I Write, I Read, I Review

More Updates: Writing, PC Repairs, and Getting A New Laptop...

2013-05-11T09:40:00.000-04:00

Okay... Until I get this mess with my PC sorted out I'm probably going to update once a week just to let you guys know what is going on. Here are all the details of May 4th-11th, 2013.

Books I've Bought:

My Kindle got a bit more love. :)

Writing Updates:

I started writing Promise Me Forever this week and the rough draft clocks in at roughly 6,500 words so far. I'm absolutely thrilled with the progress I'm making on it. I know I'm not as active here, and one of my later announcements should help more with that, but on the writing front I'm in great shape!

It's a bit irritating to have to put Sweet Rebellion onto the back burner, but all my notes for that are backed up on my e-mail and I don't want to go through the headache of switching them to where / how I'm writing the SP novella. That's part of the reason I planned the releases the way I announced them last week.

I'm also going ahead with planning the next SP novella, By Darkness Deceived (which is Ruby's story, for anyone curious) and my second Maple Springs novel, tentatively titled His Sweet Obsession (I'm still staying mum on the details for that--It's got a long way to go.)

For anyone interested, I usually post a daily word count update, complete with a snippet of whatever I'm writing, on my facebook author page if you would like to follow it. :)

PC Repair / Blogging Updates:

I have not been signing up for cover reveals, tours, etc. because this PC is running with two broken legs and one hand tied behind its back. It's still going to be a while before I can actually get it working properly. I don't drive, our local computer shop has hours that conflict with my family's work schedules, and if I were to take it in right now it could be a week or two before I would get it back.

Your continued patience is appreciated. :)

Time For A Laptop! :)

This nightmare of thinking I lost all my writing is never going to happen to me again. Ever. I spend way too much time on my stories for them to get eaten by some stupid virus or maliware attack on my computer.

Now, I will make two things clear: (1) Yes I intend to use the laptop as a laptop, not just as a big fancy flash drive. (I had someone ask me this on a forum. "Ooo, we've got a funny guy, huh?" :p) But his point is clear: get a darn flash drive while I'm dong all this. And (2) Yes, I realize this isn't a magic wand that's gonna make me write twice as much. (I wish! Even though I outline, my characters surprise me when I get to the drafts and writing their stories often throws really awesome curve balls at me that I don't see coming.)

The point, really, is that if one machine is down I'll be able to use the other (see my current situation above, for example.) and the laptop will give me additional portability (and the ability to put a wireless printer in our living room, since my room is too small.)

After doing a bit of research, I've decided to budget myself $700 before taxes (Canadian; and not including getting a mouse, laptop bag, flash drive and printer / paper / binders to organize things.) I've gone far too long without getting things set up to take this writing thing seriously. I realize none of this is going to write the books for me, but (for me) I think there is some type of pride in having everything together and working properly. Plus I can sit at the dinning room table, which is much closer to the tea kettle and microwave. :p (Sound business / productivity strategy there, yes?)

But WOW do I have options! Do I want a touch screen? Do I want dedicated graphics? (My main PC is a gaming machine, and my bf is all "Just think, we could still play LOTRO if you go on vacation.) Do I want something with an SSD? (Expensive, would have to be a bonus, but very writing practical.) 15.6" or 17.3" ?

To tell you all the truth, what I want is:

1. A machine that is capable and which will load things without acting like a turtle. Meaning: it needs a decent processor.

2. A machine with a screen that I can read / see. Fortunately, I'm buying for writing and blogging, not gaming. Most of my writing / blogging programs can have their fonts increased for the drafting / editing stages.

3. (And really it should be #1, since it will likely be my deciding factor) A machine with a keyboard that I don't despise. I'm a writer. If my hand (I use a one handed typing technique, as I have little control of the fingers on my right hand) is gonna be like a permanent growth on that thing, it better work with me, rather than against me.

Everything else is a bonus, really. (I mean, I know I want at least 4gb RAM and that if I don't get a dedicated graphics machine that I should aim for something with Intel 4000 so it is at least up to date in its incompetency. :p *Did I say I was a gamer? :p*)

Anyway, I think that sums everything going on this week up. :) Would you guys like me to post a weekly recap of my facebook writing snippets here? Have you read / do you want to read any of the books I bought? Do you have any thoughts about my upcoming laptop purchase? I'd love to know!

Updates: Writing News, PC Troubles and Sorting Everything Out

2013-05-04T11:21:00.002-04:00

Hey guys!

I know I haven't been on here as much as usual lately. Initially, it was just the fact that I am writing stuff as well as reading and blogging. Unfortunately, my computer got some crazy virus from Windows Update (!!!!!!) last Wednesday (nearly two weeks ago) and I'm going to have to take it into the shop. It's been keeping me back from getting work done here and on my current projects writing-wise, and it's keeping me from signing up for stuff (seriously--I have like four things in my mail that I'd LOVE to do but since I don't drive I can't control *when* my PC will go in or come back. I'm gonna have a blank zone for a few days soon and I can't have something scheduled then.)

I'm still sorta having trouble sorting out how I want to run this blog and write. I'm doing a LOT of writing right now. (Well outlining right now--I was writing before things went crazy with the PC. And yes, thank goodness, all my work is safe.) I have probably 15 to 20 books I've read in the last couple months that I haven't reviewed yet. Heck, I have video reviews for some of these on my camera. (Those aren't up because of PC grief.) Here's the thing, though: I feel like I keep telling you all the same things again, and again, and again. I know they're about different books, and characters, and romances, but something really isn't working and I can't put my finger on what it is.

Okay, enough whining. Let's talk about some good and exciting stuff, shall we?

I'm sure by this point, most of you who visit often know what this is. *points at Sealer's Promise cover*. Well... The reason you haven't heard much about it lately is because it's going through re-writes from Hell. And that is still very much the case.

BUT...

Today I want to announce that the Sealer Saga will be getting two prequel anthologies, Twilight of the Gods (Sealer Saga Anthology #1) and Parting the Veil (Sealer Saga Anthology #2). I will be releasing three novellas in each of these and they will be available both as individual downloads and as the above-mentioned anthologies. And today, I'm going to share the working (meaning: this could change) title and summary for the first story in Twilight of the Gods...

Promise Me Forever
(Sealer Saga Prequel Novella #1)

by Kathy Coleman

Before he became the God of Plagues...

Before the Veil between Zynedia and Earth was parted...

Before he vowed to protect Sarena Lengton...

Kyden loved Lila.

Determined to save her little sister Blossom, Lila has come up with a foolproof plan. At this year's Festival of the Wind, she will offer herself as a consort to Kyden, the Lord of Healing--if he will save Blossom's life. Of course, whether the plan is foolproof because it will work, or because only a fool would trifle with a Sealer, is anyone's guess. But Lila's mind is made up: Blossom's life is in danger, so she must try.

After living nearly nine thousand years, Kyden is sure he has seen and done everything--until his new consort starts to make demands. Equal parts annoyed and amused, he denies her request. But when her life is put in peril, Kyden does the unthinkable--he bends to a mortal's will.

With Lila at his side, Kyden feels alive again. But a jealous Goddess will stop at nothing to make Kyden her own, and when the dust settles nothing will be the same. People say love can heal all wounds. But is it strong enough to keep two people together when someone is willing to destroy the heavens to keep them apart?

The winds of change are about to howl.

The art I'm thinking of buying for the cover can be found here, for anyone who is curious. :) (As with my title and summary, this is "working"; if someone else buys it before I do this will change. Why haven't I bought it yet? Because I view putting a cover on a book my reward for completing it... or at least *thinking* I have. ;) Yes, I'm quite likely an odd duck.)

Next, I'm sure some of you have heard a bit about a little project I've been working on called The Mansion You Stole. I believe I said I had written roughly 17,000 words of it the last time I posted? Well, because of PC troubles the word count hasn't budged this week. But it now has a new title, a summary and a potential cover. (Same rules of logic apply that I stated for Promise Me Forever).

Sweet Rebellion
(Maple Springs #1)

by Kathy Coleman

Megan Sinclair leads a double life. To the outside world, she is the daughter of a wealthy record label executive. A spoiled rich girl who fled Toronto for the little town of Maple Springs to escape imaginary problems. To Dazzle Records she is Claire Walker, a brilliant songwriter and guitar prodigy. When Megan decided to quit writing for Dazzle three years ago to pursue a college degree, she never imagined the consequences of her choice could be so dire.

Determined to get his songwriting machine back, Megan's father sells the house she's been living in to Clay Freeman. Once Dazzle's fastest rising star and Claire's former writing partner, Clay cut all ties with the "guitar genius" a year ago when she refused to work with him on a new single.

Now, Clay is Megan's only hope of retaining the life in Maple Springs that she has come to love. He has no idea that she and Claire are the same person--or that Megan has harbored a huge crush on him during their entire co-writing career.

Megan knows that she'll have to tell the truth eventually if she wants a chance at anything real with Clay. But as she gets to know him, and falls totally in love, will she have the courage to speak up knowing it could end things between them... forever?

And for those who are curious, here is the cover I'm thinking of buying for Sweet Rebellion. This one is pretty likely, since I want to sorta 'brand' the Maple Springs books this way. (Yes, I do have more planned. No, I'm not saying any more about that today. I've got too much going on as it is. :) )

And now for what is likely the biggest piece of news regarding these two stories: I am hoping to have both Promise Me Forever and Sweet Rebellion released by the end of 2013. I'm not going to say I *will*. But I will say that is my hope / plan / goal. If things go as I want them to, Promise Me Forever will release this July / August, and Sweet Rebellion will come out in November / December.

And now, with that crazy announcement, I'm going to close this. Because I have seven zillion tons of work to get done if I want to make this happen. Thanks so much to those who continue to follow I Write, I Read, I Review despite all the crappy (or non) scheduling that happens when I write. I truly do appreciate it.

So, are you excited about Promise Me Forever or Sweet Rebellion? Do you like the covers I'm hoping to buy for them? I'd love to know. :)

Cover Reveal: Unbreak Me by Lexi Ryan

2013-04-30T07:30:00.000-04:00

Today I'm thrilled to be part of the cover reveal for Unbreak Me by Lexi Ryan. As usual, it was the summary for the novel that grabbed my interest, and of course I'll be including that, too. :) Anyway, let's get to the good stuff.

(Summary Provided By Xpresso Book Tours)

“If you’re broken, I’ll fix you…”

I’m only twenty-one and already damaged goods. A slut. A failure. A disappointment to my picture-perfect family as long as I can remember. I called off my wedding to William Bailey, the only man who thought I was worth fixing. A year later, he’s marrying my sister. Unless I ask him not to…

“If you shatter, I’ll find you…”

But now there’s Asher Logan, a broken man who sees the fractures in my façade and doesn’t want to fix me at all. Asher wants me to stop hiding, to stop pretending. Asher wants to break down my walls. But that means letting him see my ugly secrets and forgiving him for his.

With my past weighing down on me, do I want the man who holds me together or the man who gives me permission to break?

Are you intrigued? Add it to your GoodReads!

Want to help spread the word? Get involved with the upcoming Release Day Blitz!

About The Author

Website | GoodReads

Facebook | Twitter

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Ryan writes romances with humor, heat, and heart. Her books are described as fun, flirty, and wickedly sexy. A lover of learning, Lexi has been in the classroom all her life and currently holds the title of assistant professor of English at her local community college. Lexi is a proud member of Romance Writers of America. She lives in rural Indiana with her husband and two children.

So, what do you think of the cover for Unbreak Me? Are you interested in reading it? I'd love to know. :)

As always, thanks go to Xpresso Book Tours for having me along. :)

Review: On The Plus Side by Tabatha Vargo

2013-04-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

I'm usually not conflicted when I write a review. Either I liked a book, I didn't, or I liked it but felt there are ways it could have been better. In the interests of being totally honest, I'm gonna spell this out for all of you up front: I can't decide how I feel about On The Plus Side as far as "Liked" or "Didn't Like". Instead, I want to say that this is a story that had some serious potential and that I wish I was critiquing and not reviewing, because a lot of my problems here--not ALL, but *many*--are things that could have, with time and effort, been vastly improved.

I'm always concerned whether my musings on books come across more as reviews or (pointless, since the thing is out in the wild) critiques, and I am more genuinely concerned *here* then ever. But I suppose I cannot have that stop me from telling you all what I thought about On The Plus Side, because as a reader, write *and* plus sized woman, I have a lot to say.

(Summary from GoodReads)

Big girls need love, too, but at what cost?

Lilly is loaded, not only with money, but with weight. Both things she could do without. But even with her undesired millionaire status, she doesn’t hold on to false hopes of finding true love. So when a sexy stranger comes into her life dripping with seduction, she finds it hard to resist. The bigger they are the harder they fall and Lilly falls straight through the floor in love with Mr. Sexy. Too bad he’s there for all the wrong reasons.

The chance of losing it all will make you do some crazy things and Devin’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep his life together. All seems lost when out of nowhere he’s approached by a Millionaire Momma with an offer he can’t refuse. But even a womanizer like Devin has a heart and when the short, chunky girl with the carefree attitude breaks through his icy façade, he finds that losing everything takes on a whole new meaning.

Okay, first the good. I thought that this book had a fantastic premise, and that on a large scale front that Tabatha did a good job of carrying that premise. It's not often that we get a story about a plus sized character (always welcome, in my opinion). Unfortunately, it's even less often that we get a story about such a character where their fatness does not end up becoming a character within itself (or replaces entirely the character the author was trying to create.) It's one of those things where it's great if you nail it but it can be bad when you don't and unfortunately, for me, the execution and the premise did not line up.

Yet in regard to the plot (I'll get to characters in the next section) the problems that held me back from truly enjoying this story were bad editing and writing technique that could have easily been improved:

1. Do not mix past and present tense within a POV (without at least some type of indication), let alone within a paragraph, please.

2. Exclamation marks are like pepper--use them with caution.

3. When people say "tell me a story" they usually don't mean it in quite as literal a sense as is presented here.

The first two are mildly annoying and could perhaps be overlooked. It's the third that drove the nails into the coffin. So many important things were told to me during this book rather then shown to me. We often get the same situation from both Devin and Lilly's POVs (one per chapter) with them thinking us through what's going on rather then truly living it. I've noticed this in small chunks in books before. And I know that sometimes doing this can be completely legitimate. But when I'm sitting here and telling you that at least 40% of the novel (and I'm being cautious with that number) is presented in this way, I think the majority of you will understand why I'm labeling this as a serious problem. I do not normally review the presentation and writing *style* of the books I read--I feel that as a fellow writer that's a little nosy and perhaps even spiteful?--but in this case it was such a large part of what hindered my enjoyment of the novel that this review would not make sense without talking about it.

Okay, look: I read the sample for this before I bought it. So I had to have been something I liked. I still don't totally know what happened, but I'll try my best to explain since as a reader this is where my trouble really came in. You see, I don't overly believe that characters can or should be different then how an author portrays them--if I feel anything, be it good or bad, something was done right.

Lilly... I truly want to believe there was an interesting, decent and memorable heroine somewhere within that I was suppose to be rooting for. You broke my heart, but it was for all the wrong reasons. You compared yourself to: a car and a beached whale. You used your weight as a crutch to lean on and hide behind, and yet (in what I think was suppose to show strength, oddly) never wanted to change what you were.

Here's the thing, honey: if you had been happy with yourself to any degree, *believably happy*, that would be a true revelation. Because it is fully possible to be happy with your appearance, even as a size 20. But your self abuse, often meant to come off as humor, came off as someone who needed some serious help to me. I'm not sure if I want to go so far as to say you need help, or whether I just want to say the lengths you went to made you unbelievable to me. What I will say is this: your mother 'won' the real battle-that for your worth-long before a reader ever showed up. And I just didn't see enough improvement in you *inside*, where it truly matters, to change my opinion on this.

As for Devin, his continued inability to make a decision, combined with the fact that so much of the story was both summarized and repeated, kept him from being overly memorable or likable as the book went on. I was intrigued at the premise initially and I *got* that he was conflicted. But the continued back and forth confliction throughout the novel, and the fact that most of the time I wasn't any more certain where he was coming from than Lilly was, didn't do him any favors.

I did genuinely like Devin's little sister, Jenny. It could not have been easy to grow up without a mom, and even coming from the family I did (which is a pretty standard one) I enjoyed getting to know her and empathized with her tomboy-ish ways. I think a lot of that may have to do with having brothers rather than sisters, personally, but the point remains that her character was great.

Here's the thing: If I don't like the leads alone, I'm probably not gonna like them together. That was definitely the case here.

When this gets added to the problems I described within "plot", which admittedly were largely structural, this only became more amplified. Because I was told about the characters, rather than truly meeting them, connecting their attraction toward each other, and its growth from the beginning of the novel to the end, felt distanced in a way that it really shouldn't have.

I really wanted to like On The Plus Side, and from reading the sample I was confident that I would. But as sometimes happens, this novel had problems that blocked it from living up to my expectations. I don't want to say "OMG, don't read this!", because there is something genuinely worth reading within these pages. I do want to say, however, that whatever message Tabatha Vargo was trying to get across likely would have been successful had a bit more feedback been received and editing time been given.

Cover Reveal: Breaking The Reins by Juliana Haygert

2013-04-25T04:12:00.000-04:00

Today I'm delighted to be part of the cover reveal for Breaking the Reins by Juliana Haygert. As often is the case when I sign up for these things, the premise of the book caught my interest. Ready to take a look? Great! Scroll down...

(Summary provided by Xpresso Book Tours)

Horses, mansions, tea parties, and lies are twenty-year-old Hannah Taylor’s life. To others, her family and her relationship with Eric is perfect. But she knows the truth. She lives it.

After a fire takes her grandma’s life and kills her horse, Hannah’s immaculate life spirals out of control. Her father disapproves of her decision to run her grandma’s ranch instead of focusing solely on learning the family business; Animal Control brings her Argus, a mistreated horse that she can’t turn away even though she’s not ready for another horse; and her boyfriend, Eric Bennett, a world famous polo player, becomes possessive and authoritarian. Despite her best efforts to disguise it, Hannah grows wary of him.

Then, Leonardo Fernandes struts onto the polo scene. A cocky rookie with a messy life of his own, he’s drawn to Hannah and isn’t afraid of showing it, even when Eric makes it clear she is his and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep it that way. Hannah suffers for Eric’s jealousy. The abuse only gets worse when Leo steals the title of best polo player in the world from Eric.

But the title isn’t enough for Leo. He wants Hannah too, and she can’t deny her attraction to him either. Somehow, she must find a way to break free from abusive Eric before he breaks every bone in her body.

Are you intrigued? Add it to your GoodReads!

My thoughts:

First off, I love the fact that we see her with the horse. There are two reasons for this. (1) C'mon, horses are just plain old awesome and it fits with the setting of the story. (2) So often in life animals can be (or at least seem?) more loyal and consistent then people, and considering how much this heroine seems to be going through, who (what) better for her to share the cover with? I also like the way that the word reins is done differently--the style suggests a hint of femininity--does the heroine want that or not? At the same time, the color suggests passion--of both negative and positive natures.

A Little Teaser:

About The Author:

Website | GoodReads
Facebook | Twitter

While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.

So, what do you think of the cover for Breaking The Reins? Does it sound like a book you want to read? I'm really looking forward to it--it sounds great and seems like it should go well with my current interests.

As always, thanks to Xpresso Book Tours for having me along. :)

Review: If You Stay by Courtney Cole

2013-04-23T07:00:00.000-04:00

Since I'm juggling whether my own novel is new adult or straight up contemporary romance, I decided one of the best ways to resolve the dilemma would be to dive into this genre head first and see just what all the fuss is about. Among all the books that were available, If You Stay grabbed my attention with an absolutely stunning male POV opening chapter that dared me *not* to keep going.

It also doesn't hurt that I've always been a sucker for a bad boy, and they don't come much badder (yet still redeemable) then Pax. Is there anything this guy doesn't do? You'll need to read to find out, but with the level of "Whoa, wait a minute. This is the hero?" that the first chapter of this novel injects into the story, my curiosity was definitely piqued.

Ultimately, If You Stay is a tale of love, loss and redemption. To find out whether it works, keep reading...

(Summary from GoodReads)

24-year old Pax Tate is an asshole.

Seriously.

He’s a tattooed, rock-hard bad-boy with a bad attitude to match.

But he’s got his reasons.

His mother died when Pax was seven, leaving a hole in his heart filled with guilt although he doesn’t understand why. What he does know is that he and his dad are left alone and with more issues than they can count.

As Pax grew up, he tried to be the kid his father always wanted; the perfect golden boy, but it didn’t work. His dad couldn’t overcome his grief long enough to notice and Pax couldn’t keep up the impossible perfect façade.

So he slipped far, far from it.

Now, he uses drugs and women to cope with the ugliness, the black void that he doesn’t want to deal with. If he pretends that the emptiness isn’t there, then it isn’t, right?
Wrong.

And it’s never more apparent than when he meets Mila.
Sweet, beautiful Mila Hill is the fresh air to his hardened frown, the beauty to his ugly heart. He doesn’t know how to not hurt her, but he quickly realizes that he’s got to figure it out because he needs her to breathe.

When memories of his mother’s death resurface from where he’s repressed them for so long, Mila is there to catch him when the guilt starts making sense. Mila is the one…the one who can save him from his broken troubled heart; from his issues, from the emptiness.

But only if he can stop being an asshole long enough to allow it.

He knows that. And he’s working on it.

But is that enough to make her stay?

Before we start: I think this may be the longest book summary that has been posted on this blog. Ever. Okay, now on with the review. ;)

In my intro, I said that in the end If You Stay is a story of redemption, and now that we're at the meat of the review I want to make it clear that I thought it was a good one. I've heard some people complaining that (a) people cannot use drugs and not become addicted, and therefore (b) that Pax's recovery time, and the heroine's ultimate decision at the end of the book, was ridiculous.

Well... In response to (a): while it's certainly not advised to take the kinda crap Pax uses in the novel, *ever*, the author's information *can* be legitimate. If you read the end note you find out more about her inspiration for the book, and it was something I was able to go with because I, too, have known someone in such a situation. Is it likely? Is it logical? Is it the story our governments, teachers, churches. etc. want us telling? No. But unlikely / unusual is not an alternate word for implausible.

As for the second point, it must be remembered that while there is a theme of redemption within this novel, it is genre fiction (meaning it needs to be entertaining) and it is a romance (which means it needs a happy ending). In a different story, under a different context, aimed at a different audience, I could easily see the claim being made as valid (and on a realistic level, I still do.). However, every novel makes a promise to its readers and, to me, the promise If You Stay made to the reader was: "Let me show you how love can help someone rise up from a difficult situation, and how through acknowledging and owning the situation, that love can be made permanent.". At no time was I under the illusion that, in any way, this book was trying to tell me "Here is what happens when someone who has screwed up his life falls in love.".

There is a very important distinction, in that Pax's struggle to define and eventually defeat the things that have held him down his entire life are motivated by love, *not* healed by it. Yes, the time frame may not be completely ideal in a realistic setting, but it was right for the type of story being told.

One thing I will complain about in If You Stay is that Courtney Cole has this odd habit of occasionally summarizing key events rather than dramatizing them through scene. This didn't destroy the book, but it did make me scratch my head and puzzle over the times this choice was made now and then.

Also, we get the beginnings of a situation for the heroine, Mila, where we know she has struggled, and continues to struggle, with her parents deaths. While we do see resolution and growth for Pax's issues, I felt that at some point Milas's were forgotten. Or at least, by the end of the novel I wasn't sure how or whether she was still coping with them.

Pax was definitely the star of this show. The way that Courtney did his voice, his decisions, his thoughts and his actions was truly unique among bad boys. Why? Because instead of being told "he was very, very, bad..." we are dumped head first off a diving board with no ability to swim and without a life jacket. Like hitting the frigid water of a lake in the middle of winter, we are jolted into Pax's world with force and total gusto, whether we wanna be there or not. What kept the character compelling, at least for me, was that while his integrity and ambitions did shift when he met Mila, he didn't magically become "good" overnight; nor did his attitude or thoughts suddenly make him sound like someone else. He maintained his own identity throughout the novel; something I found extremely refreshing.

The trouble with creating a character as compelling and memorable as Pax, of course, is that it can be hard to create an equal for him. Someone who can hold her own both in the story and as a narrator for the story. Alas, Mila just wasn't quite up to the task. It wasn't that she was blatantly horrible in any way. Rather, it was just that she was so totally overshadowed and outclassed (as far as the interesting-ness of Pax; she's obviously a lot more *classy* than him.). There is also the fact that I did find certain choices she made during the novel questionable. Once you set certain things up in a story, you need to make sure a reader sees why deviating from the 'rules' set for a character makes sense. That didn't happen here.

The other issue I had with If You Stay is that, while it was interesting to spend so much time with these two characters, they did seem to live in a bubble. Where were their friends? What else was in Angel Bay aside from their houses and the Italian restaurant Mila's parents had owned? I was a little disappointed with the lack of immersion into this world because I was really into the story and I wanted to be able to reach out and touch this world more then I felt I got to.

Warning: insta love incoming!

Now that I have that up front for you, what I will say is that the instant *draw* between these two was something I was willing to buy into. Why? Because she saved his life, and sometimes people can do really strange things when someone intervenes when they've hit rock bottom. I admire the fact that Courtney did *try* to control the speed of things a little, and I understand she didn't want to bog her plot down over this issue since this novel was a very tightly sealed nut (we really don't get a lot of meandering subplots here). But when it comes off strong, insta love is something I like to give my readers a heads up about, so it is what it is.

On the plus side, I did feel that Mila and Pax had terrific chemistry and I loved reading about their interactions with each other. I had no trouble getting behind the whole 'good girl, bad guy' vibe going on. In real life, I wouldn't touch this with a ten foot pole, but in fiction? Why not? I'm certainly not going to confuse fantasy and reality, nor do I honestly fear most readers are going to lose track of that distinction.

Now, as I said in the character section, there was one situation where Mila's reaction *did* make me want to throw my kindle. Oh! And Pax has one of the best grovels (that moment where the hero knows he has screwed up, huge, and wants to make it better) that I've ever read. Because (1) it was well written and believable, and (2) he proved himself to be the real deal, and not just full of hot air.

If You Stay is one of those novels that I started and then totally devoured. I really loved a lot of things about it, despite the fact that I was reading it for research and did, therefore, pick up on things that did not work for me. If you are into new adult and haven't read If You Stay, though, do yourself a favor and give this book a go.

Music Monday: Daylight by Maroon 5

2013-04-22T00:00:00.000-04:00

First: Yeah, I *know: "She LIVES!"

I've always been up front that I suck at blogging and drafting, and I really wasn't kidding. The bad news is it's been really quiet here this month, even though I've read some fantastic books. I'm sickeningly behind on reviews, although fortunately they are for books I bought--not official review books.

Anyway, today's Music Monday is a bit unusual, as it deals with The Mansion You Stole (which is now at over 17,000 words!) but it's not a country song. I promised you guys something Clay related, so...

Daylight by Maroon 5

I actually just heard this today on the radio while out with my family and had hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. "Oh my God, it's the freakin' black moment from my book." Which it pretty much is. Clay has spent his whole career leaving girls behind, but now multiple reasons are conspiring to force him to walk away from the first girl he's ever really loved and he is very torn / unhappy about it. Obviously there are a lot more layers then I'm telling you (hint: you'll need to read the book when it's done.) but to have such a vital moment so perfectly explained through music was pretty awesome.

So, what do you think of Daylight? Do you know of any other songs with a "leaving" theme like this? (For country I think of Kenny Chesney's "Anything But Mine", but there is more of a summer fling attitude there, whereas the why isn't as clear here). I'd love to know so feel free to share. :)

Review: Waiting For The Storm by Marie Landry

2013-04-09T07:00:00.000-04:00

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I'm going to start this with the same statement I make every time I start a review for one of Marie's books. Marie is one of my oldest blogging friends, so if that makes my opinion a little less viable to you--and I totally understand if it does--there it is for you up front.

That said, Waiting For The Storm is not just good. It's very possibly the best thing that Marie has written yet. There are some really heavy issues going on here, but the characters handle these with style and grace, while still being human enough to warrant having their story told.

But there I go putting the horse before the cart. Let's actually go through this the way I would any other book, and I'll do my best to tell you why Waiting For The Storm should be at the top of any contemporary fan's must read list.

(Summary from GoodReads)

Charlotte O’Dell knows this summer is going to suck. Her beloved mother just died, her sister hates her, and her dad has completely checked out. Fulfilling her mother’s final wish, the family heads to Angel Island for the summer to stay in a beach house her mother once loved.

After a year of being shut away taking care of her mother, Charlotte is numb and practically afraid of her own shadow; she hopes going to the island will give her the time and space she needs to begin healing, and an opportunity to bring her family back together. When she meets her mysterious neighbor, Ezra, it doesn’t take long for Charlotte to confess the issues she’s developed. Ezra begins giving Charlotte assignments to get over her fears, and although she accepts his tasks, all she really wants is to be with him. When she’s with Ezra, she’s able to forget the hollow ache in her heart and the fact that her family is falling apart. But Ezra has secrets…

Can Charlotte pull what’s left of her family together, mend her broken heart, and allow herself to fall for Ezra? Or is it all just a storm waiting to happen?

Plot and character are generally a tightly woven net in contemporary fiction, and that is definitely the case with Waiting For The Storm. However, Marie's newest novel ads a hint of mystery as the reader--and Charlotte--get to know the book's hero, Ezra. I really liked this aspect of the story. It made an already excellent read really stand out in a way that I don't know if I've actually seen a contemporary do in quite this way before.

Returning from her previous work, and this is a great thing, is her talent for taking a general area that is (to me, since I live half an hour from Kingston) that is very familiar and seamlessly integrating something that is totally fictional. As with Riverview and Bellevue from her previous novels, Angel Island is a great setting which is a character in its own right. It plays just the right level of importance in the book--believable and memorable without taking the whole thing over.

I also think that a tasteful and insightful job was done in the way that Marie handled the key issue troubling Charlotte (the death of her mother). I felt Charlotte's shifting emotions throughout the entire book, but while I felt for her, what I felt never weighed me down and made me unable to read. It can be very hard to juggle something as heavy as this and not have it bog down the entire story, but that is just what happens here. Waiting For The Storm is a tale of healing every bit as much (and in my opinion moreso) then it is one of loss.

There is part of me that wants to say: "It's hard not to like the heroine in a novel by Marie Landry." But this does a disservice to both those fabulous heroines and to Marie's talent as an author, as it risks creating the assumption that her heroines are all 'the same'. If we are saying they are 'likable', or that 'I would like to be friends with them', that is true. But what makes these characters exceptional is that I can say all of this and yet need to make it clear: each of these ladies is very distinct.

Charlotte showed a great deal of depth throughout the novel, and grew (or regained) a great deal during her time on Angel Island. Marie did a great job at balancing a lot of aspects within one personality--making her likable, making her grief-driven emotions believable, making her progress as the story did in a way that made sense--and all of this really paid off, because Waiting For The Storm truly is Charlotte's story.

Likewise, Ezra is a memorable hero, both because of his charming personality--very earthy and real, yet definitely the kind of guy worth falling for--and the intriguing sense of mystery that surrounds his character. I think that was built up well and, like Charlotte, I constantly wanted to know more about him. This made for very compelling reading and a real 'can't put it down' factor that caused me to read the book in one sitting.

The rest of the cast was equally interesting without taking away from the couple. The depth and growth of Charlotte's sister, Ella, was especially well done. The situation with the girls' father was also very moving.

First, let me put your fears to rest: there's no insta-love here. I really liked how the relationship between Charlotte and Ezra progressed. It felt very natural and suited their personalities and the situations they found themselves in. I thought they had terrific chemistry together; a natural easy closeness that drew them together, with just enough spark to make it interesting.

I will say, however, that Charlotte's behavior at the story's climax did make me a little mad. The situation was very complex and interesting, and to be fair it says something when a reader's opinion of it could go either way. But really, Charlotte, I wanted to shake you! I'm not taking hearts away for this, just to be clear. It didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book and it wasn't a lack of talent on the part of the author. It was just a very interesting circumstance where the heroine and I parted ways for a little while and I kinda wanted to hug Ezra and go "There, there." *laughs*

And no, I'm not telling you what it is. Curious? Read the book. Trust me, it's fabulous.

Beautiful writing, memorable characters, and a well told story blend together to create something truly special. Waiting For The Storm has everything I love most about contemporary YA and more. I can't recommend this highly enough.

Music Monday: Someone Else's Dream by Faith Hill

2013-04-08T07:30:00.000-04:00

Hey guys! Been a while since I did a Music Monday post, but since I'm knee deep in writing my contemporary romance (tentatively titled The Mansion You Stole--yes, you *can* laugh...) I figured that this would be a fun way to do something for Mondays on the blog, fill you in on the writing and share some of the totally awesome music that has inspired this story.

This Week's Track:
"Someone Else's Dream" by Faith Hill

I've loved this song for a long time and it played a huge role in developing this story's heroine, Megan Sinclair. Who hasn't felt some kind of pressure, from without or within, to conform to others ideals for perfection? Who hasn't missed a step in the constant struggle to march to the beat of their own drummer? Megan is a bit younger then the song's protagonist--I haven't finalized her age but I know she's somewhere between 19 and 22 as opposed to 27 going on 28... But the need to step up and take control of life is one of the things I'm really trying to explore in this book.

So, two questions for you guys:

1. What do you think of "Someone Else's Dream"?

2. What songs make YOU think of the journey toward figuring out who you are? (Any genre is welcome.)

Thanks for dropping by!

March 2013 Recap / April 2013 Reading List!

2013-04-05T07:30:00.000-04:00

Well guys, it's been a while. Fortunately, my hands are (again) on the mend. Still going to be mixing a lot of video and typing for a while, since I don't want them to relapse or anything.

Anyway... I didn't get as much blogging done in March as I would have liked. But I did a ton of reading and a decent amount of revisions on Sealer's Promise and work on the rough draft of the contemporary romance I'm working on. But I'm rambling. Let's see how March fared and what April has in store.

What I Read In March...

4 hearts

5 hearts

4 hearts

5 hearts

3 hearts

4 hearts

5 hearts

11 books in March. Not bad. But as always, something (this month it was blogging) always suffers when I try to add writing into the mix. *laughs* I guess it is what it is?

As for the writing, my word counts for that are:

Sealer's Promise (revisions): 3,400 / 75,000(?)

The Mansion You Stole (rough draft): 6,500 / 60,000(?)

April 2013 Reading List...

Bonus Books:

Well, that's it for now. :) I know I'm not as active on here right now as I've been trying to be this year, and I thank all of you for your patience with me. Between the flare up early last month, and the fact that I'm now doing Camp NaNoWriMo this month to work on The Mansion You Stole, I've been insanely busy.

So, what are you reading this month? I'd love to know!

Review: On Every Street by Karina Halle

2013-04-01T19:44:00.000-04:00

Three things convinced me to read On Every Street:

1. The review Giselle posted over at Xpresso Reads.

2. The term "long con". I realize Ellie is a woman, but it put me in mind of Sawyer, who was my favorite character from Lost. Besides, how often do we get a female character who isn't on the right side of the tracks and playing it safe?

3. The fact that I knew from word go that Javier was going to be a total badass. Would he win me over? I had to find out.

So I grabbed this for $1 off Amazon and got started. I can tell you right now, On Every Street was far more satisfying then a cup of Tim Hortons Coffee--and cheaper.

(Summary from GoodReads)

When young con artist Ellie Watt decides to call herself Eden White and go after the drug lord who ruined her as a child, she never expects to fall for one of his henchmen. But Javier Bernal is no ordinary man. Subtly dangerous and overwhelmingly seductive, Eden finds herself passionately in love with Javier, the very person she's set-up to betray. With her body and heart in a heated battle against her deep need for revenge, no one will walk away from this con a winner.

This 50K word (100+ pages) novella takes place six years before Sins & Needles. It can be read before or after Sins & Needles and may also be read as a standalone.

Okay, some quick thoughts about On Every Street.

1. Chillingly dark, incredibly romantic and utterly captivating. The characterization, descriptions and voice of this story sucked me in like quicksand.

2. Ellie and Javier convincingly show how even two extremely screwed up individuals, with very questionable morals and motives, can find and need love.

3. Javier, how I love you. Javier, how I hate you. Yet WHY do I hate you more for what you do at the end of the book then for what you do throughout it? *headdesk!*

4. A @&%& and his car are soon parted. 'Nuff said. Though I'd wager that'll bit Ellie on the ass later.

5. I don't know if I'm that big a fan of the ending. The plot shifted gears half way through and it gave the book a slightly disjointed feeling, despite how fab everything else was. Likely because this is a prequel and it had to connect.

In short: Really glad I read this first. I'm incredibly invested in what happens to Ellie and I jumped right on to Sins & Needles, something that is rare for me. This series is totally worth checking out!

Top 10 Tuesday: Books I Had To Have... That I Haven't Read Yet! (Video)

2013-03-19T06:54:00.000-04:00

Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where we share top 10 lists about various bookish topics.

Okay! It's been eons since I did a Top Ten Tuesday post, but this one looked fun. I decided to do a video since I'm trying to keep the stress on my hands from typing down. Ready to see what is on my shelf ... yet unread? Enjoy!

So, which book(s) must I read immediately? And what is sitting on your shelf with a flashing neon "Read Me!" sign over it? I'd love to know, so feel free to leave a comment. :)

Review: The Devil's Triangle by Toni De Palma

2013-03-18T07:30:00.000-04:00

*A copy of this book was provided to me for review.

Note: My arthritis is flaring up, so this review is going to be quick. Sorry, guys!

Stories that involve what happens after we die always seem to intrigue me. There's just something about that vast unknown that gets my imagination going, that makes me want to ask questions.

So when I was asked if I'd like to read and review The Devil's Triangle, the premise caught my attention right away. A guy getting a second chance after a major screw up in life, complete with some interesting paranormal concepts (The devil has a sister? Who knew?) sounded right up my alley.

The Devil's Triangle takes a great idea and infuses it with humor, interesting characters and some interesting twists and turns that made me glad that I took the time to read it.

(Summary from GoodReads)

When 17 year old Cooper dies in an attempt to burn down his school, he finds himself in the afterlife. Lucy, the Devil's sister who has crossed party lines, decides to give Cooper another shot at heaven. The deal? Cooper returns to Earth and has to find a girl named Grace. The rest is up to him.

While Cooper figures out his mission, he's thrown into the life he's always wanted. Great parents, a spot on the Varsity football team and a real future are all within reach. But what he really wants is Grace, a feisty girl with an abusive boyfriend who can pound Cooper into pulp if he doesn't watch out.

While Lucy plays demonic-puppeteer, clues to an unknown past between Cooper and Grace start to unravel. Cooper discovers that what's keeping him and Grace apart is far more sinister than anything this bad boy could have ever imagined.

The first thing I can tell you about The Devil's Triangle is that it's very clever. You aren't going to be spoon fed everything in a straight chronological order. You are going to spend some time asking yourself "What the hell is going on here?". But trust me, it's worth it. Trying to sort out Cooper's new life with him is an intriguing and often rewarding experience, and as the novel progresses, it all comes together beautifully.

The next thing I can tell you is that the careful blending between contemporary and paranormal themes in this book is well done. I liked how attention was paid both to the actual situation Cooper found himself in--having thirty days to try and fix where his soul was going--and what he was actually doing with those days.

The last thing I will tell you is that the way the mythology and ideas here are presented is both interesting and really fun. I liked meeting Lucy and Pete before Cooper goes back to earth, because the tone that their scenes set in the afterlife help set a tone for the rest of the book. This is a very fun, tongue in cheek narrative that will crack you up just as much as it will intrigue you. I found that really refreshing.

I thought that the cast was very solid here, especially the ways that they tied into how things were happening and how my perceptions shifted as I, as a reader, learned more about what was actually going on.

Cooper was a great narrator and an all around interesting guy. There aren't enough male narrators in YA and I found Cooper's voice very distinct and I'm sure he'll stick with me for a good long while, even aafter this review goes live. I feel that Toni De Palma should be congratulated for writing a guy who sounds like, well, a guy. I could easily have pictured my brothers saying and thinking a lot of the things Cooper did when they were in their teens.

I found Grace an interesting mystery, which seemed fitting since we get the story from Cooper's perspective rather then hers. So often I think girls and guys are confused by each other, and watching Cooper navigate the waters with Grace was interesting, especially with all of the plot related concerns that we weighted on top of the general awkwardness of girl and guy interactions at this stage of life.

The rest of the cast was interesting and did a great job of bringing out the central story of the two main characters. As stated above, Lucy and Pete were standouts. Blake was a character I loved to hate. And I felt that Cooper's interaction with his new parents were touching.

I thought that this was well done, and I loved how it fit with the rest of the story. The fact that there is a push and pull going on--that there is some form of connection between Cooper and Grace, and that at the same time we don't get "ZOMG Insta-Love"--was unique and raised a lot of questions.

I think that the way that romance and the rest of the plot was also well balanced. It can be hard to find the right ratio between plotlines and I think some good decisions were made here.

This was a solid effort. It's not going to end up on a top ten list, but it's also not going to be one of those pairings where I'm going "What were you thinking?". It also managed to sidestep my irritation at characters who are taken ending up as a love interest for someone else. I really wanted to get Grace as far away from Blake as possible.

A unique premise, humorous narration and a likable cast of characters succeed in making The Devil's Triangle an easy recommendation to fans of paranormal romance. There is a great balance here between combining things that make a great story and taking risks that result in something truly original. The Devil's Triangle is definitely worth checking out.

Xpresso Book Tours Presents: Strength by Carrie Butler (Review)

2013-03-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

*I received a copy of this book for review from Sapphire Star Publishing / Xpresso Book Tours.

I first heard about Strength over on Absolute Write, a really great community for writers and authors that I've been a member of for a couple years. Carrie Butler had started a thread to share her new cover with everyone in the romance forum and after seeing the stunning design and reading the equally great synopsis, I knew I wanted to read the book.

So imagine my surprise when I got an e-mail telling me Xpresso Book Tours was hosting a tour for Strength, a book that I've been dying to read? I don't sign up for tours very often--I'm not good with fixed dates for anything and tend to prefer to do stuff at my own pace. But here, I just couldn't resist. The opportunity to read this sooner, and to share my thoughts with everyone in a way that would hopefully get the word out about this book, was too much for me to resist.

Of course, the danger of signing up for a tour is that while we can hope a book will be the most awesome thing under the sun, there is no guarantee. Strength is an interesting story and there are some really great things going on in it. But there are also certain things that drove me a little up the wall. I can't quite sing the praises and give the gushing review I had hoped for, but hopefully I can give you all information to help you decide whether Strength will be worth checking out for you. Despite any flaws I do feel it has, I am glad that I read it.

(Summary from GoodReads)

When college student Rena Collins finds herself nose-to-chest with the campus outcast, her rumor-laced notions are shattered. Handsome, considerate, and seemingly sane, Wallace Blake doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, screaming and banging on the walls of his dorm room. Hell, he doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, period.

Too curious for her own good, Rena vows to uncover the truth behind Wallace’s madman reputation--and how two seconds of contact had left her with bruises. Of course, there are a few setbacks along the way: guilt, admiration, feelings of the warm and fuzzy variety…

Not to mention the unwanted attention of Wallace's powerful, supernaturally-gifted family.

They’re a bloodline divided by opposing ideals, two soon-to-be warring factions that live in secret among us. When Rena ends up caught in their crossfire, Wallace has no choice but to save her by using his powers. Now they’re really in trouble. With war on the horizon and Rena’s life in the balance, he needs to put some distance between them. But Rena won’t let go. If fighting is what it takes to prove her own strength and keep Wallace in her life, then that’s what she’ll do--even if it means risking a whole lot more than her heart.

First, I want to praise the paranormal elements in this book. They were interesting, well handled and original. They were also integrated very slowly into the story, allowing the reader to get a handle on the characters, what their concept of "normal" was and showing interest between Rena and Wallace before things shifted too much. This created an interesting mystery, and many questions, as I read. I knew from the blurb that things weren't going to be what they seemed, but the pacing regarding this element of the story gave me time to guess things, come up with theories, etc. in a way that isn't always common in paranormal or urban fantasy.

Unfortunately, this came at the cost of the opening being a bit slower then I would have liked. Things moved about in what I felt was a rather odd fashion and there were several times early on where the book lost my attention because of strange plot shifts that (at the time) did not make any sense.

I also had a lot of "Why are you telling me this?" moments as I read. This is bad for two reasons: (1) If I am asking the author this, it means I am not being pulled into the text, which means I'm not seeing / hearing / practically tasting it the way I tend to when I read something that has really sucked me in. (2) This often results in pacing issues that hold back my need to keep reading. I don't know about anyone else reading, but if I walk away from my kindle and haven't left myself at a point where I'm dying to go back it can be really hard for me to pick it back up. As an author, you really don't want that loss of momentum in a story because most readers won't be reading the story for a tour like I was. There's no guarantee they will pick the book (in general--I don't necessarily mean *this* book, just to be clear) back up.

However, the above issues are honestly side effects. The real problem for me, I think, was that I never really connected with Rena. There are several reasons for this. When we meet her at the beginning of the story her immediate and pre-existing judgments about Wallace are (or were for me, at least) very off putting. It may not be fair, but I found myself annoyed with her on page one. Now, this is a gutsy move on Carrie Butler's part and the way it allowed her to open the story did up the tension and make me have an immediate need to know what the heck was going on. But unfortunately, for each thing that I learnt about Rena that brought her a step closer to being likable or relatable, she would inevitably do or say something that would push her back onto my shit list. It's very hard to root for a character when I feel like that, and when I'm not rooting for them to succeed, it ties back into what I was saying about the plot and causes my "care meter" to start nose-diving and my interest in continuing the book to wane.

Fortunately Rena is countered by the intriguing and endearing Wallace, whom I immediately liked and felt deeply sorry for. It's to Carrie's credit that he, as a character, was just as interesting and memorable as the mysterious circumstances surrounding him. Every time that Rena did something that made me want to use my Kindle for a frisbee, Wallace was the saving grace that kept the Kindle in one piece and the book being read.

The other thing I want to praise on the character front is the very real feeling and unique friendship between Rena, Gabby and Aiden. I liked the grounding presence this friendship added to the story, even if it was sometimes responsible for the plot taking a bit of a lull. These characters do not fit into some type of pre-existing clique or stereotype. They felt real, unique and like the kind of trio that could actually exist within a college setting. They were both parts loyal and able to push each other's buttons, which made them feel very fleshed out and memorable.

That's the final thing I want to make clear before I move on from characters. Despite any complaints I may have given here, and despite how they may have effected my reading experience, these characters were all well created with depth and individuality. Given a choice between a character like this not working for me or the author chickening out and creating something more palatable, but also more cardboard, give me this any time. Because even in a situation where a real character does not work for me, I would not want to deprive another reader from discovering a character her or she may really love. I don't get along with everyone in real life and I don't expect fiction to be any different.

The imbalance in my feelings toward the characters did cause me to not be as invested in their romance as I would have liked to be.

Speaking objectively I can tell you that there is no weird funky insta-love here, although there is definitely some attraction to Wallace on Rena's part from word go.

There was nothing 'wrong' with the romance. Rather, I just felt like Wallace and Rena didn't fit together quite the way I like a couple to. This likely, again, has much to do with how I felt about them. I honestly couldn't imagine becoming interested in someone who had previously been (at least partially) responsible for an entire dorm thinking thinking I was crazy, and while I admired Wallace's obvious capacity to put that behind him my own biases (I have never been a real social butterfly, and university was not any better then high school) likely played a part here.

Strength is by no means a bad book. It just wasn't as good (as far as my own reading experience) as I would have liked, and this was largely due to a disconnect between me and Rena, who was a first person narrator. That is a key danger of first person: the narrator gets to have a lot of influence on how the story feels overall and can work wonders or wreck havoc.

Strength is well written and has some really original ideas. I don't want to make it seem like there was a tremendous error on the author's part, because that is not so. Rather, Carrie Butler took some interesting chances and for me, some of those paid off while others, well, didn't. If you've been looking forward to reading Strength, though, you really should. There is some real brilliance here and as I keep saying, your experience and mine may differ greatly.

A huge thank you to Xpresso Book Tours, Carrie Butler and Sapphire Star Publishing for having me along. :)

Cover Reveal: Runes by Ednah Walters

2013-03-13T07:30:00.000-04:00

Today I'm thrilled to be part of the cover reveal for Runes by Ednah Walters. I thought the premise here sounded quite interesting, so I couldn't resist taking part.

(Summary Provided by Xpresso Book Tours)

Seventeen-year-old Raine Cooper has enough on her plate dealing with her father’s disappearance, her mother’s erratic behavior and the possibility of her boyfriend relocating. The last thing she needs is Torin St. James—a mysterious new neighbor with a wicked smile and uncanny way of reading her.

Raine is drawn to Torin’s dark sexiness against her better judgment, until he saves her life with weird marks and she realizes he is different. But by healing her, Torin changes something inside Raine. Now she can’t stop thinking about him. Half the time, she’s not sure whether to fall into his arms or run.

Scared, she sets out to find out what Torin is. But the closer she gets to the truth the more she uncovers something sinister about Torin. What Torin is goes back to an ancient mythology and Raine is somehow part of it. Not only is she and her friends in danger, she must choose a side, but the wrong choice will cost Raine her life.

Are you intrigued? Add it to your GoodReads!

My Thoughts:

I think this cover is quite well done. I love the shades of blue and purple, and the clean yet interesting choices for the typography. I'm not totally sure, based on the cover, what's going on in the book. But that can be hard to pul off and the fact is, this would draw my eye long enough for me to check the summary, so it works.

About The Author:

EDNAH WALTERS grew up reading Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys and dreaming of one day writing her own stories. She is a stay-at-home mother of five humans and two American short-hair cats (one of which has ADHD) and a husband. When she is not writing, she’s at the gym doing Zumba or doing things with her family, reading, traveling or online chatting with fans.

Ednah is the author of The Guardian Legacy series, a YA fantasy series about children of the fallen angels, who fight demons and protect mankind. AWAKENED, the prequel was released by Pill Hill Press in September 2010 with rave reviews. BETRAYED, book one in the series was released by her new publisher Spencer Hill Press in June 2012 and HUNTED, the third installment, will be released April 2013. She’s working on the next book in the series, FORGOTTEN.

Ednah also writes New Adult paranormal romance. RUNES is the first book in her new series. She is presently working on book 2, IMMORTALS.

Under the pseudonym E. B. Walters, Ednah writes contemporary romance. SLOW BURN, the first contemporary romance with suspense, was released in April 2011. It is the first book in the Fitzgerald family series. Since then she has published four more books in this series. She's presently working on book six. You can visit her online at www.ednahwalters.com or www.ebwalters.com.

So, what do YOU think of the cover for Runes? I'd love to know!

Cover Reveal: Afterlife Academy by Jaimie Admans

2013-03-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

Today I'm thrilled to be part of the cover reveal for Afterlife Academy by Jaimie Admans. When I read the blurb for this I knew that I had to do something to get the word out about it. I'm bound to check this out in the coming months, because it sounds really great. But you're not here to listen to me babble. Let's get to the pretty, shall we?

(Summary provided by Xpresso Book Tours)

Even being dead isn’t enough to get you out of maths class.

Dying wasn't on sixteen-year-old Riley Richardson's to-do list. And now, not only is she dead, but she's stuck in a perpetual high school nightmare. Worse still, she's stuck there with the geekiest, most annoying boy in the history of the world, ever. In a school where the geeks are popular and just about everything is wrong, Riley has become an outcast. She begins a desperate quest to get back to her perfect life, but her once-perfect life starts to unravel into something not nearly as perfect as she thought it was.

And maybe death isn’t really that bad after all...

Welcome to Afterlife Academy, where horns are the norm, the microwave is more intelligent than the teachers, and the pumpkins have a taste for blood.

Sounds totally fabulous, right? Add it to your GoodReads!

My Thoughts On The Cover:

I love the colors--and lack of colors--here. I think that the way that this plays into the whole afterlife aspect of the premise is very clever. It gets all the better when I consider the fact that the lips--that part of us which allows us to draw breath (and therefore life) are pink: innocent and trusting, a doorway looking back on what may have been lost. And then, in contrast, we have the red of the rose and of the word after. A color of passion, blood, life or loss and (sometimes) love.

When you have these two things pop out against the rest of the cover, which is all grayscale, it just seems really clever to me. Of course this is just a cover analysis. How much it fits in with the actual book is something I'd need to read it to totally weigh in on. But with a premise this interesting, that seems really likely to happen. :)

About The Author:

Website | GoodReads

Facebook | Twitter

Jaimie is a 27-year-old English-sounding Welsh girl with an awkward-to-spell name. She lives in South Wales and enjoys writing, gardening, drinking tea and watching horror movies. She hates spiders and cheese & onion crisps.

She has been writing for years, but has never before plucked up the courage to tell people. She writes mostly chick-lit and young adult. Kismetology is her first novel and there are plenty more on the way!

As always, thanks so much for having me along! :)

So, what do YOU think of the cover and blurb for Afterlife Academy? I'd love to know!

Winner!: My Super Awesome Birthday Giveaway!

2013-03-06T17:04:00.000-05:00

Hey guys!

Sorry for the delay in choosing a winner for my birthday giveaway. Things have been a bit busy here and it slipped my mind for a day or two. But you're not here for my excuses. You want to know who won!

The winner of my Super Awesome Birthday Giveaway is...

Mary (Comment #5 to clarify, since there were two of you.)

I have e-mailed the winner and they have 72 hours to get back to me with their address. If that doesn't happen for some reason, a new winner will be chosen.

Thanks so much to everyone who took part in the giveaway and who wished me well!

Didn't win this time? Don't feel bad! There are plenty more giveaways where this one came from. Good luck next time! :)

Review: Meant To Be by Lauren Morrill

2013-03-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

Hype. It can be such a rush. But it can also be a dangerous and cataclysmic force that can bring a blogger to her knees. I know I'm not the first to talk about it. I know I won't be the last.

I've been extremely hyped to read Meant To Be. I've wanted this book for months. I've mentioned it in numerous blog posts. I've tweeted about it. I threw a pretty big fit when I finally got it in the mail from Amazon. And I decided to give it the dubious honor of being my Valentines Day Read.

No pressure, right?

You've got to be kidding.

I've built books up like this before and it's turned out okay, because they ended up being books I loved. But it was only a matter of time before my pressure cooker ways came back to bite me on the butt, and Meant To Be happened to be their catalyst of choice.

For what it's worth: hype is dangerous. And hype from yourself is likely the most dangerous kind of hype there is. Watch your step, guys. This review could get messy.

Warning: This is one of the most emotional and potentially venomous reviews I've ever written. Read with caution! I seriously lacked a filter here!

(Summary from GoodReads)

Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question.

It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").

But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.

Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.

Meant To Be had all the substance of a piece of bubble gum. There just wasn't anything there.

I know that likely seems like a really weird way to talk about a book. I mean, I wasn't sitting down to read Great Expectations and I wasn't expecting that. But--and this is a big but--one thing I've come to expect from YA contemporary is that it tends to make me think and feel. That even if there is one plot line that has lots of sugar and sunshine, that there is often something deeper at work. Something to really sink my teeth into.

And in this book, that simply was not so.

The trip to England should have been epic, but for me it was ruined by Julia randomly and subconsciously reinventing her character when the only thing *I* found wrong with her was a potential expectation that others should act *like* her. The "romance" between her and Jason was a hot and cold mess that I totally didn't believe in for multiple reasons. And since these two things basically summed up the plot... you do the math. I thought it sucked!

The writing itself was beautiful and descriptive. The author did a good job on her research. But her pacing, her weird characters and the (obnoxious) message I took away from this book--essentially that being a moron is to be commended (Can you tell I didn't like Jason?)--made all of the technical praise I can concede to its credit not matter. Because...

I hated it! (Wow... I don't think I've *ever* said that about a book in a review before. Eep!)

Okay. Now that I've dropped the H-bomb on this poor book's head, I want to make something really clear: my feelings here are very personal. (1) We have the hype train I talked about in my intro. And (2) My actual feelings toward the book, my true reason for despising it, is deeply personal and probably won't effect 99% of those who read it.

Julia: you are okay! You don't need to change (at least, not NEARLY as much as most people think you need to.) It's OKAY to be a planner! It's OKAY to be a bit nerdy / geeky! It's OKAY to have dreams and goals and go after them. And *gasp!* It's OKAY to follow the rules--as long as YOU believe they are right.

It's NOT okay to find love with a boy who makes you feel you need to change the core of who you are in order to receive or be worthy of that "love"--because that is not what love is about! Love is, first and foremost, about accepting and appreciating people for who they already are. *headdesk times 1000!!!*

It's DANGEROUS to go to random parties in a country you've never visited before with a guy who is clearly a moron. It's STUPID to chase some random guy all over a foreign city when you can't remember what he looks like.

Okay, guys. I'll stop.

I thought that I was going to be getting a Lucy and Ed situation from Graffiti Moon, which is one of my favorite books ever. And that totally was not the case here at all. But, let's forget that... Let me yell at Jason now...

To Jason: You, sir, are a moron. I've never seen such an obnoxiously hot and cold "love interest" before, and I hope it's a long time before I see one again. I did not like you. Why you have my boyfriend's name I don't know--though I'll confess that *might* be part of the whole "the problem is me" thing I talked about above. ;) You could be funny, but half the time you were just obnoxious. Could Julia use a bit more fun? Sure. But last time I checked 'fun' and 'pain in the ass' have very different meanings and 3/4 of the time you were a total jerkface to her and if *I* had been your partner on a trip I'm very certain I would've been on the next plane back home.

Now, as a writer I must say that it's obvious that Julia and Jason are both a bit too close to caricatures to really get too mad at them. They took their roles as miss perfect and class clown to such an extreme that they lost a great deal of their realness for me. It's a shame it went this way because it lessened the story, it made them both extremely annoying, and despite all my complaining I think Lauren Morrill had (and has) the potential to do much better. Despite everything I'm saying here, I would not be opposed to trying another book by her in the future.

The rest of the cast really didn't have enough depth for me to really say much to or about them. They did their parts and they didn't really hurt anything or effect why I felt the way I did about this book. Oh: I felt sorry for the poor English teacher. Yeah, that covers it.

I did not buy into this one at all.That's really sad, because I know I am a *lot* like Julia and my own boyfriend, Jay, balances that super uptight I-must-plan-everything and OFFG I can't say / think / feel / do THAT it's *WRONG!!!* aspect of me. It took me years to get to the point that I'm at and, much like Julia, I didn't get the way I am from having anyone breathing down my neck. My family's really chill. It's just the way I am.

(The huge difference between Julia and I--and the one thing I felt she needed to learn--was that it's fine to be the way we are, but it's not fine to expect anyone else to live up to our expectations for ourselves. That is unrealistic and does not work. We are a tip on the iceberg that is humanity and I do NOT blame people for not wanting to go near it! Forget how crazy we drive you and think for a moment how crazy we drive ourselves, because it *does* happen and it can be a daily struggle to remove head from butt and realize our anal retentive tendencies usually aren't going to be things that will end the world...)

On a random and slightly amusing note: Jay predicted this book might tick me off. ;)

A guy like Jason (the hero of this book) would have been someone I would have kept as far away from as possible, because in real life a Jason would totally annoy me. But if he had worked well with Julia--if they had helped each other grow, rather then the book seeming to idolize his behavior and vilify hers, maybe I could have gotten behind these two more then I did. However, that is not the case (on both accounts).

And again: the hot and cold thing with his attitude just really ticked me off. I would not put up with that and I don't like the idea of Julia putting up with it, either. Getting together with a guy who is a totally barf inducing jerkwad does not meet my definition for a "Happily Ever After". (The ending itself is 'right'--my problem with it is the character who causes that ending, since I didn't like him.)

Okay, first my reaction: I can't remember the last time I was so utterly, heart-shatteringly, tear-inducingly disappointed in a book. I feel sad and angry and (this is going to sound weird...) betrayed. This one actually *hurt* to the point that I got all that fantastic stuff for my birthday and I haven't been able to bring myself to touch any of it--even now, two weeks later--because I am still reeling with grief over this novel. I honestly don't know how to move forward, and I *need* to because I know I have stuff I need to get read. (Both my stuff and review stuff.) I don't want to taint another book with my sorrow and rage and the slimy-gutted feeling of emptiness I'm left with over this one.

Now, my recommendation: Please, once again I want to make it very clear that my reaction to Meant To Be was deeply personal. There is a lot here that is well written and I can understand how many other readers have sat down with this book and totally loved it. It just wasn't for me, and it's level of 'not for me' was on a strong and almost repugnant level of not for me that I hope takes another two years of blogging (or more, please God let it take more time...) before I witness it again.

If YOU are interested in reading this novel, you should go for it. (Provided something I've said doesn't trigger something from you, obviously.) But did I like it? I already answered that earlier, and I don't want to type that again. Words have power, you know.

Feb. 2013 Reading Recap / March 2013 Reading List!

2013-03-01T16:52:00.000-05:00

February Reading Recap:

I had quite an ambitious list for February, but between a visit from Jay, one book that put my whole reading mood into a major funk and the fact that I'm getting ready to work on Sealer's Promise revisions things did not turn out quite as hot as I would have liked. However, I did get a few books read so lets take a look at them.

4 / 5 hearts

3 / 5 hearts

5 / 5 hearts

2 / 5 hearrts

Short 'n Sweet Reviews:

The full reviews for these books are either up on my blog or scheduled for release. But if you want a quick glimpse of what I thought, you can take a look here.

The Vincent Brothers: Much better then The Vincent Boys. I figured I would like Sawyer more then Beau and I did. I also found Lana more relatable. Nearly gave this 5 hearts but it didn't *quite* reach that. Still highly recommended.

Rage: Another fantastic book in the Riders of the Apocalypse series. Rage is definitely my favorite, likely because I loved Missy as a character and because I loved the scenes with her and Death together. This is not an easy book to read, but I knew what I was getting into and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Loss: I couldn't wait to read this after finishing Rage, so I didn't. It was 'Good', but it was not what I have come to expect from a Riders of the Apocalypse novel. I get why--and talk about that in my review--but I feel it's a shame the core issue couldn't have been dealt with more directly.

My Soul To Take: My Book of the Month choice for March and by far (okay, Rage was pretty close but I featured Hunger a couple months ago, sooo...) my favorite February read. My only regret about this book is that I didn't read it sooner. If the rest of the series is this fabulous, I'm pretty confident I have a new addiction.

Meant To Be: This book totally broke my heart and it was for all the wrong reasons. My review will be up on Tuesday, and for anyone who read my Thinking On Thursday post yesterday, this is the book I was talking about. I thought I was going to fall madly in love with this book and that just did not happen.

March Reading List:

1. Strength by Carrie Butler -- This is for a book tour and I need to get going on it. I've wanted to read it for ages but last month went from crazy busy to crazy moody to just plain crazy. But this is definitely priority #1 because my review goes up March 15th.

2. The Devil's Triangle by Toni De Palma -- Another book for a tour. I jumped at the chance to read this one because it reminded me of the movie Bedazzled, which I totally love. Really really need to remember to put my Kindle on the charger tonight (I keep forgetting...) because this one has a stop here on the blog on March 18th.

3. Bloodlines by Richelle Mead -- Remember how I mentioned that really moody reader thing? Well, I *know* I like Richelle Mead's writing so I'm going to wager that Bloodlines will be a safe bet as a book that I will enjoy. (I double checked and read a few pages--right now I don't totally trust anyone because I know how grumpy I am.) This looks like it should be great, though. :)

My Soul To Save by Rachel Vincent -- After how much I loved My Soul To Take I can't wait to read this one. I'm really glad that I found the Soul Screamers Read-A-Long and I'm having a lot of fun reading this series.

Pivot Point by Kasie West -- The premise for this sounds freaking awesome. I've been looking forward to this one for a while and I pretty much got it at launch. The only reasons I haven't devoured this yet are that I've been busy and moody. But I can't wait to start and it looks like it should be an interesting read.

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay -- The idea of Romeo and Juliet having a very different resolution to its ending, complete with an interesting sounding paranormal twist, has definitely perked my interest. It's true I'm probably *more* interested in seeing how this book will set up the sequel (Just how "bad" is Romeo? What does the paranormal element fully consist of and how will it carry through the books? Will I want Romeo to have a chance to be redeemed?) but Juliet Immortal doesn't look like it's going to be a slouch--I'm counting on this to be a good story in it's own right.

Bonus Round Books:

These are my back ups incase I read everything on my list, or something on there just doesn't work for me.

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead -- I am already over half done with Bloodlines from when I started this post, and I'm totally loving it. So if I have time, or the mood simply demands it, I may go ahead and read The Golden Lily since I have it sitting here, too.

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han -- I won the entire "summer" trilogy last year and I never actually got around to starting it. It's another thing I want to fix this year and since I've been suffering the late winter blahs a summery book like this might be a good fit. Also, I always try to have something contemporary among all the fantasy, paranormal and dystopian I read incase I start to feel like it's all blurring together.

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand -- I've tried this one before, but I now know things that will make me able to keep going with it. I know that might sound kinda wimpy or pointless, but for me romance is about the how and why people fall in love--I prefer the who to be obvious, if I'm being totally honest. Anyway, I've got all three of these now and if the mood strikes I might be reading the first one.

A Big Heads Up:

I've taken a few months to get some space between myself and my novel, Sealer's Promise, but it's almost time for me to take all the notes I've compiled or been given by my betas / crit partners and try to write the third draft.

The book is getting a HUGE overhaul because of some of the feedhback and decisions that have been received or made so this is going to be a lot of work. Writing and Reading take a lot of time when I try to put them together, so the blog might not be quite as focused review wise as it has been the last couple months. I am going to strive to keep it more up to date and active then I did last year, but my book is my dream so it will be getting quite high priority once I've read and set up my reviews for the two tours I am on.

Part of the focus of the blog will likely shift to updating you all on my progress (and making myself accountable by doing so *laughs*). I'm both excited and nervous to start work on this, because I really am hoping I can juggle it and the blog and because I hope that this will be the "last" major revision. I must keep reminding myself, though, that I do believe that this last major round is in both the book and the series best interest.

I hope you'll all wish me luck! :)

My goal for March is to read at least six books and to provide at least one review a week (this may or may not count my tour stops, but those will obviously be happening.)

Anyway, time to go and finish Bloodlines and then get started on Strength.

What are YOU reading this month? I'd love to know!

Thinking On Thursday: What Do You Do When A Book Breaks Your Heart?

2013-02-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

If you've been blogging about books for any length of time, you probably know the following is a given:

You win a few. You lose a few.

There is little that is more joyful then discovering that a book you hadn't expected to read has become one of your favorites. And there is little more frustrating then having a book you were aching to read--particularly when it's from an author you know and love--turn out to be a total dud.

Loving and Loathing both sorta come with the territory, right? And when you close that book that didn't work for you, you dust yourself off (metaphorically speaking), you stand up and you move on.

Most of the time I'd agree and say this is true. People say you've gotta be tough and have thick skin to be a writer. But how often do we really consider what it actually takes to be a reader? Reading is far from a passive activity. Depending on how intensely a particular reader connects with the books he or she reads, the choice to be a reader can encompass anything from skimming the page to handing an author temporarily control of one's senses, heart, and soul. It can be a deeply personal and moving experience that can take something from (or give something to) the reader just as much as writing the text took and gave something to the writer.

Have you ever had a book break your heart? (Or the reverse, fallen madly in love with a book?) I'd never really thought about quite how powerful an impact the books I read--especially since I read quite a few each month as a blogger--effect me until today, when I finally admitted to myself that I am, essentially, suffering an actual sense of loss or a "broken heart" from a book I read two weeks ago.

Signs that a Book Broke Your Heart:

You don't want to read. It may be just a general 'eh, I'll do that later.' feeling or the thought of getting a book might seem outright unappealing.

You are afraid to read because you worry your reaction from the 'guilty' book will influence your feelings about the next book you pick up.

Even the newest most fabulous books you've just purchased can't seem to get you truly motivated to read.

You procrastinate doing other stuff during times when you would normally be reading.

When you try to read you are unable to focus on the book or truly connect to what's happening on the page.

A lot of these are similar to what happens in a reading slump. The big difference, of course, is knowing what caused it.

So I suppose the true question is... how does one mend a broken heart? And how different is one of this nature then one caused, say, by losing a guy? I know this much: the discussion is over. I can't exactly call the book up and yell at it. (Although the review might be a pretty close consolation prize where that's concerned...)

But I Can...

Take It Slow: I wouldn't rush into a relationship with a new guy if I had just gotten dumped, and I don't NEED to be reading two to three books a week if I don't feel like it. I know I do need to read, because I need to put space between me and the book that wrecked me, but I need to read *for me* for now.

Pace Myself: I have two book tours coming up in March and I need to do reviews for those. Hopefully I'll luck out and both of those books will be as stellar as they sounded when I agreed. But to get started, I need to just start reading these. If I do 25% a night on my kindle, I'll have them done in a week and have their reviews written.

Read Stuff I'm Sure I'll Love: This is the time for comfort food (books). Nefert's Curse by P.C. and Kristin Cast and My Soul To Save by Rachel Vincent are likely candidates here.

Read Stuff I've Been Dying To Check Out: But NOT stuff I've hyped through the ceiling. Juliet Immortal might be a good choice, or perhaps Pivot Point? Or I might give Unearthly that second glance I've been meaning to--but ONLY once I get the ball rolling again. Why are these books different then The One That Got In My Way? Because I haven't been dwelling on them for months.

Don't Be Afraid To Stop A Book That Isn't Working: i'm not exactly a strict finisher anyway, but this is definitely a time when DNF or at least pausing a book is better then trying to trudge through.

Write, Damn It!: I'm not a helpless passive wuss who has to give control to someone else's words all the time. (Oh hell that sounded bitter! And yet again--it takes an equal amount of courage to be a reader. I'M being a wuss right now, is what I'm saying. ;) ) I've needed to get doing on the last draft for my novel and this might be a good time to shift gears a little. I don't want to go as MIA as I did last year, but it's time to quit stalling.

So, have you had your heart broken by a book? What would you (or should I) do about it?

Review: Loss by Jackie Morse Kessler

2013-02-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

I did a lot of reading about the Riders of the Apocalypse novels before I ever bought or read any of them. And one thing I was very curious to see was how I would feel about Loss after finishing Rage and Hunger. There seem to be a lot of mixed reviews about this book, not necessarily because of good or bad writing, but rather because it tampers with the "formula" (for lack of a better term) set forth by the first two novels.

Those who feel that this novel is different definitely have a valid point, and while I found some of these differences intriguing, I also found them a bit distracting and detracting from the core thing that initially drew me to this series--the seamless blending of the real world and the paranormal.

Did I think it was horrible? No. But I do feel that Loss is an extremely different animal then the two novels that proceeded it and that the effects these changes had on the story are worthy of consideration within my reviewing process.

(Summary from GoodReads)

Fifteen-year-old Billy Ballard is the kid that everyone picks on, from the school bullies to the teachers. But things change drastically when Death tells Billy he must stand in as Pestilence, the White Rider of the Apocalypse. Now armed with a Bow that allows him to strike with disease from a distance, Billy lashes out at his tormentors...and accidentally causes an outbreak of meningitis. Horrified by his actions, Billy begs Death to take back the Bow. For that to happen, says Death, Billy must track down the real White Rider—who is lost in his memories.

In his search, Billy travels through White Rider’s life: from ancient Phrygia, where the man called King Mita agrees to wear the White Rider’s Crown, to Sherwood Forest, where Pestilence figures out how to cheat Death; from the docks of Alexandria, where cartons of infested grain are being packed onto a ship that will carry the plague, to the Children’s Crusade in France—all the way to what may be the end of the world. When Billy finally finds the White Rider, the teen convinces the man to return to the real world.

But now the insane White Rider plans to unleash something awful on humanity—something that could make the Black Death look like a summer cold. Billy has a choice: he can live his life and pretend he doesn’t know what’s coming, or he can challenge the White Rider for his Crown. Does one bullied teenager have the strength to stand his ground—and the courage to save the world?

When I read the summary for Loss, my first thought was "How will she pull this off?" and my second thought was "This doesn't seem as tightly connected (real world / paranormal aspect) as the last two.". Turns out both of my thoughts were well founded. Loss is a book which, unfortunately, suffers because of a lack of cohesive direction. It is broken into three parts and while the story works fine in theory, it does not by any stretch work in the same vein as the plots found in Hunger or Rage.

There was a tremendous emphasis placed on the history of the White Rider, rather then on Billy's actual experience being the White Rider. In many ways, this seems like it is more King White's tale then Billy's, which I found (for this series) a little distancing and disorienting. Yet again it wasn't "bad"--but it wasn't what I wanted from a Riders of the Apocalypse novel.

There was further disconnect for me in the relation between Billy's major issue--bullying--and his connection to the White Rider. I get the whole "ice cream man" and trickery thing--in a way, the White Rider bullied Billy. I also understand that we do get the grandfather with Alzheimer's Disease, and from reading the author's note it's made clear she initially intended that to be a much larger focus. I think, as much as the drawing back on this did weaken its connection to the series, that it likely was the right choice. There is a tendency in paranormal fiction to essentially have a "phoenix tears" effect toward ill or disabled characters, wherein they tend to be healed. Within this series that would have been totally off, whereas showing this disease to its bitter end would have been harrowing and not given the right kind of message.

It's a shame a better resolution to the problems this caused for the book's structure and connectivity to the series could not be found, but I've never been one to criticize someone for something I can't answer myself, and I have no answers here. So instead I will take a moment to commend Jackie Morse Kessler for taking a hit in how her readers might respond to this in order to preserve a far more important integrity of this series: that the real does matter and that it has real consequences here. That too guts.

I wasn't a huge Billy fan. I didn't hate him and there was nothing "wrong" with him per se, he just wasn't really my kinda guy--maybe because when people tried to bully me I didn't take it? Though that could just as easily have to do with a difference in boys and girls, at least back when I was in school. I'm not really one for passive or self doubting characters and I think, in a nutshell, that Billy took too long to really step up and stand up for me to really click with him. A pity, because the actual writing *for* him was good. It was a "me, not him" thing here.

I like that we get to see some very different layers to Death's character in this book. So often he seems charming and very chill and relaxed. It can be almost easy to forget who he "is" and what his job is. I found the way that we see how his behavior has changed over the centuries because of the timeline of the novel. I also found the differences in how he interacted with Billy as opposed to, say, Missy. (I'm referring to a really cool scene in this novel, rather then to the connection between Death and Missy in book two, btw.)

While I don't necessarily feel all the info about the White Rider was necessarily the best way to go with this story, once we got into learning about him his history was very interesting. Pestilence has been one of my favorite characters throughout the series and I will give a nod of appreciation to how his role in this story was handled and how the end result played out. There is a subtle elegance here that cannot be ignored.

I think that the Billy and Marianne thing was handled well. I admire the fact that Jackie Morse Kessler let Billy think 'like a guy' for lack of a better way of explaining what I mean. I also like how her confidence in him helped give him courage and how his desire to finally kiss her--which to me represented what he was fighting for, in a way--was handled. I wasn't as crazy about this pairing as I was about the one in Rage, but romance is not the central focus of this series anyway.

Loss is not as good as the first two books in the Riders of the Apocalypse series, largely because those two books were extremely well done and deal with different genres in a way that is unique and refreshing and which, unfortunately, does not connect as strongly here. However, do not allow this to dissuade you from checking Loss out. It is a perfectly good story in its own right; it's just not my favorite.

Stacking The Shelves (Feb. 23rd): Kat's Birthday Part 2!

2013-02-23T00:00:00.000-05:00

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly event hosted at Tynga's Reviews where we share the books we've bought, borrowed or received in the past week.

Hey guys! It's time for part 2 of my birthday edition! Ready to see what I got? Remember to take the time to enter my Super Awesome Birthday Giveaway for a chance to win TWO books from The Book Depository!

I Bought / Received:

A tremendous thank you to everyone who gave me birthday money! :) Now I just need to sit down and start reading all of these while hopefully getting the third and *hopes, prays...* final draft of Sealer's Promise done. Wish me luck! ;)

Once again, make SURE you check out my giveaway!

So, what did YOU get this week? Leave a link and I'll drop by and check it out!

Review: My Soul To Take by Rachel Vincent

2013-02-22T07:00:00.001-05:00

What rock have I been sleeping under?

That's the first thing that comes to mind as I sit down and attempt to somehow take all of the thoughts and feelings this marvelous book has left me with upon closing the last page and somehow turn them into something approaching understandable English.

To say that I "liked" My Soul To Take would definitely be an understatement of epic proportions.

But let's back up and start from the beginning, shall we? I've been aware of this series for some time. I've wanted to check it out for ages. But there are so many books in this one and I am so far behind that I was totally overwhelmed.

Then two things happened: (1) I decided "What the heck, why not?" and then I discovered the Soul Screamers Read-A-Long. The rest, as they say, is history.

(Summary from GoodReads)

She doesn't see dead people. She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next.

Okay, let the fangirling commence. I don't know how the heck I'm actually going to write a real review for this one.

First, let me say that the paranormal element--the Bean Sidhe (banshee) as the basis a heroic character--is fresh, original and brilliant. I loved delving into the mythology that Rachel Vincent used to create her world, and feel she did an amazing job both in how detailed it actually was, and at the careful and deliberate pacing of how we and Kaylee learn about it.

The next thing that deserves praise is the way that the plot actually unfolded. There were some legitimate mysteries going on here, and while I did solve some of them I did this because the author played fair and presented the opportunity to solve them. Not because she bludgeoned me over the head with something obvious, and the things I didn't catch weren't because she tacked them on at the end. I don't see nearly enough of this active-reader presentation in YA and was very welcome to it here.

While we're talking about the results of great writing, let me pause for a moment to talk about the quality of the actual writing as a whole, because there were some really beautiful turns of phrase here, as well as some memorable pieces of dialog that either made me grin or that had my heat turning over--either in an "Aw!" way or in an "Oh, no!" panic.

In short, let's just say that My Soul To Take had a lovely narrative flow to it. It moved forward in a natural and organic way that let me feel like I was there experiencing each moment with Kaylee every step of the way.

Before I delve into this totally, I'll just say it now: My Soul To Take had one of the most interesting, compelling casts of characters of any book I've ever reviewed on this blog. Why? (1) No character was wasted. (2) What a character was (human, bean sidhe, reaper, etc.) did not define who they could *be*. (3) The characters behavior and my reactions to them shifted, changed and grew as the novel progressed. I feel fairly confident that if Rachel can do this in one book I'm in for a heck of a ride as I continue this series. We'll have to wait and see how my prediction goes, yes?

I genuinely enjoyed Kaylee as a heroine. She was active. She made choices, whether they were the greatest or not. She took whatever information she had and she made the best of it, even if it might mean risking herself to save someone she cared about. In a world full of either "strong" to the point of being empty, or obnoxiously passive characters who play second fiddle in their own stories, Kaylee was a change that we need to see more of in YA. She could be strong or vulnerable and regardless of which was at the forefront, I never doubted she still possessed the other.

I thought Nash was all right. There's just something ... off? ... about him and Kaylee together. (I'll get to that!) I appreciated that he allowed Rachel to explain her mythology in an interesting way (what girl doesn't want to learn she's a bean sidhe from a hot guy?) but I think that I agree with what Kaylee was thinking on the last two pages of the book. (You'll have to read it. Sorry.)

And maybe the reason Nash seemed kinda pale is that half way through the book we meet Tod and I just fell off a cliff from MY instant interest in him. I mean, c'mon... A blonde haired blue eyed Reaper? DUDE, where do I get one?? But Tod goes much deeper then being "pretty". There is this air of mystery surrounding him and some of the revelations about his character near the end of the book were pretty darn shocking. Also, despite the sense of danger I sensed from what he was, I was equally intrigued with his interest in Kaylee. What does he want with her, hm?

The last thing I want to say is that I loved the active family dynamics and Kaylee's awesome best friend Emma. These people, in large part, felt real and like what family should feel like. Not necessarily always in the "I want to emulate that" way, but in the 'despite the paranormal junk, these people have real connections to each other' way. There are way too many absentee parents in YA. I get it: it makes plotting easier and more plausible. But I'll give credit where it's due: great effort was taken here to balance the teen characters' heroism and real family relationships.

Here there be insta-love. But I'm okay with that, because in all reality it's insta-dating, and that is NOT the same thing.

The actual depth and growth of the relationship between Kaylee and Nash was actually, in my opinion, the least detailed and fleshed out aspect of this novel. He is in a lot of the novel, and he plays a huge role in helping Kaylee learn what she is. But we really don't learn about them as a couple and we don't really see a great deal of depth or growth in their relationship. Is it real or is Nash just happy to have found another Bean Sidhe?

Adding complication to my thoughts on these two are the comparisons I can't help drawing between Nash and Tod. Most importantly: after Kaylee sings (screams) at one point in the book, Tod brings her a cup of hot chocolate to help her throat. This required two things: (1) He was paying enough attention to know she had done this even though he had not been present. (2) Despite Reapers' general disdain for Bean Sidhe, Tod shows genuine concern for Kaylee. Tell me, Tod, what was the price for that cup of hot chocolate, huh?

Nash, on the other hand, seems to always be the one having things done for him by Kaylee. She's the one who drives him around, or brings burgers to his house, etc. I realize this may come across as a petty thing to note (and likely comes across as me having some bizarre and unfounded with Tod--go figure.) but it's something I noticed and I want to note it so I can look back as I read more.

Could TOD possibly be more important then I thought he was at face value? I hope so.

My rating system is going haywire here. There is part of me that wants to go all guns blazing and give this five hearts and a Kat's Meow--and it would definitely be worthy. But what the heck is there for future books in this series to shoot for if I give it all of my awards here and now? I can say this much: tomorrow I go to Chapters for my birthday and I know what priority #1 on my shopping list will be. There's part of me that's begging to sit down and read this whole thing from cover to cover and I don't generally do that.

My Soul To Take is a novel that I found fabulous from start to finish. The plot, the writing, thee characters, the world building... everything was all I could ask for and more from a book. I think I can sum this really long review up by saying: I think I've found a new obsession. Well done, Rachel Vincent. Well done indeed!

Waiting On Wednesday (Feb. 20th)

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Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Breaking the Spine. We all get together to show each other books we can't wait to get our hands on.

This week's can't-wait-to-read-it selection is:

The Summer Prince

by Alaya Dawn Johnson

A heart-stopping story of love, death, technology, and art set amid the tropics of a futuristic Brazil.

The lush city of Palmares Tres shimmers with tech and tradition, with screaming gossip casters and practiced politicians. In the midst of this vibrant metropolis, June Costa creates art that’s sure to make her legendary. But her dreams of fame become something more when she meets Enki, the bold new Summer King. The whole city falls in love with him (including June’s best friend, Gil). But June sees more to Enki than amber eyes and a lethal samba. She sees a fellow artist.

Together, June and Enki will stage explosive, dramatic projects that Palmares Tres will never forget. They will add fuel to a growing rebellion against the government’s strict limits on new tech. And June will fall deeply, unfortunately in love with Enki. Because like all Summer Kings before him, Enki is destined to die.

Pulsing with the beat of futuristic Brazil, burning with the passions of its characters, and overflowing with ideas, this fiery novel will leave you eager for more from Alaya Dawn Johnson.

Well, well... If I'm being totally honest, this could be very interesting or it could be a total train wreck that will leave me a weepy, blubbering mess. I like happy endings and this seems to be promising anything but. However, that is often the case in fiction and I think the setting and concept is original enough that I might be willing to take a risk. Artists? Futuristic Brazil? A government blocking tech advancement? And a Prince who is destined to die? You have my attention!

So, what are YOU looking forward to this week? Link to your post and I'll drop by!

Review: The Culling by Steven Dos Santos

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*A huge thank you to NetGalley and Flux for the opportunity to review this book.

The moment I read the blurb for The Culling I knew I had to read it. It has this totally bone chilling premise, you see, and it made the hair on my arms stand on end. I'm sure you're wondering: did it deliver?

Well... yes, and no.

The Culling is a book that I zipped through effortlessly and which I really enjoyed. However, there are a few flaws that keep it from reaching absolute perfection. If you are interested in my full thoughts, read on for my complete review!

(Summary from GoodReads)

Recruitment Day is here...if you fail, a loved one will die...

For Lucian “Lucky” Spark, Recruitment Day means the Establishment, a totalitarian government, will force him to become one of five Recruits competing to join the ruthless Imposer task force. Each Recruit participates in increasingly difficult and violent military training for a chance to advance to the next level. Those who fail must choose an “Incentive”—a family member—to be brutally killed. If Lucky fails, he’ll have to choose death for his only living relative: Cole, his four-year-old brother.

Lucky will do everything he can to keep his brother alive, even if it means sacrificing the lives of other Recruits’ loved ones. What Lucky isn’t prepared for is his undeniable attraction to the handsome, rebellious Digory Tycho. While Lucky and Digory train together, their relationship grows. But daring to care for another Recruit in a world where love is used as the ultimate weapon is extremely dangerous. As Lucky soon learns, the consequences can be deadly...

Brrr...

Hear that? That's the sound of a bone chilling premise making me shiver in both horror and delight. I've heard some people compare The Culling to The Hunger Games, but I must say... While The Hunger Games is, humbly, the stronger novel ... the idea of my actions getting my family killed would likely upset me more then my mistakes costing me my own life. Not sure if that's just a me thing, but I really wanted to get that out there right away.

The real question, though, is whether the premise is really carried to its full extent. And this is, again, a yes ... and no... answer. There are some extremely creative and gruesome deaths in The Culling, but one thing that I noticed as I read was that the deaths and the characters they happened to were chosen with very deliberate care... to protect the reader. This may or may not work for you. I will admit it likely made the book easier for me to read. BUT... and this is a big but... that came at the price of the believibility and consistency of the world Steven Dos Santos was trying to create. So I found it a bit of a mixed bag.

On the other hand, I will commend him for how he built up the novel rather then dropping us dead into the actual Recruitment trials themselves. You get to really feel for Lucky and his competitors to a point where no matter who something was happening to, I was interested, alert and freaking scared. I really wish this had gone further and we had dug deeper into each character--especially Lucky himself--but as far as how they effected the plot all was good.

Lucky was a decent protagonist. Unfortunately, I probably found him the least interesting of the major characters (talking about the other competitors and Cassius here) in the novel. I think that my key problem with Lucky is that his character is, ultimately, defined by its relationships with other characters. This is obviously an important aspect of characterization, but it only shows us one part of who he is. I can say that I understand it's much harder to show other things in the context of a really harsh dystopian environment, but it does not take away from my want of that for him.

Who gets my "favorite character" sticker this go around? That would actually go to Cassius. While he isn't in the book a ton, the scenes with him tend to be really interesting and the choices he makes and the way he behaves makes him really memorable. What *is* his deal? How did he wind up the way he did, to get to a point where making such choices was okay? Did / Does he really care about Lucky? (I believe strongly that a character can be epicly flawed and still capable of THINKING they love someone.)

Last I'll talk about Digory. I thought he was a pretty good character, but the big problem I had with him was that he and Cassius seemed like flip sides of a coin, with Digory coming out a bit too perfect. I like some depth and issues with my love interests, especially in a world where everyone is bound to be a little warped in their morality by sheer association. Digory didn't suck and wasn't totally boring, but he paled next to Cassius, even though Cassius was definitely NOT a nice guy.

The other competitors were interesting, but kept at an arm's length, yet again, to protect a reader from falling over the edge. I particularly felt that Ophelia was memorable and despite all that happened, my heart broke for her at the end. Why? You'll need to read the book to find that out. ;)

Okay, first up this is an M / M romance. I'm totally cool with that personally, but I feel I should tell you guys that because I recall vividly starting to read this and going "Wait... Digory is a guy? Okay."

You see, the whole M / M thing isn't a big deal in the culture of the world Steven Dos Santos has created, which is something I felt was distinct, cool and refreshing. There was a LOT going on in this book and that type of ignorance, closed-mindedness and hatred was another flavor of F'd up the book just didn't need--it had enough crap going on as it was.

Now that that's out of the way... How was the romance itself? Hmm...

I think this might be another yes ... but no. It wasn't like the romance was flat out terrible or like something happened that made me want to throw things. But I also didn't feel a deep and intense connection between the characters the way I want to when characters fall in love. (For instance: despite how Will Grayson, Will Grayson ends, I recall caring about what would happen to Tiny Cooper more then about any other character in the novel. My point? My lack of connection has nothing to do with the genders of the LIs in question. I just want that to be totally clear.)

I think my favorite thing about the romance aspect of this book is actually the love triangle. I was really interested in how things were between Cassius and Lucky and I wish that what had set Cassius off to act as the catalyst of the main plot had been handled a little more clearly. I "got it" by the end what had happened and how, but I was really confused for a while and it temporarily weakened him, which was a shame since (even though he did bad things) I really liked him / found him intriguing.

The Culling is not perfect, but it was a joy to read and I know I definitely want the sequel. I was going through a major reading slump when I got this for review and this got me out of it and clutching my kindle for dear life, which was really fun. If you are looking for a fast paced read with a bone chilling premise, The Culling is probably the book for you.