An Avid Reader's Musings

"Waiting on" Wednesday (24): SHADOW'S EDGE

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:00:00 PST

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, my "Waiting On" pick is:

SHADOW'S EDGE by Maureen Lipinski

Sixteen-year-old Leah Spencer didn't mind being a natural-born Shaman to the Créatúir. Until she broke Rule #1 and traveled to the Other Realm, where she quickly lost time. Like, a whole year of time. She missed out on everything—holidays, school, her sixteenth birthday, the boyfriend who ditched her. So Leah swore to leave all things magical behind her and lead the life of a normal high school girl.

But when a mysterious dark force starts offing the Créatúir, both Light and Dark, Leah must choose between her new life and "getting all CSI" on the Other Realm murder spree. With the help of her three sisters (each with their own magical gift), and three gorgeous guys—who may or may not be part of the evil magic—Leah must vanquish an ancient dark force that is connected to her family in unimaginable ways.

EXPECTED PUBLICATION: 8 January 2012 by Flux

SHADOW'S EDGE description and cover art courtesy of GOODREADS.

Pre-Order SHADOW'S EDGE from your local indie bookstore.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: David Wasserman (THE ETERNAL CHILD)

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:51:00 PST

AUTHOR BIO:
THE ETERNAL CHILD is the first novel by David Wasserman, currently a senior at Millburn High School in New Jersey. He is studying performing arts and fiction writing, and hopes to one day make a career out of both.

What is your book about?
My book is about a fugitive vampire who has been on the run for his entire existence. He suddenly comes to the rescue of a young woman who had been attacked by what appears to be an animal. For some reason he decides to stop running, and stays with her. He integrates himself into her life, and gets to know her friends, and is finally able to pursue a human-esque life. That is until vampires from all over the globe catch up with him looking to collect his bounty. The true essence of the book is this: For every vampire, there is one human, one human in the entire world who can make that vampire a human again, but the catch is, they may come at any time, and only once. If the human dies or becomes a vampire, then that vampire will never get another chance to become human again.

Why did you decide to write it?
I decided to write this story, because I feel somewhere in the recent years, vampires have been stripped of what makes them what they are. In my opinion, vampires are the most dangerous of the mythological creatures. They are all about seduction and corruption, not to mention they have all of these illusionistic powers. I wanted to bring that back to vampires, and I hope I did.

How did you get your book published?
I sent in my manuscript to Outskirtspress, hoping that self-publishing was a smart direction, and I was more than happy with the result.

What types of readers will be interested in your book?
Hopefully the readers that are big on fiction and heavy sci-fi, but I feel it could appeal to all kinds of readers, the story is much, much more than just vampires.

What is special about your book? What differentiates it from other books in the same category?
Personally, what I feel is special about my book is it's heart, the human connections these non-human creatures make with ordinary human beings. What I feel differentiates it from other books in the same category, would have to be the depth and emotion behind the characters, especially the vampires. Because it shows how such an inhuman thing can feel human emotions stronger than most human beings could.

Have you published any other books? Do you plan to publish more?
I have not published any other books, but I plan to publish two sequels of The Eternal Child.

THE ETERNAL CHILD by David Wasserman

For centuries, Alex Montera has led a life of running and hiding. That all changes when he comes to the rescue of Iris Lisanté. He finds himself mysteriously drawn to her, and as the two grow close, Iris soon discovers a world beyond her wildest imagination, a world of vampires, werewolves, and other creatures hidden from the rest of the world. Unknown to Iris, a bounty on Alex's head has forced him to lead a rather reclusive life. As every vampire in the world, led by Alex's elusive, sadistic sire William, catches up with him, Iris finds that with Alex, she is swept into a centuries old feud, that has been carried and fought for centuries, one from which there may be no escape.

PUBLICATION DATE: 25 September 2011 by Outskirts Press, Inc

THE ETERNAL CHILD description and cover art courtesy of author DAVID WASSERMAN.

Teaser Tuesdays (33): EVERNEATH

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 21:00:00 PST

*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, and author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

THIS WEEK'S TEASER IS:

EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton

"I'd tell you if I could, but I can't. I mean, I'm physically bound not to tell you. Unless, that is, you'll come with me. Then I can tell you everything."

p.67*

EXPECTED PUBLICATION: 24 January 2012 by Harper Collins / Balzer + Bray

*Quote taken from electronic galley and is subject to change at publication.

EVERNEATH description and cover art courtesy of GOODREADS.

Preorder EVERNEATH at your local indie bookstore.

For the Book Lover: TYGER TYGER eBook

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:21:00 PST

Looking for a great book to read next? Look no further! The ebook version of TYGER TYGER by Kersten Hamilton is just $2.99 for a limited time only and available for purchase at the Amazon Kindle store and B&N NOOK Book store. Purchase your copy while this great deal lasts!

Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.

Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right. The goblins are coming.

Want to know a little more about TYGER TYGER? Check out my review HERE.

TYGER TYGER description and cover art courtesy of GOODREADS.

For the Book Lover: Bloomsbury Epic Holiday e-Book Deals

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 08:08:00 PST

Check out this great line up of e-books that Bloomsbury has made available at $3.99 or less. The promotion lasts until 6 January 2011. Grab a few for yourself or gift some to friends and family. Each e-book is available for All E-READING DEVICES. Below is the list of Middle Grade and Young Adult titles available.

Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher
Ophelia by Lisa Klein
The Frog Princess by E.D. Baker
Mister Creecher by Chris Priestly
The Musician's Daughter by Suzanne Dunlap
Pirates! by Celia Rees
Magical Mischief by Anna Dale
Need by Carrie Jones
A Boy and His Bot by Daniel H. Wilson

The Mark by Jen Nadol
Hubert Invents the Wheel by Claire & Monte Montgomery
Boy at the End of the World by Greg Van Eekhout
Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan
Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore
My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison
A Circuit by Georgina Bloomberg and Catherine Hapka
Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker
Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey
Death Catchers by Jennifer Anne Kogler
Pandora Gets Jealous by Carolyn Hennesy
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Things Change by Patrick Jones
Lily Dale: Awakening by Wendy Corsi Staub

The Declaration by Gemma Malley
Trigger by Susan Vaught
Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. by Kate Messner
Jenna & Jonah’s Fauxmance by Brendan Halpin and Emily Franklin
Dirty Little Secrets by CJ Omololu

Whether you have a NOOK, KINDLE, KOBO or read on your PC, these are great books to buy for yourself or give to others this holiday season!

Book cover art courtesy of GOODREADS.

NaNoWriMo Has Come to An End for Me

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:10:00 PST

As the end of November nears (less then 5 hours for anyone is the same EST timezone as me), I am proud to say that I have officially won NaNoWriMo. I set out this year to write a 50,000 novel and am happy to say done and dusted, with a total of 51,388 words written. Of course, my novel is far from finished. I probably have at least 25k more to write to have a complete, albeit very, very rough draft. But I'm glad that I could commit to writing what I did and to show myself I could do it if I tried. I met a great group of people in my region and am glad that many of them want to continue meeting for "write-ins" and/or critique groups. So here'e to the end of November, NaNoWriMo and to many more months spent writing (and revising) in the future.

"Waiting On" Wednesday (23): HARBINGER

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:00:00 PST

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, my "Waiting On" pick is:

HARBINGER by sara Wilson Etienne

When sixteen-year-old Faye arrives at Holbrook Academy, she doesn’t expect to find herself exactly where she needs to be. After years of strange waking visions and nightmares, her only comfort the bones of dead animals, Faye is afraid she’s going crazy. Fast.

But her first night at Holbrook, she feels strangely connected to the school and the island it sits on, like she’s come home. She’s even made her first real friends, but odd things keep happening to them. Every morning they wake on the floors of their dorm rooms with their hands stained red.

Faye knows she’s the reason, but what does it all mean? The handsome Kel tries to help her unravel the mystery, but Faye is certain she can’t trust him; in fact, he may be trying to kill her—and the rest of the world too.

Rich, compelling writing will keep the pages turning in this riveting and tautly told psychological thriller.

EXPECTED PUBLICATION: 2 February 2012 by Putnam Juvenile

HARBINGER description and cover art courtesy of GOODREADS.

Pre-Order HARBINGER from your local indie bookstore.

(BLOG TOUR) Author Interview and Giveaway: Jessie Harrell (DESTINED)

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:00:00 PST

DESTINED by Jessie Harrell

Publication Information: 17 November 2011 by Mae Day Publishing

When Psyche receives a prophecy gone horribly wrong, she learns that even the most beautiful girl in Greece can have a hideous future. Her fate? Fall in love with the one creature even the gods fear.

As she feels herself slipping closer into the arms of the prophecy, Psyche must choose between the terrifyingly tender touch she feels almost powerless to resist and the one constant she's come to expect out of life: you cannot escape what is destined.

Destined is a fresh and heartachingly romantic retelling of the Cupid & Psyche myth from debut novelist, Jessie Harrell.

DESTINED description and cover art courtesy of the author via GOOD CHOICE READING.

I received an electronic ARC of DESTINED as part of a blog tour arranged by GOOD CHOICE READING.

Jessie Harrell, author of DESTINED, will be featured today on An Avid Reader's Musings. She has made a great video tour of her writing work space and has answered some questions as well. So sit back in your comfiest chair and enjoy the video below!

And if you leave a comment (including your email address), you'll automatically be entered to win an e-copy of Destined. The contest will be open INTERNATIONALLY to anyone over 13 years of age from midnight on 12 November to midnight on 14 November. Random.org will be used to select a winner. Available formats include .mobu, .epub and .pdf.

Please be sure to visit the other stops on DESTINED'S OFFICIAL BLOG TOUR for chances to win copies of Destined and other goodies.

For more information on DESTINED and author Jessie Harrell, visit:

GOODREADS | WEBSITE | BLOG | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | AMAZON

Pre-Order DESTINED at your local indie bookstore.

"Waiting On" Wednesday (22): CINDER

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:00:00 PST

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, my "Waiting On" pick is:

CINDER by Marissa Meyer

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

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

PUBLICATION INFORMATION: 3 January 2012 by Feiwel & Friends

CINDER description and cover art courtesy of GOODREADS.

Find CINDER at your local indie bookstore.

Teaser Tuesday (32): UNDER THE NEVER SKY

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:00:00 PST

*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, and author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

THIS WEEK'S TEASERS ARE:

UNDER THE NEVER SKY by Veronica Rossi

"What about the Aether? Does that ever go away?"
"Never, Mole. The Aether never leaves."
She looked up. "A world of nevers under a never sky." p.93*

Ten different questions popped into his mind. He forgot them all when Aria smiled and said, "You look handsome." p.191*

PUBLICATION INFORMATION: 3 January 2012 by HarperCollins

*Quotes taken from electronic galley and are subject to change at publication.

UNDER THE NEVER SKY description and cover art courtesy of GOODREADS.

Preorder UNDER THE NEVER SKY at your local indie bookstore.

(BLOG TOUR) Book Review and Giveaway: ETERNAL STARLING

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 21:00:00 PDT

ETERNAL STARLING by Angela Corbett

Publication Information: 6 December 2011 by Pendrell Publishing
Previous Titles in Series: None

Evie Starling has lived a relatively uneventful life hanging out with friends, gossiping about boys, and driving her 1966 Mustang. All of that changes when she moves to Gunnison, Colorado, to start college and meets two mysterious men.

For centuries, Alex Night and Emil Stone have yearned for Evie—but they each have their own reasons for wanting to be with her. When both men claim to be her soul mate and tell her about an unbelievable past, Evie learns that she’s not the person she thought she was. Soon, Evie finds herself in the middle of an age-old battle between the Amaranthine Society—the soul protectors, and the Daevos Resistance—the soul destroyers. With a past she doesn’t understand, and a future rife with danger, Evie has to decide who she can trust. But Alex and Emil aren’t the only ones who want Evie, and her soul is about to become the rope in an eternal tug-of-war.

ETERNAL STARLING description and cover art courtesy of ONCE UPON A TWILIGHT.

I received an electronic ARC of ETERNAL STARLING as part of a blog tour arranged by ONCE UPON A TWILIGHT.

THE TWEET
ETERNAL STARLING: Teen girl is caught between love of 2 boys. Who she chooses will affect her future & an eternal battle that's being waged.

WHAT WORKED
First off, the character of Evie is one of the coolest female young adult characters I have read in a long time. She drives a 1966 Mustang, goes four wheeling and isn't afraid to state her opinions. My favorite scene is when she first meets Alex and is too stubborn to admit that she is lost and needs his help. Maybe not the best course of action, but I admired her gumption (yeah, I just used the word gumption) and right away I wanted to learn more about her.

I'll be the first to admit (and I have said so in other reviews) that I am not a fan of the love triangle trope in young adult literature. However, I think that Corbett wrote the love triangle between Evie, Alex and Emil well. It was much more than just a love triangle, it was about love that transcended time and how Evie had to decide not only who she would choose, but which path she would take and what her future would hold.

OVERALL
ETERNAL STARLING is a wonderful debut novel from Angela Corbett. I can't wait to read more of this series!

MY RATING IS:

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Just fill out the Rafflecopter info below and you're entered. GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED. Congratulations to the lucky winner:

DORIS

Also, author Angela Corbett will be hosting a pre-order contest to win a kindle. Anyone who pre-orders ETERNAL STARLING can be entered to win. Just EMAIL Angela a photo of the receipt or a copy of the email receipt for proof of purchase. Enter from now until the ETERNAL STARLING's release date on 6 December 2011.

AUTHOR BIO:
As a child, Angela Corbett’s most prized possession was a set of read-along books. She used to follow along with the narrator on the stereo and dream of when she would be able to read by herself. Her childhood reading habit led her to consider her future career. However, after consulting with her parents, she realized she had already exceeded hobbit height and since fairies and dragonslayers were tricky jobs to get, she decided she wanted to create worlds of her own. She started writing poetry in elementary school and worked as a journalist in high school and college, but could never leave her love for writing fiction behind.

She is a graduate of Westminster College where she double majored in communication and sociology. She has worked as a journalist, freelance writer, and director of communications and marketing. She loves classic cars, traveling, and escaping in a good book. She lives in Utah with her incredibly supportive husband and their five-pound Pomeranian, Pippin, whose following of fangirls could rival Justin Bieber's.

For more information on ETERNAL STARLING and author Angela Corbett visit:

TWITTER | GOODREADS | BLOG | WEBSITE | FACEBOOK

Find ETERNAL STARLING at your local indie bookstore.

"Waiting on" Wednesday (21): THE SPACE BETWEEN

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 21:00:00 PDT

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, my "Waiting On" pick is:

THE SPACE BETWEEN by Brenna Yovanoff

Everything is made of steel, even the flowers. How can you love anything in a place like this?

Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. Life for her is an endless expanse of time, until her brother Obie is kidnapped - and Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible. Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to the vast streets of Earth, where everything is colder and more terrifying. With the help of the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne glimpses into his dreams, discovering clues to Obie's whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in her way. But she also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be.

This second novel by rising star Brenna Yovanoff is a story of identity, discovery, and a troubled love between two people struggling to find their place both in our world and theirs.

IMPRINT: Razerbill
PUBLICATION DATE: 15 November 2011

THE SPACE BETWEEN description and cover art courtesy of GOODREADS

Top Ten Tuesday (4): Emotional Books

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 08:20:00 PDT

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over there. They love to share their lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see other top ten lists!

Each week, they will post a new Top Ten list that one of the bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join, just link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Top Ten Books I Had Strong Emotions Over

ANGER ON BEHALF OF MAIN CHARACTERS AND THE SITUATIONS THEY WERE IN

A TIME TO KILL by John Grisham
SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson
THE LOVELY BONES by Alice Sebold

SADNESS AND EMPATHY

NIGHT by Elie Wiesel
SUMMER OF MY GERMAN SOLDIER by Bette Greene
THE COMPLETE MAUS by Art Spiegelman

LEFT ME SPEECHLESS

BEL CANTO by Ann Patchett
REVOLUTION by Jennifer Donnelly
THE POISONWOOD BIBLE by Barbara Kingsolver
SHE'S COME UNDONE by Wally Lamb

(BLOG TOUR) Character Interview: Kale (TOUCH)

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:00:00 PDT

AUTHOR BIO
Jus Accardo is the author of YA paranormal romance and urban fantasy fiction. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald. Her first book, Touch, is due out in November 2011 from Entangled Publishing. She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Today I will be talking with Kale, the main character in TOUCH by Jus Accardo. I'm excited to get this chance to interview him. So without further ado:

What five words would you use to describe yourself?
That seems like a strange question, but there's still a lot I don't understand. Dez tells me to just go with the flow, so I'll answer. Lethal, survivor, loyal, honest, and hot (Dez is insisting that needs to be one of my words--which is strange because there's a chill in the air today.)

When did you first discover you were different from other kids?
I've been this way since birth. My first memory is of a man who was accidentally knocked into me. A Denazen agent. There were things before that day, I'm sure, but that was the first thing I remember. It stayed with me. He was there one moment and gone the next. Nothing remained but a pile of dust-like particles.

What was your first impression of Dez?
She was...strange. Standing out in the woods in the middle of the night. She helped me though. No one other than Sue had ever done anything nice for me. Plus, my belly felt odd when I looked at her. Dez says I was probably crushing the moment I laid eyes on her. I'm not sure I understand what that means, but she's probably right.

If you could go anywhere, where would you choose?
Someplace far from here with Dez. I'd like to see the ocean...

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

When a strange boy tumbles down a river embankment and lands at her feet, seventeen-year-old adrenaline junkie Deznee Cross snatches the opportunity to piss off her father by bringing the mysterious hottie with ice blue eyes home.

Except there's something off with Kale. He wears her shoes in the shower, is overly fascinated with things like DVDs and vases, and acts like she'll turn to dust if he touches her.

It's not until Dez's father shows up, wielding a gun and knowing more about Kale than he should, that Dez realizes there's more to this boy, and her father's "law firm," than she realized. Kale has been a prisoner of Denazen Corporation -- an organization devoted to collecting "special" kids known as Sixes and using them as weapons -- his entire life.

And, oh yeah, his touch? It kills.

The two team up with a group of rogue Sixes hellbent on taking down Denazen before they're caught and her father discovers the biggest secret of all. A secret Dez has spent her life keeping safe.

A secret Kale will kill to protect.

TOUCH description and cover art courtesy of ENTANGLED PUBLISHING

I received an electronic copy of TOUCH from ENTANGLED PUBLISHING.

Find TOUCH at your local indie bookstore.

(HALLOWEEN BOOKTACULAR) Giveaway: Wolves of Mercy Falls Series by Maggie Stiefvater

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 21:00:00 PDT

This week, it's all things paranormal at An Avid Reader's Musings as I celebrate Halloween by participating in the Halloween Booktacular. First up is a giveaway for a set of the Wolves of Mercy Falls by Maggie Stiefvater. After you enter the giveaway, be sure to check out the other blogs participating in the Halloween Booktacular!

Books with Bite
Dark Readers
Good Choice Reading
Once Upon a Twilight
Read My Mind
Skyla11377

Grace and Sam share a kinship so close they could be lovers or siblings. But they also share a problem. When the temperature slips towards freezing, Sam reverts to his wolf identity and must retreat into the woods to protect his pack. He worries that eventually his human side will fade away and he will be left howling alone at the lonely moon. A stirring supernatural teen romance.

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget.

The thrilling conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy from Maggie Stievater

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. In Linger, they fought to be together. Now, in Forever, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.

CONTEST RULES:

Must be a US resident or have a US shipping address
Must be 13 years or older
One entry per person
Must leave a comment with name and email address
Contest ends 6 November at midnight EST

SHIVER, LINGER, and FOREVER descriptions and cover art courtesy of GOODREADS

(BLOG TOUR) BRIDGER E-Book Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 21:00:00 PDT

WIN YOUR VERY OWN E-BOOK OF BRIDGER!
Just leave a comment with your email address included on my review post HERE and you're entered. Contest open to US residents only, one entry per person. Must be over 13 to enter and comment must be made before midnight EST on 13 November 2011. You do not have to be a follower to enter. Only comments left on the review post will be counted as an entry.

(BLOG TOUR) Book Review: BRIDGER

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 21:00:00 PDT

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Ashlyn McVean doesn't believe in fairy tales.

That is, until she's thrown into the crosshairs of grudges her grandmother created long ago. After finding out she is one of two people able to cross between faerie realms, Ashlyn is faced with trying to understand her abilities, along with navigating a new relationship with her boyfriend, Liam.

As if being on a centuries old hit list and dealing with crazed pixies isn't enough, her new abilities mean trouble for Liam. Knowing her new life puts everyone she loves in danger, Ashlyn must decide what's most important in her life between friends, family, love, and ultimately, realms.

BRIDGER description and cover art courtesy of GOODREADS

I received an electronic copy of BRIDGER as part of a blog tour arranged by Julie at A TALE OF MANY REVIEWS

THE TWEET
Legend of changelings, Irish folk lore & an age old grudge combine to make BRIDGER a unique story about a teen girl finding her true self.

WHAT WORKED
BRIDGER starts out with a splash, literally. The main character, Ashlyn and her brother have just witnessed their father drowning to death. Author Megan Curd, wastes no time in introducing the plot line here when Ashlyn is able to exert strength she shouldn't have on one of the EMT's who have responded. I liked how this engaged me as a reader right away and made me want to read on to find out what was going on and who (and what) Ashlyn really was.

I also really liked the relationship between Ashlyn and her grandmother. Though not the friendliest, nor the most loving, of relationships, it's somewhat antagonistic nature was interesting to read about. In the beginning of BRIDGER, I didn't like the grandmother at all because of how she seemed to treat Ashlyn, but after discovering that Ashlyn was a changeling, it was easier for me to connect with the grandmother's character's feelings and actions. I never totally excused how she treated Ashlyn at the start of the novel, but it definitely put things in perspective.

WHAT DIDN'T WORK
I didn't like how some scenes were written in the book as a clear foreshadowing to the plot, but then never followed up on. Weird coincidences and events would occur, but then seemed to fall flat and weren't alluded to anytime later in the story.

OVERALL
BRIDGER is a good story with an engaging and interesting cast of characters. I loved how the author blended Irish folk lore with a modern, contemporary setting and came up with a unique plot that explored the legend of changelings.

MY RATING IS:

Teaser Tuesdays (31): SWEAR

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 21:01:00 PDT

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, and author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

THIS WEEK'S TEASER IS:

*Quote taken from E-Galley and is subject to change at publication.

Cover art courtesy of GOODREADS.

(ARC TOUR) Book Review: SWEETLY

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:01:00 PDT

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

As a child, Gretchen's twin sister was taken by a witch-like monster in the woods. Ever since, Gretchen and her brother, Ansel, have felt the long branches of the witch's forest threatening to make them disappear, too.

When their stepmother casts Gretchen and Ansel out as teens, they stumble upon a sleepy Southern town and are invited to stay with Sophia Kelly at her sweet shop. Sophia molds candied magic: coveted treats that create confidence, bravery, and passion.

Life seems idyllic and Gretchen and Ansel finally start to forget their haunted past - until Gretchen meets handsome local outcast Samuel, who gives Gretchen a reason to fear Sophia: girls have been vanishing at Sophia's annual chocolate festival, taken by the insatiable 'witch' of Gretchen's nightmares. Can Gretchen save herself, the girls of Live Oak, and Sophia?

Of one thing, Gretchen is certain: a monster is coming, and it will never go away hungry.

THE TWEET
SWEETLY mixes the sweetness of new romance with the bitterness of loss to create a new take on the HANSEL AND GRETEL fairytale.

WHAT WORKED
Author Jackson Pearce can take a story everyone knows and turn it into something completely fresh and new, while still maintaining the original premise of the story. In SWEETLY, Pearce retells the story of HANSEL AND GRETEL, but adds her unique blend of writing and storytelling to the tale.

What captured me most about SWEETLY was the interconnection of characters and the sibling relationship between Gretchen and Ansel. The loss of Gretchen's twin and Ansel's sister created this remarkable bond between the two and while it was sad that this came about because of the sister's disappearance, it was touching to see how they looked after each other. On the other hand, I liked how Pearce developed Gretchen's character into being more independent, more of a different person from her brother, as the story progressed. It was great seeing Gretchen face her fears, become more self sufficient and less scared of her shadow, so to speak. This was spurred on in part by Ansel developing a romantic relationship with Sophia and Gretchen's wish to let her brother have some happiness and to not be a third wheel in their encounters.

I loved the introduction and inclusion of Samuel in SWEETLY. If you've read SISTERS RED, the companion novel to SWEETLY, you'll recognize Samuel as Silas' brother. In SWEETLY, Samuel helps (perhaps unwittingly) Gretchen to gain independence and to face the fears and guilt she has carried since the disappearance of her twin sister. Samuel and the lore surrounding him and his family become an integral part of the plot of SWEETLY, as it connects SISTERS RED to it's companion novel, yet doesn't detract from the fact that two different stories are being told in each book.

OVERALL
SWEETLY is a novel of loss and love, but more importantly it's about the relationship that exists between siblings and how they will do whatever is necessary to protect their loved ones.

MEMORABLE PASSAGES / SCENES:
Neither of us says anything, but there's a second, a tiny moment, where we stand in the darkness, hands intertwined, and I know he's as fully aware of my skin on his as I am.
p. 185*

Killing a werewolf is no small task. You'd think I would remember every last moment - the scent, the feeling, the sight of a monster leaping toward me. But that's all blurred in my m ind, overpowered by the sensation of kissing Samuel.
p. 236*

*Quotes taken from ARC of SWEETLY and are subject to change at publication.

MY RATING IS:

SWEETLY description and cover art courtesy of GOODREADS

I received an ARC of SWEETLY from AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS.

Find SWEETLY at your local indie bookstore.

Top Ten Tuesday (3): Sometimes Once Just Isn't Enough

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 07:22:00 PDT

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over there. They love to share their lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see other top ten lists!

Each week, a new Top Ten list that will be posted. Everyone is welcome to join, just link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget. If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a way to get to know fellow bloggers.

BOOKS I WANT TO REREAD

In no particular order:

THE POISONWOOD BIBLE by Barbara Kingsolver
REVOLUTION by Jennifer Donnelly
DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini Taylor
BEL CANTO by Ann Patchett
BEFORE I FALL by Lauren Oliver
JANE by April Lindner
DARKER STILL by Leanna Renee Hieber
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee
INK EXCHANGE by Melissa Marr
SWOON by Nina Malkin

What are your Top Ten?

Cover art courtesy of GOODREADS

Teaser Tuesdays (30): The Predicteds

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 21:01:00 PDT

THE PREDICTEDS cover art courtesy of GOODREADS

Purchase THE PREDICTEDS at your local indie bookstore.

Cover Reveal: TOUCH

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 06:44:00 PDT

I'm really excited to be participating in the cover reveal of debut author, Jus Accardo's TOUCH. It sounds like a great book and I can't wait to read it! So here it is:

And here's the official blurb:

When a strange boy tumbles down a river embankment and lands at her feet, seventeen-year-old adrenaline junkie Deznee Cross snatches the opportunity to piss off her father by bringing the mysterious hottie with ice blue eyes home.
Except there’s something off with Kale. He wears her shoes in the shower, is overly fascinated with things like DVDs and vases, and acts like she’ll turn to dust if he touches her. It’s not until Dez’s father shows up, wielding a gun and knowing more about Kale than he should, that Dez realizes there’s more to this boy—and her father’s “law firm”—than she realized.

Kale has been a prisoner of Denazen Corporation—an organization devoted to collecting “special” kids known as Sixes and using them as weapons—his entire life. And, oh yeah, his touch? It kills. The two team up with a group of rogue Sixes hellbent on taking down Denazen before they’re caught and her father discovers the biggest secret of all. A secret Dez has spent her life keeping safe.

A secret Kale will kill to protect.

TOUCH description and cover art courtesy of author JUS ACCARDO

"Waiting on" Wednesday (20): CRAVE

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:01:00 PDT

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, my "Waiting On" pick is:

Savannah Colbert has been shunned all her life by the kids of the Clann. And when she undergoes some drastic changes after a strange illness, Savannah learns secrets about the group and about herself—dangerous secrets. For the Clann are powerful magic users, and Savannah herself is half Clann and half vampire—a forbidden, unheard of combination. Falling for Clann golden boy Tristan Coleman isn't just a bad idea—it could be deadly if anyone finds out. But her attraction to Tristan—and his to her—isn't something either of them can resist for long.

CRAVE description and cover art courtesy of GOODREADS

Top Ten Tuesday (2): Seems Like Everyone Has Read Them Except Me

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 06:44:00 PDT

TEN BOOKS I FEEL EVERYONE HAS READ BUT ME

Should Have Read In School But Didn't

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE by Anthony Burgess
THE GIVER by Lois Lowry
FAHRENHEIT 451 by Ray Bradbury.

So So Interest In Reading Despite Praise

THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett
THE MILLENNIUM TRILOGY by Stieg Larsson

On My Bookshelf, To Be Read

PROPHESY OF THE SISTERS by Michelle Zink
CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS by Cassandra Clare

Seen The Movie(s), But Not Read The Book

The LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy by J.R.R Tolkien
EAT, PRAY, LOVE by Elizabeth Gilbert
JANE EYRE by Charlotte Bronte

What are your Top Ten?

Cover art courtesy of GOODREADS

"Waiting On" Wednesday (19): SWEAR

noreply@blogger.com (Jenna JL @ An Avid Reader's Musings) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 10:43:00 PDT

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, my "Waiting On" pick is:

A promise broken. A bond betrayed. It’s been six months since ghost-turned golem Sinclair Youngblood Powers confessed his love, stole Dice’s heart, and disappeared from Swoon, perhaps from existence. Despite the hurt, Dice has been moving steadily toward ordinary. Dreams of Sin still plague and pleasure her sleep, and the mark of Sin’s love remains on her skin, still sore. But Dice has been throwing herself into music, finding solace in song and sometimes even in the arms of her band mate, Tosh. Life seems almost…normal. The last thing Dice wants is to mess with anything remotely supernatural. But when her best friend’s boyfriend goes missing, Dice has no choice but to become very much involved. She knows that his disappearance was no accident, and it somehow has everything to do with Sin. Because Dice can feel it: Sin is back. And the promises and deceptions he left in his wake have returned to haunt him.

What do you do when an oath of devotion threatens to destroy the one you love?

PREVIOUS TITLES IN SERIES: SWOON

SWEAR description and cover art courtesy of GOODREADS