Mundie Moms

Mundane Monday #125

2012-02-27T06:12:00.001-06:00

Happy Mundane Monday! Today's post is a variety of things that Cassie has recently posted like a deleted City of Lost Souls scene, a Clockwork Princess teaser and Kara-lija's newest artwork, which is amazing!

I seriously love this piece! I feel like I'm getting a glance at a stolen moment between Jace & Clary. You can read about the inspiration behind on this piece by visiting Kara-lija's Deviantart site here.

City of Lost Souls Deleted Scene:

Clary’s efforts almost went for nothing when she glanced up and saw Sebastian, leaning against the opposite wall of the corridor, his arms crossed, looking at her.

She felt immediately conscious of what she was wearing. The same slip dress she’d worn to the club, but without her boots, her jacket and most importantly, without the buzz she’d been riding last night, she felt unprotected, vulnerable. “Who took my shoes off?”
“That’s what you want to know?” Sebastian looked incredulous. “You pass out at a club and wake up covered in blood and and you want to know where your shoes are?”

That's a deleted scene? I'm almost scared to find out what the actual scene entails. I can not wait for May 8th!! You can read Cassie's post for this here.

Clockwork Princess Teaser:

“A very magnanimous statement, Gideon,” said Magnus.
“I’m Gabriel.”
Magnus waved a hand. “All Lightwoods look the same to me.”

Aw, Magnus! You can read Cassie's post for this here.

Must Have Middle Grade Reads

2012-02-27T05:22:00.004-06:00

Welcome to this week's edition of Must Have Middle Grade Reads, a weekly feature here on Mundie Moms where I spotlight last week's middle grade books I reviewed on Mundie Kids. This week's Must Have Middle Grade reads are: Sadly I only reviewed one MG read on Mundie Kids this past week which was:

By: Michael Scotto

Illustrated by: Evette Gabriel

Published by: Midlandia Press

Released on: November 15th, 2011

Ages: 8 & up

4 stars: I Really Enjoyed It

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Latasha and the Little Red Tornado tells the story of Latasha Gandy, a precocious and inventive third-grader who lives in Pittsburgh with her hardworking mother and a naughty puppy named Ella Fitzgerald. At eight years old, Latasha cannot wait to grow up. Ella, on the other hand, absolutely refuses to! When Ella's antics push the Gandy's landlady, Mrs. Okocho, to her wits' end, Latasha realizes that she must turn her mischievous mutt into a model dog. Latasha enlists the help of a classmate and neighbor, Ricky, in her efforts to train Ella. Their friendship grows as Ricky joins the girls on their adventures in the park. But after Latasha and Ricky have a falling out, Latasha decides to take Ella out on her own, a choice that proves to have grave consequences. At turns hilarious and heartbreaking, this tale of friendship and maturity follows Latasha as she struggles with Ella, school, and her mother's absence from home. -quoted from Goodreads

This is such a heart warming, wonderful story for younger readers. It's a story kids will be able to relate to, and one they'll enjoy spending time with as they get to know Latasha, the story's main character. Young Latasha, who's now eight years old has a lot to deal with. She has an unruly faithful pup named Ella Fitzgerald (named after Latasha's favorite singer) who likes to do things puppies do like get into things they're not suppose to... meaning the trash and the down stairs neighbor/landlord's flowerbed. Not only does Latasha do the best she can to teach her friendly dog manners, she also tries to be a huge help to her single mother who's recently started a new job, and keep a good attitude about spending more time their elderly down stairs neighbor Ms. Okocho.

You can read the rest of my review here.

Next week I hope to have a lot more MG reviews to share with you. I'm gearing up for my Mundie Kids Middle Grade March Madness feature. More info will be posted on Mundie Kids shortly.

Middle Grade Monday:

Don't miss my Marvelous Middle Grade Monday meme on Mundie Kids, a weekly meme hosted by author Shannon Messenger's. You can check out this week's Mundie Kids feature here

Book Review: Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday

2012-02-26T13:44:00.002-06:00

By: Gemma Halliday

Published by: Harper Collins

Release Date: October 11, 2011

Source: Purchased

Buy: Indie Bound | Barnes and Noble | amazon

4 stars - I really enjoyed it

Synopsis: First I find out that my boyfriend is cheating on me. Then he’s pegged as the #1 suspect in a murder. And now he’s depending on me to clear his name. Seriously?

As much as I wouldn’t mind watching him squirm, I know that he’s innocent. So I’m brushing off my previously untapped detective skills and getting down to business. But I keep tripping over dead bodies and I’m still no closer to figuring out who did it. And what’s worse: all signs seem to point to me as the killer’s next victim.

I really need to pick a better boyfriend next time.

There's something about a smart, snarky girl detective character that I just love. Life couldn't be worse for Hartley. First, she finds out that her boyfriend's cheating on her and then while she's snooping around his bedroom, she finds a dead body. Not just any dead body, but the dead body of the girl Hartley suspects he was cheating with. How humiliating. Fortunately for Hartley, a neighbor (who just happens to be the good-looking, brooding type and a senior at her school) was taking pictures of his car and he helps her with what turns out to be a classic mystery.

And Gemma’s written it in a style that’s a nod to both Veronica Mars and a much, much more sarcastic Nancy Drew. I admit that I looked forward to Hartley’s exchanges with Chase (yes, the neighbor who is also the editor of the school’s paper) the most. Because the two of them are, in turn, sweet, funny and OMGHYSTERICAL when they are together. There’s a scene where Hartley ends up hiding under Chase’s bed, which still causes me to giggle when I think about it.

The side characters are well drawn, too. Especially Hartley’s best friend, Sam and the police detective, Raley . Even minor characters like the grief counselor, Miss Bessie are brought to life with only a few descriptive words and lines of dialogue. Gemma is masterful at making you laugh, wonder, guess (and incorrectly) and most of all enjoy Hartley’s determination to find the killer. As with any good mystery, no one is safe and almost everyone ends up being a suspect, yes, even Chase.

When you’re in the mood for a well written YA mystery, be sure to pick up Deadly Cool. In the meantime, I’m ready to go back to Herbert Hoover High for the next installment, Social Suicide, which will be released on April 24th. I need to see what Hartley, Chase and Sam are up to in their next adventure.

In My Mailbox #112 & Weekly Feature

2012-02-26T08:04:00.029-06:00

Happy Sunday! Welcome to this week's edition of In My Mailbox & Weekly Feature. In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren where bloggers share what goodies they received the previous week in the mail to review, traded, were gifted, bought etc. Here's what arrived in my mailbox this week:

For Review:

* ARISE, Hereafter #2 by Tara Hudson, published by Harper Teen, to be released on 6/5/12, I'm so excited I'm quoted on the back of the ARC!

* Cold Fury by T.M. Goeglen, published by G. P. Putnam & Sons, to be released on 6/24/12

* Two Halves by Marta Szemik, published by MyLit Publishing, released on 11/29/11

* No Safety In Numbers by Dayna Lorentz, published by Dial, to be released on 5/29/12

* Shadows (Lux 0.5), by Jennifer Armentrout, published by Entangled Publishing, released on 2/21/12, not pictured

For Review, Mundie Kids:

* Beyonders #2, Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull, published by Aladdin, to be released on 3/13/12, published copy

* Kepler's Dream by Juliet Bell, published by G.P. Putnam & Sons, to be released on 5/10/12

* Best Friend Thief by Laurel- Ann Dooley, published by WordWorks Publishing, LLC, released on 9/20/11

* Stay Close to Mama by Ton Buzzeo, published by Disney Hyperion, to be released on 3/13/12

* Daddies Do It Different by Alan Lawrence Sitomer, published by Disney Hyperion, to be released on 4/17/12

* My Little Troublemaker by Thierry Robberecht, published by Clavis Publishing, released on 12/2/11

* I Have Two Homes by Marian De Smet, published by Clavis Publishing, released on 12/2/11

* The Little Snowman Stan by Guido van Genechten, published by Clavis Publishing, released on 10/1/11

* StAY, The True Story of Ten Dogs by Michaela Muntean

Gifted:

* Confectionately Yours, Save the Cupcake! by Lisa Papademtriou, from a Scholastic BK Fair workshop

* Diary of a Whimpy Kid, Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney, from a Scholastic BK Fair Workshop

* Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway, gifted from Sophie

* Signed YA/MG author posters from Project Book Babe a few year back. This is going to a friend of mine.... I'm seriously so excited about this. It's signed by a large group of awesome authors like Stephenie Meyer, Shannon Hale, Brandon Mull and Laini Taylor.

Bought:

* Forge by Laure Halse Anderson, signed, won in an action for charity hosted by author Carrie Harris

* Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

Thank you to:

Harper Teen, Tara Hudson, Simon & Schuster, Penguin Teen, Scholastic, Carrie Harris, Shannon M, Sophie, Marta Szemik, and Laurel-Ann Dooley for this week's awesome reads!

What goodies did you receive this week?

Week in Review:

Misc:

Cassie Clare's TID Character Q&A

Dark Days Austin, TX signing re-cap

Latest YA Book News

Reviews:

* The Secrets of Spruce Knoll by Heather McCorkle

* Haunted by Joy Preble, Haunted blog tour

* Embrace by Jessica Shirvington, Embrace blog tour

* Bewitching by Alex Flinn, Dark Days blog tour

* The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

* Perception by Kim Harrington

Author Interviews & Guest Posts:

* Kelly Keaton, A Beautiful Evil blog tour

* Jessica Shirvington, Embrace blog tour

* Joy Preble, Haunted Blog Tour

Upcoming Events:

Tomorrow we'll be kicking off Elizabeth Eulberg's Take a Bow Sneak Peek Week! Monday- Friday you'll be able to meet the characters (Carter, Sophie, Ethan and Emme) of Take A Bow, as well as enter to win some awesome prizes. Be sure to stop Elizabeth's site here to follow the tour!

Book Review: Perception by Kim Harrington

2012-02-25T08:49:00.000-06:00

By: Kim Harrington

Published by: Scholastic

To Be Released on: March 1st, 2012

Source: book from publisher to review

4 stars: I Enjoyed It

Pre-Order from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Series: Clarity Book #2

When you can see things others can't, what do you do when someone's watching you?

Everybody knows about Clarity "Clare" Fern. She's the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past.

Only Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her.

But then someone starts playing with her head . . . and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare's pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare's hopeful ex-boyfriend who'd do anything to win her back?

One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared -quoted from Goodreads

Picking up not long after Clarity ends, Perception starts off with things trying to get back to normal, which is short lived. There's a disappearance, a murder, and not to mention a crazy stalker who's after Clare. Like Clarity, Perception was a fun, quick read full of mystery, and romance. It's one of those books I quickly got immersed in. I had to know who was behind what was going on and before I realized it I was already done with the book. One of the things I really enjoyed about this sequel is the character growths, the romance and the nonstop mystery that is found within Perception's pages.

Clare for me is a character who grew the most. She's much more comfortable with her ability and in fact uses it more openly than she did in Clarity, she's bold, and she finally speaks her mind to a few characters who needed to be put in their places. I also really like the way in which her relationships with Gabriel and Justin grew. I admire her for really thinking about her true feelings for each guy and not rushing into one relationship. The way she feels about both guys was realistic, and I liked that Kim allowed me to see how Clarity was weighing her feelings about both. My personal favorite is Gabriel and I loved getting to know him more. I think a lot of fans of this series will feel the same way. He's hard not to love.

Kim Harrington's writing in this series is fabulous. She has done a fabulous job at creating a story where everyone is a suspect and the end result on who the murderer is, is quite shocking, as well as who the stalker is. I found myself unable to turn the pages fast enough to find out who did it. Kudos to Kim for keeping me guessing. She did a great job at creating characters and incidents that totally threw me off and for a good part of the book keep suspicious about a few of them. I like that I had no idea who the person was until it was revealed. While Kim tied up a few lose ends from Clarity, she also kept enough unanswered questions that leaves me eager to find out what answers she'll will give me in the next installment in this series.

Perception is an exciting, fast paced read and one I highly recommend picking up. It's one fans of mystery, romance and realistic YA reads will enjoy. There is one scene that consists of underage drinking. Be sure to follow Kim's blog to read her latest Perception teasers here.

The Latest YA Book News

2012-02-25T06:55:00.011-06:00

This week has delivered some exciting book news!

Veronica Roth's Insurgent excerpt was posted on EW online HERE. If you have not read it you must hurry and go read it. It's soooo good! I wish this book was already in my hands. I can't wait to read it.

Here's a little bit about the book:

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

Published by: Harper Teen

To Be Released on: May 1st, 2012

You can add it to your Goodreads lists here.

Sophie Jordan's HIDDEN cover was revealed. YAY! That means it's that much closer to it's release day. I love the covers for this series. What do you guys think? This is another book I can not wait to get my hands on. I need to know who she chooses.

Here's a little bit about the book:

Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the "prince" of their pride. But she resisted long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse, a hunter. When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian's sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory.

The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control. As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there's no guarantee they'll all make it out alive. But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning....

Loyalties are tested and sacrifices made in the explosive conclusion to Sophie Jordan's Firelight trilogy.

Published by: Harper Teen

To Be Released on: September 11th, 2012

Add it to your Goodreads lists here. You can read more about the cover on Sophie's site and find links on where you can pre-order it from here.

CJ Redwine's debut, DEFIANCE also had a cover reveal this week! Check out how awesome this cover it. I swear I'm in cover love right now. The forest, the castle in her cape, and the entire cover looks awesome!! I can't wait to read this one.

Here's a little bit about the book:

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

Published by: Balzer & Bray

To Be Released on: August 28th

You can add it to your Goodreads lists and be sure to stop by CJ's site to enter to win her Defiance giveaway!

Jessica Shirington's Embrace book trailer was also featured on EW here. You can also read my guest post with Jessica here and my review for Embrace here.

Here's a little bit about the book:

It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before.

Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her.

A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…

Published by: Source Books

To Be Released on: March 6th, 2012

You can also add it to your Goodreads lists here.

Book Review: The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

2012-02-24T13:04:00.009-06:00

Flashback Friday is a meme I started last year here on the blog for the sole purpose of spotlighting books that have been sitting on my shelf to read for awhile. This will include titles released the previous year and ones that have been out for a few years. Today's feature is for a book that's been on list to read for awhile: The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong.

By: Kelley Armstrong

Published by: Harper Teen

Released on: April 12th, 2011

Source: Bought

4 stars: I Enjoyed It

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Series: Darkness Rising, Book #1

Sixteen-year-old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn't know much about her background - the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip - but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical-research community on Vancouver Island.

Until now.

Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town - from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend's hidden talent for "feeling" out people and situations, to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel . . . . different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya's biological parents and it's easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet. -quoted from Goodreads

The Gathering is one of those books that hooked me with it's mystery and strung me along by sheer curiosity. It's not a story that's full of action scenes, but a story that's rich in many subtle scenes, and a lot of mystery all of which fed into the over all arc of the story. In the beginning I kept waiting for something big to happen, but quickly realized this was a story that would offer up plenty of little scenes to satisfy my craving for excitement. This story has a different pace than what I normally enjoy, and I liked that about this book. It gave me plenty of things to keep me craving more, but it didn't reveal all the secrets that lie within it's pages. Kelley created a story with a beautifully mesmerizing setting, characters whom all harbor secrets, and created an enticing mix of her own paranormal element with a richly detailed lore.

My favorite aspects of this book are Kelley's descriptive setting, and her Native American lore. The setting itself is beautiful and has an eerie feeling about what's really going on in Salmon Creek. This small village houses families who work for a pharmaceutical company there, and though we see that's something fishy is definitely going on, we still don't know what. I like that Kelley kept this open ended and didn't overly reveal too much in this book. This just adds to fuel of wanting to know what exactly is going on. I seriously loved the role the lush outdoors of the pacific Northwest played in this book. Vancouver Island is one of the most beautiful places I've visited, and I loved visiting it again in this book. It's the perfect place for the outdoor active and the native lore that's tied to the story.

I have always been fascinated by Native American lore, and I loved the role this plays both in the setting and the story. Kelley's unique spin on shape-shifters is one I want to know more about. I like that she created a character who's part Native American, but doesn't know much about her birth parents until towards the end of the book. Maya's quest into finding out more about herself, her heritage and what the birthmark on her hip mean allowed me to learn more about what's going on with Maya and some of the people around her. I like it when I discover certain aspects of the story right along side the main character. It allows me to feel like I'm taking a journey with them.

The characters in this book were fun to read about, but they're not characters I felt like I connected with. I felt more drawn to the book with the lore and the setting vs them. That's not to say I didn't find some of them fascinating, because I did. I like the relationship that Maya and Daniel have. I like what develops between Maya and Rafe, though I'm curious to find out what happens between them in The Calling. There's still secrets I think Rafe is holding out on that deal with Maya. I also liked the role that Maya's adoptive parent's play in her life. It was refreshing to see a main character's parents be apart of their story.

Over all I really enjoyed reading The Gathering. I've not read the original series this book spins off from, so I'm not sure how the two are connected or if one series is better than the other. I can say I didn't once feel lost about what's going on in this book. Don't let not reading Kelley's other YA series stop you from picking this book up. Now that I've read this I want to go back and read the Darkest Powers series. I'm looking forward to uncovering more of this story's mystery when The Calling is out. I think YA fans will enjoy the paranormal elements and the mystery that this book has.

Haunted Blog Tour: Interview with author Joy Preble

2012-02-24T08:30:00.008-06:00

I am so excited to have author Joy Preble on Mundie Moms today to talk about her sequel, Haunted! You can read my review for Haunted here. Joy is one of the sweetest people I've had the chance of getting to know. If you ever come out to TX, I highly recommend attending one of the many book/author events that Joy goes to. She is a lovely person to meet.

Which of your characters has surprised you in terms of how they've changed since book 1 and in what ways did they surprise you?

No one has ever asked me that question! I think there are two. Tess has definitely evolved from how I had first envisioned her, which was as the quippy/comic relief girl to rock solid, loyal young woman. Readers usually have the same soft spot for Tess as I do. Another is Baba Yaga. As the books continued, her backstory unfolded more to me. I've always known more than the reader, held some back, but in both HAUNTED as well as the forthcoming ANASTASIA FOREVER, there's definitely more to her and her motivations.

Do you find writing a sequel is easier or more challenging than a first book in a series?

Both. It's easier in that I know the characters and I've set up the world and I know the character and series arcs. But it's challenging to keep making sure that there is a continued continuity, and that ultimately, every plot event, every small item, has a large overarching purpose. Luckily, although I've had different editors during the series, my production team has stayed the same. So my copy editor knows if I'm staying true to what I'd begun!

What aspect of your series lore have you enjoyed creating the most?

Well, Ethan in general and everything magic about him, is always fun to write. But I think developing Baba Yaga and Lily the rusalka (the malevolent and tragic Russian mermaid) have been the most fun. Tragic and evil characters are just fun to write. Especially once you know why they have become what they've become.

Is there a book from your childhood that inspired you as a reader? If so, what book is?

There are many, but one of my main early influences was A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle, which did set my love for both strong female characters and fantasy plots.

If you could co-write a book, who would you want to cowrite with and what genre would your book be?

Great question! I would love to co-write a book with Libba Bray. She is an amazing genius and hysterically funny and I've been honored that my DREAMING ANASTASIA series has been compared at times to her GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY series. Plus she wrote Going Bovine, which is actually my husband's favorite book! We would do historical romantic fantasy set in the Wild West. So if someone could tell Libba...

Is there a YA book you've recently read that you wish you had as a teen?

I think almost anything by Sarah Dessen, and definitely her The Truth About Forever. Her female characters evolve in ways that would have been important to me as a teen. They get over their fears and insecurities, learn to see the world differently, realize how special they are. That would have been very important to me! I was so ridiculously shy and really took years to believe in myself and what I could do.

*******

Thank you Joy for stopping by today!

You can follow Joy on her: Blog | Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook

You can purchase Haunted from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

You can follow the entire Haunted Blog Tour here. Don't miss Girls in the Stacks review on Haunted tomorrow.

Dark Days Blog Tour / Book Review: Bewitching by Alex Flinn

2012-02-23T07:22:00.001-06:00

By: Alex Flinn

Published by: Harper Teen

Released on: February 14th, 2012

Source: book from publisher to review

4 stars: I Really Enjoyed It

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Bewitching can be a beast. . . .

Once, I put a curse on a beastly and arrogant high school boy. That one turned out all right. Others didn’t.

I go to a new school now—one where no one knows that I should have graduated long ago. I’m not still here because I’m stupid; I just don’t age.

You see, I’m immortal. And I pretty much know everything after hundreds of years—except for when to take my powers and butt out.

I want to help, but things just go awry in ways I could never predict. Like when I tried to free some children from a gingerbread house and ended up being hanged. After I came back from the dead (immortal, remember?), I tried to play matchmaker for a French prince and ended up banished from France forever. And that little mermaid I found in the Titanic lifeboat? I don’t even want to think about it.

Now a girl named Emma needs me. I probably shouldn’t get involved, but her gorgeous stepsister is conniving to the core. I think I have just the thing to fix that girl—and it isn’t an enchanted pumpkin. Although you never know what will happen when I start . . . bewitching. -quoted from Goodreads

I really enjoyed Bewitching. It's told in such a different way than more YA books I've read lately and I loved the way that Alex Flinn was able to weave together both the story of Kendra, the witch from Beastly, as well as her new character Emma. Emma's story is one that had me yelling at the book, which is always a good thing. There's some really crappy things that this sweet character endures that made me cringe. Emma's such a good hearted person and I truly felt bad for her all she deals with. Though through it she was able to develop a lasting friendship with Kendra. You know that saying "what goes around comes around", well that really rings true in this book, and I'll be honest there's a character in this book who really got what she deserved. I know that's totally wrong of me to say that. This character is the essence of "evil step sister". Through out all the goes on I admire Emma for not stooping to her step sister's level.

Kendra for me is a character I've been fascinated since reading Beastly. I enjoyed getting to know her more, and understanding her reasoning behind the things she's done through out her life. I admire the fact that she is who she is. Nobody or nothing for that matter makes her waiver from that. She's a strong character who's lived a long life and has dwelt with her own heart ache, loneliness and living with consequences from her actions. I liked the way Alex made both Kendra and Emma, the other main character in this story stand out.

Alex did a wonderful job at creating an enchanting story that included her own unique spin on the story of Cinderella, along with fairy-tale retellings of the Princess & the Pea, Hansel & Gretel, The Little Mermaid, and mentions of Beastly aka Beauty and the Beast. These stories combined with the historical references she uses fit perfectly into Kendra's story with both the things that Kendra has experienced and the things she's done as the Witch in these stories. Events like the plague and the Titanic provide unique flashbacks into Kendra's life. It was really fascinating to me in the way that Alex was able to incorporate all this into Kendra's story, and it made for quite an engaging read. I loved how she was able to make all these things work in Bewitching.

If you're a fan of Alex Flinn's brilliantly retold fairy tale books, I highly recommend picking this one up!

Don't miss the rest of the Dark Days blog tour as well as the Dark Days tour stops, which you can find here on the Dark Days Facebook Page. Stop back by on March 7th to read my interview with Alex Flinn here on the blog.

Blog Tour/ Book Review: Embrace by Jessica Shirivington

2012-02-22T10:06:00.013-06:00

By: Jessica Shirvington

Published by: SourceBooks

To Be Released on: March 6th, 2012

Source: ARC from publisher to review

4.5 stars: I Really Enjoyed It

Pre-Order from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indie Bound

Series: Book #1

It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before.

Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her.

A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…

Look for the sequels ENTICED in September 2012 and EMBLAZE in March 2013! -quoted from Goodreads

Embrace is an exciting new debut and the first book in what promises to be one enticing series. It's filled with romance, danger, a captivating angel-lore, and plenty of twists that will keep readers hooked to till the last page. This is one of those books that literally drew me in the moment I sat down to read it, and I found it nearly impossible to put down.

Violet Eden is a character I connected with on many levels, and she's also one I at times got frustrated with. I liked that she's a character who's flawed, struggles with seeing the truth vs seeing what she sometimes wants to see, makes mistakes, is strong and she's someone who's not afraid of taking chances. I love that she's someone who ultimately isn't afraid to make sacrifices, especially when it comes to saving those she loves. She definitely has some tough choices when it comes to love and following her heart.

The romance in this book is HOT! Let just say wow! I adored Lincoln from the moment he's introduced into the story. He's not the perfect guy, which is a huge reason why I love him, but boy does he love and respect Violet and that was enough to hook me. He's one of those extremely patient guys, even when you don't want him to be. If you've read the book you'll know what I mean. He's extremely understanding, loyal, but he's also secretive. He does reveal some of his secrets in Embrace which of course does have some horrible consequences, but I having a feeling there's a lot more he's hiding. I love the friendship and chemistry he and Violet have. That scene between the two of them on her birthday is AWESOME!!

Then there's Phoenix. Seriously, this guy is bad and mysterious, and yet there's something about him that is alluring. He does some things (a lot of things) that just peeve me off. I started out wondering what Violet even saw in him, but then there were parts of the story I was giving him the benefit out of the doubt and I wanted him to be better than he was. Ultimately he shows his true colors though I'm sure we've only gotten to know a tiny bit of the real Phoenix in this book. Kudos to Jessica for writing both of these love interests the way she did. There's so much about them that's revealed and yet there's so much more that I'm hoping I'll found out about them in the sequel.

Jessica does such a great job at creating scenes in this book that grabbed me emotionally. She allowed me to understand and sympathize with her characters, sigh with them, get mad at them and be happy for them. I love it when an author allows me to connect with their story on that level. There's a lot of twists that are unraveled by the end of this story and a lot of things that are also kept secret. I liked the way Jessica wrapped everything up at the end of the book and still left plenty for me to wonder about. I'm extremely curious about what will happen with the guys and Violet in ENTICE. So many choices that were made in this book I fear will have some serious consequences in the next book and the rest of the series to come.

This is a great read and one I really enjoyed. I like that it's part paranormal, part urban fantasy. If you're looking for a new YA series to pick up, I'd recommend picking up EMBRACE when it's out next month. There is some minor language and a couple tastefully written sensual scenes in this book.

You can read my guest post with Jessica here.

Embrace Blog Tour: Guest Post by Author Jessica Shirvington

2012-02-22T06:41:00.008-06:00

I'm excited to be the next stop in Source Books Fire Embrace Blog Tour and today we've got author Jessica Shirvington on the blog!

By: Jessica Shirvington

Published by: SourceBooks Fire

To Be Released on: March 6th, 2012

Pre-Order from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indie Bound

I'm excited to have Jessica on the blog today! She's stopped by to talk to us about Falling In Love At 17:

Falling in love is easy. Staying in love … more complicated.

At 17, life is about new experiences. It is about self-discovery, friends, adventure, mistakes, career and university choices. And let’s be honest, there are not many 17 year olds out there that aren’t interested in falling in love.

But how many are truly interested in falling in love with THE ONE at 17?

I’m not sure I was. In fact, I probably wasn’t. I was planning to take the world by storm – solo. So when I met Matt, well, actually … it was pretty darn amazing. But it was a little frightening too.

When we first got together, it was sweet and young and … perfect. I was head over heels. But things became complicated quickly. He was an up and coming athletic star and I was working in hospitality. So basically he worked hard in the day, and I worked hard at night. His lifestyle demanded routine and healthy living, mine … not so much. But we were determined to make it work.

Falling in love so deeply at a young age made it difficult to be as reckless as our friends. We watched them coast in and out of short, fun, but meaningless relationships and it just seemed so different to what we had.

Writing the Embrace series has been an opportunity for me to pour some of the incredibly intense emotions of young love into Violet’s story. It has been important for me as a writer, and a person, to recognize that it’s completely realistic for someone at her young age to experience the full effect and heartbreak of love. Violet is one hundred percent invested with her heart. She makes bad choices, but we have to. She regrets many of her decisions, because we all do. And she fights for what she loves, because she is compelled to. Violet’s story is unique to her, I don’t pull on parallel scenarios from my own life, but I do pull on the emotion of intense love. Love that I think adults sometimes forget that 17 and 18 years-olds are very capable of feeling.

I often find one question helps a lot of adults, who maybe disagree with this view, to be more open minded: Do you remember you first true love? Do you ever wonder what your life would’ve been like if you had stayed together? For some, the answer is a resounding NOT INTERESTED, but for others … the pause says it all.

Matt and I celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary in March - I believe jewelry is in order ;)

Thank you Jessica for stopping by Mundie Moms today! You can follow Jessica on her Blog | Embrace Facebook page | Goodreads

Be sure to check back later today to read my review for Embrace!

Check out the book trailer here:

Embrace Cover Shoot from Sourcebooks Inc on Vimeo.

Waiting on Wednesday: Underworld by Meg Cabot

2012-02-22T04:04:00.009-06:00

By: Meg Cabot

Published by: Point

To Be Released on: May 28th, 2012

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera isn’t dead.

Not this time.

But she is being held against her will in the dim, twilit world between heaven and hell, where the spirits of the deceased wait before embarking upon their final journey.

Her captor, John Hayden, claims it’s for her own safety. Because not all the departed are dear. Some are so unhappy with where they ended up after leaving the Underworld, they’ve come back as Furies, intent on vengeance…on the one who sent them there and on the one whom he loves.

But while Pierce might be safe from the Furies in the Underworld, far worse dangers could be lurking for her there…and they might have more to do with its ruler than with his enemies.

And unless Pierce is careful, this time there’ll be no escape -quoted from Goodreads

I love this cover, and I'm really looking forward to reading this sequel to Abandon. I really enjoyed Abandon and I can't wait to find out what's in store for Pierce this time around. What book are you waiting to be released?

Twitter Tuesday - Cassie Clare

2012-02-21T16:17:00.000-06:00

Cassandra Clare by MinaBlak

Cassie was so good to us today. She answered sixty-five character (Infernal Devices only) questions on twitter. Have you seen them?? They're posted in our Forum under each character. And there are some wonderful answers like this one:

"Will: Do you remember when Magnus kissed you?" WHAT?

Check out the rest here.

And a snippet from when "Will meets Jem" scene:

Will’s fingers brushed the other boy’s as he took the weapon from Jem: it was the first time, Charlotte thought, that she had ever seen him touch any other person willingly.

Happy Tuesday, Mundie Moms!

Book Review / Blog Tour: Haunted by Joy Preble

2012-02-21T08:29:00.008-06:00

I'm excited to be today's stop in my blog tour for Joy Preble's Haunted. Today I'm featuring my 4 star review for this exciting sequel to Anastasia Dreaming.

By: Joy Preble

Published by: Sourcebooks Fire

Released on: February 1st, 2011

Source: bought, signed

4 stars: I Really Enjoyed It

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

"Anne Michaelson "is trying to forget everything that happened last year. But it's hard to do when her heart aches for Ethan "and there's a wild-haired woman stalking her..."

"Ethan Kosinsky "is embracing his newfound mortality. But something is drawing him back to the girl he left behind-"back to Anne and back to the magic..."

A mysterious stranger is hunting Anne wherever she goes. No one sees her but Anne. When she searches for the woman's identity, Anne exposes secrets about her own life- things that will change her life forever. And when the gorgeous Ethan returns, her life gets a lot more complicated.

Anne thought her journey with the Romanov family had ended, "but it was just the beginning..."- quoted from Goodreads

Haunted is an enticing sequel to Joy Preble's Anastasia Dreaming. I loved this book's Russian lore, romance, and suspense as much as I did in the first book. Joy Preble has a fabulous job at taking her readers deeper into her lore, unraveling the secrets from the first book and uncovering some unexpected twists. I was so caught up with the story this time around that I didn't even question what was going on, and the ending left me wanting more. Joy not only answers questions I had from book 1, but she also leaves room for more questions with this story's ending, which will lead right into book 3.

Anne is just as feisty as she was in the first book only this time around I feel like she speaks her mind a bit more as the story progresses. I adore her best friend Tess just as much as I did in book one and I may have fallen in love with Ethan even more. Finally these two admit their feelings for each other, but of course it's much more complicated than just professing their love for one another. With a Rusalka who's stalking Anne, a complicated love triangle, and Anne gaining powers she didn't know she had, Ethan and Anne have more than their feelings for each other to contend with. There's a lot that gets uncovered in this story and it puts everyone Anne cares about at risk.

Joy did a great job at showing three different sides of this story through Anne, Ethan and Baba Yaga's narrations. I have to admit, Baba Yaga started to wear me down a bit in this book and I even felt myself sympathizing with her a little. This sequel has a fast paced plot line that's full of surprises with it's secrets inside of secrets, mystery, danger and of course a few kissy scenes. I really liked the direction this series has taken and the way in which Joy was able to dive deeper into her Russian lore. She kept this story line exciting, kept me on my toes and in the end left me feeling both satisfied and wanting more. If you've read Dreaming Anatastia I highly recommend picking this sequel up. There is some very mild language, and some swoon worthy moments between the love interests.

You can follow the Haunted blog tour here.

Giveaway Winners!!!

2012-02-21T06:18:00.002-06:00

CONGRATULATIONS to the following giveaway winners:

The Edumaction of Jay Baker:

#52- Kris C

Midnight in Austenland:

#76- Lori W

#123- Tara T

Wings of the Wicked bookmark sets:

#26- Jen R

#2- SJune

Darkness Falls:

#37- Kelly F

Thank you to everyone who entered! All winners have been notified via email and have 48 hrs to reply back in order to receive their winnings. If a winner does not reply back with in that time frame a new winner will be selected. Don't miss out on entering to win more giveaways I currently have going on, which are listed in the right hand side bar.

A Beautiful Evil Blog Tour: Guest Post & Giveaway

2012-02-20T07:42:00.002-06:00

Hi everyone! Thanks so much to Mundie Moms for having me stop by and share a deleted scene from A BEAUTIFUL EVIL. The scene I chose features a character, which didn’t make it into the book, but whom I absolutely adore. He will be making an appearance in another book, and I can’t wait for you guys to truly meet him and discover just who and what he is.

To set the stage: Ari has gotten a mysterious invitation to meet a visitor just arrived in New 2. Bran Ramsey, the Novem’s Head of Security and Ari’s combat instructor at Presby, takes her to meet with the newcomer. The meeting takes place on the riverboat, Creole Queen, during Bran’s Annual Black & Gold Masque…

Hope you enjoy!~ Kelly

“Come. Your visitor awaits. And the sooner you see him, the sooner he can get the hell off my boat.” Bran glanced around, eyes scanning the surroundings. It was pretty clear whoever was on his boat made the Big Guy edgy, and that was saying something.

I followed Bran onto the riverboat, weaving through a throng of masked revelers dressed in elaborate costumes of black and gold. This was the Ramsey’s Black and Gold Masque, and the riverboat was filled with guests and entertainers of all sorts: jugglers, contortionists, sword eaters, and fire wielders … Brassy music from the live jazz band drifted down from the third story.

On the second level, Bran left me, telling me to wait. I settled against the balcony railing, and gazed out at the wide Mississippi. It glittered like a diamond with a million facets, the lights decorating the riverboat reflecting off its black surface. After a while, I turned my attention to a performer as he began to juggle fire batons.

Ten minutes passed. I started to worry. Bran hadn’t come back.

I’d decided to give it another minute when a dark shadow caught my attention. It weaved around the legs of the crowd as they ooh’d and ahh’d at the juggler. A sleek cat emerged from the satin and sequins, and sauntered toward me. Light bounced off its glossy coat, and I saw that it wasn’t entirely black like I thought. The tips of its hairs were black, but the color faded downward from black to a light brown. It had long legs and a wedged-shaped face. Its ears were larger than the average cat and it stared at me with strange yellow eyes. It looked foreign and feral, yet sophisticated and graceful.

It leapt onto the railing next to me, and I went very still, not wanting to shake the railing, not wanting the dare-devil thing to fall into the river. But the cat balanced easily and sashayed away from me along the gentle curve of the railing. As it went, a figure separated from the crowd, intent on the cat.

I realized immediately, he didn’t fit. Didn’t belong here. Every muscle in my body went tight as some intuitive sense, some primal instinct said: No, this is wrong. He is wrong.

His skin was bronze and smooth. Head shaved. He wore a loose linen shirt, the sleeves rolled to his elbows, and linen pants of the same natural color. His toes peeked out from sandals. His arms were strong and tan, devoid of hair and inked with faded black tattoos.

The cat stopped on the railing, arched its back for the stroke of the man’s hand. Then it leapt onto his shoulders, where it draped itself around the back of his neck, its tail curling around to twitch under his chin. Its tiny nose lifted and rubbed the man’s jaw.

Then he turned toward me and met my stare.

All the breath left my lungs. I couldn’t look away, too stunned by the eyes. Holy hell. The eyes… And then it hit me like a thunderbolt. My knees went weak. I knew who and what this was.

He moved closer and smiled slowly. “You know who I am.”

My heart leapt wildly. I nodded, unable to speak. I had no idea how I remained standing—standing there . . . with a supreme deity.

I was so screwed.

By: Kelly Keaton

Published by: Simon & Pulse

To Be Released on: February 21st, 2012

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Myth and mayhem inhabit a richly reimagined New Orleans in this sequel to Darkness Becomes Her.After the epic graveyard battle at the end of Darkness Becomes Her, Ari and her friends know what they’re up against: Ari is facing the Medusa curse and is haunted by the image of what she will become. To make matters worse, the heinous goddess Athena has kidnapped young Violet and is threatening to destroy Ari.

Ari, along with the superhot Sebastian, is doing everything she can to learn more about Athena and to get Violet back. But the battle of good and evil is bigger than she realizes, and she’s about to be pulled into a world more horrific than she could ever imagine...

The Giveaway: Through out the blog tour each blog will be giving away a SIGNED SET of Darkness Becomes Her & A Beautiful Evil. Each of these giveaways is open internationally.

To enter the set of books I'm giving away today, please fill out the form below.

- 1 entry per person

- You must 13 yrs & older to enter

- Open internationally

- This giveaway ends on 3.5.12

Thank you to Kelly Keaton for stopping by today! Please be sure to follow Kelly on her: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Mundane Monday #124

2012-02-20T06:36:00.003-06:00

Happy Monday!!

“We need to talk,” she said. “All of us. About what we‘re going to do now.”

“I was going to watch Project Runway,” said Jace. “Its on next.”

“No you‘re not,” said Magnus. He snapped his fingers and the TV went off, releasing a small puff of smoke as the picture died. “You need to deal with this.”

“Suddenly you‘re interested in solving my problems?”

“I‘m interested in getting my apartment back. I‘m tired of you cleaning all the time.” Magnus snapped his fingers again menacingly. “Get up.”

“Or you‘ll be the next one to go up in smoke,” said Simon with relish.

“There’s no need to clarify my snap,” said Magnus. “The implication was clear in the snap itself.”

- City of Ashes

Must Have Middle Grade Reads

2012-02-20T05:39:00.011-06:00

By: Mary Pope Osborne

Published by: Scholastic

Released on: May 1st, 2011 (this edition)

Source: book from publisher to review

Ages: 10 & up

5 stars: I Loved It

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Series: Dear America Series

A Quaker girl's diary reflects her experiences growing up in the Delaware River Valley of Pennsylvania and her capture by Lenape Indians in 1763. -quoted from Goodreads

I absolutely love this series, and this particular story is by far my favorite out of all the ones I've read so far. Mary Pope Osborne has done such a beautiful job at bringing to life what living in Delaware Valley, PA in 1763 was like, as well as capturing the emotions that young Catharine felt during this time. Mary paints a beautiful and yet heartbreaking picture of both sides of the Quaker settlements, and the settlements of the Native Americans, and the friendships and wars the consumed both sides. This beautifully told story follows that of young Catharine who was a young teenage girl during time and wrote about life on her family's settlement, and the frightening accounts of the attacks by the local Indians on them as well as the small band of local residents who attacked the Indians in her journal. It's also a story about the bravery, courage and love Catharine developed during her captive time with the local Lenape Tribe that captured her, and her brother.

You can read the rest of my review here.

By: Sarah Prineas

Published by: Harper Collins Children's Books

Released on: January 3rd, 2012

Source: ARC from publisher to review

5 stars: I Really Enjoyed It

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

With her boundless curiosity and wild spirit, Fer has always felt that she doesn’t belong. Not when the forest is calling to her, when the rush of wind through branches feels more real than school or the quiet farms near her house. Then she saves an injured creature—he looks like a boy, but he’s really something else. He knows who Fer truly is, and invites her through the Way, a passage to a strange, dangerous land.

Fer feels an instant attachment to this realm, where magic is real and oaths forge bonds stronger than iron. But a powerful huntress named the Mor rules here, and Fer can sense that the land is perilously out of balance. Fer must unlock the secrets about the parents she never knew and claim her true place before the worlds on both sides of the Way descend into endless winter.

Sarah Prineas captivates in this fantasy-adventure about a girl who must find within herself the power to set right a terrible evil -quoted from Goodreads

An enchanting story that's full of magic, adventure, danger and action. Sarah Prineas's WINTERLING is an exciting read that will take readers on an unforgettable fantasy adventure, introduce them to a young fearless heroine and leave them wanting more. I really loved the way in which Sarah wove together and introduces young readers to various folklore. This not only captured my attention, but it kept me completely invested in Fer's story. I wanted to know about her ability, what her Grandmother was hiding her from, what is really going on in the world of Way and who the strange boy that can turn into a dog and horse is.

You can read the rest of my review here.

By: Diane Zahler

Published by: Harper Collins Childrens

Released on: January 31st, 2012

Source: ARC from author/publisher to review

Ages: 8 & up

5 stars: I Loved It

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Princess Meriel's brothers have been cursed. A terrible enchantment--cast by their conniving new stepmother--has transformed the handsome princes into swans. They now swim forlornly on a beautiful heart-shaped lake that lies just beyond the castle walls.

Meriel will do whatever it takes to rescue her beloved brothers. But she must act quickly. If Heart Lake freezes, her brothers will be forced to fly south or perish.

With help from her newfound friends Riona and Liam--a pretty half-witch and her clever brother--Meriel vows to finish a seemingly impossible task. If she completes it, her brothers may be saved.

But if she fails . . . all will be lost. -quoted from Goodreads

What an enchanting read! I love a well written fairy tale re-telling and Diane has done a wonderful job with her story of Meriel and her brothers whom are all turned into swans. I really enjoyed being swept away with the classic fairytale aspect of this story. There's magic, danger, a lovely, well written innocent romance, witches and fey lore. Plus I love that it takes a Princess and good hearted towns people to bring down a wicked, evil witch.

You can read the rest of my review here.

Middle Grade Monday:

Don't miss my Marvelous Middle Grade Monday meme on Mundie Kids, a weekly meme hosted by author Shannon Messenger's. You can check out this week's Mundie Kids feature here

Pitch Dark Days: Austin, TX Stop 2.18.12

2012-02-19T11:30:00.011-06:00

The Pitch Dark Days tour stopped in Austin this past Friday and what a fabulous tour stop it was! Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows & Courtney Allison Moulton came to the Barnes & Noble in the Arboretum to sign their books, read a snippet out of their books as well as answer fan questions. Before the start of the signing I had the chance to sit down and interview the authors together. Unfortunately I'm having issues posting my video, but I'll get that added here just as soon as I can.

This was one of the funniest interviews I've done. These ladies are so much fun to talk and joke around with. This picture was taken during the interview and pictured is: Courtney Allison Moulton, Jodi Meadows, Myself, and Brodi Ashton.

Here's some of the questions I asked them:

What's one YA book you've read recently that you wish you had as a teen?

- Cynthia Hand said Jay Asher's 13 Reasons Why

- Brodi Ashton said The Way He Lived by Emily Wing Smith

- Jodi Meadows said Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

- Courtney Allison Moulton Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Liana Taylor

What author inspired you to become a writer?

- Cynthia Hand said Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird was the first she read where she paid more attention to the writing and the voice.

-Brodi Ashton said A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle, she wanted to be Meg.

- Jodi Meadows said Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn made her realize that the fantasy element was real and that writing could be a job

- Courtney Allison Moulton said Bitten by Kelley Armstrong influenced her and made her realize that she could write about monsters in the real world.

What's one thing you'd go back and tell your teen writer self?

- Courtney said she would tell her younger to ignore everyone who told her she couldn't do it.

- Jodi said she'd be cryptic and tell her to keep writing no matter what.

- Brodi said she's tell her teen writer self not to be afraid and to be fearless.

- Cynthia said she'd tell her younger writer self to write what you love.

In the video (once it's up) you'll be able to watch/listen to their more detailed answers and hear more questions I asked them.

(Brodi, Cynthia, Myself, Jodi & Courtney before the signing)

During the signing the authors had giveaways like the hats you see pictured below from Cynthia Hand, as well as fingerless gloves that Jodi Meadows made and all the authors had candy they threw to those who asked questions. When is chocolate not a bonus at a signing. The authors were asked some great questions, and you can read what was mentioned during the signing by following the #PitchDarkBooks hashtag or reading my tweets under my twitter account, Mundie Moms. I've also got pictures posted there as well.

Pictured are Courtney Allison Moulton & Cynthia Hand (the hats were ones Cynthia gave away during the Q&A)

(Brodi Ashton reading from Everneath)

(Jodi Meadows reading from Incarnate)

After the signing there were about fifteen of us bloggers along with the authors and some of their friends and family who headed over to Chuy's for dinner. It was so much fun! For me, getting to sit around and chat with the authors, blogger friends and meeting new bloggers is the most exciting part of tour stops. It was truly a fabulous night. For those who didn't get to come to the signing, you can order signed books from the Barnes & Noble store where the signing took place. Here's their # 1-512-418-8985

I've also got some SIGNED swag to giveaway thank you to each of the authors!!

* 4 winners will receive a set of Wings of the Wicked book marks, Everneath bookmarks along with Everneath temporary tattoos, and signed book plates.

* 2 winners will each receive signed bookmarks from Cynthia Hand as well as an Everneath guitar pic necklace.

* 1 additional winner will receive a set of signed bookplates and an Everneath guitar pic necklace

To enter, please fill out the form below: (giveaway rules included on the form)

Thank you to Harper Teen for another fabulous Pitch Dark Days stop!

Thank you to Courtney Allison Moulton, Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand and Jodi Meadows for a fabulous night!!

Thank you to Magan from Rather Be Reading for all the help with tweeting during the event, taking pictures and filming the interview. I couldn't have done it without you!

You can see the rest of Magan's awesome photos here.

Book Review: The Secret of Spruce Knoll by Heather McCorkle

2012-02-19T09:13:00.006-06:00

By: Heather McCorkle

Published by: Abbott Press

Released on: August 3rd, 2011

Source: book from author to review

4 stars: I Enjoyed It

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

It's hard enough being a teenager under normal circumstances; imagine being orphaned, sent to live with an unfamiliar aunt-and learning that there really is magic in the world. Following the tragic death of her parents, Eren Donovan moves to Spruce Knoll to live with her aunt. Little does Eren know the entire town of Spruce Knoll is filled with so-called "channelers"-a magical group of people who immigrated to the small Colorado town when they were driven out of their own lands.

Channelers are tied to the fate of the world. As the world slowly dies, so do they-and they alone have the power to stop the destruction of Earth. Now, Eren learns she not only lives among them, but she is one. When she meets local boy Aiden, his charming tricks show her being a channeler isn't all bad; in fact, it's kind of cool. But is it Aiden's abilities or Aiden's looks that Eren finds so fascinating?

As Eren and Aiden's relationship blooms, so too does a mystery in Spruce Knoll. The town holds many secrets-and many enemies. It soon becomes apparent that the untimely death of Eren's parents was no accident and that her life might be in danger, too. Only time will tell if young, inexperienced Eren has the power to protect the people she has come to love. -quoted from Goodreads

Spruce Knoll is an incredibly exciting debut with a richly detailed history that surrounds both the town of Spruce Knoll and it's residents. Not only is this scarcely populated town one that would have environmentally friendly people wanting to flock here do to the fact it's residents all live green, but the citizens themselves are elusive, which made me that much more fascinated with finding out more about them, and the secrets their town is hiding. From the moment I opened up Heather's book I felt drawn into her unique urban fantasy. There's something about this story that hooked me from the get go, and I loved it's unlike other paranormal book I've recently read.

My favorite element of Heather's story is her mythology. It's incredible! I'm totally fascinated by the concept of having a society of Channelers (also known as Witches or Sorcerers) who's fate is tied to that of the earth. Each has a unique gift that they can use for good or evil, and the society is made up entirely of different sects who's heritages are from all over the world. The paranormal twists that Heather gives her characters is engaging, and she does a wonderful job in the way she weaves her elements of magic, romance, mystery, love, loss and suspense together in this story. I loved the way Heather introduced me to the powers the Channelers have and the history of Spruce Knoll through her main character, Eren.

Eren for me was a fun character to meet. She's a well rounded character I really came to admire. She's suffered a great deal of heartache, is suddenly thrown into a world she knew nothing about, develops powers she has to learn to control, and through it all she surprised me with how grounded she remains. I think part of that has to do with her Aunt and Grandfather that take her in and the love and support they shower her with, and the other part is, because of the type of person she is. She's smart, she's someone who thinks before she acts, she's open minded and I also loved her artistic side. Eren also has an amazingly supportive love interest Aiden who helps her develop her powers, as well as helps her feel like she belongs. Spruce Knoll is far from being close knit and welcoming, especially to those of their kind that are of a mixed bred, which Eren is.

The romance in this book is fabulous! I really love a romance that's drawn out, and developed in a way that makes me feel like I'm watching the two characters get to know each other and really fall in love, all of which the romance in this book has. It's refreshing for me and I admire Heather for not creating an insta love relationship. There's passion, awesome character chemistry and moments that are simply sweet and sensual that simply took my breath away. That's not to say this romance is easy, because it's far from it. There's plenty of prejudices against both Aiden and Eren, as well as plenty of danger to drive them apart. Aiden and Eren are both resilient, strong, and incredibly protective of each other, though I admit that Adien's protectiveness of Eren is one of the things that immediately drew me to him. It's not that Eren's helpless, it's that Aiden is a protector is every sense of the word. There's more than pretty boy looks and hot a body that made Eren fall for him.

If you're looking for a paranormal book that steps outside the norm, than I highly recommend picking this one up. Heather's writing is incredible. Her mythology is just as enticing as her characters. There's not shortage of in-depth characters in Spruce Knoll. You'll fall in love with the good ones and you'll love to hat the bad ones. Even the secondary characters are all incredibly in-depth and add a lot of Eren's story. There's a lot of great paranormal elements introduced into a well organized plot line that will keep you hooked with this story. Though I loved the way in which the story is told and how Heather's introduces me to her world and her characters, I wish certain parts of the lore and the powers some of the characters have were explored a bit more. With the exciting ending this book has I can only venture to guess there's going to be a lot more exploring, and a lot more action seen in Channeler's Choice. I can't wait to find out what awaits Eren and Aiden in the next book.

Unidentified Snippet

2012-02-18T19:56:00.003-06:00

Enjoy Cassie's newest Unidentified Snippet!!

“Do you think there’s a chance for him?”

“A chance for who?”

“Will. To be happy.”

“Is there a chance for you to be happy if he isn’t?”

You can read all of Cassie's snippets here on her Tumbler & here on the blog.

** this picture has nothing to do with the quote, I just love it and wanted to add it to the post.

Book Review: Fracture by Megan Miranda

2012-02-18T14:01:00.006-06:00

By: Megan Miranda

Published by: Bloomsbury Teen

Released on: January 17th, 2012

Source: book from publisher to review

3 stars: It's A Good Read

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

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. 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? - quoted from Goodreads

Fracture's one of those books that's been on my radar for months. I've been really intrigued with the story that revolves around Delaney, the story's main character who was under water for 11 minutes, pronounced dead, and yet is now very much alive, or is she. Delaney's story is unheard of, both in the real world and in the YA world. I've not yet read another story like hers. Fracture is a book that definitely captured my curiosity on what Delaney's story would entail long before I picked it up to read it.

Delaney for me was a tough character to get to know. She's often times rough around the edges, but then has her few minutes where I felt like I got to see a different side of her. After her accident I felt like she became more distant to me as a reader, as well as to those around her. It's not like I can blame her for that, and that aspect of her personality felt realistic. She has very real side effects from the trauma she suffered, and though it was confusing at times to follow her random out bursts, I felt like Megan did an amazing job at capturing what it would really be like to be around Delaney or even in her shoes during this time. Delaney has some great love interests in her life, but I was a bit confused by her relationships with Decker and Troy.

Decker is a guy who I really wanted to love, but I found myself getting really irritated with him and Delaney. They're extremely close, have a great chemistry and it's obvious at how much they love each other and care for each other, but yet they get mad when the other one starts dating someone else. I felt like one minute they're warm towards each other and the next they act cold, and that left wanting so much more from the two of them. Then there's Troy. Wow, Troy is definitely one crazy character who's hard not to like despite the fact this guy is seriously a bit out there. He knows how to be charming when he needs to be, but he's got this other fearsome side to him that made me want to cower in the corner. I understood the draw that Delaney had to him. They bonded over something that no one else understood except the two of them, but I didn't get why if Delaney was so scared of him after a certain scene she went looking for him again. I got so frustrated at her for doing that for so many reasons.

Kudos to Megan for pulling my emotional strings with her debut. While there were parts of Fracture I enjoyed and other parts I had a hard time connecting with, Megan didn't fall short with pulling me into her story emotionally. Her writing is fabulous, and her ability to get me as a reader inside the mind of Delaney after her accident was mesmerizing. That part of the story felt completely realistic to me. It's not just Delaney who's mind Megan allowed me to see into, but also Troy's. His mind is by far more complex as Megan delicately and realistically shows what it's like to be in the mind of someone who's mentally unstable. It's heartbreaking, it's scary and complex.

Fracture is definitely a story that covers a variety of elements both realistically and paranormally. It's a book that includes romance, mystery, suspense, and a little bit of the "unknown". The wanting to know more is what kept me invested with reading this book. Overall I feel like this is a good read, it's just not one I loved as much as I really wanted to. In the end I needed a few things to be a little bit more resolved for me to really love the book. Having said that I think the realistic side of this story is one that a lot of YA readers will enjoy. There is some mild language, a few f-bombs, and an underage drinking scene in the book.

In My Mailbox #111

2012-02-18T07:25:00.010-06:00

Happy Saturday! In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren for bloggers to share what books they received the previous week in the mail to review, what they bought, traded, were gifted etc. Here's the books that I received this week:

For Review:

* Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby, published by Bloomsbury Walker, to be released on 2/28/12

* Wicked Jealous: A Love Story by Robin Palmer, published by Speak, to be released on 7/19/12

* Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti, published by Viking, to be released on 6/14/12

* Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, published by Henry Holt & Co, to be released on 6/5/12

* Thief's Covenant by Ari Marmell, published by Pyr, to be released on 2/21/12

Review for Mundie Kids:

* Deadweather and Sunrise by Geoff Rodkey, published by Putnam, to be released on 5/29/12

* Three Times Lucky by Shelia Turnage, published by Penguin, to be released on 5/10/12

* Dear America: The Diary of Hattie Campbell, Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie by Kristiana Gregory, published by Scholastic, to be released on 4/1/12

Bought:

* Incarnate by Jodi Meadows, signed, purchased from the Pitch Dark Days tour, reviewed here

* The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen

* A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn, signed from her signing

Gifted:

* An ARC of City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare, THANK YOU Jennifer!!!!!

* Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell, signed for MM's Bday Bash Giveaway

* The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell, signed for MM's Bday Bash Giveaway

Thank you to:

Simon & Schuster, Scholastic, Penguin, Henry Holt, Bloomsbury, Saundra Mitchell & Jennifer for this week's awesome reads. What goodies did you receive this week?

Week in Review:

Misc:

* Cassie's latest snippets/deleted TMI / TID scenes

* MM's 3rd Birthday Bash & Giveaways

Reviews:

* Audrey Wait by Robin Benway

* Must Have Middle Grade Reads

* Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

* Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

* Fire by Kristin Cashore

* Fracture by Megan Miranda

Author Interviews:

* Jennifer E. Smith

* Caitlin Kittredge

Tomorrow I'll post about last's night fabulous Pitch Dark Days stop, along with my giveaway of signed goodies, as well as a little bit about Alex Flinn's signing from Thursday night.

Flashback Friday / Book Review: Fire by Kristin Cashore

2012-02-17T12:16:00.001-06:00

By: Kristin Cashore

Published by: Dial Books

Released on: October 5th, 2009

Sourced: Bought, signed

4.5 stars: I Really Enjoyed It

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to his throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves and lawless men.

This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she has the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her power, unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she has so many of her own.

Then Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City. The royal family needs her help to uncover the plot against the king. Far away from home, Fire begins to realize there's more to her power than she ever dreamed. Her power could save the kingdom.

If only she weren't afraid of becoming the monster her father was -quoted from Goodreads

I absolutely love Kristin Cashore's writing, her incredible world building and her entire fantasy element she has created. Everything about it lures me in and always leaves me wanting more. I loved Graceling, and much like how Graceling started off for me, Fire started off a little slow, but once I got into the book there was no putting it down. I'll admit, I bought Fire when it first came out. In-fact I had called the book store that Kristin went and signed Fire at when it came out and ordered and a signed copy of Fire, and I started to read the day I got it. For some reason when I started reading it, it was a book that I didn't connect with so I put it back on my shelf where it sat until this past week. It's funny how sometimes you can struggle with a book, but when you let it be and go back to it awhile later you find you can't put it down. This is what happened to me with Fire.

This prequel is a wonderful edition to Graceling. While I missed Katsa and Po, I liked the new characters Kristin introduced me to, especially Fire and Brigan. Fire for me is a well written flawed, heroine who in remarkable strong through out everything she has to deal with. I didn't like I would like her as much as I loved Katsa, but I was hugely mistaken. She's a fighter, she's fierce, loyal, independent and she's someone I cheered on the entire time. There's something about her that makes her an enduring character.

To match Fire's personality are two guys that I really came to adore, Archer and Brigan. Archer is the strength Fire needed up to the a certain point in the story, and I really like the way their relationship was developed and the realistic direction it went in. Talk about a drawn out, sexy relationship between to unlikely characters, Brigan and Fire had the type of character chemistry I love when reading fantasy. I loved how their relationship developed over the entire book, it was fabulous! It hooked me and it made me eager to find out what was going to happen between the two of them. I have to say, at first I didn't see that one coming, and I liked being caught off guard like that.

The world building is just as intriguing as it was in Graceling. I enjoyed meeting a whole new cast of characters and loved the royal family. There's a lot of twist and turns in Fire's plot, plenty of action and a incredibly fascinating world. There is a lot more casual sex than I had excepted in this story, and as I say that it's also fitting for the time period in which the story takes place. Kristin does a fabulous job at keeping these scene clean cut and to the point, meaning there's nothing graphic. She also incorporates the method they use for birth control and the consequences that come from these relationships in the story. Now that I've read Fire, I'm very curious to read about what elements and characters of this story will be seen in Bitterblue. If you're a fan of Graceling, I highly recommend picking this book up!

Pitch Dark Tour comes to Austin TONIGHT!!!

2012-02-17T08:11:00.003-06:00

I'm so excited about TONIGHT'S Pitch Dark Days tour stop in Austin! I'm thrilled to be tonight's official blogger at the event, which means if you can't make it out you can follow my live tweets on twitter under Harper Teen's #pitchdarkdays hashtag to see what the authors are saying during tonight's signing. You can click the link above to follow all of tonight's tweets which will start at about 7 pm CST.

Later this weekend I'll post about tonight's events and also share with you guys a special in person interview with Courtney Allison Moulton, Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton and Cynthia Hand.

If you're in the Austin, come on out to the Barnes & Noble in the Arboretum at 7 pm! The event is FREE, but in order to get your books signed you do need to purchase one of the author's books from the event. We're also doing a dinner after at the near by Chuy's. If you're coming to that please let me know so I can have an accurate headcount.

SEE YOU GUYS TONIGHT!