Violet Wings

Violet Wings
by Victoria Hanley

From the author's website:
Orphaned fairy Zaria Tourmaline suffers from having a mind of her own. Although she tries to be a good fairy, her quest to find out what really killed her parents leads her to break the laws of Feyland again and again, putting herself and her friends into the path of perils she didn’t even know existed.

I started this book a few days back, but got distracted by Fire (Kristin Cashore) coming in the mail. When I started it back up yesterday, I found myself engrossed in the novel.

Zaria is the last in her class to turn 12 - the age at which fairies get their crystal watches and wands. She almost misses her chance by taking a trip to Earth with her friend Leona. Her parents and brother all died on trip to Earth.

Zaria finds out she has more power than she imagined. She's a rare Violet fairy, as is her friend Leona. But Zaria's mentor seems to have her own interests in mind when she takes the young fairy on. The question is, how will Zaria be able to find out just what that is?

I really enjoyed the blurbs of history at the beginning of each chapter. It really set up the world nicely and I loved the consistency of information coming from the famous genie historian.

My only complaint, as usual, is that I want more. The author wrapped up the first book nicely, but there is a lot of unanswered questions and tons more adventures for Zaria to have. Can't wait to see what Victoria Hanley has in store for this world next.

5/5 Roses


(This one is in the pot for the August Comment Contest.)
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Movie Review - The Crow

Hi guys! This is the second movie that I watched and reviewed. the Gothic Film Club, hosted by Write for a Reader and is sponsored by the glorious, wonderful Michelle Zink, author of Prophecy of the Sisters. You can join too by clicking on Write for a Reader's link above. If you do review a book, you're in the pot to win some serious goodies.

So this week, my fiance made the decision of what we were going to watch. He basically said, "What do you mean you've never seen The Crow?" and off to the movie store we went.

Main synopsis: Eric and his fiance were murdered the night of Halloween, a night in the city where criminals come out to create chaos. Eric is thrown out of a window and his fiance is raped and beaten and then fought for 30 hours in a hospital before her body gave up. Well, Eric comes back from the dead to revenge his fiance's as well as his own death.

First of all, I must say that the main character in The Crow - Eric - reminded me a lot of the Joker, only a semi-good-guy. He had the same type of face make-up, only more simple - just black and white. I also love the young street girl Sarah who was friends with the couple when they were alive.

I must say, revenge was sweet, but gorey and - interesting. Let's just say that Eric made sure the men received the deaths they deserved.

The setting of the movie was dark and VERY gothic. Constant rain filled the scenes of the movie and the city was definitely not a city I would want to roam around in at night.

Absolutely loved and enjoyed this movie. A must see for fans of the anti-hero and gothic films.

5/5 Roses
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Teaser Tuesday - Violet Wings

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 this week is from Violet Wings by Victoria Hanley:

I put all my strength into my answer, but it was no use- my voice was too weak to be heard by anyone but Lily. "Tell me why a gnome who battered a good genie stands by you with an iron club."
-p.295

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Want to win some Maggie Stiefvater books?

1) One advanced review copy of BALLAD, mailed immediately upon end of contest
2) One finished copy of BALLAD, mailed when I get my copies (September)
3) One OTHER finished copy of BALLAD, mailed when I get my copies
4) A frame of the winner's choice from the video

Go here to find out how to enter.

And now for the animated storyboard of Ballad:
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Fire by Kristin Cashore

Fire
by Kristin Cashore
Release Date: October 5, 2009

From the author's website:

Fire, Graceling's prequel-ish companion book, takes place across the mountains to the east of the seven kingdoms, in a rocky, war-torn land called the Dells.

Beautiful creatures called monsters live in the Dells. Monsters have the shape of normal animals: mountain lions, dragonflies, horses, fish. But the hair or scales or feathers of monsters are gorgeously colored-- fuchsia, turquoise, sparkly bronze, iridescent green-- and their minds have the power to control the minds of humans.

Seventeen-year-old Fire is the last remaining human-shaped monster in the Dells. Gorgeously monstrous in body and mind but with a human appreciation of right and wrong, she is hated and mistrusted by just about everyone, and this book is her story.

Wondering what makes it a companion book/prequel? Fire takes place 30-some years before Graceling and has one cross-over character with Graceling, a small boy with strange two-colored eyes who comes from no-one-knows-where, and who has a peculiar ability that Graceling readers will find familiar and disturbing...


I wasn't sure if this was possible, but I loved this one more than I loved Graceling. The character Fire just took my breath away. She is half-monster, but makes up for it with her overly human feelings, emotions and most of all her empathy towards others. There's wondrous characters, beautiful settings, and tons of action to keep the plot moving. And, of course, romance.

I don't want to ruin anything, so I'm keeping this short. If you loved Graceling, I expect you'll enjoy this book as much, if not more.

I'm really excited now to see what Kristin holds in store for us in her third book, which focuses on the character Bitterblue.

5/5 Roses

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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:
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Candor by Pam Bachorz
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
Dancing With Ana by Nicole Barker

Currently reading:
Fire by Kristin Cashore
Assiniboin Girl by Kathi Wallace
Undercover by Beth Kephart

Upcoming:
Rampant by Diana Peterfreund
Violet Wings by Victoria Hanley
Crash Into Me by Albert Borris
The Family Bones by Kimberly Raiser
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

And I'm behind again! *sigh* As usual I should say. I added Shiver to that list because it's overwhelmingly winning in my current poll.

Okay updates:

• I now have 5 books in the pot for my August Comment contest: Dancing with Ana, Candor, Heartsinger, Fade to Blue, and T'Aragam. At this rate, it's looking like I may only finish 10 books. I may throw some duplicate books into the pot if things start looking grim at the end of the month.
• Hush, Hush contest ends this Saturday at NOON CST. Last week I had some entries coming in the second part of Saturday. This just allows me to pull during the day when I'm awake, instead of staying up late until midnight. So sorry guys if it's confusing.
• I'm working on a new poll idea. Trying to keep a poll running when the old one goes away.

Speaking of which: Poll results!

1. Shiver (63 votes!)
2. Beautiful Creatures (17 votes!)
3. Bran Hambric (14 votes!)
4. Ballad (8 votes!)
5. ghostgirl Homecoming (6 votes!)
6. Tie (3 votes each) for Dragon Spear and Ice

I'm obviously behind, so this coming week's poll will be more geared towards feedback.

Thanks for tuning in! Hopefully I can knock out more than 4 books this week before school starts.
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Dancing with Ana Review + Author Interview

Dancing with Ana
by Nicole Barker

From the author's website:

Beth is a lucky girl…

She comes from a loving family. She has three best friends. She loves to surf and lives five minutes from the beach. She also recently discovered that the boy she’s grown up with has the most amazing green eyes…
Beth has every reason to smile. Every reason to be happy. Every reason to feel blessed.

Then why is she sticking her fingers down her throat?

Sixteen year old Beth Baxter’s life merely resembles the one she’s always known. Her father has left. She is falling for Jeremy Duscana and the diet she started has somehow turned into an obsession. Yet her three best friends remain the same, always there for her.

But even their love can’t save her from herself.

Dancing With Ana. A story about the journey to acceptance of one’s own reality, the incredible bond that exists between friends and a love that truly endures all things.

I really was pulled into the story from the start. It's mainly about Beth and her three best friends. They admire one of the prettiest girls at school, who stays thin by not eating. The girls decide to all go on a diet, but it turns into something worse than that. Especially for Beth.

Beth's dad has left her mom, her brother and her for his secretary. This book deals with divorce, teen sex, underage drinking, relationships, cutting, and much much more.

The only thing was that this book wrapped up a little too well. Usually teenagers don't just bounce back from these types of situations. But I can see where it would be good for a teen going through these issues to read this book - to see that there is a way to do it themselves, to believe that they can stop those habits and situations.

4/5 Roses

Interview with Nicole Barker

Nicole Barker grew up in Portland, Oregon and attended Southern Oregon State College in the town of Ashland. Nestled in the foothills of the Siskiyou Mountains, Nicole took to writing while pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities with a strong emphasis on early childhood development. Shortly after graduation, she spent several months traveling around the United States and parts of Canada. Nicole now lives in South Florida with her husband, two kids, two dogs, toads, frogs, hermit crabs and fish. She is currently working on her second YA book.

When did you decide to become a writer and why?

I've always enjoyed writing, ever since I was a little girl. It became more consistent in college, then sporadic when my kids were younger. About five years ago I really focused and have been writing ever since.

Tell me a bit about what your book is about.

Dancing With Ana is the story of a sixteen year-old girl named Beth Baxter and her three best friends, Jenny, Rachel and Melanie. They've been friends since they were little and have a very strong bond. About a year prior to when this story takes place, Beth's father left them for another woman. His sudden abandonment threw her into a state of shock. As the numbness wears off, Beth decides to distract herself by attempting to lose ten pounds with an extreme “diet”. At the same time, she's discovering new, intense feelings for Jeremy, the boy who's lived across the street from her all her life.

What made you decide to tackle such a difficult topic in your book?

Anorexia is more common than people realize. I wanted to write a story that depicted how easily it can slip into a person's life. I also felt it was important to focus more on the reason than the disease itself.

Can you explain a little bit of the way you tackled writing Dancing with Ana?

If a thought, idea, sentence or even just a word came to me, I stopped everything I was doing and wrote. Sometimes I wrote for thirty minutes, sometimes I wrote for hours and hours. When I write, everything else ceases to exist. Some days, I would make it just in time to pick my kids up from school. There was a lot of take-out.

What advice can you give to aspiring writers?

Every person has a story inside of them, there's no reason why you shouldn't share yours.

Anything else you would like to tell your readers?

I love hearing from you!

Thanks Nicole for allowing me to interview you! You can learn more about Nicole over at her website for Dancing With Ana.

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The Summoning

The Summoning
by Kelley Armstrong

From the author's website:
Chloe Saunders sees dead people. Yes, like in the films. The problem is, in real life saying you see ghosts gets you a one-way ticket to the psych ward. And at 15, all Chloe wants to do is fit in at school and maybe get a boy to notice her. But when a particularly violent ghost haunts her, she gets noticed for all the wrong reasons. Her seemingly crazed behaviour earns her a trip to Lyle House, a centre for 'disturbed teens'. At first Chloe is determined to keep her head down. But then her room mate disappears after confessing she has a poltergeist, and some of the other patients also seem to be manifesting paranormal behaviour. Could that be a coincidence? Or is Lyle House not quite what it seems...? Chloe realizes that if she doesn't uncover the truth, she could be destined for a lifetime in a psychiatric hospital. Or could her fate be even worse...? Can she trust her fellow students, and does she dare reveal her dark secret?


I listened to this book on audio and really enjoyed it. I was surprised by the setting of the book - a group home - but that only added more to it. I like Chloe's personality and the way she tries coping with her new ability to see ghosts and be able to talk to them.

The other characters in the book were intriguing and interesting as well, ranging from ones you fell in love with to others you really did wish would plummet off the top of a tall building.

My only complaint about this book - is the horrid cliffhanger ending. How dare you Kelley Armstrong, how dare you leave me hanging! Good thing I didn't read this first book when it came out - I would have pitched a fit and gone on and on about how much I need the second. I snagged the second book from the library and hope to start it soon!

5/5 Roses


Want to win a copy of The Summoning and The Awakening - signed!? I know I do. Head over to Emma's blog - Booking Through 365 - for a chance to win!
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Sunday Spotlight - Book Chick City

Hello! Welcome to the second Spotlight this weekend. Today, I'm featuring a fun UK chickie who wants you to share what her blog is all about! Enjoy. :)

Name: Carolyn
Blog name: Book Chick City
Blog URL: http://www.bookchickcity.com


Tell me a bit about yourself.
Well, I live in the UK and I have been an avid reader since I was tiny. My mum was really the one who got me into books as she used to read to me all the time, and introduced me to the classics, which I love. I read about four books a week and am always looking for new ones even though my tbr pile is HUGE! I don't have many friends who read, my hubby reads but it's usually something scientific, so it's really nice to chat with like minded people. I'm also a bit of a shopaholic, which isn't really good when you love books! I also love going to the gym and I play golf, mainly with my hubby.

When and why did you start your blog?
I initially began my blog with the view of it being an online book club, but since then it has evolved into a full blown book blog, with reviews and author interviews. I started at the beginning of July this year and have worked really hard at getting a lot of content up quickly so I looked more established. I think it has worked as I am now getting emails from publishers and authors that like my blog and want to be interviewed or have their books reviewed, so I am really thrilled that it has started off so well. I have also met some really wonderful people and you book bloggers are just so friendly! At the beginning when I was feeling a bit lost I sent a few emails to J. Kaye's Book Blog who helped me out. Just so nice. I'm so pleased that I am part of this community - I just love it!

What is your blog all about? Any cool features you want to share?
I love buying books and reading books - it's my passion and a bit of an obsession - so that's what you will find when you visit Book Chick City. I have book reviews, author interviews, a weekly featured author and I participate in a couple of weekly meme's. I am just starting my new feature 'Celebrate the Classics' where I focus on an author from the past. All this keeps me pretty busy and any spare time I have left I read like mad!

Do you have a review system? If you do, would you like to explain it for us?
Writing reviews for my blog was the first time I had ever written a review. I've always had thoughts about the books I read but have never written them down, so I didn't really have a system. After looking around at other book blogs, I have now started to get an idea of how I would like to review the books I read, but it's still not perfected yet, but hopefully I will begin to sort that out with the next few reviews.

Any tips or advice for those starting or thinking about starting a blog?

I have actually received a few emails from new book bloggers asking me how I managed to get so many books from publishers and authors for interviews. At first I didn't know this side of blogging existed but once I did I knew that I wanted to review books and include interviews, so I researched on the internet and sent a few emails to various publishers and just put myself out there. It paid off and I'm just so excited with how things are going, I just hope it continues. So my advice is, if you want publishers to send you books etc, then just do your research, send out a few emails and make sure to include your blog URL so they can take a look. I have also seen lots of great book blog that just review the books they buy or get from the library too. The other thing I did was to get as much up on my blog as quickly as possible, I think this helped get a bit more traffic to my blog and I participate in a few weekly meme's, which I think are really fun. There are so many fantastic blogs out there, I took a lot of encouragement (and ideas) from them.

What are some of your favorite genres and/or books currently?
My favourite genre would have to be horror, urban fantasy and paranormal romance with a little bit of crime thrown in. I love all genre really but I tend to like these kind of books more. My favourite authors are Stephen King, Laurell K. Hamilton, Dean Koontz, Anne Rice, Kathy Reichs... ahhh there's so many. I'm just reading my first book by Richelle Mead and loving it! My favourite books of all time would have to be Dracula by Bram Stoker and Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.

Contest Alert!
Carolyn is currently holding a contest for a copy of Thorn Queen by Richelle Mead - open internationally. It ends September 1st, so enter now!


Thanks to Carolyn for sharing her blog with us today! Now, go and give the girl a visit! Her blog is super cute and deserves your attention!


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!
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In My Mailbox - August 16th

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

Hi. My name is Kristen. I'm a contest-a-holic. The only therapy for me is... well there is none. Therefore, another packed week book-wise!

First off. I received a pretty envelope from Lisa Schroeder. Signed bookplate, lots of pretty bookmarks and a postcard with another sweet signed message. :) Thanks Lisa!



Then, I was lucky enough to win a pendulum and Ghost Huntress: The Awakening from The Book Butterfly. Thanks!


Alright, I also got a copy of Fire by Kristin Cashore- which I'm circulating with some girls from Goodreads.

I won a signed, ARC copy of Secret Society by Tom Dolby from HarperCollins (and a cool temporary tattoo).

From Stephanie Kuehnert's Cyberlaunch party, I won some Ballads of Suburbia taffy and she included some bookmarks about her book, a cool temporary tattoo, a pink pin that says "The Girls guide to Rocking", and some cute little cards about Jeri Smith-Ready's books.

And then, since I'm collecting all of L.A. Meyer's Bloody Jack series. I nabbed the latest paperback - In the Belly of the Bloodhound.


And then, for good measure, I stopped by the library. I got three movies: The Talented Mr. Ripley, Changeling, and Interview with the Vampire. Then, I just had to get The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong, because I just finished The Summoning and it had a killer ending.


Wowzers. Now to catch up on some reading...
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Winner of Ash contest!

Alright, thanks to random.org - I have selected a winner for the Signed, ARC copy of Ash and a cool Ash poster!

#386 - Ashley

Ashley said: "I would like to see mulan revamped, its an amazing fairy tale and there should be a modern one that we can enjoy. There are so many talented actors/actresses today that would make it good."

Thanks to everyone who entered and shared what fairy tale they would like to see revamped!

I'm off to email Ashley for her contact info!

Sad you didn't win? Enter my Hush, Hush + necklace contest here (Ends next Saturday!).

Also, if you even just comment, you can be entered to win some books in my August Comment Contest.

I have one or two more contests planned that will come up soon! So keep tuned! :-D
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Show Me 5 Saturday

That's A Novel Idea just started this fun new meme!

Here are the rules:
Each Saturday You will post the answer to these questions. The number indicates the number of answers you will provide.

1 Book you read and/or reviewed this week
2 Words that describe the book
3 Settings where it took place or characters you met
4 Things you liked and/or disliked about it
5 Stars or less for your rating?

Here are mine:
1 Candor by Pam Bachorz
2 Suspenseful, utopian
3 Oscar, Nia, and Candor
4 Liked: pace, the action, and the characters. Disliked: the ending
5 Stars :-D

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Saturday Spotlight - And Anything Bookish

Welcome to another weekend of Spotlights! I hope you add these new bloggers and give them a comment or two. Stay tuned at the end for Kim's contest details!

Without further ado...

Name: Salena
Nickname and/or blog name: Kim [It's my middle name :)]
Blog URL: http://andanythingbookish.blogspot.com

Tell me a bit about yourself.

Well, I'm basically your average high school student who lives and breathes books. Unfortunately, besides being an accident-prone and an unlucky girl, there isn't much that's interesting about me. I can tell you one thing for sure though, I am a COMPLETE pessimist; I will look on the bad side of everything. I also like to think of myself as a hypocrite. During my free time, I enjoy picking on people who use double negatives in their sentences. My friends know me as a grammar freak, but my grammar isn't so good either--they just don't know that! =) If you spend enough time with me, you will find me as a VERY boring person...

When and why did you start your blog?

I just started my blog early July so I'm a total newbie to this. I am not sure why I started this blog, but I think it has something to do with the fact that I like sharing my thoughts with the world. Do you know the feeling you get when you finish the last page of a book? That whole rush? Well it sticks with me for a couple of days and I will keep thinking about it. So then, I have these thoughts of how I think the book will be better, how much I liked of it, etc. That happens with every book I read. Perhaps, that's why I started it; because I am already critiquing the novel inside my head--so why not share it with others who might be interested?

What is your blog all about? Any cool features you want to share?

My blog is just like the name of it--anything bookish (YA, of course) So far, I only have reviews, though. I like making book trailers, so that's a thing that might show up every once in a while. In fact, there's a book trailer in the first post I did on the blog.

Do you have a review system? If you do, would you like to explain it for us?

I do have a review system--a rough one. I give a book a rating depending on how I like it and how much I would recommend others to read it. it ranges from a 1 to a 5, with the 5 being the highest.

Any tips or advice for those starting or thinking about starting a blog?

I don't feel qualified to give others advice in book blogging because I have just started. But I do want to tell them to write lively reviews --unlike mine-- to keep the attention of other readers. Also, they should be very specific in what they like and what they don't like.

What are some of your favorite genres and/or books currently?

Obviously, everything is in the YA age range. But for favorite genre, I'd have to say most of the books I read are a mix of everything with romance in them. Among my favorite books are Two Way Street, the Uglies Series, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Hunger Games, several books by Sarah Dessen, Airhead Series, Prada and Prejudice, Blue Bloods Series, Gallagher Girls Series, etc. The list can go on forever...

Contest Alert!
Kim is currently holding a contest for 4 books (The Hunger Games, Airhead, The Body Finder, Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac) and a $15 ITunes gift card. Check it out here!

Thanks to Kim for volunteering to become one of my spotlighted bloggers! Check out her blog and leave her some love!

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!
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Movie Review: The Changeling

Hi guys! I'm joining in on the fun that is the Gothic Film Club, hosted by Write for a Reader and is sponsored by the glorious, wonderful Michelle Zink, author of Prophecy of the Sisters.

I chose to watch The Changeling this week - with the famous Angelina Jolie featured in it. I was surprised to find this movie on the shelf at the library - it being a newer release. So I nabbed it and forced my fiance to watch it with me when he got home from work.

I must say, this is the type of movie where you get so involved, you want to strangle some characters - or at least cuss them out. I know I let a few F bombs drop during this movie. The basic premise is that a young boy of 9 goes missing. The mother is a single mother and after 5 months of searching, the police find a boy matching that description. Only, she knows this is not her son.

I loved the pace of this movie, how it kept you moving with the story, but not too fast. Characters were introduced with enough intrigue and back story that you really felt like they were alive. The movie is based on true events, which I could definitely see happening.

If you like movies that make you become involved in the story line, this is the movie for you.

5/5 :)
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Random awesome contest

Okay, I'm dying to tell you about this contest I JUST found. And if five of you tell her I referred you.. well, all the better for me. And then you can bribe 5 other bloggers to enter it and so forth.

Anyways...

Lost in a Book is holding a fabulous birthday contest for:

1. ARC of Shiver
2. ARC of How to Say Good-bye in Robot
3. ARC of As You Wish
4. ARC of Give Up the Ghost
5. ARC of Lipstick Apology
6. ARC of Devoured
7. ARC of The Sweetheart of Prosper County
8. Hardcover copy of Eyes Like Stars
9. Hardcover copy of Hannah (Daughters of the Sea)

And if THAT isn't enough if she gets 150 followers one other winner will win a YA book pre-order of their choice via amazon.com!

And more winners if she gets even MORE followers. So yeah, enter and please tell her I referred you, please please please?

Cause if you haven't figured it out yet... I'm a contest-a-holic. I admit it - I have a problem. *sigh* and NO, I'm not yet ready for therapy. :-D
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Author Interview: Malinda Lo

Malinda Lo was kind enough to let me interview her. I met Malinda at ALA and thought she was amazing, so I wanted to learn more about her and especially about her amazing book Ash. If you haven't read my review of her novel, read it here.

A little bit about Malinda before we get to the questions:
Malinda Lo was born in China and moved to the United States as a child. She grew up in Colorado and has since lived in Boston, New York, London, Beijing, Los Angeles and San Francisco. She is the former managing editor of AfterEllen.com, the largest entertainment news website for lesbians and bisexual women. In 2006, Malinda was awarded the Sarah Pettit Memorial Award for Excellence in LGBT Journalism by the National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and has master’s degrees from Harvard and Stanford universities. Malinda now lives in Northern California with her partner and their dog. Ash is her first novel.

Being a former entertainment reporter, how do you feel that has affected your writing?

I learned how to write day in and day out, whether I'm interested in the story I'm writing or not. So even when I hit a difficult part of the book I'm working on, I do understand that I have to stay there and get through it.

What inspired you to retell the fairy tale of Cinderella?

Cinderella was always my favorite fairy tale when I was a kid. I also really enjoyed Robin McKinley's fairy tale retellings, and I always wished she would write a version of Cinderella. Since she didn't (or hasn't yet!), I decided to write the book I wanted to read.

What do you want your readers to take away from your novel Ash?

I hope they'll find an enjoyable and engrossing story that entertains them and makes them feel hopeful.

What did you learn while writing Ash?

Grief and depression will come to an end. Love is life-changing, and you'll know it when you see it.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

Don't give up! And believe in yourself.

Is there anything else you want your readers to know about you or your novel?
Ash falls in love with another woman, but you don't have to be lesbian or gay to understand the book. I hope that non-LGBT readers will see that falling in love with someone of the same sex is as natural as falling in love with someone of the opposite sex.

Thanks Malinda for letting me interview!

You can learn more about Malinda and her amazing book Ash over at her website.

Also, I am currently giving away a signed ARC of her book Ash as well as a cool poster. Check it out here. It ends tomorrow at noon, so check it out!

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Friday Finds, Updates, cool Contests

Friday Finds is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

Alright, first off... here are my lonely two Friday Finds:

Click on the picture or link to find out more info! (Yes, I am lazy)

The Life of Glass by Jillian Cantor
The Poison Eaters and Other Stories by Holly Black

You can win an ARC of The Life of Glass from the author here.

Updates:

• I have new "teacher" training next week - super nervous. Then school starts the 24th with an institute day. I'm going in Monday to do some set up.
  
• My good friend Emma (Booking Through 365) has a guest post up on her blog by me.
• I've got a poll running on the sidebar - please vote if you haven't!
• The Ash contest ends THIS Saturday at noon (see top of page for a linkie).
• Lots of comments this month for the August Comment Contest - Thanks guys!
• My Link A Contest Thursday went awesome! With 45 contests linked! Check it out HERE.
  

Cool Contests:

Stephanie Kuehnert, author of Ballads of Suburbia, is hosting her last week of her CyberLaunch party for the release of her book. Check it out here.

The YA Book Queen is giving away Meridian and One Butt Cheek at a Time by Amber Kizer on her blog. Ends 8-20.

Suzanne McLeod is giving away a beautiful UK version of Fire by Kristin Cashore here. Ends 8-20.

The New, The Here, and The Books is giving away Rachel Hawthorne’s Dark Guardian series over on her blog. Ends 8-23.

I know most of you have heard, but Cindy is holding an AWESOME contest over at her blog: Princess Bookie - you could win tons of books and there should be multiple winners now (or if not.. soon!)! :-D Ends 8-24.

You can win a copy of Sleepless by Thomas Fahy over at Fantastic Book Review. Ends 8-27.

Win Geektastic over at in Between the Pages. Ends 8-27.

Feed the Hungry by commenting in this contest. Seriously, check it out!

I feel like I'm forgetting something... *sigh* Oh well. Again you can also find more contests on my Link A Contest Thursday post (and add yours too!). Check it out HERE.

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Candor

Candor
by Pam Bachorz
Release date: September 22, 2009

From the author's website:

In a town where his father brainwashes everyone, Oscar Banks has found a way to secretly fight the subliminal Messages that turn even the most troubled kids into model citizens. On the outside, he's the perfect Candor teen, and no one knows that he's built an entire business around helping new kids escape before the Messages take hold.

But then Nia Silva moves to town, and Oscar thinks she's perfect exactly the way she is. Soon he must make a choice: let Nia be lost to the brainwashing, or help her stay special and risk himself in the process.

While reading Candor, I could not put the book down for long. I read it in a day (yesterday) and found it to be very exciting. Oscar finally finds himself in love with a girl moving to Candor. He doesn't want her to leave, but he doesn't want her brainwashed. I just really loved the perspective of this book from Oscar, how he finally finds something to preoccupy his mind - or rather, someone.

The struggle tore Oscar apart, made him a little less careful than usual and put him in some sticky situations. All the signs of love.

The ending was killer and I hope that Pam starts working on another book to continue on the story. I think I'm going to have to send her a little note telling her I need MORE!

Yes, folk, this book was awesome. That's why it gets:

5/5 Roses

(This book is in the pot for the August Comment Contest.)

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Contest for Hush, Hush + Necklace

Alright guys, time for yet ANOTHER awesome contest. :-D

Here is what you could win by entering this contest:

• ARC copy of Hush, Hush
• Pink angel necklace - super cute! Made by Chatty Cathie!
  

The Rules:
1. Open to EVERYONE.
2. Please include your email address with your comment(s).
3. Contest ends Saturday, August 22nd at noon CST
4. How to get points:

Answer me one (or both) of these questions: What absurd thing would you be willing - not literally, but in your head - to do to earn this copy of Hush, Hush?

or

Why do you think this book is called Hush, Hush?

• +2 for answering one of the questions above (+4 if you answer both!)
  
• +5 for voting on my poll! (See sidebar)
  
• +2 for commenting on my review HERE
  
• +2 for becoming a follower
• +3 if you were already a follower
• +2 for following me on Twitter (@bookgoil) Leave your @name.
  
• +2 for each time you advertise this contest - sidebar, twitter (please @bookgoil), blog, etc (Please leave a link!)
• +5 for just looking at Chatty Cathie's website and telling me one piece you think/want to buy or just find shiny and want to stare at all day...
• +20 if you purchase something from Chatty Cathie's etsy website. You do not have to do this, but take a look at her website and see if there's anything cute you like. You can send me a copy of the receipt at bittahsweetharmony@yahoo.com

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Link a Contest Thursday

I decided to start a new meme. You can copy it, link to it, whatever. Basically, if you have a contest or know of a contest currently going on... link it below in the Mister Linky. The contest is then accessible today for anyone who stops by.. or, really, the rest of the week.. and if it's still going on next week, I can make it look all pretty on the next Link a Contest Thursday.

I'll take any feedback on this meme, cause it's new. Not sure if I just want to leave the Mister Linky, or if I should also list them out in the blog post.. what do you guys think?

So, my main suggest is instead of your name... leave the name of what you're giving away.


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