Ruby's Reads

Saturday Swap for June 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 07:00:00 +0000

In case you haven't already guessed, Saturday Swap is a meme designed to connect book swappers with other book swappers. I hope it's a meme that'll catch on; we've had a couple of great months so far. Here's how it works: On the first Saturday of each month, I'll put up a Saturday Swap post with a linky for just that purpose. The rules are:

For Bloggers: Make a post on your blog letting everyone know what books you have available for swap. I suggest linking to your wishlist as well (on your blog, Amazon, BD, Goodreads, wherever), for swifter swapping. For Non-Bloggers: Leave a comment listing the books you have available for swap. Include your email in the comment so interested parties can contact you directly.
Grab the button or create your own, but please link back to Ruby's Reads. All the cool people are doing it.
Once your post is live, enter your info in the linky so everyone can see what you've got.
The circumstances surrounding the swaps are up to the individuals. I'm not responsible for lost books. If you're nervous about swapping with someone you don't know, I suggest you ask for a delivery confirmation number. HOWEVER: please let me know if someone doesn't uphold their end of the bargain and I'll ban them from further swaps.
HAVE FUN!

My Books:

Revived by Cat Patrick
Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh (ARC)
Switched, Torn and Ascend by Amanda Hocking (I'd be willing to trade all three for one book...if it's the right book.)
Belles by Jen Calonita
Damned and Crusade and Unleashed (not pictured) by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie
Everfound by Neil Shusterman

I still have many of the books from last month's swap, so check them out! (Belles is a repeat.) I'll be out of town this week for BEA/to visit family, but I will still be accessible via email.

My Wishlists:

Goodreads

Amazon

Debate: Wordpress v. Blogger with @MandiKaye and @book_travels

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Thu, 31 May 2012 14:43:00 +0000

Welcome to the newest Ruby's Reads Debate! Two fabulous bloggers are tackling one of the hottest issues for bloggers today: Wordpress v. Blogger. Let me begin by introducing our two debaters for the day:

For Blogger:

Mariana from Book Travels

Bio: I love to read and started with some Harlequin, from there to YA and Paranormal was really fast. I love anything connected with Romance and you're always going to find me with some book.

Twitter: @book_travels

For Wordpress:

Mandi from Never Too Fond of Books

Bio: Mandi Kaye is on a mission to become an information superhero (or in layman's terms, she is an MLIS candidate from SJSU). In her spare time, she reads a lot and shares her thoughts and opinions of most of those books with the world on her blog(strikethrough this word please) portal to the imagination. Reading is truly her passion. Her favorite places to travel include Narnia, Oz, and the beach. Her favorite book is generally whatever she's reading at the time, and if you interrupt her while she's in her happy place she will cut you.
Twitter: @MandiKaye

Let's get started!

Mariana

My first blog host was powered by Google, also called Blogger! I believe it may be the first for a huge crowd. When we start to blog, our first thought is “Where should I start?” and Blogger is the answer. It’s very simple for a beginner and has a good list of widgets to chose from making the blogging experience fun and fast.

I’m all in favor of Blogger, you can make a new blog in a few minute and start posting without a lot of trouble. Plus it has a good platform and you can find guides and help very easily without needing a lot knowledge of html and css. Because the first impressions are always what we remember, and for me easy and simple is the best.

Mandi

WordPress is, for me, the simplest blog platform for a beginner. Like many, I also started my first blog on Blogger, but it wasn't long before I was looking for something else. Blogger's platform is deceptively simple - so much so that it's often counter-intuitive to use. I never once had trouble with WordPress. Everything, from templates to posting is up front and exactly where you would expect it to be.

WordPress.com blogs, while not as fully customizable as Blogger blogs, do not require any use of HTML or CSS (in fact, you *can’t* use CSS or HTML to pimp your blog’s design). There are also many widgets you can use in the sidebar, but they don’t let you get too complicated. WordPress allows you to get your feet wet and get comfortable with managing your own blog. Once you are confident and ready, you can move to a self-hosted WordPress site.

Mariana

Wordpress for is me is okay if you’re looking for a good platform, but is only great if you’re willing to pay for self-hosted. Trust me there’s nothing wrong with Wordpress but the templates from Blogger are way better visually. And we all love a beautiful design, with our own little touches. So far Blogger made that happen for me better than Wordpress.com.

Blogger made the experience off posting my thoughts and news so simple and pretty that I love every moment spent on my blog. From template, to creating post, everything is my choice!!!

Mandi

I will concede that Wordpress.com has many limitations that you don't encounter with Blogger (for example, customizing your designs) which will push folks to pay for hosting to use the self-hosted version.

It's worth every penny.

Wordpress' platform is just better. It's far more intuitive to use and offers the ease of drag and drop when it comes to uploading images or moving widgets around in the sidebar. I have complete control over every aspect of my design and rarely need to enlist the help of someone more skilled in coding or design to help me do so. In short, it's the perfect blogging platform for me.

Mariana

At the end what really matter is the best for you. Everyone can say great things about Blogger and Wordpress, but only you can determinate the one that make you satisfied. For me right now is Blogger, it may change who knows but I ‘m comfortable and happy.

Mandi

In closing, I just have to continue gushing about Wordpress. There is absolutely nothing I can't do with my blog that I want to. I find the dashboard interface far more intuitive and useful than Blogger's. And for those who are maybe a little uncomfortable with managing their own website, Wordpress is the better choice. You can start with the basic account at wordpress.com and once you are comfortable with the technology, you can move to a self-hosted account that looks and feels exactly the same - with more control. In short, Wordpress works with you as you grow, which is why I will always choose it as my blogging platform.

What about you? Blogger or Wordpress?

Prefer an entirely different platform?

Have something to add?

Join the debate!

Bookish Bundles Presents: Historicals

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Wed, 30 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Ruby's Bookish Bundles is a new feature I'm starting here on the blog. In it, I'm going to post about three books:

Want Now: One recently released or already published title I'm lusting after.
Want Soon: One upcoming title I'm looking forward to, based on things I've heard, the cover, and the description.
Want Someday: One upcoming title I've heard about that sounds like it could be interested but is so far off into the future it doesn't even have a cover yet.

I love discovering new books, and I love sharing about the books I discover. However, I've been wanting to do something a little different from (and more involved than) a WoW post, so I created this new feature for myself. Since it's new, however, you'll have to bear with me as I figure out all the kinks!

This week I'm featuring some YA historicals I can't wait to get my hands on. As long as they're not Tudor or Elizabethan, YA historicals are hard for me to resist. For some reason, those eras don't interest me. Probably because I visited Hampton Court Palace and saw how royalty lived during those times--and it made me very, very afraid to learn how much worse it must have been for "normal people." Please, do not attempt to disillusion me about any other eras. I will scream.

Want Now:

Okay, so technically, I can't have this one right now, but June 14th isn't all that far off. It was either this or Glamorous Illusions, which I am also excited about--but that won't come out until June 1. Also, I'm a sucker for anything that is "a witty take on the Classic Regency." Plus, I read a delightful review of Keeping the Castle in an issue of Shelf Awareness. Which I do occasionally read.

Seventeen-year-old Althea is the sole support of her entire family, and she must marry well. But there are few wealthy suitors--or suitors of any kind--in their small Yorkshire town of Lesser Hoo. Then, the young and attractive (and very rich) Lord Boring arrives, and Althea sets her plans in motion. There's only one problem; his friend and business manager Mr. Fredericks keeps getting in the way. And, as it turns out, Fredericks has his own set of plans . . . This witty take on the classic Regency--Patrice Kindl's first novel in a decade--is like literary champagne!

Add Keeping the Castle to your Goodreads wishlist.

Want soon:

Though this cover suggests Belle Epoque or the Edwardian era, Debutantes actually takes place in the 20s. Since this is an era I have been wanting to see more of in YA, I practically squealed when I saw this one. I believe I first heard of it from Hafsah at Icey Books.

August 2, 2012

It’s 1923 and London is a whirl of jazz, dancing and parties. Violet, Daisy, Poppy and Rose Derrington are desperate to be part of it, but stuck in an enormous crumbling house in the country, with no money and no fashionable dresses, the excitement seems a lifetime away. Luckily the girls each have a plan for escaping their humdrum country life: Rose wants to be a novelist, Poppy a jazz musician and Daisy a famous film director. Violet, however, has only one ambition: to become the perfect Debutante, so that she can go to London and catch the eye of Prince George, the most eligible bachelor in the country. But a house as big and old as Beech Grove Manor hides many secrets, and Daisy is about to uncover one so huge it could ruin all their plans - ruin everything - forever.

Add The Debutantes by Cora Harrison to your Goodreads wishlist.

Want Someday:

I haven't read The Island of Dr. Moreau, but I do enjoy books written from the perspective of the children of famous (or infamous) literary characters. It's a fun way to retell the tale while giving the story a fresh twist. Now I just have to decide if I reading Moreau is necessary to appreciate The Madman's Daughter.

The Madman's Daughter

by Megan Shepard

London, 1894. Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father’s gruesome experiments. But when she learns her father is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations were true.

Juliet is accompanied by the doctor’s handsome young assistant and an enigmatic castaway, who both attract Juliet for very different reasons. They travel to the island only to discover the depths of her father’s madness: he has created animals that have been vivisected to resemble, speak, and behave as humans. Worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island’s inhabitants. Juliet knows she must end her father’s dangerous experiments and escape the island, even though her horror is mixed with her own scientific curiosity. As the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father’s genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Add The Madman's Daughter to your Goodreads wishlist.

Top Off Tuesday: High FIVE!

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Tue, 29 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Cribbed from On a Book Bender--It’s that time again — Tuesday! — which means [we] give you shirtless men ~~and you try to steal them away from [us].~~ (There's more than enough to go 'round!) Top Off Tuesdays was started by Felicia, Christi and [Amanda]. It is where [ALL OF US] share the book covers that make us swoon. Head over to Felicia’s blog to share your Top Off Tuesday link or to see what everyone has posted. (Believe me when I tell you it's worth it.)

I may not have time to keep up my blog right now, but I always have time to answer a dare.

Nothing's sexier than a man, or five, with power tools. Sultry summer heat has nothing on the five-man crew renovating the house next door. No one could blame Kate for leaning out the window for a better view of the manscape. The nasty fall that follows isn't part of her fantasy-but the man who saves her from splattering the sidewalk is definitely the star. When Mike personally attends to her injuries, she realizes her white knight in a hard hat has a tender side, giving her no choice but to surrender to the lust that's been arcing between them since day one. In the aftermath of the best sex of her life, she whispers her most secret desire: to be ravaged by his crew. She never expected Mike would dare her to take what she wants-or that the freedom to make her most decadent desires come true could be the foundation for something lasting... Warning: This book may cause you to spontaneously combust as five hot guys bring a woman's wildest fantasies to life during one blazing summer affair.

So much more tasteful than the one with four guys, no? (Also--snerk--"five men with power tools.")

Bookish Discussion Post: The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Mon, 28 May 2012 16:17:00 +0000

Yesterday, I reviewed The Hunt, but I'm not done discussing it. The only problem? The things I want to discuss are spoilerific! So, if you haven't read the book, I don't suggest you read any further. If you have, let's talk!

Many of the thoughts I'm including here today are lifted from my emails to Small Review. I've added a bit here and there, but primarily, I let Small know which things were either bothering me, or that I felt warranted further discussion. Small's replies are not included in this post. If you would like to see them, I'd be happy to ask her for her permission to post them. Just let me know!

     I'm reaching the end of The Hunt, and just about when I was about to give up on Gene (hate that name) and Ashley June, they've redeemed themselves a little. I'd be crap at pretending not to be human, btw. But Gene's detachment and the fact that he's not all, "Um, we can't just let them eat the hepers...some of them are KIDS!" has put me off more than a bit. It doesn't bother me as much with Ashley June because she's not the narrator. And I get that in order to survive Gene's had to subvert all his emotions, etc, but that's something that's ingrained in human nature unless you're a sociopath. Maybe that's just the teacher in me talking, though.
   I also felt that Ashley June's offer to let Gene save the hepers was pure manipulation. There was little chance that he'd choose them over her while she was standing right there. Reading between the lines, I think Ashley June genuinely has feelings for Gene, but that there's no room for anyone else in her consciousness. The way that she cold-bloodedly killed her boyfriend cements the idea for me, and the fact that she told Gene to use the hepers to save her was the lid on the coffin of her character.
     Additionally, I'd guessed waaaaaay in the beginning (the stretch carriage scene) that Ashley June was a human, but I never, ever understood Gene's infatuation with her. I think it was Fukuda's intention to contrast Ashley June's perspective with Sissy's "leave none behind" attitude. If that's the case--and Sissy is ultimately the series' heroine--I'll be fine with that. I don't think I'll ever be on Ashley June's team, but I'm looking forward to seeing the two girls meet.
      As for the ending, It disappointed me that Gene's participation in the saving of the hepers was so inactive. He was basically forced into it, and I got the sense that he would have thrown them under the bus to save Ashley June if he could have, even to the very last. I had fully expected him to have a moment where he realized that he couldn't sacrifice Ben's life, even to save her. Instead, it was more like he had no choice but to help the hepers get away. If this doesn't change in the next book, I don't think I'll be continuing on with the series. I get that Gene has had to subvert his humanity to survive, but if it takes him too long to rediscover it--or if he is only able to do so by loving Ashley June (and screw the other guys)--then I don't really think he'll have rediscovered it at all. Because--not to get all preachy--but humanity isn't really humanity if you love one person so much you're willing to sacrifice the lives of children for him or her.
     I also think it's curious that Gene never considers killing himself rather than dying by being eaten. I mean, seems like he'd at least think about it, you know? Rather than sit around and wait to be eaten? I could buy Gene deciding he wants to fight to the last, but in his defeatist moments (when he believes he'll be discovered), he just lies down to wait until evening. I think it's pretty unbelievable that suicide wouldn't at least cross his mind, even if he couldn't go through with it in the end.

Have any thoughts on The Hunt that you'd care to share?

Want to defend Ashley June?

Disagree with me about Gene's role in saving the hepers?

Suspect my opinion was skewed because I listened to the audio version?

SHARE!

Audiobook Review: The Hunt (The Hunt No. 1) by Andrew Fukuda

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Sun, 27 May 2012 21:28:00 +0000

Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: May 8, 2012
Format: CD
Status: First in The Hunt series.
Source: Received from the publisher for review.
Genre: Teen, Dystopian, Vampires
Other Info: Fukuda is also the author of Crossing.
Description and link from Goodreads):

Don’t Sweat. Don’t Laugh. Don’t draw attention to yourself. And most of all, whatever you do, do not fall in love with one of them.
Gene is different from everyone else around him. He can’t run with lightning speed, sunlight doesn’t hurt him and he doesn’t have an unquenchable lust for blood. Gene is a human, and he knows the rules. Keep the truth a secret. It’s the only way to stay alive in a world of night—a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for their blood.
When he’s chosen for a once in a lifetime opportunity to hunt the last remaining humans, Gene’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble around him. He’s thrust into the path of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible—and into a ruthless pack of hunters whose suspicions about his true nature are growing. Now that Gene has finally found something worth fighting for, his need to survive is stronger than ever—but is it worth the cost of his humanity?

Narrator Review:
   Right out of the gate, Sean Runnette did not strike me as the right narrator for The Hunt. For one thing, his voice was far too gravely and deep to suggest "teenage boy." For another, it's slightly pedantic. Runnette won me over as I got to know Gene a little better--Gene is methodical and intensely cerebral--and these are things that are communicated through the quality of the narration. On the other hand, I've never met a male narrator who can voice a female character to my satisfaction, and Runnette is no exception.
Review Review:
     I am the world's biggest wimp. I hate gore, and I will never, ever see another boxing movie for as long as I live. The scene in the body switch episode of Glee where Tina conks her head on the bottom of a fountain nearly ruined the episode for me. I bring up my squeamishness because The Hunt is extremely graphic in terms of grossness, the eating of humans and general gore. And, yet, despite the scene where a vampire essentially turns into gooey cheese (I just vomited a little), I loved this book. I had issues with 90% of the characters, but it made me think, and it stuck with me. To me, that is the mark of seriously bada** writing.
     The most interesting question that The Hunt brings up for me is what it means to be human. Gene, the narrator, has only survived amongst these vampire-zombies by completely subverting his humanity. And while it's saved him, it's also killed him. His is a character that I was on the verge of disliking, even to the very last word. Gene flirts with being irredeemable and it's that, more than the threat of his being discovered, that kept me on the edge of my seat.
     I can't really talk about the rest of the characters because doing so would be spoilery, but I want to touch on what I said about disliking 90% of the characters. The characters I was rooting for the most were the ones the least seen. Sissy totally kicked butt and, of course, I'm a sucker for kids. They better live, do you hear me Andrew Fukuda? Fortunately, I'm fairly certain we'll be seeing a lot more of them in the next book.
     Another thing that I enjoyed about The Hunt was its sheer bizarreness. Fukuda must have had a lot of fun coming up with the whole armpit/elbow make-out scene. After I read that part, I hurried over to Small's blog because I needed to talk to her about it, pronto. There are plenty of bits from the world-building that will make you go, Wait, WHAT?! And then there's the wrist-scratching.
     Finally, there were definitely times when suspension of disbelief was required. When Gene gets chosen for the Heper Hunt, it means leaving behind all the tools of his deception. The vampire-zombies don't sweat, bathe, have hair, require water and, apparently have perfectly groomed fingernails. Fukuda makes a big deal about all the rules Gene's father taught him to survive. Some of the problems are addressed--the need for water being one of them. But others--the lack of deodorant, how he got a razor, etc.--required the readers to look the other way. Not to mention the sheer unbelievability of being in control of yourself at all times. Humans just aren't made that way. Or maybe I just mean that I'm just not made that way. Who knows.
     I highly recommend The Hunt for anyone interested in the Paranormal and Dystopian genres. In fact, I recommend it to almost anyone, period. It's insanely gripping, thought-provoking and exciting. The only problem? The sequel isn't even listed on Goodreads yet.

But wait! I'm not done talking about The Hunt!

Join me tomorrow (Monday, May 28) for an in-depth, spoilery discussion!

5 Matryoshkas: I would move in with this book.

Top Off Tuesday: And One for @sprntrlsnark

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Tue, 22 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Cribbed from On a Book Bender--It’s that time again — Tuesday! — which means [we] give you shirtless men ~~and you try to steal them away from [us].~~ (All spoken for, sorry!) Top Off Tuesdays was started by Felicia, Christi and [Amanda]. It is where [ALL OF US] share the book covers that make us swoon. Head over to Felicia’s blog to share your Top Off Tuesday link or to see what everyone has posted. (Believe me when I tell you it's worth it.)

Ask and you shall receive, Jenny!

Paisley Szuzman came to the Laurel Ridge Ranch in Daly, Wyoming to interview for an administrative position, but she’s shocked, and secretly aroused, to find that the job might entail more than she envisioned. Anyone filling this spot must meet the criteria of plays well with others, and the “others” are the men on the ranch— four hunky cowboys who are pure, rugged temptation. Adventurous to the core, Paisley takes the challenge and finds more in store for her than she ever imagined.

A few things I'd like to mention:

Any "foursome" searches that may or may not have occurred on my computer were strictly for Top Off Tuesday purposes.
Paisley Szuzman appears to be sitting on one of the cowboy's heads. And, also, her name is stupid.
Anyone dare me to find a cover with five topless men? ANYONE?!

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Book Review: Ascend (Trylle Trilogy No. 3) by Amanda Hocking

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Mon, 21 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: April 24, 2012
Format: Paperback
Status: Third in the Trylle Trilogy, following Switched and Torn.
Source: Received from the publisher for review.
Genre: Teen Paranormal
Other Info: Hocking is also the author of the My Blood Approves series, the Hollows series, the Witches of Honalee, Virtue, and the upcoming Watersong series.
Description and link from Goodreads):

Wendy Everly is facing an impossible choice. The only way to save the Trylle from their deadliest enemy is by sacrificing herself. If she doesn’t surrender to the Vittra, her people will be thrust into a brutal war against an unbeatable foe. But how can Wendy leave all her friends behind…even if it’s the only way to save them?

The stakes have never been higher, because her kingdom isn’t the only thing she stands to lose. After falling for both Finn and Loki, she’s about to make the ultimate choice…who to love forever. One guy has finally proven to be the love of her life—and now all their lives might be coming to an end.

Everything has been leading to this moment. The future of her entire world rests in her hands—if she’s ready to fight for it.

     Now that I'm finished with the series, it's impossible for me to review Ascend without keeping the previous two books in mind. Of course, this is how a series works, right? Well, yes and no. In a good series, each volume stands up on its own and builds on the larger story arc. Unfortunately, that's not how many series books are written these days. More often than not, series books function as excuses for authors to write cliffhangers. Writing an ending that manages to complete the conflict in Book A while still compelling the readers to read Book B (and maintaining their interest in the Main Conflict [which arches from books A to D, or whatever]) takes serious talent.
     I'm not saying that I've never read a successful cliffhanger, or that I haven't enjoyed one, either. It totally have. What I'm trying to say, in my long-winded fashion, is that this isn't just going to be a review of Ascend, but of the Trylle Trilogy as a series.
     I said in my review of Torn that I felt that the first two books could have been condensed into one volume. What I realized in Ascend was that the love triangle was what made a total of three books necessary. The more I thought about it, the more I realized it was true. I suspect that Hocking changed 'ships midstream. I was pretty sure I knew who Wendy was going to end up with by the time I was halfway through Torn. What I didn't know was how Amanda Hocking was going to be able to make it work when she'd entrenched Wendy pretty firmly in relationship with the other guy. Hence the three books.
     Which brings me to this point: A love triangle will never be enough to make up for plot filler. It just won't. Authors that ignore this fact give love triangles their bad rep. Well, among other things. Even worse, however, is that I'm convinced that Hocking herself knew who she wanted as Wendy's HEA and didn't know how to get rid of the spare. Basically, she wrote herself into a love triangle corner. (Note: As an argument against this theory, however, I've noticed that Hocking's other books also feature love triangles. So, she might just like them).
    Funnily enough, the greatest outcome of reading the Trylle books was how deeply it made me think about self-published novels versus, er, not. Hocking has a lot of potential, but here's the thing: The Trylle Trilogy read as three good self-published novels. But. I expected more once it got in the hands of a publishing house and, I assume, an editor. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't an editor like a personal trainer? It whips the soft, doughy mass of the first draft into the sculpted magnificence that is eventually published. (Not always, sadly, but that's another post.) That's the issue with a lot of self-pubs--and the benefit of getting published by someone else. The Trylle Trilogy could have greatly benefited from that kind of special attention, and because I read the St. Martin's Griffin print version, I feel justified in holding up the lack against the final product.
    I can't deny that, whatever problems I had with Amanda Hocking's bewildering plotting, her writing is readable. I can see why she's gained such a wide audience. I read the books and enjoyed them, but in a mild way. I won't be rereading them. This isn't a series I'd recommend to anyone, and I certainly wouldn't have bought the paperback versions for myself. I'm happy to report that the ebook versions are still $0.99, though, and you might be able to get them through the library. I think it will be interesting to see how Watersong turns out, and to see how shifting away from self-publishing will affect her writing.

3 Matryoshkas: I would have coffee with this book.

Saturday Sixes: The Bookish Expectations Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

I like lists. I make them in my head all the time, about anything at all. For a while now, I've been wanting to posts lists on the blog, and I've finally decided to do it. The lists will be posted on Saturdays, with a different topic each week. There will be two sets of six, with a total of twelve. Originally I had planned on doing on a Tuesday 12--but I simply couldn't give up Top Off Tuesdays. Amanda kindly lent her brain power for a brainstorming session and thus, Saturday Sixes were born.

Expectations are a b****, non? And since I choose to believe that you are as much a book monger as I am (you probably wouldn't be here otherwise), I give myself leave to say that bookish expectations are the worst. There is nothing--nothing, I say!--worse than a highly anticipated title falling flat right before your eyes. On the flip side, is there any greater pleasure than discovering a unsuspecting favorite?

Six books that exceeded your expectations:

Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

This one turned out to be so, so good. I really enjoyed it. I was afraid to hope it might be, so I lowered my expectations and was pleasantly rewarded.

Ruby Red by Kierstin Gier

I'm not usually a Time Travel fan, and I really bought this one because I liked the title. Then I read it. Awesome!

Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh

I'd been anticipating Kiss of Snow for a long time when it finally came out. It was also the first major ARC I received when I started blogging. I was, frankly, completely certain there was no way Nalini Singh could live up to my expectations for Hawke and Sienna...and I've never been more pleased to be wrong!

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

I picked up this audiobook on a whim and greatly enjoyed it. Completely caught me off-guard. I'd seen the buzz about it, but even as a book blogger, there are still titles that pass you by the first time around.
5.
Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane

Everything I'd heard about Chess Putnam made me a complete skeptic as far as the Downside Ghosts series. I was so wrong that I've even rec'd this series to my father. We've had numerous discussions about what makes it so compelling.
6.
Lothaire by Kresley Cole

I'd heard pretty positive stuff about Lothaire's book, but I've had a love/hate relationship with the series thus far. Mostly, I love the Lykae and Demon books and feel meh about the vampire ones. Lothaire's story, however, was kind of like Hawke's. I knew we were building to it, so I went in prepared to soak up the rewards of my long wait. Totally worth it!

Six upcoming books you hope do:

The Diviners by Libba Bray
Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier
The Rising by Kelley Armstrong

(To be honest, this list could go on and on and on...but I decided to stick to just six.)

Joining me for Saturday Sixes? Then link up!

Book Review: Revived by Cat Patrick

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 8, 2012
Format: ARC
Status: Stand-alone
Source: Received from the publisher for review.
Genre: Teen Paranormal
Other Info: Revived is Cat Patrick's sophomore novel. Her debut, Forgotten, was published in July of 2011.
Description and link from Goodreads):

As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life.

A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency’s true goals, she realizes she’s at the center of something much larger—and more sinister—than she ever imagined.

     I suppose, in this era of YA paranormals, it's not so rare to have a book open with the death of the heroine. What does makes Revived a bit different, I suppose, is the fact that Daisy doesn't come back to life as vampire, or with strange new powers. She's just an ordinary girl who happens to have had the bad luck to die several times--and the good luck to have been Revived just as many.
     Miracle drug aside, Revived is a coming-of-age novel. Despite her unusual situation, Daisy is a teenager making some of the crummiest discoveries about life--that it's not fair, that some of the people you'll meet will kind of suck, and that nothing is as black and white as it seems. In fact, I'd say that Revived focuses on these mundane life issues more than it does on the implications of its main twist.
     When I think about a teenager who has had five close brushes with death, I immediately jump to the implications. For me, it's not about the people playing God, but about how such a thing would interfere with a person's development. Teenagers already tend to think they're immortal...so what happens when you reinforce that kind of thinking? Instant conflict, right? Sadly, Patrick doesn't take her story (or her characters) down that road, even though the description suggests it.
     Despite the fact that I thought the author could have done more with the "twist" of her book, I was willing and ready to go along for the ride. Daisy's relationship with her "father," Mason, was probably my favorite part of the novel. The romance fell flat, and at a certain point, I think Patrick flirted with the idea of having Matt betraying Daisy and/or turning out to be an as** but then chickened out at the last minute.
    Where the book fells apart is at the end. I can't discuss it too much without spoiling, but Patrick basically pulled the rug out from the her own emotional wrench. Basically, Daisy learns that she can't have her cake and eat it, too. Then, in the epilogue, Daisy gets all the cake, some ice cream, and a bowl of chocolate covered strawberries. Thereby, any enjoyment I derived from the rest of the book was dowsed. And that's probably the only time I've ever complained about a happy ending.

Don't miss my interview with Mason! You can also enter to win your own copy of Revived!

2 1/2 Matryoshkas: I'd Glance at This Book Through a Store Window

Character Interview + Giveaway: Mason from Revived by Cat Patrick

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Today I'd like to welcome a very special guest. Perhaps you know, or have heard of, the following book:

As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life.
A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency’s true goals, she realizes she’s at the center of something much larger—and more sinister—than she ever imagined.

Revived tells the story of Daisy, a girl who has had no less than five chances at life. But the best way to get to know a person is to talk to a third party, right? (Say yes.) Well, that's why I decided to ask Daisy's guardian, Mason. Mason may not be Daisy's biological parent, but that doesn't make him any less a father figure. By turns mysterious and protective, Mason juuuuust might be my favorite character from Revived. Alright, Mason, let's start with an easy question:

1. Milk chocolate, dark chocolate or, (gulp) white chocolate?

I don't eat chocolate. (Ruby gasps and faints.)

2. What was your first thought when you met Daisy?

Fight for your life!

3. You work for a man called God. Has the association ever given you pause?

No. I am a man of science.

4. Tell me about Daisy's new friend, Matt.

I don't know a lot about him. He seems like a solid kid. Nice family. Good manners. But of course, that doesn't mean I don't have my eye on him...like any father would.

5. What's the hardest part about pretending to be Daisy's father?

Not actually being her father.

6. Revive is a miracle drug. What other type of miracle drug do you wish existed?

Bringing people back from the dead is all the miracle I can handle at the moment.

7. Which historical figure do you hope will never be revived?

Hitler.

8. Which of the (many) places you've lived as Daisy's guardian do you most regret leaving?

Florida. I don't think Daisy was very happy there.

9. When you move, Daisy's first priority is decorating her new room. What's yours?

Getting the lab set up. I don't like to waste too much time--there's always work to be done.

10. What do you see Daisy doing in ten years?

I'm not sure I'd say this to her, but I'd love to see her follow in my footsteps. She'd make an excellent agent.

11. Would you want to be revived if something happened to you?

Of course. I'd like to know what Daisy's been through.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today, Mason! And don't forget to stop by the blog tomorrow for my review of Revived!

Cat Patrick:

Website
Goodreads
Twitter

Thanks to the lovely folk at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, I have a copy of Revived for giveaway. To enter:

Fill out the Rafflecopter form below.
US only.
Must be 14 to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Top Off Tuesday: Nocturnal Nothing

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Cribbed from On a Book Bender--It’s that time again — Tuesday! — which means [we] give you shirtless men ~~and you try to steal them away from [us].~~ (Seriously, take this dude.) Top Off Tuesdays was started by Felicia, Christi and [Amanda]. It is where [ALL OF US] share the book covers that make us swoon. Head over to Felicia’s blog to share your Top Off Tuesday link or to see what everyone has posted. (Believe me when I tell you it's worth it.)

Dude, you're creeping me out...

Unlucky with love…

All the attractive women in vampire Aleksei Madison's life, starting with his mother, have disappointed him. Having suffered countless romantic disappointments in the past, he is in no mood to be taken in by yet another pretty face when he shares a passion-filled weekend fling with full-figured Dani Tyler. Although he finds her physically attractive, he has no intentions of allowing Dani to touch his heart. And yet she does. To complicate matters, a secret he has guarded for nearly sixty years is about to be revealed, threatening all those he holds dear. As he races to save the lives of his siblings from the most powerful foe he's ever faced, he leaves Dani guarding a secret of her own that will forever change both their lives.

Love with a younger man?

Sometimes having your darkest fantasies fulfilled can have devastating repercussions. Raised in a small town, Dani is dismayed to find herself madly in love with a man who looks young enough to be her son. But the darkness in Aleksei both frightens and attracts her. She must decide if loving Aleksei will bring her nights of endless bliss or result in the lost of her life and soul to the darkness within her nocturnal lover.

I don't know if it's his nasty hair, or the freaky eyes, but I'm not feeling Aleksei. I don't want him coming anywhere near me with his nocturnal heat. Also, whatever's going on downstairs...reminds me of my Ken dolls from childhood. As in: nothing.

It's Not You, It's My Life (News)

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Sun, 13 May 2012 21:39:00 +0000

Hello my dearest dears. You may (or may not) have noticed that I've been a bit MIA lately. I mean, I've been posting, but commenting and tweeting just hasn't been on my radar lately. It's not because I don't like you (because I really do), but that I've been really busy lately:

The end of the school year is coming up. This means it's crunch time in terms of getting things done before we let out for summer. It also means a lot of after-school and weekend events (our school fair, the Spring Concert, promotional events for next year, etc.) Lately it feels like we've had two after-school/weekend commitments every week, and I'm exhausted each morning.
On top of that, I added to my hours in an attempt to offset the cost of BEA.
I will be flying to NYC on the red-eye the same day I get out of school so I can spend time with some family first--and that means I wont have time to work on my classroom after I leave, so I have to do as much as I can ahead of time.
I'm also teaching summer school, which starts the week after I get back. EEP! More curriculum planning.
As for the free time I do have? I just got my second reading life, and it feels great! For a while there, I was struggling with a lack of interest in 70% of what I read. The list of books I started and set aside isn't something I really want to talk about because it's depressing. Lately, though I've caught a pretty consistent wave and I'm riding it.

In other words, life has been keeping me pretty busy lately. But! I'm determined not to take a complete break from blogging until the actual week of BEA. In order to retain my sanity, though, I'm scaling back a bit. I'll be around, and I'll be posting, but not as much. I also decided to let myself slack on commenting. Not because you all aren't posting awesomeness, but because once I start surfing blogs, the next thing I know, it's three hours later. If I'm lucky.
With that thought in mind, I won't be participating in Clock Rewinders this week, and probably for the next couple. I just don't feel like I can do it justice at the moment.

Anyway, *waves* and *huggles!* Don't forget about me!

Saturday Sixes: Must Read Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Sat, 12 May 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Six books you think everyone should read:

The Morning Gift by Eva Ibbotson--I can't help it. I love this book.
Devil's Cub by Georgette Heyer--You gotta love an author who can make you swoon over a hero who wears lace and patches.
Darkest Powers trilogy by Kelley Armstrong--Such goodness, but you need to read all three for the ultimate impact.
Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison--but remember that Dragos is mine
Unwind by Neil Shusterman--Creepy good. The ultimate Dystopian.
Nine Coaches Waiting or Madam, Will You Talk? by Mary Stewart--Classic romantic suspense. Mary Stewart was a fantastic storyteller.

Six books people have bullied you into:

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Debate: Best Friend v. Enemy Romances feat. @emsreadingroom and @NotNowImReading

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Thu, 10 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the very first ever Ruby's Reads Debate! We're kicking things off with a spirited discussion of that age-old question: Do best friends make the best lovers--or does that title belong to Best Enemies? Let me begin by introducing our two debaters for the day:

For Best Friend Romances:

Emily

Bio: Emily has been blogging at Emily's Reading Room since June 2009. Her blog features everything related to reading and loving a good book (mostly of the YA variety).

Book Examples:

Ron and Hermoine from Harry Potter (also Ginny and Harry, though I've always been particularly attached to Hermoine and Ron);
Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables
Cassia and Xander from Matched.

You can also find Emily on Twitter: @emsreadingroom

For Enemy Romances:

Jen

Bio: I'm a lover of reading, writing, movies, music, gaming and naps. I also actively participate in random acts of dance. Did I mention I have a slight addiction to Pinterest?

Book Examples:

Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna series by Kendare Blake)
Halfway to the Grave (The Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost)
Darkfever (Fever series by Karen Marie Moning)

You can also find Jen on Twitter: @NotNowImReading

Are you ready? Let's debate!

Emily

Think of the romances in fiction that you love best: Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe, Harry and Ginny, Hermione and Ron, Peeta and Katniss, Jo and Laurie, and countless others. What do they all have in common? They were best friends first.

The reason that these types of romantic relationships stick in your mind are because they are the type that last. Building a relationship on a foundation of friendship and common respect is something that everyone wants. It works in real life, and it works in fiction. The best friends won’t slip and accidentally kill you, and your relationship doesn’t live on the edge. They steal your heart with their depth and understanding, and willingness to see you as a partner, rather than a tasty snack.

Jen

You made some great points Emily. I'm not one to knock best friend romances. I even like them every now and again. I just find that sometimes they're predictable and a bit easy. What can I say? I'm a fan of doing things the hard way sometimes. I have a fondness for seeing characters overcome hurdles and working past their differences for their HEA. I'm going to use one of the examples you gave to illustrate my point. I know I forget a lot in my old age but, I think that saying Peeta and Katniss started off as best friends is a bit of a stretch. Sure, they weren't exactly enemies per say but, they definitely weren't friends either. They were non-factors in each other's lives (with the exception of the whole bread thing), they go through a phase were they kind of can't stand one another, and then something really cool happens. It's only after getting past their hang ups that they start to see each other in a different light (or rather Katniss gets past her hang ups and starts to see Peeta in a different light).

And therein lies what is so awesome about enemy romances. You get to witness two characters look past the reasons why they despise each other and focus on things they either have in common and/or admire about each other. So maybe they have to sleep with one eye open when they're in the same room initially but, once they figure out that maybe the world isn't going to be a better place without their 'enemy' the push and pull you see them go through just becomes all the more fun to watch. It's not that there isn't a foundation in these types of romances. It's that they have to climb a hill (or several hills) in order to get there. Which may seem like a lot of work but, that doesn't mean that the end result isn't as sweet.

Emily

Enemy romances can be thrilling, but at the same time, I find that once the passion of whatever the two parties are fighting about dies down, what do they have in common? Best friend romances are built on a common interest and are particularly satisfying because they mirror the romances we love in real life. Do best friends never fight? No, they do, but you know that no matter what, they will always make it through.

Jen

Although best friend romances are sweet, they also have the potential to crash and burn horribly. Resulting in the loss of not only the relationship but, also a friend. Sometimes friends are suppose to remain just that. Just because characters start off as enemies doesn't mean that once everything is said and done that they'll revert back to being enemies. Enemies can turn into friends and then quite possibly into lovers (or vice versa in some cases) and can totally maintain it without wanting to stab each other in the back. I think really good examples of this are: Spike and Buffy, Cat and Bones and Anna and Cas.

Emily

The best things in life are worth waiting for. A romance built on friendship first is one that is natural, and just as swoony as one filled with tension. Friendships can be built in many ways, but I know that when two characters meet in that way, it's definitely something magical to watch.

Jen

Love isn't always a neat little package. Sometimes it's a messy and obstacle-ridden path. If characters are willing to overlook their differences, work together and perhaps add some perseverance and elbow grease, then the outcome can be absolutely breathtaking to watch.

Now that Emily and Jen have had a chance to air their views, we want to hear from you!

What camp do you fall in?

Did you read anything to change your mind?

Anything you'd like to add to the argument?

Know some Best Friend/Best Enemy Romances that stand out?

And let's hear it for my two debaters! Grazie mille to Emily and Jen!

Bookish Bundles Presents: Post Apocalypsies

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Ruby's Bookish Bundles is a new feature I'm starting here on the blog. In it, I'm going to post about three books:

Want Now: One recently released or already published title I'm lusting after.
Want Soon: One upcoming title I'm looking forward to, based on things I've heard, the cover, and the description.
Want Someday: One upcoming title I've heard about that sounds like it could be interested but is so far off into the future it doesn't even have a cover yet.

Post-Apocalypsies

Since listening to Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick, I've experienced a resurgence of love for Post-Apocalyptic stories. Dystopians may be all the rage, but I prefer that dark time of juuuuust after the collapse of the civilization as we know it. I mean, what's more terrifying than being forced to live without indoor plumbing?

Want Now

First up in my Post Apocalypsies Bookish Bundle is Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts. I've seen this one around the blogosphere a bit, but don't know too much about it beyond the description. It was that, and the intriguing cover art that drew me to this title. It sounds like a perfect fix for my Post-Apocalyptic addition.

November 1, 2011

Since the beginning of mankind, civilizations have fallen: the Romans, the Greeks, the Aztecs… and now us. Huge earthquakes rock the world. Cities are destroyed. But something even more awful is happening: An ancient evil has been unleashed, and it’s turning everyday people into hunters, killers, and crazies.

This is the world Mason, Aries, Clementine, and Michael are living in—or rather, trying to survive. Each is fleeing unspeakable horror, from murderous chaos to brutal natural disasters, and each is traveling the same road in a world gone mad.

Amid the throes of the apocalypse and clinging to love and meaning wherever it can be found, these four teens are on a journey into the heart of darkness—and to find each other and a place of safety.

Add Dark Inside to your Goodreads wishlist.

Want Soon

You'd better believe this one is in this Bookish Bundle. I'm going to be on tenterhooks until this one is released. I mean, seriously! There are zombies about this series and I'm still in love with it. Praise like that doesn't happen too often.

The Apocalypse does not end.
The Changed will grow in numbers.
The Spared may not survive.

Even before the EMPs brought down the world, Alex was on the run from the demons of her past and the monster living in her head. After the world was gone, she thought Rule was a sanctuary for her and those she'd come to love.

But she was wrong.

Now she's in the fight of her life against the adults who would use her, the survivors who don't trust her, and the Changed who would eat her alive.

Welcome to Shadows, the second book in the haunting apocalyptic Ashes Trilogy: where no one is safe and humans may be the worst of the monsters.

Add Shadows to your Goodreads wishlist.

Want Someday

One of the things I've enjoyed about Ashes is the how an apocalypse upsets the idea of family. When circumstances dictate who your family becomes (your real one being dead, of course), that makes for some awesome tension and, of course, immediate conflict. I'm also digging this concept of a survivor's colony. It's like the Post-Apocalyptic version of Private School Paranormals. In the After sounds like it's going to hit both of these sweet spots:

In the After by Demetria Luna

2013

The first book of a post-apocalyptic trilogy where the seventeen-year-old protagonist must survive in a world overrun by vicious, predatory creatures while protecting the abandoned two-year-old she finds in a desolate grocery store, until the pair finds refuge in a secretive survivors' colony...

Add In the After to your Goodreads wishlist.

So, got any Post-Apocalypsies you think I shouldn't miss?

Top Off Tuesday: Piercing the Veil

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:19:00 +0000

Cribbed from On a Book Bender--It’s that time again — Tuesday! — which means [we] give you shirtless men ~~and you try to steal them away from [us].~~ (Oh, hell no you don't.) Top Off Tuesdays was started by Felicia, Christi and [Amanda]. It is where [ALL OF US] share the book covers that make us swoon. Head over to Felicia’s blog to share your Top Off Tuesday link or to see what everyone has posted. (Believe me when I tell you it's worth it.)

Can't believe I'm posting this...

Twins Hawk and Val are Fianna warriors under the vengeful curse of a scorned goddess. Following the prophecy in the Book of Veils, they search for the one who can help them retrieve the Claíomh Solais before their enemies get the chance. Their quest leads them to Linnea. One touch and there can be no doubt that they have found their match. But will she accept them once she knows the truth?

Linnea is no one special. So why is she on the run from evil faeries and her egotistical ex? Why is she suddenly spending time in the company of dragons, druids and one kinky Viking with a split personality? All she knows is she has to keep her family safe, and her heart safe from another betrayal.

*Hides face* No, seriously. I couldn't resist. I screamed laughter into my pillow. Who designs these covers? I think Kelly needs to determine the accuracy of this title.

Book Review: Torn (Trylle Trilogy No. 2) by Amanda Hocking

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Mon, 07 May 2012 22:31:00 +0000

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: February 28, 2012
Format: Trade paperback
Status: Second in the Trylle trilogy, following Switched. The third and final book in the trilogy is Ascend.
Source: Received from the publisher for review.
Genre: Teen Paranormal
Other Info: Amanda Hocking needs little introduction. She's been called the "self-publishing wunderkind." Each of these re-releases includes new short stories.
Description and link from Goodreads):

When Wendy Everly first discovers the truth about herself—that she’s a changeling switched at birth—she knows her life will never be the same. Now she’s about to learn that there’s more to the story…

She shares a closer connection to her Vittra rivals than she ever imagined—and they’ll stop at nothing to lure her to their side. With the threat of war looming, her only hope of saving the Trylle is to master her magical powers—and marry an equally powerful royal. But that means walking away from Finn, her handsome bodyguard who’s strictly off limits…and Loki, a Vittra prince with whom she shares a growing attraction.

Torn between her heart and her people, between love and duty, Wendy must decide her fate. If she makes the wrong choice, she could lose everything, and everybody, she’s ever wanted…in both worlds.

As a special gift to readers, this book contains a new, never-before-published bonus story, “One Day, Three Ways,” set in the magical world of the Trylle.

   While I was eager to pick up this book, it wasn't because the first one was so amazing. It would be more accurate to say that I saw potential, and was curious to see whether book two would deliver on it. Of course, now that I've told you that, I have to actually attempt to answer the question. Here's the thing. I enjoyed reading Torn, but I didn't love it. In a great many ways, this book doesn't take the reader anywhere particularly different from book one.
   I think books one and two should have been smooshed together, and once smooshed, trimmed of excess fat. Hocking took two books to write what she could have written in one. Yes, Torn introduces new characters not previously seen in Switched but, personally? I think character trimming could also just as easily have been performed.
   Another thing that bothered me was that I didn't need two books to get to the two major reveals in Torn. I guessed at both of them early in book one, and not "revealing" them until book two was stretching. Familiar plot twists--if used--should be revealed as quickly as possible. I wouldn't have been thrilled to see them at the end of the first volume, but I would have minded them less, knowing that there were more goodies to come in the sequel.
     Here's the thing, though: I'm looking forward to book three. Hocking's characters aren't thrilling me, and neither is her plotting, but there's still something keeping me reading. Her narrative style makes Switched and Torn easy reads, and I have enough investment in the story to follow through to the end. I don't think this is going to be a series I'll be going back to reread, but it's definitely got enough to keep a (somewhat) jaded YA reader hooked to the bandwagon.

4 Matryoshkas: I would make dinner for this book.

Clock Rewinders on a Book Binge for 5/6

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Sun, 06 May 2012 05:52:00 +0000

Clock Rewinders on a Book Binge is where Tara @ 25 Hour Books and Amanda @ On a Book Bender shamelessly plug each other, share the fantastic posts, giveaways, or whatever else they’ve found and loved by other awesome bloggers (or authors!) during the week, and talk about the books they plan on reading in the coming week. Amanda and Tara have kindly allowed us to hang on to their coattails and participate in Clock Rewinders. Head over to Amanda's blog if you'd like to participate and link up. Everyone's doing it!

Ruby's Reads Recap:

Book Review: Switched (Trylle Trilogy No. 1) by Amanda Hocking: Changeling story with a slight twist.
Top Off Tuesday: Arctic Heartbreak: In which some hideous hair obscures some pecs.
I posted about guest posting on Amanda's blog as party of her blogoversary.
I posted my RAK for April!
A Discussion Post on Discussion Posts
Saturday Swap for May

Ruby's Reads News:

I'm still working on getting things smoothed out after the new blog design. I understand that there's an issue with the recent posts widget at the top of my sidebar...I'm looking into it.
It appears that sometimes the comments on my blog are courtesy of Intense Debate...and sometimes they're courtesy of Blogger. I haven't had time to work on this either, but it's on my agenda.
I joined Pinterest.

Around the blogosphere:

Amanda wrote a very sweet open love letter to the book blogging community.
I've been busy this week, but I promise to be better during the next one!

Other fun-ness:

I found this clock on Felicia's Pinterest page. I love it! It also pretty much sums up my life.

Search Terms:

i love amanda--Um, YEAH I DO.
protective alpha hero spank--*dies*
jensen ackles whips and chains--Fanfiction maybe?
ruby dyre naked--No I ain't.
what to wear with small red dress--Depends how small it is.

Books, I read them:

I finished the second installment of the Trylle Trilogy early this week, and actually wanted to start on the third book right away. Then Revived came along and I picked that up instead. Interesting concept...more on that later this week. I've been listening to the audiobook version of Ashes by Ilsa J. Block. Um, it's fawesome. Even fawesomer? I'm loving it despite the fact that it has zombies in it. No joke. Katherine Kellgren is a fantastic narrator.

Books, I got some:

Revived by Cat Patrick from Little, Brown.
A Breath of Eyre by Eva Marie Saint from Small Review.
Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby--RAK from Kassiah at Fictionators.

How was your week! If you're new to Clock Rewinders, please let me know! I want to get to know everyone!

Saturday Swap for May 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Sat, 05 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

For Bloggers: Make a post on your blog letting everyone know what books you have available for swap. I suggest linking to your wishlist as well (on your blog, Amazon, BD, Goodreads, wherever), for swifter swapping. For Non-Bloggers: Leave a comment listing the books you have available for swap. Include your email in the comment so interested parties can contact you directly.
Grab the button or create your own, but please link back to Ruby's Reads. All the cool people are doing it.
Once your post is live, enter your info in the linky so everyone can see what you've got.
The circumstances surrounding the swaps are up to the individuals. I'm not responsible for lost books. If you're nervous about swapping with someone you don't know, I suggest you ask for a delivery confirmation number. HOWEVER: please let me know if someone doesn't uphold their end of the bargain and I'll ban them from further swaps.
HAVE FUN!

My Books:

Finished Copies:

Immortal City by Scott Speer
Belles by Jen Calonita
Vampire Diaries vol. 1 by L.J. Smith
Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder
Need by Carrie Jones
The Locket by Stacey Jay
Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink
The Magician of Hoad by Margaret Mahy
Raider's Ransom by Emily Diamond
Eternal Ones and All You Desire by Kristen Miller

ARCs:

Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Wolf Shaw
Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Dark Passage by M.J. Putney
Thirteen by Susie Moloney
Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull

My Wishlists:

Goodreads

Amazon

I switched link services, and this one seems to be working so far. Keep your fingers crossed!

Your Attention Please! A Discussion Post on Discussion Posts

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Once a month, usually on the first Thursday, I like to post discussions. For the last couple of months, I've been including a linky at the end of my posts, encouraging people to link to their own discussions around the web. I haven't had anyone sign up (yet), so I thought I'd use this month's discussion slot to talk about why I like them, and to make a formal announcement.

Here it is:

I love discussion posts. Reviews are awesome, and I do like many of the memes out there, but discussion posts really bring me back to the reason I started blogging. I love books and I love reading and I wanted to find a community where I could talk about them.
By creating a place where people can link to their own discussion posts, I have the following hopes:

That I will find out about some kick butt, epic, fawesome discussion posts I can contribute to.
That my readers will find out about some kick-butt, epic, fawesome discussion posts they can contribute to.
That I will encourage other bloggers to discuss bookish things (in addition to all the other awesome stuff they already do).
That I will encourage discussion, period. Always a good thing, IMHO.

Laudable goal or ridiculous fantasy?

So, wait a minute--why are discussion post important? For the answer to this one, I need to refer to number four on my list up there. Discussion is mad important, yo. I'm an inherently verbal person, and writing has always helped me to organize my thoughts. When I get things down on paper (or Word doc), I can make sense of the jumble that is my brain.

Even better, though, is getting someone else's perspective. Nine times out of ten, discussion with another person helps me get to the next stage of my thinking--the critical one. If I'm forced to verbalize my beliefs so that someone (besides me) can understand them, I will see if my internal logic holds up to my satisfaction.

Of course, with reading, not everything is logical. Reading is--and always will be--subjective. If I don't like a book or a character or a theme, you probably won't be able to change my mind. What discussion may do is change my opinion from "I like Private School Paranormals because I just do, okay?" to "I like Private School Paranormals because the setting appeals to me. They also give a logical reason for parents to be out of the picture. In addition, they also give the author a way to quickly build a sense of community for the main character."

Today I want to know why you think discussion posts are important. Or maybe you don't, though I doubt you'll be commenting if that's the case! What value does discussion--particularly bookish discussion--have for you? Do you go out of your way to respond to discussions, or are you content to stumble across them at will?

Most importantly: Please think about linking up to any discussion posts you have written yourself, or that you have come across in the blogging community.

Thank you!

RAK for April!

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Wed, 02 May 2012 23:44:00 +0000

April was an awesome month for me. I received a lot of books and bookish things for my birthday, including:

Spellbound by Rachel Hawkins from the lovely Isa at Book Soulmates
Never Again by Michele Bardsley from Felicia at The Geeky Blogger's Book Blog
Sliding Home by Kate Angell from Aislynn at Stitch...Read...Cook
$39 gift card from Logan!
Starters by Lissa Price from Lisa at Diznee's World of Books

This month, I gave:

to Amanda at

I'm looking forward to another awesome month of RAK! Woo!

Guess Where I am Today?

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:47:00 +0000

I'm guest posting for Amanda's blogoversary. Check me out!

Top Off Tuesday: Arctic Heartbreak

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:23:00 +0000

When Tasha Watson travels to Churchill, Manitoba, to get information from ex-lover Finn MacEwan, she doesn’t plan to rekindle their affair. But the troubled, haunted man she finds is far different from the one who left her two years before, though the desire exploding between them is devastatingly familiar. Despite her deepening feelings, Tasha is determined to get to the bottom of Finn’s mysterious problems.
Trapped by his honor and a shamanic appeal to the Great Nanuk, Finn has spent over a hundred winters forced to roam the ice of Hudson Bay in the form of a polar bear. Loneliness and despair have nearly taken their toll…until Tasha appears on his doorstep, bringing to life the very things he can’t afford to feel—love and hope.
But neither hope nor earth-shattering passion, not even the love of a lifetime, can help fight destiny, and the decisions Tasha and Finn face could all lead to cold, Arctic heartbreak.

Yessir, your hair is breaking my heart.

Book Review: Switched (Trylle Trilogy No. 1) by Amanda Hocking

noreply@blogger.com (Rubita) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:17:00 +0000

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: January 3, 2012 (this edition only). Originally published July 12, 2010.
Format: ARC
Status: First in the Trylle Trilogy, followed by Torn and Ascend.
Source: Received from the publisher for review.
Genre: Teen Paranormal
Other Info: Amanda Hocking needs little introduction. She's been called the "self-publishing wunderkind." Each of these re-releases includes new short stories.
Description and link from Goodreads):

When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. Eleven years later, Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. She’s not the person she’s always believed herself to be, and her whole life begins to unravel—all because of Finn Holmes.

Finn is a mysterious guy who always seems to be watching her. Every encounter leaves her deeply shaken…though it has more to do with her fierce attraction to him than she’d ever admit. But it isn’t long before he reveals the truth: Wendy is a changeling who was switched at birth—and he’s come to take her home.

Now Wendy’s about to journey to a magical world she never knew existed, one that’s both beautiful and frightening. And where she must leave her old life behind to discover who she’s meant to become…

     When the publisher contacted me about reviewing the Trylle books, I was pretty excited. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Of course, I'd heard of Amanda Hocking, but I don't read a lot of self-pubs because, well, I just don't have the time or inclination to research them. Receiving a review copy of Switched was the perfect opportunity for me to get off my lazy butt and try something new.
     I initially started Switched back in January, when it was first sent to me. I read a bit and was marginally interested, and then suffered a setback. I have issues with characters who reflect on how pretty they are. It put me off when Wendy, the MC of the Trylle novels, took a moment during her first person narration to talk about her looks. I thought--Whoa, I am not going to like this chick. Setting the book aside for a while was the right choice, though, as it turned out. It gave me the head-space I needed to move past it, and when I picked it back up, I was sucked back into the story.
     What Hocking has done, essentially, is take a familiar plot and tweak it juuuuust enough to make it fresh and new. The MC, Wendy, is a changeling--but this isn't a fairy book. Wendy's true nature is that of a troll princess. In her native culture, all well-born troll (Trylle) children are exchanged with human babies. Generally, this is a scheme that does well, but in Wendy's case? Her adopted mother tried to kill her. Cue Wendy growing up to feel that, somehow, she doesn't belong. Which, of course, she doesn't.
     While I liked Wendy, a few times she veered into too stupid to live territory. Especially, at the end. I was also frustrated by the fact that she never appreciated being a princess. I understand that, on the whole, it sucked for her, but there had to have been one or two perks. It irritated me because I got the sense that she was "above" the whole princess thing. Like it would have been unethical for her to notice how completely awesome it was that she never had to wash dishes ever again. (And, let's face it, if she can't appreciate that, we're never going to be NBFs.)
     Two more things that irked me, and I'll move on to the good stuff. First, in a culture where most children are exchanged with human children, and then returned in their late teens, you'd think that the people would understand that there would be an acclimation period. I mean, virtually everyone in Wendy's circle of Trylle acquaintances would have been a changeling. And none of them have any compassion for Wendy's learner's mistakes? I didn't buy that.
     Second: Finn. I just didn't care for him. He didn't do much for me, and I think Wendy's attraction to him was based on his being a familiar face in an unfamiliar world. I also just hate heroes who withhold important information from the heroines. I've already read the back cover of Torn, though, so I know there's another potential love interest in the offing, and I'm hoping he'll be an improvement.
     What I enjoyed about Switched is that it had a lot of potential. I wasn't crazy about the world-building or the characters, but Hocking can tell a story. Usually I'd say that without the former, I doubt the story could be worthwhile, but I'd be wrong in this case. I'm looking forward to starting Torn, because I have faith that things will only improve from here.

3 1/2 Matryoshkas: I'd flirt with this book over drinks.