The Reading Fever

BEA: My New Business Card

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Sat, 18 May 2013 06:32:00 PDT

BEA is soooooo close! I am getting more and more excited...as well as nervous, since I get the feeling that no amount of planning will prepare me for this.

I just have to take a moment to show off my new business cards, which just came in the mail! Please forgive my moment of weakness; I have a huge fascination with business cards that made be irrationally excited when I saw these in person. :) I wasn't 100% sure what would be cut off of the back of the card where the screen shot of my blog is, but it ended up getting cut exactly where I hoped it would.

It's hard to see in the picture, but the three dots under my name and title are connected to a bar of dashes. And in true BEA style, it's also got my address on there in a super sneaky (not for the internet) spot. Out of the three card designs I've gone through over the past two years, this one is my absolute favorite. BEA, here I come!

What do your business cards look like?

No, really. I want to see!

Utah Book Month 2013 Signups!

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:57:00 PDT

Signups are open for Utah Book Month!

Utah Book Month is the month-long celebration of the wonderful authors and bloggers we have here in Utah.

This is just a sample of the amazing books Utah authors have given us. There are so many more!

And here's a sample of the bloggers who reside here in Utah. There are also so many more!

Emily @ Emily's Reading Room
Enna @ Squeaky Books
Natasha @ Maw Books Blog
Suey @ It's All About Books

Jessica @ The Bluestocking Society
Jenni @ Jenni Elyse

UBM isn't just for Utahans. Feel free to sign up, even if you're from another state.

♪ Let's get together, yah, yah, yah.... ♫

Here's what you need to know:

The celebration will take place during the month of August.
You can sign up to participate however much or little you want.
Everyone is welcome to participate, whether you live in Utah or not, but remember you'll be reviewing and spotlighting Utah authors, books and bloggers.
If you want to do a spotlight on a Utah author or blogger, you can choose to do that however you want... whether it be a formal interview or an informal Q and A, or simply spotlight them from information you find yourself on their website... or some other creative way you come up with.
We will assign you the blogger and/or author you'll be highlighting (you can make your preferences known in the sign up form below.)
We hope to wrap up the celebration with an In Real Life party, just like we did last year. Plan now!
To stay up to date with what's happening, be sure to follow this blog and our Twitter: @UtahBooks

Ready to join? Sign up here!

Can't see the form? Click here.

Don't forget to check out the Utah Book Month blog.

Hemlock Grove | TV Series Review

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Mon, 06 May 2013 06:00:00 PDT

Hemlock Grove (Season 1) TV-MA
Released: April 19, 2013
Director: Eli Roth
Creators: Brian McGreevy and Lee Shipman
Genre: Sci-fi, Horror, Thriller
Starring: Famke Janssen, Bill Skarsgård, Landon Liboiron
Based on: Hemlock Grove by Brian McGreevy

A teenage girl is brutally murdered, sparking a hunt for her killer. But in a town where everyone hides a secret, will they find the monster among them?
(Synopsis link)

I typed up a quick review for this show on Netflix, and then realized I had much more to say. And when I saw that it's based on a book, I just knew I would be posting a review on this blog, as my thoughts are as complex as the show.

I watched the first episode and wasn't impressed. Despite me immediately liking the character of Peter Rumaneck (played by Landon Liboiron) and his mother (Lili Taylor), I found the camera work to be spotty, and the show much too dramatized. I wouldn't have kept going if it weren't for Netflix's nifty feature that plays the next episode if you leave it alone for long enough. I figured I would give the next episode a try, since it had begun anyway.

And that's when I started getting hooked. I won't pretend I don't have a fascination with dark and moody settings, and Hemlock Grove is like the ultimate setting for this. The town people are eerie and secretive, with enough sordid history to make the series feel like something straight out of a Gothic horror novel.

Peter Rumaneck and Roman Godfrey (played by Bill Skarsgård--none other than the brother of Alexander Skarsgård, himself!) make a fantastic pair of friends. Their characters are such contrasts, but it's like magic when they're both on screen together. Their uneasy friendship is the true gem of the series, although there are many other relationships to watch unfold. I do admit that I never ended up liking Famke Janssen's portrayal of Roman's mother. There was something about the way she delivered her lines that got on my nerves--which is a surprise, since I've always liked her in the other roles I've seen her play.

And if you haven't heard much about the werewolf transformations, let me assure you--they're eye-openers! Hemlock Grove takes werewolf transformations to the next level. I was shocked and fascinated as I watched the first time, and it took me a few moments afterward to digest what I had just seen. Horror fans will go crazy about this particular aspect.

The camera work overall isn't the best I've seen, but I did stop noticing it sometime after the second episode. The acting isn't always the best either (no complaints as far as Peter and Roman--they are fantastic). But there's something about Hemlock Grove that appealed to me, and I ended up enjoying it. It's very different and a little strange. It deals mostly in deep, dark emotions, but can be very humorous. I couldn't even begin to make a comparison to another TV show, but it's definitely a show for a very specific audience. It's not for everyone (take the TV-MA rating seriously).

If you're not sure whether you would like it or not, I suggest giving it two episodes. You'll know by the end of the second episode if it's for you. On the other hand, if you like your mysteries slightly twisted and have a thing for werewolves, this is the show for you!

Watch this if:
...you like to wander in the supernatural world, and you don't have a weak stomach.

Content Warning
*This section may contain some spoilers about content!*
Highlight between the brackets to reveal the text.
{Over the entire series, you can expect to see violence, murder, many gruesome scenes, rape, sex, nudity, and infidelity. As far as mature content, think along the lines of Game of Thrones.}

See Hemlock Grove on:
Goodreads | IMDB

Insomnia by J.R. Johansson | Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Fri, 03 May 2013 07:00:00 PDT

Insomnia by J.R. Johansson (The Night Walkers #1)
Publisher: Flux
Format: eGalley (courtesy of J.R. Johansson)
Genre: Paranormal, YA
Publication Date: 8 June, 2013

It’s been four years since I slept, and I suspect it is killing me.

Instead of sleeping, Parker Chipp enters the dream of the last person he’s had eye contact with. He spends his nights crushed by other people’s fear and pain, by their disturbing secrets—and Parker can never have dreams of his own. The severe exhaustion is crippling him. If nothing changes, Parker could soon be facing psychosis and even death.

Then he meets Mia. Her dreams, calm and beautifully uncomplicated, allow him blissful rest that is utterly addictive. Parker starts going to bizarre lengths to catch Mia’s eye every day. Everyone at school thinks he’s gone over the edge, even his best friend. And when Mia is threatened by a true stalker, everyone thinks it’s Parker.

Suffering blackouts, Parker begins to wonder if he is turning into someone dangerous. What if the monster stalking Mia is him after all?

The idea that 'the eyes are the windows to your soul' is brought to life with Parker's inexplicable talent of entering the dreams of the last person he made eye contact with. As Parker has experienced, the thoughts people keep to themselves can often be dramatically different from their outward appearances. Some of the dreams (or dreams of memories) he experiences are violent or disturbing. And when he sees that those disturbing dreams are beginning to have a toll on his own nature, it's a startling realization. A lot of this book deals with human nature and the subconscious, and I found that fascinating.

Insomnia is the perfect title for this book, because it kept me up for so long at night. I was torn between getting some sleep, and wanting to find out the identity of Mia's stalker. It twisted my guts as I read, because while there were some very cliche moments, hardly anything unfolded the way I expected it to. Quite often, I was surprised or startled by the turn of events.

I was very pleased with the love story. It's not the hero-meets-damsel let's-call-it-true-love type of story. Parker doesn't take the convenient road (hey, I'm trying to be cryptic and not give it away). I also liked the easy friendship between Parker, Finn, and Addie.

One aspect I didn't enjoy as much as I had hoped, was Parker's downer attitude towards the end of the book. He has a lot on his plate, and is sleep-deprived on top of it all, but he becomes a pretty bad friend to those who are trying to help him. He refuses offers of help until he has no other choice, and even after he accepts help, he keeps vital secrets to himself because...it's easier for everyone (or so he thinks).

I was also confused with the timeline of Parker's sleep deprivation. It didn't make sense to me. When the book begins, Parker hasn't slept even once in four straight years. There is no mention of accidents, psychotic actions, or psychological effects, aside from less concentration. It's just been Parker trudging along for those four years, looking steadily worse for the wear, and mistakenly becoming a drug addict in the eyes of those around him. But in just a few pages, he suddenly begins having all of the symptoms of sleep deprivation in rapid succession, and is sure that he's going to die. And he's convinced that it's going to happen soon.

All of this lead me to Google, where I learned that two weeks is about the extent of life expectancy among non-sleepers. Unless you have an actual Insomnia disorder (very rare), which can give you about 6-30 months without sleep, before death. Nowhere close to four years. But what do I know? This very confusion may be something that's addressed in the next book, as the ending leaves us to believe that there is more to Parker's abilities than we now know.

Until then....
I always enjoy getting a fresh view from a male perspective, and this is no exception. There's something cool about feeling as if I'm experiencing the male side of life. (Uh, does that make me weird? No? Phew.) I was entertained by Parker's abilities, and highly thrilled with the action and psychological twists. I'm looking forward to the sequel!

Temp. Guide

Read this if:
...you like thrillers, and enjoy walking the line between good and bad.

Content Warning
*This section may contain some spoilers about content!*
Highlight between the brackets to reveal the text.
{Some swearing, some violence, murder, and one dream scene that suggests that a sexual violation has taken place.}

Pre-order Insomnia:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble

J.R. Johansson:

Website / Twitter / Blog

Oz the Great and Powerful | Movie Review

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 07:00:00 PST

Oz the Great and Powerful PG-13

Released: 8 March 2013

Directed by: Sam Raimi

Screenplay by: Mitchell Kapner, David Lindsay-Abaire,

Starring: James Franco, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz, Mila Kunis

Based on: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

A small-time magician arrives in an enchanted land and is forced to decide if he will be a good man or a great one. (synopsis link)

Oz the Great and Powerful started out fabulously, with everything black-and-white, and James Franco (playing the wizard Oz) setting up his status as a womanizing carnival magician. There were funny jokes tossed around, and a playful use of dramatic, though well-trodden, character interactions.

And then Oz found himself in the land of Oz.

You've probably seen or read The Wizard of Oz, so I won't explain the tornado = Oz formula, but he finds himself in a land with a fascinating full spectrum of colors. We are given an extended view of the wonderful and outlandish plants and ecosystem this land has to offer, showing off what I assume to be some very expensive CGI work...which is the exact point I began to lose interest. Quickly.

In just the first few minutes of being in Oz, I was dumbfounded by the overall artificial look of the entire thing. There are a certain amount of things one has to accept when watching watching a fantastical movie. It's a given that the tornado that sweeps a character away to another land is fake, and that the so far unknown plants one is seeing in this new world are fake as well. But we accept them as part of the reality of this world, and therefore accept them as truth. Not possible in this case. There was so much processing that neither the land, the animals, nor the people looked remotely realistic. There were times that it seemed as if I was suddenly watching an animated film--which pulled me out of the story every time, to wonder how someone could think such a thing looked anything but artificial.

The appearance of the first inhabitant of Oz offers no relief. Mila Kunis (Theodora) is a drop-dead gorgeous woman, yet the processing that was done to give her some sort of "flawless" look, even made her seem unreal. The reason behind this is made clear when later events occur, but I was still left with the sense that it was all just way too much. Like it was compensating for something. Which leads very nicely into my next point: the story.

As for the actual story, I'm not sure I could count all of the jokes, awkward moments, strange pauses, prophecies, and unnecessary dramatic flourishes that are used instead of a solid plot. It was as if the idea was to throw as many cliche moments into the movie as possible, add a joke or two while they were happening, and call it entertainment. No need for explaining or development of characters. ~~Just accept this pretty visual, and shut up~~. And don't forget about the womanizing; that plays a big part in the outcome, and we're expected to cheer as it happens.

These normally very talented actors and actresses ultimately fall flat, due to strange dialogue and those awkward moments I mentioned. I was honestly waiting for one of the characters to gasp, bite her first, and run away crying and/or faint (okay, a bit harsh, but you see what I'm getting at). Though I have to give kudos to Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz for delivering some of the stranger dialogue in ways that flattered their characters.

While there was a lot I didn't like, I do admit to a few things the movie did very well. Oz's (the magician's) journey to becoming the wizard is played out fairly convincingly in the end. I did enjoy the conclusion to his story, especially the reasoning behind his appearance in TWoO. The best part of the entire movie was the wicked witch's actual transition into the wicked witch we know and love--and her subsequent actions.

I'm normally easy to please when it comes to movies. But even with an awesome wicked witch, and an acceptable ending, this is definitely not a movie I could recommend.

Book-to-Movie

I'm counting this in the book-to-movie category, since it's a prequel based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. I can't say I have read the book myself, but I have seen the various movie versions, and know the general story line.

Judging from that, everything is set up very nicely for the events in The Wizard of Oz. Having the reasons behind certain elements such as why the scarecrow was left, how the lion lost his courage, or why the great and powerful Oz is a giant floating head, creates the perfect connection to The Wizard of Oz.

Temp. Guide

Watch this if:

...you're not distracted by things like bad CGI, and you're brave...very brave.

Content Warning

*This section may contain some spoilers about content!*

Highlight between the brackets to reveal the text.

{Violence, kissing (ooh, la la!), and some pretty scary scenes that may be a bit too scary for young children.}

Oz the Great and Powerful on
Goodreads | IMDB

Alice in Everville by S.C. Langgle | Blog Tour Review + Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 01:31:00 PST

I'm excited to be a part of the Alice in Everville blog tour! The tour is hosted by Jennifer from My Life With Books, and features reviews, guest posts, interviews, and awesome giveaway. Check out my review, then scroll down to enter to win a copy of the book.

Alice in Everville by S.C. Langgle
Publisher: Pendrell Publishing
Format: eGalley (courtesy of Jennifer @ My Life With Books)
Genre: Contemporary, YA
Publication Date: 12 March, 2013

A poem can seem like a labyrinth, a maze of words you can lose yourself in. The key is to find a thread to hold on to, to guide you in your reading, to lead you into and out of a labyrinth of words…

Alice Little thinks she’s read every word the world-famous poet Sylvie Plate published before her untimely death…until she discovers a coded message hidden in Sylvie’s final collection of poems--a message that may explain the poet’s mysterious demise.

All she has to do is decipher the code and she knows she can convince her beloved English teacher, Miss A, that Sylvie’s message is real. Unfortunately, she only has one manic day at Everville Mall to do it. And between keeping track of her fountain-splashing, havoc-wreaking sister, finding a new copy of Sylvie’s poems, and…oh yeah…dealing with the blue-eyed, guitar-playing, majorly swoon-worthy Jaden Briar, who keeps popping up everywhere she goes, Alice wonders if she will ever finish deciphering in time.

“Some things you just couldn't change, or transform, or wish away. Sometimes the path you were on only went one way. Sometimes, the truth wasn't what you wanted to hear.”

-Alice in Everville by S.C. Langgle

Though I don't usually review short stories, I was interested in reading this one because of its play on Sylvia Plath's name, and the code that Alice discovers in this Sylvie Plate's poems. The book is short, a little over 170 pages, but a lot happens during Alice's day at the mall. She spends the day alternately trying to discuss her discovery with her English teacher, and trying to decipher the rest of Sylvie Plate's code--all while taking care of her exuberant younger sister, dodging mall security, and making friends with her long-time crush. The idea that a hidden message can be found in a poet's last works is a thrilling one, and I was just as excited as Alice to see what the message would uncover.

There are a lot of parallels to be drawn in this story, the biggest being that Sylvie Plate was known to have committed suicide, leaving behind her young children, whereas Alice's mother had attempted suicide in the past--something that their family hasn't completely gotten over. Seeing Alice work through this as the day goes on, is ultimately satisfying. I don't want to give anything away, but I'll say that when Alice finally finds the final message, it is equal parts shocking, and enlightening.

I think what I really didn't like about the book was the way Alice's parents were portrayed, and the overwhelming amount of puns. I like puns, and in fact found some of them funny. The mall store called Never 22 made me laugh out loud. But there were so many of these, that it felt overdone.

As for her parents, Alice's mother is described as not being of sound mind, and therefore not always able to take care of/be with her daughters, while her father seemed unwilling to even help Alice take care of Jillie. In fact, it was comments such as the quote below that made it seem as if Jillie (who is described as having to go to a "special school," although we don't know what her diagnosis is) was Alice's responsibility through and through.

"It's fine," I said quickly, "she can come." There was no way Dad would let me leave him alone with Jillie again, so this was the best solution.

-Alice In Everville by S.C. Langgle

Overall, I think Alice in Everville is a cute story perfect for a day at the beach, or for any middle grade peeps. It's got humorous elements, as much mystery and adventure as you can find in a shopping mall, and inspires an interest in poetry in a unique way.

Temp. Guide

Read this if:
...you like poetry, mystery, and have big a sense of humor.

Content Warning
*This section may contain some spoilers about content!*
Highlight between the brackets to reveal the text.
{Talk of suicide and depression.}

Purchase Alice in Everville:

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Pendrell Publishing

S.C. Langgle:

Website / Facebook / Goodreads / Twitter

S.C. Langgle is offering a $20 dollar gift card and 2 Alice in Everville ARCs as a Giveaway!

Enter below!

Bonus entries are available for following the participating blogs.
Winners will be announced, and prizes fulfilled, by the author.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Tour Stops

Visit the other stops on the tour for guest posts and interviews with S.C. Langgle, and more reviews of Alice in Everville!

February 27 – Jennifer @ My Life With Books
February 28 – Misty @ The Book Rat
March 1 – Jessica @ Books: A True Story
March 4 – Kathy @ I Am A Reader Not A Writer
March 5 - Penelope @ The Reading Fever
March 6 - Jamie @ Writers, Write, Right?
March 7 – Alexis @ The Book Hideaway
March 8 – Haley @ Life and Lies
March 11 – Michelle @ Book Briefs
March 12 – Author post @ S.C. Langgle

The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen | Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 07:00:00 PST

The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen (The Ascendance Trilogy #2)
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Format: eGalley (courtesy of Netgalley)
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Publication Date: 1 March, 2013

A kingdom teetering on the brink of destruction. A king gone missing. Who will survive? Find out in the highly anticipated sequel to Jennifer A. Nielsen's blockbuster THE FALSE PRINCE!

Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?

The stunning second installment of The Ascendance Trilogy takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of treason and murder, thrills and peril, as they journey with the Runaway King!

“Above all else, I think that you are a compulsive liar."

My laughter was tense, but sincere. "Hardly. In fact, I consider myself a compulsive truth teller. It's only that everyone else seems compelled to misunderstand me.”

-Devlin & Sage, The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen

I began The Runaway King with the fear that it wouldn't live up to The False Prince. Sage's character is just such an interesting one, and while I had really enjoyed reading about him in The False Prince, I was afraid the dreaded second book syndrome might make an appearance and ruin him for me.

No such thing happened. Sage's stubbornly nonchalant attitude is back, and as fresh as ever.

In The Runaway King, the stakes are even higher for Jaron as he goes back to being Sage to save his life. His kingdom is on the verge of war, the council won't listen to his ideas, and he knows he can hardly trust anyone. So he does what any king masquerading as an orphan boy named Sage would do: goes on a quest to solve all the problems on his own.

The adventures and dangers Sages talks his way into are fun and exciting, and he even manages to reveal a few more of his trademark secrets in a fashion that only he could. His half truths and secrets are my favorites to try and figure out, even if they were a little easy to figure out this time. :)

I think the weak point in the story is that the villains are pretty clear right from the beginning. Some are purposely revealed, but another isn't disguised very well, making the rest of the book one long wait for Sage to catch up. There was also a part during the story where events unfolded in a way that went against what we know of the characters involved. I can't explain any more of that without giving anything away.

Even with those things, it is still an exciting addition to the Ascendance Trilogy. I enjoyed going along with Sage as he struggled and made hard decisions. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Temp. Guide

Read this if:
...you like interesting MCs, have a good sense of humor, and have a nose for danger.

Content Warning
*This section may contain some spoilers about content!*
Highlight between the arrows to reveal the text.
>>Some violence (your average pirate and assassination attempt stuff).<<

For those who have read the book:

*SPOILER WARNING*

>> What did you think about the ending? What do you think will happen next?

Me: I really liked that Jaron doesn't end up with the girl he wants; not because I'm cold-hearted, but because I love how mature they all were about it. They each chose country over themselves, and I really respect that. Even though the last page shows that this will probably change when he goes to rescue Imogen, I still think it was very well done.

Your thoughts? <<

My Review of The False Prince (The Ascendance Trilogy #1)

Purchase The Runaway King:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository

Jennifer Nielsen:

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Blog

Rest for the Wicked by Cate Dean | Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 11:36:00 PST

Rest for the Wicked by Cate Dean (Claire Wiche Chronicles #1)
Publisher: Pentam Press
Format: ebook
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Adult
Publication Date: 16 April, 2012

She's running from her past. And running out of time.

Claire Wiche is an ordinary woman, running her Wicca shop in an ordinary California beach town. But Claire wasn't always ordinary, and she isn't quite human. She hides a secret, and a past she thought she had put behind her.

A past that is about to explode into her present.

When it does, and everyone she loves is in danger, Claire must face up to her past - and become what she left behind in order to save them.

I felt like the story was just beginning when I looked at the bottom of my Kindle and realized I was more than halfway through the book. While this is partially my fault for not catching that this was a short one before I began reading, I can't help but feel that much more could have happened. There's a great story in here that could have come out if the characters were given more time. Instead, the story felt way too rushed, and resulted in things like insta-love (or in this case: love as a result of sex) and misunderstood character actions.

******Spoiler warning: Don't read if you don't want to know Claire's secret.******

I was also surprised to find towards the end that I was not, in fact, reading a book about witches, but was reading a book about angels...turned demons. If you read my blog, you know how I feel about reading angel books.* It's rare that I find an angel book I like, and sadly this was not one of those times.

* I hate them--not angels, just books that misrepresent angels according to my own beliefs. Oddly enough, I'm okay reading books about demons, since I can take that with a grain of salt. But usually not when angels are brought into the picture. I know--It's a fine line I walk. ;)

***********End spoiler***********

It does have some exciting action that keeps you wanting to know how it will all turn out. And there are a few characters who are given interesting twists. Cate Dean based a lot of the story on facts and real objects, which I think is cool. I think this is a book that others may enjoy. It just isn't the book for me.

Temp. Guide

Read this if:
...you like stories of good vs. pure evil.

Content Warning
*This section may contain some spoilers about content!*
Highlight between the brackets to reveal the text.
{Violence, murder, and a few implied sex scenes.}

Other Books in the Series:

Book 2: A Gathering of Angels / Book 3: Carry On Wayward Son

Purchase Rest for the Wicked:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository

Cate Dean:

Website / Twitter / Facebook

BEA 2013 | I'm Going, Baby!

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 07:00:00 PST

It's official: The Reading Fever is going to BEA!

Book Expo America is the largest book trade fair in North America, and I have wanted to go for the past three years! I am so excited to be able to meet the authors and publishers, and to learn more about the book industry. And of course, I am super excited to see/meet other book bloggers there.

If you are attending BEA, let me know in the comments! I would love to meet up with other bloggers and be able to put faces to your blogs. :) Also, since this will be my first time attending BEA, I would love any tips you can give me. I have been in a frenzy trying to plan for this.

Hope to see you there!

A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest | Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 07:00:00 PST

A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest
Publisher: CreateSpace Independant Publishing
Format: ebook (courtesy of the author)
Genre: Paranormal Romance, YA
Publication Date: 14 December, 2012

On the evening of Sofia Claremont's seventeenth birthday, she is sucked into a nightmare from which she cannot wake. A quiet evening walk along a beach brings her face to face with a dangerous pale creature that craves much more than her blood. She is kidnapped to an island where the sun is eternally forbidden to shine.

An island uncharted by any map and ruled by the most powerful vampire coven on the planet. She wakes here as a slave, a captive in chains. Sofia's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn when she is the one selected out of hundreds of girls to join the harem of Derek Novak, the dark royal Prince.

Despite his addiction to power and obsessive thirst for her blood, Sofia soon realizes that the safest place on the island is within his quarters, and she must do all within her power to win him over if she is to survive even one more night.

Will she succeed? ...or is she destined to the same fate that all other girls have met at the hands of the Novaks?

The idea behind A Shade of Vampire is pretty catchy and kept me reading through to the end. A vampire prince who goes under a sleeping spell to escape vampirism, and a girl kidnapped to be his personal toy once he wakes up--but who he falls in love with instead. The island they live on, their government, and they way they live, all had me wanting to find out more about this coven of vampires. I was interested in learning more about Derek as well, and in seeing where his relationship with Sofia would lead. Despite the insta-love factor, I was rooting for them to be together, even when an unexpected variable was thrown into the picture. What can I say? I'm a sucker for tortured souls.

But while the ideas behind the story were catchy, I couldn't help but be disappointed in the way things unfolded. The great ideas were all there, but I couldn't shake the feeling that the story wasn't yet finished. The biggest factor in this is the pacing. The story begins at a pace that gives us detailed descriptions of what happens through Sofia's eyes at almost every moment of the day. Then somewhere in the last half of the book it suddenly skips days, then weeks at a time, hurriedly glossing over what could have been some of the more interesting parts of the story (Sofia's training sessions) in just a few pages. After that, it slows down again and settles back into the every moment descriptions, but the time in the story no longer computes with the time frame in your mind. The book is short--just under 150 pages, which I read it in about 4 hours. And with Bella Forrest's descriptive writing, I think there could definitely have been more of the story told, while keeping the same pace throughout the entire book.

Other little things were bothersome, such as some of the more predictable moments, and a few overused cliches. It is a story that can suck you in if you let it, and it does have some very bright moments. There is a seriously awesome part where Sofia tells Derek to stop feeling sorry for himself because he's not the victim. I almost cheered when she said that, because it's something I sometimes wish I could say to so many characters from other books. Overall, I think this is the type of book you would pick up if you have some free time and want a quick read.

Temp. Guide

Read this if:
...you like vampires in rich settings, and you don't mind a story that's over quickly.

Content Warning
*This section may contain some spoilers about content!*
Highlight between the brackets to reveal the text.
{Some gore (the usual vampire stuff), an attempted rape, kidnapping, and murder.}

Purchase A Shade of Vampire:

Amazon US / Amazon UK

Bella Forrest:

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

2013 Books-to-Movies

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 11:37:00 PST

I don't know if this is just the first year that I've paid this much attention to it, or if film makers are really just deciding books are better starting material...but whatever it is, there are a TON of books that have been made into movies lately. Here's my attempt to gather all the ones I know are being released in 2013 into one list. If you think this list is long, you should see how many movies are currently in production for next year. There are even more!

Movies are listed in order of their release dates.
I've added *stars* to the movies I'm the most excited for, and ~waves~ to the books I plan to read (or have read) before watching their movie.

Parker - January 25

based on The Hunter by Richard Stark

IMDB | Goodreads

Warm Bodies - February 1

based on Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

IMDB | Goodreads

~Beautiful Creatures - February 14~

based on Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
(It's pretty cute, if different from the book. Here's my review.)

IMDB | Goodreads

Safe Haven - February 14

based on Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

IMDB | Goodreads

Admission - March 13

based on Admission by Jean Hanff Koreltz

IMDB | Goodreads

~*The Host - March 29*~

based on The Host by Stephenie Meyer

IMDB | Goodreads

Odd Thomas - April 5

based on Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

IMDB | Goodreads

The Great Gatsby - May 10

based on The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

IMDB | Goodreads

~World War Z - June 21~

based on World War Z by Max Brooks

IMDB | Goodreads

*Much Ado About Nothing - June 21*

based on the play by Shakespeare (and directed by Joss Whedon!!)

IMDB | Goodreads

*Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters - August 16*

based on The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

IMDB | Goodreads

City of Bones - August 23

based on City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

IMDB | Goodreads

Serena - September 27

based on Serena by Ron Rash (starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley cooper!)

IMDB | Goodreads

Paranoia - October 4

based on Paranoia by Joseph Finder

IMDB | Goodreads

Carrie - October 18

based on Carrie by Stephen King

IMDB | Goodreads

The Seventh Son - October 18

based on Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney

IMDB | Goodreads

~*Ender's Game - November 1*~

based on Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

IMDB | Goodreads

***Catching Fire - November 22***

based on Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

IMDB | Goodreads

~*The Hobbit part 2 - December 13*~

based on The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein

(no 2013 poster yet, so I used this one 'cuz I think it's cool)

IMDB | Goodreads

Movies With Exact Release Date Unknown

*Austenland*

based on Austenland by Shannon Hale

Austenland was shown at Sundance, with the announcement that it would be out in theaters sometime in 2013.

IMDB | Goodreads

~Winter's Tale~

based on Winter's Tale by Mark Helpern

(yes, that IS Jessica Findlay--Lady Sybil--you see in the movie poster!)

IMDB | Goodreads

Dorothy of Oz

based on Dorothy of Oz by roger S. Baum

(not to be confused with the Oz: The Great and Powerful)

IMDB | Goodreads

Which movies are you excited for? Which books will you be reading before you see the movies?

Changeling Giveaway WINNERS!

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:24:00 PST

Thanks everyone, for entering my Changeling giveaway! I'm so excited for the winners to get their books. I just love Philippa Gregory's books so much! :) Two winners were chosen by Rafflecopter, so....

Josie Hink and Kait!

You two are the winners! Be on the lookout for emails from me soon!

Remember that you have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be chosen.

Beautiful Creatures | Movie Review

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 06:00:00 PST

Beautiful Creatures PG-13

Released: 14 February 2013

Directed by: Richard LaGravenese

Screenplay by: Richard LaGravenese

Starring: Alice Englert, Viola Davis, Emma Thompson

Based on: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

When newcomer Lena Duchannes arrives in the small town of Gatlin, she quickly captures the attention of Ethan Wate, who only wants to escape what he views as a boring and dead-end town. He quickly gets more than he bargained for, as Lena possesses strange powers that have long kept her at a distance from others in her life. Lena and Ethan are drawn together, but their budding romance is threatened by the dangers posed by Lena's being a Caster and her family's Dark powers, for upon her sixteenth birthday Lena must undergo the Claiming, a process that will decide her fate forever: Light or Dark. (synopsis link)

I had the opportunity to attend a press screening of Beautiful Creatures last week, thanks to the amazing Marissa from Rae Gun Ramblings (you can see her preparations for, and experience at, the movie). I meant to re-read the book before I watched it, but I didn't end up getting to it before it was time. So here's my full disclosure that I read Beautiful Creatures exactly three years ago, and am fuzzy on the finer details of the book's story.

When the movie began, I had to laugh at Ethan Wate's (played by Alden Ehrenreich) horrible accent. He narrates a bit at the beginning, and his voice not only sounds squeaky, but the accent is noticeably fake. I'm not sure if it got better, or I just got used to it, but I did stop noticing it pretty soon after his narration ended.

I was skeptical at first, but I did enjoy the casting choices all around. I found myself in love with Emma Thompson's performance, as she played a woman possessed by the spirit of an evil caster, easily switching back and forth between the roles of the two characters as needed. I was also amazed at the fact that for once, teenagers are played by actors and actresses who actually pass for teenagers. And boy, did they have me sold on their love story.

The chemistry between Lena Duchannes (played by Alice Engert) and Ethan is strong...and sweet. While there are definitely some cheesy moments, I found it easy to root for them. Their cute, slightly awkward personalities led to interactions that had me smiling, and sometimes laughing. And while I say 'awkward,' it's worth noting that on the scale of awkward cheesiness, which goes from zero to Twilight, Beautiful Creatures falls nowhere near the awkwardly uncomfortable scenes in found in Twilight.

Hey, it had to be said.

Book-to-Movie

This is the part where the movie loses some of its merit. It does manage to capture the characters' personalities from the book very well. It also captures the tone of the book, and gives off a sense of foreboding with just the right amount of humor.

BUT...they changed a lot. More than just little things that only fans would know of. Even without remembering the finer details, there are big plot points that I know they changed, leading me to believe there is no way the sequels can follow the same story line. There's an entire character left out of the movie--a character I have been told plays a pivotal role in the third book (which I have not read yet). And although I really liked the last few minutes of the movie, the ending leading up to that part takes the movie in a very different direction than the book. I'm actually anxious to read the book again so I can remember the exact differences, and see if there is anything else I missed.

In conclusion, I think it's a cute movie that satisfied me with the right amount of humor, darkness, and falling in love. I will definitely watch it again. I'll just keep it very separate from the book in my mind.

Temp. Guide

Watch this if:

...you're a sucker for love stories, and you don't mind if the movie walks a different road than the book.

Content Warning

*This section may contain some spoilers about content!*

Highlight between the brackets to reveal the text.

{Minor swearing, kissing, magic, a very short scene with implied voodoo, and murder.}

Beautiful Creatures on
Goodreads | IMDB

Changeling by Philippa Gregory | Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 06:00:00 PST

Changeling by Philippa Gregory (Order of Darkness #1)
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Format: Paperback (courtesy of Big Honcho Media)
Genre: Historical Fiction, YA
Publication Date: 24 May, 2012

Dark myths, medieval secrets, intrigue, and romance populate the pages of this first in a four-book teen series from the #1 bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl.

The year is 1453 and all signs point to it being the end of the world. Accused of heresy and expelled from his monastery, handsome seventeen-year-old Luca Vero is recruited by a mysterious stranger to record the end of times across Europe. Commanded by sealed orders, Luca is sent to map the fears of Christendom and travel to the very frontier of good and evil. Seventeen-year-old Isolde, a Lady Abbess, is trapped in a nunnery to prevent her from claiming her rich inheritance. As the nuns in her care are driven mad by strange visions, walking in their sleep, and showing bleeding wounds, Luca is sent to investigate and driven to accuse her.

Forced to face the greatest fears of the dark ages—witchcraft, werewolves, madness—Luca and Isolde embark on a search for truth, their own destinies, and even love as they take the unknown ways to the real historical figure who defends the boundaries of Christendom and holds the secrets of the Order of Darkness.

“Luca saw her bloodstained hands as the clerk bound them with a rope, and Luca realized that she was a thing of horror, a beautiful thing of horror, the worst thing between heaven and hell: a fallen angel.”

-Luca, Order of Darkness: Changeling by Philippa Gregory

As a big fan of Philippa Gregory, I was so excited when I found out she had written a YA book. I've always admired the way she can bring people from history back to life, and give new meaning and explanations to their actions. She's done no different with this book, although this time, her characters are completely fictional and not based on actual people.

Changeling is a book that really captures the dark hysteria of the 1400's. It's full of superstition and the fear of the unknown, leading problems caused by the conclusions that are drawn because of this lack of scientific understanding. While I wouldn't classify it as historical fantasy, I'd say that it's as close to fantasy as reality can get...while still hinting at a little something yet to come.

The downsides:
It starts off slowly and doesn't pick up until well into the story. I think part of that is because that first part is pretty predictable, leading to a long wait until the characters figure out what the reader already has. It also doesn't deliver on what I assumed to be a promise of the paranormal. I adore pure historical fiction, so it wasn't something that detracted from my reading (in fact, I really like how it was all handled), but I think it's good to know not to read it expecting that.

Those things aside, it's an enjoyable read. Gregory's descriptive writing brings the setting to life, and makes it easy to slide into her characters' personas. I admired the main characters and understood their positions. I also fell in love with two of the side characters, and found myself rooting for them in their troubles.

I eagerly look forward to whatever adventures are yet to come!

Temp. Guide

Read this if:
...you like to feel like you're living history as it happens, and you're not spooked easily.

Content Warning
*This section may contain some spoilers about content!*
Highlight between the brackets to reveal the text.
{Some sexual references, death, and some violence.}

I'm giving away two copies of Changeling!
Click here to stop by and enter the giveaway.

Other Books in the Series:

Book 2: Stormbringers

Purchase Changeling:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository

Philippa Gregory:

Website / Twitter / Facebook

Ender's Game + the Trouble With Classics | An Informal Review

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 01:04:00 PST

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

I just finished reading Ender's Game--a reading choice that I surprised myself with yesterday. My super dark secret is that I'm not one to read classics. I've read a few, but only when the mood has struck...and it doesn't strike often. The trouble with classics, is that their wide-spread popularity is usually what keeps me away from them. It's not a situation where I just want to do the opposite of everyone else, it's more that I'm perfectly fine accepting that classics are classics for a good reason, and getting on with my reading elsewhere (blasphemous, I know).

So imagine my surprise when I not only saw Ender's Game on the bookshelf at B&N, but I also carried it around the store with me and decidedly skipped putting it back on the shelf before checking out. When I got home, I began reading. I wasn't ten pages in before I knew that I was reading an extraordinary book. And now that I'm finished...well, suffice it to say that I am utterly blown away. Though part of me is still wondering what on Earth (or off it, I guess) I just read.

There are some very strange qualities to the book, some of which I'm not sure I'll ever get over (children fighting children will never be something I'd like to read about), but overall, this is a book that inspires thinking--both good and bad. All the strategy, the psychoanalyzing, the twists; it's a kind of twisted adventure you never knew you wanted to go on. It was published 28 years ago, yet still applies to us today. And good luck finding anything that marks the story as out of date. You won't.

But I digress. I highly doubt the world needs another full-fledged Ender's Game review. But I don't mind giving it a full five stars, anyway. This is the kind of book that can't be replicated.

Also, I think maybe--just maybe--I'll start picking up classics more often. This isn't the first time I've been blindsided by a book I had subconsciously benched.

Temp. Guide

Order of Darkness: Changeling by Philippa Gregory Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 23:00:00 PST

Hey fever readers! Today I have the wonderful opportunity to giveaway TWO copies of the new paperback version of Changeling by Philippa Gregory!

I have been a long time fan of Philippa Gregory, and was so excited when I found out she had written a YA book. I've read the book myself (full review later this week), and thought the hysteria of the time was captured wonderfully. It is a book I recommend, so be sure to enter to win a copy below!

But first, here's more about the book:

Order of Darkness Official Site

Dark myths, medieval secrets, intrigue, and romance populate the pages of this first in a four-book teen series from the #1 bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl.

The year is 1453 and all signs point to it being the end of the world. Accused of heresy and expelled from his monastery, handsome seventeen-year-old Luca Vero is recruited by a mysterious stranger to record the end of times across Europe. Commanded by sealed orders, Luca is sent to map the fears of Christendom and travel to the very frontier of good and evil. Seventeen-year-old Isolde, a Lady Abbess, is trapped in a nunnery to prevent her from claiming her rich inheritance. As the nuns in her care are driven mad by strange visions, walking in their sleep, and showing bleeding wounds, Luca is sent to investigate and driven to accuse her.

Forced to face the greatest fears of the dark ages—witchcraft, werewolves, madness—Luca and Isolde embark on a search for truth, their own destinies, and even love as they take the unknown ways to the real historical figure who defends the boundaries of Christendom and holds the secrets of the Order of Darkness.

Watch the Trailer:

Two winners will recieve:

A paperback copy of Order of Darkness: Changeling by Philippa Gregory

No purchase necessary.
You must be 13 or older to enter, or have your parent's permission.
Open to residents of US/CAN only.
Winners will be contacted via email, and will have 48 hours to respond to my email, or another winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Philippa Gregory:
Philippa Gregory is the author of several internationally bestselling novels, including The Other Boleyn Girl and The White Queen, and is a recognized authority on women’s history. She lives in the north of England with her family and welcomes visitors to her website, PhilippaGregory.com. Order of Darkness: Changeling is her first novel written for teens.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / OoD Official Site

Dusk Gate Chronicles by Breeana Puttroff | Series Review

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 21:31:00 PST

Dusk Gate Chronicles by Breeana Puttroff

Seeds of Discovery | Roots of Insight | Thorns of Decision | Blooms of Consequence

Publisher: Musefish Press

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, YA

Seeds of Discovery (book 1) synopsis:

Quinn Robbins' life was everything she thought a teenager's should be. She has good friends, a family that she loves, good grades, and an after-school job she enjoys. And, she's just been asked out by Zander Cunningham, a popular football player and great guy. But one day when driving home after picking up her little sister from the baby-sitter's, she nearly hits a boy who, after running blindly into the street, mysteriously disappears.

The mystery only deepens as she figures out who the boy is; William Rose, a reclusive, awkward boy from school who always has his nose in a pile of books.

As she becomes more aware of his behavior it becomes more obvious how out of the ordinary William is and how hard he deliberately tries to blend into the background. This only intrigues her more and she finds herself working to find out more about him, and exactly where he keeps disappearing to.

On a whim one night she follows him and suddenly finds herself in a new world. One where William is a prince, literally, and she is treated like a princess. She also discovers that she is stuck; the gate back to her own world isn't always open.

Quinn finds herself smack in the middle of a modern-day fairy tale, on a course that will change her life forever.

*Spoiler alert: I'm trying to keep this spoiler-free, but there is ONE thing I will spoil--Quinn's love interest--because I think it's something that is obvious will happen, even from reading the description of the first book.*

I joined a book tour for Seeds of Discovery (here's my review of Seeds of Discovery that I posted last week), which is how I discovered this series. After reading that first book, I was so interested in reading more about Quinn and William, that I bought the next book and continued on...which led to me buying the rest of the series as soon as I was finished. Although it isn't a perfect series--I'm not sure there ever will be a perfect series--I was drawn to this one because of its realistic relationships, and strong characters.

Quinn and Will's relationship alone is enough for me to have given this series 5 stars. They aren't together in the beginning, but throughout the series they both grow and change and realize they care for each other. I admire their ability to talk to each other and and come to an understanding about their problems. It just blows me away to have found something so realistic as their relationship. They don't agree on everything, but they talk it out anyway, even if it's something that might hurt the other person. They have a very open relationship as well; though I'm sure it would be easy to exclude everyone from their personal lives, they don't. They keep some things between them, but they include others in their decisions and plans, and make sure they think of their families as well as themselves when making those decisions. They love being with their families and friends as much as they love being with each other, and are perfectly willing to spend time apart when the need arises. There's no dependency, no jealousy, no misunderstandings; just a healthy relationship built on respect and love.

Theirs isn't the only relationship like this. There are many other examples of great relationships in the series as well, including Will's parents, and some of his married or dating siblings. I also love how responsible and, well, motherly Quinn's mother is, even if she has a hard time dealing with some of her daughter's choices. She has a healthy relationship with her daughter, and tries her best to be a good parent.

With that said, there are parts of the series that aren't as strong; the world building, for one thing. Though Will's world is like some sort of medieval time period slightly influenced by our own time, there are some inconsistencies that came up, and didn't make sense. Some characters carry swords and weaponry, but most didn't--especially the royal family, who we are told know how to use swords. There are some things that are different from the medieval times we know, like the fact that men and women have the same rights. Though this was very apparent throughout the story, one of Will's sisters is still prevented from doing the same things as her twin brother, time and time again. There are also many more than just two kingdoms in Will's world, though we only ever hear about one other kingdom aside from those two, even though they're on the verge of war. There are no talks of allies from other kingdoms, or anything like that, which was strange to me. All-in-all, I would call it pretty light fantasy, although as you get deeper into the series it becomes a little heavier.

As much as I love Quinn's character, there were a few times that I wanted to open the book and give her a good shake. For the most part, she is a responsible, dependable, hard working girl. She really cares about those around her enough to put her own problems aside whenever they need help. But there a few times when she put certain decisions off for as long as she could, even though she knew it was causing damage. Also a few times when she refused to see what was right in front of here, which was when I swear, if she were real, I would have yelled at her. ;)

Any other shortcomings the series may have, I feel can be forgiven because of the fantastic characters. I love the secondary characters as much as I love Quinn and Will. They all have their own lives, which are developing and changing as the series goes along. It's fascinating to see how they grow and adjust as a family with each change. I love that I got to know each character, even ones who seemed insignificant, a little more as the story went on. One of my favorite characters was Alvin, a mysterious man who just pops up at the most unexpected times.

I also find it interesting that the book titles match each book so precisely. The flower/garden reference is brought up a lot in the books, and the titles are just so fitting for the rest of the contents. There's also a surprising amount of medical information that can be picked up. Will is a healer in his world, and comes to ours to learn medicine. His knowledge and ramblings about medical stuff is pretty interesting. And you can bet the obligatory medical scenes in each book come along with him being a healer. Those are some of the best parts!

Anyway, it's an adventurous series with a fantastic ending to the series that doesn't happen the way you would expect it to at all. I highly recommend it. Each book is better than the last, which is what I always hope for!

Temp. Guide

Read this if:
...you like healthy relationships, and want a good love story with a dose of adventure and hard work.

Content Warning
*This section may contain some spoilers about content!*
Highlight between the brackets to reveal the text.
{Some violence, kissing, and some extremely stealthy references to sex after marriage.}

A Christmas Rose is a novella that takes place after the Blooms of Consequence, the last book in the series. I figured I should include it as well, since it's technically part of the series. I just finished reading it, and it's a very cute follow-up on how the characters are getting on with their lives. It's nice to see how things are changing, while some things are still the same. So tender, kind of bittersweet in a way, but still promising a bright future. One part even made me cry. :)

Find the Books on Goodreads:

Seeds of Discovery | Roots of Insight | Thorns of Decision | Blooms of Consequence | A Christmas Rose

Purchase the Dusk Gate Chronicles:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Breeana Puttroff:

Website / Facebook

Seeds of Discovery by Breeana Puttroff | Review + Excerpt

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:00:00 PST

Seeds of Discovery by Breeana Puttroff (Dusk Gate Chronicles #1)
Publisher: Musefish Independent Press
Format: ebook (courtesy of Heroines With Heart Tours)
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, YA
Publication Date: 16 September, 2011

What would you sacrifice to find true love and save a kingdom?

The Best-Selling Kindle series, The Dusk Gate Chronicles, will have you falling in love all over again.

Quinn Robbins has never noticed William Rose at Bristlecone High School – not until the night she almost runs him down in her car. After that, she never stops noticing him. Because William is different than the other boys…

Why does a high school senior always have his nose buried in medical journals? And how does he keep disappearing down by the river every Friday night?

When William starts to show up in her dreams, she is unsure if her curiosity has turned into obsession – or if there is something more mysterious going on.

Unable to rest, Quinn follows William to the river one Friday night…and discovers something startling – something she thought could only exist in a fairytale.

Uh oh, Quinn. 1st Period History will never be the same!

Seeds of Discovery is Book One of the Dusk Gate Chronicles, a new Young Adult series that has been described by readers as “The Chronicles of Narnia meets Cinderella.” Go on an unforgettable journey with characters who will find their way straight into your heart.

I really enjoyed this book. It started out kind of slow, but picked up around the time that Quinn discovered William's secret. From then on, it was just fun. I like that the author chose to take Quinn's story in a different direction than I was expecting. There are definitely some predictable moments, but there were a lot of things that were unpredictable. For instance: the love interest. ~~It's not who you think it is~~.<--- Edit: I'm an idiot and totally read into the wrong things. Although I really like how it all goes down. :)

Quinn's character is one that I like. I've been having a problem with finding characters annoying lately (hence, my reading slump), but I didn't find hers annoying. She cares for her little brother and sister, and she comes to care for the people in William's world as well.

The one thing that bothered me was that just about every character Quinn met in William's world told her to call them by their first name--including the king and queen. No titles, no formalities. The conversations all went something like this (not a direct quote):
"Nice to meet you, your majesty."
"Oh please, call me Charlotte."
I know I'm being nitpicky, but it really bothered me after the seventh or eighth person had the same exchange upon first meeting Quinn.

Overall, the story is intriguing. William's reason for crossing over into our world is a noble one, and it was cool to see the benefits his world receives because of it. William's family is huge, which creates very interesting happenings. There was one part where the oldest brothers all band together and go in search of a villain...and all I could think was that it reminded me of my own brothers, and was a perfect example of why brothers are the best. :)

I'm really excited to read the next book! There are hints to something big being revealed in one of the next books, so I can't wait to see what it is. If it's what I think it is, I'll be extremely happy.

Edit: Seeds of Discovery is currently FREE for Kindle and Nook! Check it out.

Temp. Guide

Read this if:
...you like medical mysteries, and you're a princess at heart.

Content Warning
*This section may contain some spoilers about content!*
Highlight between the brackets to reveal the text.
{Some violence.}

This was it. Quinn took a deep breath as she searched for a rock to tuck her car keys and cell phone under. Finding a smooth, flat piece of granite, she lifted it and propped a small stick underneath, both to keep the weight of the rock off her items and to make the place easier to find again.

After the incident in the library today, she had decided that she was absolutely done waiting. She was going to follow him this afternoon, and if he went to the bridge again, she was going to follow.

And that's exactly what had happened. She had watched William climb up the broken steps of the old bridge from a hiding spot behind a boulder on the riverbank, and again he had somehow just disappeared. She had seen him climb the first two steps, and then a pine tree had blocked her view. Now, he wasn't anywhere. Her eyes scanned the entire length of the riverbank and the shallow running water. She was alone.

Fully feeling the weight of her stupidity, Quinn climbed the four crumbling stone steps, toward the end of the broken-off bridge. This time, she did not hold back or hesitate. She closed her eyes and stepped forward. Expecting only a loss of balance and the resulting short drop into the cold water below, she was surprised when it didn't come. There was solid stone underneath her right foot. Maybe she had missed. When a second attempt with her left foot also failed to produce an icy-cold plunge into the stream, she opened her eyes.

Quinn gasped. The broken end of the half-missing structure was no longer broken, and it no longer ended. Instead of the disintegrating, broken concrete-and-stone edge, a wide stone walkway arced across the entire river. Cautiously, she put her other foot forward. The stone and mortar that should not have been there held firm. She spun around, ready to run back down the stone steps, but the sight stopped her cold.

The sun that should have been directly in front of her had moved, and now dipped below the tree ling far to her left, casting strangely long shadows that cut obtrusively across the landscape. Even in the fading light of the irregular dusk, she could see that everything was different. Where the rocky riverbank should have sloped up to the highway, there was now a vast expanse of trees and open fields. Lights from unfamiliar buildings glimmered and sparked to life in the distance.

Slowly, Quinn let her eyes scan the area around her. The river was no longer a rocky, mountain creek underneath the bridge. Now, a wide expanse of water flowed lazily between the bush-covered banks of either side. Downstream, the river continued uninterrupted to the southwest but seemed to widen significantly just past a break in the tree line. The view upstream was the most shocking. Instead of sloping up into the familiar peaks of the mountains she had seen all her life, a long valley spread out before her, sparsely populated by stands of trees and varieties of grass and wildflowers. In the distance where the horizon began to merge with the night sky, Quinn could just make out the outline of a thick forest.

"Now you've done it." The sound of the voice below her jolted her like an electric shock. In the same instant that she registered the frowning face of William Rose, Quinn stumbled and fell down the steps at the end of the bridge, right into the bushes.

"Fabulous," William muttered, bending down toward her to assess the damage.

-Excerpt, Seeds of Discovery by Breeana Puttroff

Other Books in the Series:

Book 2: Roots of Insight / Book 3: Thorns of Decision / Book 4: Blooms of Consequence

Purchase Seeds of Discovery:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Breeana Puttroff:

Website / Facebook

Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson | Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 08:01:00 PST

Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Format: ebook
Genre: Historical Fiction, Regency Romance (clean)
Publication Date: 12 March, 2012

Marianne Daventry will do anything to escape the boredom of Bath and the amorous attentions of an unwanted suitor. So when an invitation arrives from her twin sister, Cecily, to join her at a sprawling country estate, she jumps at the chance. Thinking she’ll be able to relax and enjoy her beloved English countryside while her sister snags the handsome heir of Edenbrooke, Marianne finds that even the best laid plans can go awry.

From a terrifying run-in with a highwayman to a seemingly harmless flirtation, Marianne finds herself embroiled in an unexpected adventure filled with enough romance and intrigue to keep her mind racing. Will she be able to rein in her traitorous heart, or will a mysterious stranger sweep her off her feet? Fate had something other than a relaxing summer in mind when it sent Marianne to Edenbrooke.

My heart would obey me, I was certain. I simply needed to be strict with it.

-Marianne, Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

Knocked this one out in under 8 hours! Yeah, it's that good...also a little predictable, maybe a bit cheesy, but very fun and worthwhile. I honestly had fun reading Edenbrooke.

It's a hard book to put down, mainly because it's such a sweet, sweet romance. It's the kind that makes you sigh wistfully--multiple times. Donaldson gives us a lovely picture of the Regency time period (handsome gentlemen included), and keeps hearts racing with her perfectly paced romance. And if that weren't enough, there's the added drama of a mysterious man who threatens to tear it all apart...which would be devastating, because these are characters you will root for! They are bright and funny, have noble ambitions, and frequently carry on conversations that are uniquely entertaining.

I really like that Donaldson focuses on the relationships between the characters. Marianne is struggling to renew her relationship with her sister and father after their mother's death, but doesn't know where they all stand. Their subtle change in perspectives throughout the book is compelling. Philip is also struggling to find his place in a world that has suddenly changed for him. He and Marianne both begin to help each other out, and now I'm audibly sighing because Philip *le sigh* and Marianne together just melts. my. heart! It's is just a very solid and clean romance.

The inevitable comparison:
I know you're curious, so yes, It does compare to Pride & Prejudice (or any Jane Austen novel, really)...in the sense that you get those same happy, feel-good, twirling feelings from this story. It's one that makes you feel in love with...love. It's one of the good ones! And yet it doesn't try to be P&P at all. It has a very different story to tell. I think people who both love and hate P&P will enjoy this book for that very reason. For one thing, it's a little more daring--according to the standards of the time period. It's also more adventurous, I think; less social commentary.

But enough P&P comparisons. This book stands on its own! It's not perfect. But it is very much worth reading, and I can't recommend it enough.

Temp. Guide

Read this if:
...you like love stories and want to be swept off your feet by a ~~gentleman~~ good book.

Content Warning
Clean read!

Purchase Edenbrooke:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository

Julianne Donaldson:

Blog / Twitter / Facebook

No Strings Attached Giveaway WINNER!

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 08:28:00 PST

The NSA giveaway is over! I have to admit, that it was probably the most popular giveaway I have ever done. I think I'll do more of them in the future. Super easy giveaways are always a treat for me to find, so it makes sense that others would think the same. Keep an eye out for them in the future!

With that said, there can only be one winner...and that person is:

Traci Loya!

Congratulations, Traci! You'll be getting an email from me shortly!

Remember that you have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be chosen.

And to everyone else who entered: Thanks for entering, and better luck next time!

No Strings Attached Giveaway Hop: T-shirt + $10 GC (INT)

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:00:00 PST

Welcome to the No Strings Attached Giveaway Hop, hosted by I Am A Reader, Not a Writer!

If you hate jumping through hoops and having to post in a thousand places just to enter a giveaway, you have come to the right place...because I hate that, too. I usually try to keep my giveaways to the basics: always a free entry, and one--maybe two--other ways to get extra entries. But this time it's especially easy because in there is only one entry option. No hoops, no pleas for sharing it in other places; just press a button to enter, then move on to the rest of the giveaways!

You've just come across the easiest giveaway hop ever.

Enter via Rafflecopter to win the following:

(Link to shirt)

Rules:

Open internationally!

Entrants must be 13 years of age or older to enter.

Winner will have 48 hours to respond once emailed, or another winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to stop by the other blogs for more No Strings Attached giveaway goodness!

Where Is Rickon? (A Song of Love and Frustration)

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 19:36:00 PST

Well, I've jumped on the bandwagon--the Game of Thrones bandwagon. All you who have been fans for over a decade are probably rolling your eyes at how late I've come into the game (see what I did there?), but I don't care. This series rocks. I just finished the fourth book, and have only the fifth to read before joining the ranks of those who must wait longer than should be possible for the next two books to come out.

Right now, Goodreads has the sixth book listed as coming out in 2014--TWO whole years from now--and the seventh book listed to come out in the year 2020. And from what I hear of George R.R. Martin's track record, those are both hopeful dates. What on Earth have I done to myself? I can't possibly wait that long. *More eye rolling from the crowd*

Anyhow, this series has become my absolute favorite; knocking Gone With the Wind out of first place and pushing the likes of Harry Potter, LOTR, and even the amazing Hunger Games, back further in line. I don't want to read anything else. I just want to live a bit longer in the land of Westeros, where secrets abound, the bad guys rule, the good guys turn bad, and almost everyone I have come to love has died--and then some.

So my fellow ASoFaI lovers, I'm calling you out.

Come discuss the books with me! Who are your favorite characters? Who do you want for king/queen? What conspiracies or plots do you see in the making? And how long have you been a fan?

And, because I always like to design things to display after reading good books (it helps me calm my need to just read and read more), the following posters are just some of the conspiracy theories and/or hopes I have for the books.

Spoilers abound...if you haven't read the books.

Most importantly:

Giveaway Winners!

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 22:04:00 PST

The winner of my Escape is Only The Beginning giveaway is:

Elie from Ellz Readz!

The winner of my Christmas Books giveaway is:

Tiffany Drew from Book Cover Justice!

Congratulations, ladies! You'll both be getting emails from me just after I post this.

Thanks to all those who entered!

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead | Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 05:45:00 PST

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy #6)
Publisher: Razorbill
Format: Paperback
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Romance, YA
Publication Date: 7 December 2010

Rose Hathaway has always played by her own rules. She broke the law when she ran away from St. Vladimir's Academy with her best friend and last surviving Dragomir princess, Lissa. She broke the law when she fell in love with her gorgeous, off-limits instructor, Dimitri. And she dared to defy Queen Tatiana, leader of the Moroi world, risking her life and reputation to protect generations of dhampir guardians to come.

Now the law has finally caught up with Rose - for a crime she didn't even commit. She's in prison for the highest offense imaginable: the assassination of a monarch. She'll need help from both Dimitri and Adrian to find the one living pony who can stall her execution and force the Moroi elite to acknowledge a shocking new candidate for the royal throne: Vasilisa Dragomir.

But the clock on Rose's life is running out. Rose knows in her heart the world of the dead wants her back...and this time she is truly out of second chances. The big question is, when your whole life is about saving others, who will save you?

Join Rose, Dimitri, Adrian, and Lissa in Last Sacrifice, the epic, unforgettable finale to Richelle Mead's international #1 bestselling Vampire Academy series.

As an adoring fan of the series, I wanted to love this book...but just couldn't. After all that has happened so far, I expected more; more action, more sacrifices on Rose's part, more meat to the story, and more unpredictability. As is usually the case with the Vampire Academy series, I was hooked as soon as I began reading. There is something about these characters and their situations that sucks me in every time I think I'm just going to read "a few" pages.

But as much as I couldn't put the book down, I feel like a lot of that had to do with the fact that I was recalling the characters I had loved from previous books. I think there was too much of Rose's spunky and fierce personality missing from these pages, and she's not the only character I noticed that with. Gone is Adrian's charming swagger, replaced by a character held together only on the surface, and gone too is Dimitri's calm but strong presence, replaced by a character who I swear was close to hormonal tears many times throughout the story. Their circumstances may have brought them to these places, but I just couldn't accept that these were the same characters I had grown to love so much.

*Spoiler*
And it is just me, or did it seem like Rose and Dimitri weren't quite the Guardians that we know them to be? It seems like they were either caught unawares, injured, or came too close to defeat too many times.
*End Spoiler*

I was left with many unsettled feelings about the ending of the story. The proud Damphir protocol that we've seen throughout the series is either changed or breached behind the scenes, allowing for things to be tied up oh so neatly. Although I had expected a happy ending to the story, I didn't expect it all to be so...easy. Yes there were heartaches and sacrifices, but nothing on the scale of the sacrifices that had been made in previous books in the series. I had prepared myself mentally for the moment when the "Last Sacrifice" would come along (I've been brought to near-hysterical tears three times in this series, so I wanted to be prepared this time). Yet I was (gasp!) bored when it happened.

So...definitely not the book I was hoping for. I really wanted more for the ending of this fantastic series, but I feel like this one was a let down. Although...it does have a happy ending, which is what I know we all wanted. And now that I think about it, it's weird to wish that worse had happened, even if it would have been more believable.

Temp. Guide

Read this if:
...you're a fan of the series, and want to know how it ends.

Content Warning
*This section may contain some spoilers about content!*
Highlight between the brackets to reveal the text.
{Violence, death, one sex scene (not very detailed), and a few steamy scenes.}

Purchase Last Sacrifice:
Amazon

Richelle Mead:

Website

Ornament Exchange Linkup!

noreply@blogger.com (Penelope Lolohea) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 20:49:00 PST

Ever have one of those days where you just know you're forgetting something? That was my day today, until I just now realized what I had forgotten: the exchange linkup! Please excuse the delay. And now....

It's time! Time to post the fruit of our exchanges. I am so excited to see the ornaments everyone came up with. If you're not sure what the ornament exchange is, you can go here to see the original post. Leave a link to your post, once it's up!

2012 Bookish Ornament Exchange Linkup