Lost For Words

Killing Pace - Douglas Schofield (Review)

2018-07-12T13:25:00.000-04:00

Laura Pace is a woman on the run—struggling to reconstruct her past, to rebuild her memories, to retrace her steps... and to identify the people who tried to erase her from existence.

Everglade City, Florida, March 2015. It’s been two months since Lisa Green crawled barefoot and bleeding out of a terrible car accident with three important questions: Where am I?... How did I get here?... and most importantly… Who am I? Her boyfriend Roland has been nursing her back to health under close watch.

Lisa has amnesia. They both know that, but only Lisa knows that she hasn’t lost her ability to reason. And reason tells her that she is not Roland’s girlfriend. She is his prisoner. Gradually, Lisa remembers training and skills that she didn’t know she had and is able to make her escape. When a sheriff’s deputy finds her, she tells him she wants to report a missing person: herself.

What follows is a high-octane international chase, which involves US Border Control, the Sicilian mafia, and a shadowy organization specializing in trafficking infants taken from Syrian refugees and made available for adoption to wealthy American couples. Lisa, whose real name is Laura Pace, must figure out who she can trust and how to stay alive...
Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Title: Killing Pace

Author: Douglas Schofield

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Fiction

Publisher: Smith Publicity, Minotaur Books

Publication Date: November 21, 2017

Format: Finished copy.

Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Smith Publicity for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Look for it: Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, Chapters.

My rating: 3.5 stars

KILLING PACE is a riveting, edge of your seat thrill ride. It ramps up the action, packs a punch, and doesn’t stop. There is a lot of information packed onto every page. This may bog the reader down if not immersed fully in the story. It is touted as a #metoo, post-Weinstein era read. I didn’t realize how eerily apropos it was for today’s social clime. Especially with the news coming out of the U.S. over the last several weeks.

Laura Pace is an impetuous and fearless main character. I like her pluck, and she has no qualms with getting to the bottom of things. She has suffered through so much, but still rises to the occasion, and pushes to get what she wants.

All in all, a fast paced read. You will need to keep your wits about you with this one, as it packs in so much information. I’m looking forward to finding out what is next for Laura. Douglas Schofield is an author to watch.

Subject Seven - James A. Moore (Review)

2016-02-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

Years ago, scientists began developing the ultimate military weapon: deadly sleeper assassins housed within the bodies of teenagers. Now, Subject Seven, the dangerous alter-ego living inside a 16-year-old boy, has escaped the lab and is on a mission. His objective? To seek out others like him and build an army capable of destroying their creators.

Hunter, Cody, Gene, Tina, and Kylie: five teenagers leading typical lives, until the day they each receive a call from a mysterious stranger-and learn that their destinies are intertwined. Subject Seven holds the key that connects them all. And a vicious, bloody battle for their lives is just beginning. Synopsis taken from Goodreads.

Title: Subject Seven
Author: James A. Moore
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: January 20, 2011
Format: ARC
Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Penguin Canada for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
Look for it: Amazon, Book Depository, Chapters.
My rating: 3 stars

Hunter, also known as Subject Seven, is a modified military weapon, engineered in a laboratory. He escapes from the covert military experimental laboratory. Now on an escape mission, he finds others similar to him, and bands together with them. We see Subject Seven’s character, the alter ego to his actual teenage identity, Hunter, battle for dominance. Both identities will need to piece together the mystery surrounding the secret military operation. They will also need to learn how to live cohesively together, as they both struggle for control of their body.

Cody, Gene, Tina, and Kyrie are others who are similar to Hunter. They all have gaps in their memories that they are having to deal with. It is refreshing to see things from their perspective, and not just from Subject Seven’s point of view. It can be a little confusing as the story does jump around a bit. However, there is quite a bit of gratuitous violence, and I would recommend this book to older teens due to the amount of violence included in the story.

All in all, a good concept, leaving the reader wanting to find out what happens next. Some may find the violence a little too graphic, and should forge ahead with caution if they decide to read it.

Where They Found Her - Kimberly McCreight (Review)

2016-02-20T20:11:00.002-05:00

From the author of the New York Times bestseller and 2014 Edgar and Anthony nominee Reconstructing Amelia comes another harrowing, gripping novel that marries psychological suspense with an emotionally powerful story about a community struggling with the consequences of a devastating discovery.

At the end of a long winter, in bucolic Ridgedale, New Jersey, the body of an infant is discovered in the woods near the town’s prestigious university campus. No one knows who the baby is, or how her body ended up out there. But there is no shortage of opinions.

When freelance journalist, and recent Ridgedale transplant, Molly Anderson is unexpectedly called upon to cover the story for the Ridegdale Reader, it’s a risk, given the severe depression that followed the loss of her own baby. But the bigger threat comes when Molly unearths some of Ridgedale’s darkest secrets, including a string of unreported sexual assaults that goes back twenty years.

Meanwhile, Sandy, a high school dropout, searches for her volatile and now missing mother, and PTA president Barbara struggles to help her young son, who’s suddenly having disturbing outbursts. Told from the perspectives of Molly, Barbara, and Sandy, Kimberly McCreight’s taut and profoundly moving novel unwinds the tangled truth about the baby’s death revealing that these three women have far more in common than they realized. And that their lives are more intertwined with what happened to the baby than they ever could have imagined. Synopsis taken from Goodreads.

Title: Where They Found Her
Author: Kimberly McCreight
Genre: Adult Fiction, Mystery
Publisher: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins
Publication Date: April 14, 2015
Format: ARC
Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to HarperCollins for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
Look for it: Amazon, Book Depository, Chapters.
My rating: 4 stars

WHERE THEY FOUND HER follows Molly, as she and her husband are trying to come to terms with the loss of their baby. They move to his hometown for a fresh start. Molly, an investigative reporter, has had other things occupying her time, other than reporting. When a body is found, she is assigned to report the situation, not realizing how much this story will affect and traumatize her. She struggles with the past, as the story, and the body, haunt her waking moments.

There are a lot of secrets, and a lot of eyes watching the investigation. Particularly since the crime was committed in a small town. Everyone knows everyone, and everything is related. Innocuous comments made early on in the read later turn up and are extrapolated on. Molly is a character who one can sympathize with, as she mourns the loss of her child, and is trying to move on. A stranger in a small town, she is the perfect person to look at things objectively. Molly’s voice aptly shows the struggles she has trying to keep her past from interfering with the present.

We also get to know two other characters quite well, as they both voice their own turmoils. Barbara, and Sandy are compelling characters. I’m particularly fond of Sandy’s character. She is going through a very traumatic time, as her world is also falling apart while she is looking for her missing mother. I didn’t find Barbara very likeable, but her insight did add to the read.

All in all, an atmospheric, engaging, and suspenseful read. This book highlights harrowing subject matter, and has several underlying themes present. It will leave you questioning, as you become more immersed in the read.

Teaser Tuesday (Jan 5)

2016-01-04T22:36:00.000-05:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm, and anyone can play along!

Grab your current read
Flip to a random page
Select two teaser sentences from somewhere on that page, try not to include spoilers!
Please let us know the author and book so we can add them to our TBR pile!

"So Lyle, can I ask you, what is it that makes you so obsessed with the. . . this case?" As I said it, the sky got just dark enough to switch the highway lights on, and all in a row, into the horizon, they blinked white, like my question had intrigued them."

Pg. 213, DARK PLACES - Gillian Flynn

So far, this is an intriguing, atmospheric read. What is your Tuesday Teaser? What are you currently reading?

Happy New Year!

2016-01-01T18:25:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year everyone!

I'll keep it short and succinct, and will also try to keep it book related. 2015 was a year of growth. A year of realizations. A year of introspection. A lot can change in one year. I've lost some friends, and I've gained new ones. I am looking forward to 2016, to getting back into reading, and blogging. As such, I have joined in the first book of the year which is hosted by Sheila over at Book Journey.

My first read for the year is...

I have loved all of Patricia Briggs' books, and am looking forward to finally reading this one and getting it off of my review shelf.

I wish all the best for you (everyone) this year, and hope that 2016 is the brightest and best year for you (everyone) to date.

What is your first read for the year?

Creep - Jennifer Hillier

2015-11-15T20:00:00.000-05:00

Pulsing with the dark obsession of Radiohead’s song “Creep,” this taut thriller—Jennifer Hillier’s superb debut—rockets from its seductive opening to a heartpounding climax not easily forgotten.

If he can’t have her . . .

Dr. Sheila Tao is a professor of psychology. An expert in human behavior. And when she began an affair with sexy, charming graduate student Ethan Wolfe, she knew she was playing with fire. Consumed by lust when they were together, riddled with guilt when they weren’t, she knows the three-month fling with her teaching assistant has to end. After all, she’s finally engaged to a kind and loving investment banker who adores her, and she’s taking control of her life. But when she attempts to end the affair, Ethan Wolfe won’t let her walk away. . . .

no one else can.

Ethan has plans for Sheila, plans that involve posting a sex video that would surely get her fired and destroy her prestigious career. Plans to make her pay for rejecting him. And as she attempts to counter his every threatening move without her colleagues or her fiancé discovering her most intimate secrets, a shattering crime rocks Puget Sound State University: a female student, a star athlete, is found stabbed to death. Someone is raising the stakes of violence, sex, and blackmail . . . and before she knows it, Sheila is caught in a terrifying cat-and-mouse game with the lover she couldn’t resist—who is now the monster who won’t let her go. Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Title: Creep
Author: Jennifer Hillier
Genre: Suspense, Thriller
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Canada
Publication Date: July 5, 2011
Format: Finished Copy
Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Simon & Schuster Canada for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
Look for it: Amazon, Book Depository, Chapters.
My rating: 2/5

I was intrigued by the premise for Creep. It showed such promise. A professor, having an illicit affair with one of her teaching aides, also newly engaged to another man. A missing student, whose body is found. It was laden with all of the markings of a great read.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped I would. I feel like it tackled the topic from one direction, without thinking that it could have been written from a different point of view altogether. The characters were one-dimensional, lacking substance. I couldn't connect to them. If the story had been written from a different view, targeting the villain and following the mystery aspect, rather than the supposed psychological aspect, it would have been so much better. It felt like a first draft rendering. With work, it could be something better.
I hate writing negative reviews. I have had a friend read it and rave about it, it just didn't work for me. Hillier has potential, and I hope that now that this book is under her belt, that she continues on to bigger and better.

The End of the Unintended Hiatus.

2015-11-15T16:13:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone.

It has been several years since I have blogged with any regularity. Life certainly has been busy, and I ended up having next to no time to blog, let alone read. I was working three jobs, and now am down to one, which is giving me ample time to get back into reading, and writing reviews.

I have a lot of books to review from the last several years, and will be getting to those books as I can. I will also be adding in reviews of my own books as well sporadically. I apologize for the delay in getting these reviews written. Unfortunately, life happens. I hope you stick with me, but if you decide not to, I understand.

I look forward to getting back into blogging, and being part of the blogging community again.

Thank you! :)

2014 Reading Challenge

2015-01-01T14:56:00.000-05:00

1. Addicted to You - Krista and Becca Ritchie
2. Green Rider - Kristen Britain
3. The Rosie Project - Graeme Samson
4. The Weight of Blood - Laura McHugh
5. No One Else Can Have You - Kathleen Hale
6. King of the Dead - Joseph Nassise
7. Half Bad - Sally Green
8. The Paladin Prophecy - Mark Frost
9. Dark of the Moon - Tracey Barrett
10. New York to Dallas - J.D. Robb
11. Uninvited - Sophie Jordan
12. Wolfsbane - Andrea Cremer
13. The Hallowed Ones - Laura Bickle
14. Goat Mountain - David Vann
15. Moon Called - Patricia Briggs
16. Blood Bound - Patricia Briggs
17. Cruel Beauty - Rosamund Hodge
18. Iron Kissed - Patricia Briggs

Demons - Heather Frost - Blog Tour Review, Interview, and Giveaway

2013-04-15T12:09:00.000-04:00

Kate's life is far from normal. She can see Auras, her boyfriend is immortal, and her powers make her a target. But now that the Demon Lord is hunting her, things are about to go from dangerous to truly deadly. Packed with action, mind-blowing plot twists, and characters you can't get enough of, this is a fast-paced, heart-pounding read from cover to cover.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Title: Demons (Book 2 of the Seers Trilogy)

Author: Heather Frost

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Sweetwater Books

Publication Date: September 11, 2012

Format: Finished Copy

Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Cedar Fort Inc for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Look for it: Amazon, Book Depository

My rating: 3/5

Kate is coming to terms with her new powers as a seer. She's acclimating well, but she knows that the Demon Lord is still after her. She and Patrick are in love, and she'll do anything to protect him, as he would do the same for her. She just wants everything to regain a semblance of normalcy, but that isn't about to happen anytime soon.

I enjoyed reading Seers and was excited for Demons. However, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. It felt more like a transitional read, and while there was stuff going on, and things looked dire for certain characters, it felt like it was keeping pace rather than bringing the fight to Kate. That isn't bad though, we get to see more of the relationships that Kate has with her friends and her family, as well as the relationship with her guardian, Patrick. The story does move, and it maintains a relatively fast pace, but we don't see or learn much about the demons until closer to the end. I clued into what the major plot twists were going to be, and am wondering how Frost is going to resolve things with the complications that are now evident with the new characters and situations.

Kate is a strong character. She is resilient and you can feel the love that she has for her family and for Patrick. She has a stubborn streak as well, and even though she has a demon lord after her, she's not one to hide in the corner and let others take care of her. She wants to be part of the team, and she wants to be able to protect herself and her family.

Patrick is equally as strong, and he will do anything and everything in his power to protect Kate and her family. He loves her, and their love is evident throughout the book. He has his own share of troubles though as he has to come to terms with the troubling fact that guardians may not be as immortal as they once thought.

All in all, this transitional read is captivating, and will hold the reader's interest as they find out how Kate and Patrick handle the challenges thrown their way. Kate learns more about her abilities, and what she is willing to do for the ones she loves. Demons is a relatively fast paced read and provides the perfect build up for Guardians. I'm looking forward to finding out what Frost has in store next for her characters.

Author Interview

Which of your characters would you most trust to have your back in a fight? Why them?

I would probably want Patrick O’Donnell around in a tight spot. He’s a skilled fighter with lots of experience, and if he counts you a friend, you know he’s going to do absolutely anything to make sure you get out.

What one song best explains how you view the world?

It really depends on my mood. But I love “Singin’ in the Rain”—that song just makes me feel like, no matter your circumstances, you can choose to be positive.

If you could have any super power/ability, what would it be and why?

Control over time—to speed it up or slow it down, and travel around the future and past.

Do you have any quirks that you employ while writing?

I must have music—silence starves my creativity. I prefer soundtracks, or songs with lyrics that don’t distract—Enya is a top choice.

If you could be a character in any book, who would it be and why?

Today, I would want to be Hermione Granger—she’s smart, tough, and has a wand.

Thank you for being here today, and for answering my questions, Heather!

Heather Frost can be found on her website, twitter, facebook, and goodreads.

Author Bio: Heather Frost was born in Sandy, Utah, and raised in a small Northern Utah town. She is the second oldest of ten children, and she loves her family very much. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in English at Utah State University. Heather has always been an avid reader, and reading and writing are among her favorite things to do. She also enjoys playing the flute, listening to all types of music, and watching a wide variety of movies. Guardians, the final book in the Seers Trilogy, will be released July 2013.

Giveaway

Heather Frost and Cedar Fort Inc have graciously provided Lost For Words with an e-book copy of Demons for giveaway. Thank you, Heather!

Please fill out this FORM to enter the giveaway.

Giveaway is open internationally and will end April 22, 2013.

Thank you!

A Place for Us - Liza Gyllenhaal

2013-03-06T12:27:00.000-05:00

Brook Bostock has led a privileged life. The daughter of an extremely wealthy and prominent family, she married the man of her dreams and is raising two deeply loved children. But her happy home is shattered when a neighborhood teenager is assaulted during a night of drinking with the Bostocks' son and his prep school friends.

The scandal receives national attention—not only because of Brook’s family name, but because of the lawsuit looming against Brook and her husband, Michael, that alleges they are responsible for what went on in their house. Suddenly the small Massachusetts town they call home seems to be turning against them, revealing the simmering jealousies and resentments that have been lurking under the surface all along.

With their once-perfect family in danger of falling apart, Brook and Michael must find a way to get through this together—or risk losing everything they love…

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Title: A Place for Us

Author: Liza Gyllenhaal

Genre: Adult Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher: NAL Trade

Publication Date: March 5, 2013

Format: Finished copy

Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Penguin Group USA for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Look for it: Amazon, Chapters

My rating: 4/5

Brook has always loved her husband and children, and absolutely loves living in her husband's hometown, away from the influence of her own family with their high society last name. She has tried to distance herself from the acclaim that comes with being a Pendleton, and has done a good job of it. One night though, is all it takes for disaster to strike. Her family is now thrust into the midst of a scandal as a teenager was assaulted in her home while she and her husband were not there. An impending lawsuit threatens to shatter Brook's once perfect family. Will Brook's family survive this trial, or will they lose everything?

This book tackles many hard-hitting issues. Underage drinking, and assault first and foremost. Many emotions roll through the reader as they come to terms with what is happening. Outrage, anger, frustration, sympathy, and sorrow. We see the situation unfold through several different eyes. Phoebe and Liam have a history that unfolds through different flashback scenes throughout the book. We see the boy Phoebe has fallen in love with, and we see what he actually thinks of himself. Gyllenhaal writes broken characters that just resonate with the reader. I couldn't help but feel sad and frustrated with them for what they did, and what they did not do.

Another topic that comes under investigation is whether or not the onus is on the parents if they are not there to supervise. Maybe things wouldn't have escalated had they been there. Should they be held responsible for what happened in their home?

Gyllenhaal tackles these topics and more as she weaves a complex and heartrending tale. A Place for Us is a thought provoking read, one that captures interest and will not let go until the end. Will Phoebe have justice? It is not just these characters who are dealing with their emotions and the consequences of their actions. We see Brook and her husband Michael deal with their respective pasts and see how it affects them now, and how it affects their perceptions now that they are in this situation. Would or could they have done anything differently?

All in all, this is a harrowing read hitting on some dark topics. Gyllenhaal deftly weaves a story that will resonate with readers. Fans of Jodi Picoult's should enjoy A Place for Us.

The Burning Time - JG Faherty - Blog Tour Review

2013-02-27T09:37:00.002-05:00

An ancient evil has come to Hastings Mills, and only one man can stop it.

Wherever The Stranger goes, evil follows. Wild dogs roam the fields. Townspeople turn on each other in murderous fury. Innocent women throw themselves off bridges. Swimmers disappear, victims of a deadly beast that haunts their waters. And the worst is still yet to come. The Stranger plans to open a gateway to the nether realms and release the Elder Gods to bring forth Chaos on Earth.

Only one man knows the truth, a country mage whose family has fought The Stranger before. But can he defeat his ageless enemy before Hastings Mills is nothing but a smoking ruin and the townspeople become unwilling blood sacrifices to the Old Ones? With only the help of a young woman and her teenage son, he will have to use all of his arcane knowledge to thwart his adversary and prevent the final apocalypse.

In Hastings Mills, The Burning Time has arrived.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Title: The Burning Time

Author: JG Faherty

Genre: Adult Fiction, Horror

Publisher: JournalStone

Publication Date: January 18, 2013

Format: Finished copy.

Source: Many thanks goes to Dark Eva for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. This review is part of JG Faherty's blog tour for The Burning Time.

Look for it: Amazon, Book Depository

My Rating: 3.5/5

When the Stranger comes to town, you should probably take off for parts unknown to him. When he comes to town, all the dark and chaotic energies in the universe come out to play. Wild dogs, tempers flaring to the extreme, sinister and senseless deaths. With the body count rising, and hell coming to fruition in Hastings Mill, it looks like there will be a burning time. Only one man has a chance at stopping it. With a town set against him, will he be able to stop the Stranger from burning through Hastings Mill?

John is an interesting character. He has been around fighting evil in all entities as well as collecting lore for years. He has lost many loved ones to the Stranger in previous years. He is weary, yet dedicated to eradicating the world of the Stranger once and for all. He is flawed, yet all the more human for his flaws.

The premise of The Burning Time makes this book sound like a good read, and it does not disappoint. It reads fluidly, though I would have liked more rounding out of the characters and situations. The horror instilled although sinister and insidious, was not bone-chilling. The book is dark, though not dark throughout, there was enough "light" when it came to John and his newfound companions. As their story unfolded, you couldn't help but like Danni and Mitch.

The Stranger is pure evil and chaos. He alone will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up while reading. He is fanatical in his obsession to bring about the burning time.

All in all, The Burning Time was essentially an 'easy' read as everything unfolded. I was absorbed in the tale and didn't find the horror too overbearing. That is not to say that it wasn't dark, because it had its share of darkness and death. One would not want to go to Hastings Mill anytime soon, what with all the macabre and senseless violence happening there. Fans of horror will enjoy The Burning Time.

A Natural History of Dragons - Marie Brennan - Author Interview

2013-02-14T08:18:00.000-05:00

Marie Brennan is here today with an author interview, courtesy of the Tor blog tour for her new release, A Natural History of Dragons. Thank you for being here today, Marie!

If you needed to choose one of your characters to stand by your side in a fight, who would you choose, and why?

Mirage, from the doppelganger books. No contest. She’s a mildly superpowered ninja; why wouldn’t I choose her?

Actually, now that I think about it, very few of my novel protagonists are physical badasses. Deven was briefly a soldier and Dead Rick’s probably good in a street fight, but Mirage is the only one who’s highly trained. If I’m allowed to have magic, though, I’d probably go for Julian, from Lies and Prophecy; a combat-trained psychic could take down a great many threats.

What is your favourite part to write. Do you prefer plotting, characters, world-building?

My imagination tends to start with the world, followed shortly by a character in that world; for example, A Natural History of Dragons started out as “a Victorian kind of setting, with dragons” plus “a woman studying dragons and writing her memoir.” But for favorite bits -- the parts I think up and then can’t wait to write -- those are all over the place. They could be neat bits of setting, intense emotional moments, unexpected plot twists, whatever.

If you could define yourself in one song, what would that song be? If you could define how you view the world in a song, what would it be?

With the size of my music collection? No way on earth I could boil myself or the world down to a single song. I will say, though, that I make “soundtracks” for my novels, and love it when I find the perfect piece for a certain character or plot event. That’s actually part of why I make the soundtracks; once I build up that association, the CD becomes a memento of the story, and a way to relive those moments. (There’s a hazard to this, too. I stop whatever I’m doing when “Death Is the Road to Awe” from The Fountain comes up on iTunes’ shuffle, because it throws me right back into the climax of With Fate Conspire.)

If you could visit any time in history, which would you choose, and why?

Again with making me choose just one! Republican or imperial Rome, Heian Japan, New Kingdom Egypt, one of the Classic Maya states . . . but I’ll stay a bit closer to home and say Elizabethan England, if it means I get to meet some of the major players from that time. I got a very strong sense of their personalities while researching Midnight Never Come, and deeply admire a lot of those people, warts and all.

Where do you write? Do you have any rituals while writing?

I write in my home office, and don’t have a lot of rituals, beyond the fact that I almost always write late at night. (I am a solar-powered night owl; it’s an odd combination.) The major one is that I usually have music playing; I always make several playlists for a given book, to fit different kinds of scenes, and use those to get myself in the right mood for whatever I’ll be writing that night.

Thank you so much for being here today, Marie, and answering my questions!

Marie Brennan can be found at her website, on twitter, and on goodreads.

A Natural History of Dragons can be found at Indiebound, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BooksAMillion, Powells, Walmart, and Overstock.

About the book.

You, dear reader, continue at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart—no more so than the study of dragons itself. But such study offers rewards beyond compare: to stand in a dragon’s presence, even for the briefest of moments—even at the risk of one’s life—is a delight that, once experienced, can never be forgotten. . . .

All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, know Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world’s preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern science. But before she became the illustrious figure we know today, there was a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural history, and, yes, dragons defied the stifling conventions of her day.

Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever.

Marie Brennan introduces an enchanting new world in A Natural History of Dragons.

Author Bio:

Marie Brennan is a former academic with a background in archaeology, anthropology, and folklore, which she now puts to rather cockeyed use in writing fantasy. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to many short stories and novellas, she is also the author of A Star Shall Fall and With Fate Conspire (both from Tor Books), as well as Warrior, Witch, Midnight Never Come, In Ashes Lie, and Lies and Prophecy. You can find her online at SwanTower.com.

All art credited to Todd Lockwood.

The Ruining - Anna Collomore - Blog Tour Review

2013-02-14T07:27:00.000-05:00

Annie Phillips is thrilled to leave her past behind and begin a shiny new life on Belvedere Island, as a nanny for the picture-perfect Cohen family. In no time at all, she falls in love with the Cohens, especially with Libby, the beautiful young matriarch of the family. Life is better than she ever imagined. She even finds romance with the boy next door.

All too soon cracks appear in Annie's seemingly perfect world. She's blamed for mistakes she doesn't remember making. Her bedroom door comes unhinged, and she feels like she's always being watched. Libby, who once felt like a big sister, is suddenly cold and unforgiving. As she struggles to keep up with the demands of her new life, Annie's fear gives way to frightening hallucinations. Is she tumbling into madness, or is something sinister at play?

The Ruining is a complex ride through first love, chilling manipulation, and the terrifying depths of insanity.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Title: The Ruining

Author: Anna Collomore

Genre: Young Adult, contemporary.

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: February 7, 2013

Format: E-ARC

Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Penguin/Razorbill for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. This review is part of the Razorbill blog tour.

Look for it: Amazon, Book Depository, Chapters

My Rating: 4/5

Annie Phillips jumps at the chance to nanny for a family in sunny California when she realizes it would mean she could leave her current life, and family, behind. She falls in love with the Cohen family, and idolizes Libby. The adage be careful what you wish for comes into play as she realizes that not everything is ideal in her new life. She fights to hold on to her sanity as she tries to figure out if Libby is truly the person she thinks she is; or if she is the cause for all of the weird and crippling situations that are occurring with a frightening regularity.

The Ruining has oppressive undertones that nag and worry the reader as they are reading. It is easy to see Annie's descent into madness, even though she herself cannot see it. Within the first few pages we get a glimmering of Libby's personality. However, Annie, who is completely enraptured with creating the ideal life for herself with a new family, does not see that there is something off with her 'perfect' family.

The undertones throughout the novel continue to build this web of confusion, and madness around Annie, leaving the reader unsettled. As we find out more, we realize, long before Annie does, how dangerous Libby can be. Nothing is as it seems, and Annie will need to figure out what is going on before she loses herself, her identity, completely.

I would have liked more closure, for Annie's sake, as I felt that there were some things left unresolved. Collomore weaves a brilliant tale of madness and horror as Annie realizes that things are not alright, that she cannot trust herself, or those around her. I just wish that there had been a more visual, more tangible interaction between Annie and Libby at the end of the book once Annie comes full circle and realizes just what has happened to her. I felt the ending was a bit anti-climactic for my taste. That is not to say others won't enjoy it, I just wanted a little more action.

All in all, The Ruining is a chilling and disturbing read that does not pull any punches. Annie struggles with identity and madness. The sheer insidiousness of the book alone had me reading along wanting to know more, with the hope that Annie would realize what was happening to her before it was too late. Even now, the book has gotten under my skin, and it has left me feeling a little unsettled.

Paper Valentine - Brenna Yovanoff - Blog Tour Review

2013-01-29T09:25:00.000-05:00

The city of Ludlow is gripped by the hottest July on record. The asphalt is melting, the birds are dying, petty crime is on the rise, and someone in Hannah Wagnor’s peaceful suburban community is killing girls.

For Hannah, the summer is a complicated one. Her best friend Lillian died six months ago, and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But how can things be normal when Lillian’s ghost is haunting her bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders? Hannah’s just trying to understand why her friend self-destructed, and where she fits now that Lillian isn’t there to save her a place among the social elite. And she must stop thinking about Finny Boone, the big, enigmatic delinquent whose main hobbies seem to include petty larceny and surprising acts of kindness.

With the entire city in a panic, Hannah soon finds herself drawn into a world of ghost girls and horrifying secrets. She realizes that only by confronting the Valentine Killer will she be able move on with her life—and it’s up to her to put together the pieces before he strikes again.

Paper Valentine is a hauntingly poetic tale of love and death by the New York Times bestselling author of The Replacement and The Space Between.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Title: Paper Valentine

Author: Brenna Yovanoff

Genre: Young Adult, mystery, romance.

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: January 8, 2013

Format: Finished copy

Look for it: Amazon, Book Depository, Chapters

My Rating: 4/5

It has been a sweltering hot summer, which makes for long days, and even longer nights. When a girl is murdered, it makes them seem all the more oppressive. Hannah knows what it is like to lose someone you love, seeing as her best friend died earlier in the year. She is still suffering the aftermath of losing Lillian. What she doesn't expect is how involved she is going to get with the girls who are being murdered. She might not be able to help them before death, but she is going to find out who is killing them before someone else ends up dead.

The atmosphere surrounding this book showcases the oppressive heat, and the depth of Hannah's despair. Lillian's death is still affecting her, and she is gathering the pieces, trying to make sense of things. It really doesn't help that Lillian is still around, even after death. This read is a poignant one as you see how Hannah is suffering from Lillian's slow downward spiral. She fluctuates between wondering if she could have stopped Lillian, and being angry that Lillian could not realize that she did not need to be perfect. Yovanoff entwines these feelings well with the unstable and volatile feelings of a town on edge after yet another girl is found murdered.

The budding romance between Finny, a misunderstood loner, and Hannah is also aptly appealing. The tension is there as they are getting to know each other, but when Finny is taken in for questioning, Hannah realizes she doesn't know him as well as she thinks she does. Can she trust her judgement; is he really a good guy, or is he the killer everyone fears?

The romance marries well with the mystery in Paper Valentine and gives the reader a well-rounded read. I have been a fan of Yovanoff's writing from the start. I absolutely loved The Replacement and The Space Between. Paper Valentine may have started off slow, but it picked up speed and kept me engrossed until the final showdown. This is one of those books that will keep you reading until all hours of the night as you will not want to put it down once you get into the meat of the story.
All in all, memorable characters, and a diverse plot make this an atmospheric and lyrical read. The budding romance is perfect in comparison to the darker edges of the novel, and it balances well with all of the entwined threads. Yovanoff throws a lot of different emotions at the reader, yet they blend well to make this a near perfect read. Even though this is a slow starter, you will be burning up the pages to find out what happens next.

Teaser Tuesday

2013-01-08T15:58:00.000-05:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB from Should Be Reading, and anyone can play along!

grab your current read
flip to a random page
select two teaser sentences from somewhere on that page
try not to include spoilers!
please let us know the author and book so we can add them to our TBR pile!

This week I have a double feature. First up is the one from a YA book by Robin McKinley, titled Pegasus. This book is just full of win so far! Anyway! Teaser time!

" She thought it looked at her with surprise and... and... What made her think it was looking at her with anything? Maybe it was just interested to see a girl for a change: the first daughter of a sovereign since her grandmother.

Pg. 55

This next teaser is from a book that just hit bookshelves today. It is from The Blood Gospel by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell. James Rollins is one of my favourite authors so I'm looking forward to reading this one!

"It's just my dig," she said, preparing to believe her lie. "It's been years of planning, and there was earthquake damage."

pg. 67

Both of these sound fantastic. Can't wait to dive back into them both!

Enjoy! What are you reading this week?

I'm back!

2013-01-05T19:47:00.001-05:00

I'm around, and have been a very lax blogger of late. My apologies everyone. =/ Life has been hectic, and I have had some devastating challenges crop up. My resolution for this new year though is to get back into blogging. I have a ton of book reviews that I need to post, and will start posting those shortly. I'm not one to share what is going on in my personal life, so I won't go into details. However, I am looking forward to new beginnings, and blogging once again. Hopefully I'll get back into a rhythm shortly, and will be back to posting every day.

Much love, and hope you all had a Happy New Year, and hope that 2013 is a great year for you!

Me? You'll find me reading. ;)

Cor

The Gods of Gotham - Lyndsay Faye

2012-10-18T15:47:00.000-04:00

1845. New York City forms its first police force. The great potato famine hits Ireland. These two seemingly disparate events will change New York City. Forever.

Timothy Wilde tends bar near the Exchange, saving every dollar and shilling in hopes of winning the girl of his dreams. But when his dreams literally incinerate in a fire devastating downtown Manhattan, he finds himself disfigured, unemployed, and homeless. His older brother obtains Timothy a job in the newly minted NYPD, but he is highly skeptical of this untested "police force." And he is less than thrilled that his new beat is the notoriously down-and-out Sixth Ward-at the border of Five Points, the world's most notorious slum.

One night while returning from his rounds, heartsick and defeated, Timothy runs into a little slip of a girl—a girl not more than ten years old—dashing through the dark in her nightshift . . . covered head to toe in blood.

Timothy knows he should take the girl to the House of Refuge, yet he can't bring himself to abandon her. Instead, he takes her home, where she spins wild stories, claiming that dozens of bodies are buried in the forest north of 23rd Street. Timothy isn't sure whether to believe her or not, but, as the truth unfolds, the reluctant copper star finds himself engaged in a battle for justice that nearly costs him his brother, his romantic obsession, and his own life.

Title: The Gods of Gotham

Author: Lyndsay Faye

Genre: Adult Fiction, Historical, Mystery

Publisher: Amy Einhorn Books

Publication Date: March 20, 2012

Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Barbara from Penguin Canada for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Look for it: Amazon, Book Depository, Chapters

My rating: 4.5/5

Timothy Wilde is a bartender. He isn't a police man. He enjoys pouring drinks, not patrolling the rowdy streets of New York. When a fire razes down his place of employment, he finds himself out of a job. Much to Timothy's chagrin, his brother has no problems recruiting him to the newly minted police force. While patrolling one night, or rather, coming home from patrolling, he runs into a girl, and falls headlong into his first big case. Will he be able to solve the mystery surrounding this blood soaked girl, and the deaths that keep cropping up around her, before something happens to him?

The Gods of Gotham is a richly written book, and the attention to detail is fantastic. I'm a huge fan of historical novels. Especially when they are written well, and don't read like an actual history book. This novel offered up a host of memorable characters, and left the reader feeling engaged in the story. Timothy Wilde is a charismatic and intriguing character. He keeps the reader guessing at some of his thoughts, especially when drawing conclusions to who he thinks is responsible for the crimes that are inundating the city.

Faye weaves a deftly tantalizing tale of murder, and politics, all the while keeping the reader guessing alongside Timothy. The Gods of Gotham stays in character to the times, and also keeps the read authentic to the policing and forensics of the era. One thing I found that kept me fully immersed while reading was the attention to the language and slang of 1845 New York. This really is one of the best reads I have read in a long time, and Timothy certainly kept me guessing right up to the end.

All in all, if you're looking for something to read next, I recommend that you pick up this book. Engaging characters, mysterious circumstances, lyrical writing, and the historical detail alone will have you devouring this book. I look forward to the next Timothy Wilde book because I have a feeling his story is not finished quite yet.

Y - Marjorie Celona - Blog Tour Review

2012-09-03T12:33:00.001-04:00

“My life begins at the Y…” so starts Shannon’s story, a newborn baby dumped at the doors of the local YMCA. Bounced between foster homes, Shannon longs to uncover her roots. Where is she from? Who is her mother? And why would she abandon Shannon on the day she was born? The answers lie in the heartbreaking tale of her mother’s family, and their flawed and desperate fate. Through Marjorie Celona’s intimate observations and quirky wit, present and past converge to shape a unique and lasting story of identity and inheritance. A novel that asks us to consider the “why” of our lives, even as it reveals that the answer isn’t always clear.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Title: Y

Author: Marjorie Celona

Genre: Adult Fiction, General Fiction

Publisher: Hamish Hamilton Canada

Publication Date: September 3, 2012
Format: ARC

Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Bronwyn from Penguin Canada for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
Blog Tour: This review is part of the Penguin blog tour.
Look for it: Amazon, Chapters, Penguin
My rating: 4/5

Shannon's life hasn't been easy, and she has always wondered why she was left on the doorstep of the YMCA. As she travels from foster home to foster home, she wonders, and resolves to find her birth parents, no matter what the cost. Would life have been better with them, or where she is now? She'll need to find out who her true family is, and "why" everything progressed the way it did and how she may, or may not be better for it.
There are no easy answers when it comes to foster care, and particularly Shannon's fate in the system. Bouncing around from home to home left Shannon bereft of family, and left her longing for more than she had. She wanted to belong somewhere, and looking for her parents and finding out why they gave her up is her starting point. Her story is a sad one, as is their story. Her voice is mature as she reveals her early years to the reader. One can't help the emotions she stirs up in them as she reveals some of her most personal hardships. Why was she left, could she have been left accidentally. Her story pulls at the reader's heartstrings as they instinctively want to shield her from the world around her.
The bad choices and events that transpire before Shannon is left on the doorstep also leave the reader to understand why her parents made the choice to abandon her. One cannot know the circumstances that arise in any given family, but Shannon's parents, and her story is a powerful one, and maybe there could be some absolution. Shannon just needs to find her parents, to see them, and find out why.
Y is aptly named as we follow Shannon's struggle with identity, and why this life is the one she must lead. Celona has created a powerful debut, one of hardship, longing, and the meaning of family. She weaves together both Shannon's story, and her parents story skillfully, leaving the reader wanting to know more, and letting them also question why.

Blog Tour: Fall From Grace - Charles Benoit - Author Interview

2012-04-23T14:39:00.002-04:00

Charles Benoit is here today with an author interview courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for his book, Fall From Grace. Thank you for being here today, Charles! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

What one song would you say describes the world as you see it?

(Let’s get Moving) Into Action by Tim Armstrong and Skye Swetnam

If Grace and Sawyer were walking down the street, and they ran into you, what would they say?

Sawyer wouldn’t say anything, he’d simply wait for me to say something. But that’s okay since Grace would do the talking for both of us, probably a rant about how Larry was the best Stooge or that Bonnie and Clyde was a good movie that was ruined by the ending.

If Murphy's law affected you, what scenario would you see most likely unfolding?

If? I get no special dispensation from Mr. Murphy. It usually rears its ugly head around deadlines and freezing computers, but it’s been known to pop up when I’m due to make a speech or big presentation, often as a nasty shaving cut (on my bald head, naturally), a missing sock, hiccups or laryngitis.

If you could choose to eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Sushi. Specifically nigirizushi, which is basically raw fish on a ball of rice. I have been known to exist on it for days at a time.

Can you give us a description of FALL FROM GRACE in haiku?

Nice guy with no clue

Clever girl with lots of plans

Steal something for me

Thank you again for being here today, Charles!

Charles Benoit can be found on his website, his blog, and on facebook.

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Grace always has a plan. There’s her plan to get famous, her plan to get rich, and—above all—her plan to have fun. Sawyer has plenty of plans too. Plans made for him by his mother, his father, his girlfriend. Maybe they aren’t his plans, but they are plans. When Sawyer meets Grace, he wonders if he should come up with a few plans himself. Plans about what he actually wants to be, plans to speak his own mind for a change, plans to maybe help Grace with a little art theft. Wait a minute—plans to what?

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Blog Tour: Breaking Beautiful - Jennifer Shaw Wolf - Book Trailer Debut, Giveaway, and Guest Post

2012-04-17T13:54:00.000-04:00

Jennifer Shaw Wolf is here today with the debut of her book trailer for her soon to be released book, Breaking Beautiful, courtesy of the Teen Book Scene. Thank you for being here today, Jennifer! You can follow along with the blog tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

About seventeen years ago I stood in front of some executives from Bonneville Communications to tell them why I was majoring in Broadcast Communications and why I deserved their scholarship money. My speech went something like this: "Being a broadcasting major is like finding out exactly what I want to do with my life, that I never knew I wanted." As confusing as that phrase might be, I won the scholarship. Then I got my degree in broadcasting, went on to be a stay-at-home mom and never worked (ha ha) a day in my life.

Even though I have never had a "real" job in broadcasting, video-production has been one of my hobbies, loves, and passions since my first year of college. In school, my emphasis was in production (behind the camera) as opposed to news (in front of the camera), but we were encouraged to try both sides. After spending a few months as a very pregnant student reporter I never wanted to go in front of the camera again. (I've been trying to work up the nerve to vlog, but still haven't gotten there yet.)

The part of video production that I love is editing the pieces together to create a story, from something as small as telling a couple's love story for a wedding video to a mini-documentary that followed a three day pioneer reenactment done by teens from my church.

What I've learned about visually telling a story has helped me a with writing (the the "what I wanted to do with my life that I've always known I wanted"). I visualize a scene over and over in my mind before and as I write it, and once it's written I look for the "heart" of the shot (or line or paragraph or chapter) and trim away what doesn't work, just like I do when I edit videos.

Today I FINALLY get to debut the combination of my two loves, writing and video production. I've had the book trailer for BREAKING BEAUTIFUL in my mind since I first started writing the story. Right when I was ready to really get started on it, some personal things came up and I ended up having to scale back my original idea a lot, but I couldn't be happier with the result.

I had so much creating this trailer. I loved working with my "Allie," Brooklyn. She's one of my son's friends, an amazing teen actress (and singer) and just a really fun girl. I put her through a lot of to geth this finished; lying on a cold ledge, running in heels, and taking time out of her spring break vacation, but she was always willing to do it. I'm also grateful to North Thurston high school in Lacey, Washington and for letting me use the school locker area and to the Librarian, Steve Coker for helping me arrange that. And since we're doing the academy award thing; thanks to my amazing videographer-husband David and my son and other teen actors, David, Tristan (best creepy voice ever), Jennifer, Chelsie, Mellissa, Josh, Ben, and Jesse.

So with way ado that is probably necessary here is the trailer for BREAKING BEAUTIFUL.

Allie lost everything the night her boyfriend, Trip, died in a horrible car accident—including her memory of the event. As their small town mourns his death, Allie is afraid to remember because doing so means delving into what she’s kept hidden for so long: the horrible reality of their abusive relationship.

When the police reopen the investigation, it casts suspicion on Allie and her best friend, Blake, especially as their budding romance raises eyebrows around town. Allie knows she must tell the truth. Can she reach deep enough to remember that night so she can finally break free? Debut writer Jennifer Shaw Wolf takes readers on an emotional ride through the murky waters of love, shame, and, ultimately, forgiveness.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Giveaway Details

Jennifer Shaw Wolf has graciously offered up a copy of Breaking Beautiful for giveaway.

Thank you, Jennifer!

Giveaway is open to US only.

Giveaway will end April 24, 2012.

Please fill out this FORM to enter. Comments, while appreciated, won't be counted as entries.

Thank you!

Blog Tour: The Wicked and the Just - J. Anderson Coats - Author Interview

2012-04-09T12:42:00.000-04:00

J. Anderson Coats is here today with an author interview courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her soon to be released novel, The Wicked and the Just. Thank you for being here today! You can follow along with the tour here. Enjoy!

What was your favourite scene from THE WICKED AND THE JUST to write?

At the end, there’s a scene where Cecily realizes the consequences of her actions. It’s gripping, abrupt and devastating, and it changes her completely.

What song would you say describes the world as you see it?

“It’s the End of the World As We Know It” by Great Big Sea.

Can you give us a description of THE WICKED AND THE JUST in haiku?

Medieval North Wales.

Tax breaks and cheap land. Life’s good

If you are English.

If Murphy's Law applied to you, what outcome would you most likely see happening?

Probably the same as what happens now. If I’m in a good mood, I see the beauty all around me. If I’m blue, that’s the way the world has always been and always will be just kill me now.

If you could go back in history to any time period, which would you choose, and why?

Hmm, knowing what I know about history, I’m pretty fond of the twenty-first century. I like flush toilets and antibiotics and representative democracy. But I have to say I’d be tempted to visit the great age of sail - the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. There’s something very appealing about a world of frontiers, a world driven by discovery and novelty and the sense of potential for an ordinary (admittedly male) person with a little bit of luck and a lot of moxie.

The historian in me is scolding me for this choice, as it was also the advent of modern chattel slavery and the disastrous introduction of disease to the New World. But this era had the kind of restless energy and optimism that faded away once there was nothing left for people to discover. We traded wonder for knowledge, and although this was in no way a bad trade, something is definitely absent from a world without any more frontiers for ordinary people to explore.

Thank you for being here today, and answering my questions, J!

J. Anderson Coats can be found on her website, her blog, and on twitter.

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Cecily’s father has ruined her life. He’s moving them to occupied Wales, where the king needs good strong Englishmen to keep down the vicious Welshmen. At least Cecily will finally be the lady of the house.

Gwenhwyfar knows all about that house. Once she dreamed of being the lady there herself, until the English destroyed the lives of everyone she knows. Now she must wait hand and foot on this bratty English girl.

While Cecily struggles to find her place amongst the snobby English landowners, Gwenhwyfar struggles just to survive. And outside the city walls, tensions are rising ever higher—until finally they must reach the breaking point.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Blog Tour: Pieces of Us - Margie Gelbwasser - Author This or That

2012-03-14T21:10:00.001-04:00

Margie Gelbwasser is here today with an author this or that courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her book, Pieces of Us. Thank you for being here today, Margie! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

Pop or Coffee: Coffee, definitely. Can't start a day without it.

Rock or Rap: Bon Jovi, Springsteen, Beatles—rock all the way

Skirts or Pants: Jeans are my go to style

Lipstick or Lip gloss: Why wear it if you can't see it? :-)

Writing or reading: I'm going to cheat and say both. I need both to survive.

Toaster Strudel or Pop tarts: My health has been eh and I'm on a gluten free diet now, so unfortunately neither.

Tom boy, or girly girl: Girly tom boy maybe? I like to hang with the guys, but want to look cute doing it.

Serious and sweet, or carefree and reckless guys: As a teen, I was into the reckless, class clown type guys. As an adult, I'll go for the sweet, but they don't have to be serious all the time. :-)

Comedies, or Action movies: I like both, but not usually rom-coms or chick flicks.

Summer or Winter: Definitely summer. I'll take one snowfall so my kid can get the sledding out of his system, and then bring on the warmth.

Mountains or Beach: I like hiking a lot, and the ocean. If we're talking vacation spots, the beach will probably win.

Thank you for sharing your preferences with us, Margie; and thank you so much for being here today!

Margie Gelbwasser can be found on her website, her blog and on twitter.

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Two families. Four teens.

A summer full of secrets.

Every summer, hidden away in a lakeside community in upstate New York, four teens leave behind their old identities…and escape from their everyday lives.

Yet back in Philadelphia during the school year, Alex cannot suppress his anger at his father (who killed himself), his mother (whom he blames for it), and the girls who give it up too easily. His younger brother, Kyle, is angry too—at his abusive brother, and at their mother who doesn’t seem to care. Meanwhile, in suburban New Jersey, Katie plays the role of Miss Perfect while trying to forget the nightmare that changed her life. But Julie, her younger sister, sees Katie only as everything she’s not. And their mother will never let Julie forget it.

Up at the lake, they can be anything, anyone. Free. But then Katie’s secret gets out, forcing each of them to face reality—before it tears them to pieces.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Blog Tour: Pretty Crooked - Elisa Ludwig - Aiden This or That

2012-03-07T06:00:00.002-05:00

Elisa Ludwig is here today with a character this or that list, courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her new novel, Pretty Crooked. Thank you for being here today, Elisa! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

Khaki Pants or Jeans? Jeans, for sheez.

Pomegranate or Dragon Fruit? Dragon Fruit, just because it sounds badass.

Action or Drama Movie? Action. Preferably John Woo.

Go Out or Stay In? Go out. The world is out there!

Coffee or Tea? Coffee, and chocolate-covered coffee beans.

Desktop or Laptop? Laptop, because I like to go out (see above).

Marilyn Monroe or Audrey Hepburn? Marilyn.

Dr. Pepper or Mr. Pibb? Dr. Pepper, but only because I had to look up Mr. Pibb!

Dog or Cat? Dogs. If I could, I want adopt all of them!

Boxers or Briefs? Boxers. A dude needs some space.

Thank you for giving us your preferences, Aiden! Thank you also, Elisa, for being here today!

Elisa Ludwig can be found on her website, and on twitter.

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High school sophomore Willa and her artist mother move to Arizona where Willa starts attending an elite prep school after her mother finally sells some paintings, and Willa attempts to even things out by stealing from the rich students and giving to the poor ones.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Blog Tour: Cobbogoth - Hannah Clark - Author Interview & Giveaway

2012-03-05T13:58:00.000-05:00

Hannah Clark is here today with an author interview courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her new release, Cobbogoth. Thank you for being here today, Hannah! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

What would your characters say to you if they met you walking down the street?

Lylend: “Ah, so you’re the kyndie who made me a jewelry-making war captain. Not sure how I feel about that.”

James: “At least she gave you ‘Viking-sized’ arms and a nice scar, old man. That’s something.”

Norah: “But are you sure you meant to make me the protagonist in Cobbogoth? I mean, look at me, I’m a freak.”

Lylend: “What exactly is a ‘freak’, kyndie?”

James: “Don’t listen to Nor; one day I’ll convince her that she’s beautiful. In the meantime, can you tell me what’s up in Book 2? Do I get to kiss her again?

Lylend: “Eh-hey! That’s my kynd!”

Norah: *blushing*

If Murphy's Law applied to you, what scenario would most likely happen?

I don’t know. I’m a pretty cautious person. I consider all that could go wrong before I go into a situation, so I’m usually prepared for the best and worst case scenario.

Describe Cobbogoth in one sentence.

Cobbogoth is a fast-paced fantasy-adventure with mystery, danger, and intrigue, a unique and complex power system, and a story and mythology all its own.

What inspired you to write about archaeology?

I love ancient things—artifacts, legends, buildings, history, etc. When I was a kid, my best friend and I used to explore our small town looking for Native American and pioneer artifacts. We never found anything exciting, but it was fun just the same. I guess you could say that I was with my town, the way Uncle Jack was with Hella, Iceland, only he was searching for Viking and Cobbogothian artifacts.

What will readers hopefully take away from Cobbogoth?

I hope readers take three things away from reading Cobbogoth:

1) Most of all, I hope the world of Cobbogoth and Norah’s story gets under their skin, the way only entering a unique, new world can. And I hope they can’t wait to come back!

2) I hope they leaving feeling like being afraid of something is okay—we live in a scary world—but that they are inspired to face their fears and push through them. Like Lylend says to Norah: “You can’t really be courageous without fear, for courage is when you act in spite of the fear.”

3) Finally, I hope they have a better understanding of how our choices don’t just affect us, but everyone around us. We all belong to some kind of a community, whether it is our family, our town, or society in general. Like Norah, when she has to make a decision about the Haven, I think it’s so important to consider how our choices will affect our communities before we make them. And despite popular belief, I want readers to see how powerful selfless choices can be—they are the choices that change the world for the better.

If you could sum up Norah's personality in one sentence, what would it be?

Norah is an extremely smart, very loyal, yet chronically anxious seventeen-year-old who is not only searching for where she belongs in the world, but wants to love and be loved more than anything.

What is your favorite line from Cobbogoth?

Aside from the line by Lylend up above, it’s a toss-up between these two:

“What is it with you and shiny rocks?” -Norah

and

“I see you’ve met the ding-bats.” -James

What is up next for you?

Well, I’ve just finished the outline for Book 2 in the Cobbogoth series, and have started writing. I’m very excited about the continuation of James and Norah’s story. We are hoping to have it out by December of 2013.

Thank you for answering my questions, and for being here today, Hannah!

Hannah Clark can be found on her website.

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To seventeen-year-old Norah Lukens, the Cobbogothians were just a myth. But after her archeologist uncle's brutal murder, and being asked to translate one of his old research journals for evidence, she begins a journey to discover the truth for herself.

Chasing the myth her uncle was obsessed with, Norah learns that his murder was a cover up for something far more sinister. If she hopes to save others from suffering the same fate he did--including the peculiarly magnetic James Riley--she must head to Iceland in order to find out the truth once and for all.

If she succeeds, she'll gain the one thing she's always longed for.

But if she fails, not even the gods can help her.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

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Giveaway Details

Hannah Clark has graciously provided Lost For Words with a copy of Cobbogoth for giveaway.

Thank you, Hannah!

Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only. Sorry to those of you who are international.

Giveaway will end on Monday, March 19.

Please fill out this FORM to enter. Comments, while appreciated, will not be counted as entries.

Thank you!

Blog Tour: Deadly - Julie Chibbaro - Author Interview

2012-02-29T11:53:00.000-05:00

Julie Chibbaro is here today with an author interview courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her book, Deadly. Thank you for being here today, Julie! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

Can you give us a description of DEADLY in haiku?

A girl scientist

fights a fever spread by

Typhoid Mary, cook

If you could jump into any story, and live out the story alongside the characters, what world/story would you most like to visit?

Most of the books and stories I love are pretty godawful worlds I wouldn't exactly want to visit. Like in The God of Small Things, she lives in a poor part of India. In The Poisonwood Bible, they live in a terrible part of Africa. I'm attracted to dark stories about people who overcome, or don't. That is the fascinating part for me.

What wouldn't you want to see grace the headlines of a major newspaper about you? What would you want it to say?

Um, is that a trick question? I wouldn't want to see anything about my housekeeping abilities. They're just embarrassing. I would want the headlines to talk about what a good mother I am. I think that's been a point of pride for me. And, of course, about my stellar writing ability, hee, hee!

If you were given the power to have three wishes granted, what would you choose?

Wish number one: Enough money to take care of my family and be generous with others in the world. Number two: A cure for cancer. Number three: to go back in time and use that cure on the people I've lost.

If you were a tree, which kind of tree would you be and why?

I think I'd like to be a banana tree. I love their long, elegant leaves, and the fruit they produce.

Thank you for answering my questions, and for being here today, Julie!

Julie Chibbaro can be found on her website, and on twitter.

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Prudence Galewski doesn’t belong in Mrs. Browning’s esteemed School for Girls. She doesn’t want an “appropriate” job that makes use of refinement and charm. Instead, she is fascinated by how the human body works—and why it fails.

Prudence is lucky to land a position in a laboratory, where she is swept into an investigation of a mysterious fever. From ritzy mansions to shady bars and rundown tenements, Prudence explores every potential cause of the disease to no avail—until the volatile Mary Mallon emerges. Dubbed “Typhoid Mary” by the press, Mary is an Irish immigrant who has worked as a cook in every home the fever has ravaged. But she’s never been sick a day in her life. Is the accusation against her an act of discrimination? Or is she the first clue in solving one of the greatest medical mysteries of the twentieth century?

Synopsis taken from goodreads.