Reading Vacation

ALA Midwinter 2012 FAVORITES

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:55:00 +0000

ALA MIDWINTER 2012

FAVORITES

ALA was even better than I expected and I had so much fun. It was an absolutely perfect weekend and I want to do it again already. I will share some of my FAVORITES with you.

FAVORITE PUBLISHERS

Meeting publishers face-to-face was great. My day-to-day contacts weren’t there, but that just meant I got to make lots of new contacts. Our unseasonably high temps in the 70’s may have led a few of these New York City dwellers to consider a move to Texas.

Here are pics of me with some of the most wonderful publishers. And before you mention it, yes, I am pretty small. The most heard phrase of the weekend was some variation of “Melina, you are so little.” My reply “I am!”

Egmont

Flux

Harper

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Little Brown

Macmillan

Penguin

Random House

Scholastic

Simon and Schuster

SOHO Press

FAVORITE AUTHORS

I ran into two of my most loved authors.

Sophie Jordan – whom I’ve met before

Mary Lindsey – we FINALLY met in person

FAVORITE BLOGGERS

Bloggers were everywhere. Seriously. I couldn’t take more than a few steps in any direction without seeing a blogger. It was so cool! In fact, I was so overwhelmed with being among so many friends that I didn’t even stop to take pics. I don’t want to leave anyone out, so I will just say that I loved seeing old friends and meeting others in person for the first time. No way I am listing favorites and leaving anyone off the list. They are all totally the best!

FAVORITE BOOKS

What about the BOOKS, you ask? WOW! The publishers had gorgeous displays of books that have already been released. All those beautiful finished copies looked so crisp. They were also very generous with arcs of yet-to-be-released titles. In most cases, a little patience and a positive attitude were all it took to get a copy of a book I was hoping to read. The publishers were also nice enough to share books that Travis will enjoy reading. In fact, he is already starting his second book!

These books stand out as the ones I was most excited to bring home. I’ve already started reading a few and I’m already sharing with other blogger friends.

Breaking Beautiful

BZRK

Faery Tales & Nightmares

Fever

From What I Remember

Hemlock

Masque of the Red Death

The Night She Disappeared

Of Poseidon

Timepiece

Unraveling

Until I Die

What She Left Behind

The Wood Queen

I can’t wait to read all these amazing books and tell you all about them. Happy reading y’all.

Everneath by Brodi Ashton - Character Word Association Nikki

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:42:00 +0000

EVERNEATH

By Brodi Ashton

Character Word Association Nikki

Oh My Gosh, I love EVERNEATH. See my super gushy review HERE!

It is a fabulous mythological retelling with surprising twists and a shocker of an ending. EVERNEATH is beautifully written with alternating time frames. SO COOL! The main character, Nikki, is strong and smart. I gave her some words and asked her what was the first thing that came to mind. Surprises all around!

Jack: Loved and Lost.

Mortality: Looming in her own life, and she can't escape her own.

Mythology Class: where you learn something new every day.

Everneath: Hell

Little Brother: Loves, but she'll never be what he needs

Homework: A slice of something normal that reminds her of her old life.

Isis: First person to breathe immortality into the man she loved.

Gas Station: A front for something sinister.

Dance: Before: In Jack's arms. After: Watching him with someone else.

Forfeit: I was one for a hundred years in the Everneath.

Six Months: Not enough time to say goodbye.

Boys: Besides my brother, there's only one that matters.

Mayor: My dad's title, and the reason regular relationships get complicated.

Kissing: It can be simple and beautiful, but it can also suck the life out of me.

Go get yourself a copy of EVERNEATH. It is such a gorgeous book and it releases today. TODAY! Go get it!

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows - Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:01:00 +0000

Title ~ Incarnate
Series ~ Newsoul #1
Author ~ Jodi Meadows
Release Date ~ January 31, 2012
Publisher ~ HarperTeen
Source ~ HarperTeen

NEWSOUL

Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL

Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART

Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Incarnate has a wonderful uniqueness. While reincarnation is the central focus, there is a special attention paid to what the reincarnated are actually dealing with. There are a million souls that have been reincarnated for thousands of years. Whoa! What is really crazy is that they all remember their past lives. That is a different concept than I have read in other reincarnation stories. Imagine all those memories being carried around. The memories of lives and loves lost. Imagine knowing that you will live forever, but not as the person you are now. Everyone interconnected over time. No secrets.

There is some weirdness to the reincarnation in that you can be a girl in one lifetime and then return as a guy. And this goes on over and over again. Freakity. Freakity. Freak. However, the characters aren't phased by it and this adds to the awesome beauty of the story. They are in synch with the journey they are on and trivial things like gender make no difference. In a way, they are right.

Ana is a newsoul. This means that she is on her very first life and has not yet been reincarnated. What makes it intriguing is that she is the first newsoul in 5,000 years. Everyone is freaked out and they start thinking she must be evil or a sign of danger. She is blamed for everything bad that happens. Considering that everyone else has been around for thousands of years, Ana is a like a child. Her wealth of experiences so trivial compared to the others. Oh, but Ana has a fascination with the reincarnated and she looks at them with respect. The way Jodi Meadows writes Ana's emotions is mesmerizing and fluid.

Ana’s mother, Li, is an awful and manipulative person. I couldn’t stand her. Li holds Ana like a hostage away from society while she is growing up. I mean, who treats their own child this way? It is no wonder that Ana has a bad attitude sometimes, especially toward Sam.

Who’s Sam? Oh, he is one of the very few who are not afraid of Ana. Sam has a bravery that allows him to go against the norms of his society and stand up for Ana. I really liked this guy and it got frustrating when Ana would lash out at him. My favorite times were when these two played music and enjoyed each other. It was like they melded into one and became the music. Aww, the music was just so gorgeous to picture!

Remember how I mentioned that Ana is blamed for everything bad? Well, when the city comes under attack by sylph and dragons, you can imagine who gets the blame. Yep, it's Ana. Detailed descriptions of battles and creatures explode on the page. Love the action.

Rumor has it that Jodi Meadows already has the next two books written. Oh my goodness, I have got to have them! My big question is this - what happened to the soul that was lost when Ana was born? I cannot wait to find out.

Melina goes to ALA Midwinter 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:12:00 +0000

ALA MIDWINTER 2012

DALLAS

Now you know where I am hanging this weekend! I am really excited about all the books. There’s something even better than the books though. The people! I’ve already met most of the Dallas area bloggers, but there are so many from further away that I am getting to meet in person for the first time. I CANNOT WAIT!

If you are there too, look for me. Don’t be shy. Come over and say hi. I promise I won’t be TOO crazy when you say hi. Maybe a LITTLE crazy, but not too much.

HD (Reading Writing Breathing) and I will be live tweeting under #HMALA. This is our shortened version of #HDandMelinaGushAtALA. We’ll have pics and updates of what’s going on. Expect an awful lot of our over-the-top book love. Prepare your eyes, we get a lot gushy.

Tangled by Erica O'Rourke - Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:01:00 +0000

Title ~ Tangled
Series ~ Torn Trilogy #2
Author ~ Erica O’Rourke
Release Date ~ January 31, 2012
Publisher ~ Kensington
Source ~ Kensington

Constance started to keen as the air around us began to thrash and twist, the caustic scent of ozone burning my nose. As I watched, her dark gold hair began to lift and kink into knots.

“I’m here. It’ll be okay.” It was the last thing I said before my best friend’s little sister went supernova in the second-floor girls’ bathroom, taking me with her.

A month ago, Mo Fitzgerald risked her life to stop an ancient prophecy and avenge her best friend's murder. Now, she only wants to keep her loved ones safe. But the magic—and the Chicago Mob—have other plans.

Mysterious, green-eyed Luc is back, asking for help—and a second chance. Colin, her strongest protector, is hiding a shocking secret. And inside Constance, the magic is about to go terribly wrong. Tangled in a web of love and betrayal, Mo must choose between the life she's dreamed of and the one she's destined for.

Tangled is filled with deception. Mo lives the life of a normal teen while also living a secret magical life. She creates a web of lies as she keeps her magical life a secret from those around her. Even Mo’s normal life isn’t really so normal after all. Her uncle is a mobster and her father is finally being released from prison after many years. Mo’s life hasn’t been easy and she is guarded with her heart. I really like that her family became a part of the story.

What’s this about magic? Well, the magic has become way too powerful and it is starting to emerge in small children. The magical community is relying on Mo to save them from the out of control magic like she did before. Umm, and she only has a few days to do it. Pressure much? It’s like a pressure cooker situation for Mo! I loved all the magic and how it became central to the plot.

The romance takes a turn for the love triangle as Mo has feelings for both Colin and Luc. Colin is the human and Luc has the gift of magic. Colin is the nice guy while Luc can be cocky. Colin is focused only on making Mo happy while Luc will do things to get on her nerves. I dunno’. The whole setup is a little too expected for me.

Overall, I had some mixed feelings. I loved the magic but I was disappointed in the romance. I loved how Mo was affected by her family situation and how she used magic, but I didn’t care for how she dealt with the guys. Yeah, it was so-so.

Everneath by Brodi Ashton - Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:01:00 +0000

Title ~ Everneath
Series ~ Everneath #1
Author ~ Brodi Ashton
Release Date ~ January 24, 2012
Publisher ~ HarperTeen
Source ~ HarperTeen

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's..

Wow! Everneath is not just a typical mythical retelling set in a modern time. Oh no, it’s way more. It is cleverly presented, has truly realistic characters, and an utterly shocking ending. If you read Everneath, don’t just expect good, expect GREAT!

We’ve all read books with alternating perspectives. Yeah, seen it. Everneath is set up with alternating time frames instead. The time frame alternates between the current time and the time before Nikki went to the underworld. It is so cool. It is not confusing. It answers a lot of the WHY. It is beautifully done. It is unique. It is something I love about this book.

I want to read about characters that I feel attached to. They are characters that I “get” because they have real feelings. Nikki is a mess. When she is in the underworld, she loses her emotions and it is a long and drawn out process for her to regain what she has lost. Nikki is confused and panic-stricken as she searches for a way to avoid returning to the underworld. Jack comes off as the perfect guy. In his grief, he went a little cray cray while Nikki was gone, and now he works hard to prove to her that he loves her. Jack’s love is so deep and real that I could feel it all the way down to my toes. And then there’s Cole. I would like to say that he’s pure evil, but he’s not. The boy has feelings, and they aren’t all bad ones either. Yeah, the characters rock!

I knew exactly how the book was going to end. I had it ALL figured out. NOT!!!! Not in a million years would I have known it was going to end like THIS. And it’s not because it’s some totally weird ending that makes zero sense. Not at all. Instead, it’s an ending that makes perfect sense, I just hadn’t considered it. LOVE!

Read Everneath. You will love it. If you like a good love story. You will love it. Even if you don’t like mythology. You will love it. Especially if you live for brilliant writing. You will love it. Read it!

The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe - Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 06:01:00 +0000

Title ~ The Way We Fall
Series ~ The Way We Fall #1
Author ~ Megan Crewe
Release Date ~ January 24, 2012
Publisher ~ Disney- Hyperion
Source ~ Disney - Hyperion

It starts with an itch you just can't shake. Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat. A few days later, you'll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they’re old friends. Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in.

And then you're dead.

When a deadly virus begins to sweep through sixteen-year-old Kaelyn’s community, the government quarantines her island—no one can leave, and no one can come back.

Those still healthy must fight for dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest.

Because how will she go on if there isn't?

Kaelyn’s island is under the attack of a killer virus with no cure. This cruel virus is like no other. While it brings with it fever and the accompanying hallucinations, it also brings a loss of inhibitions. Once infected, people start spilling their secrets to strangers as if they were best friends. The virus causes such an intense mental breakdown, that I wonder if death is welcomed at some point by those who are infected. The descriptions are vivid and realistic and they cut deeply into the chaos that unfolds.

Life is not easy for those who were not infected either. They loot, hoard supplies, and try their best to survive amidst a terrifying situation. It reminded me of the H1N1 scare only this was way Way WAY worse. There is an intense feeling of helplessness that descends into outright madness. Everyone out for themselves. Everyone at risk.

Kaelyn tells her story through letters in a journal to her friend Leo who escaped the island to study. I loved this personal account of Kaelyn’s courageous effort to protect her family and herself. She describes what she sees first hand as the virus tears her island apart. Kaelyn teams up with Gav, as they try to help others. One of the things I really enjoyed was the way Kaelyn fought for herself, but for others too.

The Way We Fall is chilling. I couldn't get it out of my mind. I just kept reading. And reading. And reading. And finally. WHAT? There's a massively surprising ending! WOW! The kind of ending that leaves you turning that last page back and forth over and over wanting and hoping for more. OMG, this ending is just....WOW!

The Last of the Gullivers by Carter Crocker - Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:01:00 +0000

Title ~ The Last of the Gullivers
Series ~ Single Title
Author ~ Carter Crocker
Release Date ~ January 19, 2012
Publisher ~ Penguin
Source ~ Penguin

A stunning sequel to a storytelling classic, with a contemporary twist.

Michael Pine is a boy with no direction in life. Mixed up in gangs, he is headed straight for a juvenile detention center. Until he is given a second chance and discovers a world beyond his imagination. A world of Lilliputians - people the mere size of a thumb. But this is a world in terrible danger, and they need Michael's help. But Michael has some trouble of his own - he's been framed for theft and it appears his second chance is about to expire. He needs to do what he can to save the Lilliputians from certain death. But how can he save them if he's locked up for a crime he didn't commit?

Using elements of the original Gulliver's Travels, Carter Crocker has created an exciting and enchanting story perfect for kids today.

The Last of the Gullivers is an entertaining middle grade novel that has a tie-in to the classic, Gulliver’s Travels. It’s not really a retelling so much as a sequel. What a unique way of celebrating a classic children’s story.

The Lilliputians are tiny, standing only a few inches tall. They are a little bit silly because they let their emotions and foolish superstitions dictate much of their lives. Most of the Lilliputians are basically kind and they are content with what they have. As they come to face many obstacles, the Lilliputians pick themselves up and start over. I like this about them, and I admire their resilience.

Now for the real heart of the story. Michael, a human boy with a checkered past, comes upon the Lilliputians, and his life is changed. Michael comes off as a good kid who got mixed up with the wrong crowd and got himself into trouble. His kindness becomes most evident as he passionately defends the Lilliputians and puts their needs before his own. I just love when a middle grade book has situations like this where life lessons are learned.

I was happily surprised by the ending and it made me smile. No cliffhanger here, just a nicely unexpected ending. Thank you Penguin, for sending The Last of the Gullivers for me to review. I enjoyed every page!

Fear by Michael Grant - International Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 04:59:00 +0000

FEAR

BY MICHAEL GRANT

GIVEAWAY

WIN MY ARC OF

FEAR

GONE Series Book 5

This is a blood-pumping, white-knuckle sci-fi thriller of epic proportions. Night is falling in the FAYZ. Even though it's been nearly a year since everyone over the age of fifteen disappeared, the sun has continued to shine on the kids of Perdido Beach. Now, though, the gaiaphage has blotted out the sun and plunged the FAYZ into perpetual gloom. Divided and dispirited, the survivors face their greatest enemy yet - the darkness of their own minds...

MASSIVE LOVE FOR FEAR
YOU’LL NEVER EVER GUESS WHAT HAPPENS!

*INTERNATIONAL*

ENTER AFTER THE PAGE BREAK

It’s EASY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In My Mailbox (71)

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:51:00 +0000

IN MY MAILBOX (71)

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by

Kristi at The Story Siren.

Let’s get right to it!

Thank you Bloomsbury!

STOLEN AWAY

Alyxandra Harvey

January 17

A faery revolution.

Read it! High DRAMA!

THE VANISHING GAME

Kate Kae Myers

February 14

Haunted foster home with powers.

Look closely - spooky cover has TWO houses.

SCARLET

A.C. Gaughen

February 14

New version of Robin Hood.

Thank you Harlequin Teen!

NEW GIRL

Paige Harbison

January 31

Becca is missing and

the New Girl tries to take her place.

Thank you HarperTeen!

GLIMMER

Phoebe Ktanidis

April 17

Marshall and Elyse have lost their memories.

And there are ZOMBIES!

Thank you Penguin Teen!

MY FAMILY FOR THE WAR

Anne G. Voornoere

February 16

Ten-year-old Ziska during WWII.

THE CASE OF THE DEADLY DESPERADOS

Western Mysteries Book 1

Caroline Lawrence

February 16

Pinky goes into hiding in the Wild West.

THE FINAL FOUR

Paul Volponi

March 1

The lives of four characters collide in

a March Madness basketball game.

FRESHMAN YEAR & OTHER UNNATURAL DISASTERS

Meredith Zeitlin

March 1

Kelsey will do ANYTHING to make

herself stand out from the crowd.

What did you get in your mailbox?

Comment with a link and I will comment back.

Tempest by Julie Cross - Book Trailer

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 18:29:00 +0000

TEMPEST

TRAILER

By Julie Cross

Here is a little about Tempest

The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

See My Review Here

WOWOWOWOW!!!

And the trailer too!

Fracture - Megan Miranda - Author Interview

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:40:00 +0000

FRACTURE

Megan Miranda Author Interview

It’s Friday and Megan Miranda is here to celebrate her debut, FRACTURE. My gosh y’all. Seriously, FRACTURE is SO GOOD! I love this book for all its terrifying mind-bending awesomeness! If you haven't gotten the hint yet, you REALLY NEED to read this book. Preorder it now or get a copy when it releases on January 17. You won't be sorry. PROMISE!

Take a few minutes to see how Megan played along and answered my silly and more serious questions. You can see my FRACTURE review HERE.

Fracture in 5 words.

Death. Life. Love. Ice cold.
(Side note: At first I wrote “On ice” instead of “ice cold” – but it made me think of Disney on Ice. Not exactly what I was going for. (Also: Oops, I seriously exceeded my word limit here))

Fracture as a haiku. Go!

Eleven minutes
Under ice; on the surface
Life is not the same.

How are you celebrating Fracture’s release?

I’ll be in NYC on January 17th, which I’m so excited about because my entire family lives in NJ. I’ll be doing an event at Books of Wonder that evening with a bunch of amazing authors (Beth Revis, Julie Cross, Carrie Ryan, & Maureen Lipinski).

Tell me a little about the medical research you did regarding comas and brain injuries?

I studied science in school and college, so I had picked up a lot of things here and there, but I had to do a lot of fact-checking. I also researched some of the specific tests they might run, which I didn’t have any experience with. And I tried to read a lot about people’s first-hand experiences as well, since that was most relevant to Delaney’s story.

Do you have a favorite TV show or movie that has to do with medical mysteries?

I don’t watch TV, except for sports. I know, it’s weird. But I do watch movies. The medical mystery stuff I love is not necessarily finding out what’s wrong, but finding out how to cure something. I was fascinated (and terrified) by movies like Outbreak, I guess because it seems so possible. Fiction that seems possible to me is more terrifying than any horror flick.

Thank you to Megan Miranda and Bloomsbury for arranging this interview. Love you both!

Dead to You by Lisa McMann - Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 06:01:00 +0000

Title ~ Dead to You
Series ~ Single Title
Author ~ Lisa McMann
Release Date ~ February 7, 2012
Publisher ~ Simon Pulse
Source ~ Reading Writing Breathing

Ethan was abducted from his front yard when he was just seven years old. Now, at sixteen, he has returned to his family. It's a miracle... at first. Then the tensions start to build. His reintroduction to his old life isn't going smoothly, and his family is tearing apart all over again. If only Ethan could remember something, anything, about his life before, he'd be able to put the pieces back together. But there's something that's keeping his memory blocked. Something unspeakable...

I like to think that Dead to You has been McManned. It has been dealt the full Lisa McMann treatment where words are cautiously chosen. They appear sparse and deliberate. Each one carefully placed to bring about the desired emotion. Sometimes that emotion bubbles over and other times it simmers just below the surface. Either way, it is always there, always present.

Dead to You will mess with your mind big time. It is a complicated psychological puzzle. No lie, Ethan has faced some serious stuff. First the abduction, then the resulting abuse, and finally an unexpected return. End result? Ethan loses his memories from before the abduction. And don’t think for a minute that you have this one all figured out, because you will be dead wrong if you do.

Tension with a capital T. When Ethan returns, his family goes numb. They have long ago accepted the fact that they will never see him again. To his family, Ethan is dead. Now, the familiar sadness is shattered by Ethan’s abrupt return. No one, save Ethan’s little sister, knows how to deal. They flounder, as does Ethan. It’s ugly. It’s disturbing. It’s reality. There is no happy ending when so much harm has come before.

With a gripping plot and an uncomfortable subject, Dead to You delivers. Expect your mind to be blown by a very unusual and chilling writing style. You have been warned. Do not underestimate the Power of McMann!

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver - International Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:25:00 +0000

PANDEMONIUM

BY LAUREN OLIVER

GIVEAWAY

WIN MY ARC OF

PANDEMONIUM

I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.

IT. IS. STUNNING.

OMG! You will be in awe of the awesomeness.

If you thought DELIRIUM was great, you've seen NOTHING!

THE ENDING IS EPIC!!!!!!

Sharing my PANDEMONIUM love y’all.

*INTERNATIONAL*

ENTER AFTER THE PAGE BREAK

It’s EASY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The International Kissing Club - Around the World in 80 Kisses - Smooch Stop #44

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:57:00 +0000

THE INTERNATIONAL KISSING CLUB

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 KISSES

SMOOCH STOP #44

Character Interview – Cassidy

Around the World in 80 Kisses visits Reading Vacation with Smooch Stop #44 today! Woo hoo! To celebrate, I have an interview with Cassidy, one of the main characters. Read all the way to the bottom to see how you can win a Kindle Fire!!!

Let's get right to it!

You have been best friends with Piper since kindergarten. How has your relationship changed since the IKC started? Do you predict more changes in the future?

Since we were little, Piper’s always been the one to charge ahead full-throttle whenever she wants something and I tend to hang back, go with the flow and let her lead. But the IKC and traveling abroad forced me to stand out in front and grab what I wanted. And now that I have I’m not sure I can or want to return to my place in Piper’s shadow. Not that I don’t love her, but it’s kind of nice to feel the sun, ya know?

While you were in Australia, I hear you met a special boy named Lucas. Do you picture many struggles trying to maintain a long distance relationship? What do the girls think of him?

Lucas is...perfect. Too perfect. And that’s a bit scary for a girl like me with a not so perfect life. So, while our time together Down Under was amazing, I live in the real world. Long distance is one thing, different hemispheres is another. But the girls love him and think I’d be crazy to give up so easily just because there’s an entire ocean between us.

Did you pick up any weird Australian slang while in the down under? Did you become a regular Aussie?

“G’ Day” and “mate” and “Maccas”, which is slang for McDonald’s. I love an Australian accent, even thoug I needed closed-captions to under the “telly” sometimes. But I wouldn’t eat Vegemite...I just...no.

Also, you live with your single mom. Do you think you and your mom are a lot alike? What does she think of IKC and Lucas?

It’s always just been me and my mom, so we’re definitely alike in many ways. We’re both tough and scrappy and proud, but maybe we keep too much of ourselves to ourselves. I’ve learned that staying closed off from people doesn’t mean they can’t hurt you, it only means you might lose the chance to experience something more meaningful with them.

Mom wasn’t thrilled when she learned about the IKC, but that didn’t bother her near as much as finding out I’d been dating Lucas and hadn’t mentioned him at all to her during the ten weeks I was gone. And when it comes to me and guys mixed with my mother’s trust issues (thanks, Dad) the less she knows the better. I just wish she would realize that, yes, I’m young, but I’m not going to make the same mistakes she did. I know better.

I hear you picked up surfing as a hobby in Australia. What did you think of it? Do you think you will continue it in the future?

In theory, surfing sounds awesome. In practice, it’s super hard. But, I’m always up for the challenge. Plus, I have a really great instructor ;) Now, if only I didn’t live 300 miles from the nearest coastline and he didn’t live 12,000 miles away.

Now tell me: can a long distance relationship ever work out or should Cassidy throw in the towel before she really gets her heart broken? Tell me in the comments (leave your email so we can contact you) to be entered to win the Around the World In 80 Kisses daily and weekly prize and also become eligible to win the Grand Prize, a Kindle Fire. For a list of all our Smooch Posts you can visit and earn more entries to win, visit us here.

The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams is the story of four best friends: Piper, Cassidy, Mei, and Izzy--the misfits of Paris, Texas. Their whole lives, they’ve dreamed of escaping small-town life and seeing the world. So when Piper is the victim of an embarrassing prank that goes viral online, she gets the idea that the girls should escape via the school’s international exchange program, in search of fun, love and internet redemption.

Emily McKay, Shellee Roberts and Tracy Deebs write under the pseudonym Ivy Adams. They shop, gossip and watch movies in Austin, Texas.

Thank you for hosting us today!

Dark Days of Winter 2012 - The BIGGEST with Tahereh Mafi

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:28:00 +0000

DARK DAYS OF WINTER 2012

THE BIGGEST

WITH TAHEREH MAFI

Reading Vacation celebrates HarperCollins’ BIGGEST Dark Days ever today with Tahereh Mafi. She has one of the most fabulous and BIGGEST debuts ever with Shatter Me. Oh my gosh, I love that book! I thought it would be fun to ask Tahereh about some of the other BIGGEST things in her life. Oh yeah! Let’s talk BIGGEST!

Biggest ah ha moment
When I was a sophomore in high school I realized I’d been spelling epitome wrong for years.

Biggest mess ever
I tried to make pumpkin pie, once. That was hilarious.

Biggest guilty pleasure
Hmmm… I don’t know that I actually have a guilty pleasure. I never really feel guilty about doing the things that make me happy. Though I do think I should probably stop buying so many boots. I buy a lot of boots. And books. A lot of books.

Biggest road trip
Across the country! I think in total, I’ve been to about 25 states.

Biggest surprise
Not getting accepted to Hogwarts.

Biggest ooops
Missing my flight from Munich to Barcelona. Big mistake. I got to sleep in the airport with all the homeless people.

Biggest embarrassing moment
We do not speak of it.

Biggest day of your life
Probably the day I was offered a book deal. That one phone call changed the trajectory of my entire life.

Biggest celebrity crush
Peeta Mellark

Biggest prank
I’m… not really a prankster. I’ve tried – and only because I have 4 older brothers and pulling pranks kind of came with the territory – but I just can’t do it. I take absolutely no pleasure in horrifying people just for a laugh.

*OMG I LOVE THIS BOOK*

My review of SHATTER ME

THAT should get you into the BIGGEST Dark Days mood for sure. Did you know that you can meet the Dark Days authors in person? Leg 1 of Dark Days features Tahereh Mafi, Ellen Schreiber, and Veronica Rossi. Leg 2 of Dark Days features Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton and Courtney Allison Moulton.

Meet the Dark Days Cyber Hosts

Melina at Reading Vacation *waves*

Tahereh Mafi and Shatter Me

January 9

Jen at I Read Banned Books

Ellen Schreiber and Magic of the Moonlight

January 10

Jenny at Supernatural Snark

Veronica Rossi and Under the Never Sky

January 11

Dark Days Author Tour – Leg 1

Thursday, January 12th

SAN FRANCISCO

Books, Inc. Opera Plaza

7pm

Friday, January 13th

SAN DIEGO

Mysterious Galaxy

7pm

Saturday, January 14th

PHOENIX

Changing Hands

4pm

Dark Days Author Tour – Leg 2

Thursday, February 16th

DALLAS

*I will be at this one!*

B&N Southlake

5pm

Friday, February 17th

AUSTIN

B&N Austin

7pm

Saturday, February 18th

HOUSTON

Blue Willow Book Shop

4pm

Connect to all things Dark Days on the Pitch Dark Facebook page
including exclusive content features every Wednesday!

CLICK HERE TO
Sample Dark Days Free
Catch the Dark Days Tour
Chat via Twitter Feeds

Thank you to HarperTeen for including Reading Vacation in the Dark Days of Winter 2012 event.

Saving June by Hannah Harrington - Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 06:01:00 +0000

Title ~ Saving June
Series ~ Single Title
Author ~ Hannah Harrington
Release Date ~ May 1, 2011
Publisher ~ Harlequin Teen
Source ~ Harlequin Teen

When her older sister commits suicide and her divorcing parents decide to divide the ashes, Harper Scott takes her sister's urn to the one place June always wanted to go: California. On the road with her best friend, plus an intriguing guy with a mysterious connection to June, Harper discovers truths about her sister, herself and life.

Saving June is much more than a teen suicide book. It does not scream SUICIDE over and over. Instead, Saving June, shares the effects of a teen suicide on those who are left behind. The mix of emotions felt by those who remain are all over the place and they are constantly changing Like the road trip to California, coming to terms to one’s grief is also a journey.

There are four teens on this road trip to California. Harper has always lived in the shadow of her perfect older sister. Now, she struggles to take care of her mother and she bottles up her feelings about June’s suicide. She is suffering tremendously and every last bit of her pain is spilled out on the pages.

Laney is Harper’s best friend, and she has no idea how to help her friend. So, she just keeps saying “are you okay” over and over. It’s maddening, but it’s also so realistic. Who hasn’t been in a situation where you just did not have the right words? Where you wanted to help, but had no idea what to do. Yeah, that’s Laney.

Jake is the musician who holds an unusual tie to June. He starts off as a complete jerk, but there’s more to his story and maybe he’s not so much of a jerk after all. The backstory on Jake and his transformation is oh so slowly revealed. It’s something to be savored.

Finally, there is June, well June’s ashes anyways. June was always perfect in every way. But, then again, who is really perfect? Although she’s gone now, it’s like she’s alive because she is brought up in the other characters’ memories. June is the character that brings all the others together and makes the story fluid.

While on the road, these teens have an emotional awakening. In their own way, each one learns to deal with loss. They each lower their guard and share secrets, some that are very difficult to share. In a beautiful way, even June has an awakening as the others finally grow to truly understand where she was coming from.

The most unexpected part of Saving June is the way music is woven into the story. Jake is a huge music fanatic and his passion for it is tangible throughout the road trip. Songs are interwoven into the plot and playlists are shared. The music is present in every aspect of the trip, and it sets the tone for what the characters are feeling. I loved this!

Thank you to Hannah Harrington for such a touching and emotional book.

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi - Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 06:01:00 +0000

Title ~ Ship Breaker
Series ~ Ship Breaker #1
Author ~ Paolo Bacigalupi
Release Date ~ May 1, 2010
Age Group ~ Young Adult
Publisher ~ Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Source ~ Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Set initially in a future shanty town in America's Gulf Coast region, where grounded oil tankers are being dissembled for parts by a rag tag group of workers, we meet Nailer, a teenage boy working the light crew, searching for copper wiring to make quota and live another day. The harsh realities of this life, from his abusive father, to his hand to mouth existence, echo the worst poverty in the present day third world. When an accident leads Nailer to discover an exquisite clipper ship beached during a recent hurricane, and the lone survivor, a beautiful and wealthy girl, Nailer finds himself at a crossroads. Should he strip the ship and live a life of relative wealth, or rescue the girl, Nita, at great risk to himself and hope she'll lead him to a better life.

This is a novel that illuminates a world where oil has been replaced by necessity, and where the gap between the haves and have-nots is now an abyss. Yet amidst the shadows of degradation, hope lies ahead.

I convinced myself that Ship Breaker was going to be a boy book. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it or not. The graffiti-looking cover, the summary focusing on Nailer’s harsh life, and a male author did it to me. It turns out that I was sort of right. Boys are going to go crazy for this boy-power book. But, if they give it a chance, girls may find that they enjoy it too.

The world in Ship Breaker has drowned cities, a starving population, and mass poverty. The fortunate children are sent to wrecked ships to look for oil, copper, and other valuables. Nailer is one of these fortunate children. He has a chance to actually find wealth and leave his life of poverty behind. It’s a good thing, because his home life is ruled by an abusive father. What makes Nailer so cool is that, despite the hand he has been dealt, he is positive and strong. Man, I just love Nailer’s attitude so much.

Nailer faces a dilemma when he comes upon a wealthy girl named Nita living in a stranded ship. He could kill her and steal the riches or he could save her and hope he is rewarded. This is where Nailer’s moral strength comes into direct conflict with his struggles. Nailer is convinced that Nita is a spoiled rich girl. Nita is certain that Nailer is a yucky boy who is not very smart. There is so much tension and strain as Nailer makes his decision. Paolo Bacigalupi makes no effort to hide the distrust between Nailer and Nita. It's so well done! So different from what it typical in young adult novels.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Ship Breaker. Now I understand why it has won so many awards. Boyish book or not, Ship Breaker is a fantastic novel with a strong main character facing intense struggles and choices.

Fracture by Megan Miranda - Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:01:00 +0000

Title ~ Fracture
Series ~ Single Title
Author ~ Megan Miranda
Release Date ~ January 17, 2012
Publisher ~ Bloomsbury
Source ~ Bloomsbury

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?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

Fracture is daring. It goes full on body slam into brain injuries. There’s a balance between the real-life effects of a brain injury and the mysterious something that is plaguing Delaney. I love this. Some of what happens can be medically or psychologically explained. But some of the other things that happen, well, not so much. Or not at all. And that’s part of what makes Fracture so enticing. You try to explain it all away But. You. Can’t.

Terrifying? YES! Delaney barely survives the frozen lake, but that’s nothing compared to what is to come. Her nightmare continues and it becomes more chilling than that frozen lake could ever hope to be. Confused, Delaney strains to contain the force that threatens to take over her new life. She wanders around in a daze, unsure of how death will, once again, enter her life. Concern and confusion are all about as everyone has their own ideas about what is up with Delaney. This is so how it would be too. Everyone having their own theory based on whatever crazy ideas they have in their own mind.

As if Delaney’s craziness weren’t enough, the plot goes all out super frightening when Troy enters the scene. It is like he’s another Delaney, with the weird post-coma stuff going on. But there’s an extra element of uncertainty with Troy, especially as far as Delaney is concerned. Lemme’ put it this way. You are not going to believe what the heck is really going on. No way, no how, you are going to figure this one out.

The snowy winter setting is perfect and I love how the deathly cold carries so much symbolism. It’s not just about the cold of a dead body. There is also the chill that comes from fearing your fate, from wondering what harm you may cause to others. That freezing feeling just doesn’t quit. It is always present.

Megan Miranda has a stunner of a debut that left me breathless and frozen, much like Delaney. I think I may be in love with Fracture. Make that, I know I am in love with Fracture. Megan is brave with her subject and she chooses her words carefully. I am dying to read her next book. DYING!

Cinder Audio Book - Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:28:00 +0000

CINDER

BY MARISSA MEYER

GIVEAWAY

WIN A CINDER AUDIO BOOK

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

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

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY
AFTER THE PAGE BREAK
IT'S EASY!

Thank you Macmillan Audio for this awesome giveaway! I LOVE YOU!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cinder Finished Copy and Cinder Mirror - Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0000

CINDER

BY MARISSA MEYER

GIVEAWAY

WIN A FINISHED COPY OF

CINDER AND A CINDER MIRROR

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

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

I am in LOVE with this book!

Cinder is a mix of dystopian, fairy tale, and sci-fi. YES!

MY EXTREMELY ENTHUSIASTIC REVIEW IS HERE

The Cinder mirror looks just like the fabulous cover.

It’s all sparkly and reflective and cyborgish!

Thank you to Macmillan for this awesome giveaway!

ENTER AFTER THE PAGE BREAK

It’s EASY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Marissa Meyer's Cinder Inspiration Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:01:00 +0000

MARISSA MEYER’S

CINDER

INSPIRATION PHOTOS

Y’all know how much I loved the awesomely cy-borged out fairy tale retelling, Cinder. Ever wonder where authors find inspiration? For Marissa Meyer, inspiration can be found in photos. Let’s get right to it!

I love collecting pictures that inspire my writing. Sometimes it’s out of necessity—whether because I’m having trouble picturing a scene or this character hasn’t started to feel like a true human being to me yet. Other times a totally random photo will spark my imagination and lead to a new character or plot twist. Sometimes I can gather new details to drop into the story world that wouldn’t have occurred to me otherwise, and those details are often what brings the setting to life in my imagination.

So far, I’ve amassed 40 inspiration pictures for Cinder and 69 for the rest of The Lunar Chronicles. Here are some of my personal favorites:

Characters

CINDER
My original inspiration for Cinder’s character was Sailor Jupiter in the live-action Sailor Moon TV show, played by this actress: Mew Azama. Although Cinder changed both physically and emotionally during the writing of the book, this picture will always make me think of her. (It’s also largely responsible for the outfit Cinder is wearing in the last chapter of the book.)

MECHANIC GIRL
Mechanic Girl by CoolSurface
I love how the girl in his picture is so grimy looking. While her expression is sad, she looks totally comfortable surrounded by all that machinery, which is precisely how I imagine Cinder.

TINKERING
Tinkering with the Robot by GenevieveGT
This is another one that harks to Cinder’s personality—lost in concentration as she works on fixing a robot.

KAI
My original inspiration for Kai, and it still makes me swoon. Sorry, I have no idea who he is.

DR ERLAND
This one took a long time to find—photos of old men aren’t nearly as prevalent as young, cute ones! But this one is spot-on, all the way down to the hat, and now I honestly can’t remember if the hat was in the story first, or if I wrote it in after seeing this picture…

LEVANA
Yet another photo in which I don’t know who the person is. I’m sure she’s probably famous and I’m showing my pathetic lack of pop culture knowledge as I write this. Still—her smug beauty fits the character to a tee.

IKO
Little Robot by Wadaka
I collected many robot pictures during the creation of Iko’s character, but this one still comes closest. Differences, though, are that Iko was given rolling treads instead of legs and her arms are more spindly.

Settings

ORIENTAL MARKETPLACE
Oriental Marketplace by Blinck
This was my desktop image for almost the entire time I was writing Cinder, and it really helped me grasp the feel of the weekly market where Cinder has her mechanics booth. I love how it has both the feel of a bustling metropolis and a very Asian vibe in the architecture and details.

CHARON DOCK
Charon Dock by Vonmurder
This image is precisely how I imagine New Beijing’s rundown industrial district where the plague quarantines have been set up (minus the creepy thing hanging over the buildings, that is).

SUMMER PALACE
This is the Summer Palace in Beijing (the real Beijing), and if you were to make it bigger and multiply the amount of buildings/towers, you would have the royal palace where Prince Kai lives—cliff side and all.

Clothing

BALL GOWN
My very first concept of the royal ball was to make it a masquerade (because I have a thing for masquerades in fiction). Though that idea didn’t even make it into the first draft, this picture I snagged for Cinder’s ball gown lingered. That said, her final gown looks almost nothing like this.

BOYS IN UNIFORM
Boys in Uniform by Porotto
These outfits gave me the idea for the special coats the thaumaturges wear to announce their rank in the Lunar Court—white signifies the highest rank, followed by red, and then black.

Those are some of my favorite images that helped me visualize Cinder’s world as I was writing it—I hope they help bring it to life for you as well!

Thank you Marissa and The Teen {Book} Scene for this awesome tour and guest post!

Introducing Something Big - Dark Days of Winter 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 06:30:00 +0000

INTRODUCING SOMETHING BIG

DARK DAYS OF WINTER 2012

Welcome to the Dark Days of Winter 2012 author tour, HarperCollins’ BIG, BIGGER, BIGGEST Dark Days ever! There are so many fantastic books and authors to celebrate and I am excited to help kick off this BIG event. With cyber hosts to follow, author events to visit, and a Facebook page to stalk, Dark Days of Winter 2012 is the BIGGEST!

Leg 1 of Dark Days features Tahereh Mafi, Ellen Schreiber, and Veronica Rossi. Leg 2 of Dark Days features Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton and Courtney Allison Moulton, but more about that later.

Let’s get right to it!

Meet the Cyber Hosts
Dark Days Leg 1

Melina at Reading Vacation *waves*

Tahereh Mafi and Shatter Me

January 4 and 9

Jen at I Read Banned Books

Ellen Schreiber and Magic of the Moonlight

January 5 and 10

Jenny at Supernatural Snark

Veronica Rossi and Under the Never Sky

January 6 and 11

Author Tour
Dark Days Leg 1

Thursday, January 12th

SAN FRANCISCO

Books, Inc. Opera Plaza

7pm

Friday, January 13th

SAN DIEGO

Mysterious Galaxy

7pm

Saturday, January 14th

PHOENIX

Changing Hands

4pm

Stay connected to Dark Days on the Pitch Dark Facebook Page,
including exclusive content features every Wednesday!

CLICK HERE TO
Sample Dark Days Free
Catch the Dark Days Tour
Chat via Twitter Feeds

SHATTER ME LOVE

Shatter Me is one of my favorite books EVER. Like, EVER! Tahereh Mafi has the most exquisite writing style that takes the simplest of concepts, the most mundane of events, and gives them new life. I started putting sticky notes in my copy of Shatter Me to mark my favorite quotes. I finally gave up because nearly every page had a sticky note attached to it. #TrueFact Here’s some more Shatter Me love!

My Mushy Gushy OMG I LOVE This Book Review

"Shatter Me is a truly breathtaking debut with the
most beautiful writing that has ever graced a page."

To keep it interesting...
and to make you laugh
HD at Reading Writing Breathing's
Step-by-Step Guide to Reading Shatter Me

Tahereh Mafi Web Site

The Fabulous Shatter Me Trailer

Thank you to HarperTeen for including Reading Vacation in the Dark Days of Winter 2012 event.

Dragonswood by Janet Lee Carey - Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 06:01:00 +0000

Title ~ Dragonswood
Series ~ Single Title
Author ~ Janet Lee Carey
Release Date ~ January 5, 2012
Publisher ~ Penguin
Source ~ The Teen {Book} Scene

Wilde Island is in an uproar after the recent death of its king. The uneasy pact between dragons, fairies, and humans is fraying, and a bloodthirsty witch hunter with a hidden agenda whips villages into frenzies with wild accusations. Tess, a blacksmith’s daughter from a tiny hamlet near the mysterious Dragonswood, finds herself caught in the crosshairs of fate when she is accused of witchery and has to flee for her life along with her two best friends.

Not even Tess’s power to see the future can help the girls as they set off on their desperate journey, but she keeps having visions of a man wielding a sword. And when she finally meets him, Tess has no idea how to handle the magnetic attraction she feels for him, or the elusive call she hears from the heart of the Dragonswood.

In this epic romance, an ancient prophecy comes true in a way neither dragon, fairy, nor human would have predicted.

I love when a book has a setting that becomes an essential character that somehow touches every last bit of the story. The mysterious Dragonswood is key in this book. While it serves as a sanctuary to dragons and fey, others are warned to keep their distance. The wood is heavily guarded and danger lurks within. There’s an uneasiness surrounding Dragonswood, and it creeps into everyone and everything on Wilde Island.

With that backdrop in place, there is unbelievable tension when Tess finds herself drawn to Dragonswood. It all heats up when Tess is accused of being a witch and she must flee or face unbelievable torture. You want more? Well, Tess can see visions. I won’t spill it here, but the WAY she sees these visions is pretty intriguing. When Tess sees a sword wielding guy in her visions, the tension within the dangerous wood multiplies by a billion! See, I told you the setting adds the spice to this one.

I can’t forget the surrounding villages. The villagers are in chaos and in a panic because the king has recently died. You wanna’ talk about some paranoia? They even consider going into Dragonswood to get food. They are willing to risk it all and enter the forbidden wood. There we go again with the awesome setting.

With magical creatures, witch hunters, dragon fights, romance, and a twisty plot, Dragonswood caught my attention and did not let go. I couldn’t stop once I got started. Yep, read it in one day. That good! The fantabulous setting in this fantasy just screams of stunning and it’s the thing that made Dragonswood so special for me.

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons - Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Melina) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 06:01:00 +0000

Title ~ Article 5
Series ~ Article 5 #1
Author ~ Kristen Simmons
Release Date ~ January 31, 2012
Publisher ~ Tor Teen
Source ~ Tor Teen and The Teen {Book} Scene

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.

I love when this happens! When a debut book releases near the very beginning of the year and it is so captivating that it sets the tone for the entire year. For 2012, Article 5 is one of those extra super special books. Lately, it feels as though dystopians are flooding the young adult book choices. I would venture to say that 2011 was the year of the dystopian. At some point, they all start blending together. It’s hard to stand out, but stand out Article 5 does. In a big way!

The crazy stands out. And by crazy, I’m meaning the Moral Statues and the Federal Bureau of Reformation. Sure, on the surface it sounds all sweet and nice that the government demands high morals. But don’t be fooled. These Moral Statutes are insanely strict and enforcement of the statutes is unbelievably cruel as families are broken apart over even trivial infractions. Noncompliance is not an option. Article 5 brings the crazy.

The relationships stand out. When you live in a world that’s crumbling and your sense of trust has been shaken, relationships matter. Ember and her single mother are used to doing things on their own, sort of an us-against-the-world kind of thing. So, when her mother is taken and Ember is sent to a reformatory, Ember is driven to rescue her mother. Things have gotten personal and Ember isn't going to stand by and do nothing. She doesn’t even flinch as she puts herself in danger to save her mother. Then there’s the complicated relationship between Ember and Chase. These two have a romantic history together that is told in Ember’s flashbacks. But now that Chase has joined the military, the relationship takes on a new slant. It’s tense, passionate, ugly, and strong all rolled into one. The relationships in Article 5 are solid.

The action stands out. It’s so intense, there is no way for it NOT to stand out. Within those first few pages and perfectly placed throughout the book are scenes of heart-stopping action. Sometimes it’s in-your-face “Imma’ gonna’ kill someone action.” Other times it’s more like “we better hurry up and get this done before we run out of time or we’re dead meat action.” And still other times it’s the “everything is just going to explode into a zillion teeny tiny pieces action.” Yeah, Article 5 has action covered.

Kristen Simmons’ writing stands out. Oh my goodness, I am going to want to read more of what Kristen writes. She made me feel as though I were right there in a world governed by Moral Statutes. I felt like I was beside Ember as she fought to rescue her mother. Like I was there with Ember and Chase, years before their world was torn apart. Like I really was a part of the action. Y’all will have to trust me, Article 5 has fantabulous writing that stands out.

Read it! Read It! READ IT!