The Mark

 

Title: The Mark

Author: Marilyn Bunderson

Publisher: Bonneville Books

Release Date: March 8, 2010

Received From: ATWT

---

Summary:

She's had it forever. A tiny mark on her hand. No big deal, right? But when Tori discovers that her ordinary freckle is really some kind of microscopic tattoo, she doesn't know what to think, especially after meeting Eric, a guy she feels strangely connected to--and not just because he has a mark too.
All too soon, Tori and Eric realize that their marks are only the first clue to a mystery that will change everything. And with each new discovery, Tori finds herself pulled deeper and deeper into a world she could never have imagined

---

Review:

I really enjoyed this book! There was lots of intrigue and romance.

Tori was a really cool character, she was willing to go to all sorts of lengths to find out about something that no one knew anything about. I found myself getting really excited as well whenever they would find something new.

I also liked how there were more than one person with this mark, it made it seem more plausible, and less “me me me”. I was pleasantly surprised with the ending but I wish the storyline could have been longer, it just seemed rushed at the end and not as well developed as it could have been.

This was a fantastic debut and I cannot wait to see what Marilyn comes up with in the future!

 

Merry Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas to everyone! And if you don’t celebrate it have a great day!

The Ivy

 

Title: The Ivy
Author:  Lauren Kunze and Rina Ounr
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Release Date:  August 31, 2010
Received From:  Publisher via T2T

---

Freshman year at Harvard--glamorous parties, blossoming friendships, steamy romances, and scandalous secrets. Skip the campus tour and get right to the good stuff: classes are for scoping guys (and their Facebook profiles), not taking notes. The library is for study dates (the medieval history stacks get a lot of action), not studying. And success is a 4.0 GPA... plus getting into the most exclusive parties. How will Callie--a California girl with brains, beauty, and big dreams--and her three roommates survive?

---

I was super excited to read this book! It sounds amazing. A different take on college life. Sadly I was disappointed.
I did not like this book. It was full of very shallow people with nothing better on their minds then hooking up, drugs, and boys. I expected a little of that but each page brought more deceit and boredom. I wanted less fluff and more substance from the characters. They were all so shallow, especially Callie. She thought nothing of stabbing people in the back to get what she thought she wanted. I spend the majority of the book trying to figure out how most of these people got into Harvard.
The only part I enjoyed were the little emails and messages from Alexis between the chapters, that is what got me through the book.
I was sorely disappointed, it was like gossip girl semi-grown-up not at all what I was expecting. But if you like that stuff maybe its the book for you
Yan talks about the book with the same opinion as me but she spells it out better: http://booksbytheircover.blogspot.com/2010/10/t2t-tour-ivy.html

Winter Reading Circle

Winter Reading Circle: Tales for a Winter Night
Find some nice and cozy – or dark and spooky –
reads perfect for wintertime, on this fun blog hop.

You are here: #4 of 6: A Reader’s Adventure
Welcome to Winter Reading Circle, part of the winter season Random Magic tour, Winterlong
This is the one day blog hop where many different bloggers are going to be taking about their favorite wintertime reads! So here are my picks!
 
- Shiver/Linger
- Maggie Stiefvater

Check out the book trailer!

- Browse or buy this book
- Why this is a great winter read! First of all most of Shiver takes place in the winter and temperature plays an important role. The love story is also sure to warm you up! Also the fonts are fun colors to add to the mood!

 
- Beautiful Creatures/Beautiful Darkness
- Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Check out the book trailer for the first book!

-Browse or Buy the first book!
-Why these are great winter reads: One of the best things to read during the winter all curled up on the couch are really big books that draw you in and don’t let you escape. These books will definitely keep you captivated until the last page. Also they take place in Georgia where it is not cold, so they will also warm you up!


- Random Magic
-Sasha Soren

Check out the book trailer!

-Browse or Buy this book
- Win this book 
-Why this is a good winter read; This fun book will keep you laughing, and occupied for hours!

  
-Need/Captivate/Entice
-Carrie Jones

Check out the book trailer for the first book!

- Browse or Buy Need!
- Why this is a great winter read; This book takes place in Maine where it gets super cold so the atmosphere is there, the love story and action will keep you warm throughout the entire series!


-The Expressologist
-Kristina Springer
-Browse or Buy!
-Why this is a great winter read; This book is so cute! The fun drinks will get you in the winter mood, and the fun storyline will draw you in!


So this winter pick up one of these amazing books and fall in love with the characters!
- Check out the next blog for more winter reads! http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/2010/12/winter-reading-circle.html
- Do you have any amazing books that are good to read in winter that you think I missed? Comment!
-Here are all the great bloggers on the Winter Reading Circle:

#1: What Book Is That? (http://tinyurl.com/2dpwu2v)
#2: Willowdust Reviews – Tina’s Book Reviews (http://tinyurl.com/2352r6q)
#3: Diary of a Bookworm (http://tinyurl.com/yalp5lu)
#4: A Reader’s Adventure (http://tinyurl.com/ycsq5gc)
#5: vvb32 Reads (http://tinyurl.com/nzkf5y)
#6: La Femme Readers (http://tinyurl.com/yfqkmy7)
Twitter: @lafemmereaders (http://tinyurl.com/274j8gy)

Thank you for coming along with us, and happy reading!

Esther Friesner Guest Post

Today I have a guest post with Esther Friesner the author of The Nobody's Princess series, the Sphinx's Princess series,  and her newest book Threads and Flames!


What was different about writing Threads and Flames opposed to The Nobody, and Sphinx series'? Was it harder...? What did you have to do differently? 


      I wouldn’t say that writing THREADS AND FLAMES was harder than writing the NOBODY’S PRINCESS/PRIZE and SPHINX’S PRINCESS/QUEEN series.  All of the books required me to do a lot of research, though in some cases, I had less to do because I was already familiar with the historical background material.
      On the other hand, the biggest difference I encountered as far as researching these books was that for THREADS AND FLAMES I was not confined to what I could learn from books and internet sources.  I could (and did!) visit many of the sites described in the book.  I was born in New York City, and as often happens when you live somewhere, you don’t tend to visit the tourist attractions.  Researching THREADS AND FLAMES gave me the chance and the motivation to go to Ellis Island, the Lower East Side, and to the very building where the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire happened.  (Yes, the building still stands.  It was fireproof.  The victims were not.)  One of the best parts of this hands-on research was going to the Tenement Museum on the Lower East side.  It really opened my eyes to the living conditions Raisa would have encountered!


Thanks Esther!

*Author picture from author website

Threads and Flames

Title: Threads and Flames

Author: Esther Friesner

Publisher: Viking

Release Date: November 25, 2010

Received From: Publisher

Summary:

It's 1910, and thirteen-year-old Raisa has just traveled alone from a small Polish shtetl all the way to New York City. It's overwhelming, awe-inspiring, and even dangerous, especially when she discovers that her sister has disappeared and she must now fend for herself. She finds work in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory sewing bodices on the popular shirtwaists. Raisa makes friends and even—dare she admit it?— falls in love. But then 1911 dawns, and one March day a spark ignites in the factory. One of the city's most harrowing tragedies unfolds, and Raisa's life is forever changed. . . .

One hundred years after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, this moving young adult novel gives life to the tragedy and hope of this transformative event in American history.

Review:

I love historical fiction and I loved Esther’s Nobody’s Princess series so I was really excited to get the chance to read this book!

Raisa was  a really interesting character, she was strong willed and has so much determination. I loved reading about her determination to succeed no matter what the odds.

I liked how Esther took such a devastating event that many people had probably never heard of, and made it accessible to the generation of today.

One problem I had with the novel was the fact that it ended really nicely. I was happy for Raisa but I did not feel like that was realistic I wish she had gotten some of the things she wanted but maybe not all so the ending would seem more real.

Overall this was a poignant tale of never giving up!

Make sure to check out my guest post with Esther tomorrow!

 

CSN Review Coming Up

Hey guys I am going to be doing another review with CSN stores. 

If you have not heard of CSN they are an online retailer where you can buy all sorts of things from children's luggage  to bookcases of every shape and size.

So look out for my review! 

Random Magic Musical Blog Hop!

Music is a strong theme in Random Magic  -- so strong, in fact, that one of the celestial characters Winnie
and Henry meet is Efterpe, the Muse of music.

In celebration of the winter season, here’s a fun blog hop to check out. You’ll find lovely songs with wintry themes that also match some of the important themes in the book.

Come sit by the fire and enjoy a musical feast for friends with us...

You are here: #6 of 10 (A Reader's Adventure)

Hot Buttered Rum - Krista Detor
Song and book themes: Celebration - Humor

Random Magic quote:

Winsley’s coloring shot up to an alarming shade of red. Terrible color for him, Lady Witherspoon mused idly. He’d make himself sick.
“Would you like a tisane?” she suggested. “Very --”
“Soothing,” Tony agreed. “Sort him right out.”
“Yes, soothing.”
“Scotch’d work better.”
“Yes, maybe,” she said, smiling. “Very English, no?”
“Gin and tonic’s more our line.”
“Maybe a gin and tonic, then?”
“Don’t mind if I do.”
“Excuse me,” Winsley said... (More)

Watch Random Magic trailer - More Random Magic: Browse

Bonus: Free MP3s (as avail.): Your Holiday Song - Indigo Girls and El Cant Dels Ocells - Coro Vox
Aurea

Check out music stop #7 of 10: Take me there!

(If you enjoy a particular music pick, please consider buying the track to help support the person or group that created it for everyone’s
enjoyment. River of Light  is the unofficial soundtrack for the 2010 Random Magic
 winter season tour, Random Magic: Winterlong. Happy listening!)

For the impatient, here are all the blogs on the hop:

#1 of 10: Spellbound by Books (@Meeka_21) (http://tinyurl.com/26a6smf) (http://tinyurl.com/2d2fj4k)
Themes: Buoyancy - Good Cheer

#2 of 10: Geeky Blogger (@thehistorychic) (http://tinyurl.com/25trpf4) (http://tinyurl.com/29bdbaj)
Themes: Reflection - Spirituality

#3 of 10: The Book Swarm (@marybrebner) (http://tinyurl.com/25hphy8) (http://tinyurl.com/22jkesm)
Themes: Fortitude - Quirkiness

#4 of 10: Elbit Blog (@MeriGreenleaf) (http://tinyurl.com/dnlval) (http://tinyurl.com/23x6wxx)
Themes: Tenderness - Devotion

#5 of 10: The Reading Lassie (@ReadingLassie) (http://tinyurl.com/29qjk9m) (http://tinyurl.com/2d4pv5r)
Themes: Mystery - Magic


#6 of 10: A Reader's Adventure (@ReaderAdventure) (http://tinyurl.com/ycsq5gc) (http://tinyurl.com/22jzaxo)
Themes: Celebration - Humor

#7 of 10: vvb32 Reads (@vvb32reads) (http://tinyurl.com/nzkf5y) (http://tinyurl.com/2cmrlg7)
Themes: Love - Geniality

#8 of 10: About Happy Books (@abouthappybooks) (http://tinyurl.com/2a2eocb) (http://tinyurl.com/27exol7)
Themes: Comedy - Creativity

#9 of 10: The True Book Addict (@truebookaddict) (http://tinyurl.com/qo6un2) (http://tinyurl.com/2d2w3h6)
Themes: Hope - Light

#10 of 10: The Fluidity of Time (Twitter n/a) (http://tinyurl.com/2e4zn68)
Themes: Art - Beauty - Inspiration

Thanks for listening!

Winterlong Blog Hop!

Random Magic Tour: Winterlong

Dec. 10-23, 2010

About: Random Magic

http://tinyurl.com/yl26xwa

Tour organization: Lyrika Publicis

Tour prize coordinator: @LaFemmeReaders

http://twitter.com/lafemmereaders

Contact the tour: @RandomMagicTour

http://twitter.com/randommagictour

Win something wonderful: Tour prizes

http://tinyurl.com/2bf7rh4

Random Magic (Gift-wrapped, first edition)

Fairy tale mini-dolls (Madame Alexander series, complete set)

Magical Covers art event: Prize pack

http://tinyurl.com/2bf7rh4

Beautiful art journal

This Book Belongs To bookplates set

2011 ARC (pre-pub.) YA winter-themed novel

Dec. 10

Winterlong: Musical Blog Hop

Come sit by the fire and enjoy

some lovely winter tunes…

#1 of 10: Spellbound by Books

http://www.spellboundbybooks.com/

@Meeka_21

http://twitter.com/Meeka_21

Themes (song and book): Buoyancy - Good Cheer

#2 of 10: Geeky Blogger

http://www.geekybloggersbookblog.com/

@thehistorychic

http://twitter.com/thehistorychic

Themes (song and book): Reflection - Spirituality

#3 of 10: Ecstatic Reviews

http://ecstaticbookreviews.blogspot.com/

@EcstaticReviews

http://twitter.com/EcstaticReviews

Themes (song and book): Fortitude - Quirkiness

#4 of 10: Elbit Blog

http://merigreenleaf.blogspot.com/

@MeriGreenleaf

http://twitter.com/Merigreenleaf

Themes (song and book): Tenderness - Devotion

#5 of 10: The Reading Lassie

http://readinglassie.blogspot.com

@ReadingLassie

http://twitter.com/ReadingLassie

Themes (song and book): Magic - Mystery

#6 of 10: A Reader’s Adventure

http://mariah-readingadventure.blogspot.com/

@ReaderAdventure

http://twitter.com/readeradventure

Theme (song and book): Celebration - Humor

#7 of 10: vvb32 Reads

http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/

@vvb32reads

http://twitter.com/vvb32reads

Themes (song and book): Love - Geniality

#8 of 10: About Happy Books

http://www.abouthappybooks.com/

@abouthappybooks

http://twitter.com/abouthappybooks

Themes (song and book): Comedy - Creativity

#9 of 10: The True Book Addict

http://thetruebookaddict.blogspot.com/

@truebookaddict

http://twitter.com/truebookaddict

Themes (song and book): Hope - Light 

#10 of 10: The Fluidity of Time

http://fluidityoftime.blogspot.com/

Twitter: n/a

Themes (song and book): Art - Beauty - Inspiration

(Blog Hop Summary – via vvb32)

http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/

Bonus: Free winter song for every stop

on the hop, feel free to visit all blogs to find them all.

Dec. 11

La Femme Readers

http://lafemmereaders.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @lafemmereaders

http://twitter.com/lafemmereaders

Magical Covers: Reimagining the cover of Random Magic

http://tinyurl.com/yl26xwa

Welcome and prizes info

Voting: Dec. 18 - Winner revealed: Dec. 20

Dec. 12

My Love Affair With Books

http://books-love-affair.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @Misha_1989

http://twitter.com/Misha_1989

Review

Feat.: ‘Winter Dancers’

and – just for fun!

Unabridged Chick

http://unabridged-expression.blogspot.com

Twitter: @unabridgedchick

http://twitter.com/unabridgedchick

Feat.: Elf Yourself (winter widget)

Dec. 13

Oodles of Books

http://oodlesofbooks.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @oodlesofbooks

http://twitter.com/oodlesofbooks

Review

and

Books, Sweets and other Treats

http://bsaot.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @lindsiking

http://twitter.com/lindsiking

Feat.: ‘Winter Drinks’

Dec. 14

Stories and Sweeties

http://www.storiesandsweeties.com/

Twitter: @storiesweeties

http://twitter.com/storiesweeties

Review

Feat.: ‘Sweets for the Sweet’

Dec. 15

vvb32 Reads

http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @vvb32reads

http://twitter.com/vvb32reads

Feat.: ‘Dandy Fellows’

Related event: Dandies and Delectables (Dec. 10-23)

http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/

Dec. 16

Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell

http://books-forlife.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @blodeuedd83

http://twitter.com/blodeuedd83

Review

and

Chick Loves Lit

http://chickloveslit.com/

Twitter: @shanynlee

http://twitter.com/shanynlee

Review

Feat.: ‘The Secrets of Random Magic

Dec. 17

This Miss Loves To Read

http://thismisslovestoread.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @MissIrenne

http://twitter.com/MissIrenne

Review

Feat. ‘Fairy Tale Top 10: Random Magic

Dec. 18

Booklover - Book Chicks

http://booklover-bookchicks.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @LexieVmp666

http://twitter.com/LexieVmp666

Review

Feat.: Video review of Random Magic

http://www.youtube.com/user/LexieVamp666#p/u

More: The Booklover - Book Chicks video channel

http://www.youtube.com/user/LexieVamp666#p/u

and

La Femme Readers

http://lafemmereaders.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @lafemmereaders

http://twitter.com/lafemmereaders

Magical Covers: Reimagining the cover of Random Magic

http://tinyurl.com/yl26xwa

Voting on cover entries

Winning cover revealed on Dec. 20

Dec. 19

The Fluidity of Time

http://fluidityoftime.blogspot.com/

Twitter: n/a

Review

Feat.: ‘Subtle Magic: A discussion of Random Magic themes’

and

Mundie Moms

http://mundiemoms.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @MundieMoms

http://twitter.com/MundieMoms

Twitter: @katiebmundiemom

http://twitter.com/katiebmundiemom

Review (book chat format)

Dec. 20

Makeshift Bookmark

http://makeshiftbookmark.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @makeshiftjen

http://twitter.com/makeshiftjen

Review

Feat.: ‘Casting Random Magic (gallery)

and

La Femme Readers

http://lafemmereaders.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @lafemmereaders

http://twitter.com/lafemmereaders

Magical Covers: Reimagining Random Magic

http://tinyurl.com/yl26xwa

Finale: Cover winner revealed

Dec. 21

The Bushwick Book Club (Seattle chapter)

http://www.thebushwickbookclubseattle.blogspot.com/

Twitter: n/a

Feat.: Songs inspired by Random Magic (audio/video)

Details: Video performances, two different singer-songwriters.

More: The Bushwick Book Club (Seattle) video channel

http://tinyurl.com/32watrc

Dec. 22

Girls in the Stacks

http://girlsinthestacks.com/

Twitter: @girlsinthestack

http://twitter.com/girlsinthestack

Feat.: Bookshelf Theater: Random Magic (video)

Details: Video performance, cute scene from the book.

More: The Girls in the Stacks video channel

http://www.youtube.com/user/girlsinthestacks

Dec. 23

Winter Reading Circle: Tales for a Winter Night

Find some nice and cozy – or dark and spooky –

reads perfect for wintertime, on this fun blog hop.

#1 of 6: What Book Is That?

http://www.whatbookisthat.com/

Twitter: @heynocupcake

http://twitter.com/heynocupcake

#2 of 6: Willowdust Reviews – Tina’s Book Reviews

http://www.tinasbookreviews.com

Twitter: @BooksatTinas

http://twitter.com/booksattinas

#3 of 6: Diary of a Bookworm

http://www.thediaryofabookworm.com/

Twitter: n/a

#4 of 6: A Reader’s Adventure

http://mariah-readingadventure.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @ReaderAdventure

http://twitter.com/readeradventure

#5 of 6: vvb32 Reads

http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @vvb32reads

http://twitter.com/vvb32reads

#6 of 6 La Femme Readers

http://lafemmereaders.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @lafemmereaders

http://twitter.com/lafemmereaders

Completing the reading circle -- and the Winterlong tour.

Thank you for coming along with us, and happy reading!