lily’s ultra-rich brat pack classmates think Lily should be the punchline to every joke, and on top of that, she’s hearing strange noises and seeing bizarre things in the shadows of the creepy building.

The only thing keeping her sane is her roommate, Scout, but even Scout’s a little weird—she keeps disappearing late at night and won’t tell Lily where she’s been. But when a prank leaves Lily trapped in the catacombs beneath the school, Lily finds Scout running from a real monster.

Scout’s a member of a splinter group of rebel teens with unique magical talents, who’ve sworn to protect the city against demons, vampires, and Reapers, magic users who’ve been corrupted by their power. And when Lily finds herself in the line of a firespell, Scout tells her the truth about her secret life, even though Lily has no powers of her own—at least none that she’s discovered yet…

I like that this is set in Chicago (near me). It looks REALLY good. Can't wait!
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Fade to Blue

Fade to Blue
by Sean Beaudoin

From the back of the book: Sophie Blue started wearing a black skirt and Midnight Noir lipstick on her last birthday. It was also the day her father disappeared. Or spontaneously combusted. Which is sort of bad timing, since a Popsicle truck with tinted windows has started circling the house. Kenny Fade is a basketball god. His sneakers cost more than his Jeep. He's the guy all the ladies (and their mommas) want. Bad. Sophie Blue and Kenny Fade don't have a thing in common. Aside from being reasonably sure they're losing their minds. Acclaimed author Sean Beaudoin's wildly innovative novel combines uproarious humor with enough plot twists to fill a tube sock. Part thriller, part darkly comic philosophical discussion, and accompanied by a comic book interstitial, Fade to Blue is a whip-smart romp that keeps readers guessing until the last paragraph.

This book really spun my mind around. It was a little more... sci-fi ... than what I thought it would be. I love the hilarious Ice Cream truck that keeps appearing, almost hitting Sophie from time to time. I love the comic in the middle and the way everything just makes you go "Huh?".

I had to take a step back and really look at this book and realized, that was a really entertaining read. Fade to Blue makes you think about what's going on and the way it spins things around your head.

I can't really explain what it is, but I loved the book. It had a creepy tinge to it at times, but other than that it was seriously entertaining.

5/5 Roses

This ARC copy is in for the August Comments Contest. :)
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Teaser Tuesdays - August 4th

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

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

Here is my teaser:

"'I was under the impression, apart from small border skirmishes, the war was over," Winter replied. "Hardly," Balor retorted, his voice like grinding stones."

-p. 335 The Kindling of Greenfyr by Mark Freeman
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Heartsinger

Heartsinger

by Karlijn Stoffels
Translated by Laura Watkinson

Synopsis (from Barnes & Noble)

Smee was born with a great gift: the ability to sing other people's stories and heal their pain. But Mee also carries his own pain -- his failure to reach his deaf mother and heal her grief at his father's death. As he travels the country, he eases many people's sorrows, but he cannot connect with anyone himself.

Mitou also has a gift: spreading joy through a few notes from her accordion. When she hears about Mee--who was born on the same day she was--she knows that surely they belong together, each of them helping others through their music.

They finally meet on the way to the king's castle to sing for the beautiful Princess Esperanza. But will Mitou's hopes be fulfilled--or is the pain of the past too great?

This book really surprised me. I really, for once, had no clue what the book was about before I read it. Bad me, not reading the jacket description. I was very surprised to find a sort of fantasy, olden-times story about a boy who sings sorrowful tunes and helps those mourn the death of others, as well as a girl who sings just as lovely, but inspires dance and joy in all who hear her.

I loved the way Mee (Barnes and Noble got the name wrong, so I changed their description slightly) travels and when he encounters someone who recently died, he pulls their life out into a song. I like how the author shared the stories behind the various encounters of these people, along with the princess who would not stop staring in the mirror.

It was a lovely, but short novel that took you away and and kept you completely entranced.

5/5 Roses


(This book is a hardcover, signed by both the author and translator, and is up for grabs in the August Comment Contest.)

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It's Monday, What are you Reading? (August 3)

J.Kaye hosts this wonderful meme.

Click on titles for my reviews or more info on the book.

Read this past week:
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Tamar: A Novel of Espionage, Passion, and Betrayal by Mal Peet

Currently reading:
The Kindling of Greenfyr by Mark Freeman (for the 1 Arc Tour)

Upcoming:
Heartsinger by Karlijn Stoffels
Dragon Spear by Jessica Day George
Fade to Blue by Sean Beaudoin
The Family Bones by Kimberly Raiser
Candor by Pam Bachorz
Violet Wings by Victoria Hanley
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

And hopefully a few more...

Updates!

• I'm closing in on 200 followers! I'll have to hold one of those single book or prize pack contests soon, probably later this week.
  
• I'm loving my Spotlight idea - I'm running it both Saturdays and Sundays. If you haven't checked this out yet, you should!
• I'm caught up on reviews! Yay!
  
• I'm hoping to get some work done on my blog, I need to move to three columns badly and work on a menu bar. So bear with me when I start making serious changes next week.

Thanks for tuning in!
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Tamar

Tamar: A Novel of Espionage, Passion, and Betrayal
by Mal Peet

From the book jacket:
When her grandfather dies, Tamar inherits a box containing a series of clues and coded messages. Out of the past, another Tamar emerges, a man involved in the terrifying world of resistance fighters in Nazi-occupied Holland half a century before. His story is one of passionate love, jealousy, and tragedy set against the daily fear and casual horror of the Second World War -- and unraveling it is about to transform Tamar’s life forever. From acclaimed British sensation Mal Peet comes a masterful story of adventure, love, secrets, and betrayal in time of war, both past and present.


I have to say, that there is a reason that this won the Carnegie Medal. It is beautifully written, it is moving, and you will just really enjoy this book.

The book goes back and forth between teenager Tamar, a girl who was named after a codename used in WWII, and Tamar and Dart, two spies from England that are sent on a dangerous mission.

This book really has everything you could want. The passion, the intrigue, and the heart-stopping moments that make you need to step away from the book and steady your breathing.

I suggest that you read it, but only if you're in for a very serious book. I don't want to ruin anything, but this book took me a while to get into and then it just took off. Loved it. A definite must read for those that love historical fiction.

5/5 Roses

(A library book.. sorry guys! But still comment please!)
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The Name of the Wind

The Name of the Wind
by Patrick Rothfuss

From the author's website:
My name is Kvothe, pronounced nearly the same as "quothe." Names are important as they tell you a great deal about a person. I've had more names than anyone has a right to. The Adem call me Maedre. Which, depending on how it's spoken, can mean The Flame, The Thunder, or The Broken Tree.

"The Flame" is obvious if you've ever seen me. I have red hair, bright. If I had been born a couple of hundred years ago I would probably have been burned as a demon. I keep it short but it's unruly. When left to its own devices, it sticks up and makes me look as if I have been set afire.

"The Thunder" I attribute to a strong baritone and a great deal of stage training at an early age.

I've never thought of "The Broken Tree" as very significant. Although in retrospect, I suppose it could be considered at least partially prophetic.

My first mentor called me E'lir because I was clever and I knew it. My first real lover called me Dulator because she liked the sound of it. I have been called Shadicar, Lightfinger, and Six-String. I have been called Kvothe the Bloodless, Kvothe the Arcane, and Kvothe Kingkiller. I have earned those names. Bought and paid for them.

But I was brought up as Kvothe. My father once told me it meant "to know."

I have, of course, been called many other things. Most of them uncouth, although very few were unearned.

I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.

You may have heard of me.

So begins the tale of Kvothe—from his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, to years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-riddled city, to his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a difficult and dangerous school of magic. In these pages you will come to know Kvothe as a notorious magician, an accomplished thief, a masterful musician, and an infamous assassin. But The Name of the Wind is so much more—for the story it tells reveals the truth behind Kvothe's legend.


I had a free download for audible when I bought my Creative Zen MP3 player and decided to go with the longest book on my to-read list that was still worth 1 credit. This audiobook is 27 hours long. I listened to it while I did housework as well as inventorying at work.

Let me tell you - if the description didn't entice you... well, you're a lost cause. This book was absolutely AMAZING! I can see why it is such a big hit in the fantasy realm. Now, some of you may think that this book isn't YA, but it received on of the 2008 Alex Awards which is a high school young adult award from the American Library Association. So, I believe it is one of those borderline books that walks the thin line between young adult and adult fantasy.

There was so much to this story and it got you interested and involved from the beginning. The only thing that kills me is that it came out in 2007 and there is still no book 2! How dare you Patrick Rothfuss, how dare you! I'm dying to learn more about Kvothe and his adventures.

So, if you like fantasy and especially if you like EPIC fantasy, read this!

5/5 Roses

(This is not in the running for the August Comment Contest, due to the fact that is an audible file.) :) But, please comment, comments still count as entries (limit 2). If you have no clue what I'm talking about. . . See this post.
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July in Review

What did I read in July? Not as much as in June, but I did get quite a few books read! Also last month I went to ALA. I also jumped serious numbers in followers from 50th, 100th, 150th and now closing in on 200 followers! That's just nuts. I also conducted my first author interview with Jack W. Regan. Check it out here!

So this is everything that I read - if it has a * next to it, click the title for my review (or don't and just know it's there!). Otherwise, it will take you to a description of the book.

The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan*
The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman*
Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler*
A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell*
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak*
What the Moon Saw by Laura Resau*
The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian
Red Glass by Laura Resau*
Graceling by Kristin Cashore*
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery*
T'Aragam by Jack W. Regan*
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins*
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (review to come)
Tamar: A Novel of Espionage, Passion and Betrayal by Mal Peet (review to come)

Only 14 books read this month! But I've been busy between ALA, getting a job, planning a wedding and whatnot. :)

I'm aiming for double that this month.
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Sunday Spotlight: The Hiding Spot

Welcome to the Sunday Spotlight, where a new blogger is featured each week! Today we have a blogger who would love for you to check out her blog. Check out what her blog is all about in her interview.

Name: Sara
Nickname and/or blog name: The Hiding Spot
Blog URL: http://thehidingspot.blogspot.com


Tell me a bit about yourself.
Basically, I'm just a really big book worm. My book obsession started in elementary school and never stopped. I suppose that this is obvious though, as I do have a book blog. So I guess I'll tell you some things that aren't as obvious. I am the oldest of four and have a huge family. My dad has 11 siblings and all but 2 are married and have 4 kids or more. And that is just my dad's side. I have always been detail oriented. I'm a people watcher. I used to be really, really shy, but now I hardly ever shut up. I have an amazing boyfriend named Cody - we have been together four years. I love thunderstorms. I have a black cat named Daemon. I love Veronica Mars, Supernatural, and Gossip Girl. I almost always go for the bad boy... Books that don't have at least a minor love interest or plot bore me. I am terrified of bugs. And crowds. So, yeah. I guess that's me.

When and why did you start your blog?
I am very nerdy, but up until recently I tried to hide that part of myself (at least somewhat). Finally, I just gave in - I figured that I was moving to a new town, was going to be a junior in college, and I could have a new start. So basically, I started doing things that I'd always wanted to do, but never got a chance to - like have my own book blog. The Hiding Spot was basically born from that. The title actually came from a short story that I wrote in elementary school about a little "hiding spot" that I would go to when I was feeling blue (I was a bit of a drama queen...) that was located behind the raspberries and under some little trees in my backyard. I never forgot about that short story - and I started to realize that my hiding spot was actually books. When I was stressed or sad - when I just couldn't cope - I turned to books. Books have always been a big part of my life and I knew that there was an amazing book community linked through blogs, so I decided to join them. After all, I never get tired of discussing or reading books.

What is your blog all about? Any cool features you want to share?
My blog started out as just a place for me to keep track of all the books I've read and am looking forward to, primarily under the Young Adult genre. Now it has turned into a bit more. I still review books and post about upcoming novels, but I've also expanded to including contests/giveaways and author interviews. Every once in awhile I will post about something that is going on in my life or a really good movie I watched. I try to keep it interesting and have something new up every day or two. Mostly, The Hiding Spot is just about sharing what I love or am excited about. As for cool features - I'm working on that. The contests are cool. Interviews are cool. But I'm always working to make The Hiding Spot better and more fun for readers.

Do you have a review system? If you do, would you like to explain it for us?
My review system is pretty basic. I start with general book info: a cover photo, title, author, publisher, date published, genre, main themes, pages, and plot. I don't write my own plot summaries (generally) - I like to use the ones from the book itself, as that is what I read before I decided to pick it up. If I don't think the jacket summary does the book justice, I may mention a few things it doesn't. From there I explain whether or not I liked the book and why. I'm honest - if I don't like a book I say so. I always try to explain my opinion though - because I've loved books others hated... Then I rate the book on five categories (plot, characters, writing style, romance, and originality) and give it a score out of 50. I've always found a number or grade to be helpful when looking for new books to read, so I try to incorporate that as well. I think that reading the entire review is the only way to really understand how I felt about a book - not by simply reading my rating.

Any tips or advice for those starting or thinking about starting a blog?
Update frequently. Have lots to look at. Be social (read others blogs and comment... I follow tons of blogs). Otherwise, I'm not sure... I'm new too after all! :) Be yourself - that is often one of the best aspects of reading a blog - finding a new friend that loves books as much as you do!

What are some of your favorite genres and/or books currently?
My favorite genre is pretty much split between Young Adult and Epic Fantasy. My blog deals mostly with my love of Young Adult, but my first book love will always be epic fantasy. I am a huge fan of Anne Bishop, Kate Forsyth, David Eddings, and Sharon Shinn - among others. I've been very excited to see so much fantasy trickling into the Young Adult genre lately, but, unfortunately, many of these new novels don't measure up to my favorite epic fantasy. I'm always really excited when I find a great fantasy YA novel! I'm a sucker for supernatural novels too. My first vampire novel was Robin McKinley's Sunshine - that novel pretty much was the start of my passion for the supernatural. I would have to say that my favorite part about Young Adult novels is the love stories. I'm definitely a romantic...!

Contest Alert!
The Hiding Spot is currently running a contest for a hardcover copy Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler. Please check it out here. It ends August 10th. I've read this book myself and it's AMAZING, so if you don't have a copy, you need to enter this contest now!


Are you a new blogger too? Or just getting back into the swing of blogging? Do you want to be featured on my blog? Shoot me an email at bittahsweetharmony@yahoo.com.
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In My Mailbox - August 2nd

Hey guys!

I know I have plenty of books right now, but guess what? I just a few more... well a lot by some standards.

In My Mailbox is hosted by the wonderful Kristi at The Story Siren.

So my first set of books that came, all separate, but on the same day:

Hate List by Jennifer Brown - sent to me by Little Brown from ALA (they ran out)
Skinwalker by Faith Hunter - won at Lisa Mantchev's tweetsulk
Airhead by Meg Cabot - won from Black Eyed Susan's Blog

This next set, I'm really excited about as well! So three packages was like "wow" and then I got two more the following day (Friday).

The Kindling of Greenfyr by Mark Freeman (1 ARC Tour)
The Prophecy of Sisters by Michelle Zink - won from Shayla at The Book Explorer

Then, I was at my parents today for their 25th wedding anniversary party and I had two MORE packages!

Dancing with Ana by Nicole Barker (sent by author for review)
The Railway Children by F. Nesbit - won from Harmony Book Reviews

To say the least, I really shouldn't have bought books two days ago.

Now why did I buy books?

I had my last day at work on Thursday. And as a going away present, I got two things:

Chatty Cathie, who I worked with, gave me a cute set of blue owl earrings, perfect my new elementary library job. Here's some pictures... click to get a bigger view!

And then... they got me a fun card with... a $20 Borders giftcard. You'll see next week what I bought with it! :)

I'm going to miss those guys. And do not fret! Chatty Cathie and I have arranged for some more jewelry prizes for my contests. She makes the cutest stuff!

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