What It's About! Emaline works at her
family's vacation rental company the summer before she leaves for
college. She must confront her values, goals and choices as her
relationship with city-boy Theo evolves and she's forced to say goodbye
to the beach town where she grew up.
Publisher: Mae Day Publishing Release Date: November 17th/2011 Pages: 360 Goodreads Order Now:Book Depository|Amazon A copy was provided for review from the author
What It's About!
When Psyche receives a
prophecy gone horribly wrong, she learns that even the most beautiful
girl in Greece can have a hideous future. Her fate? Fall in love with
the one creature even the gods fear.
As she feels herself
slipping closer into the arms of the prophecy, Psyche must choose
between the terrifyingly tender touch she feels almost powerless to
resist and the one constant she's come to expect out of life: you cannot
escape what is destined.
Review
I just love books that are about or have greek mythology in them, I just
find them so interesting, especially the ones in the YA genre. Destined
is about Eros "accidentally" falling in love with Psyche, a normal
mortal girl who's a princess, but also turns out to be more than they
both knew.
I just thought this book was so cute and romantic,
some parts got me bored a little bit, but it was pretty good most of the
time. One of the things I didn't feel like was touched on was where
Alexa, a servant nypmh from Pshyche's new palace went. One moment she's
there, then she's not, then it's the end of the book and I'm like, ok,
what ever happened to her?? I really liked her character so I was
disappointed when I didn't get a conclusion as to where she ended up by
the end of the book.
The book is based heavily around Eros,
Psyche and Eros's mother, Aphrodite, but there were other characters
too, like Psyche's annoying, mean sister. I'm glad she wasn't in the
book very much. I really liked how Aphrodite started out as one thing,
then by the end was completely different even though she hadn't
technically changed. It was a very good twist to the story I hadn't seen
coming at all. I finished this book in 2 sittings, I just couldn't put
it down, it was so good! I couldn't wait to find out if Eros and Psyche
actually ended up together in the end with everything they had to go
through, it was just so romantic and got me so emotionally evolved.
I
for sure think anyone who likes greek mythology would probably like
Destined, it's such a nice new story on something as old as the greek
mythology.
Q: What first got you into writing? Did you always know you wanted to be an author?
A:
Boredom! My first job after college was as a Meteorologist for an
environmental consulting firm. The amount of work came in waves, and we
were either extremely busy or bored. During the slow times, I started
writing a short story. Ideas were always floating around in my mind, but
that was when I began using them. I had thought I wanted to be a
storm chaser and if you had told me I'd end up an author I'd probably
would have laughed long and hard :)
Q: For those who might not know, how many books do you currently have out right now?
A: I've 9 published novels and 13 short stories in various anthologies. Book #10 is coming out in December.
Q: What were/are some of your favorite books that you've wrote so far?
A:
They're all my favorites :) But I will admit to having a certain
fondness to POISON STUDY because it is my first book. Second is INSIDE
OUT (love Sheepy) and third is TOUCH OF POWER. Q: Since I'm such a huge fan of the Touch of Power series, I have to know; What idea or ideas inspired the story for these books? A:
In the Study books, Yelena has the power to heal, but it’s but one of
her many skills. So after writing the Study books, I wanted to explore
healing powers more in depth. I had this vague idea about a healer or
an apprentice healer during an epidemic. She was either going to be
sought after for her powers – like everyone wanting her, or be hunted. I
wasn’t sure. Then one night my daughter couldn’t sleep and she wanted
me to tell her a story. She knew all my other books, so I started
telling her about this healer. And every night, she’d ask, “What’s
next?” That’s why TOUCH OF POWER is dedicated to my daughter.
Q: Are any of the main characters in any of the books based on people you know?
A:
Not really. I have aspects of people I know in certain characters but
haven't lifted them whole. Well, I'm lying. I do have two characters
than are almost lifted whole in the Glass books. Opal's parents are my
parents - they even have the same names :) The only thing different is
my dad doesn't make glass and my mother isn't that great of a cook
(shhh...don't tell her!).
Q: Are there plans for any more books in the touch of power series?
A: Yes, I'm working on book 3, TASTE OF DEATH right now and it should be out next December.
So that's it for the questions, do you have any advice for aspiring authors/writers out there?
A:
Persistence is my biggest advice. I’d been writing for ten years and
submitting for eight before I sold anything. Learn the craft of writing
as well as the business of writing and attend writer’s conferences and
classes if you can. Consider that time an apprenticeship. Be wary of
predators, if someone is asking you for money proceed with the utmost
caution. Get feedback on your stories from fellow writers before
submitting. Joining a critique group is very helpful. I also find that
if I let a story sit on my desk for a few weeks I can pick out all the
problems, typos and inconsistencies easier. And I agree whole heartily
with Stephen King’s advice in his book, On Writing. He wrote, “If you
want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot
and write a lot.” And don’t give up! Ever!
Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog! If your readers would like
more info about me and my books, I have the first chapter of all my
books on my website as well as a number of free short stories they can
read. Here’s the link: http://www.mariavsnyder.com And my blog is: http://officialmariavsnyder.blogspot.com
Enter to win a SIGNED paperback copy of Touch of Power! Please note it's only US and Canada.
*Rules* Must be a member of the blog to enter and any other pages it asks you to follow. I WILL be checking! Thx!
The Catastrophic History Of You & Me by Jess Rothenberg
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Release Date: February 21rst/2012 Pages: 375 Goodreads Order Now:Book Depository|Amazon
What It's About! Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning.... Welcome to forever.
BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally.
But
now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that
love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon
Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a
secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his
shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new
guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her
forever after.
With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass
through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how
do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?
Review
The
Catastrophic History Of You & Me is about a girl who literally dies
from a broken heart, and ends up in Heaven, where she meets Patrick.
Little does she know, she already knows who he is, but it takes her the
whole book to finally remember and come to the realization of who he is.
This book took me through about 4 stages of emotion. I started
off laughing and really enjoying it because Brie's character was just so
witty and funny and in a lot of ways I could relate to her. Then once I
got further into the book, I started to get annoyed/bored. Her
personality started to get old, and her dumbness was just getting to me.
So many things were so obvious I just wanted to jump into the pages and
strangle her. Brie was so self-centered and never listened to what
Patrick was trying to tell her. Then close to the end I was a happy-sad
because of the little bit of romance story that was near the end but
actually started at the very beginning of the book, it just wasn't
totally obvious until I got near the end of the book. Then by the very
end I was practically in tears it was just so beautiful.
Brie
started out as a really annoying, typical teenager (even though I
thought she was funny at the same time in the beginning), but throughout
the book she really grew as a person. She slowly started to understand
things and people in a new way that she never had before. By the end she
was the total opposite of the annoying, full of attitude teenager and
finally accepted and understood the world and stopped putting herself
first. That was one of the things I really liked about this book. The
other thing was the love story between Brie and Patrick, how he had
always been there for her even when she didn't know it and had given her
a second chance even though it meant he was never going to be able to
move on for all eternity.
By the time I finished the last page,
it really tugged at my heart strings, so I decided to give it a 4/5
stars instead of the 3 I was originally going to give it.
Remembrance Day is a day each year that we Canadians take to just stop and remember those who fought for our freedom. Lest We Forget, though I am sad to say, I think many of us are forgetting.
In the last week or so, I have heard things that make me wanna take some of these people, stick them in the past and fight that war themselves. People these days are so spoiled and take our freedom for granted. It wouldn't even surprise me anymore if even one person doesn't know the real reason for Remembrance Day isn't really just a paid day off.
A few of the things I've heard are these, and they make me really disgusted at anyone who came up with this crap:
Cosco stores in a few places in Canada have shortened the 16 days of selling poppies outside their doors, to 3 days! The place I live tried to do it too, but apparently they got boycotted, so they kept it to the 16 days that it should be.
Second one, I'm not 100% if it's true or not, but Edmonton has decided that kids can "opt out" of Remembrance Day ceremonies, because their parents don't want them to participate. Like it's an effing religion. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Remembrance day isn't optional and it's NOT a religion. It's a day to remember all the soldiers that lost their lives fighting for our freedom so that you CAN freely practice whatever religion you decide. Without them, we wouldn't have freedom, so I guess some people truly are forgetting and think their kids are too good to attend these ceremonies. THOSE are the people who should be thrown into another country that doesn't have HALF the freedom we do so they can actually understand what freedom is and get their heads of their asses. (Read more here) No matter how long ago it was, which, if you think about it, wasn't very long at all, if your a real Canadian, you'll take a moment on November 11th to thank the soldiers who lost their lives for us, not take our freedom for granted.
Deck of Lies by Jade Varden Published for Kindle Release Date: December 24th/2011 Pages: N/A Goodreads Order Now:B&N|Amazon
What It's About! A House of Cards...
When
you build an entire life on a foundation of lies, it only takes one
truth for the whole thing to come crashing down. I never invited the
truth in. I never went searching for it. I never had any reason to
suspect that the two people I loved most were dishonest with me every
second of every day.
I made one bad decision, and in a single
day my entire world changed. If I'm ever going to discover the truth
about myself and my parents, I have to trace all the lies back to their
source. I have to try to find the truth that they're hiding.
The
more I discover about myself, and my past, the more I realize that lies
really are better than the truth. But now that I know the lies are all
around me, I can't stop until I've discovered them all. I'll pull each
lie away, one by one, and examine it to see what's underneath…until this
house of cards crumbles into dust at my feet.
I just hope I can survive the crash.
Ellen's Review
WOW,
this is not some paranormal book. This is a suspenseful, mystery book
that has you gripping every lie as they multiply in the palm of your
hands.
One prank changed two families in a matter of minutes.
Entangled in a web of lies, the justice card has played its part well.
Rain, or should I say Chloe…well you will find it hard giving this
character a name as she struggles with what to call herself when asked
the simple question “Who are you?”. The new mission is to start digging
for answers.
I was unable to place this book down. I read the
description of the book and did not see what was coming. Lies unfolded
more lies and the answers created heartache. This book felt real and I
will recommend it to everyone I come across. It touched my heart and I
am ready to start the second.
Two years after watching her kidnappers go to prison, Naomi Jensen is still in love with one of them. Jesse will be released in a few years, and Naomi knows college is the perfect distraction while she waits. But when her new friend Finn makes her question what is right and what is wrong, she begins to wonder if Jesse is the one for her … until she discovers he's out on parole. Naomi must sort through her confusion to figure out where love and freedom truly lie—in Finn, who has no connections to her past, or Jesse, who has just asked her to run away with him.
Pieces Excerpt
(From Chapter 6)
She almost didn’t recognize him behind the wheel of his father’s green pickup truck. His hair was longer than she remembered. For a moment, her mind spun. She dropped the box in her hands and it fell to the floor, spilling the pink and white candies everywhere. He was parking almost directly across the street from her now. As stupid as it was, she hadn’t planned this far. Now he was getting out of the truck.
She had long since rolled up her window and turned on the air conditioning, so it wasn’t as if she could yell to him. Instead, she opened her door as fast as she could and tripped over her feet as she stumbled out onto the road. She shut the door and the sound made Jesse stop and look up before he could shut the truck’s door. His mouth dropped open.
“Naomi?”
“I heard you were on parole.” She brushed a sweaty hand across her forehead. “I … I—”
“I’m not allowed to see you,” he interrupted, taking a step back. But he had nowhere to go except the truck. His hand lingered on the open door. “I’ll be sent back to prison if I attempt to contact or see you. I’m not even sure I can see you after my parole is over. It might be long time.” He looked at his hands. “I have a hearing next week. I’ll find out more then.”
Even from across the street, Naomi could see the muscles in his jaw tightening with anger. She knew it wasn’t aimed at her. “But you aren’t attempting,” she said. “I’ve taken that initiative, so it’s not your fault.”
“Yes, but if my parole officer finds out about this, he won’t be happy. I was lucky enough to be released to my father. If you’re found here, I’ll be in more trouble than you can imagine.” His face was stiff, his body tense. Naomi realized what a mistake she had made, but there he was, right in front of her. It was too much. She took a step forward, relieved the road was quiet with no traffic at the moment. Jesse glanced down the street, then back to her. His expression softened as she walked toward him. Each of her steps were heavy, as if she didn’t believe she would ever reach him.
Michelle lives and writes in Utah, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. She loves the seasons, but late summer and early fall are her favorites. She adores chocolate, sushi, and lots of ethnic food, and loves to read and write books in whatever time she can grab between her sword-wielding husband and energetic daughter. She believes a simple life is the best life.
A Darkness Strange & Lovely (Something Strange & Deadly #2) by Susan Dennard Publisher: HarperTeen Release Date: July 23rd/2013 Pages: 416 pages Goodreads Order Now:Book Depository|Amazon
What It's About!
Following an all-out
battle with the walking Dead, the Spirit Hunters have fled Philadelphia,
leaving Eleanor alone to cope with the devastating aftermath. But
there’s more trouble ahead—the evil necromancer Marcus has returned, and
his diabolical advances have Eleanor escaping to Paris to seek the help
of Joseph, Jie, and the infuriatingly handsome Daniel once again. When
she arrives, however, she finds a whole new darkness lurking in this
City of Light. As harrowing events unfold, Eleanor is forced to make a
deadly decision that will mean life or death for everyone.
Unbreakable (Unraveling #2) by Elizabeth Norris Publisher: Balzer + Bray Release Date: April 23rd/2013 Pages: N/A Goodreads Order Now:Book Depository|Amazon What It's About! Four months after Ben
disappeared through the portal to his home universe, Janelle believes
she’ll never see him again. Her world is still devastated, but life is
finally starting to resume some kind of normalcy. Until Interverse Agent
Taylor Barclay shows up. Somebody from an alternate universe is running
a human trafficking ring, kidnapping people and selling them on
different Earths—and Ben is the prime suspect. Now his family has been imprisoned and will be executed if Ben doesn’t turn himself over within five days.
And
when Janelle learns that someone she cares about—someone from her own
world—has become one of the missing, she knows that she has to help
Barclay, regardless of the danger. Now Janelle has five days to track
down the real culprit. Five days to locate the missing people before
they’re lost forever. Five days to reunite with the boy who stole her
heart. But as the clues begin to add up, Janelle realizes that she’s in
way over her head—and that she may not have known Ben as well as she
thought. Can she uncover the truth before everyone she cares about is
killed?
Speak out against bullying - The Salt God's Daughter by Ilie Ruby
Note from Ilie: The stories of the women who populate The Salt God’s Daughter were
inspired by the confluence of real life and a Celtic myth, which I
learned from a folksong my mother played on the guitar, The Great Silkie
of Sule Skerry. While the myth is the map, its many roads reflect the
experiences of my grandmothers, of my mother, of my friends, and of
seventeen young girls I never knew but whose histories found me. My wish
was to illuminate the female experience through generations–not only
those times that are shrouded in shadows, but also those that are lovely
and beautiful, and made indelible with light. At its heart this is a
story about true love, sometimes found between mothers and daughters, in
the secrets of sisters, and in the arms of the first person with whom
you shared your heart. When all is said and done, this novel belongs to
resolute sisters Ruthie and Dolly. They are my champions. Their journey
of discovery and survival is the heart of this story.
Set in Long Beach, California, beginning in the 1970s, The Salt God’s Daughter
follows three generations of extraordinary women who share something
unique—something magical and untamed that makes them unmistakably
different from others. Theirs is a world teeming with ancestral stories,
exotic folklore, inherited memory, and meteoric myths.
In recognition of October being National Anti-Cyberbullying Awareness
month, we are proud to speak out with BookSparksPR, book lovers and
author Ilie Ruby against bullies.
Here's how you can speak out too!
Post it: Post this anti-bullying badge on your blog,
site or social media today along with the book cover and the note on
Ilie Ruby's book The Salt God's Daughter. We understand you
have other obligations/plans for your blog that day. Whatever you can do
today to stand up for these 17 young women, Amanda Todd and so many
other women and children who are being/have been bullied.
Tweet it: Speak out with @BookSparksPR, book lovers and @IlieRuby today against bullies! No bullying! http://bit.ly/RCBDSZ #SpeakOut
Facebook it: Share the badge, this campaign (http://bit.ly/RCBDSZ) and your words against bullying via Facebook and tag (BookSparksPR) so they can share too!
Buy it: If you buy Ilie Ruby’s book, The Salt God’s Daughter,
let BookSparksPR know and they'll match with a donation to an
anti-bullying organization. On October 24th only, if you buy the book
for you, a friend, a holiday gift (great for mothers, daughters,
friends, book clubs, etc) or all the above, send your receipt(s) and
they'll be donating up to 20% of book sales that day (based on emailed
receipts) to the "I Choose" anti-bullying campaign in support of BookSparksPR Speaks Out Against Bullying and all these victims. Buy on Indie Bound; Buy on Amazon; or Buy on Barnes & Noble. Send receipts to contests@SparkPointStudio.com
Blood Twist by Bonnie Wheeler Self-Published Release Date: August 25th/2012 Pages: N/A Goodreads Order Now:Amazon *A copy was provided by Bonnie Wheeler for review*
What It's About!
Find out what happens to the Erris Coven when Lexie's BFF Liz comes to town.
Braden
Murphy knew he was going to die. There was a twist to his family secret
– one that was forced upon him from the time he was a child. For years
he envisioned his final days and tried to be strong enough to leave his
family. Now that it was time, he was ready to make good on a deadly
promise. Except for one unexpected glitch, a raven haired beauty
insisted on joining him.
Liz Sanders thought her best friend’s
stepfamily was weird, but she never would have guessed they were
werewolves. Now Liz must travel with a secretive half-vampire in search
of a lycanthropy cure. Landing in a nest full of blood thirsty vampires
wasn’t on the agenda, but neither was falling in love.
Braden is
tempting, but Liz’s feelings for him are complicated. She wishes he
would open up about his past and give her a reason to trust him.
Just
when Liz thinks she can let her guard down, she’s forced to confront
the evil that has been stalking Braden’s past for years. Death is here
and ready to destroy everything they've fought to save.
Review
I
was SO happy when I finally got to find out what happened next after
reading Fate Fixed forever ago. Even though this book had a bit more
blood and gore in it than the first book, it was still really good. My
favorite thing was definitely Liz and Braden's relationship, it had so
much spark and passion, I just couldn't stop reading.
I love how
we got to see the POV from 2 different characters that had been briefly
touched in the first book. It was such a fresh take on the same world
but different views. While Liz and Braden were discovering their new
feelings for each other, there were a lot of other things going on.
There were a lot of twists throughout the book that really kept it
interesting. I even came to like a few unexpected characters, and got a
few surprises along the way. The whole book I was trying to figure out
if Braden would really die the way he thought he would and who death
actually was.
There was so much mystery woven throughout the
story, it had just the right amount of hints and details to make me
think and just when I thought I figured it out, I was thrown another
direction entirely. Slowly there was more and more of the mystery
unraveling until the end, when everything comes out.
This book
was really amazing, there was just the right amount of romance, action
and mystery, the way I love it. This is definitely not a book to miss
for vampire and paranormal lovers!
The Elite by Kiera Cass Publisher: HarperTeen Release Date: Apirl 23rd/2013 Pages: 336 Goodreads Order Now:Book Depository|Amazon What It's About! Thirty-five girls came
to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent
home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned
princess of Illea.
America still isn’t sure where her heart lies.
When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless
romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she
sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with
memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down
to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon
over—and time is running out for America to decide.
Just when
America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her
question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her
future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy
are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any
kind of happy ending.
I’m Chai Devareaux. By
day, I’m your average senior at Miami’s South Beach High. I love hanging
with my friends at the beach, and I work hard to keep up my grades so I
can get in Columbia University in the fall. But every afternoon and
night? I transform into the model in front of the camera with the smoky
eyes, perfectly styled hair, and fitted designer clothes.
I’m
the girl in all the hottest clubs where the beautiful people frequent
and the fashion photographers gather. I’m the girl who everyone else
wants to be. The problem is it’s not my dream. I want to be a doctor.
But
try telling that to my mother, 80’s supermodel icon, Claire-Ann
Devareaux, a hard-living, hard-loving plastic surgery addict who’s still
chasing what’s left of the limelight. And it makes my life a living
headache. Even hooking up with hot teen supermodel Ty Willingham hands
me more challenges than ever.
Yeah, I might look like I have it made, but it’s just the role I play.
I’m such a poser.
Review
At
the beginning of the book, I really enjoyed it until I got maybe 3 or 4
chapters in, and then it just started annoying me to no end. I don't
know if the author was trying to write an actual novel, or a guide book
to modeling and how to handle being famous. The book was basically about
this 17 yr old girl, named Chai, and her mom is a famous model that's
had every face-lift and plastic surgery under the sun. Chai's mom wants
her to become a famous model just like her, only Chai wants to be a
doctor.
I was so intrigued by the description of the book, but
after reading the book, I'm not very impressed. I found it so hard to
follow the story with all the name brand names and things being dropped
constantly. Every few pages the story was pretty much put on hold just
to describe in great detail how hot this guy was, or to describe exactly
what everyone was wearing (all big designer brands, of course) and it
just put me off totally. In the end I don't even really remember what
the actual story was, due to the fact that I got so many designer names
and big brands shoved in my face I can't really remember anything past
them.
All the characters in the book were so superficial, flat
and unrelatable. Chai bugged me the most though. She "didn't want to be a
model" or be involved in the famous end of things, she just wanted to
be normal and a doctor, but she didn't seem to like that either. She was
basically your typical rich kid, can't be grateful for what she has and
complains about it and lets her mother control her constantly. She
wanted to break out to be her own person and a doctor instead of her
mother's little shadow, but she had no backbone to come into her own.
Poser
would have been so much more enjoyable if there wasn't so much name
dropping and the constant need from the author to impress the readers
with their "knowledge" of designer brands and being famous. It was just
so annoying.
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Michelle's Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter
Note from Ilie: The stories of the women who populate The Salt God’s Daughter were
inspired by the confluence of real life and a Celtic myth, which I
learned from a folksong my mother played on the guitar, The Great Silkie
of Sule Skerry. While the myth is the map, its many roads reflect the
experiences of my grandmothers, of my mother, of my friends, and of
seventeen young girls I never knew but whose histories found me. My wish
was to illuminate the female experience through generations–not only
those times that are shrouded in shadows, but also those that are lovely
and beautiful, and made indelible with light. At its heart this is a
story about true love, sometimes found between mothers and daughters, in
the secrets of sisters, and in the arms of the first person with whom
you shared your heart. When all is said and done, this novel belongs to
resolute sisters Ruthie and Dolly. They are my champions. Their journey
of discovery and survival is the heart of this story.
Blood Twist by Bonnie Wheeler
