Blog With Bite Discussion Questions : Intertwined by Gena Showalter

Read my review for Intertwined by Gena Showalter.

Here are my answers to the Blog With Bite discussion questions for this title.

#1 Do you feel the ending was cut short and needed more to be resolved before the book ended?

While the ending was sort of a cliff-hanger, I enjoyed it. It made me want to read the next book right away. Unfortunetly that's not possible until September 2010, so I'll be itching until then.

#2 Regarding Question #1, what are your thoughts on series books? For one you get more and more and more - depending on how long the series drags on - for another some series leave you with very little resolution at the end of the novels, i.e. the Merry Gentry series where only a couple of hours pass within the time span of one book. Do you find this is just an authors way of having guaranteed book sales - or do you really enjoy series and love reading about your fav characters over and over again?

I honestly LOVE reading series. If I had a choice between reading a book in a series, and a stand alone...I'd definitely go for the series. I love to learn as much about a charcter as I can, and I feel that when reading a series, you get to actually get to know those characters. Reading a stand alone just gives you a glimpse into their world, and I want the whole she-bang!

#3 Which "trapped" soul was your favorite and do you see potential in the future story lines with the remaining three?

My favorite trapped soul was Eve. She was compasionate and truly wanted the best for Aden. The others were funny, and sometimes annoying, especially when he just wanted some alone time. I can't wait to read their stories though, and I'm sure they will be just as intriguing, if not more.

#4 When a larger-than-life character such as Vlad Tepes aka Dracula is used as a side-plot character do you believe it gives the story a more factual base, or makes it less real?

I enjoyed the mention of Vlad the Impaler, aka Dracula. It's nice to see an author modernize a historical character, and make them their own. Even better, was to learn a little fictional lineage.

#5 What did you think of the side plot involving Tucker and Penny? Do you think the issues from that plot were adequately resolved?

I really enjoyed the side plot. It added a little normalcy to a world full of well, things that just aren't normal. There story isn't over yet, I can just feel it, so it wasn't adequatley resolved. I think it's just the beginning.

#6 What is your best guess as to what Aden Stone's superpower is - the power he possess without his souls?

This is a very interesting question. I honestly don't have a answer for this one, but I wish I did. I think he may just be some kind of supernatural beacon, but I can't wait to find out what his story really is.

Review : Intertwined by Gena Showalter

Title : Intertwined
Author : Gena Showalter
Publisher : HarperTeen
Genre : Young Adult - Paranormal
ISBN : 978-0373210022
Series : #1 in Series
Release Date : September 1, 2009
Rating : 4.5/5 - Very Good.

Description from Amazon :

Most sixteen-year-olds have friends. Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him:

One can time-travel.

One can raise the dead.

One can tell the future.

And one can possess another human.

With no other family and a life spent in and out of institutions, Aden and the souls have become friends. But now they're causing him all kinds of trouble. Like, he'll blink and suddenly he's a younger Aden, reliving the past. One wrong move, and he'll change the future. Or he'll walk past a total stranger and know how and when she's going to die.

He's so over it. All he wants is peace.

And then he meets a girl who quiets the voices. Well, as long as he's near her. Why? Mary Ann Gray is his total opposite. He's a loner; she has friends. He doesn't care what anyone thinks; she tries to make everyone happy. And while he attracts the paranormal, she repels it. For her sake, he should stay away. But it's too late....

Somehow, they share an inexplicable bond of friendship. A bond about to be tested by a werewolf shape-shifter who wants Mary Ann for his own, and a vampire princess Aden can't resist.

Two romances, both forbidden. Still, the four will enter a dark underworld of intrigue and danger but not everyone will come out alive....

Trailer :

Review :

All through out Aden Stone's life, he has been labeled as cracy, schizophrenic, and violent. It's taken him 16 years to finally be released into a more 'normal' environment. It's almost unreal that he has the freedom to walk around a town on his own, and interact with people. Aden isn't crazy though, he's just forced to live with the souls of four others inside of his head. They constantly battle for his attention, and what makes things worse, they have abilities that Aden can't control.

Each soul has a gift for the supernatural. One can time travel, while another can raise the dead. This can get quite annoying for Aden when he is trying to live a peaceful life. It gets worse though, as the remaining two souls each have an ability as well, one being able to tell the future, more namely what will cause the death of those Aden passes in life. The last, can possess the body of another human, taking Aden and the other souls along for the ride.

Aden has made it his goal to release the souls in side of his head, so for once in his life he can have some peace. When he meets a girl that can quite the souls just by being in his presence, he is certain she will be able to help him figure out the mystery. Aden and Mary Ann have a bond that can't be broken. While they are drawn together, they are both repelled as well, knowing that something is weird about the way they feel about each other. They feel as though they are two magnets, both drawn to each other, but repelled in another.

Things only get more weird for Aden and Mary Anne as their friendship progresses. They meet a werewolf that is hell bent on having Mary Anne for his own, and a vampire princess that Aden can't help but be drawn to. While their love for one another is forbidden, they work together to enter a world full of creatures that both Aden and Mary Anne never knew existed. It will be a bumpy ride, full of surprises and danger, but they are determined to come out on the other side.

I was extremely excited to read this story, and waited eagerly for it to arrive in my mailbox after having ordered it online. It had to sit for a little bit, unfortunetly, due to catching up on a few other reviews that I had promised to have finished beforehand. When I finally was able to dig in, I couldn't stop. Within the first two hours, I was already half way through the story, and itching to find out what would happen next.

This is the first novel I have ever read by Gena Showalter, and I can honestly say I'm more excited to read more of her work than ever. While there was so much going on in this story, it all meshed together very nicely. I thought that by focusing on four characters in this book, plus the souls of four others, it was going to be a jumbled mess. Interwined, was in fact, an action packed rollar coaster with lots of dips and turns.

The story was addicting, and when I finally hit that last page I was eager to know what would happen next with Aden and his friends. Luckily, Showalter has a sequel in the works called, Unraveled, and all I can say is that I absolutly can't wait to get my hands on it, it scheduled for release in September of 2010. In this first installment, Showalter's characters are so well-rounded, and intriguing. I can only imagine how they will progress over time, and itch for the chance at another adventure.

Where did I get this book? :

I ordered my copy of Intertwined by Gena Showalter from BookDepository.com, in order to participate in the Blog With Bite discussion.

Amazon Affiliate :

Clicking on cover images, or title link in this review will relocate you to Amazon.com. If you choose to purchase a copy of Intertwined by Gena Showalter upon clicking the links, I will receive a small percentage of the sales.

Featured Book, Guest Post & Contest : Spoon by Robert Greer

Spoon by Robert Greer
Release Date : October 1, 2009

Description from Amazon :

“An enormously engaging novel with characters who feel like old friends and a spirit as big as the West. From the opening paragraphs, you are in the hands of a master with the ability to evoke the grandeur of the still untamed western landscape and the folks whose lives are shaped by it. What a gifted storyteller Robert Greer is! Spoon is the kind of story you will remember.”—Margaret Coel, author of The Silent Spirit.

His hat was a snow white Tom Mix block, and he wore it tipped forward just enough to shade his eyes. When I asked him what had happened to his shoes, he said, "Shoes can be excess baggage when a man's in a hurry."

A novel of the contemporary American West, Spoon tells the story of Arcus Witherspoon, a mysterious half-black, half-Indian, oddly clairvoyant man searching the West for his roots. Hitchhiking near Hardin, Montana, Spoon falls in with a ranching family struggling to keep their ranch afloat amidst the pressures of hard economic times and an encroaching coal company. Proving himself a gifted ranch hand and mentor, Spoon charges himself with rescuing the Darleys and guiding the family's teenage son TJ on his path to manhood. While Spoon's checkered past includes a prison stint and a navy tour of Vietnam, it is his tenacity, wisdom, and charm that end up defining this quintessential Western man.

About the Author

Robert Greer is author of the popular CJ Floyd mystery series: The Devil’s Hatband, The Devil’s Red Nickel, The Devil’s Backbone, Resurrecting Langston Blue, The Fourth Perspective, The Mongoose Deception, and Blackbird, Farewell, as well as two medical thrillers and a short-story collection entitled Isolation and Other Stories. He is a practicing pathologist and professor of medicine at the University of Colorado, and he owns a cattle ranch in Wyoming. Please visit his author website, http://www.robertgreerbooks.com/.

Guest Post

I’m typically a writer of suspense novels and mystery fiction. My latest novel, Spoon, therefore, proved to be a unique and very different writing challenge since it is largely a piece of literary fiction with a dominant western setting.

The novel’s plot revolves around a mysterious, oddly clairvoyant half-black, half-Indian cowboy named Arcus Witherspoon, aka Spoon, who is searching for his family roots out West. All he knows about his family is that his great-grandfather was a buffalo soldier who once fought alongside Kit Carson. As Spoon wanders the state of Montana he stumbles across a ranching family down on their luck. That family, the Darleys, are embroiled in a battle with a coal company intent on usurping their land. Spoon uses his tenacity, wit, and future-seeing powers to help the family deal with the coal company’s encroachment. At the same time, he helps their nineteen-year-old son, TJ, become a man.

The novel’s contemporary Montana backdrop essentially serves as a character itself as I explore the role of ranching in rapidly changing modern times.

Spoon, the novel, arose from a similarly titled short story I wrote when I was in my Boston University graduate creative writing program twenty-odd years ago. That story, published in a literary magazine, had characters and a plot that stuck with me over the years. There was something about the loner-drifter character of Spoon and his on-again, off-again attachment to larger society that I could never quite get out of my head. I suspect that’s because Spoon’s character shares some of the elements of the loner-gun fighter depicted in the classic Western novel Shane, a book I’ve always admired.

Spoon also gave me the opportunity to portray the hard-nosed western female character I am fond of: the bright–spirited, resilient woman of the high western plains. In Marva Darley, I got that chance.

All in all, Spoon was a refreshing break from the mysteries and thrillers that I normally write, and I suspect there’s another literary novel out there to be written soon.

Contest & Privacy Policy

Thanks to Erin @ Fulcrum Publishing, I am able to give away 5 copies of the title Spoon by Robert Greer.

To enter please fill out the form below, answering all required questions.

By entering your information below you are giving me permission to contact you by email if you win. This product is shipped directly from the publisher, so in the event that you win your address will be forwarded to them for distribution purposes. Address will not be sold, or given out for any other purpose

If by chance you are under the age of 18, please have your parent or guardian email me at FallingOTShelf@aol.com to give acceptance of prize permission.

For extra entry - Post a comment below!

Deadline November 10, 2009 @ end of the day everywhere.
U.S. & Canada Residents Only. No PO Boxes.

As soon as this contest is considered over, I will remove the following entrant form.

Teaser Tuesday - October 27th

Teaser Tuesdays

Hosted by Should Be Reading

Anyone can play along!
Just do the following :

1. Grab your current read.
2. Open to a random page.
3. Share 2 teaser sentences from anywhere on that page.
4. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
5. Share the book title and author so others can wishlist the book.

My Teaser :

Before he could blink, Victoria was once again in his face, pushing him backward until he slammed into a tree and lost his breath. He'd wanted her near him, but not like this. Not angry.

Her lips pulled back from her teeth, revealing sharp white fangs. "You would be running in terror if you knew."

pg. 131

Amazon Affiliates :

Clicking on the above cover image for Intertwined by Gena Showalter will redirect you to Amazon.com. If you choose to purchase after clicking this link I will receive a small percentage of sales.

Mailbox Monday - October 26th

Yay for Mailbox Mondays! This is honestly one of my favorite posts of the week, lol. I love showcasing all the great books that I receive, and giving thanks to those who have contributed to my ever growing TBR pile :)

For Review :

Symptoms of a Broken Heart by Cory Cramer (Trade Paperback)
September 1, 2009 - Supplied by author upon their request for me to review.

The author also sent along a previous mini-series called Losing Latitude.

When Lisa and her sister Susan celebrate Susan’s birthday by attending a Full Moon Party–a party thrown by a group of werewolf fanatics in a swamp near New Orleans–an unexpected tragedy occurs. Fearing repercussions, Lisa turns to black magic in order to cover up what happened to her sister. But keeping things under wraps isn’t as easy as Lisa thinks. Little does she know, her inner demons—and desires—will be the biggest obstacles in keeping her sister’s death a secret.

The Manufactured Identity by Heath Sommer (Trade Paperback)
June 23, 2009 - Supplied by author upon their request for me to review.

Can't seem to find a synopsis for this one, but you can read the first chapter here.

Ciao Bella by Gina Buonaguro & Janice Kirk (Hardcover)
October 13, 2009 - Suppled by author upon their request for me to review.

For Graziella, the quiet, cultured life she lived in Venice with her musician husband, Ugo, was everything she could have hoped for. But when Italy allied itself with Nazi Germany in 1940, her world changed forever. Ugo, trading in his violin for a gun, joined the Resistance, while Graziella was forced to seek refuge at his family’s farm in the nearby Euganean Hills. “Just until the war is over,” Ugo had promised, but it has been months now since the Nazis retreated, and no one has seen him since.

With Ugo gone, it seems as if she will be trapped forever on this remote farm with her lost husband’s difficult family. So when an American soldier named Frank is stranded on the mountain, Graziella embraces this unexpected chance at being happy again. But as tempting as it is to leave behind this war-torn country and her painful memories for a new life in America, can she go without learning her husband’s fate?

With quiet grace and humor, Ciao Bella explores the possibilities of love and redemption in the wake of war, showing that some of the hardest decisions come only after the fighting has stopped.

Won :



Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow (ARC)
May 14, 2009 - Thanks Cindy @ Princess Bookie!

Dad? Zombie.
Mom? Long gone.
Me? Well, that's the scary part.

The Real World is a frightening place. Just ask sixteen-year-old orphan Dru Anderson, a tough girl who has taken down her fair share of bad guys. She's armed, dangerous, and ready to kill first and ask questions later. So it's gonna take her a while to figure out who she can trust . . .

Dru Anderson has been 'strange' for as long as she can remember, travelling from town to town with her father to hunt the things that go bump in the night. It's a weird life, but a good one – until it all explodes in an icy, broken-down Dakota town, when a hungry zombie busts through her kitchen door. Alone, terrified, and trapped, Dru's going to need every inch of her wit and training to stay alive. The monsters have decided to hunt back – and this time, Dru's on their menu. Chances of survival? Slim to none.

If she can't last until sunup, it's game over . . .

Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen (Trade Paperback)
May 11, 2004 - Thanks Cindy @ Princess Bookie!

Halley and Scarlett have been best friends for years, sharing secrets, clothes, and crushes. People know Scarlett as the popular, flamboyant one; Halley is just her quiet sidekick. Then, at the beginning of their junior year, the balance shifts. First, Scarlett's boyfriend Michael is killed in a motorcycle accident; soon afterward, she learns that she is carrying his baby. For the first time, Scarlett really needs Halley. Their friendship may bend under the weight, but it will never break--because a true friendship is a promise you keep forever.

Mooched :



Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Hardcover)
July 22, 2008 - Bookmooch

CLASSIFIED ADS: RESTAURANTS SANGUINI''S:
A VERY RARE RESTAURANT IS HIRING A CHEF DE CUISINE.
DINNERS ONLY.
APPLY IN PERSON BETWEEN 2:00 AND 4:00 PM.

Quincie Morris has never felt more alone. Her parents are dead, and her hybrid-werewolf first love is threatening to embark on a rite of passage that will separate them forever. Then, as she and her uncle are about to unveil their hot vampire-themed restaurant, a brutal murder leaves them scrambling for a chef. Can Quincie transform their new hire into a culinary Dark Lord before opening night? Can he wow the crowd in his fake fangs, cheap cape, and red contact lenses — or is there more to this earnest face than meets the eye? As human and preternatural forces clash, a deadly love triangle forms, and the line between predator and prey begins to blur. Who’s playing whom? And how long can Quincie play along before she loses everything? TANTALIZE marks Cynthia Leitich Smith’s delicious debut as a preeminent author of dark fantasy.

Storm of Shadows by Christina Dodd (MMP)
September 1, 2009 - Paperbackswap

Brilliant Rosamund Hill has lived her life buried in academia, discounting the legend of the Chosen as a myth-then Aaron Eagle shows up at her door. With the promise of a love that will defy fate itself, Rosamund is forced to confront the truth about the Chosen...and the dangerous man who sweeps her into a world of dark secrets.

What did you receive this week? Feel free to post below, or even leave a link to your mailbox!

Weekly Recap : October 19th - 25th

Wow, the week is over already? That went by rather....fast, lol. I didn't post a whole lot last week, no Memes other than my Mailbox Monday. I only posted 1 review, argh. I didn't have th time! I did find some time to read though, thankfully. So here goes...

What happened last week?

**Read - The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner (review soon!)
**Read and Reviewed - Ginger High by Melissa Burmester (blog tour)

**Read - Random Magic by Sasha Soren (upcoming blog tour in November!)

What's happening this week?

The way things have been going lately - I haven't been able to fulfil my goals of each week. Please note, that these are the things I TRY to finish, although, don't always work out.

**Review - The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner
**Read and Review - Intertwined by Gena Showalter (Blog With Bite)
**Read - If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince? by Melissa Kantor (Once Upon a Week)
**Read and Review - Nibble & Kuhn by Schmahmann

Upcoming Contests :

5 Copies of Show No Fear by Marliss Melton
5 Copies of Tall, Dark & Fangsome by Michelle Rowen

5 Copies of Love You to Death by Shannon K. Butcher

5 Copies of Chosen by Desire by Kate Perry

Princess Bookie's Awesome Read-A-Thon Giveaway Event!

Cindy @ Princess Bookie is having a fantastic weekend long giveaway event for Dewey's Read-a-thon. I'm proud to say that I am a participant in the giveaways, so go over and sign up to win some great books!

Win Hush Hush or Once a Witch (ARCs)
Win Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink (audio)
Win Identical - Wake - Monstrumologist
Win The Tear Collector
Win Switch or Snap by Carol Snow
Win Possessions by Nancy Holder
Win Local Girls or Rich Boys
Win Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb
Win Geek Charming by Robin Palmer (3 ARCs)
Win City of Ashes & Girls Stay in Picture
Win Language of Flowers
Win Vamped by Lucienne Diver
Win Take Me There by Susanne Colasanti
Win What Would Emma Do? by Eileen Cook
Win Secret Society by Tom Dolby - Ankh Tattoo
Win The Debs by Susan McBride
Win Beguiled by D.Gist and J Mark Bertrand

There may still be some more contests added to the list! So make sure you keep checking back!

Blog Tour & Contest - Ginger High by Melissa Burmester

Ginger High

by Melissa Burmester

Blog Tour

Read My Review

Description from Amazon :

Ginger High is no ordinary school. It is a school for students with special powers. Many years ago people came to Earth from the Kingdom of Animist, a parallel universe. Two long time friends, Matthias and Amanta, attended the school and then returned home to Animist. The school has had many unexplained deaths. Daisy Fisher attends the school after her old school burns down. Matthias and Amanta are called back to the school to help solve the mysteries. What are powers? And what is with this crazy school? Welcome to Ginger High.

Trailer :

About the Author

Melissa Burmester is 14 years old and is presently living with her parents and twin brother in East Moriches, NY. She has been writing about vampires and the supernatural since she was 12 years old, although Ginger High is her first novel. She attends West Hampton Beach High School, and plans to be a writer and teacher.

Contest

Thanks to author Melissa Burmester I am able to give away 2 copies of Ginger High. In order to enter please fill out the form below with all the neccessary answers.

Extra Entry - Leave a comment below!

Privacy Policy

In the event that you win your address will only be forwarded to the author for prize distribution. The author, or myself, will not distribute it for any other purpose.

If you win, and you are under the age of 18, please have a parent or guardian email me for permissions to have the prize sent to you.

Deadline November 6, 2009 @ 11:59 PM Est.
US Residents Only, sorry!

Review : Ginger High by Melissa Burmester

Title : Ginger High
Author : Melissa Burmester

Publisher : Infinity Publishing

Genre : Young Adult

ISBN : 978-0741453631

Series : #1 Ginger High Series

Release Date : May 15, 2009
Rating : 2 - Okay

Description from Amazon :

Ginger High is no ordinary school. It is a school for students with special powers. Many years ago people came to Earth from the Kingdom of Animist, a parallel universe. Two long time friends, Matthias and Amanta, attended the school and then returned home to Animist. The school has had many unexplained deaths. Daisy Fisher attends the school after her old school burns down. Matthias and Amanta are called back to the school to help solve the mysteries. What are powers? And what is with this crazy school? Welcome to Ginger High.

Review :

Ginger High is for special students. These students have an array of talents that no normal person is bestowed. People with these talents descended from a parallel universe called Animist, although some are unaware that is truly where they are from. When unexplained deaths start occuring at Ginger High, two long time friends, Matthias and Amanta return to Ginger High to help solve the mysteries.

Daisy Fisher is a young student of Ginger High. She comes from another town, and was forced to go to Ginger High after her own school was burned down. She will have to learn the ropes at Ginger High, and understand what it means to have powers.

This was a really quick read, although it didn't have as much appeal for me as I expected it to. I was confused with how the story jumped around between narrators, and there was some gaps in the story. The actually idea for this story was a great idea, and that is why I kept on.

Halfway through this story I was wondering about the author, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Melissa Burmester is only 14 years old. This is when I realized the mistakes of the novel and lack of characterization came from. This is her first novel, and she has plenty of time left in life to expand and learn from her mistakes. I'm very curious to see where this series will go, and especially curious as to how the author will transform in her work.

New Authors Challenge 2010

Literary Escapism hosts this awesome challenge, and I could not pass it up. I already give myself a goal each year to read the works of new authors, and this will just make the challenge even more fun!

January 1st, 2010 - December 31st, 2010

Guidelines

1. The challenge will run from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010.

2. Since this is an author challenge, there is no restriction on choosing your novels. They can definitely be from other challenges. However, the authors must be new to you and, preferably from novels. Anthologies are a great way to try someone new, but only a third of your new authors can be from anthologies.

3. I want this to be an easy challenge, so you can pick to do either 15, 25 or 50 new authors. It all depends on how fast you read and how adventurous you want to be. For me, I’m trying another 50 new authors. If you reach your goal halfway through the year, don’t stop. Any new author you try can be added to Mr. Linky. We all want to know about your new experience.

4. After reading your new author, write your review and then come back here and add your link to Mr. Linky. Make sure you include your name and the author, but adding the title is completely up to you.

5. Bloggers or Non-Bloggers alike are welcome.

Sign Up Here

I'm personally going to choose to do the 50 new authors. I've already read over 50 books for this year, and have read nearly 30 new authors. That is only since starting my blog, so I can only imagine what the coming year has in store for me. I will list them as I go!

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.

33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.

Mailbox Monday - October 19th

Another week has passed, and so here is what I received last week. I'm trying not to accept as many review books...but it's hard when they sound so good! UGH! Know what I mean? I did get quite a few this past week..let's hope it's not so bad this week!

For Review :

Unconventional by J.J. Hebert (Trade Paperback)
July 10, 2009 - Supplied by author after he requested for me to review.

YOUNG JAMES FROST just knows, deep in his bones, that he's a writer. He writes far into early mornings, after his wearying hours of scrubbing toilets and sweeping floors. He loves writing that much. But it's not only the joy of words that keeps him grinding; it's his desire to retire the janitor's mop. He sees being published as the key to living an improved life. James has another deep-seated conviction: that he's not good enough. He secretly longs to be accepted. However, the conventional others in his life seem all too willing to remind him that he's wasting his time. Then he meets and falls in love with Leigh, the one bright spot in his endless misery of self-doubt. A quiet but resolutely religious girl, she has to fight off disapproval of her own from overly critical parents, whose insults are countered by James's often-voiced admiration of her. Likewise, Leigh's faith in his talents begins to build his confidence, eventually allowing her to introduce him to a different way to help himself: relying on God. Ultimately, James's newfound faith is sorely tested to the point of doubt when his dream to be published seems to melt into a mirage, smothered by countless rejection slips from agents and publishers. His faith is also battered by having to fight highly emotional battles and suffer fear and loss. Just when James appears hopelessly sapped by devastating events, one last door opens, and he's rocked by an epiphany. UNCONVENTIONAL is designed to inspire readers to reach for their dreams. Buy this book. Read it. Share it with everyone you know. You - and they - will be glad you did!

Under the Amoral Bridge : A Cyberpunk Novel by Gary A Ballard (Trade Paperback)
January 31, 2008 - 2 Copies were supplied by the author upon his request for me to review and host a giveaway.

Artemis Bridge is the know-to, go-to guy, the amoral fixer in 2028 Los Angeles with the connection for any illicit desire no matter how depraved. He prides himself on remaining above it all, but when an associate dies in his arms, he is burdened with a damaging video of the current mayor he can't sell or trade. With assassins dogging his every step, he has only days before the corrupt mayor is re-elected, handing Chronosoft corporation complete control. This taut futuristic thriller is the debut novel by Gary A. Ballard, originally published serially on the World Wide Web at http://amoralbridge.blogspot.com.

Spellbinder by Helen Stringer (ARC)
September 29, 2009 - Requested from Shelf Awareness

Belladonna Johnson can see ghosts. It’s a trait she’s inherited from her mother’s side of the family, like blue eyes or straight hair. And it’s a trait she could do without, because what twelve-year-old wants to be caught talking to someone invisible?

It is convenient, though, after Belladonna’s parents are killed in a car accident. They can live with her the same as always, watching the same old TV shows in their same old house. Nothing has changed . . . until everything changes.

One night, with no warning, they vanish into thin air—along with every other ghost in the world. It’s what some people think ghosts are supposed to do, but Belladonna knows it’s all wrong. They may not be living, but they’re not supposed to be gone.

With the help of her classmate Steve, a master of sneaking and spying, Belladonna is left to uncover what’s become of the spirits and to navigate a whole world her parents have kept well-hidden. If she can’t find her way, she’ll lose them again—this time for good.

Arcadia Snips and the Steamwork Consortium by Robert Rodgers (Trade Paperback) - Supplied by the author after his request for me to review.

"Arcadia Snips and the Steamwork Consortium: Being A Wholly Accurate Historical Account Concerning Matters Of Steam, Skullduggery, And The Irresponsible Application Of Reckless Mathematics In The 19th Century"

"In an era of bygone anachronisms and steam-powered ambulatory engines, a sharp-witted street-thief with a heart of semi-precious metal finds herself locked in a battle of wits against a secret plot to bring the city she loves to its knees. Arcadia will need to enlist the help of a reformed mad scientist, a stern suffragette, and a persnickety pigeon to unravel the mysterious past of the Steamwork Consortium - and stop the cabal of sinister mathematicians who would use that past to destroy all of Aberwick."

"Arcadia Snips and the Steamwork Consortium is both a cautionary tale against reckless mathematics and an accurate historical account all rolled up into one. In fact, the story is so accurate that you might consider it more of a history lecture than an illustrated novel."

A Highlander's Temptation by Sue-Ellen Welfonder (MMP)
October 1, 2009 - Requested from Hatchette Book Group

Darroc MacConacher spends sleepless nights dreaming of a raven-haired beauty who makes him ache with desire. Then his dream comes true: the lady with her lush curves and fair skin appears shipwrecked on his shores. Darroc is immediately drawn to her strength and beauty, and from the moment she lays eyes on this powerful, broad-shouldered warrior, Lady Arabella MacKenzie knows she'll never want another man.

But theirs is a forbidden love. The MacKenzies drove the MacConachers from their lands and destroyed their honor. Now, Darroc can use this sapphire-eyed seductress to shatter his foes. Yet how can he deny the passion that burns between him and Arabella, and ruin the one woman who touches his very soul?

Won :



Flawless by Sara Shepard (ARC)
February 19, 2008 - Thank you Danielle from Opinionated? Me?

Spencer stole her sister's boyfriend. Aria is brokenhearted over her English teacher. Emily likes her new friend Maya . . . as much more than a friend. Hanna's obsession with looking flawless is making her sick. And their most horrible secret yet is so scandalous that the truth would ruin them forever.

And why shouldn't I tell? They deserve to lose it all. With every crumpled note, wicked IM, and vindictive text message I send, I'll be taking these pretty little liars down. Trust me, I've got enough dirt to bury them alive.

Bought :



Intertwined by Gena Showalter (HC)
September 1, 2009 - Bought from BookDepository.com for $9.99, great bargain! This is the current Blog With Bite discussion book.

Most sixteen-year-olds have friends. Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him:

One can time-travel.

One can raise the dead.

One can tell the future.

And one can possess another human.

With no other family and a life spent in and out of institutions, Aden and the souls have become friends. But now they're causing him all kinds of trouble. Like, he'll blink and suddenly he's a younger Aden, reliving the past. One wrong move, and he'll change the future. Or he'll walk past a total stranger and know how and when she's going to die.

He's so over it. All he wants is peace.

And then he meets a girl who quiets the voices. Well, as long as he's near her. Why? Mary Ann Gray is his total opposite. He's a loner; she has friends. He doesn't care what anyone thinks; she tries to make everyone happy. And while he attracts the paranormal, she repels it. For her sake, he should stay away. But it's too late....

Somehow, they share an inexplicable bond of friendship. A bond about to be tested by a werewolf shape-shifter who wants Mary Ann for his own, and a vampire princess Aden can't resist.

Two romances, both forbidden. Still, the four will enter a dark underworld of intrigue and danger but not everyone will come out alive....

Mooched :



Impossible by Nancy Werlin (Trade Paperback)
August 11, 2009 - Bookmooch, yay!

Lucy has nine months to break an ancient curse in order to save both herself and her unborn daughter. Inspired by the ballad "Scarborough Fair", this riveting novel combines suspense, fantasy, and romance for an intensely page-turning and masterfully original tale.

Lucy is seventeen when she discovers that the women of her family have been cursed through the generations, forced to attempt three seemingly impossible tasks or to fall into madness upon their child's birth. But Lucy is the first girl who won't be alone as she tackles the list. She has her fiercely protective foster parents and her childhood friend Zach beside her. Do they have love and strength enough to overcome an age-old evil?

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (HC)
March 10, 2009 - Yay Bookmooch again!

In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

But, slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future - between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

Weekly Recap : October 12th - 18th

Yay! Another week has flown by! I was sick this past week, so I didn't get nearly as much done as I would have hoped...but...I should be greatful that I did get done what I did! I'm still holding back some of my reviews so that later on I will be able to post more than just 2-3 a week...I'd like to get it to posting one every day of the week so you always have something to look forward to other than a daily meme.

What happened last week?

**Reviewed - Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough (wait for it!)
**Reviewed - Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
**Read and Reviewed - Covet by J.R. Ward (Blog With Bite)
**Read and Reviewed - Playing House by Fredrica Wagman
**Reviewed - CSN Bookshelf
**Started Reading - The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner

Contests & Promotions Posted :

5 Copies of The Smart One and the Pretty One by Claire LaZebnik - Deadline October 30th, 2009 @ Midnight!

What's happening this week?

**Reading and Reviewing - The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner
**Reading and Reviewing - Ginger High by Melissa Burmester (Blog Tour)
**Reading - Intertwined by Gena Showalter (Blog With Bite)
**Reading - If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince? by Melissa Kantor (Once Upon a Week)

I'm hoping to get a few more in than this, but it may not happen, arghhh.

Upcoming Contests :

5 Copies of Show No Fear by Marliss Melton
5 Copies of Tall, Dark & Fangsome by Michelle Rowen

Random Magic Tour Has Started!

October 17th - November 25th

Alright folks! Today is a very special day! It's the start of the Random Magic Tour! OMG!

Random Magic is by Sasha Soren and it is a modern retelling of Alice in Wonderland. Listed below is our tour schedule, so please go check out all the wonderful blogs to find out how much they enjoyed this story. This is going to be a really fun tour to watch!

October 17 -

Michelle’s Book Blog http://michellesramblins.blogspot.com

October 18 -

My Fluttering Heart http://myflutteringheart.blogspot.com

October 20 -

Well-Read Reviews http://www.wellreadreviews.com

October 22 -

A Passion For Books http://casey62588.blogspot.com

October 24 -

And Anything Bookish http://andanythingbookish.blogspot.com

October 25 -

The Neverending Shelf http://neverendingshelf.blogspot.com

October 26 -

Trisha’s Book Blog http://trishasbookshelf.blogspot.com

October 27 -

The Bookette http://thebookette.blogspot.com

October 28 -

Book Junkie http://myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com

October 29 -

Take Me Away http://takemeaway-jennala9.blogspot.com

October 30 -

Ellz Readz http://ellzreadz.blogspot.com

October 31 -

A Reader’s Adventure http://mariah-readingadventure.blogspot.com

November 2 -

Beyond Books http://beyondbooks.ca

November 3 -

The O.W.L. Blog http://owlforya.blogspot.com

November 4 -

Tales of Whimsy http://talesofwhimsy.blogspot.com

November 9 -

Keep On Booking http://keeponbooking.blogspot.com

November 10 -

Queen of Happy Endings http://alainereading.blogspot.com

November 11 -

Tina’s Book Reviews http://willowdustreviews.blogspot.com

November 12 -

The Book Owl http://thebookowl.blogspot.com

November 13 -

Red House Books http://redhousebooks.blogspot.com

November 15 -

What Book Is That? http://whatbookisthat.blogspot.com

***November 17 -

Fallling Off The Shelf http://fallingofftheshelf.blogspot.com

November 18 -

Books! http://my-book-views.blogspot.com

November 20 -

Wicked Good Reads http://wickedgoodbooks.blogspot.com

November 21 -

The True Book Addict http://thetruebookaddict.blogspot.com

November 23 -

The Little Bookworm http://thelilbookworm.blogspot.com

November 24 -

Strange & Random Happenstance http://strange-and-random-happenstance.blogspot.com

November 25 -

La Femme Readers http://lafemmereaders.blogspot.com

Review on Saturday : Bookshelf from CSN Furniture!

Remember awhile back when I said I'd be receiving a bookshelf to review? Well it arrived, a good bit ago..eek! My camera sucks, and was on the fritz with uploading so it took me a little while to get these pictures up and running here!

This first picture is of how it arrived at my house. It arrived on a really really nasty day, the poor delivery guy was soaking wet, but nothing inside my package got ruined so obviously they did a good job! Oh yeah, my fiance was holding it up while I took the pic...so there's his hand up top...and his foot at the bottom, lol. If you click on the pic it will take you to the product page for this specific model.


My sister took this pic, yeah, she was standing on the messy table..and those are her feets. She has a fascination with taking pics of feet...trust me, I had to go through all of the pics taken that day and there was easily 10 feet shots.

Luckily, there weren't many pieces to deal with, because my fiance told me it was MY job to put it together. I gawked at him..he usually does this kind of stuff for me! I'm a ditz when it comes to this stuff! I figured it out though...

See! This next pic shows my finished product. It only took me about a half hour to put this bad boy together, while my fiance sat back and took goofy pics of me, which I refuse to show to the blogging world despite his demands, lol.

Since there was no room in my room for ANOTHER bookshelf..this one resides in my sisters room. The first 2 shelves are for her TBR pile, most of which are actually my books..that she has swiped, lol. The last 2 shelves are for review books. Yes, there are a lot! This pic was also taken awhile back..so this bookshelf is actually a lot more full then it was then (her shelves and mine!)

Overall I'm really pleased with the outcome. It fits a lot of books, thankfully, and it holds up pretty well. If I happen to go out and buy another bookshelf in the future, I may have to contact CSN Furniture for my next purchase!

DNF Review : Playing House by Fredrica Wagman

Title : Playing House
Author : Fredrica Wagman

Publisher : Zoland Books

Genre : Contemporary Fiction

ISBN : 978-1581952254

Series : Stand Alone

Release Date : May 6, 2008

Rating : 1.5/5 - Couldn't Finish.

Description from Amazon :


When Playing House appeared in 1973, Publishers Weekly hailed it, “A probing descent into madness that will fascinate the same audience that appreciated I Never Promised You a Rose Garden.” This nationally bestselling story of one woman’s struggle with the lasting effects of a childhood sexual relationship with her brother shocked American readers; it remains a literary work of enduring quality and value. In his foreword Philip Roth writes, “The traumatized child; the institutionalized wife; the haunting desire; the ghastly business of getting through the day – what is striking about Wagman’s treatment of these contemporary motifs is the voice of longing in which the heroine shamelessly confesses to the incestuous need that is at once her undoing and her only hope.”


Review :

This book was really confusing to me. I usually like to put into my own words what the book is about before I go on to say my feelings about it. I can't do that with this book. The only thing I can tell you is that this book disturbed me a great deal. I've read so many books in my short life, but I've never been as disturbed as I was while reading this one.


This book was written the same way as a previous book that I reviewed by Wagman, The Lie, which was kind of annoying. While the words flow together very easily, and make for a quick read, there is hardly any punctuation at all. I guess it works out well though, because the main character is completely insane. The way that this book is written really makes the main character, the narrator, seem even more insane. I literally had to stop reading this a few times and turn on the TV because I needed some sanity. This is saying a lot, because normally I don't go near a television.


I have read books in the past that feature incest, and while that is by far one of the worst things I have ever read about, this book made it even worse. I used to read a lot of V.C. Andrews' novels, and more often than not her books feature some kind of incest. Most of the time the characters in her books are usually being raped, or don't realize that they are sleeping with someone that is blood related. It was different here, and I think that's why I cringed at every turn of the page. This was consensual incest, and I could't wrap my mind around why someone would do something like that, or even write about it.


I can honestly say that I was going to finish this book, but I just couldn't. At the mere mention of beastiality toward the middle of the novel, I closed it. I couldn't bring myself to read any further. I'm sorry that I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did Wagman's previous novel, but my stomach just couldn't handle what it was being served.


I wouldn't recommend this book to a lot of people. If your against incestual relations, beastiality, or high sexual content. I would also highly recommend that religious people not pick up this book, as there is quite a lot of conversation toward a priest where the narrator continuously confesses her sins, and there are many.


Where did I get this book? :

I received this book from FSB Media as compensation for my honest review.

New Layout!

Ok folks! I think I have everything the way I want it. It's not as cluttered as it used to be...although it's still a little cluttered in my opinion, lol.

So, what does everyone think?!

Didn't Rachel from ParaJunkee's View do a great job?!

I'm soooo thrilled! Can't wait to show it off to my sister, she's going to be psyched :)

Go ahead, leave comments, tell me how beautiful it is! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the new header :)

Under Construction Folks!

Well, you know that wonderful layout that I've been dying to try out? Well...I am...going to do it right now, so if your flying through and everything looks funny..please excuse it for a little while.

This may take me a little while, because I'm a little on the...uh...tarded side when it comes to this kind of stuff, lol.

Thanks!

Contest : The Smart One and the Pretty One by Claire LaZebnik

Thanks to Miriam Parker @ Hatchette Book Group, I am able to give away 5 copies of The Smart One and the Pretty One by Claire LaZebnik - Thanks Miriam!

Description from Hatchette :

When Ava Nickerson was a child, her mother jokingly betrothed her to a friend's son, and the contract the parents made has stayed safely buried for years. Now that still-single Ava is closing in on thirty, no one even remembers she was once "engaged" to the Markowitz boy. But when their mother is diagnosed with cancer, Ava's prodigal little sister Lauren comes home to Los Angeles where she stumbles across the decades-old document.

Frustrated and embarrassed by Ava's constant lectures about financial responsibility (all because she's in a little debt. Okay, a lot of debt), Lauren decides to do some sisterly interfering of her own and tracks down her sister's childhood fiancé. When she finds him, the highly inappropriate, twice-divorced, but incredibly charming Russell Markowitz is all too happy to re-enter the Nickerson sisters' lives, and always-accountable Ava is forced to consider just how binding a contract really is . . .

How to Enter :

• Fill out the form below with as many answers as you can.
• If there is a required question, you must answer that to enter.
• For an extra entry - comment below telling me you filled out the form!
  

Deadline October 30th, 2009 @ 11:59PM Est.
US & Canada Residents Only. No PO Boxes.

Contest Winners : So Into You by Sandra Hill

Congratulations!

• Stacie
• Melissa Burmester
• enyl
• Benita G.
• Wendy
  
  Awesome! Each winner will have until Monday Morning to respond to all emails with their mailing address. In the event that they have already won or purchased a copy of this novel elsewhere, I will choose new winners.

Stay tuned for more giveaways to come!

Tuber Thursdays (3) - October 15th

Yeah, I didn't post one of these last week. I honestly didn't have the time, with a possible move in the future. I'm beginning to think it's really not going to happen, so....yeah, kind of not happy yet kind of happy all at the same time. Weird right? I think it's because I'm afraid of change..because everytime things change..and I think they'll be for the better..they end up being worse :(

Anywho! This week I'm going to showcase a trailer of a movie that I just HAVE HAVE HAVE to go see. When it comes to movies and books..I always watch the movie first...because that way, if I'm disapointed, the book can bring me out of my slump :)

Waiting on Wednesday - October 15th (a day late!)

Waiting On Wednesday

Hosted by Breaking The Spine

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

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

First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost
Release Date : February 9, 2009

From Author Blog :

The night is not safe for mortals. Denise MacGregor knows all too well what lurks in the shadows - her best friend is half-vampire Cat Crawfield - and she has already lost more than the average human could bear. But her family's dark past is wrapped in secrets and shrouded in darkness - and a demon shapeshifter has marked Denise as prey. Now her survival depends on an immortal who craves a taste of her.

He is Spade, a powerful, mysterious vampire who has walked the earth for centuries and is now duty-bound to protect this endangered, alluring human - even if it means destroying his own kind. Denise may arouse his deepest hungers, but Spade knows he must fight his urge to have her as they face the demon nightmare together...

Because once the first drop of crimson falls, they will both be lost.

No, I don't always post a Waiting On Wednesday. This isn't because I'm not psyched about an upcoming book, it's basically because I don't have the time! I add so many books to my wishlist a week that they just all start to blur together. When it just so happens that a book is coming out from a favorite author...that's when my brain kicks into overdrive. I saw this cover and literally started to say 'ohhhhh ohhh gotta have it!'. I can honestly say that I don't go out and buy every book that I want to read. I do a lot of swapping for books that I want, unless they are from a favorite author. Those are the times that you'll see me pushing my way to grab that last copy off the shelf. This is one of those times.

Come February, you may here of a disturbance in Shippensburg, PA. I'm going to try not to hurt too many innocent bystanders, but if they get in the way of me and this book..there will be problems!