Reading with ABC

Reading with ABC is Moving!

2014-03-18T00:30:00.000-04:00

Yep, if you missed the BIG news (see here) Reading with ABC is moving from Blogger to WordPress. Actually,today.

Please bear with me and give me a few days to figure out what the heck I'm doing! I hope to start posting again by Friday (I'm praying hard to the WordPress gods and crossing my fingers for good measure)

The new address is readingwithabc.com, it will probably look a bit unfinished for a while, but please pardon the mess :)

Discussion: Besides Reading, What do you do?

2014-03-17T01:30:00.000-04:00

We all love books. After all, you’re reading this post from a book blog :) But we also have other passions / interests / things we love. Here are some of mine:

Family and Friends – As you might recall, my hubby is in the military. The military life is very difficult; we are often by ourselves, we have to re-locate, and be very resourceful (why is it that everything breaks when hubby's not here?). However, this makes my immediate family (hubby and three boys) a very close group, more responsible and adaptable. I LOVE you guys!

For the reasons stated above, friends become extended family. Even if they also move (if in the military), now it’s very easy to keep in touch. This is the group of friends that I can rely on for anything!

Work – I work for a big health system that originated in Baltimore and I love what I do. I have a bachelors in health information management, and two masters, one in human resources and a second in healthcare administration, and a graduate certificate in healthcare informatics (what can I say? I love school!) I don’t want to go into all the details about that, but I’m grateful for my job and the fact that I look forward to getting to my office every day.

Baking – Another thing that I enjoy is baking. It’s relaxing to me and I love tweaking recipes and come up with new ones. I’m no expert decorating, something I hope to improve upon, but it sure tastes good!

Greeting Cards / Bookmarks Crafts – My sister is the master at scrapbooking, but I’m horrible at taking pictures. Instead, she’s taught me enough for me to be able to make greeting cards and bookmarks. These things are more useful to me!

Music – I really like to listen to music, but since my first language is Spanish, most of the music I listen to is in Spanish too. That’s not to say that I don’t listen to the radio (after all I have two teenagers!), but if given the choice, I gravitate to what I love and it’s more familiar to me.

What do you like to do besides reading? Do we share any interests? Travel? Music? Parties?

Stacking the Shelves #74

2014-03-15T01:30:00.000-04:00

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which we feature all the book goodness that we received, borrowed or purchased during the previous week. All links are to Goodreads.

Hi there gorgeous people! I didn't do a STS last week because I only got one book :( I didn't do much better this week, but I have big news to share with you.

Reading with ABC is moving to WordPress! Yes, the wonderful Ashley from Nosegraze and Creative Whim now also has open her Book Host and decided to take the plunge. She will be moving my blog next week for its new home and I'm really excited about it! Hopefully this move will be seamless to most of you. Please be patient while I learn my way around WordPress.

Are you in WordPress already? Do you love it? Do you have any advice for a rookie? Any wonderful plugins that I must have?

Here are some posts you might have missed in the past two weeks:

Audiobook review: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Guest post and Giveaway: Searching for Beautiful by Nyrae Dawn

Review: The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Discussion: Love Triangles in YA

Review: Stracrossed by Josephine Angelini

The Beauty Edition

Review: Panic by Lauren Oliver

Discussion: New Trends in YA

Here is what's stacking my shelves this week:

Purchased (physical books)

Shadow of the Mark by Leigh Fallon - I really enjoyed Carrier of the Mark, the first book in the series. Besides, who can resist this beautiful cover?

Kindle

Lumiére by Jackeline Garlick - Not sure how I came to get this one, but it looks awesome :)

When Lighting Strikes by Brenda Novak - Romance *sigh*

Gilded by Christina L. Farley - I've seen some pretty good reviews about this book and I got it for Kindle with the audio as well (see below)

Audible

Landry Park by Bethany Hagen - This is another book that seems to be liked by many.

Gilded by Christina L. Farley - See above

For Review

Get Happy by Mary Amato - I loved Amato's Guitar Notes and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

What's stacking your shelves this week?

One Window, Two Views {2014 Trends in YA}

2014-03-14T01:30:00.000-04:00

One Window, Two Views will be a weekly meme where we will discuss a topic from each of our points of view. Please join the discussion!

Arianne: Sci-fi is going to be huge this year. Huge. And it’s not just any old sci-fi, either. There are two big trends to watch out for in young adult science fiction for 2014: aliens, particularly aliens really wanting to inhabit the Earth, and technology, particularly scary technology from the not-too-distant future. Some of the alien adventures, like Alienated by Melissa Landers and Avalon by Mindee Arnett, involve romance. Some of the technology-based titles, like Elusion by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam, involve romance, too. Others, like Dissonance by Erica O’Rourke and Starbreak by Phoebe North, involve entirely different worlds. But there’s also an emerging focus on adventure over insta-love, and this is where novels like Scan by Sarah Fine and Vitro by Jessica Khoury come in. Because sci-fi’s always been a place where relationship conflicts and ass-kicking adventure can co-exist, and that’s one thing that I hope doesn’t change this year.

As dystopian and paranormal lose their publishing appeal, contemporary is making a comeback. For a genre that’s always been pretty strong, it’s outdone itself in 2014. First, there are books like #Scandal by Sarah Ockler and #16 Things I Thought Were True by Janet Gurtler that take the emphasis on social media last seen in books like Adorkable by Sarra Manning and bring it to a whole new level. I for one did not foresee the arrival of hashtags in book titles! Male narrators are coming into their own this year – who said there weren’t enough guy characters in YA?! The Prince of Venice Beach by Blake Nelson, High and Dry by Sarah Skilton, More Than Good Enough by Crissa-Jean Chappell and Road Rash by Mark Parsons set out to prove that contemporary is just as much a guy’s terrain as a girl’s. There’s also been an increase in books that take advantage of teenagers’ desire to get out and see the world. Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae, Royally Lost by Angie Stanton, Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins and The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith are just some of the books in this trend that I can’t wait to get my hands on. In fact, I think contemporary is going to be my favourite genre of all in 2014! What about you, Liza?

Liza: Arianne, I think some of the new trends also include Thriller / Mystery / Horror (I’m grouping them together to make it easier on myself!) These are genres that I’m usually very selective about, especially with horror, because I’m a wimp when it comes to that. It seems that publishers are looking for the next “Gone Girl” equivalent in YA. Nevertheless, I’ve spotted some books that fall in these categories and that I would love to read (and I even own some of them already). Let’s start with Jennifer Armentrout’s Don’t Look Back which sounds like an amazing mystery, the same as The Body in the Woods by April Henry. I’m currently reading a unique combination of horror, mystery and graphic novel, In the Shadows by Kierten White and Jim Di Bartolo. Other books in this category are The Vanishing Season by Lynn Anderson, The Fall by Bethany Griffin, Say Her Name by James Dawson, and Feral by Holly Schinder. Now that I think about it, I’ve had more of these as my WOW in the past several weeks!

Also big this year is Fantasy. After the sound successes of series like the Throne of Glass by Sara Maas, Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson and The Grisha series by Leigh Bardugo, publishers are looking for more of the good stuff; after all it’s been proven that the YA reader loves fantasy. This year brings some pretty amazing reads that aim to transport us to new worlds. Let’s start with The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski and Death Sworn by Leah Cypess, two of my recent reads and already favorites. The first about the conquest, conquerors and love against all odds, and the second about a world where the Empire, Magic and Assassins rule the world. Another awaited title is The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Peason, Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raash, and Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White. You might notice that most of these books might also include some type of paranormal element, such as magic, as well. Oh, and it seems that it’s a requisite to have a gorgeous cover too.

I don’t believe that we’ve seen the last of dystopian and paranormal, but rather that the market it’s been saturated in the last few years and YA readers are being more selective of what they read. Another trend seems to be the emergence of the stand-alone books, probably brought by the resounding success of John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars. Books such as Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg (loved it!), This Side of Salvation by Jeri Smith-Ready and On the Fence by Kasie West seem to be pretty popular.

Let’s talk: What do you think is the next big trend in YA? Which one of these is your favorite genre? Do you agree with us? Do you disagree? Have you read any of these? Are you eagerly waiting for some of these books?

Review: Panic by Lauren Oliver

2014-03-13T01:30:00.000-04:00

Title: Panic by Lauren Oliver

Published: March 4th, 2014 by HaperCollins

Source: ARC (thanks to ALA!)

Format: Paperback

Genre: Contemporary

Age group: Young adult

Reviewer: Arianne

Grade rate: C

Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do. Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought. Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for. For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

Lauren Oliver specialises in using human emotion as the centrepiece of her work. She did it in Delirium, where love became a disease and joy a far-off dream. And she does it again in Panic, one of this year’s most highly anticipated new releases.

With vision and finesse, Oliver has set her most epic concept yet against a stark backdrop of small-town claustrophobia. Capitalising on a tumult of teenage angst – from loneliness and despair to anger and resentment and back again – she paints a vivid if somewhat bleak picture of what life can be like in a world that’s constantly trying to tear you down.

One thing that goes without question is the fact that Lauren Oliver is simply an incredible writer. She’s one of the few I know who could pull off third person present narration, but she doesn’t just settle for one narrator, she goes with two! Panic is more than just a string of sentences thrown together into roughly YA shape. Every word is carefully chosen. It’s soaked with style. It’s written with the title in mind, and the prose hurtles forward with the force of an oncoming train – yet at the same time, there is an element of the psychological thriller about it, and there are some scenes which just sizzle with the effects of slow-burning tension and secrets.

Heather and Dodge are hiding things from themselves as well as others. Dodge, the boy from the wrong side of the tracks, has a fierce determination to win and an even more fierce determination to get revenge in the only way he knows how. I liked Dodge, but didn’t love him, though I admired his strength and story. Unfortunately, Heather really let me down. It’s in keeping with the stagnant atmosphere of Carp as a town, but she seemed lost without a guy by her side and she’s not very individual.

And with such problems in the cases of the main characters, it’s no surprise that the secondary characters fall flat as well. Natalie and Bishop never seemed real to me. I appreciated that Oliver was trying to tackle tough themes and issues she’d never broached before, but it just didn’t really work out in her favour. Harsh realities become gratuitous, dragging details and there’s no vibrancy to anchor yourself to as a reader.

As a plot construct, the Panic game is remarkably simple, but in reality, it has huge risks and all too often, devastating consequences. Nobody knows who the judges are and it’s obviously played outside the realms of the law. Like the overcoming of fear in Veronica Roth’s Divergent, Panic too focuses on tackling the doubts and nightmares of the teenage players. I was willing to suspend my disbelief to begin with, but when I discovered that the adults of the town were still completely oblivious to the game despite it already having cost lives (and rewarding several winners with inordinate sums of money) even my interest in it began to wane. Also, when they started keeping tigers in captivity and players refused to take responsibility for the damage they were causing to others, physically, mentally and emotionally? Not cool. Everyone kept giving excuses and I was totally exasperated with them by the end.

In short: Panic pulses with dramatic intensity and social contrast. Fans of the author will recognise her style and epic depiction of the simplest human emotions, while new readers will be awed by the tension and action which define the harsh landscape of its plot. It’s not for everyone, however, as it requires huge suspension of disbelief on the reader’s part and there are some major faults which jump out from the page now and again. I don’t think it will become an enduring favourite for me, but I hope it’s not the last Lauren Oliver book I’ll read.

Cover Reveal: Perfect for You by Ashelyn Drake

2014-03-13T00:30:00.000-04:00

Perfect for You

by Ashelyn Drake

Release Date: September 2014

Swoon Romance

Summary from Goodreads:

Sophomore year in high school comes with its own set of problems. You're no longer a freshmen, but you're still two years away from ruling the school. So, you sit and languish in a kind of purgatory until junior year, when things start to get interesting.

That is, unless during your sophomore year, you find your boyfriend making out with another girl in front of your locker. Then, interesting takes on a whole new meaning, and that's what happened to seventeen-year-old Meg Flannigan. It's no wonder her self-esteem suffered a major hit.

Now a senior, Meg catches the eye of not one, but two guys at school (I know, right?). They happen to both be gorgeous, and each vies for her attention in the most flattering of ways. Sounds good, right? Not if one of the guys is her boyfriend, and the other one wants to be.

Meg doesn’t want to lose Ash. They’ve been together for almost five months, and she’s falling in love with him. But Noah. Ah, Noah. He’s the irresistible guy Meg has been crushing on for two years, and she isn’t ready to send him away either. But stringing both along could have disastrous results, leaving Meg in the cold once again.

One thing's certain. Meg needs to decide between Ash and Noah soon, or she'll lose her perfect match forever.

PERFECT FOR YOU was released previously as two novellas. Ashleyn wanted to give her readers more, and has decided to write an entire novel based around Meg's story.

About the Author

Ashelyn Drake is a New Adult and Young Adult romance author. While it’s rare for her not to have either a book in hand or her fingers flying across a laptop, she also enjoys spending time with her family. She believes you are never too old to enjoy a good swing set and there’s never a bad time for some dark chocolate. She is represented by Sarah Negovetich of Corvisiero Literary Agency.

Author Links:

Cover Reveal Organized by:

Waiting on Wednesday: The Walled City by Ryan Graudin

2014-03-12T01:30:00.000-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we have the opportunity to let others know about books that we are eagerly waiting for.

Title: The Walled City by Ryan Graudin

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Release date: November 4th, 2014

There are three rules in the Walled City: Run fast. Trust no one. Always carry your knife. Right now, my life depends completely on the first. Run, run, run.

Jin, Mei Yee, and Dai all live in the Walled City, a lawless labyrinth run by crime lords and overrun by street gangs. Teens there run drugs or work in brothels—or, like Jin, hide under the radar. But when Dai offers Jin a chance to find her lost sister, Mei Yee, she begins a breathtaking race against the clock to escape the Walled City itself.

Why I want to read it: I really enjoyed Graudin's All That Glows (see my review here) and I want to see what's next for her. Two more good things about The Walled City: One, by the characters names (and the dragon) it sounds like the book has an oriental influence; and two, I love this cover!

What are you waiting for this week?

Top Ten All Time Favorite Books in the Middle Grade Genre

2014-03-11T01:30:00.000-04:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

I know middle grade isn’t really a genre, but I was recently asked to come up with some off-the-beaten-track books that would suit readers of differing abilities in the 10-13 age range, and I thought the resulting mix would make a great Top Ten Tuesday list. I’d recommend a lot of these books to readers of all ages, but think they would be especially suited to young readers moving on from children’s books to the beginnings of YA.

1. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

2. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

3. Wonder by RJ Palacio

4. City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

5. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

6. The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

7. Four Kids, Three Cats, Two Cows,One Witch (Maybe) by Siobhán Parkinson

8. OMG! Is This Actually My Life? by Rae Earl

9. This Journal Belongs to Ratchetby Nancy J. Cauvanagh

10. Eragon by Christopher Paolini

What do you think? Are there any lesser-known middle grade books you think should be added to the list? Let us know in the comments!

Top 3 of the Week {Beauty Edition}

2014-03-10T02:30:00.000-04:00

I guess you can consider this one a variation of the Top 3, I mean to share with you my favorite beauty products. So here it is, the 'Beauty Edition' (so to speak since I'm no expert!):

For the Face

Your Skin but Better CC+ by IT Cosmetics - This is my fabulous foundation, it has PFS 50 and also hydrates. It last all day and it has full coverage.

Purity Made Simple by Philosophy - I adore this brand (as you will be able to tell by the end of this post ;). This is the best cleanser ever! It works for the whole face, including the eyes and leaves my face feeling refreshed and not tight.

Hope in a Jar by Philosophy - Well, I just said that I love this brand, didn't I? This is my awesome moisturizer.

Bye Bye Under Eye by IT Cosmetics - The BEST concealer ever! It can also be used as a foundation, but I find it too thick for my whole face.

For the Body

Amazing Grace by Philosophy - I use this fragrance as my perfume, shower gel and body lotion. I love its clean, subtle undertones.

Nails

OPI Nail Lacquer - I really don't do much to my nails, other that keeping them clean and filed. I also use OPI, in Bubble Bath and it last all week!

Hair

It's a 10 Miracle Styling Serum - This is an amazing leave-in treatment! I have very curly hair and this works miracles. Just spray over towel-dry hair and style as usual. It makes my hair smoother, shinier and easier to style.

CHI Flat Iron - This is another miracle. Hubby bought it for my birthday last year and it is absolutely amazing. It makes my hair smooth and shiny!

That's it! I hope that you give some of these a try and let me know what you think. Have you used any of them before?

Review: Starcrossed by Josephine Agelini (Starcrossed #1)

2014-03-09T01:30:00.000-05:00

Title: Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Release date: May 31st 2011 by HarperTeen

Source: Purchased

Format: Paperback

Age group: Young adult

Genre: Contemporary/Mythology

Reviewer: Arianne

Grade rate: A

How do you defy destiny? Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history. As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

Starcrossed is a story that I've loved for a long time. Not only is it the most intriguing and well-executed take on the defining romance of Greek mythology (that of Paris and Helen of Troy, and the Trojan War that followed) I've ever read, but it's also a hugely entertaining read that makes you smile long after you've finished reading.

Helen's always known she's different, but when she sees the scorchingly hot Lucas Delos for the first time and immediately tries to kill him in front of the whole school, she suddenly realizes there's more to it than just feeling like the odd one out: she's destined to restart an aeons-old conflict that will not only tear apart the gods, but her family and the meaning of her life as she knows it, too. The war almost destroyed the gods and their mortal heroes the first time around, but the Furies love patterns; they're the ancient Greek version of catty cheerleaders and they've scented blood.

Thrust into a dangerous world of Scions, demigods, curses and treachery, Helen faces a decision she always thought she'd know the answer to - but choosing between the love of her life and the survival of the human race may not be entirely hers after all. Everything she does seems to bring the threat of war closer, and no matter how hard she tries to resist loving Lucas, there's a part of her that just can't let him go.

This book may be slow to start, but it's definitely worth the wait. The writing style takes getting used to - it's intense, tightly packed and overwhelms the content from time to time - but if you can get through the first quarter, you'll be totally hooked. Starcrossed is all about story and its plot pulls no punches. There are twists and turns everywhere you look!

The importance of family is a theme that plays a huge role in Starcrossed. From the tight-knit but sometimes lonely existence lived by Helen and her father to the chaotic, clamouring warmth of the extended Delos family, there's a sense that although this book focuses on mythology, if you took that element away, there would still be great characters and dynamic relationships to build the story around. Lucas was my favourite character, but Ariadne comes in at a close second - and not just because we share a similar name! She's the feistiest character and stands out from the crowd. There was no shortage of action and danger in Starcrossed, but sometimes I found myself wishing for even more big family scenes. Josephine Angelini really understands what it means to belong, illustrating beautifully the strength and bonds within the Delos tribe.

If I had to find one fault with the book, it would be that the minor characters are somewhat underdeveloped. Helen's hgih school companions just don't have the depth they need, and they don't hold the readers attention. I really liked Claire, Helen's best friend, but it is true that she probably doesn't have the complexity or realism she deserves.

In short: Starcrossed is a well-written, well-researched story that brilliantly reinvents Greek mythology for a modern young adult audience. It sets a high standard for the contemporary-mythological genre of YA. A book that's been close to my heart since the day I first read it.

One Window, Two Views {Love Triangles in YA}

2014-03-07T01:30:00.000-05:00

Arianne and I are so excited to bring you this new feature! One Window, Two Views will be a weekly meme where we will discuss a topic from each of our points of view. Please join the discussion!

Arianne: People say that love triangles in YA are a love/hate issue, but I don’t think it’s as clear cut as that. It’s not a case of love or hate – it’s a case of good writing versus bad writing. While I usually prefer singular or monogamous YA romances, love triangles are like any other plot device and they can be fantastically well-written. They can be engaging and genuinely heart-wrenching. But, like any other plot device, they can also be written badly – in books where one love interest is highly favoured over the other, where the end choice is obvious from the start, or where the love triangle defines the main character entirely, as if they don’t have lives outside the romantic choice they’re faced with. If a book has any of these features, it almost always detracts from my enjoyment of the novel.

Liza: I don’t really mind love triangles as long as they are well done. What I mean by that is that I really don’t like to read about infidelity – if you really don’t know your own feelings, the wait until you do before you act – and I don’t like when a female character leads two men/boys on for no apparent reason. I do hope that people in general (and specially teens) know better than that. Also, in real life, this doesn’t happen as often as it seems to happen in books. As you said, some books revolve solely on the love triangle, there’s no plot, no story, just the angst of making ‘the choice’.

Arianne: Of course, it’s unfair to dismiss all books which have a triangle-based romance, especially as some of my favourite books of all time feature them. When I think of these books – from Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi to The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han – I don’t automatically think about the love triangle. I think about the story, the writing and the characters as people, not just placeholders. That’s the key difference between a great young adult love story and a lesser imitation – they can’t be easily defined. There’s not just once choice to make, but many; it’s not just a question of choosing the hot bad boy over the shy nice guy. There’s more to it than that. They don’t feel as if the writer as set out thinking “Well, people who read young adult books like love triangles, so I’ll just put one in here without developing it and see how it goes”. They’re complex and funny and tragic and well-realized, not thrown in because it fits a stereotypical description of what YA fans like to read about. That’s why I’d never issue a ban on love triangles in YA, because when they’re done right, they’re not just love triangles anymore. They’re part of something bigger.

Liza: I think we all have favorites that involve love triangles. I’ve read the first two books of Cassadra Clare’s Infernal Devices and there is clearly a love triangle here, but it is not what defines the story. The plot is go intricate and the writing and characterization so good, that the reader also cannot help but fall in love with Will and Jem. That, dear readers, is the way a good love triangle is done. Another prime example of this is the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa. Even though both boys were in love with Meghan, she clearly only had eyes for one of them. I think the triangle was in the mind of Puck and Ash, but not hers. Her choice was always clear, even to the other two corners of the triangle. There is also the case when there is the suggestion of a love triangle that it really isn’t one. For instance, in The Hunger Games (team Peeta or Team Dale, anyone?) I never felt like Dale had any change with Katniss, in fact, he didn’t even act like he was in love with her (not like Peeta), but I think the readers wanted to create a triangle, so they did. I am, in fact, ignoring the big elephant in the room, a.k.a. Twilight – we might require a post just to get through with that one!

Arianne: When it comes to YA love triangles, I just want to see things that are different. I want to see a guy trying to choose between two girls instead of a girl trying to choose between two boys. I want to see a guy trying to choose between two other guys, or a girl trying to choose between two other girls. I want to see unusual takes on the classic triangle, and less of the ‘guy with paranormal power swoops in to take ordinary girl away from the ordinary guy she would have ended up with otherwise’. I want authors who understand the difference between teenage love and teenage attraction, and give us credit for being able to choose between the two rationally and carefully. Maybe I’d like to see a book where the main character chooses neither of the love interest in the triangle at all! The point is, if there absolutely has to be a love triangle in your story, the more intricate and the more disguised you can make it, the more chance you’ll have of me enjoying it.

What are your thoughts about love triangles? Do your love them? Hate them? Do you think they can be done better? What are your favorites? What are some of your not so favorites?

Review: The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski (The Winner’s Trilogy)

2014-03-06T01:30:00.000-05:00

Title: The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Published: March 4^th, 2014 by Farrar Straus Giroux

Source: ARC (thanks Macmillan

Format: Paperback

Genre: Fantasy | Romance

Age group: Young adult

Grade rate: A

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love
As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.
One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.
But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.
Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

Review

The Winner’s Curse is the first book I read by Marie Rutkiski and it will certainly not be the last. In this book I found a real gem, reminiscent, at least to me, of Maas’ Throne of Glass and Carson’s Girl of Fire and Thorns.

World building is really important when writing fantasy and it was expertly done in Winner’s Curse. The differences between the Herrani and the Valorian’s culture are marked, even if at their core they are more similar that they believe possible. The plot is intricate and scattered with the political unrest that only conquest can bring and also with military strategy. Rutkoski’s writing is exquisite, it’s full of imaginary, and it’s lyrical and poetic.

The characterization is remarkable. The story is told from the third point of view, from Kestrel and Arin’s perspectives. Kestrel is from the Valorian nobility and she lives in the conquered land or Herrani. All that society expects of her is to make a choice between marriage and the military career. Either option relinquishes her independence and her music, two of the things that she holds dear, and she wants to rebel against it. Kestrel tries to be fair to the person behind the titles, to grant love to who deserves it, regardless of where they came from. She is a brilliant strategist and loyal to her father (her only family) and her country, even when her heart dictates otherwise.

Arin is harder to know, at least on the first part of the book. However, he shines on the second part of the book and tries his hardest to make Kastrel happy and secure, regardless of her new circumstances. He is also brilliant and has a big responsibility over his shoulders at a very young age. I’m eager to know (given the ending) how this couple will survive what’s to come. From my end, it looks like a hopeless relationship, but I hope it turns out to be an epic love story.

The ending of The Winner’s Curse was torturous. It is a subtle cliffhanger, just enough to make me sit at the edge of my seat for the many months that will take to its sequel to be published. An outstanding book, with awesome characters and an even more amazing writing, The Winner’s Curse is a clear winner (pun intended.)

Quotes (from the ARC):

“The pointy-chinned woman snickered. “Looks like someone’s suffering the Winner’s Curse. The Winner’s Curse is when you come out on top of the bid, but only by paying a steep price.”

”His eyes met hers. They were the color of the winter sea-the water far below Kestrel’s feet when she had looked down and imagined what it would be like to drown.”

“Arin smiled. It was a true smile, which let her know that all the others he had given her were not. ”Thank you,” he said.

Kestrel felt herself blush. She focused on the keys and played something, anything. A simple pattern to distract herself from the fact that she wasn’t someone who easily blushed, particularly for no clear reason.”

About the cover: This is one of the most stunning covers I have ever seen. The grace of the captured movement, the delicacy of her hand holding the ‘R’, the beautiful font and colors. Gorgeous.

Blog Tour, Guest Post and Giveaway: Searching for Beautiful by Nyrae Dawn

2014-03-05T01:30:00.000-05:00

Hi there gorgeous people! Welcome to Reading with ABC's stop Nyrae Dawn's Searching for Beautiful. This tour is presented by Rockstar Book Tours, please visit the other stops in the tour, scroll down to find the links.

About the Book

Title: SEARCHING FOR BEAUTIFUL

Author: Nyrae Dawn

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Pub. Date: March 4, 2014

Pages: 304

Before it happened…Brynn had a group of best friends, a boyfriend who loved her, a growing talent for pottery. She had a life. And then…she had none.After it happened…Everything was lost. The boy she now knew never loved her. The friends who felt she betrayed their trust. The new life just beginning to grow inside her.Brynn believes her future is as empty as her body until Christian, the boy next door, starts coming around. Playing his guitar and pushing her to create art once more. She meets some new friends at the local community center, plus even gets her dad to look her in the eye again…sort of. But letting someone in isn’t as easy as it seems.Now…Can Brynn open up her heart to truly find her life’s own beauty, when living for the after means letting go of the before?

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes& Noble

Guest Post

About Writing YA Romance

I’ve always been a romantic at heart. I like that “butterflies in the stomach” feeling of a new crush. I love the secretive glances, the brush of fingers, first kisses, and the possibilities of where it all may go. It’s like an adventure, where you never really know what’s going to happen. Will it go somewhere? Will it end?

I always knew that’s what I wanted to write about but that’s not the only reason I wanted to write romance. You know what I believe? That love can change the world. I know that seems like “head in the clouds” thinking but it’s true. Love can change us and we as people have the power to change the world. It can make us feel like we can do anything, it makes is willing to make changes. We learn from getting our hearts broken, breaking hearts, and falling in love. Those experiences mold who we are and what we do.

It’s pretty incredible when you think about it. When I’m writing romance, anything is possible. It’s writing about dreams but yeah, it’s about real life too. It’s about people and growth and the lessons we learn that we’ll take with us for the rest of our lives.

That’s why I wanted to write about romance. It’s universal.

What’s your favorite thing about reading young adult romance?

About the Author

Writing has always been Nyrae Dawn’s passion. There have been times in her life where she wasn’t able to chase that dream the way she desired, but she always found her way back to telling stories.

One of her loves has always been writing about teens. There’s something so fresh and fun about the age that she loves exploring. Her husband says it’s because she doesn’t want to grow up. She doesn’t think that’s such a bad thing and luckily for her, he doesn’t either.

Nyrae gravitates toward character-driven stories. She loves going on emotional journeys with characters whether it be reading or writing. And yes, she’s a total romantic at heart and proud.

Nyrae resides in sunny Southern California with her husband (who still makes her swoon) and her two awesome kids.

When she’s not with her family, you can be pretty sure you’ll find her with a book in her hand or her laptop and an open document in front of her.

She writes for Entangled Publishing, Grand Central Publishing and is self-published.

Nyrae is represented by Jane Dystel of Dystel and Goderich Literary Management.

Nyrae Dawn also writes adult romance under the name Kelley Vitollo.

Website/Blog/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

Giveaway

1 $25 Amazon Gift Card US Only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/3/2014- Watcha Reading- Review

3/3/2014- Jenna Does Books- Guest Post

3/4/2014- The Storybook Kingdom- Review

3/4/2014- Dazzled by Books- Interview

3/5/2014- Reviews By Molly- Review

3/5/2014- Reading with ABC- Guest Post

3/6/2014- Nanna Three and Counting- Review

3/6/2014- A Book and a Latte- Guest Post

3/7/2014- Shayna Varadeaux Books & Reviews- Review

3/7/2014- FicWishes- Guest Post

Week Two:

3/10/2014- Book Chick- Review

3/10/2014- Books Forget Me Knot- Guest Post

3/11/2014- Book Bitches Blog- Review

3/11/2014- Consuming Worlds- Interview

3/12/2014- No BS Book Reviews - Review

3/12/2014- Reese's Reviews: My Addiction to Fiction- Interview

3/13/2014- LeAnn's Book Reviews- Review

3/13/2014- Fictitious Delicious- Interview

3/14/2014- Nette's Bookshelf Reviews- Review

3/14/2014- girls in the stacks- Review

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Rockstar Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Rockstar Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

Waiting on Wednesday: The Fall by Bethany Griffin

2014-03-05T01:00:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we have the opportunity to let others know about books that we are eagerly waiting for.

Title: The Fall by Bethany Griffin

Published by: Greenwillow Books

Release date: October 7th, 2014

Madeline Usher is doomed. She has spent her life fighting fate, and she thought she was succeeding. Until she woke up in a coffin. Ushers die young. Ushers are cursed. Ushers can never leave their house, a house that haunts and is haunted, a house that almost seems to have a mind of its own. Madeline’s life—revealed through short bursts of memory—has hinged around her desperate plan to escape, to save herself and her brother. Her only chance lies in destroying the house. In the end, can Madeline keep her own sanity and bring the house down? The Fall is a literary psychological thriller, reimagining Edgar Allan Poe’s classic The Fall of the House of Usher.

Why I want to read it: I haven't read Griffin's Death of the Red Mask series, but I've heard great things about it. The Fall sounds mysterious,and creepily awesome. Oh, and that cover is scary too, right?

What are you waiting for this week?

Top Ten Popular Authors I've Never Read

2014-03-04T01:30:00.000-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

I’m kind of surprised at myself and actually a bit embarrassed of never reading anything about some of these authors. Others, I haven’t read by choice.

1. Huntley Fitzpatrick – I’ve heard amazing things about My Life Next Door, and I even own the book, but I’ve yet to read it. I hope to do it soon, before her next book gets released.

2. Kiera Cass – This is another series that I’ve only heard good things about and the covers is to die for. I also own The Selection, first book in the series.

3. Stephen King – I’ve never read anything by Stephen King, because honestly, I’m afraid. I saw the move IT years ago and I was so freaked out that I can’t imagine reading any of this books.

4. Amanda Hocking – I purchased Trylle years ago, when the series was an indie publication, but I never read it.

5. Gena Showalter – What can I say? (there’s no defense, I’m sure.)

6. V.C Andrews – This is one of my cousins favorite authors, but every time I see her books I just can’t make myself pick one up.

7. Sophie Jordan – I know, I know. I did purchased Uninvited in audio book and I fully intend to ‘read’ this one… I just haven’t yet.

8. Tahereh Mafi – *hangs head in shame* Shatter Me

9. Michelle Hodkin – This is another very popular series that I haven’t started. I do own a copy of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and I fully intend to read it. Some day.

10. Marie Lu - Again, I own the first book of the series, Legend and I’ve heard is a really good one.

I kind of see a pattern here… Anyway, what’s in your Top Ten this week?

Review: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (The Infernal Device #1)

2014-03-02T01:30:00.000-05:00

Title: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Published: August 31^st, 2010 by Simon & Schuster

Source: Purchased for Audible

Format: Audiobook narrated by Jennifer Ehle

Genre: Steampunk | Paranormal | Romance

Age group: Young adult

Grade rate: A

In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series. The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them...

Review

Let me start by explaining why I took so long to start this series. I was mad. There, I said it. Why was I mad? Well, I loved Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments, that is until she turned it from a trilogy to a series of six books. I was happy with the ending of City of Glass and so disappointed when I realized that it was not the ending of the series. Anyway, I decided to read (listen) to Clockwork Angel, and I Ioved it!

I think in many ways I enjoyed Clockwork Angel even better than the Mortal Instruments. I love steampunk and this book has plenty of it, from angels to robots and nice doohickeys.

I think what made the book for me were the characters. Tessa, is a mystery for sure. She doesn’t know what she is, but she has a really neat power. Tessa is very pragmatic and tries to take this new world and her new circumstances in stride. She is loyal, smart, and not afraid to voice her opinion. Will and Jem are Shadowhunters, blood brothers and best friends; and yet so different. Will is very handsome, strong, stubborn, loyal, intelligent, and devious and tries very hard to push everyone away. Jem is so sweet, calm, composed, resigned, yet strong, loyal and the default peace maker. Can you smell the love triangle coming? I can from a mile away!

There is no shortage of amazing supporting characters: strong Charlotte, scatter minded Henry, bitter Jessamine, lovely Sophie, the always grand Magnus, and much more. Our evil figure here (well, the main one at least) is The Magister and we really don’t know too much about his throughout the story.

Cassandra Claire is a genius in many levels. Her writing is so good, it takes serious talent to invent a world full of new and old beings, of mythology, stories, culture and make you not only understand what it all means, but learn to love it. The plot of the Clockwork Angel is very intricate, full of mystery and betrayal. It is one of the things that makes the story so interesting and addictive.

I already had the chance to listen to Clockwork Prince and it is, if at all possible, even better. I can’t wait to read the last book in the series, and I will. Soon.

About the audiobook: I really like the narrator of the book, the pace and voices.

About the cover: The cover of the Clockwork Angel is beautiful. We can see Will in all his handsomeness and with light coming out of his runes. In the background we see clockwork and the city of London. On the forefront is Tessa’s angel. As I said, beautiful.

Stacking the Shelves #73

2014-03-01T01:30:00.000-05:00

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which we feature all the book goodness that we received, borrowed or purchased during the previous week. All links are to Goodreads.

Hello there gorgeous people! Another busy week comes to an end, with more snow in the horizon (it seems that's all we have in the horizon lately!) No many addition to my shelves this week as I'm trying to save for my trip to NYC for BEA.

This past week:

Review: Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Review and Giveaway: That One Summer by C.J. Duggan

Arianne's Top Ten Tips for Book Bloggers

WOW: In a Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis

B's Review: The Rhitmatist by Brandon Saranderson

One Window, Two Views: Diversity in YA

Purchased for Kindle

Fifty First Times: A New Adult Anthology - This book was featured by Christina from Allodoxophobia and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! It has stories from authors like Jennifer Armentrout, Julie Cross, Carrie Ryan, Sophie Jordan and more!

Bridge of Snow by Marie Rutkoski - Can I tell you how much I loved Rutkoski's Winner's Curse? I guess I just did! Well, this is a short novella of the world prior to the war.

Revival by Jena Leigh - I love the violet eyes!

Library

The Brokenhearted by Amelia Kahaney - I love this cover and the premise for the book too.

Bang by Lisa McMann - I didn't love McMann's Crash (see review here), but I'm curious enough to read the next book (the cover is stunning, right?)

Review

Burn Out by Kristi Helving - This one is for a blog tour and I have to say that I'm looking forward to reading it. Thanks Egmont!

What's stacking your shelves this week?

One Window, Two Views {Diversity in YA}

2014-02-28T01:30:00.000-05:00

Arianne and I are so excited to bring you this new feature! One Window, Two Views will be a weekly meme where we will discuss a topic from each of our points of view. Please join the discussion!

Arianne: When it comes to diversity - whether it's to do with creed, culture, race or sexuality - YA is not where it should be. Yes, there are some fantastic examples of books where diversity is key - but we still need more of it.

Liza: I agree. Since I’m originally from Puerto Rico, I enjoy books about other cultures and I can really identify with Hispanic (Spanish speaking) characters.

Arianne: I know that when I read YA, I just want to read about characters who feel real to me. When I look at my favourite books, there's a pretty even split between what I would consider to be 'diverse books' and 'not so diverse books'. (And of course, there are the 'OMG why did I read this it's so badly written' books, or the 'there are plot holes everywhere HELP ME!' books that fit into both categories, because let's face it, whether you've created a diverse book or not, there's still the chance that it's just a terrible read.) The main characteristic of all these books, however, is that they are good stories - stories that are fantastically written, totally unique and refreshing to read.

Liza: You couldn’t be more right, it doesn’t matter what the topic of the book is, as long as it’s a good story. However, there is nothing wrong with writing a great story that includes diversity. I also have to confess that I don’t read as many divers books as I could, or rather that I don’t seek them out, it seems to be a happy coincidence when I read one.

Arianne: One great example - and this is a story I've always wanted to tell - of my personal experience of diversity in YA is the story of the first time I read Ash by Malinda Lo. (For those who don't know, Ash is a Cinderella retelling where Cinderella doesn't fall for the Prince, but for a Huntress named Kaisa.) I was reading young adult way before I was an actual young adult, and by the time I read Ash, the fact that the central romance was between two girls didn't even cross my mind as unusual. I saw it as something different and challenging and memorable. I was actually disappointed that there weren't more books like Ash on the shelf when I returned it to the library. I was hungry for books that showed me different worlds, different sides to life. I didn't know it then, but I was hungry for diversity.

Liza: Following your suit, let me give you two really good examples of cultural diversity that I love – Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles and The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler. The first is about a Mexican-American teen and what he has to go through to get ahead in life as a minority. Of course, it’s also a love story, but what I liked most about it is the sense of family that is always present among Hispanics. The Book of Broken hearts is a book that I read (listen to, really) due to your suggestion when I posted my rambling about authors using foreign languages in their books (see it here.) I’m SO glad that I listen to you Arianne, because I loved it (I still have to review it, but I promise to do it soon!) Again, the sense of family is such an intricate part of the story. I also loved that Ockler didn’t feel compelled to make the Hispanic community one of gangs or criminals, as it is often a stereotype that I dread in literature and movies/TV.

Arianne: For me, lack of diversity in YA just isn't acceptable. I actually get really heat up about it! The teen imagination is as vast as an ocean, filled with the potential for racing currents, thrilling danger and incredible creatures. YA books have the capacity to tell stories you would never see on the adult shelf, because we're open to new ideas and new ways of thinking. We're open to what others see as impossible - vampires, witches, ghosts, gods, monsters, parallel worlds and bizarre dystopian futures. But why, if YA authors are so willing to write about these fantastical impossibilities, are they unwilling to make their characters more diverse in real ways? Why are the shelves filled with book covers featuring pretty blonde rich girls and their super-hot boyfriends? Where are the ethnic minorities, the characters questioning their sexuality, the books where we aren't told the hero is straight and white on the first page and we should all just move on and assume that's how it's supposed to be?

Liza: I’m not sure I know the reasons either. Maybe it is because authors and publishers might be afraid, not only that it will not sell their book, but that their work (their babies, really) will be shunned, criticized and even banned. Another reason might be that since the young adult books are really designed for an age group that starts at around ages 10-12, parents get involved as well. It is my humble opinion as a mother that banning a book for its content is never the answer. Just as I supervise what my kids watch on TV or at the movies, I also supervise their reading. It is up to me, as a parent, to shape their minds and make sure that the content is age appropriate.

Arianne: I get that certain types of young adult books sell, I do. Publishing is a business, not a fairytale. Authors, editors, agents, designers, PR departments and all the people in the between - they have to make a living. I don't want my favourite authors to have to work three jobs and sleep in their car because their books were 'difficult to market' or 'didn't acquire a large audience'. But without change, the YA sections are going to get smaller and smaller, because, eventually, teenagers will get tired of reading the same stories over and over again. Our expectations of the books we read are getting higher, and I know this makes us a demanding bunch, but you know what? I think YA can meet that demand, because YA does good books better than any other category I know.

Liza: I think that what ‘sells’ varies from year to year. Once a book or series becomes a ‘hit’ bestseller, which was the case with The Hunger Games and the Twilight Saga for example, it seems like everyone wants to jump in the same wagon. This is understandable and not isolated to the publishing industry, the same happens with movies, fashion and even food. However, I think that YA readers also appreciate the unique and the different. Every reader wants to discover that one story that makes them feel, that story that they can identify with, even if it’s not wrapped with a pink bow. Not writing about important topics such as creed, sexuality or cultural diversity doesn’t in any way change the reality that surrounds us, on the contrary it feels like we are trying to bury our heads in the sand or look the other way.

Arianne: Personally, I think 2014 is definitely going to be a big year for diversity in YA. 2015 and 2016, too, have already been slated as the years for a landslide change in the shape and look of the YA bookshelf. People are starting to realize that diversity shouldn't be regarded as an obstacle, but as an asset - and the norm. I'm really hopeful that as the year goes on we'll see more books from diverse perspectives. This year, and beyond, I want to read more about characters whose experiences have thus far been pushed aside by the industry. Publishers are getting braver, and I love that, because YA fiction is supposed to be a place where anything can happen, and we can never afford to forget it.

Liza: Like with everything else in life, as years go by, we (as in ‘people’) get more open minded. Things that we see and hear now would have appalled and scandalized my grandmother, but they are common occurrences now, and thus it will get better for each generation. I think you’re right as we will soon see an increase in these topic for YA in years to come.

Arianne: For anyone who's interested in finding out more about the kind of LCBTQ diversity I've spoken about today, I highly recommend checking out Malinda Lo and Cindy Pon's diversity project - aptly named Diversity in YA! From there, you'll find a whole new world full of stats, trends, blog posts and interactive discussion on this topic and more.

What are your thoughts about diversity in YA? Are you open to read more of these books? Do you care either way as long is it is a good story? Any book recommendations for us?

Review: The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson (Rithmatist #1)

2014-02-27T01:30:00.000-05:00

Review: The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

Published: Mary 14^th, 2013 by Tor Teen

Source: Finished copy from BEA

Format: Hardcover

Genre: Steampunk

Age group: Young adult

Reviewer: ‘B’

Grade rate: A++

More than anything, Joel wants to be a Rithmatist. Chosen by the Master in a mysterious inception ceremony, Rithmatists have the power to infuse life into two-dimensional figures known as Chalklings. Rithmatists are humanity’s only defense against the Wild Chalklings — merciless creatures that leave mangled corpses in their wake. Having nearly overrun the territory of Nebrask, the Wild Chalklings now threaten all of the American Isles. As the son of a lowly chalkmaker at Armedius Academy, Joel can only watch as Rithmatist students study the magical art that he would do anything to practice. Then students start disappearing — kidnapped from their rooms at night, leaving trails of blood. Assigned to help the professor who is investigating the crimes, Joel and his friend Melody find themselves on the trail of an unexpected discovery — one that will change Rithmatics — and their world — forever. Bestselling author Brandon Sanderson brings his unique brand of epic storytelling to the teen audience with an engrossing tale of danger and suspense—the first of a series. With his trademark skills in world-building, Sanderson has created a magic system that is so inventive and detailed that that readers who appreciate games of strategy and tactics just may want to bring Rithmatics to life in our world.

Review

The Rithmatist was sheer bad-assery because it’s everything an artist would love, their art coming to life.

The story is told from a third person POV, which I like because it allowed me to learn how diverse the characters were. The main characters are Joel, Melody and Professor Fitch. Joel is very studious and has very few friends. He wanted to be a Rithmatist, but couldn’t because he missed his inception ceremony. He is very caring towards the people he loves. Melody had a tragic life (which by the way is her favorite word.) She doesn’t want to be a Rithmatist since there are four in her family already. She very open and strong headed and she doesn’t care what others think about her. Professor Fitch is very closed and cautions and worries about keeping everyone safe.

The story is very interesting and it’s a major page turner. The plot is fantastic and full of mystery. World building is very well done, this is my first steampunk and it will not be the last. The writing is very descriptive and it explains everything really well. I love all the clockwork things, especially the horse.

Overall, I loved the Rithmatist and I can’t wait for the next book, even if I still have to wait a whole year. (NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!)

Some quotes for you:

“... everyone knows that ice cream is worth the trouble of being cold. Like all things virtuous, you have to suffer to gain the reward.”

“Well, that’s because they’re wrong and I’m right. No more reading for you. Let’s go get some ice cream.”

“I don’t know if the kitchen has any,” Joel said. “It’s hard to get in the summers, and—”

“Not from the kitchen, stupid,” Melody said, rolling her eyes. “From the parlor out on Knight Street.”

“Oh. I’ve … never been there.”

“What! That’s a tragedy.”

“Melody, everything is a tragedy to you.”

“Not having ice cream,” she proclaimed, “is the culmination of all disasters! That’s it. No more discussion. We’re going. Follow.”

'B' is my almost 14 y/o son

Leave B some comment love!

Waiting on Wednesday: In a Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis (Not a Drop to Drink #2)

2014-02-26T01:30:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we have the opportunity to let others know about books that we are eagerly waiting for.

Title: In a Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis

Published by: Katherine Tegen Books

Release date: September 23rd, 2014

The only thing bigger than the world is fear.Lucy’s life by the pond has always been full. She has water and friends, laughter and the love of her adoptive mother, Lynn, who has made sure that Lucy’s childhood was very different from her own. Yet it seems Lucy’s future is settled already—a house, a man, children, and a water source—and anything beyond their life by the pond is beyond reach.When disease burns through their community, the once life-saving water of the pond might be the source of what’s killing them now. Rumors of desalinization plants in California have lingered in Lynn’s mind, and the prospect of a “normal” life for Lucy sets the two of them on an epic journey west to face new dangers: hunger, mountains, deserts, betrayal, and the perils of a world so vast that Lucy fears she could be lost forever, only to disappear in a handful of dust.In this companion to Not a Drop to Drink, Mindy McGinnis thrillingly combines the heart-swelling hope of a journey, the challenges of establishing your own place in the world, and the gripping physical danger of nature in a futuristic frontier.

Why I want to read it: I loved Not a Drop to Drink (see my review here)! Color me surprised, I didn't know it was the first of a series though. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the cover for it's sequel. I can't wait to see what happens to Lucy and Lynn next :)

What are you waiting for this week?

Top Ten Tuesday REWIND - Tips for New Book Bloggers

2014-02-25T01:30:00.000-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

1. Give guest blogging a try! If you don’t have time to maintain a blog of your own or if you’re an experienced blogger feeling pressure of burn-out, guesting or getting a co-blogger could be perfect for you. It was for me!

2. Scheduling is your friend! Instead of rushing posts and hitting publish

right away, work as far in advance as you can. This will help you stay on top of your workload and make taking short breaks from blogging easier.

3. Build up your store of content. When your blog is new, it doesn’t have an audience, and you won’t get one if all you do is sit there and wait for them to magically appear! Review books you own and any you’ve taken out of the library. Memes are a great way to bring traffic onto your blog, but take part in a few of them, not them all.

4. Don’t ask for ARCs right away. This one links in with my last point. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen inexperienced bloggers ask for ARCs and get a solid ‘no’ for their trouble. Save yourself the heartache and wait it out. As you get better at blogging, the perks will come.

5. Promote your blog. Leave genuine comments on blogs you like, not “This post was great come check out my own blog it is awesome” comments. Be active on social media and explore the blogosphere, but be natural, not forceful.

6. Be dedicated. This goes without saying, really. Blogging success is not an overnight thing. It’s a lot of fun, but it takes hard work, too.

7. Don’t forget to enjoy reading – don’t let it become a chore! If you’re book blogging, it’s because you love reading, and you can never afford to forget that.

8. Practice your review craft. Let’s face it, no blogger has ever burst onto the scene writing like they just did a six-month internship at the New York Times. The more you write, the better you’ll get at it. Think of your review writing skills as a constant work in progress, not a finished product.

9. Be patient, be practical, and be professional. Set realistic goals and realistic timeframes to achieve them in. Learn about blogging etiquette. No matter how frustrated or worn out you are, no matter how many readers your blog has or how many reviews you’ve posted over the last month without a single comment, remember that it costs nothing to be polite and it costs even less to be kind.

10. Book bloggers aren’t really as scary a bunch as you might think, so make friends! There are a lot of us, so there are bound to be some who are exactly like you. I’ve been lucky enough to meet some amazing bloggers, not least the lovely Liza right here at Reading with ABC, and trust me, book blogging with friends is much more fun than book blogging without them :)

What do you think of our tips for new book bloggers? Do you have any that aren't on this list? Let us know in the comments!

Blog Tour, Review and Giveaway: That One Summer by C.J. Duggan (Summer #3)

2014-02-24T01:30:00.000-05:00

Hi there and welcome to Reading with ABC's stop of the blog tour of C.J. Duggan's That One Summer, book three of the Summer series. I LOVE this series and I couldn't wait to read Chris's story as he is one of my favorite of the Onslow's boys. You can find the rest of the Tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tour here.

Title: That One Summer by F.J. Duggan
Release date: 12/17/13

Loving Chris Henderson would be wrong. Diabolically disastrous. I mean, what is there about him to love? He’s moody, bossy, brooding, a control freak, and that’s on a good day … but there was one achingly obvious fact that haunted my every thought, every minute of every day...

He sure could kiss.
As the countdown to the new millennium begins, there is one thing everyone agrees on: no one wants to be in Onslow for New Year’s Eve.
So that can only mean one thing: road trip!
No longer the mousey, invisible, shy girl from years ago, Tammy Maskala is finally making up for all those lost summers. A new year with new friends, which astoundingly includes the bossy boy behind the bar, Chris Henderson.
She likes her new friends (at least most of them), so why does she secretly feel so out of place?
After chickening out on the trip, a last-minute change of heart sees Tammy racing to the Onslow Hotel, fearing she’s missed her chance for a ride. The last thing she expected to meet was a less-than-happy Onslow Boy leaning against his black panel van.
Now the countdown begins to reach the others at Point Shank before the party is over and the new year has begun. Alone in a car with only the infuriating Chris Henderson, Tammy can’t help but feel this is a disastrous start to what could have been a great adventure. But when the awkward road trip takes an unexpected turn, Tammy soon discovers that the way her traitorous heart feels about Chris is the biggest disaster of all.
Fogged up windows, moonlight swimming, bad karaoke and unearthed secrets; after this one summer nothing will ever be the same again.

Find it here: Goodreads | Buy Links

Review

I LOVE Duggan’s Summer series! It’s one of the best YA series around, you can find the reviews for the first two books here: The Boys of Summer and An Endless Summer . That One Summer is Chris and Tammy’s story and it was awesome!

I think this is my favorite book in the series because I can easily identify with Tammy the best. Tammy is shy, a bit OCD, a worrier, a loyal friend and she gets migraines (just like me!). She reconnected with Amy on the previous book and is now a regular at the Onslow Hotel, even if she doesn’t feel like she fits in yet. Now, Chris is always scowling and broody, but I have a soft spot for him. He is so strong, has a quiet self-assurance, he is a great friend to have on your corner and very considerate. I just love him, even if before That One Summer, he was a big mystery. Who would know that he would turned out to be such a romantic?

What can I say about the Onslow Boys? They are all amazing, handsome, caring, loyal, (*keep inserting here all the good adjectives you can imagine*)… This group of friends, now with the addition of the girls, is one that I would love to have been a part of as a teenager. I long to see what would happen next.

The story is so funny! Tammy gets in such amazingly hilarious situations. She’s athletic, but sarcastically she’s also a klutz. The plot is simple, but not boring at all; I always love a good road trip. I also enjoy Duggan’s writing, it’s easy to read, even when it’s filled by Australian regionalisms.

Overall, That One Summer is my favorite book of the series so far. I can’t wait to read Ringer’s story next.

Pre-order Ringer here
Pre-order Forever Summer here

Trailer for the Series

About the Author

C.J Duggan is a Number One Best Selling Australian Author who lives with her husband in a rural border town of New South Wales, Australia. When she isn’t writing books about swoony boys and 90’s pop culture you will find her renovating her hundred-year-old Victorian homestead or annoying her local travel agent for a quote to escape the chaos.

The Boys of Summer is Book One in her highly successful Mature Young Adult Romance Series.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | C.J.'s Street Team

Giveaway

1 winner will get ebooks of Book 1-3 of the Summer series (INT)

RULES AND RESTRICTIONS:

Contest is void where prohibited. Entrants must be 13 or else have parent or guardian’s permission to enter. Winners will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner’s name will be selected. Winning entries will be verified for authenticity.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of YA Bound Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by YA Bound Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

Review: Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge (Cruel Beauty Universe)

2014-02-23T01:30:00.000-05:00

Title: Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Published: January 28^th, 2014 by Balzer and Bray

Source: ARC from ALA

Format: Paperback

Genre: Fantasy | Paranormal | Romance

Age group: Young adult

Grade rate: C+

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny. Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him. With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people. But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her. As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

Liza’s Review

Well, that was not what I expected. Cruel Beauty was pitched at a Graceling meets Beauty and the Beast and that it was not. Instead, the book is a mix of a Greek mythology fantasy, romance, and magic.

I love Beauty and the Beast and retellings based on the story and thus I was eager to read this book. Cruel Beauty was confusing, which is not something I like to feel when reading. At first, the world that was introduced to is very strange. It is based on Hermetic principles – four elements that create or destroy everything – that are studied by the people of the island of Arcadia. It is believed that the island has been isolated from the rest of the world by magic created by the Gentle Lord. Nyx, our protagonist, was raised to destroy the Gentle Lord upon marriage (more about that later), and trained on Hermetic principles and other useful things, since birth. Are you with me so far?

Let me try to explain something really quickly: the book can be divided in two parts that I will call Before and After. When Nyx marries the Gentle Lord, which is called Ignifex, is when my confusion starts. What ensues next is a series of encounters with the very handsome demon and his shadow. Nyx spends a lot of time searching the castle for clues and trying to steal keys to said rooms from Ignifex. At the end the ‘Before’ part Nyx does the unthinkable, bound by a promise that she made to her sister. I didn’t like this ending at all. I think it was precipitous and disjointed.

Also, I didn’t particularly liked Nyx. Before she was cruel, hateful, and insecure. She did have some redeeming qualities though, she was smart, fearless, and learned to love. On the other hand, Ignifex was more straightforward. He didn’t remember how he ended up the way he did, but he was unapologetically good and bad at the same time and more importantly, he was happy that way. I like them both better when they were together.

After the ‘first ending’ (confused yet?), we get to meet the same characters, but they are different. Not only is the world itself altered, but the story takes a different turn. This second part (the After) is much shorter, the last three chapters, and that might be why I was taken aback. This Nyx is easier to like and much braver. Ignifex is weaker and we don’t get to spend any time with him to even get to know him.

Astraia is Nyx’s twin sister and it seems like the only purpose for her being in the story is for Nyx to have someone to hate. Nyx’s father and aunt were horrible as well (at least Before) and expected Nyx to figure out how to defeat the Gentle Lord and fix everything, even though it was an impossible task. These are very minor characters because

The setting is weird. Most of the story takes place while Nyx is inside the castle. True to the B&B story, it is enchanted and changes all the time. Another similarity is the mirror that Nyx uses to look to the outside. The world building is good and heavily based on Green mythology. The writing is straightforward and easy to read.

Overall, I enjoyed Cruel Beauty, but unfortunately I didn’t love it. I’ll still read the next book settled in this universe and hope that they improve with time.

Some quotes for you:

“If you start wondering how this house works, you'll likely go mad. That could be amusing, I suppose. Especially if it's the kind of madness that causes you to run naked through the hallways. Do feel free to indulge in that anytime.”

“You deserve all that and more. It made me happy to see you suffer. I would do it all over again if I could." I realized I was shaking as the words tumbled out of me. "I would do it again and again. Every night I would torment you and laugh. Do you understand? You are never safe with me." I drew a shuddering breath, trying to will away the sting of tears.

He opened his eyes and stared up at me as if I were the door out of Arcadia and back to the true sky. "That's what makes you my favorite." He reached up and wiped a tear off my cheek with his thumb. "Every wicked bit of you.”

“Why is he scared of the dark?"

I meant the words for a joke, but Shade nodded seriously. "Like all monsters. Because it reminds him of what he truly is".”

About the cover: It’s gorgeous, and one of the things that had me reading the book in the first place. The roses have a very deep meaning in the Beauty and the Beast story, but not so here. Also, the spiral stairs emphasize the confusion of the ever-changing castle.

Stacking the Shelves #72

2014-02-22T01:30:00.000-05:00

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which we feature all the book goodness that we received, borrowed or purchased during the previous week. All links are to Goodreads.

Another busy week comes to an end *sigh* This one was full of a lot of work, but also awesome fun! On Wednesday, "B" and I went to the HarperTeen's Pitch Dark Tour and it was, well, Epic :) Here are my new goodies this week (trying to control myself and save for BEA):

Purchased for Kindle

Fall For Me by K.A. Last - I say this book last week in someone's STS and I couldn't resist this cover.

Purchased Physical Books

Signed pretties! Into the Still Blue, Ignite Me and In The Shadows

Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi - I LOVE this series! Into the Still Blue was such a good ending for an amazing series (see my review here.)

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi - I have to confess that I haven't read the Shatter Me series (I do have the first book), but I will start it soon.

A brief note about the event: I take my hat off these ladies (never mind that I'm not actually wearing one), they are such strong, wonderful women. Their roads to becoming authors is different, but they have the same inner strength and resiliency in common. I could have easily listen to them talk for at least a couple more hours :) I also got my ARC of In the Shadows signed by Kiersten White (and couldn't get Uninvited signed since I bought it in audiobook :(

High five to the YADC group and all the other authors that attended the event!

For Review

My Life from Hell by Tellulah Darling - This is the last book of the Blooming Goddess trilogy and I can't wait to know the ending!

Searching for Beautiful by Nyrae Dawn - This one is for a blog tour and it sounds really good (obviously!)

What's stacking your shelves this week?

One Window, Two Views {Harry and Hermione or Hermione and Ron}

2014-02-21T01:30:00.000-05:00

Arianne and I are so excited to bring you this new feature! One Window, Two Views will be a weekly meme where we will discuss a topic from each of our points of view. Please join the discussion!

Arianne: When the article where JK Rowling admitted she regretted letting Ron and Hermione end up together first appeared, I thought it was going to break the internet! I believe her comments were: “For reasons that have very little to do with literature and far more to do with me clinging to the plot as I first imagined it, Hermione ended up with Ron. I can hear the rage and fury it might cause some fans, but if I’m absolutely honest, distance has given me perspective”.

It's not outright saying the relationship didn't work, but an author even admitting she had doubts about 'big romance' of her most famous series is kind of a big deal! The Romione relationship is really important to a lot of fans - but (please don't maim me for what I'm about to say next!) I've always been a Harry/Hermione supporter, and when I read the article I was secretly thrilled. It was like being told "You were right, there was something there between them all along!" What about you, Liza?

Liza: That is so funny! I’m not at all surprised by Rowling’s statement. I’m not an author, but if I may insert a comparison here, when I bake a recipe for the first time I make notes: more sugar the next time, more vanilla, maybe adding more chocolate chips or replacing the pecans for almonds. Similarly, any artist often judges and criticizes her/his own work; it must be difficult indeed. Like you, I could easily imagine Harry and Hermione together, but I have to admit that by ‘The Goblet of Fire’ when Hermione started showing interest in Ron, the idea kind of grew on me.

Arianne: That's a good point, actually - when you read what Rowling said, you have to step back and think, "Hold on, was anyone really surprised by this?" I can totally understand why as a writer she felt she needed more control over her work. Remember, by the time the third and fourth books were published, the movies were already a huge success. Imagine how hard it must have been to see the books stripped back and streamlined so that only the bare bones were left intact. Of course the central story was still there, but it must have been like looking up a big, old tree and wondering which branch would be chopped off next! By going ahead with the Ron/Hermione romance no matter what was happening on the screen, JK Rowling made the relationship part of the tree's trunk, the very heart of the series, so no one could possibly dream of taking it away. I think a lot of people can empathize with her decision, no matter which relationship you support at the end of the day.

Liza: Maybe part of the problem for me, was that throughout the series we get to know and love this magical trio of friends. Since the ‘idea’ of Ron/Hermione is introduced early on, we, as readers got used to it and didn’t question it further. Sadly, that is not the case with Ginny Wesley. It may be, not that we can’t imagine Ron and Hermione together, but that I never saw any chemistry between Ginny and Harry. Furthermore, Harry and Hermione always behaved like siblings, and the bond of love between them was palpable, I can easily imagine that bond growing into something more.

Arianne: I'm in total agreement with you there. I may not have wanted them to end up together romantically, but Ron and Hermione have a very funny, tense, dynamic relationship - it's interesting. The same can't really be said for Harry and Ginny. I think that's why I started thinking about Harry and Hermione possibly falling for each other - because even if their romance wasn't happening on the page, the excitement of what could have been was way more believable and intriguing than Harry and Ginny were!

The one scene that really made me believe it though was when Harry and Hermione dance together while Ron's gone in Deathly Hallows. It's so different in the movie than in the book - tender and sweet and, like you said, really indicative of the bond they share, and maybe indicative of that bond changing, too. I was totally floored by it.

Liza: You’re right! That was a splendid scene, an indication that even though they were in the middle of nowhere, missing their loved ones, at a loss of what path to follow next; they could find solace in each other. I also always felt that Hermione was such an indispensable part of helping Harry defeat Voldemort. I can’t even imagine where they would have been without her unwavering faith in Harry, her extraordinary intelligence, her quick wit and quicker thinking. I think, more than the rest, Harry knew this, he accepted it and appreciated Hermione above everyone else.

Arianne: Harry wouldn't have made it past the first book without Hermione! We're talking as if Hermione needs a man beside her to survive, but she's a fantastic character all by herself - my favourite by far! I think she and Harry could have had a wonderful relationship, full of respect, reassurance and the bond we so love to see between them - but her relationship with Ron shows that no matter how many differences there are between you, love is love and who are we to say it wouldn't have worked out?

When it comes down to it, I'd like to be able to say a supporter of Harry/Hermione in the movies and Ron/Hermione in the books - but I support the friendship between the three of them most of all.

What do you think? Did it ever crossed your mind that Harry and Hermione might have been a couple? How do you feel about J.K. Rowling's comments? Were you surprised at all?

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