Cover Love?

I just spotted this at Escape Between The Pages.  SQUEE! It's the new Sookie Cover!!

May 3, 2011!

 

OK, at Escape and Goodreads, there is a blurb posted.  I am only going to link it because it contains spoilerish details.  I am letting my Sookie books stack up so the blurb is a bit revealing.  You can see all the Sookie covers at Charlaine Harris's official website. 

Anyways, I love it.  Are you in Cover Love?

CSN Review

CSN, a shopping supercenter with over 200 stores, graciously offered me a product to review.  I recently moved into a new house, which has a great breakfast bar in the kitchen.  I decided the perfect addition would be a set of barstools that could easily stow away when not in use. 

In addition to having lightning fast delivery, my shipment arrived in perfect condition.  It was safely boxed and undamaged. 

Once I tallied all the parts, I got to the directions.  Assembling this product appeared to be very simple, especially since all the holes were predrilled.  While the kit did come with an allen wrench, I found it much easier to use my own electric tools.  This made assembly very quick and easy. 

After about 15 minutes, the stools were ready to go.  They are VERY sturdy, well built and attractive looking.  The color is very beautiful and as you can see, they fit perfectly underneath my breakfast bar.  They have already received many compliments.  I am actually considering purchasing two more for the other side.  Interested in purchasing a pair? Check out CSN stores!

Special thanks to the CSN team for providing quality products at great prices and for including me in the reviewer program. 

*I received this product in exchange for my honest opinion. 

YA review: The Mockingbirds

Some schools have honor codes.



Others have handbooks.

Themis Academy has the Mockingbirds.

Themis Academy is a quiet boarding school with an exceptional student body that the administration trusts to always behave the honorable way--the Themis Way. So when Alex is date raped during her junior year, she has two options: stay silent and hope someone helps her, or enlist the Mockingbirds--a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of their fellow peers.

In this honest, page-turning account of a teen girl's struggle to stand up for herself, debut author Daisy Whitney reminds readers that if you love something or someone--especially yourself--you fight for it. (summary from goodreads)

My thoughts...Teenagers, young adults, parents, teachers, librarians, read this book! This book talks about the sensitive subject of date rape. It would be a great segway into a discussion about preventing or dealing with such a tragedy. 

Whether you are talking about it or reading about it, this is a hard subject to breach.  Daisy Whitney does a brilliant job of writing  about it.  The girl's story is believable.  The emotions she deals with feel genuine as do her reactions. 

While this book made an impact on me, I had several small issues with the book.  First were some of the characters were very shallow.  Secondly, was the adults in the story.  They were constantly turning a blind eye and not taking care of their students.  Lastly was the lack of police involvement.  Date rape is a crime.  The heroine, Alex, chooses not to go to the police, but rather a secret society within her school.  I understand that this is part of the plot.  This society, The Mockingbirds, are at the heart of this story.  I also understand why Alex didn't seek adult or legal help immediately.  She felt shameful and at fault for the rape.  However my interpretation of the book was that it wanted to convey a message rather than just a story.  Not all victims have the benefit of a strong peer group to guide them or protect them.  There is no shame in seeking help and often times adults or the law provides the best assistance.

Overall, I enjoyed The Mockingbirds.  Daisy Whitney is a strong writer and I look forward to more of her books in the future. 

For more information, visit Daisy Whitney at her blog.  Purchase your copy of The Mockingbirds by following the goodreads links.

WoW: Soul Born

This is not my usual read, but this sounds like an interesting world.  The elves, magicians, and other creatures make me think of Lord of the Rings.  I like to mix it up once in a while and I like the cover.  

 SOUL BORN

by, Kevin James Breaux

November 30,  2010

All Opal wanted was to be respected as a wielder of magic, but her teachers passed her over time and time again. When a mysterious warlord embarks on a conquest to destroy the lands of Illyia Opal seizes an opportunity to step out from the shadows of her instructors and take her rightful spot among them.

Tala, an alluring young elf, was banished from her tribe, hunted and nearly killed by the beasts that dwell in the deep forests, but more than anything else she is a survivor. Joining forces with an ancient elemental power Tala finds herself in the center of an unrelenting human war.

Flesh like leather and bone as strong as steel Karn, a veteran from the first kingdom to fall, is fueled by vengeance. While pushing ever headlong into battle Karn begins to recall memories of another life; ghosts that haunt his dreams.

Through death of soul, their world is born.

Learn more about Kevin James Breaux by visiting the Soul Born blog. 

Melting Pot Monday

Boys Don't Cry
by, Malorie Blackman
October 2010
Young Adult
Double Day Children's Books

This is the explosively page-turning new novel for teenagers from the author of the award-winning "Noughts and Crosses" sequence. You're about to receive your A-level results and then a future of university and journalism awaits. But the day they're due to arrive your old girlfriend Melanie turns up unexpectedly ...with a baby ...You assume Melanie's helping a friend, until she nips out to buy some essentials, leaving you literally holding the baby ...Malorie's dramatic new novel will keep you on the edge of your seat right to the final page. (summary from goodreads)

For more information, visit Marjorie Blackman's facebook page.  Purchase your copy here. 

************************************************

Wind and Fire
by, Cheryl Landmark
December 2009
Asylett Press

In "Wind and Fire", Zardonne, Master of the Dark Rift, has ripped a hole in the fabric of Tellaron and invaded with an army of hideous demons. Nineteen-year old Tenya must find her mother, the powerful sorceress, Elea, who is able to control the forces of the wind, and learn how to use her own power that manifests itself as white fire throughout her body in time to save Tellaron from the evil Demon Master.

For more information, including purchase links and an excerpt, visit Cheryl Landmark at her website.

IMM (37)

I have not done a mailbox post in a LONG time.  I am sure I have acquired more books than this over the last month or so, but these are the most recent ones. 

For Review...

From Paperback Swap...

Purchased...

Won...

IMM is hosted by The Story Siren.  What did you get this week?

Review Me! Winner

Thank you to everyone who entered the Review Me! giveaway.  ARCS are so much fun and our reviews really help out the authors!  So I used random to help choose the winners, there were 65 entries.  I selected two winners, I will email first place to choose and second place get the rest.  So the first winner is...#10

Adriana

and the second lucky reader is...#48

Mrs. DeRaps

Congrats and be sure to watch your inbox!

Got Ink? (29)

There is a trend with books, particularly Urban Fantasy, to display inked models on the covers. Got INK? features some of these titles. I have not posted one in a while, but this upcoming YA cover fits the bill perfectly. 

Tempest Rising

by, Tracy Deebs

May 2011

Summary: Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother. The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kai, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally give in to the water's temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her—and that the entire ocean's future hangs in the balance.

For more information, visit Bloomsbury Kids. 

Seen any inked covers lately?

YA review: The Dead Boys

In the desert town of Richland, Washington, there stands a giant sycamore tree. Horribly mutated by nuclear waste, it feeds on the life energy of boys that it snags with its living roots. And when Teddy Matthews moves to town, the tree trains its sights on its next victim.

From the start, Teddy knows something is very wrong with Richland- every kid he meets disappears before his eyes. A trip to the cemetery confirms that these boys are actually dead and trying to lure him to the tree. But that knowledge is no help when Teddy is swept into the tree's world, a dark version of Richland from which there is no escape . . .(summary from goodreads)

My thoughts...At 208 pages, this MG novel would be perfect for readers of all ages, especially young boys.  This is one of those stories that make you leave the light on when you sleep and check under the bed.  It was very entertaining and well written. 

The characters in The Dead Boys were very well written.  Teddy, the new kid on the block ventures out to make some new friends.  He quickly meets the town bully and his victim, and several other boys that are full of personality.  They all seem very interested in Teddy and he quickly learns why.  The story was very creepy and left me with chills on several occasions.  The plot was very original and it was a fast paced read. 

This would make a perfect addition to a middle grade library.  I will be watching for other titles by this author. 

For more information, including purchase links, visit Royce Buckingham at his official website.  After checking out the site, I found a link to this picture of the tree in The Dead Boys.  The artwork is by Artist Jillene Smith, Bellingham, WA. Creepy!!

Cover LOVE?

Jennifer Estep shared the cover for the next Elemental Assassin book, Tangled Threads. 

Here is what she had to say...

Here is (more or less) the final cover for Tan­gled Threads, the fourth book in my Ele­men­tal Assas­sin urban fan­tasy series which will come out on April 26, 2011.

Once again, big kudos go out to Tony Mauro, who cre­ated the cover art. So far, Tony has done all the cov­ers for the books in the series, and I think they just keep get­ting bet­ter and bet­ter. Every time I think that he can’t pos­si­bly top the last cover, he comes up with a way to do it. Thanks, Tony!

For more information, including PREORDER links, visit Jennifer at her blog. 

Here are the other covers in the series...

Are you in Cover LOVE?

YA review: Matched

In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.

Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s barely any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one . . . until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow—between perfection and passion.

Matched is a story for right now and storytelling with the resonance of a classic. (summary from goodreads)

My thoughts...I loved this story. I have not read many dystopian novels, but as this number grows, Matched will be one of my favorites.  This story took me through a roller coaster of emotions from scared to extremely sad.  The writing is top notch and the plot kept me enraptured. 

Matched takes place in a society where your life is dictated by Officials.  While it sounds like a crazy concept, Ally Condie made it seem very believable.  The Officials control everything from what you eat, where you work, whom you marry, and how you die.  The whole concept was quite scary, and it made me appreciate the small freedoms we have now.  The heroine in the story, Cassia, is faced with a dilemma when her matched partner card doesn't show what it should. She should be matched with her life long friend, but she was given the information of another boy, the mysterious outcast. 

Read this book!  Ally Condie has written a fantastic novel that will leave you wanting more, especially with the cliffhanger ending!

For more information, including purchase links, visit Ally Condie at her website. 

*This arc was provided by the publisher for my opinion. 

Go Green! Review/Giveaway: The Wisdom of the Chakras

The Wisdom of the Chakras

Tools for Navigating the Complexity of Life

by, Ellen Tadd

100% Recycled

Lantern Books

Before I get to my review I have to mention this amazing fact...

Because this title is printed on 100% recycled paper, we have saved:

•9 Trees

•4010 Gallons of Water

•2000000 BTUs of Energy

•243 Pounds of Solid Waste

•833 Pounds of Greenhouse Gases

amazing

isn't it?

Some twenty years ago, the author-a clairvoyant from youth-began to examine the chakra system to understand the imbalances so prevalent in people today. She found that, in addition to correcting imbalances that hinder our aspirations, the chakras also help us realize the spiritual beings we truly are.

The Wisdom of the Chakras is the result of years of spiritual exploration and counseling. Ellen Tadd shows how the chakra system functions in everyday life; how our thoughts, words, and actions affect this system; and how the chakras shape us. She provides practical exercises that can be integrated easily into daily life to heal each chakra and to attain the alignment needed for a healthy and spiritual life. The author describes each of the seven chakras, their functions, and their individual and interconnected qualities and components. She shows how the chakra system offers a framework and the tools needed to understand common imbalances, helping the reader to integrate their characteristics and create greater harmony and balance in daily life.

The practical answers in The Wisdom of the Chakras will encourage readers to look more deeply into our human nature and begin to see that it is also the nature of the larger cosmos.

My thoughts...While I am familiar with the concept of Chakras, I don't possess any background knowledge of them.  So I went into this book blind.  That being said, the first thing I noticed about this book was the layout.  It was very easy to read as it is divided into sections, each focusing on a particular chakra.  The chapters are not excessively long, so I did not feel burdened with tons of information.  The information provided gave me a strong grasp of what the author was trying to covey and left me with impressions to explore as I considered what I learned. 

As for the content of this book, I have to again say that I am a novice at best.  The book definitely made an impression on me.  The author wrote from several experiences and recommendations  from her spiritual advisers.  At times I craved more scientific explanations (which I know sounds like a contradiction), but I can tell it was written from a place of belief and understanding.  I believe the principles provided can lead to a healthier mental self.  Even if it is just an awareness of ones self and the influences that could damage our well being. 

For readers who have more experience in the area of chakras, this book should be an asset.  It is my understanding that the arrangement of the chapters is a bit nontraditional, however still effective.  Tadd starts with the Crown Chakra, then the third-eye, the throat, the heart, the solar plexus, the identity, and concludes with the base.  A plan for growth summarizes the book. 

For more information, including ordering information, visit Lantern Books. 

I am proud to be part of the Green Books Campaign 2010.  It has raised my awareness of the environmental implications of not using recycled paper.  I was shocked at the "savings" accumulated by printing on recycled paper.  I stand in applause to those publishers who take the initiative to preserve our environment for future readers. 

 For more information and to see a complete list of GREEN REVIEWS, visit the Green Books Campaign site. 

Win this book!

If you are interested in reading this book, leave a comment below and I will select a name on Sunday (November 14).  US only please, one entry per person.

More Cover LOVE?

Saundra Mitchell revealed another cover for The Vespertine...isn't it beautiful!

Here is what she said about it...

I couldn’t be more thrilled, honestly. I’ve been so lucky to get three fantastic covers for this book, and I can’t wait to see this one in print. A little birdie told me that there will be shiny, shiny foil on the title, and a secret neatness beneath the cover as well!

For more information, visit Saundra at her blog or preorder a copy from Amazon.

Cover LOVE?

Leah Cypess shared the cover to Nightspell. It looks so magical!

And here's the tentative description from Leah Cypess

A stand-alone companion novel to the much-acclaimed MISTWOOD. When Darri rides into Ghostland, a country where the living walk with the dead, she has only one goal: to rescue her younger sister Callie, who was sent to Ghostland as a hostage four years ago. But Callie has changed in those four years, and now has secrets of her own. In her quest to save her sister from herself, Darri will be forced to outmaneuver a handsome ghost prince, an ancient sorcerer, and a manipulative tribal warrior (who happens to be her brother). When Darri discovers the source of the spell that has kept the dead in Ghostland chained to this earth, she faces a decision that will force her to reexamine beliefs she has never before questioned - and lead her into the heart of a conspiracy that threatens the very balance of power between the living and the dead.

Nightspell will be published on May 31, 2011.

Here is the Mistwood cover...

For more information about Leah Cypess, visit her website.

Are you in Cover LOVE?

Review Me! giveaway

This is going to be a quick giveaway, I have several arcs that could use another review.  They are...

Matched by Ally Condie

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Beautiful Dead: Arizona by Eden Maguire

Blast From the Past by Meg Cabot

Dark Water by Laura McNeal

Mieradome by Kate O'Hegarty

Open to US bloggers only due to shipping costs.  To enter, leave a comment below.  One entry per person, additional entries will be deleted.  Ends November 12.  Two winners, first picks 4, second gets remaining arcs.  Happy Reading!

Go Green! Green Books Campaign

I am excited to be part of this year's Green Books Campaign.  Here is the official press release:

On Wed., Nov. 10, at 1 p.m., 200 bloggers will simultaneously publish reviews of 200 books printed on environmentally-friendly paper. By turning a spotlight on books printed using greener methods, Eco-Libris aims to raise consumer awareness about considering the environment when making book purchases. This year’s participation of both bloggers and books has doubled from the event’s inception last year.

The 200 books to be reviewed are in a variety of subjects including cooking, poetry, travel, green living, and history, and come from 56 publishers from the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the U.K. that are participating in the Green Books Campaign. This diversified group of publishers includes both small and large presses who all print books on recycled and/or FSC-certified paper.

Participating publishers include among others Penguin Group, Scholastic, Barefoot Books, McClelland & Stewart, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Sterling Publishing, DK Publishing, Harvard Business Press, Island Press, North Atlantic Books, McGraw-Hill, ABRAMS and Picador.

“Although there’s so much hype around e-books, books printed on paper still dominate the book market, and we want them to be as environmentally sound as possible,” explains Raz Godelnik, co-founder and CEO of Eco-Libris. “Their share is still relatively small, but you can find a growing number of books printed responsibly and we hope this initiative will bring more exposure to such books. Through this campaign we want to encourage publishers to increase their green printing options and readers to take the environment into consideration when purchasing books.”

Doug Pepper, president and publisher of 100-year-old publishing house

McClelland & Stewart, says he is delighted to participate in a program that ties in with the company’s mission. “The Eco-Libris Green Books Campaign’s positive “take action” message perfectly reflects our consistent use of recycled papers and our commitment to sustainable publishing as a whole,” Pepper says.

Among the bloggers who will review the books there are many who participate in the campaign for the second time. One of them is Kim Allen-Niesen of the blog ‘Bookstore People‘. “Participating in the Green Books Campaign was such an education in green reading. I didn't have any idea how many publishers and writers are committed to creating books with as small an impact on the environment as possible. I discovered unique books because they were printed on recycled paper and I learned that books I've read for years are printed in a low impact manner. I'm looking forward to more surprises during this year's campaign, “Allen-Niesen says.

This year’s campaign is supported by Indigo Books & Music, the largest book retailer in Canada, as part of its efforts to draw attention to the need for more environmental paper in book publishing. This is a core goal of Indigo's environmental program, reinforced by Indigo's industry leading environmental paper policy.

Michelle White, Director, Sustainability at Indigo Books & Music said, “Indigo has a strong forest conservation mandate and we believe that physical books printed on environmental paper are a sustainable choice. We commend Eco- Libris for reinforcing this message and engaging and motivating readers to take this issue into consideration when purchasing books. In fact, Indigo provides information online and through in-store kiosk that allows consumers to make informed decisions about where the paper content of their book comes from”. Learn more at http://www.chapters.indigo.ca./

Learn more about the Green Books Campaign and find a list of all participants at http://www.ecolibris.net/greenbookscampaign2010.asp

# # #

Founded in 2007, Eco-Libris (http://www.ecolibris.net/) is a green company working to green up the book industry by promoting the adoption of green practices in the industry, balancing out books by planting trees, and supporting green books. To achieve these goals Eco-Libris is working with book readers, publishers, authors, bookstores, and others in the book industry worldwide. So far Eco-Libris has balanced out more than 150,000 books, resulting in more than 165,000 new trees planted with its planting partners in developing countries. To learn more visit http://www.ecolibris.net/

**Press Release courtesy of PRLog

Book Chat: Rereads

As I was unpacking my books, I began thinking about why I keep them.  Originally, I kept ones I thought I would reread.  Now I think it is more about love of the author, signed copies and beautiful covers.  I have never actually reread ANY of the books on my shelf.  I am not sure if I ever will.  There are just too many exciting titles coming out to have the time to reread. 

Have you reread any of the books on your shelf? 

 If so, which ones?

WoW: Texas Gothic

Texas Gothic

By, Rosemary Clement-Moore

July, 2011

Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Amy Goodnight's family is far from normal. She comes from a line of witches, but tries her best to stay far outside the family business. Her summer gig? Ranch-sitting for her aunt with her wacky but beautiful sister. Only the Goodnight Ranch is even less normal than it normally is. Bodies are being discovered, a ghost is on the prowl, and everywhere she turns, the hot neighbor cowboy is in her face. (summary from Goodreads)

For more information, visit Mary Clement-Moore at her website or her blog.

YA review: Passing Strange

Karen DeSonne always passed as a normal (if pale) teenager; with her friends, with her family, and at school. Passing cost her the love of her life. And now that Karen’s dead, she’s still passing—this time, as alive. Karen DeSonne just happens to be an extremely human-like zombie. Meanwhile, Karen’s dead friends have been fingered in a high-profile murder, causing a new round of antizombie regulations that have forced them into hiding. Karen soon learns that the “murder” that destroyed their non-life was a hoax, staged by Pete Martinsburg and his bioist zealots. Obtaining enough evidence to expose the fraud and prove her friends’ innocence means doing the unthinkable: becoming Pete’s girlfriend. Karen’s only hope is that the enemy never realizes who she really is—because the consequences would be worse than death. (summary from goodreads)

My thoughts...Passing Strange is the third book in the Generation Dead series.  I did not read the first two books, Generation Dead or Kiss Of Life, prior to starting this one.  I was able to grasp the storyline relatively quickly and got a good understanding of the zombie world.  Reading the other two books may have given me a stronger attachment to the other characters in the story, as I am sure their story lines were developed in previous installments.  However, the heroine in Passing Strange, Karen, was well written and easy to like.  She seemed very genuine, despite her condition and believable.  She is the type of person who puts others before herself.  My favorite character in the story was Tak, he was very original. 

I am not a fan of zombie stories.  I don't do the gore well, however Passing Strange was not overrun with rotting flesh, flopping eyeballs, and dragging arms.  While there were some graphic descriptions, it was not as gory as I expected.  While I did find the storyline interesting, it did not keep me on the edge of my seat.  However, I think if I would have started at the beginning of the series, I would have been more invested in the characters.  There is a bit of a mystery to Karen that could be developed more and I will be curious to see if Daniel Waters develops her character more thoroughly.  I would not describe this book as a love story,but I do see the potential for one in a future book. 

For more information, including purchase links, visit Daniel Waters at his blog. 

*This book was provided for my honest review by the publisher. 

Melting Pot Monday

The Twisted Path Home
by, Fae Bidgoli
September 2010

Inspired by her experiences growing up in a small Iranian village where child marriage was a common practice, Bidgoli is dedicated to spreading awareness of human rights issues such as child brides, stonings and honor killings in Middle Eastern countries. The pain and suffering she witnessed during her childhood in Iran compels her to write stories to bring hope to battered and repressed women around the world.

The Twisted Path Home follows the story of Arezoo, an Iranian-born professor at U.C. Berkeley, as she works to overcome the devastating scars left by her former husband’s abuse. She is haunted by a terrifying dream of her impending death. Tired and frustrated with lack of progress in therapy, Arezoo tries hypnosis in the hopes of stopping her reoccurring nightmare. While under hypnosis, she begins channeling the dramatic life of Sogand, an Islamic girl living in a village in Persia in the late 1800s, who was forced into an abusive marriage at age 12. The more revealed about the life of Sogand, the more Arezoo realizes that their stories are intertwined...

Follow this link to purchase through Amazon.
***********************************************************************************

A Dog Named Slugger
by, Leigh Brill
Non-fiction
April 2010

This inspiring true story is told by Virginia writer Leigh Brill, a cerebral palsy suffer who fights a daily battle against physical and emotional challenges.

Meet Leigh Brill

During her college years Brill nearly gave up; then she was paired with a wonderful golden Labrador retriever named Slugger.

A trained service dog, Slugger not only gave Leigh a level of independence she'd never had before, but also provided a role model for loyalty, dedication and friendship.

With Slugger's help, Leigh finished college, married the love of her life, and became a motivational speaker.

Brill donates a part of all sales to service dog organizations.  Follow this link to purchase your copy.

Happy Reading!