Mimosa Stimulus

In My Mailbox (42)

2012-02-19T01:52:00.001-06:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Hey there, my bookish people! It's that time of the week for the sharing of the spoils! I snagged some awesome goodies lately. Here are the books that I've gotten since last time:

For Review via NetGalley:
This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers
Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby
The Académie by Susanne Dunlap
The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long

Bought:
The Education of Hailey Kendrick by Eileen Cook (My Review)

Won/Gifted:
Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala (signed audiobook, from author)
The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson (RAK from Ashley @ Bookaholics Anonymous)
Thanks for these!

That's it for me! What did you get this week?

This or That with Alex from The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen

2012-02-17T00:01:00.060-06:00

I'd like to welcome Alex from Melissa Jensen's The Fine Art of Truth or Dare to the blog today to share some of his preferences with us by playing a little This or That:

Book or Movie?
Movie. I mean, don’t get me wrong. I like a good book as much as the next guy (Chris Crutcher is pretty freakin’ amazing). But I’m in high school. I have books shoved down my throat all the time, and some are, well, kind of a slog (Moby Dick?). And I have a pretty decent collection of American movies in French. Believe me, you haven’t really experienced Jurassic Park until you’ve heard “Tyrannosaurus” said with a French accent.

Eyes or Smile?
Eyes. I’m big into truth and smiles are the easiest lie.

Lions or Tigers?
I’m more of a sea-creature kinda guy. Stingrays, octopi. Sharks. Why, you ask? Well, I guess it started with Princess Tamatori. And then, Ella Marino came along and completely turned everything upside down, and… Sorry. What was the question again?

Singing or Dancing?
Not if I can help it.

Coffee or Tea?
Coke. American coffee sucks. And tea tastes like grass. I play field sports. Believe me, I know what grass tastes like.

French Bread or French Toast?
Pane, definitely. It’s Italian bread. Ella’s grandmother makes a killer pane. And there’s this weird stuff Ella puts on hers: garlic and anchovies and something. I know, right? But it’s actually pretty good. You just have to make sure that if you eat it, the person you’re considering kissing has been eating it, too.

Large Crowd or Small Gathering?
Um. That kinda depends on the planned activity, doesn’t it?

Paintings or Sculptures?
Old Japanese woodblock prints. Seriously. Kuniyoshi is the Man.

français ou anglais?
Francais, bien sur. Mais j’aime beaucoup l’italien, aussi.

Football or Baseball?
Lacrosse. Or hurling. It’s Irish. Think lacrosse meets roller derby minus the skates.

Black & White or Gray?
White paper with grape juice. Try it. Drip the juice onto the paper, see what pictures you make. I know, it sounds like one of those psych inkblot tests. That’s what Ella says, anyway. But then, I tend to lose my mind a little bit around Ella…

White Lies or Brutal Honesty?
Depends on whether someone’s heart is involved, I guess.

Standing Out or Blending In?
I’m a Bainbridge. We’re pretty much bred to stand out. I mean, come on, my dad’s a U.S. Representative with aspirations of a Senate seat. And the aspirations he has for me do not involve blending in. Now, I’m not saying that’s a good thing, but it’s definitely a Bainbridge thing.

New or Vintage?
Have you seen my car? No, really, I’m asking if you’ve seen it. No? It’s a Mustang ’68 GT Coupe, only two owners before me. It’s a little battered, but still a work of art. The engine is amazing. When I hit Route 72 through the Pine Barrens and get past 60, it sounds like a happy tiger. You can feel the road through the gearshift, and… Sorry. What was the question again?

Truth or Dare?
Truth: Guys like me and girls like Ella don’t make sense.
Dare: Prove there’s no such thing as Santa. Or mermaids. Seriously. Good luck with that.

Thanks to Alex for stopping by and helping us get to know him a little better!

You can find The Fine Art of Truth or Dare on: Amazon | Goodreads
You can find Melissa Jensen on: Website | Twitter

Check out my review of The Fine Art of Truth or Dare.

Thanks to The {Teen} Book Scene for hosting the tour. Be sure to check out all of the other tour stops for more fun and info!

Review: The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen

2012-02-11T01:54:00.002-06:00

Title: The Fine Art of Truth or Dare
Author: Melissa Jensen
Publisher: Speak
Publication Date: February 16, 2012
Links: Amazon | Goodreads

Ella is nearly invisible at the Willing School, and that's just fine by her. She's got her friends - the fabulous Frankie and their sweet cohort Sadie. She's got her art - and her idol, the unappreciated 19th-century painter Edward Willing. Still, it's hard being a nobody and having a crush on the biggest somebody in the school: Alex Bainbridge. Especially when he is your French tutor, and lessons have started becoming, well, certainly more interesting than French ever has been before. But can the invisible girl actually end up with a happily ever after with the golden boy, when no one even knows they're dating? And is Ella going to dare to be that girl?

The Fine Art of Truth or Dare is such a cute book. It's got fun and fluff, but it also deals with self-consciousness and insecurities, body image, parental expectations, and relationship dynamics.

The characters are clever and fun. Ella has conversations with a dead local artist and draws, mostly architectural structures like doors. She draws everywhere - on paper, on her jeans, on her walls, on her bed. She is quirky and fun but has a lot of depth as well. She suffers severe insecurity due to a scar on her neck that is the result of a hot water burn from when she was younger, and it affects her confidence and personality. Alex is a victim of his parents' expectations. He struggles with what is expected of him versus what he wants for himself. Their backgrounds and families are different, but they share an interest in art. It's entertaining to witness the way in which their interactions evolve and the effects that they have on each other. Ella's friends and family are awesome and often hilarious. Frankie and Sadie have some of their own issues to deal with, but they're always there for Ella. I really appreciated the dynamics of their little trio. Ella's grandmother is pretty awesome as well. Her whole family is crazy and fun.

The pacing is leisurely, but doesn't drag. It's adorable and emotional and, at times, heartbreaking to witness Ella's thought processes and how she lets her scar hold her back. Almost every character is going through some sort of struggle that gives each of them an authenticity and gives the reader reasons to care about them as people. Ella and Alex have some seriously adorable moments between them.

I really enjoyed The Fine Art of Truth or Dare. It has a great balance of quirky, fun, lighthearted adorableness and serious, thoughtful, issues that people can relate to. It tells an adorable story capable of warming hearts, and still includes some important stuff without letting the issue stuff cast a shadow on the cute stuff. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a feel good contemporary read that still contains some quality commentary on normal teenage (or any age) issues.

Review: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

2012-02-07T08:29:00.000-06:00

Title: Hallowed
Author: Cynthia Hand
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: January 17, 2012
Series: Unearthly #2
Links: Amazon | Goodreads

For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought.

Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

I adored Unearthly, and couldn't wait to start reading Hallowed. The story picks up shortly after Unearthly's conclusion, with the characters dealing with some of the fallout and questions leftover from the fires. Clara is still a pretty great character. She's conflicted. She knows what she wants but is worried that she can't have it, or isn't meant to have it, or that it wouldn't be fair to others if she did have it. She is confused by everything that has happened. Christian kinda aggravated me in this one because I felt like he was taking advantage of Clara's confusion a little bit to suit his purposes, though he also is there for her as a friend when it's needed. I just question his motivations. Angela is still the same, curious and excitable and a little pushy. Jeffrey is angsty. Tucker is still amazing, but doesn't have quite the same presence that he did in Unearthly, which I missed. A lot. But I suppose it does help for Clara to spend more time with her thoughts and feelings in this one and less time fishing and kissing with Tucker.

The plot in this one is driven partially by Clara's new vision. She must figure out what it means, who it's about, how it could potentially relate to her purpose, and once she does figure it out, she has to deal with what that means for herself and her family. The other part of the plot is about Clara's internal struggles with her confusion and feelings regarding how she handled her previous vision and what her angel status means for the future of her relationship with Tucker vs. her lustful feelings toward Christian, who is like her and may be a large part of her purpose. There are a few revelations revealed in this installment as well - some that I saw coming, some that I didn't, and some that left my heart aching for these characters.

I definitely liked Hallowed, but I did miss the Clara + Tucker cuteness that took place in Unearthly. The way that this one ended left me anxious for the next book. There's not a cliffhanger, but it leaves so much for me to worry about for Clara that it's still enough to drive me a little bit crazy! I am excited to see how it all is taken care of in the future, and I hope that I won't have my heart broken. If you enjoyed Unearthly, then you'll probably love Hallowed as well.

Rewind & Review: February 2012

2012-02-02T13:10:00.002-06:00

Rewind & Review is a feature hosted by Ginger @ GReads! and Lisa @ Lisa is Busy Nerding.

The idea of Rewind & Review is to set aside a few older books (published in 2010 or earlier) each month to read and review on the blog. It's a great way to spotlight some potentially awesome older books that aren't getting a lot of attention in the midst of all of the shiny new releases, and a chance to perhaps revisit some favorites.

So my lineup for February looks something like this:

Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder

As a glassmaker and a magician-in-training, Opal Cowen understands trial by fire. Now it's time to test her mettle. Someone has sabotaged the Stormdancer clan's glass orbs, killing their most powerful magicians. The Stormdancers—particularly the mysterious and mercurial Kade—require Opal's unique talents to prevent it happening again. But when the mission goes awry, Opal must tap in to a new kind of magic as stunningly potent as it is frightening. And the further she delves into the intrigue behind the glass and magic, the more distorted things appear. With lives hanging in the balance—including her own—Opal must control powers she hadn't known she possessed…powers that might lead to disaster beyond anything she's ever known.

Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings

Long ago, so the storyteller claimed, the evil God Torak sought dominion over all and drove the world to war. Now the one talisman keeping this sinister force from seizing power has been disturbed—and no one will be safe. . . .

Raised on a quiet farm by his Aunt Pol, Garion spends his days lounging in his aunt’s warm kitchen and playing in the surrounding fields with his friends. He has never believed in magic, despite the presence of a cloaked, shadowless stranger who has haunted him from a distance for years. But one afternoon, the wise storyteller Wolf appears and urges Garion and his aunt to leave the farm that very night. Without understanding why, Garion is whisked away from the only home he has ever known—and thrown into dark and unfamiliar lands.

Thus begins an extraordinary quest to stop a reawakened evil from devouring all that is good. It is a journey that will lead Garion to discover his heritage and his future. For the magic that once seemed impossible to Garion is now his destiny.

One Night That Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdt

Eliza is in a full-blown panic. Her notebook has been stolen - the one that lists everything she wants but is afraid to go after. And the absolute worst person in the world has it: her ex-boyfriend, Cooper.

Like it's not bad enough that Cooper was lying to Eliza for their entire relationship - now he and his friends are blackmailing her. They're giving her just one night to complete the most humiliating tasks on her list or they'll post her secrets online - including the ones that aren't just about her.

Eliza's sure of only one thing: She isn't going down without a fight. Cooper may have what's left of her dignity, but she's not the only one with something to hide...

I'm not sure if I'll get all of these read and reviewed in February, but I'm hoping I can stick to my plan! Have any of you read these books? If so, did you like them? What are some older books that you would love to see reviewed or that you would recommend? Let me know!

Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

2012-01-31T11:06:00.000-06:00

Title: Under the Never Sky
Author: Veronica Rossi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Series: Under the Never Sky #1
Links: Amazon | Goodreads

Since she’d been on the outside, she’d survived an Aether storm, she’d had a knife held to her throat, and she’d seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland—known as The Death Shop—are slim. If the cannibals don’t get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She’s been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild—a savage—and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile—everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria’s help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

Under the Never Sky is a seriously fun little science fiction book. I wasn't really sure what to expect from it, but I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I like it.

Aria is a pretty awesome chick. She's not a waif or a whiner. She is smart and does not complain overmuch and keeps pushing herself to be stronger. She goes through something of an ordeal at the beginning of the book, and ends up in a pretty sucky predicament as a result. But she handles it all with courage and an inner strength that kinda surprised me. Perry is a warrior and a survivor. He can be vicious when he has to, but is ultimately a caring individual with a strong character. His savagery comes from a need to survive and protect within a harsh environment filled with dangerous things and people.

Aria and Perry experience a heck load of tension in their initial interactions. Aria is frightened of Perry and his capability to kill. Perry is frustrated by Aria's talkativeness and questions. They come from different places and do not understand each other. They hold resentment and contempt toward each other until they get to know one another better. Once they get over their initial dislike, they're better able to acknowledge each other's strengths. I can appreciate the way that they slowly come to respect one another and the way in which their relationship develops.

The settings in Under the Never Sky are pretty crazy. It's like part dystopia, part post-apocalyptic survival. Aria and the Dwellers reside in biodomes built to protect people from the harsh environment. The society within the domes has become a bit dystopic. The people wear devices called smart eyes and use them to experience a virtual existence within the biodomes. As a result, she hasn't experienced very many things in real life, or "in the real" as she calls it. Smells and textures are all a little bit different once she's outside. While the domes are fascinating, only a small portion of the story takes place within them. The world outside the domes is wild, unsafe, and electric. Some of the Outsiders like Perry have developed enhanced senses. The sky is filled with Aether, which is some sort of flowing, fiery lightning that comes down from the sky in funnels and storms, wreaking havoc and destruction on everything in its path.

The plot moves quickly as Aria and Perry navigate this Aether infested world in search of a way to find/save/communicate with those who are loved but lost to them. The story is told in the alternating points of view of Aria and Perry. It's awesome to get both of their perspectives and to see how differently they view things. If I had to make one complaint, it would be that some of the stuff with the enhanced senses pushes into a territory that is almost paranormal, where I would've preferred that it were a little more subtle. But it's nothing too major and doesn't do much to affect my enjoyment of the novel.

I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to fans of stories with a bit of science fiction, dystopia, post-apocalyptic environment, and survival elements.

Review: Love & Leftovers by Sarah Tregay

2012-01-26T00:01:00.001-06:00

Title: Love & Leftovers
Author: Sarah Tregay
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: December 27, 2011
Links: Amazon | Goodreads

My wish
is to fall
cranium over Converse
in dizzy, daydream-worthy
love.

When her parents split, Marcie is dragged from Idaho to a family summerhouse in New Hampshire. She leaves behind her friends, a group of freaks and geeks called the Leftovers, including her emo-rocker boyfriend, and her father.

By the time Labor Day rolls around, Marcie suspects this "vacation" has become permanent. She starts at a new school where a cute boy brings her breakfast and a new romance heats up. But understanding love, especially when you've watched your parents' affections end, is elusive. What does it feel like, really? Can you even know it until you've lost it?

Marcie's story is told via a notebook that she fills with poetry - a novel in verse. The style is easy to read and does a great job of letting the reader into Marcie's thoughts.

Marcie is a character that I both liked and disliked at varying intervals, and that, I think, is a good thing. She has a quirky voice that is tempered with angst. Some of her actions irritate me, but the verse still makes me sympathetic to the reasons behind those actions so that understanding and forgiveness come easily. For a while, I was worried that her confused behavior would be condoned or that she wouldn't suffer any sort of repercussions for her choices so that it would look as though one can act however one feels like it with little to no consequences, but I am pleased by the way that she is made to work through her situation and I am also happy with the way that things turn out for her in the end.

The story is told through Marcie's poetry, but it is still easy to get a good feel for the other characters based upon Marcie's feelings and thoughts regarding each one of them. Those feelings are made clear: frustration and pity for her mother, confusion regarding her father, longing for her friends back home, and the loneliness that evaporates when a boy at her new school starts paying attention to her. The plot focuses on these feelings that Marcie is going through as her parents split apart, and the ways in which she reacts and adjusts to these changes happening in her life.

I enjoyed Love & Leftovers. It is a quick read with delightful verse. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fast, cute story and to lovers of novels in verse.

In My Mailbox (41)

2012-01-15T01:04:00.003-06:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Hey there, my bookish people! It's that time of the week for the sharing of the spoils! I snagged some awesome goodies this week. Here are the books that I've gotten since last time:

For Review via NetGalley:
Goddess Interrupted by Aimée Carter
Spellcaster by Cara Lynn Shultz
Fallen in Love by Lauren Kate
Jersey Angel by Beth Ann Bauman
Partials by Dan Wells

Bought:
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (signed, of course!)

Gifted:
Vesper by Jeff Sampson (RAK from Jennifer at Waiting on Sunday to Drown - Thanks!)
Withering Tights by Louise Rennison (RAK from Jennifer at Waiting on Sunday to Drown - Thanks!)
Geektastic: Stories From the Nerd Herd

Extra:
Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala swag (to be included in giveaways)

That's it for me! What books did you get this week? Let me know in the comments!

Favorite Covers: January 2012

2012-01-11T14:02:00.000-06:00

Here are some of my favorite covers for January 2012: The Skies Edition

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Lights in the sky! I love it. It gives off this almost Aurora Borealis effect, which is something that has always fascinated me. I also like it that the girl is not wearing a dress and is walking like she's in a movie and there's something exploding behind her. The brambles make it look wild. And I love it that the font has that same lit up sky effect that I adore about the background.
Amazon | Goodreads

A Million Suns by Beth Revis
Space! I could look at space images all day long. They're beautiful and shiny and sparkly and amazing. Just like all the shiny, sparkly, spacey goodness happening on this cover.
Amazon | Goodreads

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
There are plenty of people who don't like this cover. And I get that. It's kinda randomly plain. But I love the bright blue color that reminds me of the sky on a pretty day, and the graphic simplicity of it has grown on me. The contrasting graphics and text have this yin and yang thing going that I can appreciate on the cover of a novel that is sure to be bittersweet. I like the idea of this book sitting there, among hundreds of girls in dresses, and looking different.
Amazon | Goodreads

Do you also like any of these covers, or am I alone in this? There are a lot of books with gorgeous covers this month. Are there any that you're tempted to buy for the cover alone? What new little works of art will you be picking up for your shelves this month? Let me know in the comments!

Review: Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala

2012-01-05T10:53:00.001-06:00

Title: Don't Breathe a Word
Author: Holly Cupala
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Links: Amazon | Goodreads

Joy Delamere is suffocating...

From asthma, which nearly claimed her life. From her parents, who will do anything to keep that from happening. From delectably dangerous Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out.

Joy can take his words - tender words, cruel words - until the night they go too far.

Now, Joy will leave everything behind to find the one who has offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. She will become someone else. She will learn to survive. She will breathe...if only she can get to Creed before it's too late.

Don't Breathe a Word is a beautifully written book that deals with some tough issues. It covers abusive, controlling relationships, resentment, homelessness, drugs, prostitution.

Joy is a character who is afraid and desperate to get away from the controlling people in her life. She needs an escape. So she runs away to live on the streets and find a boy named Creed who had once offered to help her. She tries to be smart about it and quickly realizes that maybe she's in over her head. She seems almost helpless at times, and her vulnerability is a big part of what she has to grow out of. Asher is so slimy and vile. I can understand how Joy could become desperate to escape him. Creed and his friends have their issues, but are really just pretty amazing kids in need of some help.

The plot moves along pretty quickly as Joy learns the ways of the street and comes to witness some of the depressing horror of it that she didn't think through fully before she ran off to become a part of that world. It does contain some gritty stuff, mostly through dialogue and suggestion rather than being up front and graphic. Joy is protected by Creed from the worst of it. Some might think the story loses a bit of its edge because the main character doesn't get low enough to destroy herself, but I like that she and Creed try to keep themselves separate from some of that stuff the best that they can. And it gives Joy a chance to show the others that maybe they can find other ways to survive.

Don't Breathe a Word is a powerful read that touches on topics that are sometimes ignored or purposefully overlooked. I'd recommend it to fans of contemporary realistic fiction and issue books, particularly those dealing with emotional abuse or life on the streets.

Excerpt & Behind the Scenes of Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala

2012-01-02T01:07:00.012-06:00

Today I am pleased to welcome Holly Cupala to the blog to share an excerpt of her upcoming novel, Don't Breathe a Word, as well as some behind the scenes information with us!

Excerpt from Don’t Breathe a Word, Chapter 3—Joy, a sheltered girl with life-threatening asthma, goes to a zoo fundraiser with her dad and is walking around by herself in the silent auction tent when everything changes…

I skimmed along past the manicure packages, the clay elephant sculpture, dinner for two at Coastal Kitchen. If I had someone to take there, I might have bid. It was still well under a hundred dollars for a night of regional food and mystique. The Cranium games caught my attention. Jesse and I would play Hoopla before he took off for Western, and I could play Hullabaloo with Jonah, who was about to turn four. I put my number down, 235, and wished I wasn’t lost in the three or the five for just one moment.

I sensed a warm presence, and not from the space heater I passed. More like heat mixed with a chill.

His eyes were the first thing that hit me: intense and pale grey, watching me. A dangerous power crackled around him, the force of it nearly burning my skin.

He was trim and rough somehow, though impeccably dressed in a button-down shirt and light pants. His eyes skimmed my body down to the hem of the sari, silky and red around my legs, and I felt the chill again. His hand rested on the Nirvana T-shirt like he already owned it. Then he slipped back into the stream of bodies jostling for space in the tent.

I moved to the other side of the table, feeling those eyes follow me as I went. I stopped at a bracelet with hand-painted saints and looked up. The boy was across the table at the Cranium package, writing down his number. He looked up at me—not quite smile, not quite smirk. I wrote my number down on the saints bracelet. Take that.

Moving on to the next row, I couldn’t help but peek back. There he was, at the saints bracelet. Memorizing my number? Trying to steal my bid? Well, I wasn’t about to lose. I looked around wildly while his back was turned and hit upon—an evening of drinks and music at The Cloud Room. No matter if it was twenty-one and over, somehow I would sneak in with Neeta and a couple of others, and we’d have a wild night on top of the Camlin Hotel. 235.

If I was going to lose the Cranium package, I would have to find something for Jonah. A party at Bouncing Castles. Of course. 235. The boy gave me a dark look while everyone else seemed to be blurring around us.

My knees were shivery where the silk touched them. Every thread seemed to cup my body in the strangest cool-hot way. He wrote his number after mine in a move both infuriating…and totally sexy. 101. One him and one me.

Finally, I bid on a set of handmade tea cozies. That would be the test to separate coincidence from stalker. Worst case scenario, I would present them to my mom as a gift for coming to the zoo party in her place. The question now: Would he bid?

I turned the corner on the last row of tables. More art. More dinners. More jewelry than could be worn by a tentful of zoo ladies. He was moving toward the tea cozies, glancing at me and then coolly looking over his shoulder at the hoi polloi, eating, drinking, and being merry. My dress was sticking to me in places where silk should never stick. He reached the tea cozies and squinted at them.

He mulled them over. Flowered. Hand-sewn. Flattering for even the fattest tea pot. Machine washable. Really, the ideal gift. He looked up at me, reading the question on my face. By choosing the tea cozies, was he choosing me?

And then, it was over. He dropped the pen. Wrote nothing at the tea cozy stop. He turned and strode out of the tent without a word. I stood alone, only a few feet away from the heater. But I didn’t seem to need it anymore as I burned with wonder and humiliation. Was it the tea cozies? Did I make a bad choice? Was I just imagining him following me and maybe even flirting with me? Did I offend him?

I took a gulp of my inhaler.

Someone on a loudspeaker announced the upcoming animal encounter tours, and I broke out of my cocoon of rejection. Dad would be waiting for me, and the only thing I’d managed to place a bid on was a trio of tea cozies. He would not only question my taste, but also my sanity.

Our group gathered around the zoo woman holding up a GIRAFFE sign. Each of the wives had a Yellow Bird drink in hand, and they giggled like they may have already had two or three. If my mom were here, I couldn’t imagine her joining in. When she wasn’t obsessed with the minutiae of meds and refills, she managed accounts for some of the biggest funds in Seattle—she couldn’t afford to giggle. I set my Yellow Bird on one of the empty tables.

We were about to head off when he appeared—crisp in his white shirt and linen pants but still looking somehow dark, like these clothes weren’t the real him any more than my silky red sari was the real me. He spoke to the zoo woman: Could he join our group?

“Asher. Oh, yes. Of course.”

Asher. A fitting name. He stood close to me, like we were together. I could smell the faint scent of cigarettes on him. He was giving me that intense look again—palpable, as if his eyes were somehow capable of sending waves of adrenaline through my body. Fight. Flight. Melt, right there on the zoo path. My dad looked up.

“Asher,” he said brightly. “You know my daughter, Joy?”

My dad knew him?

“Actually, yes. We met in the tent a few minutes ago, but I wanted to continue our conversation.”

I didn’t realize we’d been having one.

*****

Want to know a few behind-the-scenes secrets? Here are just a few about this excerpt:

I went to that zoo party! A friend got a table and invited us to join, and there really was a “For the Birds” party. All other events are entirely made up…
That scene came as a bit of a surprise—I was just getting to know the mysterious Asher, so it was like I met him at the same time Joy did.
Asher is the kind of guy who likes to control—his environment, his relationships, his effect on people. I once had a guy give me a similar treatment, and it was both intimidating and alluring. I think that was the idea (it certainly was with Asher). I wrote about that relationship in Dear Bully.
My friend Martha Brockenbrough (her debut YA novel, 10 Commandments for the Dead, is coming soon!) wrote the questions for the Cranium Hoopla game, so that’s a secret wave to her.
Earlier in that scene she sees “A spice collection from Café Shiraz,” which is the restaurant Kamran’s parents own in Tell Me a Secret. And I happened to be married to an adorable guy named Shiraz. :)

Thank you, Jenny, for inviting me to your blog, and I hope you all enjoy Don’t Breathe a Word!

Thanks, Holly, for stopping by today and sharing an excerpt and some behind the scenes tidbits with us!

You can find Don't Breathe a Word on: Website | Amazon | Goodreads
You can find Holly on: Website | Twitter

Thanks to The {Teen} Book Scene for hosting the tour. Be sure to check out the other stops on the tour for more fun & info, as well as more chances to win.

If you would like to win your own copy of Don't Breathe a Word, then fill out the form:

Must be 13 years or older to enter
See contest & privacy policy for more info
Everyone gets one automatic entry. You may fill out the form again to get extra entries for commenting on DBAW tour blog posts as well as sharing the giveaway through social media or on your blog. See form for details.

Blog Tour: Love & Leftovers by Sarah Tregay

2012-01-01T08:13:00.005-06:00

Today we've got some this or that with Marcie, the main character in Love & Leftovers by Sarah Tregay:

Books or Movies: Books.

New or Vintage: Anything. I only have one suitcase of clothes and I am really tired of wearing the same things.

Inside or Outside: Outside. Being stuck in the same house with my mother is driving me crazy.

Hamburger or Hotdog: Hamburger. I think I know what part of the cow they came from.

Quiet or Loud: Quiet. I’ll leave the loud for Katie, my best friend. She plays the bass guitar.

Sneakers or Flip Flops: Sneakers. I just started running and I like it.

Hot Chocolate or Coffee: Coffee. Because that’s what J.D. brings me—and that has more to do with J.D.’s dimples than the beverage itself.

Truth or Dare: Dare. Because if anyone finds out what I did, I’ll die.

Cake or Pie: Cake. I really need that birthday wish to come true.

Hurricane or Earthquake: Earthquake. My great-grandfather built this summerhouse and I think he used two nails wherever a normal person would put one. It’s not going to fall down.

Geeks or Nerds: Geeks. They’re cuter.

Sweet or Sour: Sweet. Donuts. Marshmallows. Chocolate. Kisses.

Night or Day: Night. I feel free to write in my journal when I’m the only one awake.

Action or Adventure: Action. This little driving-across-the-country adventure Mom and I started back in June is getting old.

Standing Out or Blending In: Blending in. When you’re on the outside, you just want in.

I'd like to thank Marcie for stopping by the blog and sharing some of her opinions with us!

You can find Love & Leftovers on: Amazon | Goodreads
You can find Sarah Tregay on: Website | Goodreads

Enter to win a Love & Leftovers prize pack including a bookmark with a guitar pick charm and post cards!

U.S. Only
Must be 13 years or older to enter
Contest Ends January 7 at 11:59PM CST
Please see Contest & Privacy Policy for details
One entry per person
Fill out the form to enter:

This contest has ended.

The winner is Tandra S. Congrats!

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>
Thanks to The {Teen} Book Scene for hosting the tour. Be sure to check out all of the other tour st ops for more fun and info!

In My Mailbox (40)

2011-12-31T19:36:00.002-06:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

What's up bookish people?! I haven't done an In My Mailbox post in about a month. So these are the books that I picked up during December. Welcome to the IMM Holiday Edition.

For Review:
Crazy by Amy Reed
Slide by Jill Hathaway
The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman
The Nightmare Garden by Caitlin Kittredge
Cross My Heart by Sasha Gould
Love & Leftovers by Sarah Tregay
Dark Eyes by William Harlan Richter

Bought:
Destined by Jessie Harrell
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
Entwined by Heather Dixon
Mastiff by Tamora Pierce
Goliath by Scott Westerfeld (signed)

Gifts:
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (from Justin @ Justin's Book Blog - Thanks again!)
Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare (signed)
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson (signed)
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (signed)
an awesome journal that is so very me (last 5 from my brother's girlfriend Hillary, who is clearly awesome)

So those are my December books. What did you get?!

Review: Far From You by Lisa Schroeder

2011-12-15T08:51:00.003-06:00

Title: Far From You
Author: Lisa Schroeder
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's
Publication Date: December 23, 2008
Links: Amazon | Goodreads

Lost and alone...Down the rabbit hole.
Alice thought she knew
what solitude was:
Her mother—gone.
Her father—remarried with a newborn
daughter.

Now...
Trapped
in the icy embrace
of a deadly snowstorm,
Alice faces the true meaning of loneliness.

But hope
may not be as far away
as she thinks....

Alice is an interesting character. She desperately clings to her memories of her mother as her newborn half-sister provides physical evidence that her father has moved on with his life. Alice says and does things that are selfish, angsty, and bratty. But she knows how she is acting. She realizes it is perhaps not the best reaction, but that she also has the right to be a bit immature about it, especially since her best friend is growing tiresome of Alice's mourning mood. At least Alice has her boyfriend. Their relationship is not perfect, and doesn't seem destined to last past high school. But he is supportive in most areas and learns to be more supportive in others, and he loves and respects her. Their relationship is a normal and healthy one, without a lot of drama even though they do disagree on some things. It's nice to see that represented in young adult literature. Romance isn't the focus of this story, though.

When Alice becomes trapped in the car on a scenic highway with her step-mother and baby sister during a bad snow storm, her attitude changes pretty quickly. Faced with survival and the reality that some (or all) of them might not survive, her perspective changes and she is forced to see how much her family matters to her.

Lisa Schroeder does a great job of capturing a teenage girl's angst, boredom, and resentment. Her words provide vivid emotion as well as imagery. It is easy to imagine the snowstorm and the freezing cold and the desperation, as well as the determination through a time of seemingly increasing hopelessness.

This is my second Lisa Schroeder novel, and I really liked it! Not as much as I liked The Day Before, but this one is also good. I love the way that Lisa Schroeder fits so much story into so few words. It's a fast read that is perfect for winter and the holidays. I definitely want to read the rest of her books. I'd recommend this to fans of novels in verse, snowy settings, and stories that deal with family problems, grief, and survival.

Review: Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

2011-12-14T08:56:00.003-06:00

Title: Touch of Power
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Publisher: MIRA
Publication Date: December 20, 2011
Series: Healer #1
Links: Amazon | Goodreads

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Territories, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life....

I loved Maria V. Snyder's Poison Study and was so excited to see her put out another high fantasy ya/adult crossover book. About a healer! I have a weakness for stuff about healers.

Avry is an awesome character. Aside from having healing powers (!!!), she is brave, clever, and strong-willed. Her magical abilities force her to be self-sacrificing, but she isn't so selfless that she doesn't also value her own worth. Kerrick is also pretty great, though he does have a couple of low moments. These moments make him human. And he experiences some growth in the book as far as his demeanor is concerned. There is also an amazing cast of secondary characters. Belen is my favorite, but I love them all. Their enemies are a range of types, from mercenaries to political opposition to demented assholes. Tohon is particularly vile. He's great if you love (or love to hate) villains that give you the skeevies.

The plot involves travel, but isn't hampered by lulls in pacing the way that books containing a great deal of traveling sometimes are. Snyder includes a number of things that keep the protagonists' trip quite interesting, and they're usually being hunted so there is a pressing sense of urgency throughout the journey. The pacing is steady, and it is one of those books that I just didn't want to put down. I had to force myself to stop reading in order to get some sleep. The setting is done well. It is easy for the reader to fall into this world and get a sense of its landscapes and the politics and turmoils that have befallen it. There are some things that make it distinctly unique, such as lilies that eat people and some dangerous beasts. The magic system isn't anything particularly new, but it is solid and pretty detailed.

There are some similarities between Touch of Power and Poison Study, but it doesn't feel like a reboot or anything because Touch of Power is still very different than Poison Study as well. There is the whole guy needs girl to help his friend thing. Avry is educated in some useful skills, which is something that I always like to see in a story - learning. Some of the characters do share some traits with those from Poison Study, but not in a way that makes them carbon copies. There's nobody who can effectively take the place of Janco, but there are moments when the group takes part in some banter that reminded me of Janco and made me miss him. So I think that is a good thing. Also, it made me want to reread the Study series and continue on with all of her other books, most of which I have but have yet to read.

I really loved this book. There are some things that are perhaps not perfect, but it is wholly enjoyable and unputdownable. If you like Maria V. Snyder's other stuff, then I think that you will love this one as well. I'd recommend it to fans of her other works and anyone who likes high fantasy, healers, and ya/adult crossover.

Review: Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

2011-12-12T09:06:00.002-06:00

Title: Shattered Souls
Author: Mary Lindsey
Publisher: Philomel
Publication Date: December 8, 2011
Links: Amazon | Goodreads

Lenzi hears voices. She also sees visions--gravestones, floods, a gorgeous guy with steel gray eyes. She knows she must be going crazy, just like her dad did. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't do anything to help, and the voices just keep getting louder, the visions more intense. But when Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, everything makes sense.

Sort of.

He tells Lenzi that she's a reincarnated Speaker--someone who can talk to lost souls and help them move on--and that he has been her Protector for centuries. But instead of embracing her abilities, Lenzi struggles between her life as the girlfriend of a sexy musician and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. Yet time is running out; a malevolent spirit has been trying to destroy Lenzi for ages, and he will surely kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.

Her choices are clear: Destiny or normalcy. Alden or Zak. Life or death.

Lenzi is terrified that she's going mad. She hears voices and sees things. Her father went mad. Madness and the fear of madness is something that I love in books, so thumbs up for the girl who sees things and starts thinking she's suffering from schizophrenia rather than immediately jumping to paranormal conclusions. Alden shows up to try to help her, and she thinks he's some creeper who is stalking her. I like Alden. He's Lenzi's protector, but he's also her subordinate. It worries him that she doesn't remember her past lives. Alden's memories provide depth for his character and give Lenzi a sense of herself as she was in her past lives.

So there have been several of these reincarnation stories in the past few years. I thought that I knew pretty much what I would be getting with this one as far as the love story goes - insta-love, heroine drawn to hero by forces unseen, eye rolling, etc. But I was very pleasantly surprised to see the romance part of this book unfold. Mary Lindsey does the reincarnation romance thing better than other novels with a similar premise. She avoids the insta-love, and Lenzi's feelings develop as her memories of Alden do. It actually feels believable and honest, which is not only sweet but also a great relief.

I like a good ghost story, so I find the concept of the Speaker and ushering lost souls to be really interesting. Some souls just need a little help from Lenzi to move on, but others are malevolent and hostile which is why she needs a Protector like Alden. There is a bit of history of the Galveston area included, such as the great hurricane that hit in 1900 and a local ghost legend. These things add an interesting element to the story and give it further background and depth. The story has a great climax and resolution. Questions are answered (yay!). I'd recommend it to fans of ghost stories, reincarnation stories, and to people who maybe haven't really liked past reincarnation stories and are still looking for one that doesn't go the insta-love route.

E-Book Deals & Freebies: December 2011

2011-12-10T16:12:00.005-06:00

I've come across a lot of great e-book bargains recently and thought I'd share them in case anyone has been waiting for a reason to pick up some of these books for themselves or as a gift for someone else this holiday season.

Most of these appear to be good for the entire month of December or at least through Christmas, but sometimes these deals don't last very long so be sure to double check price before purchasing! (Some of these are only on sale for the Kindle.)

Destined by Jessie Harrell

$0.99 Kindle
$0.99 Nook

Goodreads

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

$1.99 Kindle
$1.99 Nook

Goodreads

Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

$2.99 Kindle

Goodreads

Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

$3.27 Kindle
$3.27 Nook

Goodreads

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

$2.99 Kindle
$2.99 Nook

Goodreads

Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker

$2.99 Kindle
$2.99 Nook

Goodreads

The Musician's Daughter by Susanne Dunlap

$2.51 Kindle
$2.51 Nook

Goodreads

Temple of the Winds by Terry Goodkind

$3.99 Kindle

Goodreads

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

$2.24 Kindle
$2.99 Nook

Goodreads

Liar by Justine Larbalestier

$2.99 Kindle
$4.97 Nook

Goodreads

The Mark by Jen Nadol

$1.99 Kindle
$1.99 Nook

Goodreads

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

$3.28 Kindle

Goodreads

The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

$4.61 Kindle
$4.97 Nook

Goodreads

Hush by Eishes Chayil

$4.79 Kindle
$4.97 Nook

Goodreads

Deception by Lee Nichols

$4.79 Kindle
$4.97 Nook

Goodreads

Tortured by Caragh M. O'Brien

FREE Kindle
FREE Nook

Goodreads

Review: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

2011-12-07T00:01:00.538-06:00

Title: Catching Jordan
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication Date: December 1, 2011
Links: Amazon | Goodreads

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university.

But everything she's ever worked for is threatened when Ty Green moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he's also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan's feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart's on the line?

I have been so excited about reading and reviewing this book. Y'all don't even know. I am OBSESSED with football. And obviously with reading. So when I saw this book about a girl quarterback who has aspirations of playing for a big-time college program, I damn near imploded with gleeful, joyous rapture.

Jordan is an amazing protagonist. (I'm having a hard time not drawing out the amaaaaaaaazing.) She is tough, having grown up playing football with the boys, but she also has a feminine vulnerability. I LOVE that. While she does retain her femininity, she's still not a girly girl. She's a tomboy who shuns dresses and gets embarrassed if she gets emotional in front of her teammates. She doesn't like to show weakness, because she's a girl who is trying to thrive in a man's world. And she's succeeding at it. She smudges those lines that define femininity.

Her group of close teammate friends is awesome. Henry (Jordan's BFF) is my favorite. J.J. cracks me up and Carter is adorable. They're great friends and accept her as their quarterback. They are fiercely loyal to Jordan and protective of her, whether it is from opposing defenses or snide comments. But when Jordan needs advice about things like feelings, they're not the best place to turn. So she also finds value in female friendships, which is another thing about her that I love. Marie is my favorite of the female friends, because she knows what a flea flicker is. This makes her awesome in my book.

Upon seeing that Jordan's top choice college program is Alabama and that they've been scouting her, I had a series of reactions. The first one was to throw up a little in my mouth. (As an LSU alum and lifelong fan, this is a standard reaction to seeing mention of the Tide. Particularly this year.) My second reaction was disbelief accompanied by a cringe. The disbelief because, in reality, Bama would not be willing to use up a scholarship on a female quarterback to play in a conference as defensively brutal as the SEC. Toughness is paramount. And the cringe was because I hated thinking that, even though it's true. Girls play for schools like Jacksonville State. As kickers. Who rarely play. (Speaking of, love the shout outs to Ashley Martin and other female college football players that are included in the story.) They don't play QB in college, especially not for Division I FBS programs as elite as Alabama. BUT, Jordan knows this, and complains about it. She's driven to want to break that barrier and to be the exception and to open doors that have previously been shut and locked to women. Also, the way that this all plays out is a far cry from the lack of realism that I initially expected after reading the first few pages.

The pacing is steady. Every scene is enjoyable and fun to read. There's a wide spectrum of emotions throughout the story from anger, disappointment, and heartbreak to victory, love, and happiness. There is a natural humor in the dialog which feels authentic and easy. Yes, there is a lot of football taking place in this book, which is awesome for those of us who love it. But, for those who don't know anything about it or don't care, or even for those who dislike it, there is so, so, SO much happening in this book that is not football. And you don't have to know what a safety blitz is to understand what is going on. There are relationship struggles between friends, family, significant others. Kenneally touches upon a plethora of issues such as sexism, integrity, sexuality, what it means to be a teammate, stereotyping, overprotective/overbearing relationships - so many things that teenagers and women and everyone face while growing up and in life. Everybody should be able to find something in this book with which to identify. There is some discussion about sex and a little bit of sexy times (not graphic). It's a cute and fun book, but it doesn't exist to be fluffy. Not that there's anything wrong with fluffy - Catching Jordan just isn't that. It has depth to it. And the ending is really satisfying.

One thing that I would have liked to see is Jordan taking a few more hits in games. She only gets hit by another team's defenders once (and by her own once in practice, but I'm not counting that), and she doesn't come out of it unaffected. I'd have liked to see her exhibit some physical toughness where hits are concerned, getting sacked a few times and continuing to play through it. I think seeing her take at least a couple of real hits and then getting up would have made her seem a lot stronger physically, which would've just reinforced the believability of her opportunity to play at a college level. No big deal, but something I would have liked to see as a way to make Jordan's argument for playing collegiate ball a little stronger.

So yeah, I love this book. It's awesome. Don't let football put you off from reading it if you don't like that kind of stuff. If you do like that kind of stuff, then you'll definitely want to pick this one up. It does football justice without being confusing for anyone who doesn't know the game, and it contains so many things about being a teenager and growing up and life and relationships. It might even be my favorite contemporary novel of the year (sorry, Lola).

Review: The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

2011-12-05T10:14:00.004-06:00

Title: The Pledge
Author: Kimberly Derting
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Publication Date: November 15, 2011
Series: The Pledge #1
Links: Amazon | Goodreads

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before... and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

The Pledge is a really cool and unusual blending of fantasy and science fiction. It's a futuristic dystopia with elements of magic and some pretty cool themes. I was not expecting the magic, which is deliciously dark in some places. Once I read the first chapter, I knew that I was going to love this setting and the fantasy elements with the magic and the queendom. But then I ran into a few things that did bother me, and I was certain that those things would end up sucking the awesome from the the world-building. I'll get into those things, but I will go ahead and say now that they were character related but were mostly resolved for me by the time I finished the story.

If the first thing that I noticed about The Pledge was the awesome world, then the second thing was the points of view. The main character Charlie's point of view is written in the first person. Most of the chapters are spent in her point of view. There are also three other points of view within the story, in order to show the reader further bits of the plot as it unfolds. These are told in the third person. I'm not sure if the jump back and forth works for me. I have mixed feelings as to whether I'd have preferred it if all of the points of view were written in third to make it more uniform. The transitions aren't particularly fluid, but I may not have liked Charlie as much in the third person. It doesn't detract from my enjoyment of the story, but does sometimes feel awkward.

Charlie is a heroine who is mostly smart. There are a few things that she doesn't really pick up on right away. It's easy to say that she maybe should have, but we as readers do know a little more than she does. I find her to be likable even though she occasionally irritates. Her language comprehension means that she usually knows more than people think she does. She loves her family and friends. Her best girl friend Brook is a flirt and a little bit of an attention whore, but there's a lot more to her than that. Aron is the boy next door and the other best friend. He carries the girls' bags and gives Charlie little gifts like extra pieces of silk cloth from his father's store. He's protective. It's not safe to walk alone, so they all walk together. Max is the hot, mysterious guy who speaks a language that Charlie has never heard before. Charlie finds this intriguing, but also worrisome.

For a while, the situation with the two boys was making me angry. It looked like a love triangle would ensue. And not a good one, but rather one of the infuriating ones in which a girl ignores her amazing and loyal best friend in order to become instantly hip-fused to some mysteriously hot, dangerous guy who she barely knows. I told myself that if it happens that way then it would ruin what is a potentially amazing book by making the heroine into a cliché. Though in this case the hot, dangerous guy is at least interesting and has not expressed any desire to eat Charlie alive, imprison her, or kill her. So that's a plus! And the way that things turn out did end up working for me. But there is a noticeable shift in character inclusion that aids in allowing this. I would have preferred more scenes that included Aron and/or Max so that their relationships with Charlie could be more clearly explained, explored, developed, and defined.

The pacing of the book is fast. There's not a lot of actual fighting, but there is a lot of conflict. The country is at war and danger is always a possibility. Charlie and Brook hang out at some places that aren't exactly safe. Sirens sound, alerting people to get to shelters for potential bombings. People get hanged for the slightest offenses. It's a lot of tension and madness and some chaos. The world building is done really well. I think that the setting Derting has created is pretty brilliant. And it is a bit darker than what I was expecting, due to the nature of magic that the queen possesses. There are some themes going on within this book that I thoroughly love to see explored - class distinction, language barriers, Babel type stuff in which people are divided into linguistic groups.

The way that this book ended, it could easily be a stand alone read as there is closure strong enough that it should solve any existing conflict. Goodreads shows it as a series, though, and I assume that is because it was mentioned someplace that more books would be written. For the purposes of this book, though, closure is pretty complete. So if you aren't into series or cliffhangers, this one won't leave you with unresolved issues.

TGIF: Writing Reviews 101

2011-12-02T01:28:00.007-06:00

TGIF is hosted by Ginger at GReads!

This week's question:

Writing Reviews 101: What's your process for writing book reviews? Any tips or suggestions you would recommend to other bloggers?

My process for reviews usually consists of jotting down notes on a scrap piece of paper (or yeah, sometimes in the book if it's a paperback), procrastinating the crap out of getting my review written, and then rushing to get my thoughts down during the we hours of the morning, later than I had hoped to get it finished. This procrastinated rush is usually accompanied by some sort of beverage and distractions such as YouTube, ESPN, or Angry Birds. I wish I was one of those people who schedules posts way ahead of time, but alas, I am not. My reviews are a mixture of a critical view of the book and a personal opinion.

Things that I talk about or include in my reviews:

The characters: I like to discuss my opinions on at least the main characters - their strengths and weaknesses, whether I liked them, if they were sympathetic or whiny and annoying, etc. Do they experience growth? Do they feel honest and authentic? Are their relationships with the other characters believable? Does he/she, as a character, work to the purpose of the story?
The plot: When I discuss the plot of a novel, I like to include information such as: Is it fast, slow? Action or character driven? Is it fluffy, fun, serious, contemplative? What sort of themes are included? How is the setting/world building? Is there an element that is particularly awesome (or horrible) that I want to mention? Is there closure? Is the ending ambiguous? I make sure not to include any spoilers.
My thoughts about the merits of the novel or anything that I had a problem with: I don't like to just say that I did or did not like a book. I want to be certain that anyone who reads my reviews knows WHY I did or didn't like something. If something isn't working for me, I want to be sure to explain it. Likewise if something does work well. I discuss the writing. Is it good/bad? Is there something particular about the style that stands out?
My rating: A lot of people seem to be moving away from rating books. I like to include a rating, though. I like to have my feelings simplified into something that is quantifiable. Sometimes I'll complain about something in a book, but the complaint won't actually do much to decrease my overall enjoyment of that book. Other times that complaint will do a lot to decrease my enjoyment. The rating helps to clarify that, for my readers and for myself when I look back.

Things that I do NOT like to see in reviews:

Spoilers. I don't like to have a book spoiled. I only follow reviewers that I can trust not to ruin it for me. If you do include a spoiler, please give a warning. Though, I personally don't for them to be there at all.
Absence of explanations. Sometimes a reviewer will go on about liking or disliking something, but without ever really explaining why or why not. I need to hear reasons for these opinions. If a reviewer doesn't back his/her opinions up with some sort of explanations, then I won't be very convinced to care about that person's opinion. If someone tells me, "I like character Z. He's cool," then that isn't giving me very much information. I won't remember it or care about it either way. But if someone tells me, "Character Z is awesome because he is obsessed with being grammatically correct and has a sarcastic sense of humor," then I'm going to be all about caring what that person's opinion is, because that person clearly appreciates the important things.
Summaries. It's a review, not a second grade book report. If a brief summary is something you like to include, that doesn't bother me. I'll probably skip over it, though, if I'm being honest. My problem with it happens when a review is nothing but a drawn out summary. Don't tell me what happens! Give me your opinions (and back them up, of course)! If I want only a summary then I'll look it up on Wikipedia.

What about you? Are you a scheduler or a procrastinator? What do you like to see included in reviews? What would you prefer be left out of them? Do you like star ratings or dislike them? Comment and let me know!

Favorite Covers: December 2011

2011-12-01T08:41:00.002-06:00

Here are some of my favorite covers for December 2011: The Bloody Death and Dying Edition

Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Dudes. This is an hourglass. FILLED WITH BLOOD. How screwed up is that? Totally screwed up. And awesome. In a severely creepy and demented way. I wholeheartedly approve.
Amazon | Goodreads

Still Waters by Emma Carlson Berne
I don't know if the chick on this cover is supposed to be dead, but she is giving off a severe Ophelia vibe floating there in the water like that. I know that the girls in dresses thing is overdone. But I still like it. Plus, I like stuff floating in water. Even if it's a chick that looks like she went the way of our fair Ophelia. Or maybe especially then. I have a thing for Shakespeare. Also, as I mentioned before, demented.
Amazon | Goodreads

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
Oh, poor Jem. So tragic. So beautiful. I love Cassie's covers.
Amazon | Goodreads

Do you also like any of these covers, or am I alone in this? Are there any books being published this month that you're tempted to buy for the cover alone? What new little works of art will you be picking up for your shelves this month? Let me know in the comments!

GFC Changes & Maintaining Your Subscriptions

2011-11-30T15:53:00.004-06:00

I'm sure that many of you know this by now, but Google is discontinuing the Google Friend Connect service for non-Google websites by March 2012. This change will affect everyone. Nobody wants to be following Blogger blogs with GFC and Wordpress blogs with something else. There is also no guarantee of Google keeping this feature around for anyone for much longer. The best thing for everyone who uses GFC to do is to find new means of keeping followers and also to keep following the blogs that we read.

I suggest that, if you use GFC to follow blogs, you be sure to switch all of your subscriptions over to an alternative method of following/subscribing in order to guarantee that you do not lose any of those subscriptions or miss out on any posts. And if you are a blogger, then you will want to have some easy, alternative ways available for readers to subscribe to your blog.

At Mimosa Stimulus, you may subscribe to blog posts in the following ways:

Subscribe to RSS feed in a reader (such as Google Reader) - This is probably the best way to keep up with all of your favorite blogs as well as news feeds. You can organize the feeds into folders (Books, Cooking, News, Favorites, etc.) and keep everything in one place for easy reading.
*Note - If you use Google Reader and want to prevent duplicate items from showing up in your feed from GFC, then click on the cog wheel settings icon in the upper right, then go to "Reader settings" and then uncheck the box that says "show followed blogs from Blogger." This will allow you to follow blogs via RSS and GFC (while it lasts) without the annoyance and potential confusion of duplicates.
Subscribe to receive posts via email - Subscribing via email means that you will receive posts in your email inbox. I have my emails set to go out each evening, if and only if new posts are made that day. I find that this is an awesome way to keep up with your favorite blogs.
Like the Mimosa Stimulus page on Facebook - I just made a Facebook page for the blog about 5 minutes ago, so I could use some love in the likes department. Liking the page will give you the ability to see post updates in your Facebook news feed. I have set up a Networked Blogs account so that posts will automatically be sent to the Mimosa Stimulus Facebook page.
Add Mimosa Stimulus on Google+ - I also just made a Google+ page for the blog. I'm not really sure yet how this one is going to work or if there's a way to automatically feed post updates to Google+ but I'll keep messing around with it to see how useful it is.

Some other places to follow me:

Twitter - for links to new posts as well as my random ramblings
Goodreads - I don't update my reviews on here as much as I should, but I keep my ratings up to date and you can also see what I'm reading or wanting to read. I'm also pretty active in some book clubs and groups over there. I won't ever spam you with invitations to groups or events or any of that stuff. So you can either friend me (and tell me that you follow my blog) or just follow my reviews.
LibraryThing - Same as with Goodreads, basically. Though I use this one more for archival purposes and less socially.

Links to all of these things can be found in the sidebar (with the exception of Google+ because I'm still messing around with that one and will add a button for it once it gets more features and API support). If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about the upcoming changes to Google Friend Connect or about alternative subscription methods, then leave them in the comments or feel free to email me.

Author Book Picks with Miranda Kenneally

2011-11-28T00:01:00.120-06:00

I'd like to welcome Miranda Kenneally to the blog today, as part of the Catching Jordan blog tour, to share some of her favorite books and authors with us!

Growing up in Tennessee, Miranda Kenneally dreamed of becoming an Atlanta Brave, a country singer (cliché!), or a UN interpreter. Instead she writes, and works for the State Department in Washington, D.C., where George W. Bush once used her shoulder as an armrest. Miranda loves Twitter, Star Trek and her husband.

Find Miranda on: Website | Twitter | Goodreads

I read tons of books. I have an addiction!

I love anything by Melina Marchetta, Sarah Dessen, Simone Elkeles, Kristin Cashore, Jennifer Echols, Sarah Ockler, C.K. Kelly Martin, Courtney Summers, and David Levithan.

Here are some of my recent favorites:

The Piper’s Son by Melina Marchetta

Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar

And here some great books of 2012 I’ve already had the opportunity to read. You shouldn’t miss any of these:

Trish Doller’s Something Like Normal, about a Marine (Travis!) who’s just returned from Afghanistan with PTSD.

Jessica Spotswood’s Born Wicked, about a girl trying to hide that she and her sisters are witches. If their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Allison Rushby’s Shooting Stars, about a teen paparazzo who gets the job of her life, but it means betraying the only star who’s ever been nice to her. And he’s hot! :)

Coming in 2013 is Sarah Skilton’s Bruised, about a girl with a black belt in tae kwon do who freezes up during an armed robbery, and is left to wonder if martial arts failed her or if she failed it.

I’m on Goodreads all the time – feel free to see what I’m reading!

Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your book picks with us, Miranda! Those are some great choices, and I can't wait to check out your 2012 and 2013 recommendations.

Miranda's debut novel, Catching Jordan, is in stores now!
You can find Catching Jordan on: Amazon | Goodreads

Thanks to The {Teen} Book Scene for hosting Miranda's blog tour. Be sure to visit all of the other stops on the tour for more fun with Miranda Kenneally:

Tuesday, November 29: Bailey at IB Book Blogging
Wednesday, November 30: Nicole at Word for Teens
Thursday, December 1: Kari at A Good Addiction
Friday, December 2: Kate at I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read
Saturday, December 3: Allison at The Allure of Books

Sunday, December 4: Jenny at Supernatural Snark
Monday, December 5: Bailey at IB Book Blogging
Tuesday, December 6: Hannah at Paperback Treasures
Wednesday, December 7: Jenny at Mimosa Stimulus
Thursday, December 8: Nicci at Paper Dreams
Friday, December 9: Rummanah at Books in the Spotlight
Saturday, December 10: Allison at The Allure of Books

Sunday, December 11: Jessica E at Confessions of a Bookaholic
Monday, December 12: Rummanah at Books in the Spotlight
Tuesday, December 13: Jenny at Supernatural Snark
Wednesday, December 14: Kody at YA Highway
Thursday, December 15: Nicci at Paper Dreams
Friday, December 16: Kate at I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read

In My Mailbox (39)

2011-11-27T00:01:00.084-06:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

What's up bookish people?! It's that time of week for the sharing of the spoils! I snagged some awesome stuff this week. Here are the books that I've gotten since last time:

For Review:
After the Snow by S.D. Crockett (NetGalley)
Life is But a Dream by Brian James (NetGalley)
Various Positions by Martha Schabas (NetGalley)
The Night She Disappeared by April Henry (NetGalley)
Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta (NetGalley)
Shadows on the Moon by Zoë Marriott (NetGalley)
Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald (NetGalley)
New Girl by Paige Harbison (NetGalley)
Allegiance by Cayla Kluver (NetGalley)
The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen (ARC Tour)

Other:
Kindle Touch - an upgrade for my old Kindle 2 (I love it.)

That's it for me this week! Did you get any bookish stuff this week as well? Let me know in the comments!

Review: Dancergirl by Carol M. Tanzman

2011-11-26T03:54:00.003-06:00

Title: dancergirl
Author: Carol M. Tanzman
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: November 15, 2011
Series: WiHi #1
Links: Amazon | Goodreads

A friend posted a video of me dancing online and now I'm now longer Alicia Ruffino. I'm dancergirl—and suddenly it's like me against the world—everyone's got opinions.

My admirers want more, the haters hate, my best friend Jacy—even he's acting weird. And some stranger isn't content to just watch anymore.

Ali, dancergirl. Whatever you know me as, however you've seen me online, I've trained my whole life to be the best dancer I can be. But if someone watching has their way, I could lose more than just my love of dancing.

I could lose my life.

Dancergirl is a contemporary thriller with a bit of dancing and stalking and other things. Unsure of what to expect when I picked it up, I quickly realized that this little book was more than I thought it would be, and that was a pleasant surprise.

Alicia is a character with whom I can't particularly identify, but can still appreciate and relate to in some ways. She's a dancer, and dancing is her love and her outlet for expression. In the beginning, Alicia likes being the center of attention. This changes, of course, once her privacy is violated. Sometimes Alicia is incredibly selfish, and in others she's extremely vulnerable. As a result, my feelings about her are a little mixed. But I think that her emotions make her sympathetic despite some of her shortcomings, many of which she does outgrow over the course of the story. Of her friends, the one who has the most depth is Jacy, who lives downstairs from Ali. He has some difficult obstacles of his own but is still there for Alicia when she really needs him to be, even when he's frustrated with her or wallowing in his own self-pity. Her vulnerable situation helps force him to ditch some of his depression. The rest of the characters are pretty minor but still have distinctive personalities with the occasional moment or comment that lends depth.

The pacing is a little slower at the beginning, but once Alicia begins having problems with her stalker then the tension makes things feel more urgent and the reading becomes quicker. A good portion of the plot consists of Ali looking over her shoulder or worrying, and these parts are fraught with tension. But there's also a significant portion of text devoted to her dancing. I like seeing this side of her because it gives her the depth of an internal struggle between dancing which she loves and the danger that she associates with dancing and the spotlight as a result of this person invading her privacy. It's also a beautiful contrast between the art of dance and the perturbing stalker who becomes this voyeur, an action which takes a beautiful art form in dance and twists it into something that is now tainted by an obsession or even perversion.

There is a little bit of romance in dancergirl, but it is understated and doesn't take away from the seriousness of some of the issues and themes of the plot. Friendship and trust are concerns that Ali has to deal with as her paranoia at being followed and watched starts to affect her. The identity of the stalker is something that the characters are always trying to find out. I figured out who the stalker is pretty quickly and easily, so that little mystery wasn't really a mystery for me. The naive way in which the characters choose to handle the situation without telling Alicia's mom or going to the police does frustrate me. But if they had just done that then I suppose there wouldn't be much of a story to tell, so I can live with it even if I did sort of want to slap them for not reporting it. (Stalking is illegal!)

I did get more out of dancergirl than I expected to. I am not sure if I just didn't read the synopsis carefully or what, but I didn't realize when I started that it would be about a stalking victim. I like the grittiness provided by that, especially contrasted with the ballet and modern dance. While occasionally a little dramatic or predictable, it is still a creepy thriller with some other meaningful content thrown in. I'd recommend it to fans of dance, mystery/thriller/suspense novels, and books in which romance isn't at the forefront of the character's thoughts. I should also add a content warning - the book contains a little bit of drinking and mild drug use (marijuana) by some of the characters.