Mercurial Musings

Cover Reveal: Come What May

2013-05-07T18:06:00.001-04:00

Title: Come What May (Heartbeat #2)
Author: Faith Sullivan
Expected release date: June 4, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult

Book Description:

Adam is through with love.

He unravels blaming himself for what happened with Katie.

His final moments with her echo through his nightmares.

She owns him body and soul.

To dull the pain, Adam invites a string of women into his bed. Fueled by alcohol and desperation, his meaningless hook-ups provide little comfort. When he closes his eyes, it's Katie he sees.

The only one who helps to ease his guilt somewhat is Jada. But as his new ambulance partner, Adam considers her off limits. He doesn't want to get seriously involved with anyone, much less her. Yet he can't stop fantasizing about the feel of her caramel skin against his.

Despite his intentions, Adam's bond with Jada deepens as they respond to a series of emotional calls. Their mutual attraction becomes undeniable. But how can he give his heart to Jada when it still belongs to Katie?

The first book of the HEARTBEAT series is only 99 cents on Amazon! </ b>

Click cover to purchase.

Random Things about Author, Faith Sullivan:

- She was so much smarter as a teenager.

- She's a slow reader.

- She tends to like a book more for its characters rather than its plot.

- She appreciates people who are genuinely kind and come through when you need them.

- As a creative person, she's not always fun to live with, but she keeps things interesting.

- She misses the days when all she had was a rotary phone that didn't even have an answering machine.

- She's a child of the 1980s, and a teenager of the 1990s.

- She loves her dog.

- She likes to travel and see new places - when her limited budget allows.

- She thinks in another lifetime she lived in the UK somewhere by the coast.

- When she feels an emotion, she feels it deeply. It's a curse.

- She has an overactive imagination. Writing helps alleviate that problem.

- Nine times out of ten, she believes a good book trumps reality.

Author Links: Blog | Amazon | Twitter | Goodreads

You Don't Want to Miss This: Book Trailer for The Resurrectionist

2013-05-06T19:14:00.002-04:00

Quirk Books' latest offering is a creepy and magnificent tome that combines the lost journals of the mysterious Dr. Spencer Black with a collection of his anatomical drawings. The Resurrectionist is truly unique, an imaginative and beautifully executed tale sure to satisfy sci-fi and fantasy fans. My full-length review will be out later this week. For now, check out this amazing trailer. And be sure to pick up your copy of The Resurrectionist when it hits shelves on May 21.

Book Blast & Giveaway: Have No Shame

2013-04-30T09:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Tuesday! I'm thrilled today to be part of the book blast for Melissa Foster's new book, Have No Shame. This novel looks like an amazing historical romance. Keep reading for an extended synopsis, advanced praise, details of the incredible giveaway, and links to find Melissa Foster online.

The racially-charged prejudice of the deep South forces eighteen-year-old Alison Tillman to confront societal norms—and her own beliefs—when she discovers the body of a hate crime victim, and the specter of forbidden love turns her safe, comfortable world upside down.
Alison has called Forrest Town, Arkansas home for the past eighteen years. Her mother’s Blue Bonnet meetings, her father toiling night and day on the family farm, and the division of life between the whites and the blacks are all Alison knows. The winter of 1967, just a few months before marrying her high school sweetheart, Alison finds the body of a black man floating in the river, and she begins to view her existence with new perspective. The oppression and hate of the south, the ugliness she once was able to avert her eyes from, now demands her attention.When a secretive friendship with a young black man takes an unexpected romantic turn, Alison is forced to choose between her predetermined future, and the dangerous path that her heart yearns for.
Have No Shame is an emotionally compelling coming of age novel featuring a young woman who cannot reconcile the life she wants with the one she’s been brought up to live.Have No Shame will resonate with anyone who has ever fallen in love, and those who have been forced to choose between what they know in their hearts to be true, and what others would like them to believe.

PRAISE FOR HAVE NO SHAME

“A gripping and poignant novel dealing with a subject once taboo in American society.” Hagerstown Magazine

“Have No Shame is a powerful testimony to love and the progressive, logical evolution of social consciousness, with an outcome that readers will find engrossing, unexpected, and ultimately eye-opening.” Midwest Book Review

“A historical novel of love and its triumph, told with a unique and compelling voice.” Bestselling Author Kathleen Shoop

“Have No Shame is a delightful eye opener and a rather poignant book that everyone everywhere should put on their must-read list.” Readers’ Favorite

“A dynamic and heartwarming tale of young love, giving testament to those who struggled so we can live in an integrated society.” Author Rachelle Ayala

“…a stunningly impactful read.” Rabid Reader Reviews

“A book that brings the evilness of racial bigotry to light, through the eyes of one awakening to its reality.” Cindy Smith, avid reader

“[HAVE NO SHAME] Perfectly catches the South at the dawning of the Civil Rights Movement. Melissa Foster takes us on an adventure that twists and turns unpredictably to a tense climax that renders this novel a true page-turner. This is undoubtedly the best novel I have read in a long time.” Roderick Craig Low, Author of ‘Promises of Love and Good Behaviour’

“This book is not just a story; it’s an experience.” Author G.E. Johnson

AMAZON PAGE FOR MELISSA FOSTER

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION:
1 Winner will receive a gift bag full of goodies, including:
-Snacks
- Signed copy of CHASING AMANDA
- Signed copy of COME BACK TO ME
- Signed Copy of MEGAN’S WAY
- 1 Pink Journal
Shipping in US Only, No PO Boxes. Must be 13+ To Enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melissa Foster is the award-winning author of four International bestselling novels. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the Women’s Nest, a social and support community for women, the World Literary Café. When she’s not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa is also a community builder for the Alliance for Independent Authors. She has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine.

Melissa hosts an annual Aspiring Authors contest for children and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa lives in Maryland with her family.

Visit Melissa on The Women’s Nest, Fostering Success, or World Lit Cafe. Melissa enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups, and welcomes an invitation to your event.

Find Melissa Foster on Facebook, Twitter, or her FB Fanpage

Rotten is Actually Quite Sweet

2013-04-25T21:17:00.000-04:00

Jimmer "JD" Dobbs is back in town after spending the summer "upstate." No one believes his story about visiting his aunt, and it's pretty clear that he has something to hide. It's also pretty clear that his mom made a new friend while he was away---a rescued Rottweiler that JD immediately renames Johnny Rotten (yes, after that guy in the Sex Pistols). Both tough but damaged, JD and Johnny slowly learn to trust each other, but their newfound bond is threatened by a treacherous friend and one snap of Johnny's powerful jaws. As the secrets JD has tried so hard to keep under wraps start to unravel, he suddenly has something much bigger to worry about: saving his dog. (via Goodreads)

In high school, I had a dog named Abi. She was the sweetest, smartest, most well-behaved dog I've ever known. And she was a Rottweiler. Now, I have a rescue dog named Samwise and she is every bit as kind, well-behaved, and gentle as Abi was, though Sam is only half rottie. It's fair to say I have a soft spot for the breed, so when I saw JR's drooly, smiley face on the cover of a book, I knew it was a must read. Thanks to the amazing people at Scholastic and NetGalley, I didn't have to wait to devour this gem.

Rotten follows teenage (sort of) delinquent JD's homecoming after having been "upstate" for a while. After a long bus ride and a tense car ride with his mom, JD arrives back home to find a large, skittish, and intimidating dog in his house. The descriptions of the dog (who will later be dubbed Johnny Rotten, or JR) are so vivid that readers will have no problem seeing his big dopey Rottweiler head cock to the side while he raises his eyebrows hoping for a snack.

Both JD and JR are in need of rehabilitation and friendship and they find both in each other. Those of us who are dog people already know the power dogs can have in our lives. JD sees much of himself in JR who was abandoned, given up on, and misunderstood. The two form a powerful bond that is threatened when JD's friends decide to stir up trouble.

And this leads me to my only complaint about the book: the ending. I tore through Rotten at break-neck pace, truly invested in the characters (especially JR) and their story. The writing is vivid and realistic. And then the last few chapters happened. It's not that it's a terrible ending, it's just that it's too tidy, too convenient And while this is a common occurrence in YA, I think it is just a disservice to readers. Though there are certainly other endings that would have made me even angrier, so I won't complain too much.

In all, this was a sweet read, full of hope and redemption (and even a little romance). It's a great weekend read and would appeal to anyone who has ever loved a dog, anyone who's ever felt misunderstood, or anyone who enjoys a good story. Definitely check it out, and then come back and tell me what you thought of the ending.

Happy Reading :)

Books for Boston

2013-04-23T20:36:00.003-04:00

We are helping to spread the word about this amazing book giveaway that was created to aid the victims and families of the 2013 Boston Marathon Attack. Many best-selling authors have donated books in response to this cause. The books are grouped into bundle packs and a winner will be selected randomly through Rafflecopter for each bundle. Visit the book giveaway site for more details and how to enter.

If you do not want to enter to win a bundle, please feel free to make a donation using this link. It will take you directly to the organization donation site.

The auction will run from April 21-April 30th.

Book Bundle #1

In the Name of Love

SIGNED copies of:

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover
Easy by Tammara Webber
Fallen Too Far & Never Too Far by Abbi Glines
FATE by Elizabeth Reyes
CRUSH by Nicole Williams
Disastrous by EL Montes

Book Bundle #2

Everybody Needs Somebody to Love

SIGNED copies of:

Slammed & Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover
What a Boy Wants, What a Boy Needs and Measuring Up by Nyrae Dawn
Sleep My Child by Eyvonna Rains

ebooks: Shark Bait & The Other Fish in the Sea by Jenn Cooksey

Book Bundle #3

Just the Way You Are

SIGNED copies of:

Suddenly Royal by Nichole Chase
Inhale Exhale by Sarah Ross
Destined to Change by Lisa Harley
Music of the Heart by Katie Ashley
Wide Awake by Shelly Crane

Book Bundle #4

I Walk the Line

SIGNED copies of:

The Thoughtless Series by SC Stephens
Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Until I Break by M. Leighton-ARC
Collide by Gail McHugh

Book Bundle #5

Stand By Me

SIGNED copies of:

Love Unscripted & Love Unrehearsed by Tina Reber
Collide by Gail McHugh
Love Em’ or Leave Em’ by Angie Stanton
On The Island byTracey Garvis-Graves

Book Bundle #6

I Wanna Hold Your Hand

SIGNED Copies of:

Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia
Naked, All In by Raine Miller
Collide by Gail McHugh

Signed Wreck Me, ebook Restore Me by JL Mac

Book Bundle #7

Superstition

SIGNED copies of:

Awaken and Avenged by Sarah Ross
Darkride and Crossfire by Laura Bradley Rede

Book Bundle #8

Whole Lotta Love

SIGNED copies of:

Fall Guy & Perfectly Unmatched by Liz Reinhardt
Lengths & Depths by Steph Campbell
Charade & Freeing Carter by Nyrae Dawn
Destined to Change by Lisa Harley
A Prior Engagement by SL Scott

Book Bundle #9

Maybe I'm Amazed

SIGNED copies of:

A Hidden Fire by Elizabeth Hunter
Inescapable, Intuition, Indebted and Incendiary by Amy Bartol

Book Bundle #10

Ain't Too Proud to Beg

SIGNED copies of:

The Proposition and The Proposal by Katie Ashley
Chocolate Lovers Series by Tara Sivec
His Perfect Passion and The Undoing of a Libertine by Raine Miller

Sponsors

The Autumn Review

All the amazing authors who donated their books

Astarte's Wrath: Review, Teaser, and Giveaway

2013-04-17T13:28:00.002-04:00

I've been a fan of Trisha Wolfe since reading her YA-steampunk Destiny's Fire. This year, Wolfe is back with something completely different. Astarte's Wrath is a new-adult, historical, supernatural, romance (is that enough of a mash-up for you?) that totally defies any expectations.

In this, the first installment of the Kythan Guardians series, Wolfe introduces readers to an entirely new mythology. What sets this book apart is it's originality. Set in Alexandria in the time of Cleopatra, the novel introduces us to the Kythan, a race of guardians designed by sorcerers to protect the pharaohs. There are several sub-races within the Kythan, Astarte is a Shythe guardian, assigned to protect Caesarion, the oldest son of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar.

With a backdrop of war (both worldly and otherworldly) Wolfe creates a tale of forbidden love, misplaced loyalty, and epic adventure. I found myself cursing at the pages as characters I had grown to trust let me down, and going back to re-read passages as those I'd been sure were wholly evil did something redemptive. And the ending, oh the ending, definitely not what I expected. Not often can I say that a book kept me guessing all the way to the end, and this book definitely did. There was a little bit of a learning curve at the beginning, and I found myself creating character lists and family trees to keep up with all the new mythology (as I did when I read Game of Thrones) but once I got my bearings, I couldn't stop reading. Astarte's Wrath is fresh and new and definitely a series worth following.

To give you a little taste of what you can expect from Astarte's Wrath, Trisha Wolfe has shared with us a special bonus. Below is the (soon to be) infamous bath scene told from Xarion's point of view. Enjoy.

Star narrows her eyes at me, her full, bottom lip puckering out the way it does when she’s in serious thought—and though I’m listening to her words, all I want to do is trap that bottom lip between my teeth. Nip it and caress it with my tongue.
“I knew you’d say that,” she says. “And that is precisely why I didn’t want you to know.” She raises her hand from my chest and swipes the wet hair from my forehead. Her body subtly moves against me with this action, and it drives me wild. “A possible retaliation by the guardians is just one more weighted burden on top of the many you already carry. You don’t need the added strain. Let me deal with Candra and the Kythan. They’re my kindred. As long as I’m their equal—in both power and status—I can protect you.”
This woman—the woman I’ve loved my entire life—is my protector. She not only guards against physical threats, but watches over my mental wellbeing. But I cannot allow her to carry all my problems alone anymore. I want to be her guardian, to be the one to comfort her when she’s fearful, and protect her against this world.
I tilt my head and suck in a deep breath. “This is why you won’t be with me.” I want her to admit it. If she finally confesses that our titles and her battle with the right course of action have been the only reasons for her kept affections, then by Gods…help me from laying her out on this tile and taking her—making her mine. I won’t stop.
She nods.
“This is the only reason.” She nods again, and that is all the conformation I need. “Then I refuse to let them keep us apart for one more moment.” I grasp her face between my hands and claim her lips with mine.
Her lips are soft and warm as I achingly coax them into a fevered kiss, unable to hold back my desire for her. I had planned for our first kiss many times, imagined it over and over. The way I would caress her lips slowly and lovingly, conveying my affections. But every emotion I have ever felt for Star rushes to the surface all at once, and I can’t slow. I won’t. I won’t allow her a moment to question our actions, to reconsider us. I’m going to kiss her senseless—kiss the reason right out of her infuriatingly rational head.

Ready for more? Check out the giveaway below for your chance to win an Amazon gift card (which you can use to purchase your own copy of Astarte's Wrath) or a signed bookmark.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Help Trisha and the Tuff Girl Legion get to 50 reviews on Amazon for the full scene release of the “Bath Scene” on Trisha’s blog! You can bookmark the bonus material here!

Bio: Trisha Wolfe is the author of the YA Steampunk DESTINY'S FIRE (O mnific Publishing), the NA Historical/Supernatural ASTARTE'S WRATH, and the upcoming YA Utopian FIREBLOOD from Spencer Hill Press, October 2013. Her NA Dark Fantasy OF SILVER AND BEASTS available May 2013.

She’s the creator of YA Bound, a promotional site for the Young Adult genre. Also a member of SCWW and The Apocalypsies. Check out www.TrishaWolfe.com for more on her books and bonus material. Follow Trisha on Twitter @TrishWolfe and like her Facebook page for updates.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Cover Reveal and Excerpt: Skin Deep

2013-04-07T13:11:00.003-04:00

I'm in love with the cover for T. G. Ayer's newest book, Skin Deep. This urban fantasy releases April 30, introducing readers to a fantastical world full of shifters and wraiths. The first of Ayer's new Dark World series, Skin Deep is sure to satisfy fans of the supernatural. T. G. has provided us with a snippet of the book, just enough to whet our appetites:

"The cold cocking of guns set my body on fire.
It also did something worse. With mortal fear gripping me, my imminent Change wasn't taking second place anymore. My body churned the fear and my Panther grasped at the visceral power of the adrenalin in my veins.
I ran.
A gunshot echoed around the garden, the sound ping-ponging off the aging brick walls of the surrounding apartment buildings.
I gasped as a blast of searing pain slammed into me.
As a bullet buried itself deep within my shoulder."

Check out the extended description here:

Panther Shape-shifter Kailin Odel just wants to be normal. Leaving her clan, and her Alpha responsibilities, to live with her grandmother in Chicago had been the best thing for her. Only then did she discover her ability to track and kill the soul sucking undead creatures called Wraiths. Now she protected the humans, and had something to be proud of.
But, when she discovers the body of a murdered shape shifter, Kailin has to come to terms with the reality that her own kind are just as vulnerable as the humans.
The closer Kailin gets to the killer the more she has to face the intricacies of her people. When the time comes can she accept who and what her real purpose is?

Ready for more?

Here's everything you need to know about the novel:

Title: SKIN DEEP

Series: The DARKWORLD Series

Volume: 1

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Publication Date: 30th APRIL 2013

Format: Paperback, E-Book & Hardback

ISBN-10: TBA

Publisher: Infinite Ink

Pages: 390

Add on Goodreads

Be sure to check this out at the end of the month; it's the perfect read for a cool spring evening. If you can't wait until April 30th, check out T. G. Ayer's other books on her Goodreads page.

Happy Reading!

It's a Release Party!

2013-04-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Unexpected
Author: Faith Sullivan
Expected release date: April 2, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Category: New Adult
Ebook available at: Kindle ($1.99)
Paperback available at: Amazon ($6.99)

Book Description:

September 11, 2001.

A day that forever changes the destiny of college overachiever, Michelle Rhodes.

Shattered, confused and alone, no one understands the trauma consuming her until she meets Connor Donnelly.

A native New Yorker, he believes he can aid in getting her life back on track. But what if he's even more broken inside?

Offering her a chance at a fresh start, Connor convinces Michelle to move in with him. Hiring her to waitress at his bar, their mutual attraction only complicates matters.

As more details surrounding Connor's past emerge, Michelle uncovers the full magnitude of the loss he's trying to hide. Refusing to let her feelings for him hinder his recovery, she makes a decision that winds up hurting them both.

By sacrificing her heart, Michelle thinks she is helping Connor come to terms with his grief. Little does she know, Connor is gambling everything for the sake of having a future with her.

What happens is truly unexpected.

Excerpt:

Chapter Six

“W...what?” I stutter despite myself.

He gives me a crooked grin. “All night, I’ve been freezing my ass off out here waiting for you. I didn’t think you were gonna show.”

If his first remark didn’t floor me, the second leaves me utterly confused. “Whoa, slow down, buddy. How do you even know my name?”

Again, he laughs. “Does it really matter? I’m here to talk some sense into you.”

The dimples in his cheeks distract me. He has such a cute smile. But I’m not letting him off that easily. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m done with New York.”

“Really? You could’ve fooled me.”

“And why’s that?”

“Because you should never run from something that scares you.” His hazel eyes catch the moonlight as they bore into mine. “And this time, you won’t be alone. I’ll be with you.”

This whole conversation is getting way too intense. Standing up, I wrap my arms around myself. I have to get out of here. This guy is crazy.

I jump as the front door opens and my ex-boyfriend Tony emerges, giving me a hopeful look. We broke up after our senior year. He understood I wasn’t planning on sticking around, so I set him free. He met someone else over the summer, and I only talked to him once on the phone when I got back. But with the way he’s looking at me now, I can tell he feels sorry for me, and that’s something I won’t tolerate.

Inching closer to the steps, I attempt to play it cool. “Oh hi, Tony. It’s good seeing you. I wish I could stay and chat, but I was just leaving.”

“I don’t think so.”

I whirl around. That’s it. Who does this guy think he is? “Listen, you little...” I begin, but Tony interrupts by grabbing my arm.

“Michelle, calm down. There’s no need to freak out,” Tony says, slowly releasing his grip on me. “Do you remember me telling you about Sal, my roommate at school, the one from New York?” I nod, but I can care less at this moment. “Well, this is his older brother, Connor. I kind of told him all about you, and I thought it’d be a good idea if you two met.”

I shake my head and sigh. “So you made him wait out here alone in the cold?”

I can tell Tony’s nervous. He’s running his fingers through his hair. “I thought you’d bolt otherwise.”

“She nearly did,” Connor chimes in.

Frustrated, I slam my fist on the porch railing. “The both of you just stop it, right now! I knew it was a bad idea to come here. I don’t need some random guy from New York giving me advice on how to live my life.”

Pushing off the swing, Connor gets to his feet. “Well, what are you doing with your life then? What’s plan B?”

I advance toward him. “I don’t have a plan B, asshole. I don’t have all the answers, but apparently you do.”

Connor closes the gap between us. “I wish I did, but I think you can figure it out. You were brave enough to take on the big, bad city once. Why not try it again under different circumstances?”

Tony clears his throat, and for a moment, I forgot he was there. “Michelle, Connor owns a bar downtown. He thought you could go back and work for him. Give it another go.”

“I’m no bartender,” I retort.

“You sure aren’t,” Connor fires back.

Tony holds up his hands in an attempt to keep the peace. “Just hear him out, Michelle.”

“Fine,” I say glaring up at him.

“Go on, Connor. Tell her about it,” Tony urges, knowing I may flee at any moment.

Connor’s eyes find mine again, but I look away as he starts speaking. “My family’s owned a pub on Beekman Street for years. Not too long ago, my dad had a heart attack, so I took over. I can offer you a waitressing job plus room and board above the bar for as long as you want it.”

For a minute, I stop and consider the possibility. It actually doesn’t sound that bad, and it’d be a welcome change from my original intention of becoming the next film school prodigy. It would be fresh start, and I wouldn’t be alone. But can I really go back there?

Sensing my trepidation, Connor pats me on the shoulder. “Listen, I know it’s not what you imagined. Tony told me how smart you are and how you were hoping to make it big at NYU. I can understand how working in a bar sounds like a letdown after that. But honestly, I think it’d be good for you.”

“And why do you care about what happens to me?” I ask, raising my eyes to his.

“Because I was there that day, and so were you.”

About the author, Faith Sullivan:

I really hate talking about myself. My goal is to have the shortest author bio imaginable. I would much rather have a conversation with my readers.

Are you able to escape within my pages?
Does my writing make you feel something?
Are there characters that you can't get out of your head?

Let me know!

Author Links: Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saying Goodbye to The Chemical Garden

2013-03-17T20:17:00.002-04:00

Saying goodbye to a series you love is never easy; but I can think of no more perfect end to Lauren DeStefano's Chemical Garden Trilogy than Sever. Far from predictable, Sever is a bittersweet end to a series full of twists and turns. The beauty of Sever is that it weaves together pieces from Wither and Fever, closing all the doors and turning off the lights on any unanswered questions. Despite its somber tone, Sever leaves readers with an overwhelming sense of hope and optimism.

DeStefano's writing is lush and poetic as always, bringing beauty to ugliness that is Rhine's world. We are introduced to a new setting in this book, one in stark contrast to the sinister chaos of the carnival from Fever. Rhine finds herself staying with Reed, a mad scientist of sorts, a kind and eccentric man who spends his days tinkering with defunct technology. Reed's home is cluttered with experiments and dust, but it provides Rhine with a sanctuary, a place to plan how to reunite with Rowan and avoid Vaughn. The hope that Rhine finds in this dreary place is an apt metaphor for the tone of novel. Equal parts sinister and sweet, Sever is never quite what you expect it to be. Old notions of who characters are will be turned upside down as the line between good and evil becomes muddied. Characters are faced with impossible decisions and unpleasant truths, ending in life-shattering consequences.

As the mystery of Rhine's past unfolds and we begin to see how all the pieces fit together, one revelation after another shining light on the true horror of this new world. The politics surrounding The Disease and the power struggles in the new government feel eerily real, making the plot even more terrifying. DeStefano leads readers through an intricate web of betrayal and duplicity, culminating in a heartbreaking and satisfying climax.

Sever is the perfect end to the roller coaster of emotions that is The Chemical Garden trilogy. I'm thankful for writers like Lauren DeStefano, who share their worlds and imaginations with us, the readers.

Nightmare Affair Review and Giveaway

2013-03-02T11:56:00.003-05:00

The Nightmare Affair is an exciting and unique story -- a little mystery, a little supernatural, and a little romance blend together beautifully to create one incredible tale.

What I liked most about this story was its unique take on the supernatural. Mindee Arnett has taken familiar mythological creatures like sirens, werewolves, mermaids, and fairies and has put them in an entirely unique setting. Dusty Everhart is a teenager who has recently come into her powers as a Nightmare. We first meet her as she is on a late-night feeding, creeping into a bedroom window to enter into and gain energy from the dreams of sleepers. But this night changes her life forever. She finds herself in the dreams of Eli, her secret crush, and what she sees is a murder scene. The thing is, Eli, being an ordinary, shouldn't be able to see any of this because it takes place in the realm of the magic kind. Through a series of spoilery events, Eli ends up enrolling in Dusty's school, the mysterious (and awesome) Arkwell Academy and he and Dusty have to team up to help solve the mystery.

Arkwell Academy itself feels like an additional character in the story. Arnett creates a world that is simultaneously fantastical and believable. No detail was overlooked, and I totally lost myself in the richly detailed setting. Those moments when I had to leave my reading to deal with real world stuff left me feeling a little sad to leave this new world.

I also loved the mystery of the story, I never really knew who to trust and suspected most characters of nefarious deeds at different points throughout the book. Additionally, it was refreshing to explore the world of a Nightmare. Supernatural beings are always fun to read about, but in a world dominated by vampires and werewolves, if was great to explore a new mythology. Dusty's powers reminded me at times a little of Freddy Krueger (Dusty even makes a joke about this in her narration). Speaking of characters, there is such an amazing cast of characters. One of my favorites is Selene, Dusty's roommate who is both a siren and a feminist. What a clever juxtaposition of elements.

There is definitely a lot to love about this book, and it's hard for me to talk about it without gushing or giving away all the good parts. So I will just leave you by saying, "go, read this now!"

Don't forget to enter the giveaway below for your chance to win one of two signed copies.

About the Author:

Mindee Arnett lives on a horse farm in Ohio with her husband, two kids, a couple of dogs, and an inappropriate number of cats. She’s addicted to jumping horses and telling tales of magic, the macabre, and outer space. She has far more dreams than nightmares.

Find Mindee on twitter or her blog.

The Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks to Shane at Itching for Books for hosting the blog tour and giveaway.

Cover Reveal and Giveaway: Olivia Twisted

2013-03-01T17:47:00.001-05:00

Today, I'm happy to be part of the cover reveal for Vivi Barnes' new novel, Olivia Twisted. It's a beautiful cover, hinting at romance and mystery.

In addition to this awesome cover, I have a short excerpt to share with you, just enough to get you hooked.

Olivia:He tilts my chin up so my eyes meet his, his thumb brushing lightly across my lips. I close my eyes. I know Z is trouble. I know that being with him is going to get me into trouble. I don’t care.
At least at this moment, I don’t care.

Tossed from foster home to foster home, Olivia’s seen a lot in her sixteen years. She’s hardened, sure, though mostly just wants to fly under the radar until graduation. But her natural ability with computers catches the eye of Z, a mysterious guy at her new school. Soon, Z has brought Liv into his team of hacker elite—break into a few bank accounts, and voila, he drives a motorcycle. Follow his lead, and Olivia might even be able to escape from her oppressive foster parents. As Olivia and Z grow closer, though, so does the watchful eye of Bill Sykes, Z’s boss. And he’s got bigger plans for Liv…
Z:I can picture Liv’s face: wide-eyed, trusting. Her smooth lips that taste like strawberry Fanta.
It was just a kiss. That’s all. She’s just like any other girl.
Except that she’s not.

Thanks to Z, Olivia’s about to get twisted

Find out more about the book on Goodreads and Amazon

And don't forget to enter the awesome giveaway below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Watcher: Trailer Reveal & Giveaway

2013-02-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

Author Lisa Voisin’s The Watcher will be releasing exactly one month from today, on March 4th, 2013 and I'm super excited to be able to share a short excerpt and to be a part of the book’s awesome trailer reveal!

There is also a giveaway for a pre-order copy of The Watcher for US/Canada residents. Be sure to enter below.

The Watcher is author Lisa Voisin’s debut novel and is a book Eileen Cook says, “…is sure to keep readers turning the pages late into the night.”

After reading the excerpt and viewing the trailer, I'm definitely excited about this release. To help you decide for yourself, both are below. And also, can we just talk about that gorgeous cover?

About the Book

Title: THE WATCHER
Author: Lisa Voisin
Publisher: InkSpell Publishing
Publication date: March 4, 2013
Pages: 508
Format: Available to pre-order in Paperback
Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Inkspell | Kobo

Millennia ago, he fell from heaven for her.
Can he face her without falling again?

Fascinated with ancient civilizations, seventeen-year-old Mia Crawford dreams of becoming an archaeologist. She also dreams of wings—soft and silent like snow—and somebody trying to steal them.

When a horrible creature appears out of thin air and attacks her, she knows Michael Fontaine is involved, though he claims to know nothing about it. Secretive and aloof, Michael evokes feelings in Mia that she doesn’t understand. Images of another time and place haunt her. She recognizes them—but not from any textbook.

About the Author

Canadian-born author Lisa Voisin spent her childhood daydreaming and making up stories; but it was her love of reading and writing in her teens that drew her to Young Adult fiction.

When she's not writing, you'll find her meditating or hiking in the mountains to counter the side effects of drinking too much coffee.

She lives in Vancouver, B.C. with her fiance and their two cats.

Find her: Twitter | Facebook | Website | Blog

Instead of saying more, he brushed his fingertips along my cheek, and his halo glimmered. I could hear the waves slapping the rocks behind us, the wind driving them in. That same wind whipped against my skin, but the touch of his hand on my face was all I could think about. It sent a current through both of us and filled me with longing for something I wasn’t sure I understood.

“I’m sorry.” He stepped back and shoved his hands into his pockets as the light around him faded. “You don’t know what it’s like. Being near you now, remembering those moments we had…” His hair blew into his eyes, but this time he didn’t move. I wanted to brush it back, but I didn’t know how he’d react. Would touching him be bad?

“You want to know who you were?” he asked. “You may look different, but you’re the same. I look into your eyes and see you.” He took in a deep breath, fixing his attention on the horizon. I’d seen and heard so much now that the logical part of my brain had long since given up arguing with me. I could feel what he was saying was true. All of it.

ONE pre-order copy of THE WATCHER by Lisa Voisin open to US/Canada.
Must be 13 or older to enter.
ONE entry per household.
Winner will be announced in the Rafflecopter and contacted by email.
Winner will have 48 hours after notification to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Enter below... a Rafflecopter giveaway

Like I said, I'm super excited for this book and happy to be part of Rockstar Book Tours reveal and giveaway. So, what do you guys think?

Happy Book Birthday to Victoria Schwab's The Archived

2013-01-21T18:54:00.001-05:00

Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.
Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.
Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often-violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.
Being a Keeper isn't just dangerous-it's a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da's death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

Victoria Schwab's mind is full of fantastical worlds, complex characters, and beautiful words. How lucky for us that she continues to share those words, characters, and worlds with us. In The Archived, we are introduced to Mackenzie Bishop, a sixteen year old who is dealing at once with a tragic loss and the responsibility of maintaining the balance between this world and the next. In an attempt to start life anew after the death of her little brother, Ben, Mac's parents have moved the family to the mysterious Coronado hotel. The once regal hotel, now an apartment building, houses many mysterious and mysterious occupants. Functioning as a character itself, The Coronado is a shadow of its former glory, shrouded in dust and suffering from lack of upkeep and mirrors the sense of loss and loneliness Mackenzie is feeling. All is not sadness and gloom, however. Mackenzie is kept busy by higher than normal volume of Histories that need tending, a mystery involving The Coronado itself, the snarky yet handsome Wesely Ayers, and the David Tennant as the tenth Doctor-esque Roland.

The Archived starts off at a simmer, allowing readers time to meet all the essential characters (and every character is essential) and to process the workings of The Narrows and The Archive. Schwab wastes no time in speeding things up and creates a sense of urgency that kept me turning pages late into the night. This is a character driven novel and no character is wasted. One of my favorites is Nix, the surly, cookie-loving resident of apartment 7E. I'm positive there is much more to Nix's story than we've been given here and I'm hopeful we'll see more of him in book 2. Also endearing is Roland, who is sort of a mix of Giles and The Doctor (I have to think that Schwab was having some geeky fun with him). Roland is one of the Librarians and is charged with helping train and guide Mackenzie. A mentor in red Chuck Taylors, Roland is not against bending the rules when necessary but he does try to impart to Mac the seriousness of her job, especially now, when it seems things are going wrong more often than not. Wesley Ayers is the first friend Mackenzie makes in The Coronado. Wes is snarky and fun, sports spiked black hair and guyliner, and loves teasing Mac. Readers will enjoy getting to know Wesley, he's such a lovable character.

Full of mystery and adventure The Archived is, on the surface, a great adventure story. Beneath that, though, is a tale of loss and rebuilding that leaves readers feeling hopeful. Also worth noting is that while this is the first book of a series, it lives entirely as its own story. I am excited to see what the future holds for all these amazing characters though.

Because I loved this book so much and I want you all to love it as well, I'm giving away one copy (either hard copy or Kindle copy). Just follow the directions on the Rafflecopter widget below. Sorry international readers, but I can only ship a hard copy to US/Canada.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and happy reading!

Double Cover Reveal from Entangled Publishing

2013-01-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

I'm happy to be part of Entangled Publishing's cover reveal for two new additions to their Bliss imprint. Today, we're featuring covers for two sweet new romances, Falling for Her Fiance and Luck of the Draw. Bliss focuses on the romance, so 50 Shades this is not; but if it's romance you seek, here are two titles that just might be what you're looking for.

About Falling for Her Fiance: Danielle and Wes have been best friends since college, and so when Wes needs a date for his sister’s wedding and Dani needs a partner for her company’s retreat, they devise the perfect plan: a fake engagement to get through both events unscathed. But neither expects the feelings that develop. Putting their friendship on the line is dangerous, but so is passing up a chance at true love…
Buy Links: Amazon Barnes & Noble

About Luck of the Draw: Rowan McKinley isn’t looking for one wild night while vacationing in Vegas, but she gets it anyway when she meets professional poker player—and professional ladies’ man—Breck Wilder. Breck’s easygoing charm and lighthearted banter draw in the reserved Rowan, and though she’s always dreamed of the kind of forever love her best friends Sidney and Kade share, she’ll settle for one night with the charismatic player.the door, he’s floored. Breck’s rolling-stone lifestyle and ill-fated history with women means he’s not interested in anything long-term. But the longer he stays at the B&B, the more he considers dropping the poker face and putting all his cards on the table…for Rowan. After their crazy one-night stand, Breck never expected to see the mysterious redhead again. So when he shows up at a Shamrock Falls B&B looking to get away for a few weeks and Rowan answers
Buy Links:Amazon Barnes & Noble

Happy Reading!

Monday Musings: Reading Ruts

2013-01-14T22:26:00.000-05:00

Lately, I've found myself in sort of a reading rut. It's not for lack of books that I want to read, it's that none have really captured my attention enough for me to focus. Part of the issue is that this is a particularly busy time at work, but also it's sometimes hard to balance my reading life with all the other things I want to do. And my TBR pile is daunting--so many choices! I find myself so overwhelmed by all the books I want to read that I can't focus on just one. This hast to change.

While I'm not a resolution person, I think it's going to be necessary for me to be more disciplined so I can tear through my to be read pile. After my evening workout, it will be reading time. Time to turn off the tv, snuggle up with the pups, and get to the books. Once I'm in a book that I love, the outside world just disappears, so the next step is finding the book that will get me out of my rut.

So, any suggestions? What book have you been unable to put down recently? What do you do to get yourself out of a rut?

Coming Soon: Book To Movie

2013-01-11T19:59:00.000-05:00

For my first Fun-Day Friday post, I want to share trailers for three book to movie adaptations I'm super excited about.

Les Miserables -- December 2012

Okay, this isn't a 2013 release, but I did finally see it last week and it was incredible. If you haven't had a chance to read Victor Hugo's book, I highly recommend it. The stage adaptation of Les Mis is one of the most successful musicals ever, for good reason. While the French Revolution does not seem a likely topic for song, the crux of Les Mis is the humanity and the lengths we will go to in desperate times. At times gut-wrenching and heart-breaking; the story also manages to inspire. This is a long film, to be sure, but I loved every minute of the escape it provided and left feeling hopeful.

The Great Gatsby --May 2013

Baz Luhrman. Leonardo Dicaprio. Jay-Z. This is either going to be awesome or awful, there will be no in-between. F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel of the American Dream captures the excess and indulgences of the upper crust in the 1920s and highlights the sharp contrast between the haves and have-nots. It is a tragedy and a love story and a book that has become a staple of high school classrooms everywhere. While I didn't love Gatsby in high school, a re-read shortly after college let me see what all the fuss was about and finally see what I had been missing. The trailers for this adaptation tell me that, if nothing else, director Baz Luhrman has done a great job capturing the visual spectacle that is Gatsby. Add Leo DiCaprio who, I'm fairly certain, has never turned in a bad performance and Jay-Z on score and I'm sure this will at least be entertaining.

Beautiful Creatures -- February 2012

Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl's sweeping southern Gothic is lush and dark and beautiful. I'm re-reading the series in anticipation of the movie. The casting seems dead-on and the trailer sucked me in just like the first page of the book. This may be the release I'm most excited about this year.

What about you--what books are you looking forward to seeing on the big-screen in 2013?

Review: Unraveling Isobel

2013-01-09T21:30:00.002-05:00

Isobel’s life is falling apart. Her mom just married some guy she met on the Internet only three months before and is moving them to his sprawling, gothic mansion off the coast of nowhere. Goodbye, best friend. Goodbye, social life. Hello, icky new stepfather, crunchy granola town, and unbelievably good-looking, officially off-limits stepbrother. But on her first night in her new home, Isobel starts to fear that it isn’t only her life that’s unraveling—her sanity might be giving way too. Because either Isobel is losing her mind, just like her artist father did before her, or she’s seeing ghosts. Either way, Isobel’s fast on her way to being the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons

Snarky. Artistic. A little crazy. All these words describe Isobel, narrator of Eileen Cook's Unraveling Isobel. This is the first of Eileen Cook's novels that I've read, something I intend to remedy this year. I devoured this novel on the flight from Las Vegas to New Jersey. Part suspense, part Gothic horror, part romance, there is something in here for everyone.

The narration drew me in from page one. Isobel's voice is so authentic and I love her snarky sense of humor. She is snarky and bookish and artsy and may have inherited her father's schizophrenia. Her life is thrown into turmoil when her mother remarries, moving her to a vast manor with her new stepfather and handsome, albeit standoffish, stepbrother. While acclimating to her new environment, Isobel starts seeing ghosts and realizes that there maybe reasons to dislike her stepfather beyond his pretentiousness and phoniness. She begins investigating and quickly uncovers a local mystery that has layers upon layers. This was a page-turner, I loved being lost in the story and uncovering bits and pieces at a time. I also loved the little bit of ambiguity left at the ending, just enough to keep the mysterious feel without forgetting to tie up all the loose ends. Unraveling Isobel is a great escape, I look forward to reading more of Eileen Cook's novels.

Too Much Testing?

2013-01-08T20:12:00.001-05:00

Standardized testing continues to be a controversial subject in education. On the one hand, it is necessary to assess what students are learning and the effectiveness of instruction. On the other, it is impossible for a single test to accurately reflect the complexities of the education process. One test cannot show the student who hated to write at the beginning of the school year who progressed to independently constructing complete paragraphs. One test cannot show the student who never enjoyed reading who finally found her niche and read five books outside of school this year. One test cannot reflect all those little moments in the classroom that add up to huge individual gains. Further, testing tends to focus only on the subjects of English/Language Arts and Math, thereby ignoring entire subjects in which students may excel. In many districts, standardized test prep courses have taken the places of academic electives like creative writing, public speaking, journalism, and poetry.

Increasingly, student test scores are being tied to teacher evaluations. Which leads to the dilemma of how to assess teachers who teach untested subjects. Unfortunately, the answer is typically to implement more standardized testing. The problem with this is manifold, but primarily rests in the fact that most careers our students will have upon leaving college will require them to be able to think creatively and outside the box. They are jobs in the fields of science and technology that will require students to be able to imagine and create, not just regurgitate rote information and memorized facts.

Of course, this is a complex dilemma, one that cannot be sufficiently summarized in a short blog entry. My hope is to encourage discourse. We know the problems with standardized testing, but we also know it is necessary to measure student progress. What then are our options? If not standardized tests, then what? I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts.

New Year's Musings

2013-01-07T21:29:00.000-05:00

It's 2013 and, as with every new year, there is the feeling of having a clean slate, of being able to start fresh and move forward without the baggage of the past year. 2012 was a trying year for me and taking a break from the blog gave me some much needed time to refocus and get caught up on real world "stuff." It also gave me some time to think about where I wanted to take the blog in 2013. When I started blogging, I wasn't really sure what my focus would be--I jumped in and saw where things took me. It has been an adventure to say the least. I've met some amazing people and have had some wonderful opportunities as a result. This year, I want to take the lessons of the past almost two years Mercurial Musings has been live and move forward in a, hopefully, better direction with a bit more purpose.

My first love has always been books, and that won't change; but books are certainly not my only interest. Trying to fill each day with a book review or the like got to be a challenge because I often felt like a duplicate of what is already out there. I toyed with the idea of starting a teacher blog, but know that running two blogs is a massive undertaking; one that just wouldn't fit in my schedule. I also love movies and gaming and wanted to be able to talk about those things, as well. And well, I already have the perfect title for such an eclectic mix of stuff, and that is what I think I originally set out to do. So today I'm unveiling my overhaul.

Moving forward, I am going to (more or less) follow a weekly schedule.

Monday Musings -- a weekly kick-off post of whatever is on my mind (see, I've already started this one!)

Teacher Tuesdays -- books in education, CCCS discussions, things that worked (or didn't) in my classroom and other education musings

Mid-Week Review--Wednesdays will be review days (

Wild-Card Thursdays -- Author spotlights, extra reviews, teasers & trailers; it won't always be the same, but it will always be book-related.

Friday Fun-Day--Movie or Game Reviews; sometimes new releases, sometimes throw-backs.

Of course, I may need to change orders some weeks to accommodate blog tours, giveaway hops, and other fun things; but I think having a schedule will make it easier for me to keep up without feeling overwhelmed. I'm excited about the changes and am looking forward to a fantastic 2013.

What about you--what changes are you making in the new year?

December Musings

2012-12-09T14:56:00.001-05:00

November was a crazy month and a busy month and an awful month and a wonderful month. There was Sandy, that was awful. There was NCTE, that was wonderful. There was school, that was both crazy and busy (and at times wonderful, other times awful). I didn't really realize it while everything was going on, but I was in desperate need of a break from EVERYTHING. And so I took one. I read. I caught up on shows that had been sitting on my DVR. I took up yoga. I refocused and took stock of my world.

And now, I'm back. I may not have the largest blog, but I do have some pretty awesome followers. There are many reviews in the works as well as some changes ahead for 2013. I'm excited about the future of the blog and am feeling energized and recharged. More on that later. For now, I wish you all a wonderful holiday season and a peaceful 2013.

Triple Furry Wishes Holiday Card

Create personalized holiday cards online at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

November Musings

2012-11-15T14:34:00.000-05:00

Apologies for being away from the blog for so long. Sandy came along and took away my power for quite a while. We are thankful that we had only minor damage to the exterior of our home, others were not so lucky. The devastation is heartbreaking, thousands of families have been displaced, rebuilding is going to take time. If you have the time or the resources, the shore still needs help in the form of donations and volunteers to help clean up. Follow this link for a list of ways you can help. You can also follow this link to order awesome "Restore the Shore" Ts and hoodies with all proceeds going to the relief effort.

In less serious, but very exciting news, I'm in Las Vegas this week for the annual NCTE convention. This is especially exciting for me as I'm presenting with three amazing ladies from across the US on the topic of student choice in the classroom. If you're attending the convention, we'd love to see you--we are presenting on Friday--Session D33.

I have been reading, and once I'm back to my regular schedule, the blog will be back to normal with reviews, interviews, giveaways, and bookish musings.

Bloggers Dressed in Blood Week Four Wrap-Up

2012-10-28T21:29:00.000-04:00

My Hurricane Sandy preparedness kit

Hurricane Sandy is on her way and I've been so busy bringing in outdoor furniture and preparing to hunker down that I completely forgot to post my Bloggers Dressed in Blood wrap up! So, let me say that this week has been eventful and it's almost time to go trick-or-treating (unless you live in one of the many towns in NJ that has already cancelled trick-or-treating because of Sandy). There are more thrills and chills coming up next week. Also, I'm extending my giveaway of The Shining book & DVD to October 31--follow this link to enter.

Stay safe out there everyone and have a happy Halloween :)

While you're here, read on to find out how you can enter to win a Kindle Touch!

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Welcome to Bloggers Dressed In Blood! A month long celebration of scary, creepy, supernatural awesomeness! I'm hosting this event along with Steph, Kim, and Kate. Every day during the month of October, one of us will have something awesome for you! And you can join in the fun too! Participate in our event and you can win fabulous prizes!

What can you win?
The prize pack includes a Kindle Touch and several scary books from our personal collections (The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson, Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman, and Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, a few old school RL Stine books. As well as Evercrossed, Mercy, In the Arms of Stone Angels, Jane-Emily, and The Amanda Project: Revealed), a dozen bloody fingers, bookmark swag, and a bag of candy corn. We reserve the right to add more prizes.

How can you enter?
Every qualifying post you enter into the linky below will earn you one entry. You have until 11:59pm on Tuesday October 30, 2012 to enter your link into the linky. A random winner will be chosen and announced on Wednesday, October 31, 2012. There is no limit to how many times you can enter.

What counts as a qualifying post?
Any post that celebrates scary books AND links back to this event using the Bloggers Dressed In Blood button will qualify. This can include reviews of scary books, author spotlights of your favorite horror writers, lists of the books that scarred you as a child... or anything else you can think of. If you aren't sure e-mail one of us or leave a comment! You can find the code for the button at the bottom of this post or on the side of any of our blogs.

Terms and Conditions
Giveaway ends October 30, 2012 at 11:59 PM. Open to US addresses only. Entrants must be 13 years of age or older and anyone under the age of 18 must have a parent's permission before entering. A random winner will be selected from the linky using random.org and will have 48 hours after notification to respond before a second winner is drawn. The prize is listed above and we reserve the right to substitute comparable items at our discretion. No substitutions at winner's request. The winner will need to provide a valid US mailing address and this information will be used only to send out the prize.

The Linky:

Review: Ten by Gretchen McNeil

2012-10-25T06:00:00.000-04:00

from Goodreads: It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives—an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school’s most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury.
But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.
Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn’t scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?

Let me begin by saying I have a weakness for somewhat campy teen slasher films: Prom Night, Scream, Black Christmas, the list goes on. Gretchen McNeil's Ten has all the elements of a great slasher film. There is angst, duplicity, and tons of other high school drama. All the usual cast of characters are present--the jock, the bookish girl, the high-maintenance girl, the party people. It all seems so run-of-the-mill, but Gretchen McNeil is able to lure readers in with her story telling.

It all begins at a party (doesn't it always?) on a semi-private island and no one's parents know where the kids really are because they've all given alibis. What could possibly go wrong? Cue the stormy weather, the power outages, and the mysterious deaths. One by one Meg's friends are being murdered and the survivors are turning against each other quickly. It seems like everyone on the island is hiding something, who can we trust? Will we figure out the killer before Meg does?

There are plenty of twists to keep you turning pages well into the night, I was hooked from page one. McNeil definitely knows how to create suspense and certainly how to end a chapter to leave readers wanting more. She has taken a group of otherwise stock characters and created a group of teens that readers will be cheering for and wishing ill against, as there are certainly some unlikable people in the mix. The other cool thing is that along the veins of I Know What You Did Last Summer, there is enough doubt surrounding each of the characters that at some point, you will suspect pretty much each of them.

Of course, there is a delicious twist at the end. All in all, a great Halloween read, sure to keep you reading past your bed time.

While you're here--have you entered to win a copy of The Shining, a big box of books, and a Kindle? Follow this link for details.

Bloggers Dressed in Blood Week Four

2012-10-22T04:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Bloggers Dressed in Blood Week Four!

It's week four of our Bloggers Dressed in Blood Extravaganza, that means Halloween is right around the corner! Here is what's going on this week:

Monday (today) I'll be sharing the week four mini-challenge with you, keep reading for details.

Tuesday - Kim will share a creeptastic book review

Wednesday - Kate will have another scary book review

Thursday - I'll be back with yet another spooky book review

Friday - Steph will have our last review of the week

Saturday - Kim shares her list of scary books for people who hate being scared

Sunday - I'll announce the winner of this week's mini-challenge

Be sure to check out all the awesomeness this week.

Now -- for this week's challenge:

What's your favorite scary movie (that started as a book)?

Last week, I posted some of my favorite scary movies, one I didn't mention was the film adaptation of Stephen King's The Shining. The creepy twins, Jack Nicholson's "Here's Johnny," it all gave me the creeps. It's no secret that creepy books don't always make creepy movies; so tell me, what book that sends shivers down your spine has an equally creeptastic film?

Leave you response in the comments section, or make it a blog post and leave me the link in the comments. What can you win?

In honor of my love of Stephen King, I'll be sending the winner a copy of both the book & DVD of The Shining.

Winners will be picked by Random.org and announced Sunday. (Must be at least 18 to enter)

While you're here, read on to find out how you can enter to win a Kindle Touch!

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Bloggers Dressed in Blood Week 3 Review: Poe's Children

2012-10-19T01:00:00.000-04:00

From Goodreads: From the incomparable master of horror and suspense comes an electrifying collection of contemporary literary horror, with stories from twenty-five writers representing today’s most talented voices in the genre.
Horror writing is usually associated with formulaic gore, but New Wave horror writers have more in common with the wildly inventive, evocative spookiness of Edgar Allan Poe than with the sometimes-predictable hallmarks of their peers. Showcasing this cutting-edge talent, Poe’s Children now brings the best of the genre’s stories to a wider audience. Featuring tales from such writers as Neil Gaiman and Jonathan Carroll, Poe’s Children is Peter Straub’s tribute to the imaginative power of storytelling. Each previously published story has been selected by Straub to represent what he thinks is the most interesting development in our literature during the last two decades.
Selections range from the early Stephen King psychological thriller “The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet,” in which an editor confronts an author’s belief that his typewriter is inhabited by supernatural creatures, to “The Man on the Ceiling,” Melanie and Steve Rasnic Tem’s award-winning surreal tale of night terrors, woven with daylight fears that haunt a family. Other selections include National Book Award finalist Dan Chaon’s “The Bees”; Peter Straub’s “Little Red’s Tango,” the legend of a music aficionado whose past is as mysterious as the ghostly visitors to his Manhattan apartment; Elizabeth Hand’s visionary and shocking “Cleopatra Brimstone”; Thomas Ligotti’s brilliant, mind-stretching “Notes on the Writing of Horror: A Story”; and “Body,” Brian Evenson’s disturbing twist on correctional facilities.
Crossing boundaries and packed with imaginative chills, Poe’s Children bears all the telltale signs of fearless, addictive fiction

I'm a fan of anthologies. Sometimes I need short bites of fiction, enough to occupy a wait in a doctor's office or to sneak in while cooking dinner. Poe's Children is a great anthology, one full of stories of the bizarre, macabre, creepy, and weird. While none of the tales in this book were written specifically for the anthology, many were new to me and introduced me to some great voices in the horror genre. Giving a review of each of the stories would take far too long, so I'll focus on some of my favorites.

"Cleopatra Brimstone" by Elizabeth Hand
This is perhaps on of the most bizarre tales I've ever read. Jane is a quiet girl who is fascinated by bugs and who has a few rogue eyebrow hairs that she tries to pluck or hide with glasses (this little detail becomes oddly important later in the tale). Jane wishes not to be the center of attention and would rather spend time on her study of insects; however, she is beautiful, so people are drawn to her. Jane burries herself in her studies, traveling the world, though never far from her laptop or a microscope. An assault leaves Jane broken and she finds herself in London, working for the zoo and spending her nights in the Camden Lock section of the city. Here, Jane transforms herself from shy lab tech to beatiful goth seductress and this is where things turn bizarre. I can't say much more without giving away the twist, but I can tell you Jane is no longer a victim. I can also tell you that this tale left me thinking, "what just happened" in the best possible way.

"The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet" by Stephen King
First published in magazine and subsequently in the collection of short stories, Skeleton Crew, "The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet" has a Poe-esque feel to it but is recognizably Stephen King. I had forgotten about this little gem and am so happy to have rediscovered it. As some friends (including a writer, an editor, and a publisher) sit around a fire sharing stories. The editor spins a yarn about a writer and a Fornit, a kind of typwriter elf that enjoys sweets and abhors electronics and who, evidently, is also a muse. Atmospheric and tense, this story will keep you turning the pages and doubting the sanity of many of your favorite writers. Indeed, I wonder if Stephen King leaves sweets out for his dutiful Fornits.

"October in the Chair" by Neil Gaiman
Neil. Gaiman. I shouldn't have to say more. His ability to create fantastical worlds and paint with words is second to none. This is another story that takes place around a fire, with October, April, March, September and friends chatting, frying sausages, and doing all the things friends do whilst sharing food and drink outside on a crisp evening. Each takes turns telling a story, each story has a dire or deadly twist. So really, this is several stories inside one story, a sort of Canterbury Tales of personified moths with dark senses of humor. It's a story as only Neil Gaiman can tell, and a beautiful one at that.

Whether you are looking to rediscover old favorites or check out some writers you've not had the chance to before, Poe's Children is a great book to cuddle up with on Halloween Eve.

While you're here, read on to find out how you can enter to win a Kindle Touch!

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Welcome to Bloggers Dressed In Blood! A month long celebration of scary, creepy, supernatural awesomeness! I'm hosting this event along with Steph, Kim, and Kate. Every day during the month of October, one of us will have something awesome for you! And you can join in the fun too! Participate in our event and you can win fabulous prizes!

What can you win?
The prize pack includes a Kindle Touch and several scary books from our personal collections (The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson, Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman, and Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, a few old school RL Stine books. As well as Evercrossed, Mercy, In the Arms of Stone Angels, Jane-Emily, and The Amanda Project: Revealed), a dozen bloody fingers, bookmark swag, and a bag of candy corn. We reserve the right to add more prizes.

How can you enter?
Every qualifying post you enter into the linky below will earn you one entry. You have until 11:59pm on Tuesday October 30, 2012 to enter your link into the linky. A random winner will be chosen and announced on Wednesday, March 31, 2012. There is no limit to how many times you can enter.

What counts as a qualifying post?
Any post that celebrates scary books AND links back to this event using the Bloggers Dressed In Blood button will qualify. This can include reviews of scary books, author spotlights of your favorite horror writers, lists of the books that scarred you as a child... or anything else you can think of. If you aren't sure e-mail one of us or leave a comment! You can find the code for the button at the bottom of this post or on the side of any of our blogs.

Terms and Conditions
Giveaway ends October 30, 2012 at 11:59 PM. Open to US addresses only. Entrants must be 13 years of age or older and anyone under the age of 18 must have a parent's permission before entering. A random winner will be selected from the linky using random.org and will have 48 hours after notification to respond before a second winner is drawn. The prize is listed above and we reserve the right to substitute comparable items at our discretion. No substitutions at winner's request. The winner will need to provide a valid US mailing address and this information will be used only to send out the prize.

The Linky: