Cat's Thoughts

Wicked Winter

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Hubs is going out of town for some unexpected family stuff, which means that I'm on my own tomorrow through at least next Thursday. While I'm kinda vaguely interested in this thing called the Superbowl, I'm interested in it in the sense that it will be on but I probably won't consistently watch it. If I cared about the teams, that would be a different story... (don't stone me if you're a fan of one of the teams!) That being said, since I will have the whole weekend to read, I figured I'd join in this read-a-thon! I have a huge pile of library books to get to, not to mention a ton of books for review... and the ever growing stacks of books I own, so if I can make a solid dent in there, I'll be a happy camper.

Here's the deets:

The Wicked Winter Read-A-Thon is a time when we all get together to dedicate the weekend of February 3-5 to as much reading as possible. You read as much as you can in order to get yourself a little further through that huge to-read pile! We know real life gets in the way and even if you can’t participate more than one day, you’re welcome to join in on the fun!

In the meanwhile, we will be hosting book-related challenges where you can win some awesome prizes and have a Twitter party at the hashtag #WWReadathon! You can posts updates on your blog, Twitter, Goodreads or Facebook — as long as the profile is public and we all can enjoy your reading progress! For this edition, we’ve also planned a chat surprise in order to include those who aren’t on Twitter in some chatting fun. But exactly what will happen is a surprise for now.

This event is hosted by Kindle Fever and My Self Confessions so head on over there if you're interested in signing up!

Review and Interview: In Leah's Wake

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Title: In Leah's Wake
Author: Terri Giuliano Long
Where I got it: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Summary:

***Newly edited by Sara-Jayne Slack, Inspired Quill Press***

The Tylers have a perfect life—beautiful home, established careers, two sweet and talented daughters. Their eldest daughter, Leah, an exceptional soccer player, is on track for a prestigious scholarship. Their youngest, Justine—more responsible than seems possible for her 12 years—just wants her sister’s approval. With Leah nearing the end of high school and Justine a seemingly “together” kid, the parents are set to enjoy a peaceful life…until everything goes wrong. Can this family survive in Leah’s wake?

Margot Livesey, award-winning author of Banishing Verona, calls In Leah's Wake "a beautifully written and absorbing novel."

When happens when love just isn't enough?

Recipient of the CTRR Award for excellence

2011 Book Bundlz Book Pick

Book Bundlz 2011 Favorites, First Place

My Thoughts:
In Leah's Wake follows teenage Leah as she spirals out of control, dating a guy who's bad for her, giving up hobbies she loves, allowing her grades to drop, and experimenting with drugs. While the negative impacts of her behaviors, on both her and her family, are obvious, she spins them in a frighteningly almost logical determination that she's acting more like a grown up and that in making her own decisions she is actually doing what her parents have always wanted. Unfortunately for the Tyler family, Leah's actions don't only affect her, but her parents' marriage, her sister's reputation, and Leah's relationship with her family and friends.

From an outside and (arguably) adult perspective, Leah's attitudes and decisions made me want to alternately shake my head, shake her, smack her, or lock her in her room until she was legal, and could mess up her own life all she wanted... Somewhere else. And you can literally feel the same sense of desperation and uncertainty in her parents and sister as they learn more and more about what she's been up to. This is especially impressive to me, as I have no experience whatsoever with parenting a teen - yet I felt enough in the story that I completely empathized with Leah's family. The hardest part, though, was the times throughout the book that Leah realized that these circumstances weren't what she wanted, but wasn't strong enough to get herself out of them, despite all of the help available.

In Leah's Wake is a fantastic depiction of the way families interact, and that no family member lives their life in a vacuum - the decisions of each individual, no matter how much they think only matters to them, will impact the entire family. If you haven't given this book a try yet, what on earth are you waiting for????

Author Bio:
Terri Giuliano Long is the bestselling author of the novel In Leah’s Wake. Her life outside of books is devoted to her family. In her free time, she enjoys walking, traveling, and listening to music. True to her Italian-American heritage, she’s an enthusiastic cook. In an alternate reality, she might be an international food writer. She lives with her family on the East Coast and teaches at Boston College. In Leah’s Wake is her debut novel.

For more details about Terri and her book events, please visit her website: www.tglong.com,
www.tglong.com/blog Or connect with her on Facebook www.facebook.com/tglongwrites or Twitter: @tglong

Terri was kind enough to answer some questions for us today - thank you, and welcome to Cat's Thoughts!

Thank you so much for this interview, Catherine. It’s an honor to be here!

Tell us a bit about yourself?

First and foremost, I’m a wife and mom. I love nothing more than being with my family, whatever the activity. They make me laugh, they bring tremendous joy to my life, and they keep me centered. I also enjoy walking, hiking, and skiing. True to my Italian-American heritage, I’m a passionate foodie. For an amateur, I can hold my own in the kitchen.
Professionally, I’ve written copy for marketing, advertising and public relations, edited articles for trade journals, and edited a small trade magazine for fitness professionals. I earned my MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College, and I’ve taught creative and nonfiction writing at Boston College since 1996. In Leah’s Wake is my debut novel.

What was your favorite book as a child?

As a young girl, I loved fairytales. The stories spring to life in your imagination and transport you to faraway places. They also sneak up on you. You think they’re about the prince and the princess or the children. They are, of course, but they’re also about life. They teach important lessons – what it means to be honest and giving, to be a good person. I still love stories with a vision – stories that provide insight or invite philosophical questions.

As a teen, I loved The Exorcist. By today’s standards, the story is tame, even ordinary. At the time, The Exorcist was a shocking literary sensation, banned in some places. I’ve always been a rebel. I was not a drug user like 16 year-old Leah, the title character in my novel, nor am I a risk-taker, but I hate conforming, being told what to do. Although a voracious reader, I skimmed most of the classics forced upon us in school. Being forbidden gave The Exorcist a deliciously sweet edge. I also loved Exodus, a glorious book by Leon Uris, about the birth of the nation of Israel. It was, to my mind, the first truly important book I ever read.

What’s your favorite book as an adult?

The Road, by Cormac McCarthy. This powerful, masterfully written novel drops us into a dismal, post-apocalyptic world, where humans are reduced to animal instinct; for inhabitants of this world, murder and cannibalism are a means of survival.

Within this brutal environment, McCarthy gives us an elegantly rendered father and son. Traveling the road, starving, the man and his son face excruciating hardships, which they meet with dignity and grace. Dying, the man says to his son: "You have my whole heart. You always did.” That line has stayed with me – as have so many other stark, tender moments.

Did you always want to write?

When I was a child, my mom read to my siblings and me every day before our afternoon nap, instilling and nurturing in me a love of reading and story. Throughout my childhood, I entertained myself by making up stories and plays. In high school, nearly all my hobbies and activities somehow involved writing. I wrote for the school paper, edited the yearbook. One day, determined to be a “real” writer, I marched into the office for the town paper and asked the editor for a job. At first, I covered sports and general high school news. Soon, the editor offered me my own column. I was sixteen. That column was my first paid writing job. I earned about a dollar a week. Writing that column – that people read and talked about my work - was exhilarating! I knew then that writing was the only job I’d ever want.

Sweet treats or salty snacks?

Sweets, particularly candy. I love anything gooey – Swedish fish, Dots, Mexican Hats. Five or six years ago, I developed an addiction to chocolate. There’s a chocolate shop in Stowe, Vermont, Laughing Moon Chocolates, that sells the most delectable handmade chocolates in the universe (yes, prejudiced, I know). The chocolatier uses only fresh local ingredients and they’re constantly experimenting, creating new treats. The combinations often strike me as odd - dark chocolate truffles with blue cheese? Really? Yet the taste is always amazing.

Dogs or cats?

Unfortunately, I’m allergic to both. Allergic reactions are cumulative; if the environmental allergens (grass, trees, pollen, etc.) are low, I can tolerate dogs and cats – my eyes puff up, but don’t swell shut. My mom had two gorgeous Himalayans . The younger one, Vanilla, has always been my favorite. Last time I stayed at my parents’ house, she slept by my head. Cats are interesting; unlike dogs, they make you work for their love. I enjoy the challenge.

Dog ears, bookmarks, or random items?

Random. Dog earing a book feels destructive somehow (it’s not, of course). I have stunning bookmarks – gorgeous gold clips that my husband bought in Korea; slender, elegantly curved gold bookmarks with lovely designs at the top; beautiful tapestry ribbons. I love them, but I always forget to use them. Instead, I mark pages with a pen or torn slip of paper.

What is the best thing about being a writer?

I’m passionate about writing. I enjoy every aspect of the process, from the initial burst of inspiration through the painstaking, often frustrating, months or years of revision. But it’s that aha moment that keeps me writing – that moment when the work suddenly comes together, you understand what you’re writing about, you see the relationships among the various parts – chapters and scenes – and the connections make sense. You feel as though you’ve been through a storm; suddenly, the fog lifts and, for the first time in a long time, the sun comes out. For the past year, my husband and I have lived in California part time. In southern CA, every day is sunny and gorgeous and warm. I always joke that in New England we have three perfect days a year. But those days, because they’re so rare, are magnificent. You feel optimistic, alive, bursting with energy. Those aha moments make me feel the same way.

I can’t imagine not writing. Writing transports me. I lose myself in the process.

Tell us one thing we wouldn’t know just by looking at you?

When people meet me for the first time, they often assume I’m in my late-thirties, so they’re surprised to discover that I have adult children and grandkids. I was 18, a baby, when Dave and I married. I feel blessed – my husband is the love of my life. Like all couples, we’ve had our challenges; still, after all these years, we enjoy each other’s company – we miss each other when we’re apart - we have fun, and we love being together. This surprises people.

I’m also a closet nerd. On the outside, I appear cool and relaxed. In fact, I’m quite shy. Before a public appearance, I’m anxious for days; afterward, I question myself. I want people to feel comfortable, at ease around me, so I do my best to hide my insecurities.

Thank you so much, Catherine. I’m grateful for this opportunity to share my thoughts with your readers. Readers, thank you so very much for the invaluable gift of your time.

Praise for In Leah’s Wake

"Sometimes scary, sometimes sad, and always tender." - Susan Straight, National Book Award finalist, author Take One Candle Light A Room

“Pulled me right along as I continued to make comparisons to my own life.” - Jennifer Donovan, 5 Minutes for Books, Top 50 Book Blog

“An incredibly strong debut, this book is fantastic on many fronts.” - Naomi Blackburn, Founder Sisterhood of the Traveling Book

“As a therapist, I found this novel to be . . . an accurate description of what can happen when our youth are pushed too hard, parents stop communicating, and the family system breaks down.” - Susan Salluce, author Out of Breath

“A very moving and, at times, heartbreaking story which will be loved by many, whether they be parents or not.” - A. Rose, Amazon UK, TOP 100 REVIEWER

“I'm adding Terri Giuliano Long to my list of authors I want to be stranded with.” - Susie Kline, Book Blogger, Motherhoot

Top Ten: Books for Book Clubs

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Top Ten Tuesday is a fun weekly event hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! This week, we're discussing books that we think would make good book club picks. Take this list with a grain of salt - I've never been in a book club (I'm not opposed, just never had the opportunity), so I have no idea what the characteristics are for book club picks - these are just books I would love to discuss with others.

So what do you think??? Are these good choices? What are yours?

Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
Where I got it: I bought a signed copy at Barnes&Noble!

Amazon Summary:

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

My Thoughts:
I knew before I started reading this that it was going to be an emotional book to read. For one, John Green has a habit of drawing the reader into his books so thoroughly that you are completely invested in the outcome. And for another, you know that something pretty freaking amazing or tragic is going to happen given this synopsis. Yeah, let me just say, it was more emotional than I expected. And I finished the book at work. Don't read this book in public!!!

Hazel is a wry, cynical, sarcastic kid, who is well aware that she's only been granted a reprieve from her disease, not a cure. She's tethered to oxygen, and doesn't really see the point of making friends or getting out of the house, because she knows that it's all going to end. When she meets Augustus at Cancer Kid Support Group, she's impressed by his sense of humor (and his good looks), but certainly not with his driving. In an amazingly short time, they build a deep relationship that neither one of them really expected, but that will end up bringing both intense joy and incredible sorrow to their lives.

Words. Cannot. Describe. The awesome. I loved this book, it's probably my favorite of John Green's books so far. But really, I loved it to the point that I can't even explain why I loved it, other than I was completely and totally sucked into the characters and their lives, and oh my gosh wanted so freaking much for them. This book is powerful, emotional, and heart breaking. Read it with a box of tissues near at hand.

My New Addiction!

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:32:00 +0000

Source: Uploaded by user via Catherine on Pinterest

I entirely blame my fascination with Pinterest on Jamie at Perpetual Page-Turner, who started posting awesome posts with examples from her various boards that I loved so much I had to join and then got hooked. That picture up there, yeah, that's me.

I don't have a ton of boards yet, but I've definitely found some awesome bookish stuff since I've joined!

Source: Uploaded by user via Catherine on Pinterest

Source: a-whole-lottalove.blogspot.com via Catherine on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Catherine on Pinterest

Fabulous, no??? If you have a Pinterest account, let me know! I'm totally looking for more people to follow! And if you want to (I want you to!), click this link to follow me!

Book Review: New Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Title: New Girl

Author: Paige Harbison

Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:

Welcome to Manderley Academy

I hadn't wanted to go, but my parents were so excited…. So here I am, the new girl at Manderley, a true fish out of water. But mine's not the name on everyone's lips. Oh, no.

It's Becca Normandy they can't stop talking about. Perfect, beautiful Becca. She went missing at the end of last year, leaving a spot open at Manderley—the spot that I got. And everyone acts like it's my fault that infallible, beloved Becca is gone and has been replaced by not perfect, completely fallible, unknown Me.

Then, there's the name on my lips—Max Holloway. Becca's ex. The one boy I should avoid, but can't. Thing is, it seems like he wants me, too. But the memory of Becca is always between us. And as much as I'm starting to like it at Manderley, I can't help but think she's out there, somewhere, watching me take her place.

My Thoughts:
Holy cow, was this book a creepy little page turner!

Manderly Academy is just what you would expect from a fancy boarding school - there's weird rules and cliques and a rumor mill that just doesn't quit. So when Becca disappears at the end of the school year, the whole school is affected. And when her spot is filled by a new girl, who actually bears some slight resemblance to Becca, rumors and suspicion abound.

And that's where the "what you would expect" part of the book ends. Because now we get into some creepy weird characters, an old boat house, flashbacks of Becca's year at Manderly (and let me tell you, those are disturbing in a lot of ways), and a bizarre and dysfunctional love triangle that has a huge influence on the present.

This book is completely full of mysteries, suspense, and characterization that makes you want to know more. I still want to know more! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I will be keeping an eye out for more by this author!

Book Review: The Secret of Lies

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: The Secret of Lies
Author: Barbara Forte Abate
Where I got it: From the author, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
Propelled by an insurmountable sense of desperation, Stevie Burke is recklessly abandoning home, husband, and outwardly contented life under cover of night; at last resigned to defeat in her long battle against the tortured memories of her past.

Days later, lost and floundering in a dreary motel room without plan or destination, it is a long ago song playing on the radio that gently tugs Stevie back through the dust of remembrance. 1957 - The last summer spent at the ancient house overlooking the North Atlantic. A season which had unfolded with abundant promise, but then spiraled horribly out of control - torn apart by a shattering tragedy that remains splintered in fragments upon her soul. And it is only now, when Stevie at last lifts her eyes to stare deep into the heart of her long sequestered memories, that the long held secrets of past and future are at last unveiled.

My Thoughts:
The Secret of Lies tells the story of Stevie and her older sister, through a flashback as Stevie is running away from her life because her guilt and grief are essentially smothering her. The story is smooth and seamless, and utterly, hauntingly real when you're reading it.

The girls grew up spending summers with their aunt and uncle on the coast. They had summer friends and spent all their time together, until the summer that things started changing. While they had always sided with their aunt in the family dramas that occurred, suddenly Eleanor began defending their uncle, and Stevie doesn't put the signals together to understand why until it's far too late.

After this traumatic summer, Stevie carries around this burden of guilt and grief that prevents her from being truly happy, or forming real relationships with people, until Ash comes along and starts to help her see outside herself and her past. When she runs away from Ash, like she has many other challenges in her life, will she realize what she's got in time to make things right? Or has the damage already been done?

I seriously cannot describe to you how real this book felt - I loved the imagery, and the depiction of the sisters' relationship as they grew, and could almost feel the sense of Stevie's guilt, even though I put two and two together long before she did... This is an excellent book, and I highly recommend it!

Book Review: Fallen In Love

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Fallen In Love
Author: Lauren Kate
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
What makes your heart race a little faster? Just in time for Valentine's Day, it's FALLEN IN LOVE, four wholly original new stories collected in a new novel set in the Middle Ages by Lauren Kate. FALLEN IN LOVE gives fans the much-talked about but never-revealed stories of FALLEN characters as they intertwine with the epic love story of Luce and Daniel. The stories include: Love Where You Least Expect It: The Valentine of Shelby and Miles , Love Lessons: The Valentine of Roland; Burning Love: The Valentine of Arriane; and Endless Love: The Valentine of Daniel and Lucinda.

My Thoughts:
While I do enjoy the Fallen novels, I sometimes find it hard to keep all the characters straight. I may be the only one in this predicament, but I really liked Fallen In Love, because it not only is a collection of really sweet romances for Valentine's Day, but it also gives some background and additional information on some of the key characters in the series, who sometimes are overlooked in the drama of the books.

Each story is completely self contained, and all of them are really easy reads - it didn't take me long at all to finish this book, both because of it's length and because it kept me very interested through the end. The coolest thing about it is that although each story could stand alone, they also interweave without you really realizing it until you think about it. I enjoyed getting to know the Fallen characters a little better, and was really impressed how seamlessly the stories fit with the series as a whole. If you're a fan, you should definitely check this one out sooner than later!

Book Review: The Baker's Daughter

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: The Baker's Daughter
Author: Sarah McCoy
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
In 1945, Elsie Schmidt is a naive teenager, as eager for her first sip of champagne as she is for her first kiss. She and her family have been protected from the worst of the terror and desperation overtaking her country by a high-ranking Nazi who wishes to marry her. So when an escaped Jewish boy arrives on Elsie’s doorstep in the dead of night on Christmas Eve, Elsie understands that opening the door would put all she loves in danger.

Sixty years later, in El Paso, Texas, Reba Adams is trying to file a feel-good Christmas piece for the local magazine. Reba is perpetually on the run from memories of a turbulent childhood, but she’s been in El Paso long enough to get a full-time job and a fiancé, Riki Chavez. Riki, an agent with the U.S. Border Patrol, finds comfort in strict rules and regulations, whereas Reba feels that lines are often blurred.

Reba’s latest assignment has brought her to the shop of an elderly baker across town. The interview should take a few hours at most, but the owner of Elsie’s German Bakery is no easy subject. Reba finds herself returning to the bakery again and again, anxious to find the heart of the story. For Elsie, Reba’s questions are a stinging reminder of darker times: her life in Germany during that last bleak year of WWII. And as Elsie, Reba, and Riki’s lives become more intertwined, all are forced to confront the uncomfortable truths of the past and seek out the courage to forgive.

My Thoughts:
I absolutely loved The Baker's Daughter, and burned through it in one sitting because I simply didn't want to put it down. Elsie is a likable character throughout her life, both in the historical snapshots we get of her life in Nazi Germany, and as an adult in El Paso. Her daughter is awesome, and the relationship that develops between Reba and Elsie is very natural and sweet.

This book touches on topics of family, love and forgiveness, without becoming overbearing or belaboring the point, which I thought was awesome. I feel like a better person for having read it, and I highly suggest it to anyone who is a fan of historical fiction.

Book Review: Blank Slate Kate

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Blank Slate Kate
Author: Heather Wardell
Where I got it: From the author, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
Waking up with a strange man is scary. Realizing you lost fifteen years of your life overnight? That's terrifying. With her memories from seventeen to thirty-two gone, Kate has no idea who she is and where she belongs. As she begins to fall for the man who found her, she wonders if she forgot those years for a reason. Should she keep trying to retrieve her original self, or start a new life?

My Thoughts:
I can't even begin to express how much I adored this book! It grabbed me from the first few pages and I didn't want to put it down until the very end. And in all honesty, I probably could have followed Kate and her story even longer!

Kate wakes up one morning in a strange place, with a guy she doesn't know. She's naturally completely terrified, especially when she looks in the mirror and doesn't recognize her 32-year-old self. The last thing she remembers is being 17. She's lucky enough that Jake rescued her from the bar that he works at, and believes that she doesn't remember the past fifteen years of her life... And that he's willing to help her out while the police try to figure out who she is. Meanwhile, there's an undeniable attraction between the two of them that grows as they spend more time together trying to spark Kate's memory. Except it turns out that Kate is really Donna, and there's a reason for her amnesia, and she's got a whole life that she left behind.

Can Kate find the secrets that she was running from? And will she decide to go back to her old life, or start over in the life she's found herself in?

I can't even imagine what it would feel like to wake up one morning and not remember the past several years of my life, be surrounded by strangers and people who don't believe me, and have no idea what's going on or why I left my life behind. Blank Slate Kate does an amazing job of describing this unusual situation, and follows Kate as she tries to figure out who she was, and what is really best for her. I loved the romantic aspects of the story, as well as the creative and unusual discovery process that Kate experienced while she was trying to recover her memories. This story is funny, heartwarming, and will keep you guessing to the very end! Definitely check it out, sooner than later!

Book Review: Nevermore

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:17:00 +0000

Title: Nevermore
Author: Kelly Creagh
Where I got it: From the library

Amazon Summary:
A page-turning psychological mystery that is equal parts horror, humor, and romance, Nevermore is the story of Varen—a Poe fan and Goth—and Isobel—a cheerleader and unlikely heroine. When an English Lit. project pairs the two, Isobel finds herself swept into Varen’s world, one that he has created in his notebook and in his mind, one where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life. Isobel slowly learns that dreams and words can be much more powerful than she’d ever imagined. As labels of “Goth” and “cheerleader” fade away, Isobel and Varen slip into a consuming romance, braced against the ever-clearer horror that the most chilling realities are those within our own minds. When Isobel has a single chance to rescue Varen from the shadows of his nightmares, will she be able to save him—and herself?

My Thoughts:

Aside from a completely unsatisfying ending that makes me very glad that I waited a really long time to read Nevermore, because it's less time to wait for the sequel, this book is awesome. Isobel and Varen are a completely unlikely pair who are put together for an English project, and discover a romance that ignores the traditional norms of high school. Unfortunately, as they delve into their research on Poe, the division between their world and the world of Poe's work becomes thinner, and the worlds threaten to merge with scary consequences. Isobel must figure out how to navigate this complicated landscape if she hopes to save Varen - or herself.

While the cheerleader/goth relationship is a little hard to swallow, Isobel and Varen are awesome characters - I am completely in love with Varen's bad boy attitude and cynicism. Can we say hot????? I think we can. And Isobel, for a cheerleader, is not too shabby herself. She's actually got a brain! Yes, my high school stereotypes are talking, I admit it. But for this story, it really worked. Also, I am completely enamored of the references to Edgar Allen Poe and the influence his work had on the story! It was creepy, and confusing, and thrilling, all at once. The sequel comes out this August, so get to reading Nevermore now and you won't have long to wait for more!

Rewind and Review: Coming Soon!

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

GReads and lisa is busy nerding are starting a new feature/challenge/concept thingy that I am super excited about and definitely plan to participate in - Rewind and Review! It's not a full on challenge, except in the sense of setting our own goals to read and review some of those older books that we missed when they came out, and that have gotten lost in the shuffle of shiny new releases.

Here's the rules:

The book(s) needs to be published in 2010 or earlier.
Set a goal for the month on how many books you'd like to read & use the feature title "Rewind & Review" in your reviews.
If you use the graphic, please provide credit back to mine or Lisa's blog.
Use this opportunity to have fun reading some long lost loves!

My goal is to hit one book a month for 2012. I get a lot of these books from the library, but I'm hoping this will also help me tackle my growing TBR pile throughout the year as well. Congrats ladies, on this awesome new feature!!!

Follow Friday!

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:48:00 +0000

For a short week, this week has been a really looooooong work week. I worked overnight on Wednesday night, which was supposed to be Tuesday night... And I am still tired. Two hour naps have never really cut it for me in terms of sleep satisfaction, but I did finish a couple books while I was waiting for our system to decide to cooperate with us. Bonus! On a side note, I am about 2/3 of the way through Will Grayson, Will Grayson and I am absolutely dumbfounded that I just discovered John Green in the last year or so. Thank you to all the bloggers who raved about him and made me curious, because I have loved everything I've picked up of his.

Isn't this new button adorable? I love it.

What's the craziest thing you've ever done to get your hands on a book?
Who me? Do crazy things to get books? No way! Ok, way. Probably the craziest would be waiting in line for hours for a midnight release - most especially for the later Harry Potter books. Oh, and then staying up all night to read them. That being said, I never got on the bookstore "midnight release for everything" bandwagon - I have to really want the book to want to stay up that late and deal with that many other crazy people. Otherwise, it will be there tomorrow.

Valentine's Day is Almost Here!

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching (scary fast, if I am really honest about that - where has January gone?!) and what better excuse do you need to head on over to EdenFantasys for something for your celebration? Ok really, it's not like I need an excuse to go there... But it makes me feel better when I have one!

I’m even more excited than usual, because EdenFantasys just added some more awesome product lines to their site, including hair and body care products, and some super cute bra and panty sets!

And did I mention sea salts???

And this awesome blue lip balm???

Can you tell what’s on my list for my next order?

As always, EdenFantasys offers a great selection of products for any comfort level – from high quality sex toys to fun “pamper me” products to help you relax after a long day. And, even better, they have super fast and discrete shipping, which is free for any order over $59. And in case you hadn’t noticed, you can get a lot of great stuff for $59!

Book Review: Juliet

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Juliet
Author: Anne Fortier
Where I got it: The library!

Amazon Summary:
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

When Julie Jacobs inherits a key to a safety-deposit box in Siena, Italy, she is told that it will lead her to an old family treasure. Soon she is launched on a winding and perilous journey into the history of her ancestor Giulietta, whose legendary love for a young man named Romeo rocked the foundations of medieval Siena. As Julie crosses paths with the descendants of the families immortalized in Shakespeare’s unforgettable blood feud, she begins to realize that the notorious curse—“A plague on both your houses!”—is still at work, and that she is the next target. It seems that the only one who can save Julie from her fate is Romeo—but where is he?

My Thoughts:
I have been jonesing for this book for forever it seems like, and it totally did not disappoint me! Juliet is an amazing mix of Da Vinci Code - like mystery and intrigue, with Shakespeare as the foundation. The book starts off alternating between past and present day Juliet, as Julie begins researching the legacy left by her mother. Both sides of the story are awesome, and (dare I say it) far more interesting than Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare style.

This book has everything you could possibly want - ancient curses, family drama, Italy (!), and some romance. I have no idea why I waited so long to read it, so run out right now and go get it.

Top Ten: Books I'd Recommend to...

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Top Ten Tuesday is a fun weekly list making event hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Seriously guys, I look forward to this every week! This week, I'm sharing my top ten recommendations to people who don't read Sci-Fi/Fantasy (my first bookish love). These are some of my favorites from the genre, and I am so excited to share with you!

Book Review: Revealing Eden

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:49:00 +0000

Title: Revealing Eden
Author: Victoria Foyt
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
Eden Newman must mate before her 18th birthday in six months or she'll be left outside to die in a burning world. But who will pick up her mate-option when she's cursed with white skin and a tragically low mate-rate of 15%? In a post-apocalyptic, totalitarian, underground world where class and beauty are defined by resistance to an overheated environment, Eden's coloring brands her as a member of the lowest class, a weak and ugly Pearl. If only she can mate with a dark-skinned Coal from the ruling class, she'll be safe. Just maybe one Coal sees the Real Eden and will be her salvation her co-worker Jamal has begun secretly dating her. But when Eden unwittingly compromises her father's secret biological experiment, she finds herself in the eye of a storm and thrown into the last area of rainforest, a strange and dangerous land. Eden must fight to save her father, who may be humanity's last hope, while standing up to a powerful beast-man she believes is her enemy, despite her overwhelming attraction. Eden must change to survive but only if she can redefine her ideas of beauty and of love, along with a little help from her "adopted aunt" Emily Dickinson.

My Thoughts:
Emily lives in a post apocalyptic world, where the color of your skin denotes your susceptibility to "The Heat" and thus your marriage or mating potential in terms of the quality of your genes. Because Emily is a Pearl, or the lowest class of gene quality, her mate rate is scary low, and she only has six months to mate before she turns 18, or she will be completely cut off from society and in even more danger of "The Heat." She is convinced that Jamal, the security guard at her work, is thinking about accepting her as his mate, until he betrays her on the night of a huge experiment. This one night leads Emily on an adventure outside the tunnels that she never asked for, and she'll have to seriously reconsider her acceptance of society's rules in order to find happiness in her new life.

I really liked Revealing Eden, as long as I didn't think too hard about it, if that makes any sense at all. Once I was involved in the story, Eden being a whiny brat didn't seem so irritating, and the few things that just didn't make sense or seemed out of place were small enough to overlook. I found the subtle switch in power in terms of skin color very interesting and well portrayed in the book, and the challenges of living on the actual surface of the Earth were an awesome blend of common enough that it didn't require explanation, but interesting enough to keep you wanting to read.

This isn't the best post-apocalyptic/dystopian I've read lately, but it's far from the worst. Fans of the genre should definitely give it a try. Plus, it's the first in the series, and I see a lot of potential in the next book.

I'm Back!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 15:22:00 +0000

I'm back from St Louis!!!! It was a great and productive trip, but I am definitely happy to be home again. I always find it fun to travel for work and see all the people that I've become friends with over the years, but it's also good to be back in my own house, on a normal schedule, and eating better for me food.

Oh, and it snowed and was cold there. I was certain I was going to freeze to death.

So anyway, I'm baaaaaack!!!!

Book Review: The Vagabond King

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: The Vagabond King
Author: James Conway
Where I got it: From the author, in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon Summary:
When his mother dies and he discovers the man he believed was his father is not, sixteen year old Chris is haunted by a mysterious apparition that forces him to question his pampered existence and embark upon a quest to find himself. Hoping she will “make a man of him”, he seeks sanctuary in the home of Magda, a middle aged waitress with a penchant for sex, only to discover she lives with her father, a cigarette smoking, beer swilling immigrant.

Chris hates his shabby new surroundings at the end of the street and the shabby old man at the end of his life who spends his days listening to old blues records and making Chris fetch him fresh cans of beer. But, when the old man tells tales of Communism, torture, escape and the mysterious medallion he wears, Chris learns that, like the old man’s skipping records, history repeats itself and the roles we play have been played many times before

My Thoughts:
I very rarely review books that I just don't finish, because if I don't finish it I usually flat out don't like it. That really wasn't the case with The Vagabond King, however I never (in 100 pages) got interested enough or invested enough in the main character to really care what happened to him. The idea of the book is interesting, but the execution just couldn't hold my attention. I'm glad I gave this one a try but it just ended up not being my cup of tea. However, fans of general history and self discovery may want to give this one a shot. It's got potential.

Book Review: Tomorrow's Sun

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Tomorrow's Sun
Author: Becky Melby
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
Emily Foster won’t allow herself to move on until she earns enough money to make restitution for the accident that stole a young girl’s dreams. Flipping houses sounds like the fast track to her goal, but when her first project turns out to be a stop on the Underground Railroad, Emily finds herself drawn to, but at odds with, the contractor she hires. Jake Braden needs to focus on gaining guardianship of his late sister’s twins, but the story of lost love uncovered in Emily’s house sets the stage for what might become his own lost love.

My Thoughts:
Emily purchased an old house to flip in hopes of making enough money to pay restitution for an accident that happened several years ago, and shattered her own and another girls' life.

Jake is struggling with finding "the one" after a relationship gone south, while feeling that his life must be placed on hold to try to gain custody of his sisters' kids to save them from their rotten step father.

When the two meet, they butt heads immediately over Emily's vision for the house, however a friendship is kindled when they discover a secret passageway that may have been a part of the underground railroad. Emily struggles to forgive herself for what happened to her and her friend, and Jake struggles against the feeling that he should be more focused on his family than on the interesting and feisty homeowner, but the kids and fate just might not let them run from each other.

Tomorrow's Sun is such a sweet story - the whole family is struggling not only with their respective demons, but also with shaken faith. As they research the family that owned the house when it was a part of the Underground Railroad, the whole family becomes closer, to the point that Emily might just not be able to take off like she planned. One of my favorite parts of this story is that the characters are all dealing with emotions that feel very real, or at least realistic. It really brought them to life and got me invested in the outcome for all of them. In addition, the mystery of Hannah and Liam, wondering what happened to them, is enough to keep you up at night. This is a super sweet religious romance novel, and I would definitely suggest checking it out, especially if you have an interest in US history.

Book Review: Island of Wings

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:20:00 +0000

Title: Island of Wings
Author: Karin Altenberg
Where I got it: From NetGally, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:

Selected by The Chicago Tribune as one of the Best Books of 2011

A dazzling debut novel of love and loss, faith and atonement, on an untamed nineteenth-century Scottish island.

Exquisitely written and profoundly moving, Island of Wings is a richly imagined novel about two people struggling to keep their love, and their family, alive in a place of extreme hardship and unearthly beauty. Everything lies ahead for Lizzie and Neil McKenzie when they arrive at the St. Kilda islands in July of 1830. Neil is to become the minister to the small community of islanders, and Lizzie-bright, beautiful, and devoted-is pregnant with their first child. As the two adjust to life at the edge of civilization, where the natives live in squalor and babies perish mysteriously, their marriage-and their sanity-are soon threatened.

My Thoughts:
Island of Wings follows a husband and wife in a troubled marriage, as they combat the challenges of life on an extremely rustic island. While I did finish this book, I can't say that it was a favorite. I loved the idea and had hoped that it would be an excellent book, but certain areas fell very flat for me, or were downright frustrating.

First, a pretty major criticism of the wife - how could you live isolated on an island and never bother to learn the local language???? And if you do that, and don't bother to make an effort, then I'm sorry, but you deserve to be lonely.

Then the husband. I understand that this novel is based in a very traditional period of time, where the husband truly is the head of house and all that good stuff. When done well, this doesn't full on infuriate me as a modern woman. The relationship and power dynamic between these two is so negative and mean and nasty that it just made me mad. Throw my Kindle mad. This guy is seriously a jerk. I hated him.

The story touches on baggage and emotional issues, especially with the husband, but never fully explains to the reader how or why he's such a jerk.

Criticisms aside, the book was interesting enough in spurts that I did finish it, but it was more of a struggle than I prefer. If you're interested in checking it out, do so from the library.

Top Ten: Authors Who Neeeed More Books!

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Top Ten Tuesday is a fun weekly event hosted by The Broke the the Bookish! The topic this week is authors we wish would write another book, and as many authors as I just love and adore, I have a total mental block!

Orson Scott Card
Jodi Picoult (ok, she's got one coming out soon, but still)
Terry Goodkind
Anne Bishop

Yeah... That's really all I've got. I totally fail!

Book Review: Want to Go Private?

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Want to Go Private?
Author: Sarah Littman
Where I Got It: From the library

Amazon Summary:
Abby and Luke chat online. They've never met. But they are going to. Soon.

Abby is starting high school--it should be exciting, so why doesn't she care? Everyone tells her to "make an effort," but why can't she just be herself? Abby quickly feels like she's losing a grip on her once-happy life. The only thing she cares about anymore is talking to Luke, a guy she met online, who understands. It feels dangerous and yet good to chat with Luke--he is her secret, and she's his. Then Luke asks her to meet him, and she does. But Luke isn't who he says he is. When Abby goes missing, everyone is left to put together the pieces. If they don't, they'll never see Abby again.

My Thoughts:
I'm old enough that I got the internet before schools really paid attention to internet safety, parents actually monitored internet use, and online predators weren't a huge talking point. Want to Go Private is a terrifying account of the ways that predators can gain your trust, and the damage they can do.

Abby is terrified to start high school, and starts feeling even worse when her best friend starts making new friends and "leaving her behind." So she turns to Luke, who she met in a chat room on a teen site right before school started. As they talk more, she feels like Luke is the only one who understands her, and becomes more comfortable sharing details of her life with him. When he tells her that she's the only girl for him, she agrees to be "his girl" and gives up even more relationships in her real life.

The scariest part of this story is that Abby knows internet safety - but Luke is able to manipulate her into trusting him anyway. Scary, horrible things can happen when kids aren't careful on the internet, and it doesn't just affect that kid, but their family, and their friends.

Abby's story ends better than many true victims' do, but it's terrifying nonetheless. This book is very blunt and definitely shocking, but should be read by every teen who has access to the internet.

Book Review: The Demon Lover

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Title: The Demon Lover
Author: Juliet Dark
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
I gasped, or tried to. My mouth opened, but I couldn’t draw breath. His lips, pearly wet, parted and he blew into my mouth. My lungs expanded beneath his weight. When I exhaled he sucked my breath in and his weight turned from cold marble into warm living flesh.

Since accepting a teaching position at remote Fairwick College in upstate New York, Callie McFay has experienced the same disturbingly erotic dream every night: A mist enters her bedroom, then takes the shape of a virile, seductive stranger who proceeds to ravish her in the most toe-curling, wholly satisfying ways possible. Perhaps these dreams are the result of her having written the bestselling book The Sex Lives of Demon Lovers. Callie’s lifelong passion is the intersection of lurid fairy tales and Gothic literature—which is why she’s found herself at Fairwick’s renowned folklore department, living in a once-stately Victorian house that, at first sight, seemed to call her name.

But Callie soon realizes that her dreams are alarmingly real. She has a demon lover—an incubus—and he will seduce her, pleasure her, and eventually suck the very life from her. Then Callie makes another startling discovery: Her incubus is not the only mythical creature in Fairwick. As the tenured witches of the college and the resident fairies in the surrounding woods prepare to cast out the demon, Callie must accomplish something infinitely more difficult—banishing this supernatural lover from her heart.

My Thoughts:
I'm a total college person in theory - I love the idea of atmospheric campuses, being published, and hanging out with professors. Yes, I know, my concept of the academic life is probably seriously idealistic, but it works for me, and it fits The Demon Lover perfectly.

Callie's goal is to get a teaching position in New York, so that her boyfriend can move back and they can actually be together. Instead, she accepts a position at the eclectic Fairwick College after feeling a strange sense of homecoming during her interview. However, despite the impressive folklore curriculum that also drew her to the school, strange things start happening, especially some very racy dreams. Callie doesn't realize that her dreams are more than that, until the Dean reveals the truth about Fairwick. Turns out, they have such an impressive folklore program because they are home to a wide variety of supernatural creatures, and the stranger in Callie's dreams is actually an incubus who will eventually drain her of her life.

The concept of The Demon Lover is pretty awesome, and the whole incubus thing is done very tastefully, but the story seemed to drag for me a little bit. I found that I had a hard time keeping the other supernaturals and their abilities straight, because we never really saw any evidence of what they were, so some of the interactions were a little confusing. And I have to admit, I totally predicted the two big twists in the story. Those things aside, this is a creative book that blends a variety of paranormal or supernatural aspects, and does it very well. The small town atmosphere is extremely well done, and there were times that I felt like I was physically there, especially in Callie's Victorian house. While this wasn't my favorite book ever, I'm definitely glad I stuck with it because the ending gets quite action packed, and while it also didn't end the way I wanted it to, it's very tied up and I have high hopes for the next book in the series.

Book Review: Touch of Power

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Title: Touch of Power
Author: Maria V Snyder
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs 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 Fifteen Realms, 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…

My Thoughts:
I have loved Maria V Snyder's books since I randomly picked up Poison Study several years ago. She takes creative concepts, builds amazing worlds around them, and develops incredibly strong characters and relationships to fill in the story line. All of her work is amazing, and Touch of Power is no exception.

This book is the first in a new series, and introduces us to Avry and her plague decimated world. Avry is the last of a group of people gifted with magical healing abilities, and since the plague broke out, has been hunted and shunned for her gift. The night before she's due to be executed for healing a child, a band of rogues rescues her from jail, because they actually need her healing gift. Unfortunately, they need her gift to heal someone who she feels strongly isn't a good person.

As they travel, avoiding bands of mercenaries, ruling factions out to kill Avry, and the dangerous Death Lilies, Avry is forced to decide who to heal, who not to heal, and how to be a better judge of character.

Touch of Power has it all - romance, adventure, intrigue, and magic. Seriously folks, this book is amazing. If you don't already have it in your hands, you need to.