Book Bound

Moving, Marriage, and More

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:52:00 +0000

Oh, hai there! Long time no see!

I beg forgiveness and understanding for my absence the past two weeks. But life has gotten the best of me lately, and between attending a family wedding last week which had me out of town for 5 days, and accepting a job in another province, ergo forcing me to go on a mad house hunt and packing up my entire life...well, needless to say, I have had very little time for anything. The good news is that I move this Saturday, and once I have had a day or two to settle in, I plan on getting back into the swing of things. I have a few posts that I will get up in the next few days (April Must Haves, Clash of the Covers, and a few reviews) and I will also be announcing the winner of the Above giveaway.

So thank you all for sticking in there. I really appreciate it. And for those of you who haven't noticed, Book Bound has reached over 1000 followers!

Be sure to stick around a little longer, because I sense a follower appreciation event coming up in the near future.

In My Mailbox (16)

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 04:58:00 +0000

WARNING: In My Mailbox may lead to intolerable envy and gigantic wish lists.

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

For Review:

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong (Thanks to Random House Canada)
The Hunger Games Companion by Lois H. Gresh (Thanks to St. Martin's Press)
Immortal City by Scott Speer (Thanks to Penguin Group Canada)
The Starboard Sea by Amber Dermont (Thanks to St. Martin's Press)

Gift:

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Interview & Giveaway: Leah Bobet

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:12:00 +0000

Website * Goodreads * Facebook * Twitter

Leah Bobet drinks tea, wears feathers in her hair, and plants gardens in back alleys. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.

I am very happy to welcome Leah Bobet to Book Bound!

BB: Tell us a bit about your upcoming release Above.

LB: Above is about Matthew, who grew up underground in a place called Safe, where people too odd or sick or broken for the world Above have carved out a society of their own; and Ariel, a girl with bee’s wings, who is pretty odd and sick and broken herself.

But one night there’s a coup, and only Matthew, Ariel, and a few friends make it out to Above. Matthew has to figure out just exactly what went on there, and how four people might take back his home, and starts realizing that not everything he was told about Safe, or Above, or the people he grew up with was maybe, precisely, true. And on top of that there’s Ariel, who’s got her own trouble up Above, and needs him more than ever before.

BB: Above is written from the male protagonist’s point of view. What was the most difficult aspect of writing from Matthew’s POV?

LB: Balancing what Matthew observes — he’s a very sharp guy, and he notices a lot — with what he understands. The problem with being raised underground, in Safe (well, one of the problems!) is that Matthew doesn’t have a very good idea how the rest of the world works. You and I know that if you want to get on a bus, you have to wait at the stop and put the proper fare into the box when it shows up. He, well, doesn’t. So that means a lot of things go on around him that he pays attention to, and reports, but he isn’t really grasping what people’s actions mean. And making sure all the clues were there for the reader was probably the trickiest part!

BB: Which of your characters is your favourite and why?

LB: Probably Jack, who is grizzled and grumpy and shy and got hit by lighting when he was a kid, so now he can shoot it outhis fingers sometimes. And will fry any microwave in a five-foot radius just by standing next to it, which can be a problem if you’re trying to live in everyday society (he isn’t).

He’s probably the smartest person in the book. He has pretty much known the score from day one, and he’s not really intimidated by anyone, and just generally quietly does his thing. And when he does get involved, he’s really responsible about the things he says and does, and responsible about it being the right time to get involved instead of tramping on other people’s decisions.

So basically, he’s really just got his stuff together. And in this book, that’s saying a lot.

BB: What did you most enjoy about writing a fantasy? What did you find the most challenging?

LB: The thing I most enjoyed and the most challenging thing were, probably, two sides of the same issue: That, when you’re writing fantasy, you have this freedom to put in whatever you want — so long as you make it believable. And that believable thing is the key.

That means you can have this stuff. You can have someone with crab claws for arms if you want to. You can have living shadows that whisper through the sewers and hop around patches of sunlight. Any crazy thing my head can come up with, I can put in that book, just because I think it’s cool — but I also have to have a set of rules for those cool things that makes them act consistently. If there’s no logic to how they exist and behave, people won’t believe in the story, because it looks like you just stuck something on top for no good reason.

So the best thing? Making up all that cool stuff and getting to use it. The hardest? Making sure all my magic, all my fantasy elements, had enough rigorous logic behind them that they felt like real, whole, complete parts of Matthew’s world.

BB: The cover for Above is both eerie and stunning. I feel that it represents the content of the book very well. What was your reaction the first time you saw the finished product?

LB: It’s a terrible cliché, but I literally sucked in my breath. And every so often it still hits me that way.

BB: What was your first introduction to YA literature, and what drew you to the genre?

LB: In honesty? Nothing did. I wrote Above as an adult novel — or, no; maybe that’s not quite correct. I wrote Above as a novel, and didn’t really give too much thought at all as to what age group or genre or whatever would read it when it was done.

It was other people — critiquers, my agent — who said it should come out from a YA publisher. They had good reasons, and I’m glad it did, because my editor, Cheryl Klein, is just mind-bogglingly perceptive about what makes a book work or not work, and getting to work with her has been a real learning experience, in the best kind of way.

But that means I didn’t come to YA on my own; I was brought here. And I’m learning it — the manners, the narrative conventions, what makes people happy or disappointed — in what’s maybe a different way than people who said from the beginning this is where I want to publish. Which is really engaging for me, because there’s a lot being said in YA right now, and there’s a lot to say about what’s being said, if that makes sense.

BB: What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

LB: I can’t honestly remember what would be the toughest criticism given to my work — and that’s an important distinction, actually: People criticize my work, not me. It really has nothing to do with me, unless the critique is “You need to fix this sentence here, and also, please shower more.”

I did come up out of workshop culture — mostly, various critique groups/groups of friends that formed around the Online Writing Workshop for Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror — and so it’s probable that I’ve just heard so many criticisms of my work over the last ten years that I take them, look at them, learn from them, and move on with my life. Workshops, especially ones where you know you’re with your friends who want nothing but your skills to be better so you can all be filthily famous author warlords together, are a great way for learning that criticism isn’t actually personal. It’s just a thing to help you learn.

The best compliment, though — that’s actually a funny story: At the Montreal World Science Fiction Convention in 2009, I was crammed into the hallway outside a room party, talking to another writer from out west who I hadn’t seen in a while. She spent five or ten minutes telling me about this story that Strange Horizons had published years ago, something written by someone we knew mutually, and how amazing it was and how it stuck with her for years. And the more she’s describing this story the more familiar it sounds, until I just kind of stopped, and turned really red and got this kind of funny tingle around the ears, and said, “Actually, that one was mine."

I am still floored that someone felt so passionately about a short story I wrote that they’d take ten minutes to rave-review it to me at a convention party, all the while thinking it was someone else’s. Best feeling in the world.

BB: What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book?

LB: That the last First Nations residential school in Canada was only closed in 1996. It was like someone telling you that no, there were still World War II internment camps running inside your lifetime.

BB: What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing?

LB: That I get to write. The doing of the thing, the act itself, was always the dream; everything else is a nice bonus. I realize the dream every time I open up the file and put my fingers on the keyboard.

******************************************************

Thanks to Scholastic I have one (1) ARC of Above to giveaway!

Giveaway Guidelines:

To enter, fill out the form below.
Open to US only.
Deadline for entries will be 12:01 am April 7, 2012.
The winner will be notified by e-mail and will have 48 hours to reply, after which time, another winner will be chosen.
For more information, check the Contest Policies.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

March 2012 Wrap-Up

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 04:12:00 +0000

Reviews

Tempest by Julie Cross
The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg
Fair Games by Patricia Briggs
The Restorer by Amanda Stevens
Angel Evolution by David Estes
Intangible by J. Meyers
The Waiting Booth by Brinda Berry
Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson
Whisper of Memory by Brinda Berry

Author Interviews

Jess Rothenberg
Patricia Briggs
Cat Hellisen
Jessica Spostwood

Guest Posts

Jolene Perry

General Posts

March Must Haves
Follow Friday
In My Mailbox (13)
Follow Friday (10)
In My Mailbox (14)
Clash of the Covers: Dystopian
Cover Reveal: Poison Princess by Kresley Cole
Follow Friday (11)
In My Mailbox (15)

Review: Whisper of Memory by Brinda Berry

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:09:00 +0000

Title: Whisper of Memory
Author: Brinda Berry
Publisher: Etopia Press
Pub. Date: March 14, 2012
Format: eBook
Source: Author

Weapons training and winter formals...a deadly combination.

All Mia ever wanted was to fit in at Whispering Woods High. But being a portal-finder who dates a guy from another dimension sort of makes it hard. A month ago her brother disappeared, and agents from the IIA began policing people's movements through dimensions. She'd trusted Dr. Bleeker from the local university when he'd told her the IIA were the bad guys. But even a girl with an extraordinary ability to sense things can make mistakes.

Now two people are dead, and as a portal gatekeeper for the IIA, Mia needs to find Dr. Bleeker before he hurts anyone else. And her boyfriend Regulus, an Agent for the IIA, carries secrets of his own. Between learning about weaponry, finding the perfect dress for the winter formal, and catching bad guys, who has time to fit in?

Review

I read this book only a day or two after finishing The Waiting Booth, the first book in the Whispering Woods series. It was an easy and fun read - I finished it in one day. Although I liked the overall premise of the book and the series itself, I thought this one had only a mediocre storyline and predictable outcomes. The narrative and writing are well done, but there doesn't seem to be any evolution from the first book. The characters also seemed a bit flat - I didn't really get invested in any of their problems, except for Mia's relationship with Regulus - and you saw that coming. I'll most likely check out the next book in the series because they are fun reads, and the plot & characters have potential. I'm hoping the series will grow into itself by the next installment.

Review: Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 16:15:00 +0000

Title: Royal Street
Author: Suzanne Johnson
Publisher: Tor Books
Pub. Date: April 10, 2012
Format: eBook
Source: NetGalley

As the junior wizard sentinel for New Orleans, Drusilla Jaco’s job involves a lot more potion-mixing and pixie-retrieval than sniffing out supernatural bad guys like rogue vampires and lethal were-creatures. DJ's boss and mentor, Gerald St. Simon, is the wizard tasked with protecting the city from anyone or anything that might slip over from the preternatural beyond.

Then Hurricane Katrina hammers New Orleans’ fragile levees, unleashing more than just dangerous flood waters.

While winds howled and Lake Pontchartrain surged, the borders between the modern city and the Otherworld crumbled. Now, the undead and the restless are roaming the Big Easy, and a serial killer with ties to voodoo is murdering the soldiers sent to help the city recover.

To make it worse, Gerry has gone missing, the wizards’ Elders have assigned a grenade-toting assassin as DJ’s new partner, and undead pirate Jean Lafitte wants to make her walk his plank. The search for Gerry and for the serial killer turns personal when DJ learns the hard way that loyalty requires sacrifice, allies come from the unlikeliest places, and duty mixed with love creates one bitter gumbo.

Review

Royal Street (Sentinels of New Orleans #1), by Suzanne Johnson is a splendid mix of Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance and a dash of Historical fiction. Add a loveable heroine to the mix and a strong supporting cast and you have the perfect concoction. Drusilla Jaco, (aka DJ) is a Green Congress Wizard and Junior Wizard Sentinel in New Orleans. Her mentor and father figure, Gerry is the Sentinel. DJ has been itching to become further involved in cases surrounded the Supernatural World, but Gerry is reluctant to give her a starring role. The Supernatural/Rreternatural (they call it Prete for short) World in Royal Street is quite different than most in the Urban Fantasy genre. In this world, Goblins, Vampires, the Undead and etc., live in an alternate reality from humans. Some members of the Prete world have a tendency to cross over into the human world and it is the job of the Sentinels to send them back where they belong. DJ usually gets the minor jobs involving pixies or dogs. Her circumstances, however, quickly change when she must evacuate the city due to Hurricane Katrina; she heads to Alabama to visit family. Gerry must stay behind to keep an eye on the city. Of course everyone knows the heart wrenching devastation which took place after Katrina hit; the breeched levees and the ultimate flooding and destruction of human life and homes. While away, DJ receives a startling call from the elders informing her of Gerry’s disappearance and it seems as though he was not a victim of the storm.

DJ is soon thrust into a new role in the world of wizardry. She must now monitor the supernatural happenings in New Orleans while searching for her beloved Gerry, that is, if he even wants to be found. Matters are somewhat complicated when a handsome guy dressed in all black and strapped with enough weaponry to take out a large city comes through her door. His name is Alex and he’s an enforcer and now co-sentinel of New Orleans. Together, they must now police the Prete world, which is a bit of a handful due to the fact that they’ve got a serial killer on the loose and the hurricane has allowed any member of the Prete community to cross over into the human world. Add Jean Lafitte to the mix, the infamous undead pirate, whom DJ has a potentially hazardous attraction towards and who also has a score to settle with her, and you can see the stressful situation she is under.

Who could possibly envy DJ? Well, she does have two handsome men fighting over her; Alex and his cousin Jake. I am usually not receptive towards triangles, but I found these threesomes interactions fun and light hearted. However, I am pleased that there wasn’t a full –fledged romance that took away from the narrative. DJ stayed focused on the goal at hand; find Gerry, figure out who is targeting wizards and sacrificing soldiers. One thing that is great about DJ is that she is able to make the most of her situation. She isn’t the most skilled at her job, but she learns as she goes along. She makes mistakes but she brushes herself off and keeps going. I greatly appreciated the evolution of her character, which is at times hard to find in this particular genre and I look forward to her continued growth as the series continues. Her new partner Alex is a bit rough and he has secrets of his own, but his ability to turn from iron emotions into witty humor is inspiring. The other characters were delightful as well, everyone from Jake to Louis Armstrong (he is a Historical undead). The consistent flow of the story and the characters all made Royal Street a worthy read. I also appreciated the incorporation of a Katrina ravaged New Orleans into the Fantasy. Johnson’s world is a wondrous journey filled with intrigue at every turn. It is a must read for all Urban Fantasy enthusiasts.

Review: The Waiting Booth by Brinda Berry

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 02:12:00 +0000

Title: The Waiting Booth
Author: Brinda Berry
Publisher: Etopia Press
Pub. Date: July 15, 2011
Format: eBook
Source: Author

A missing boy, government agents, an interdimensional portal...

Mia has one goal for her senior year at Whispering Woods High—find her missing older brother. But when her science project reveals a portal into another dimension, she learns that travelers are moving in and out of her woods in the most alarming way and government agents Regulus and Arizona are policing their immigration. Mia’s drawn to the mysterious, aloof Regulus, but it’s no time for a crush. She needs to find out what they know about her brother, while the agents fight to save the world from viral contamination. But when Regulus reveals that he knows Mia’s secrets, she begins to wonder if there’s more going on than she thought...and if she was wrong to trust him...

Review

The Waiting Booth is a great start to a new YA paranormal series. It has an interesting plot that hasn't been overdone in the genre before, which gives it a fresh voice. The characters are all intriguing, especially the main heroine Mia and her mysterious visitors Regulus and Arizona. A really cool aspect of this story deals with synesthesia, a medical condition where senses overlap. This gives the book a real edge with realistic but uncommon situations. The narrative is good and the book flows well and is easy to read. Berry blends common teen problems with paranormal twists - which keeps the readers on their toes. The ending is pretty open, which leaves the reader wanting answers in the next installment. I did think that the characters could be developed a little more, but I'm hoping that the writing style and characters will mature in the next book.

In My Mailbox (15)

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 22:39:00 +0000

WARNING: In My Mailbox may lead to intolerable envy and gigantic wish lists.

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

For Review:

Dark Eyes by William Richter (Thanks to Penguin Canada)
Thief's Coventant by Ari Marmell (Thanks to PYR)
Tomorrow Land by Mari Mancusi (Netgalley)

Bought:

Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire
Switched by Amanda Hocking
Vengeance Born by Kylie Griffin

Follow Friday (11)

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 05:49:00 +0000

If you are new to the #FF fun, Feature and Follow Friday is a blog hop that expands your blog following by a joint effort between bloggers. Feature and Follow Friday is now hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog which will allow them to show off more new blogs!

The Rules:

{Required} Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee and Alison Can Read}
{Required} Follow our Featured Bloggers - THIS WEEK: Reading with ABC and The Fairytale Nerd.
Put your Blog name and URL in the Linky thing.
Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say "hi" in your comments and that they are now following you.
Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

The Question: What is the best book you’ve read in the last month? What is the worst book you’ve read in the last month?

This is a really tough question to answer. For one, I haven't read nearly enough books in the last month to give this a fair shot, and I have enjoyed all of the ones that I have read. But, if I must answer...

The Best Book is:

Fair Game

by Patricia Briggs

The Worst Book is:

Tempest

by Julie Cross

You have to understand...Tempest was a great book. The only reason that I chose Tempest as the worst, is because out of all the books I have read in the last month, it got the lowest rating, which was 4 stars. While I feel bad that I have to name a good book as the "worst", I don't feel at all bad that all of the books that I read in the last month were pretty great.

So what was your favourite and least favourite read in the last month?

Cover Reveal: Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:37:00 +0000

Poison Princess
(The Arcana Chronicles, #1)
Kresley Cole
Release Date: October 2, 2012
by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

Add it to Goodreads

Poison Princess centers on 16-year-old Evangeline "Evie" Greene, a privileged teenager from Louisiana. When an apocalyptic event decimates her hometown, killing everyone she loves, Evie realizes the hallucinations she'd been having for the past year were actually visions of the future — and they're still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux. As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophecy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of teens have been chosen to re-enact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it's not always clear who is on which side …

Leave a comment and let me know what you think of this cover. Personally, I'm torn. My first instinct was that I wasn't crazy about it. But the more I consider it, the more that I notice things that I like about it. Overall, I think it is growing on me. It is very different from Kresley's previous covers, but of course, it is also a new YA series, so I like that it has it's own distinct look.

Winner: Signed Copy of On The Prowl

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:48:00 +0000

Congratulations to the lucky winner, who will receive a copy of On The Prowl, signed by Patricia Briggs!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Intangible by J. Meyers

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 19:24:00 +0000

Title: Intangible
Author: J. Meyers
Publisher: CreateSpace
Pub. Date: January 29, 2012
Format: eBook
Source: Author

Twins Sera and Luke Raine have a well-kept secret—she heals with a touch of her hand, he sees the future. All their lives they’ve helped those in need on the sly. They’ve always thought of their abilities as being a gift.

Then Luke has a vision that Sera is killed. That gift they’ve always cherished begins to feel an awful lot like a curse. Because the thing about Luke’s ability? He’s always right. And he can’t do anything about it.

Review

This book is a fast-paced paranormal read about twins who have the ability to see and to heal. The reader is immediately drawn into their world and their lives. The characters are all very likeable and realistic, especially Sera and Luke. There were some twists in the book that I didn’t see coming and left me with my mouth hanging open. The storyline is solid and interesting and the narrative is very well written. You definitely come to root for the twins to find a way out of their mess. The story takes normal teen issues and high school drama along with messy first loves and some broken hearts and then mixes in some vampires, elves, the mother of all who are damned for some extra fun. I’m so glad that this is only the first book in a series – I will be eagerly awaiting the next installment! You should definitely read this book if you like YA and paranormal stories.

Interview: Jessica Spotswood

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 22:03:00 +0000

Website * Goodreads * Twitter

Facebook

Jessica Spotswood grew up in a tiny one-stoplight town in Pennsylvania, where she could be found swimming, playing clarinet, memorizing lines for the school play, or—most often—with her nose in a book. She's been writing since she was little but studied theatre in college and grad school. Now she lives in Washington, DC with her brilliant playwright husband and a cuddly cat named Monkey.

I am very happy to welcome debut author Jessica Spotswood to Book Bound!

BB: Tell us a bit about your debut novel, Born Wicked.

JS: The short version: it’s about sisters and witches and kissing!

The slightly longer version: Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

BB: Born Wicked is an interesting mix of historical and paranormal. What did you find the most challenging in writing a book based on a somewhat parallel history? What did you most enjoy?

JS: The most challenging thing about writing a novel set in an alternate 1890s New England was making Cate and her sisters strong, independent, clever girls without giving them sensibilities that feel too modern. I didn’t want their voices to be anachronistic. The most fun thing was researching Victorian-era fashion. I am a girly girl who loves dresses!

BB: The book is based around the main character Cate Cahill, who is a very strong YA character. In what way(s), if any, is Cate like yourself?

JS: Like Cate, I’m very stubborn, and I’m a tremendous worrier. I’m also the oldest of three sisters. I’m very protective of my little sister, who’s eight years younger than me, while my middle sister and I argued all the time growing up and were very competitive. I definitely drew on that to write about Cate, Maura, and Tess’s complicated mix of love and sibling rivalry!

BB: Which of the Cahill sisters is your favourite?

JS: Oh, Cate is my favorite. But my favorite secondary character is Sachi. I love that she’s so clever and strong and fiercely loyal beneath her facade of being a demure, fashion-obsessed cabbage-head. She has so many secrets, even more than Cate!

BB: Do you intend for each of the sisters to get their own book in the series?

JS: No, all three books will be told from Cate’s point of view. I do love the idea of writing a short story from Maura, though; she has a very strong voice.

BB: What first drew me to Born Wicked was the very stunning cover. It is both beautiful and mysterious. What was your reaction when you saw the cover for the first time?

JS: Thank you! I love it too! I was at my then-day job, and my editor called and we squealed over the phone. Then I wasn’t allowed to share it for six weeks. But I think it captures the lush, sexy feel of BORN WICKED very well, and I adore the model’s intense gaze.

BB: What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book?

JS: I was surprised by how quickly the process moved for this book! My editor is lightning-fast at turning things around. The book deal happened on February 23 last year, I got my editorial letter on March 14, did two rounds of revision before BEA in mid-May, did more revisions and line edits and copy edits and was done editorially by July 1. ARCs came out in late August and the book was released on February 7, less than a year after the deal. That’s all very fast for publishing!

BB: What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

JS: I write best after midnight. I am in fact writing this interview at 4 AM.

BB: Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

JS: This book had a very quick path to publication – it sold in a week. But my first manuscript was called INHERITING GAROLASS, and it never sold. It got me an agent, but it was shelved after nine months on submission, which was a little soul-crushing at the time!

BB: Where do you hope to take your writing in the future?

Right now I’m excited about writing the other two books in the Cahill Witch Chronicles. I was working on a retelling of Sleeping Beauty when BORN WICKED sold, and I would love to finish that at some point, but I don’t know if it will be my next project.

BB: Thank you very much!

JS: Thank you for having me, Jessica!

Clash of the Covers: Dystopian

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 06:30:00 +0000

Welcome to Book Bound's new feature, CLASH OF THE COVERS. Every two weeks (or so), each of us here at Book Bound will weigh-in on several book covers. We'll let you know whether we like them or dislike them, and why, and then choose our favourites and least favourites. And the fun part is that each feature will have a specific theme.

For the first feature, I have chosen a theme that represents a very up-and-coming genre in the book world: YA Dystopian. There were far too many covers to choose from, so I went with some new releases, since they would all be pretty familiar.

And now, it is time for...

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

Stephanie's Thoughts: Dislike.
This cover seems so bland - there are hardly any colors. I do like the picture of the crumbling city, but overall it seems boring to me.

Jessica's Thoughts: Like.
This cover really stands out to me. The background is so dreary and decrepit, it made me want to know just what happened to the city. And I like the red, it really pops. It suits the dystopian genre.

Kellie's Thoughts: Like.
This cover is particularly gripping. Just at first glance, one is able to guess the nature of the book. Therefore, this is one of the more compelling covers of the bunch.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Stephanie's Thoughts: Like.
This cover is so cool! I love the picture of the leg and foot - it fits with the Cinderella story - but inside the leg is robotic and new. Very intriguing! I like the color scheme too.

Jessica's Thoughts: Dislike.
I can't quite explain what is is about this cover that throws me off, but I'm just not crazy about it. It stood out enough to capture my attention and make me want to know what it was about, and it's an interesting concept, but it just doesn't do it for me.

Kellie's Thoughts: Like.
The cover of Cinder is my favorite out of the group. It is a rather creative concept the way that the illustrator was able to use a vibrantly red high heel to lure readers in. Also, the leg itself is quite perplexing, it leaves you wondering and guessing what it means.

Fever by Lauren DeStefano

Stephanie's Thoughts: Like.
There are lots of different aspects to this one. The colors are pretty and they complement each other. The girl and her surroundings seem like a dream - and her dress is really pretty.

Jessica's Thoughts: Dislike.
This cover seems really discombobulated. There are so many objects that I don't really know what to focus on. And I'm not a fan of the green. It doesn't have that mysterious feel to it that presents it as a dystopian.

Kellie's Thoughts: Dislike.
I am not sure what to think about this particular cover. It is a bit perplexing but not necessarily in a good way. This cover fails to portray what the story is about. Certainly the girl on the cover seems a bit out of it, but it does not reel me in. The cover would not convince me to buy the book.

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Stephanie's Thoughts: Like.
The wings on her face really stand out - it's the first thing that a reader sees when they look at it. The colors are gorgeous and it's simple and elegant.

Jessica's Thoughts: Like.
Finally, Stephanie and I agree! I absolutely love this cover. The first thing that stands out to me is the bright colours that make the cover feel very dreamlike. The wings are a nice touch.

Kellie's Thoughts: Like.
This cover peeks my interest, it is one of my favorites and quite creative. Butterflies represent a new beginning; therefore, at first glance I am able to surmise that this book perhaps deals with resurrection, new beginnings and etc.

A Million Suns by Beth Revis

Stephanie's Thoughts: Like.
I like the scene of the stars with the beautiful colors. It makes it feel surreal and interesting.

Jessica's Thoughts: Like.
I love this cover. The space scene is just gorgeous, with very attractive colours and bright stars that really capture your attention. Seeing the girl and guy together makes me think that there is a romance element, which will always grab my interest.

Kellie's Thoughts: Like.
I like the otherworldly nature of this cover, especially since it is a space travel series. It is not my favorite but I appreciate the concept behind the illustration.

The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker

Stephanie's Thoughts: Like.
This has a gothic feel to it - which I love. I like the contrasting colors - the red, black, and white really make it pop. The butterfly and the barbed wire around the title are unique and look awesome.

Jessica's Thoughts: Dislike.
I think this cover looks like it was designed by a child. I do think that the butterfly pops, and I like the gloomy feel that is presents, but I think the title really kills this cover for me.

Kellie's Thoughts: Dislike.
Once more a butterfly is used for the cover. It is not necessarily my favorite cover, but it does showcase what the book is about, through the use of the butterfly. Also, judging by the appearance of the butterfly, the other life isn’t so great.

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Stephanie's Thoughts: Like.
This is an interesting cover. It is subtly appealing. The partially hidden face surrounded by flowers and plants is a nice effect and the color scheme fits it perfectly.

Jessica's Thoughts: Dislike.
This is another one that I just can't place my finger on. I like the colours, particularly the orange, and I am instantly drawn to the eye. But mostly, this cover just leaves me feeling slightly confused. Is she hiding in a bush?

Kellie's Thoughts: Dislike.
Pandemonium represents confusion, but I do not get confusion from the cover. Now, the cover is rather appealing, but it fails to connect with the story behind the cover.

Side-note: Haha! What the frick?

Partials by Dan Wells

Stephanie's Thoughts: Like.
I like the dark colors - it gives the book a dystopian feeling from the start. And the destroyed city in the background is detailed, as is the road and the girl, which looks great.

Jessica's Thoughts: Like.
This cover instantly draws my attention. There is a dark feel to it that intrigues me, and I want to know who the girl is and wait awaits her in the distant city.

Kellie's Thoughts: Like.
The Partials cover is compelling. I like the fact that the lone person on the cover is a representation of hope in a dystopian world.

Starters by Lissa Price

Stephanie's Thoughts: Dislike.
I have a thing about color. Most covers need to have at least some pops of color to grab my attention. This cover would be really cool if they didn't do it so simply. I do like the emphasis on her eyes though - they really stand out.

Jessica's Thoughts: Dislike.
I like how the eyes really stand-out, but that is about all that does. The other facial features are barely perceivable, which makes the cover rather unremarkable.

Kellie's Thoughts: Like.
I am actually on the fence with Starters. The cover does immediately capture my attention with the unusually pale skin and stark blue eyes of the young lady on the cover, but I cannot immediately discern what exactly the cover represents.

Favourite

Least Favourite

HAVE YOUR SAY: Leave a comment and let me know which of the covers is your favourite, and your least favourite.

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In My Mailbox (14)

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 08:01:00 +0000

WARNING: In My Mailbox may lead to intolerable envy and gigantic wish lists.

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

For Review:

Above by Leah Bobet (Thanks to Scholastic Canada)
White Witch by Trish Milburn (Netgalley)
Witchful Thinking by H. P. Mallory (Netgalley)

Bought:

Torn by Amanda Hocking
Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Giveaway Love

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 20:29:00 +0000

Call me a promotion whore, but I have to tell you guys about a giveaway that is being hosted by Sparkling Reviews!

Sparkling Reviews is holding a Follower Appreciation Day, with so many great prizes, including:

I don't know how, but those are some pretty amazing prizes! You must be a follower to enter the giveaways, and the deadline is tonight at midnight!!! So hurry over and enter for your chance to win!!!

Interview: Cat Hellisen

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 18:49:00 +0000

Website * Goodreads * Twitter
Facebook

Cat Hellisen is an author of fantasy for adults and young adults. Born in 1977 in Cape Town, South Africa, she has also lived in Johannesburg, Knysna, and Nottingham.

I am very happy to welcome Cat Hellisen to Book Bound!

BB: Tell us a bit about your debut release, When the Sea is Rising Red.

Cat: It's the story of a privileged girl who makes a choice to run away from that life so that she can be free. What she doesn't realize is how cushioned she was from reality, and how her freedom is going to come with a rather large price tag.

BB: What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book?

Cat: Not so much surprising as realizing I really have to work hard to reign myself in from over-developing side characters. I want to cram in everyone's story. I guess because life isn't about only one person, so it's hard for me to adjust focus on just one character and making them the most important. I just don't see stories that way, I guess.

BB: What inspired you to write When the Sea is Rising Red?

Cat: An earlier book. Felicita was a side character in another novel I wrote and there was something about her that fascinated me, so I wrote When the Sea is Rising Red to answer my questions. In fact, I wrote one scene – the meeting between her and Jannik in the rain, and left it at that. It was only a few years later that I went back to that scene and wrote out a story that developed around it.

BB: What made you choose to write a book with a fantasy/magical element?

Cat: I don't try; that's my natural state. I've tried to write contemporary and I just lose interest. I enjoy it as a reader, but it doesn't hold my attention as a writer. I am too in love with the fantastic and strange.

BB: What did you most enjoy about writing a YA, and what was your greatest challenge?

Cat: I don't really feel that I write YA. I write what I want to read. My greatest challenge is probably making people realize that my book is only YA because other people said so.

BB: Which of your characters is the most/least like you and in what way(s)?

Cat: All of them. I can see aspects of myself in each of the three main characters: Felicita with her blinkered upbringing, her selfish choices, and her willingness to accept her own failings; Jannik with his bad poetry and his fear of trying to take what he wants in case he fails; and Dash with his manipulation and charm and love.

BB: What were your feelings when you first saw the cover of the finished product?

Cat: That it's a good thing I'm not a cover designer because I don't know the first thing about what works and what doesn't.

BB: Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

Cat: Um...not really much to say, I think all most writers have similar stories – querying a million people, changing agents, not selling the book you originally wrote. Those are not things unique to me. It was a long haul, basically.

BB: Who or what has influenced your writing, and in what way?

Cat: Everything. Pretty much. Every book I've read, film I've watched, person I've met, photographs and music and cities and birds and weather and weird broken pieces that don't fit – they're all in my head getting blended into brain soup. And then I write things.

BB: Name three must-haves that help you through your writing process.

Cat: Coffee. Music. People to prod me when I wallow in self-pity.

Review: Angel Evolution by David Estes

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 22:40:00 +0000

Title: Angel Evolution
Author: David Estes
Publisher: Smashwords
Pub. Date: October 17, 2011
Format: eBooks
Source: Goodreads

When Taylor meets Gabriel at college, she is in awe of the subtle glow that surrounds him. No one else, not even her best friend, seems to notice.

Something about him scares her.

Is all as it appears? While Taylor struggles for answers, she finds herself in the middle of a century old war centered on one miraculous revelation: evolution.

Review

The Angel theme is a fast growing edition to the Fantasy genre. Angel Evolution by David Estes is no exception. Angel Evolution stars two main protagonists, Taylor, an 18 year old college freshman with a peculiar fashion sense and a sharp tongue and Gabriel, a nauseatingly overconfident fellow freshman with a strange glow, which only Taylor can see. As with most books in this genre, the girl and the guy fall for each other.

There is something “different” about Taylor. That theme is repeated throughout the story. It just so happens that her difference has attracted the attention of two feuding groups, angels and demons, although these angels and demons are a bit different from the Biblical beings. I found this particular twist on the creation of angels and demons unique. Demons were created after a human was bitten by a mysterious black snake, the human then evolved into a demon and then angels evolved from demons. Surprising right? I did not know how to feel about this particular change at first, but it did grow on me. Now demons and angels are engrossed in a “Great War” and Taylor is the key to victory for the angels and Gabriel has been sent to woo her. Readers soon discover who are the good guys and bad guys; it is a surprising turn, which is perhaps a bit controversial.

Despite the unique plot, the story as a whole fell flat, as well as the characters. In fact, my favorite characters were Samantha (Taylor’s BFF) and Christopher (the demon). I was not sold on the “love” which Gabriel and Taylor shared. He was extremely cocky and lied to her throughout the book. Therefore, despite him being a major character, I did not feel a connection. Also, Taylor’s actions were simply unbelievable. She constantly stated that she was born with a “good gut”, meaning that she was able to sense when something was wrong. I will just say this, throughout the book; her “good gut” failed her miserably. Throughout the story I was quite perplexed in regards to this noticeable flaw. Estes must be credited with the unique flare which he put on the tale of angels and demons, but Angel Evolution needed a bit more character development. Hopefully as the series continues the characters evolve and become much more relatable.

Follow Friday (10)

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 07:33:00 +0000

{Required} Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee and Alison Can Read}
{Required} Follow our Featured Bloggers - THIS WEEK: Hesperia Loves Books and Novel Days.
Put your Blog name and URL in the Linky thing.
Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say "hi" in your comments and that they are now following you.
Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

The Question: Have you ever looked at book's cover and thought, this is going to horrible? But, was instead pleasantly surprised? Show us the cover and tell us about the book.

This one is tough...I usually have the opposite problem. I see a gorgeous cover and think that the book is going to be fantastic, and end up disappointed.

It's not one particular book that I have in mind, it's actually an entire series. The Psy/Changeling series by Nalini Singh is a great read, for fans of paranormal romance. But the covers are kinda...awful, I hate to say. The don't reflect the content of the books at all (in my opinion) and in no way say "paranormal romance". My impression would be that they are more along the lines of action/adventure, hero type stories.

Guest Post: Jolene Perry

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:06:00 +0000

About the Author

Website * Blog * Goodreads * Facebook * Twitter

Jolene grew up in Wasilla, Alaska. She graduated from Southern Utah University with a degree in political science and French, which she used to teach math to middle schoolers.

After living in Washington, Utah and Las Vegas, she now resides in Alaska with her husband, and two children. Aside from writing, Jolene sews, plays the guitar, sings when forced, and spends as much time outside as possible.

She is also the author of The Next Door Boys and the upcoming Knee Deep.

I am very happy to well Jolene Perry to Book Bound! I asked her about her experience writing from a male POV and also creating a Native American character.

I was asked to write about writing a teen, male, POV, when I'm neither of those things, and also a little about writing a Native Alaskan character. I'm going to try and do both without being too long-winded.

I love reading guy POV books, and had wanted to write one for a while. I grew up playing with the boys on four-wheelers, and out fishing. I was also the only girl in a sea of boy cousins. I patterned Jameson a bit after my husband, and he was a really good sounding board - but after a while I told him - Jameson can't notice boobs ALL the time, even if you do, lol. Jameson's voice was so clear in my head, that the book actually went really fast.

Writing Sky, even though I've spent a lot of time living with and around the Native population in Alaska, was more difficult. I'm much louder than she is, and more forward in some ways, but less forward in other ways. I'm not sure I would have climbed in a guy's car and gone swimming with him that same night. Sky explains why she did it later in the book, but it took me a while to be okay with that decision of hers.

I'd love to write a TON of books using some of the Native Alaskan groups I've been around. The Tlingit's live in what I think is the coolest part of Alaska, so I made her from there, but I have an Inuit character in another book I'm putting finishing touches on now. He's not a huge character, but I was able to use the setting more clearly.

It almost felt like cheating to make Sky part of a group I was so familiar with, but it made her real to me much faster than she would have been otherwise. I love the totems in Southeast Alaska. I love Tlingit artwork, and their drumming and dancing is just incredible. I'm fortunate in that even though I don't live in that part of Alaska, the dancers from a lot of different Native tribes seem to make the rounds pretty often. We also have a fair Tlingit population in Wasilla, where I live.

(I attached a picture of a Tlingit meeting house that's still in use. When I was a kid I remember going there and listening to the drums and just being amazed)

Thanks so much for having me!!

~ Jolene

eBook
ISBN: 9780983741862
ISBN: 9781466052338
Pages: 247
Release: March 1, 2012
Publisher: Tribute Books

Kindle Buy Link
Nook Buy Link
Smashwords Buy Link
PDF Buy Link

After losing Sarah, the friend he’s loved, to some other guy, Jameson meets Sky. Her Native American roots, fluid movements, and need for brutal honesty become addictive fast. This is good. Jameson needs distraction – his dad leaves for another woman, his mom’s walking around like a zombie, and Sarah’s new boyfriend can’t keep his hands off of her.

As he spends time with Sky and learns about her village, her totems, and her friends with drums - she's way more than distraction. Jameson's falling for her fast.

But Sky’s need for honesty somehow doesn’t extend to her life story – and Jameson just may need more than his new girl to keep him distracted from the disaster of his senior year.

Night Sky Website * Goodreads

Review: The Restorer by Amanda Stevens

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 22:38:00 +0000

Title: The Restorer
Author: Amanda Stevens
Publisher: Mira
Pub. Date: February 21, 2012
Format: Paperback
Source: Library

Never acknowledge the dead.

Never stray far from hallowed ground.

Never get close to the haunted.

Never, ever tempt fate.

My name is Amelia Gray. I'm a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. In order to protect myself from the parasitic nature of the dead, I've always held fast to these rules passed down from my father…until now.

Detective John Devlin needs my help to find a killer, but he is haunted by ghosts who shadow his every move. To warn him would be to invite them into my life. I've vowed to keep my distance, but the pull of his magnetism grows ever stronger even as the headstone symbols lead me closer to truth and to the gossamer veil that separates this world from the next.

Review

I had very high hopes when picking up this book. The description sounded right up my alley - a series of murders in an abandoned graveyard? Awesome! This plot sounded fresh and really interesting - tons of potential. The main line of the story is what kept me reading. It was something new and the twists were good - they had me guessing until the end. The main character, Amelia Gray, was a well done heroine. She had the normal struggles in life with the added problems that seeing ghosts brings to the table. Aside from the solid characters and strong story line, my love for this book stopped there. Of course there was some romance, as to be expected, but what could have been an intriguing relationship or at least the start of one, turned out to be overly predictable and boring. Parts of the story, mostly about the background of some of the characters and the stories surrounding Charleston's history really bogged the book down. There were good twists and secrets throughout the book, which I was hoping would be given answers at the end, but I was left hanging - and not in a good way. I see how leaving questions unanswered leaves an open ending for the next book, but these questions left me feeling frustrated instead of intrigued. I have already received the next two books in this series, and I'm hoping that they will rekindle my love for this Gothic romance.

Winner: Gena Showalter Prize Pack

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 08:09:00 +0000

Congratulations to the lucky winner, who will receive a Gena Showalter Prize Pack!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview & Giveaway: Patricia Briggs

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 22:39:00 +0000

Website * Goodreads * Twitter

Patricia Briggs was born in Butte, Montana to a children’s librarian who passed on to her kids a love of reading and books. Patricia grew up reading fairy tales and books about horses, and later developed an interest in folklore and history. When she decided to write a book of her own, a fantasy book seemed a natural choice. Patricia graduated from Montana State University with degrees in history and German and she worked for a while as a substitute teacher. Currently, she lives in Montana with her husband, children and six horses and writes full-time, much to the delight of her fans.

It is my great honour and pleasure to welcome Patricia Briggs to Book Bound!

BB: What was your first introduction to fantasy literature, and what drew you to the genre?

Patty: My mother read fairytales to us – and then my sister got a huge fairy tale book from our aunt. Every night for years my sister, who was four years older, would read two stories from that book to me before we went to sleep.

I am the youngest of a family of voracious readers, though they all read different things. The sister closest to me in age read a lot of fantasy and when I’d read every horse book in the library, she gave me her copy of Andre Norton’s terrific Year of the Unicorn (which had very little to do with horses, but the title caught my attention anyway). I read all of her Andre Norton, then moved on to her Marion Zimmer Bradley collection and was hooked.

BB: What one stereotype about fantasy writers is absolutely wrong?

Patty: That we don’t research. IMHO getting the real things absolutely right is the only way to make the speculative elements feel real.

BB: What one stereotype is dead on?

Patty: That we have cats. I once sat in a room with four other fantasy writers and I, with only three cats, was totally outmatched.

BB: What, in your opinion, are the most important elements in writing?

Patty: That’s like saying what is the most important part of a car? You need grammar, story structure, pacing, good characterizations, risk, voice, logical progression. All of those you can learn. But the drive-train (to push the analogy over the cliff) is Storytelling. Explaining what storytelling is, is like trying to grab smoke. Luckily if you work on the grammar, story structure, pacing, characterizations, risk, voice and logic – everything else seems to come together.

BB: Have you ever been surprised by a controversy among fans or reviewers—for example, you created a character without thinking too much about what people would think of him, and found some readers loved him and some hated him?

Patty: The good thing about writing for as many years as I did before the books took off, was that I had a lot of time to make mistakes and correct them before I was really in the public eye. I have a pretty good sense of how the characters are going to affect the readers now. However, in Masques (my first book) I was quite surprised by the effect the torture scene on readers and have been, afterwards, much more aware of how what I was writing affected readers.

BB: Can you tell us a bit about your upcoming release Fair Game?

Patty: If you have only been reading the Mercy books – you need to read Fair Game. The events in this book have a major impact on Mercy’s world.

Fair Game takes place directly after the Mercy book River Marked. Anna and Charles are on the hunt for a serial killer who has been killing werewolves. There are creepy witches, sharp FBI agents, new werewolves, terrific Irish pubs – how could it not be fun?

BB: What was the most challenging aspect of writing Fair Game?

Patty: Heh. This was the easiest of the A&O novels to write – the challenge was trying to put words on paper in the middle of the worse house remodel ever. My husband and I were living in my office trailer (10x30) with my office, a dog, a bird, two snakes (each in their own 55/60 gallon tank), and four cats. My teenaged girls were living initially with my personal assistant (their unofficial aunt) until it became apparent that my builder (There is a lawsuit pending) thought that two months was really six, or possibly eight or nine. So we bought a trailer (the kind you pull with a truck) and stuck them in that. From February to September, I was not able to write a word worth keeping – and I usually can write a book in three to six months. We fired our contractor in September – and hired one who knew what he was doing – and suddenly I could write. I fixed the first few chapters and then wrote the rest of the book (I had the story in my head quite clearly by that time) in two months.

BB: As a person who is part native, I am really able to relate to many of your characters and the rich culture and mythology presented in your novels. What kind of research did/do you do in order to write the series?

Patty: Some of the material I use for the Native American background comes from growing up in Montana, going to Montana State where a significant number of native students also went. I worked at the Museum of the Rockies which had, at the time, a very good collection of Native American artifacts, and while working there, read a lot of the journals of the early encounters between Europeans and Native Americans. I read – and read more, especially when Charles became such a major character, keeping in mind how inaccurate a lot of the anthropological work of the early 1900’s was. I read a lot of stories, watched some YouTube videos of native storytellers, talked a lot to a native friend of mine.

BB: Which of your Alpha and Omega characters is the most/least like you and in what way(s)?

Patty: Charles is probably the least like me – maybe even the opposite. He is reserve and I talk a lot (though we both are introverts). He is stoic with a sneaky sense of humor and I am not. There is nothing sneaky about my humor (my teenage daughters would tell you there is nothing funny, either, unless I have a few weeks to think it over, but I don’t listen to them). He is technologically advanced and I can barely run my computer. I love to drive and fly on airplanes.

I don’t know that there are any of them like me – I try not to do that for fear the hand of the author will show through too clearly. And besides, I would make a lousy character in an adventure series -grin-

BB: Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea that you’d like to work with?

Patty: Themes happen to me, I don’t happen to them. My sister tells me that Fair Game is about justice – and I look back on it and say, “Well, what do you know? I can see where she got that.”

I love characters who are different on the outside than they are on the inside – Charles is a prime example, and so, in a more subtle way, is Mercy. Ward, from the Hurog books, is the most extreme case of this. I enjoy these characters because they allow me to share an insight with the reader that the other people in the book aren’t aware of – shared secrets are fun.

BB: Beyond your own work (of course), what is your all-time favourite fantasy book and why? What is your favourite book outside of the fantasy genre?

Patty: Oh wow. What a question. Mostly it depends upon my mood. Straight fantasy . . . maybe The Bone Doll’s Twin by Lyn Flewelling. Or The Ladies of Mandrygin by Barbara Hambly. I have read through a number of copies of The Wizard Inspite of Himself by Christopher Stasheff. Or maybe something by Robin McKinley – The Chalice or The Blue Sword or Beauty. And then there is Lois McMaster Bujold. When I grow up I want to be half the author she is. Or Tolkien. I came late to Lord of the Rings – but I made up for it. And then there is Jim Butcher . . .

Outside of fantasy – maybe Bolt or Break-In by Dick Francis. Or The Black Stallion – which I still reread. I admit to an odd partiality to Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath though my tender and horse-loving heart has never forgiven him for The Red Pony. I love the old romances by Jeffery Farnol (a contemporary of Heyer) and the westerns of Louis L’amour.

(Hehe, I knew that would be a loaded question.)

BB; Name a book character that you have a crush on? (I must admit, my book crush is Warren. I know he “doesn’t swing my way”, but you gotta love a good ol’ southern boy with an accent.)

Patty: Like all good female writers, I have crushes on all of the male characters in my books. Warren, yes. Adam . . . oh Adam. Samuel. Bran!

If we are speaking of other people’s books – Harry Dresden. Curran? Oh – and I have recently discovered Robert Crais – Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. Hmmm. What’s not to love?

******************************************************

Thanks to Penguin Group USA I have one (1) copy of On The Prowl to giveaway!

Giveaway Guidelines:

To enter, fill out the form below.
Open to US only.
Deadline for entries will be 12:01 am March 12, 2012.
The winner will be notified by e-mail and will have 48 hours to reply, after which time, another winner will be chosen.
For more information, check the Contest Policies.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Fair Game by Patricia Briggs

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 22:38:00 +0000

Title: Fair Game
Author: Patricia Briggs
Publisher: Ace
Pub. Date: March 6, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher

They say opposites attract. And in the case of werewolves Anna Latham and Charles Cornick, they mate. The son-and enforcer-of the leader of the North American werewolves, Charles is a dominant alpha. While Anna, an omega, has the rare ability to calm others of her kind.

Now that the werewolves have revealed themselves to humans, they can't afford any bad publicity. Infractions that could have been overlooked in the past must now be punished, and the strain of doing his father's dirty work is taking a toll on Charles.

Nevertheless, Charles and Anna are sent to Boston, when the FBI requests the pack's help on a local serial killer case. They quickly realize that not only the last two victims were werewolves-all of them were. Someone is targeting their kind. And now Anna and Charles have put themselves right in the killer's sights...

Review

Fair Game is the third full-length novel in the Alpha and Omega series. I was first introduced to Patrica Briggs with her Mercedes Thompson series, and was blown away by her writing, world-building, and fell totally in love with her characters. So, naturally, I read the Alpha and Omega series, as it is a spin-off of Mercy Thompson.

Fair Game is definitely my favourite Alpha and Omega book so far. I really enjoyed Anna’s character and connected with Charles more than any other book. The struggles that they were facing in their relationship made me antsy as I continued reading. At times, Anna’s age really shows and she can act a little immaturely, but I was impressed with how she handled Charles and their faltering relationship. She has a patience that is admirable, compared to so many heroines that come across as whiny and self-pitying.

I really enjoyed the murder mystery aspect of this book. It’s definitely different from the previous books in the series, but it was very interesting. I found the interaction between the human agents and the werewolves fascinating. So often you see the pack dynamics and how the werewolves interact and submit to the Alphas, so I was thought it was neat to see that the humans were affected in much the same way.

I admit, I had the “UNSUB” figured out far before the characters did, but it didn’t take away from the suspense. There was a lot going on in this book, from finding out who the murderer was, to locating one of the victims, and then Anna finding herself in danger. The book grasped my attention from to get-go and kept it straight through to the last word. The pacing was marvellous; it never felt rushed to me.

The ending was a total shock. I grew more and more intrigued by Beauclaire as the story went on, and wanted so badly to know just who he was and what he was capable of. I certainly got my answer at the end of the book, and I can see now what Patty meant when she said this book will have a huge impact on the Mercy Thompson world. I can’t wait to see what is in store for us.

Overall, Fair Game is a great story with a tumultuous romance, an exhilarating murder mystery, and cut-throat action. New characters add a freshness to the series, while the classic characters that we know and love are as enticing as ever. This is a must-read for Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega fans alike.

In My Mailbox (13)

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 17:34:00 +0000

WARNING: In My Mailbox may lead to intolerable envy and gigantic wish lists.

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Bought:

The Darkest Seduction by Gena Showalter

For Review:

Fair Game by Patricia Briggs (Thanks to Penguin Canada)
The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry (ARC) (Thanks to Abrams)
Starters by Lissa Price (Netgalley)