Read Now Sleep Later

In My Mailbox (5)

2012-02-26T04:07:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie.

I only had 2.5 books on last week's IMM. Which was totally fine because I knew I was going to have a crazy, mind-blowing, I'm-not-even-bragging-just-stating-facts bonanza of books this week. Let's go in chronological order...

Wednesday (Bought)

Bridge to Books threw our first Teacher/Librarian Schmooze of the year at Once Upon a Time in Montrose. Katherine Applegate, author of The One and Only Ivan (did you know she's married to Michael Grant? YES, The Michael Grant) spent the whole day with Alyson (KidLitFrenzy), first at her school and then at the bookstore for a signing and workshop on Literacy Cafes.

We gave two dozen teachers and librarians the Bridge to Books treatment:

Tasty (and healthy!) treats

Ideas and information

Book-themed food*

*Thuy made banana pudding; Alyson made yogurt-covered raisin cookies. I found a recipe for Apple Nachos and tweaked the ingredients a little bit. We think Ivan would approve.

I didn't get pics of the goodie bags, but each teacher got a YA or middle-grade book plus an adult novel. We'll soon post more info about the schmooze both here and at bridgetobooks.org.

I also bought Fever by Lauren DeStefano because really, how could I not? Gotta support my Indies.

Thursday (Received for Review)

Awooooo!

Thanks to BigHonchoMedia for including me on the blog tour for The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Unseen Guest (Incorrigibles, Book 3) by Maryrose Wood, illustrated by Jon Klassen.

Yes, I did let out a small howl when I opened the package. (Not too loud; our landlord only allows cats.)

Friday (Bought)

I really only bought Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer that evening, but I for sure had to get something--the Breathless Reads tour came to Once Upon a Time!

Marie Lu - Legend

(I already had two copies signed; I think buying another would have been overkill at that point XD)

Jessica Spotswood - Born Wicked

(er, I now have two copies again!)

Beth Revis - Across the Universe & A Million Suns

(ditto A Million Suns)

Andrea Cremer - Nightshade, Wolfsbane, and Bloodrose

(I think in total I have owned 3 copies of Nightshade... I'm down to 1 now :)

Marie Lu, Jessica Spotswood, Beth Revis, and Andrea Cremer (with Alybee930 in the back) looking lovely!

Bonus: Marissa Meyer had a signing for Cinder at Mrs. Nelson's just a couple of hours before Breathless, and tried to go incognito... but really, it's like trying to hide a shiny, tall, pretty thing in .007 mm cellophane. Impossible. (I didn't get a book signed but I'm going to try my darndest to get it at ComicCon.)

Tahereh Mafi, Kaleb Nation, Laurisa White Reyes, and Lissa Price came, too! Every time I turned I bumped into another author or blogger. The totally excellent YA Book Twins, Jenn and Mary, were in attendance, as well as our very own Kimberly(also The Windy Pages) and of course Thuy from RNSL Nite Lite. Afterwards, Alyson, Thuy, Jane, our good friend Kate (who is launching her blog later this week--stay tuned!) and the utterly adorable Sophia the Writer joined us for a late dinner at Rocky Cola Cafe next door. (You can see Sophia here, posing with Tahereh!)

Friday (Received for Review)

I also got a review copy of the first Scary School book, straight from the author himself! Derek the Ghost (not a real ghost ;) brought it to the event. Turns out he's a Legend fan!

He also doodled a zombie in the book for me:

You should check out his website, www.scaryschool.com!

Saturday (Received with Dinner!)

SCIBA is the Southern California Independent Bookseller's Association. We LOVE them. All of our favorite indies were represented, including Once Upon a Time, Mrs. Nelson's, Vroman's, San Marino Toy & Book Shoppe, Diesel, and Children's Book World. We got to sit at the same table with Bonnie Verburg, Sara Lynn, and Scott Bly (who has a forthcoming YA called Smashers coming in 2013).

So...

Eeeep!

From top-left, Row 1: Lisa McMann's Dead to You, Kim Harrington's Perception, Anna Waggener's Grim [by the way there is a giveaway here until 2/29!], Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett/illustrated by Jon Klassen

Row 2: Jessica Spotswood's Born Wicked, Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini, A Million Suns by Beth Revis, Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, Struck by Jennifer Bosworth
Row 3: Anyway by Arthur Salm, The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen, Ghost Knight by Cornelia Funke, Above World by Jenn Reese, The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, Lexapros and Cons by Aaron Karo

I got to see all of the Breathless authors again (they had just been to Passion and Prose in Long Beach). I missed out on Amber Benson's Among the Ghosts, and luckily I already have a signed copy of Sidekicks by Dan Santat--his signing line went on for freaking miles*! (I know, I'm exaggerating. It's 3:30 am o_O ... but it was a pretty darn long line).

I goofed and left my ARC of BZRK--by Michael freaking Grant--at home :C He showed us an excellent book trailer (I can't find it online, though, so you'll have to settle for this one) so at the very least I am glad I have the book. I think my husband might even enjoy this one!

And the best part of the evening, other than meeting all those lovely authors, running into fantastic friends like Katie from Bookyurt, Cathy_Blackler, Andrea Vuleta (now-former SCIBA president), was that Alyson won a ticket to September's Children's Books and Literacy Brunch in San Diego. I am SO going with her! (Hrm, maybe we can go a day early and finally grab dimsum with Cindy Pon!)

Ok, well, that is one of the many, many, many great parts of the evening.

This was the best part:

<3

Now if I could just get some time alone with my books this week... I have a ton of reading to do!

What's on your bookshelf?

Young Adult Paranormal Activity - Giveaway Hop

2012-02-23T22:42:00.001-08:00

Welcome to the Young Adult Paranormal Activity Giveaway Hop

February 24th to 28th

Hosted by vvb32reads &

I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

This hop features giveaways of Paranormal Young Adult Books (ghost, werewolves, vampires, zombies, etc.) There are over 100 Blogs each hosting a great giveaway so scroll to the bottom of this long post to see the linky list of all the participating blogs.

Today we're giving away one of the Hex Hall books by Rachel Hawkins. They are witchy-good novels with a loveable protagonist. I love Sophie and her cast of friends (and some of her enemies, or "enemies", too). Best of all, they balance grim, doom-filled plot with pretty darn funny dialogue.

Also, aren't the covers gorgeous?

Amazon.com Widgets

The series started with Hex Hall and the second book, Demonglass. The next book, Spell Bound, comes out on Tuesday, March 13.

The winner gets to choose which one of the three books they get. For Spell Bound, it will be a pre-order. :)

Just enter below!

Rules:

1. You must be at least 13 years of age to enter.

2. This giveaway is now open internationally!

3. Use the Rafflecopter widget to enter. Comments are appreciated but will not count towards the contest. Don't put your email in the comments, but you can link back to your own blog if you have one :)

Good luck everyone! Don't forget to visit all the other blogs on this hop!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Inbetween by Tara Fuller

2012-02-19T22:00:00.000-08:00

Pre-order from Amazon | Add to Goodreads

We have another great cover reveal for you this week. Entangled Publishing presents INBETWEEN (Kissed by Death, #1) by Tara Fuller (August 7, 2012).

Synopsis:

Since the car crash that took her father’s life three years ago, Emma’s life has been a freaky—and unending—lesson in caution. Surviving “accidents” has taken priority over being a normal seventeen-year-old, so Emma spends her days taking pictures of life instead of living it. Falling in love with a boy was never part of the plan. Falling for a reaper who makes her chest ache and her head spin? Not an option.

It’s not easy being dead, especially for a reaper in love with a girl fate has put on his list not once, but twice. Finn’s fellow reapers give him hell about spending time with Emma, but Finn couldn't let her die before, and he’s not about to let her die now. He will protect the girl he loves from the evil he accidentally unleashed, even if it means sacrificing the only thing he has left…his soul.

---

They synopsis of this sounds pretty intriguing. I've been reading quite a few reaper stories lately and have been enjoying them. It's a change of pace from the usual paranormal stuff like werewolves and vampires. This one looks fun. What do you think? Love it, hate it? Let us know!

Visit the author online at tarafuller.com and follow her on Twitter @tara25fuller

More February Upcoming Events

2012-02-19T21:46:00.000-08:00

Schmooze with Bridge to Books

Wed, Feb 22, 2012 - 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Once Upon a Time Bookstore - Tickets are $5 each.
2207 Honolulu Avenue, Montrose CA 91020
818-248-9668

Katherine Applegate - The One and Only Ivan - and Literacy Cafes
event listing

Teachers, librarians, and parents, come and chat with us about teaching, literacy, & many creative ways to connect kids with books.

Marissa Meyer signs Cinder

Fri, Feb 24, 2012 - 5:00 pm
Mrs. Nelson's Toy and Book Shop
1030 Bonita Avenue, La Verne, CA 91750
909-599-4558
event listing

Breathless Reads

Marie Lu - Legend
Beth Revis - Across the Universe
Jessica Spotswood - Born Wicked
Andrea Cremer - Nightshade

Fri, Feb 24, 2012 - 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Once Upon a Time Bookstore
2207 Honolulu Avenue, Montrose CA 91020
818-248-9668
event listing

Passion and Prose

Sat, Feb 25, 2012 - 9:00 am to 3:30 pm
Westin Long Beach, 333 East Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802
Prices REDUCED from $125 to $65
For more info, check out the Authors Are Rock Stars page here.
event listing

Family Festival of Books in Chino

Sunday, February 26 from 9:00 am-3:00 pm
Brinderson Hall, 5410 Edison Avenue, Chino, CA
Admission is Free | Parking is $5
Download the flyer at mrsnelsons.com for more info

Save the date:
March 11 at 3:00 pm - Where It Began Launch Party with Ann Stampler
March 13 at 4:00 pm - Dark Days Livestream with Claudia Gray, Lauren Oliver, and Dan Wells
March 13 at 6:00 pm - Starters Launch Party with Lissa Price
March 16-18 - WonderCon 2012

In My Mailbox (4)

2012-02-19T01:35:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie.

This week we got some great books from Lee and Low & Albert Whitman.

First up is Vodnik by Bryan Moore. This is an intriguing paranormal set in present-day Slovakia. Thanks to Lee and Low for this advance reader copy.

From Goodreads:

When Tomas was six, someone — something — tried to drown him. And burn him to a crisp. Tomas survived, but whatever was trying to kill him freaked out his parents enough to convince them to move from Slovakia to the United States.

Now sixteen-year-old Tomas and his family are back in Slovakia, and that something still lurks somewhere. Nearby. It wants to drown him again and put his soul in a teacup. And that’s not all. There’s also the fire víla, the water ghost, pitchfork-happy city folk, and Death herself who are after him.

If Tomas wants to survive, he'll have to embrace the meaning behind the Slovak proverb, So smrťou ešte nik zmluvu neurobil. With Death, nobody makes a pact.

Next, we received The Wooden Sword by Ann Redisch Stampler. Her latest picture book is about an Afghani-Jewish folk tale about faith, friendship and humanity. The book is illustrated by Carol Liddiment.

From Goodreads:

Disguised in servant's clothes, an Afghani shah slips out of his palace to learn more about his people. When he encounters a poor Jewish shoemaker full of faith that everything will turn out just as it should, the shah grows curious. Vowing that no harm will befall the poor man, he decides to test that faith, only to find that the shoemaker's cheerful optimism cannot be shaken.

We got a ton of other great news this week. We'll be receiving a monthly ARC from Penguin. We'll also be participating in the blog tour for The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Hidden Gallery by Maryrose Wood.

Jon Klassen is the illustrator for this series. I just love his work!

I grabbed this up for my Kindle, too (only $1.99 for a limited time!):

That's it for me this week. What's in your mailbox?

Random Acts of Kindness - Giveaway Hop

2012-02-16T14:09:00.000-08:00

Friday, February 17th is Random Acts of Kindness Day. Thanks to I am a Reader, Not a Writer, and Read for Your Future for hosting this simple-to-enter Giveaway Hop.

The dates for this hop are February 17th to 21st. This hop has a maximum of 2 entries per person so it should be easy to enter the giveaways on all the 150 participating blogs. The blogs with the ~in the linky at the end of this post have their contests up a little early, so check them out!

The prize we are giving away is not a book, but is book-related! It's $15 in Fandango Bucks on a Hunger Games gift card. (Of course, you can use it to view a non-book related movie, but we'd like you to go see The Hunger Games. Bring tissues.) I know some people think The Hunger Games is all about brutality, violence, and kids killing kids, but it's not that to me. It's about love, sacrifice, and unerring kindness. When I watch the trailers, I actually get choked up still, just thinking about Rue (especially when they salute, and the whistle plays... *reaches for tissues*)

In any case, you'll get a Hunger Games design on your Fandango card. :)

Of course, you don't have to pick Katniss for your card design. *fans self*

If you haven't heard of The Hunger Games... *blank look*

You can read this article from Publishers Weekly.

Don't forget to visit all the other blogs on the hop!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Gravity by Melissa West

2012-02-15T21:38:00.000-08:00

Pre-order from Amazon | Add to Goodreads

Thanks to Entangled Publishing for this sneak peak at Gravity, a new novel by Melissa West. Expected pub date is October 2012. I quite like this cover. Really beautiful image of space and I like the curliecues around the title. What do you think?

In the future, only one rule will matter:

Don't. Ever. Peek.

Seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander just broke that rule and saw the last
person she expected hovering above her bed - arrogant Jackson Locke, the
most popular boy in her school. She expects instant execution or some kind
of freak alien punishment, but instead, Jackson issues a challenge: help
him, or everyone on Earth will die.

Ari knows she should report him, but everything about Jackson makes her
question what she's been taught about his kind. And against her instincts,
she's falling for him. But Ari isn't just any girl, and Jackson wants more
than her attention. She¹s a military legacy who¹s been trained by her
father and exposed to war strategies and societal information no one can
know - especially an alien spy, like Jackson. Giving Jackson the
information he needs will betray her father and her country, but keeping
silent will start a war.

Visit the author online at www.melissa-west.com and follow her on Twitter @MB_West

Pie - Review

2012-02-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

Pie by Sarah Weeks

Publication date: 01 October 2011 by Scholastic Inc.

ISBN 10/13: 0545270111 | 9780545270113

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Category: Middle Grade Realistic Fiction

Keyword: Middle grade, fiction, realistic, mystery, pie, family

Format: Hardcover, eBook

Thuy's Summary:

PIE starts with the unexpected death of The Pie Queen of Ipswitch, Polly Portman. A pie phenom, Polly has graced the town of Ipswitch with her delicious pies for years. She opens up her own pie shop, Pie, in order to share her creations with the world. Polly doesn't accept money for her pies. Instead, customers "pay" for their pies by leaving fresh and delicious ingredients at Polly doorstep. The town mourns her untimely passing but no one misses her more than her niece Alice.

Polly was her best friend and Alice misses the hours she would spend in Polly's company at the shop. When Polly's will is read and word gets out that her famous pie crust recipe was left to her cat, the whole town is in an uproar. Soon, everyone is up to their ears in pies as people in town try to be the next award winning pie baker. Then Aunt Polly's cat disappears and the pie shop is ransacked and Alice knows that there's more to the story than just teenagers getting their kicks. She and her friend Charlie start their own investigation to figure out what's going on and find the recipe to happiness along the way.

Thuy's Review:

Who can resist a slice of homemade pie? Not me, that's for sure. I picked up Pie on a whim from the library last week. The cute cover caught my eye and I just couldn't resist the title. A charming book with a lot of hear, Pie is a delicious reminder that happiness is more than just money or fame and that love, friendship and being true to yourself are the key to true happiness.

I had such a fun time reading this book! It's funny and smart without too much drama. The mystery kept me on my toes and I didn't know where it was going until the very end. I really liked Alice as the heroine. She is clever and kind and I enjoyed her made-up songs. I admit that I really didn't like Alice's mother at first. She was super jealous of her sister Polly's success and she seemed more interested in getting the pie crust recipe than in the death of her family member. My opinion changed as the story went on though as we learned more about her and her attitude did change for the better.

I also loved Lardo the cat! Who wouldn't love a sardine-eating fat cat named after shortening? And each book chapter starts off with a pie recipe. The chocolate mousse, peach, lemon chess and apple pie look especially tasty. Who am I kidding? I'd eat them all! Unfortunately Polly's famous pie crust recipe is not included.

Pie was a quirky, fun read that I think children, adults, and pie lovers of all ages will enjoy. Warning--don't read this book on an empty stomach. Aunt Polly used to say "A little pie never hurt anybody." I couldn't agree more.

say "twee!"

Visit the author online at www.sarahweeks.com

In My Mailbox (3)

2012-02-13T00:55:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren where we show off all the books we got this week.

Mine is more than a little late, so there's quite a bit!

BOUGHT

I got Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne at last weekend's signing at Children's Book World. It looks lovely and has a linen cover--much better than those spongy-rubber covers that were all the rage last year. I can't wait to read it!

@MissJaneGov also got me Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler and Maira Kalman. I wish I could have been at that Vroman's signing--I hear they are a hilarious pair!

I grabbed two books from the library:

BORROWED

These were on YALSA's Best Fiction for Young Adults 2012 list: The Floating Islands by Rachel Neumeier and You Against Me by Jenny Downham.

I also snagged a couple of books from Jane's ALA Midwinter stash--luckily for me, she can't read all of them at once. I got The Springsweet by Saundra Mitchell and Ruined by Simone Elkeles.

I also received a few middle-grade nonfiction books for review from Nomad Press, which I'm excited to add to the blog--in our new kids' nonfiction category :)

FOR REVIEW

I also got some great sewing books. I will definitely review them on Nite Lite. Speaking of Nite Lite, you should head over there and check out pics of our new RNSL swag on Thuy's IMM!

Pubs We Love (1) - Tor/Forge

2012-02-11T03:16:00.000-08:00

Pubs We Love is a new feature we're launching to highlight our favorite publishers!

Our very first publisher we want to highlight is Tor/Forge. They are a division of Macmillan Publishing. Tor/Forge includes the imprints Tor (science fiction and fantasy), Forge (adult fiction and non-fiction), Orb (science fiction and fantasy trade paperback reprints), Tor Teen/Starscape (young adult), and Tor/Seven Seas (manga).

Here are some of our absolute favorites as well as new releases we're looking forward to:

review by Kimberly

review by Kimberly at The Windy Pages

review by Alethea forthcoming

currently on Alethea's iPod

review by Alethea

eee! creepy cover - Jan 2012 new release

Coming May 2012

Coming July 2012

Coming August 2012 (squee!!!)

You can also find books by these

excellent authors in Tor/Forge's catalog:

as well as these popular series:

Dune

Halo
The Sword of Truth

The Wheel of Time
and many more!

Browse their catalog here.

You can find Tor online on Facebook (TorBooks, TorTeen, and Twitter (@torbooks, @torteen, @torkids); find the Tor Teen blog at starscapetorteen.wordpress.com (older blog at torteen.wordpress.com). You can find out more about manga from Seven Seas at www.gomanga.com.

Event Recap: Sara Etienne Wilson at Children's Book World

2012-02-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

We're back with another event recap. It seems like we've been going to a lot of events lately and we love it! Authors, please come to Los Angeles. We love you and will come see you. :)

Last Saturday Children's Book World hosted Sara Wilson Etienne's book release party for Harbinger. Alethea will be able to tell you that I've been waiting for this book to come out. I don't know what it was, but something about it just called to me and I've been waiting for baited breath for its release.

We arrived just in time and the store was packed. Lots of people showed up for the event. There was a good group of YA authors in attendance including Gretchen McNeil and Jessica Brody. I saw a few other familiar faces though I couldn't place them. Alethea also ran into Kazu Kibuishi at the store who was there with his family hanging out and signing Amulet for the store. This was my first time at Children's Book World and I have to say that it was awesome. I really wish it was closer to my house because I would be going there a whole lot. When we got there the first thing I did was get in line to buy my own copy of Harbinger! Yay! Then we all filed into the smaller side room to hear Sara talk a bit about her book.

the crowd

the setup

Note from Alethea--you can't see from the photos, but it was *packed* in that room--I couldn't even get inside. I ended up standing just outside the doorway with Jenn Reese (whose middle-grade novel, Above World, releases on Feb. 14) straining to hear Sara talk.

ooooo books!

Sara Wilson Etienne

Sara talked about how she started Harbinger ten years ago. She also talked about how she had to write through a lot of really bad dialogue to get to the good stuff. She also talked about Holbrook Academy and how the layout is based on the school she went to (though she was quick to point out that that the school is only like Holbrook in architecture and layout, and not in any of the weird ways). You could tell that Sara was super excited and happy to be there and her positive energy filled the room.

sara has a fantastic smile!

We had a really wonderful time meeting Sara and getting our books signed. And seriously, if you haven't seen Harbinger in person, you really need to. The cover is gorgeous and make out of some kind of textured paper. Beautiful inside and out.

We also got to meet and hang out with fellow bloggers Lauren from 365 Days Of Reading (see Lauren's recap here), Angie from Beneath The Jacket (who works at Children's Book World), and our good friend Kimberly from The Windy Pages. And hi to Kate, who doesn't have a blog yet, but who was my carpool buddy and sweet tea conspirator.

That's it for our Harbinger recap. Definitely pick it up soon if you haven't already. I don't think you'll be sorry. :)

Visit the author online at sarawilsonetienne.com and follow her on Twitter @WilsonEtienne

Obsidian - Review

2012-02-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Obsidian (Lux, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publication date: 06 December 2011 by Entangled Publishing

ISBN 10/13: 1937044238 | 978-1937044237

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Category: Young Adult Science Fiction

Keyword: Science fiction, romance, aliens

Format: Hardcover, eBook

From Goodreads:

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don’t kill him first, that is.

Thuy's review:

I have a confession to make. I like mean boys. Not the kinds of boys who are cruel or kick puppies but boys who know how to drive a girl a little crazy. They’re good looking and they know it. Boys who love to tease and torment the heroine. The kinds of boys who you don’t know if you want to kick or kiss them. Yes, they might be considered jerks (and I really don’t recommend going out with jerks in real life) but often underneath their not-so-nice attitude is someone with redeeming qualities.

Now that I have that off my chest you’ll be able to see why I love Daemon from Obsidian. He’s the perfect bad boy--gorgeous, smart and arrogant; he knows just how to push a girl’s buttons. In this case, the girl is Katy, the new girl in town who is told to “make friends” by her mother. One encounter with Daemon has Katy looking for the next bus out of town. Unfortunately for her, moving to another state’s not an option.

But Katie’s no pushover and she gives just as good as she gets. Sure, she doesn’t win every argument with Daemon but she definitely has a mind of her own and isn’t afraid to call Daemon on his crap. I wanted to applaud during that scene in the cafeteria. Daemon, when he's not being a total ass, is funny and flirty and it's clear that he cares about his family a lot. And unlike a lot of girls in books with similar stories, Katy isn’t a victim. Yes, Daemon does save her a couple of times but Katy also does some rescuing of her own.

I loved the snarky banter between Katy and Daemon and the tension in their love/hate relationship. I also liked that this book is about aliens, with no vampires or werewolves in sight. Though not the most original story ever (new girl in town, broody boy) I still enjoyed every second of it. It all comes down to Daemon and Katy. They’re fantastic together and I want more - right now!

If you want a fun, fast read with a steamy romance and great dialogue, Obisidian is the book for you. I really cannot wait for the second book in the series, Onyx, to come out later this year.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Visit the author online at www.jenniferarmentrout.com and follow her on Twitter @JLArmentrout

Laddertop - Review

2012-02-07T00:42:00.000-08:00

Laddertop (Laddertop, #1) by Orson Scott Card,
Emily Janice Card / Illustrated by Honoel A. Ibardolaza

Publication date: 27 September 2011 by Tor/Forge

ISBN 10/13: 0765324601 | 9780765324603

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Category: Middle Grade Science Fiction Manga
Keywords: Science fiction, space, aliens, middle grade, friendship
Format: Paperback, audiobook (ARC received from Tor/Forge)

Alethea's synopsis:

Based on Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game series, this first volume follows Robbi and her rambunctious friend, Azure, when they are recruited to Laddertop--one of four space towers suspended 36,000 miles over the earth by a benevolent alien race called The Givers. Fierce competition tests the relationships between friends and enemies both. As Robbi contemplates what she is doing at the Academy, she begins to ponder the question too few people seem to be asking: are The Givers truly friends of Earth?

Alethea's Review:

I really loved Ender's Game and so was excited to find out that a related manga was in the works. I found Laddertop entertaining, but a bit of a let-down. It's certainly not as deep or emotionally abrasive as the original story. This is understandable not because Azure and Robbi are eleven (Ender is younger still when he enters Battle School) but because of the format and audience chosen, but still, it's generally disappointing.

The story starts at a fair pace then comes to a quick halt--this is meant to be a series after all, and it wouldn't do to give it all away at once. But this first volume gives hardly any data to process--only query after unanswered query. Who are the Givers? What is the Scan? Why can only children work in the tubes--yes, we know they're the right size, but why must they be so small? Why couldn't the tubes have been built bigger?

While the artwork is decent, there is not much to set it apart stylistically; the seasoned manga reader won't have a whole lot to absorb apart from the occasional snippet of alien runes. I do have to applaud at least one visual reference (there is a panel that pays homage to several very recognizable space vehicles, including the TARDIS) and the racial diversity (which might only be apparent to me and a handful of my kababayan--countrymen--the Lieutenant's name is Bituin, the Tagalog word for "star"). This is one of the few themes that ties it to Ender's Game, along with friendship, bullying, and competition.

While younger readers might find this engaging, and older readers may be intrigued by the mystery, there is one thing that can kill this franchise before it even begins: time. As in, four months later, there is still no word of a second volume yet to be released. Which bring be to ask: where is it, and when can I get my hands on it? There's nothing quite so frustrating as a question without an answer, and that's Laddertop in a nutshell.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Follower Love Giveaway Hop

2012-02-05T23:30:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! It's time for the Follower Love Giveaway Hop hosted by

I Am a Reader, Not a Writer and Rachel Renee Anderson.

The hop runs from February 7 - 14!

Today you can win signed copies of Simone Elkeles's Paradise series

as well as some deliciously smelly stuff from my friend Robin's Scentsy store. You can pick 1 item from the Fragrance on the Go category. It may arrive separately from your books, if you win :)

I highly recommend these:

Fragrance Foam in Love Story or Luna	Scent Spray in Black Ruby or Snowberry
Travel Tin in Eskimo Kiss or My Dear Watson
Scent Circle in Be Still or Just Breathe	Scent Pak in Hemingway or Satin Sheets

The winner and two runners-up will also get a nifty Read Now Sleep Later button and bookmark set!

You must be at least 13 years old to enter and have a mailing address in the US or Canada. Good luck!

Enter here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please be sure to visit all the other hops on the list, and check our sidebar for more giveaways! Good luck, everyone!

Equal-Opportunity Book Lover Links (1)

2012-02-04T11:16:00.000-08:00

At RNSL, we love our Indies, but we love our Kindles, too.

Check out these great deals and signed books you can get from our favorite places.

KINDLE DEALS

If you wish to support RNSL and help us offset shipping costs, please use the Amazon.com associate links above. You are also welcome to bypass them by searching Amazon.com on your own!

SIGNED COPIES

		The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler already signed at Once Upon a Time in Montrose (also available: The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler and Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher)
		Cinder by Marissa Meyer Signing 2/24 at Mrs. Nelson's
		Fracture by Megan Miranda already signed at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena

(Signed books are subject to availability; you may have to call the store instead of ordering online if the book is not listed as signed. Most of our indie friends will take pre-orders and personalization instructions prior to a book signing. Just ask!)

Inside Out - Goodreads Giveaway

2012-02-04T00:23:00.000-08:00

Ok, yeah--I completely forgot to mention. I'm giving away a copy of Inside Out on Goodreads. If you're not a Goodreads member, what are you waiting for? It's only the best social networking site for people with more books than friends XD. Sign-up is free! Check out the giveaway below.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Inside Out

by Maria V. Snyder

Giveaway ends February 28, 2012. See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Event Recap: Megan Miranda at Vromans

2012-02-03T00:37:00.000-08:00

Hello again! The RNSL team was lucky enough to be able to attend the Megan Miranda signing at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena last week. Megan was there to sign her newly released book, Fracture. Look at that gorgeous cover!

Megan was a bit late due to L.A. traffic, which people from out of town tend to underestimate. There a good crowd there. The event did start a bit early at 6 pm and most of us actually had to leave work early to make it on time. Megan arrived, a bit breathless but she was very excited and animated. She started off with a brief talk about the evolution of the book and her background in writing.

She said that she always loved writing but, over time and as life happened, it fell to the wayside and became something that she used to do instead of something she did. One evening, after a particularly frustrating day, her husband came home and (to alleviate the tension) asked her how that book she was writing came along. Megan started writing again that night. Fast forward a few months and Miranda finishes the first draft of Fracture. Then comes the process of finding an agent. Megan said that she had to rewrite the book twice and that only the first four sentences of the original draft made it into the final cut!

Megan was gracious enough to answer questions from the audience and signed her books afterwards. Also in attendance were authors Lissa Price and Laurisa White Reyes. Price's book Starters and Reyes's book Rock of Ivanore will both be coming out later this year. Alethea randomly had an ARC of Starters with her and was able to get it signed. All in all we had a fabulous time. Megan was super fun and sweet and we love Vroman's.

Check out some pics from the event below.

Megan

Megan reading from the first few pages of Fracture

A & K with their copies of Fracture

Have you read Fracture yet? Were you at the event? We'd love to hear your thoughts on Fracture or the event. :) Thanks for stopping by!

Visit the author online at www.meganmiranda.com and follow her on Twitter @MeganLMiranda

Hot Books Blog Hop - Giveaway

2012-02-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone, and welcome to the Hot Books Blog Hop! RNSL Nite Lite is hosting our very first blog hop and it is an 18+ hop. With Valentine's Day right around the corner, we figured we'd give you something to warm the bed at night.

This hop runs from Feb 3-10, 2012 and signups for it will remain OPEN during the duration of the hop. We'd like to give everyone the chance to participate and are allowing signups even after the hop starts. So please tell your friends.

Up for grabs are some awesome, but slightly risqué YA books. I will pick two winners, and those winners each get to choose a book!

Ondine and The Autumn Palace by Ebony McKenna: So, a handsome prince is transformed into a ferret, and when that happens, his clothes tend to get (in)conveniently left behind...

R.A. Nelson's Throat: Don't worry, this isn't Twilight... Emma could rip Bella a new one--not that she would want to. She's a good girl, just a little... troubled.

Swoon and Swear by Nina Malkin: These are definitely not for most mainstream YA readers. Have a box of chocolates and a cold shower handy for these titillating paranormal romances.

R.A. Nelson's Days of Little Texas: Little Texas is an evangelical preacher, a boy-wonder--but still, underneath it all, a real boy with a ghostly crush. There are a few scenes to really make you blush!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please take care as you hop to the other blogs on the hop--the ones marked 18 are adult/mature blogs, but the ones without it are family-friendly. If you are signing up your blog and have books or images that could be considered "steamy", please make sure you put (18) on your blog hop link when you add it below. Have fun hopping!

February Upcoming Events

2012-02-02T13:08:00.000-08:00

Looks like February is going to be a pretty busy month. Here are a few of the bigger upcoming events in the So Cal area. We'll be at quite a few of these, so please say hi if you see us. And let us know if there's something we're missing.

Sara Wilson Etienne - Harbinger book release

Sat, Feb 4, 2012 - 3:30pm at Children's Book World

10580 1/2 West Pico Boulevard

Los Angeles, California 90064

event listing

So excited!

Schmooze with Bridge to Books

Wed, Feb 22, 2012 - 6:30 pm at Once Upon a Time
2207 Honolulu Ave, Montrose, CA 91020
Katherine Applegate - The One and Only Ivan - and Literacy Cafes event listing

Teachers, librarians, and parents, come and chat with us about teaching, literacy, & many creative ways to connect kids with books.
Tickets are $5 each.

Breathless Reads Tour 2012

Fri, Feb 24, 2012 7pm at Once Upon A Time
2207 Honolulu Ave, Montrose, CA 91020
event listing

Passion and Prose

Sat, Feb 25, 2012 - 9:00 am to 3:30 pm

Westin Long Beach, 333 East Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802

For more info and a chance to win tix, check out the Authors Are Rock Stars page here.

event listing

Will you be there? Tweet @fishgirl182 and @frootjoos to let us know!

Event Recap: A Reading with Popcorn and YA Writers

2012-01-31T18:29:00.000-08:00

Last week, Alethea and I along with our friend Kate hightailed it downtown after work to catch the Reading with Popcorn and YA Writers event at The Last Bookstore in downtown Los Angeles. If you've never been, The Last Bookstore is a great little store in a really cool building that is part book store and part gallery. It's mostly books but there are art installations throughout the store. Anyway, we made it there in record time and only missed Cecil Castellucci's talk (sorry, Cecil! next time, we'll try harder to beat the traffic).

It was an interesting event. The authors showed a trailer from a couple of movies that were relevant to their books first. Then they spoke a bit about the books and read an excerpt. Then they showed a longer clip from each film. All of the authors were great fun and the clips were great. My favorites were from Rear Window and Dick. Check out our pics of the event below.

These were some really cool book title posters that the store was selling. They're so clever and simple. From top left to right you have, Pinocchio, The Three Little Pigs, Rapunzel, Hansel & Gretel, Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Mary Poppins.

fave of this set it little red riding hood on top right

Crickett Rumley spoke about her book, Never Sit Down In A Hoop Skirt. Crickett is super funny and had the cutest southern accent. She said that her book was inspired by a true event involving her friend and a society similar to the one in her book.

Carol Tanzman reads from her book dancergirl. I think she showed my favorite clips. Carol's a very animated speaker and uses her hands a lot. :)

Janet Tashjian with her son Jake (who illustrated her book) talks about My Life As A Stunt Boy. Jake held up illustrations to emphasize what Janet's point. Hearing her talk about Parkour made me think of The Office episode with Parkour in it. See YouTube clip.

a pretty good crowd for this event

Pic of all of the authors answering questions at the end. There's Cecil making an appearance. There were a lot of questions about how the authors got started and what other kinds of books they had written. They talked about the YA genre a bit as well. All in all, a very interesting and fun panel.

Also in attendance was author Ann Stampler, whose website Alethea just redesigned. We also ran into the lovely Sophia from Sophia The Writer. Sophia is super fun and I am hoping to see her again soon and meet her dog, Terry (hint, hint).

That's it for our brief recap. If anyone was there at the event and wants to add anything, please do in the comments. Thanks for stopping by!

say "twee!"

You can find the Popcorn and YA writers at

www.misscecil.com @misscecil

www.crickettrumley.com @CrickettRumley

www.caroltanzman.com @CarolTanzman

and www.janettashjian.com

Find Ann at annstampler.com/@annstampler, Sophia at sophiathewriter.blogspot.com/@sophthewriter and Thuy at rnslnitelite.blogspot.com/@fishgirl182

Tweet Alethea @frootjoos and Kate @irishkatey22

Beep and Bah - Review

2012-01-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

Beep and Bah by James Burks

Publication date: 1 March 2012 by Carolrhoda Books

ISBN 10/13: 0761365672 | 978-0761365679

Category: Children's Picture Book
Keywords: Robot, Animals, Sounds, Onomatopoeia
Format: Hardcover, eBook (e-ARC received from Netgalley)

Alethea's review:

Beep and Bah showcases James Burks's animated style with humor, animal noises, and that age-old mystery: where's the other sock? Beep and Bah traipse through a colorful landscape, meeting lots of friendly (and some not-so-friendly) animals along the way. Parents and children will have fun reading this out loud and making all the animal sounds, from oinks and baaaaa!s to underwater gurgles. I'm looking forward to someday showing off my impressive repertoire of chicken clucks (thanks to years of watching Arrested Development).

There aren't many words to read apart from Beep's dialogue and the various noises (like when Beep takes a tumble down a steep hill--CLANK! CLANK!), but the storytelling doesn't suffer. Kids below reading age will have no problem figuring out what's going on. I see the potential for a lot of laughter when readers become engaged in the sock hunt. The contrast between Beep's gung-ho and Bah's oh-no attitudes are pretty funny.

I really love James's graphic style, and lots of kids will be able to see elements of his art in other projects that he's worked on like Wow Wow Wubbzy. They might even be inspired to pick up a pencil and try their hand at drawing the characters! I sure was.

You can find out more about James Burks at his website, jamesburks.com and follow @jamesburksart on Twitter. You can also check out his previous book, Gabby and Gator, a graphic novel which is also a Read Across America selection. You can also see the artist in action during my pal Aly's school literacy cafe!

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Spin - Review

2012-01-29T21:00:00.000-08:00

Spin by Catherine McKenzie

Publication date: 07 February 2012 by HarperCollins

ISBN 10/13: 0062115359 | 9780062115355

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Category: Young Adult Realistic Fiction
Keyword: Music, Writing, Celebrities, Guilt, Addiction, Rehab
Format: ebook, paperback

Kimberly's synopsis:

Katie Sandford has a little problem. She's thirty years old and finally gets her dream job interview: to work for The Line, a music magazine. But the morning of the interview comes and she bombs! Why? Could be the serious drinking she did the night before. But redemption is here! In the form of... Rehab?
Katie must go undercover at a rehab clinic to get close to a celebrity known as TGND "The Girl Next Door". If she can get the scoop and write an expose on this "IT" Girl, then she'll get a chance at the position at The Line. Katie accepts, but doesn't know what it will cost her.

Kimberly's review:

I really enjoyed this book. Katie's voice is strong and hilarious. The writing reminds me of Bridget Jones's Diary. Funny, personal and blatantly honest, Katie struggles through her time at rehab. At first, I thought she just had a bit of bad luck. But after reading further, Katie's character morphs into something more. She doesn't realize that this was probably the best place she could be--not for the story, but for herself. Katie's own self destruction is uncomfortable and frustrating to watch, another reason you can't put it down. Through the entire book, I was rooting for Katie, and you will too!

I wasn't sure what to make of her target, Amber T.G.N.D. Spoiled, damaged and suffering, her character's depth becomes more apparent as you read on. And Henry is... blush-worthy.

I'm surprised that this is considered YA. The protagonist is thirty years old, and all of her friends are older as well. The writing flows effortlessly across the page, but I'm still hesitant to call it Young Adult. Well written, I stayed in and read all day. I wanted to know what would happen: with Amber, with Henry, with the expose. Start reading Spin in the morning, because you won't put it down until it's done.

Visit the author online at www.catherinemckenzie.com and follow her on Twitter @CEMcKenzie1

For Yara

2012-01-29T02:30:00.000-08:00

Please consider giving to a fund for my fellow blogger, Yara from OnceUponATwilight.com, who lost her house in a fire while attending ALA Midwinter Meeting in Dallas, TX. :(

I learned about this tragedy from The Story Siren (link goes to more info)--thank goodness her family is safe, but they basically lost everything they had!

Please take a moment to donate and spread the word.

In My Mailbox (2)

2012-01-29T02:09:00.000-08:00

Another crazy week in books!

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

Here's what I got:

ARCs for review:

172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad

Buried by Linda Joy Singleton

BZRK by Michael Grant

Caddy's World by Hilary McKay

The Case of the Deadly Desperadoes by Caroline Lawrence

Cornered: 15 Stories of Bullying and Defiance by Rhoda Belleza

The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict (Mysterious Benedict Society, Prequel .5) by Trenton Lee Stewart

Fairest of All (Whatever After, Book 1) by Sarah Mlynowski

Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers

The Fourth Stall, Part II by Chris Rylander

A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle

Kill Switch by Chris Lynch

The Letter Q: Queer Writers' Notes to Their Younger Selves edited by Sarah Moon

Loss by Jackie Morse Kessler

Marked (Delcroix Academy, Book 2) by Inara Scott

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry

Protection for Hire by Camy Tang

Rock On by Denise Vega

Secret Letters by Leah Scheier

Small Medium at Large by Joanne Levy

Starters by Lissa Price

The Storyteller by Antonia Michaelis

The Storm Makers by Jennifer E. Smith

Taken at Dusk (Shadow Falls, Book 3) by C. C. Hunter

There Is No Dog by Meg Rosoff

The Whispering House by Rebecca Wade

Zombie: A Novel by J. R. Angellela

Bought: Fracture by Megan Miranda

Downloaded: The John Carter of Mars collection (public domain)

Actually, I bought more books, but they're not here yet :/ Next week!

I have to say one thing now that I have told you what I got. Bloggers are getting flak again for giving away ARCs--this kind of backlash usually happens right around ALA or BEA, which are two of the very large annual conferences centered around books and literacy. I already know this is going to sound like I'm protesting too much, because I want to separate myself from the type of blogger that would misuse an ARC, which frankly, I do. But I want to clarify my stance and it's too long to tweet--so, here's my two cents on bloggers, ARCs, and ALA.

For those not in the know, ARCs are Advanced Reader Copies--produced by publishers with the intent of generating interest and, bottom-line, sales of books prior to their release. Teachers, librarians, and press--book bloggers included (and indeed, overlapping with quite a few of those groups) go to these events and pick up ARCs, which are not for sale, and which cannot be circulated in libraries (only finished books may be sold and circulated).

Bloggers are getting flak for using the ARCs they receive from industry outlets to drive views and followings on their blogs. And really, from a book blogger perspective, I see the appeal--you got something for nothing, and you're getting more something (followers, status, pageviews--whatever) for the same investment. I know there are people like this. The rationale is that the blog is still generating excitement for the book and the author.

I think that's only really wrong if

a) the blogger picked up the ARC only with the intention of giving it away to gain followers.

b) the blogger has no intention of reading the book.

c) the blogger will not be supporting the author and the publisher by influencing sales/making purchases that DO generate revenue for the book.

I don't think I am one of those bloggers. I would like to point out that last year, Read Now Sleep Later gave away a total of 2--count them, 2! ARCs. One was for Where She Went by Gayle Forman, which we received not one, not two, but three! ARCs from different sources. We kept two and raffled one off (and bought her other three books). The other was an ARC of Aprilynne Pike's Illusions, which we got from two different sources--we raffled one off, then bought Wings and Spells, since Illusions is book three of that series.

Two publishers, Walden Pond Press and Harlequin, offered us finished copies of The Fourth Stall and Touch of Power to raffle. We just conducted the contests. I'm probably going to end up raffling The Fourth Stall, Part II since I've received 2 copies of it, and also my copy of The Fourth Stall is a hardcover--so I'm definitely buying a matching hardcover for the sequel!

We purchased all other books given away on the blog... plus some copies for ourselves, because we are weak-willed in the presence of books. For Touch of Power, I am in fact buying two for giveaways and a third one for myself :)

This week, I'm giving away an ARC of Fracture by Megan Miranda. There are a couple of reasons for this.

1) I got the ARC after I bought a copy of her book at the signing I attended at Vroman's. Or rather, I had it before then, I just didn't know it was mine, because I'm dense like that.

2) I normally would have raffled the finished copy and kept the ARC so as to avoid wading into the muddy waters of ARC-giveaways. But have you seen the cover of Fracture?

Come on. I'm SO keeping the one I bought ;)

3) It's not just any old ARC. It's signed. It's special!

4) It's technically no longer an ARC--the book is out already. So it's just a Reading Copy, now.

So, bloggers, go ahead and attend those events. Request those ARCs. BUT.

a) Thank your source/the author/the publisher.

b) Read them.

c) Review them.

d) Don't sell them! BIG no-no.

e) Don't pick them up just to give them away.

f) If you do need to clear them out to make room (they tend to pile up!) please find a responsible educator/librarian who will give it a good home.

Full disclosure: I received my ARCs from ALA from an attendee who a) is a librarian b) is my good friend c) has a tiny apartment which seems even tinier now that she has packed ARCs into it d) knows that when she shares her ARCs with me that I will use them for good (generating buzz, encouraging reading/buying of books) and not evil (giving away to garner favor for myself and my blog).

Frankly, I didn't have room for them either. They are sitting under my coffee table because I don't have any shelf space and I'm too clingy to clear out my yarn closet for them. But it's ok. I will read them. I will likely re-buy the ones that are really good, since there are often differences between the uncorrected proof and the finished book. And I will encourage people to buy/borrow/read them! And when I really don't have room anymore, they will go to an educator/librarian/reader who will put them in the hands of even more young readers.

So if a finger-pointing troll gets the urge to poke at me for giving away ARCs, go for it. I won't be able to believe you :)

**deep breath**

What's in your mailbox?

Young Adult Giveaway Hop - Fracture

2012-01-26T23:45:00.000-08:00

Young Adult Giveaway Hop

January 27th to 31st

Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Down the Rabbit Hole

Today, we are giving away a signed ARC of Fracture by Megan Miranda! The prize has no cover art, just a plain blue cover. You are getting the ARC because, frankly, the cover is gorgeous and even though I had one I could not resist buying a finished one. I suspect I will be buying more as gifts, as well (and hey, if you don't win and are looking for a signed copy, you should call up Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena, CA--they should have some signed stock!)

From Goodreads:

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine—despite the scans that showed significant brain damage.

Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

US and Canada only, please! The winner will be chosen randomly and announced on the Rafflecopter widget on Feb. 1. Don't forget to visit all the other fantastic blogs on this hop for more chances to win YA books!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Hopping!