Holiday Swap!

I know this is kind of late but oh well…

This year I participated in two holiday swaps! They were so much fun and I am definitely going to be participating next year!

 

The first package I received was from Alison

• Some adorable bookmarks
• Enna Burning and River Secrets by Shannon Hale
• A cute snowman ornament
• Some yummy hot chocolate, and truffles
• A pretty card

Thanks Alison!

 

The second package I received was from Laura

• Matched by Ally Condie
• Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
• Yummy holiday themed candy
• Cute Christmas notecards
• A nice book bag
• A wonderful bookmark
• A pretty card

Thanks Laura!

This was so much fun and I defiantly recommend it!

Bonnie Doerr Tens List

 



Today I have with me Bonnie Doerr the author of Island Sting! These are her top ten best author experiences so far….

Top Ten Best Author Experiences

10. Opportunities to connect with real life environmental heroes during research.

9. Schmoozing with NY Times best-selling mystery/suspense author Erica Spindler.

8. Sitting on a panel with NY Times best-selling mystery author John Hart.

7. Talking with crime novelist Jeffrey Deaver about his work and listening to him talk about writing the next James Bond novel.

6. Meeting and celebrating with fellow YA authors at events.

(Are you sensing a theme here? I’d never thought about an author having unique opportunities to meet and learn from amazingly gifted people. I’m so grateful for these experiences.)

5. Seeing my title on a bookstore shelf next to books by my idol, Carl Hiaasen.

4. Discovering online comments by readers who not only enjoyed my stories, but also appreciated learning something new while they read.

3.  Speaking at conferences and interacting with readers and writers at book festivals sponsored by SCBWI, teacher organizations, libraries, and other associations.

2.  Receiving mail from readers.

Ta Da! Number one:

Best of all is discussing writing and reading with kids who love books.

Thanks Bonnie!

Island Sting

Title: Island Sting

Author:  Bonnie J. Doerr

Publisher: Leap Books

Release Date:  Jan 6, 2010

Received From:  Teen Book Scene

Kenzie didn't expect her first summer in the Florida Keys to be murder. Or cute guys, awesome boats, endangered species, and gun-toting thugs...

When city girl Kenzie Ryan moves to a Florida wildlife refuge, she plunges straight into an eco-mystery. Kenzie trades New York streets for Keys pollution cleanup, and now, instead of hailing cabs, she's tracking down a poacher of endangered Key deer. Her new home does have some benefits-mainly Angelo, an island native, who teams up with her to nab the culprit. But will they both survive when the killer turns from stalking deer to hunting humans?

Island Sting includes notes on the endangered Florida Key Deer and the National Key Deer Refuge.

I don't really have a lot to say about this book except that it was a cute idea. I loved the idea especially with the world becoming so "green" Kenzie and Angelo were fun characters and I loved how Kenzie took over because that totally would have been me!

I think this book was nice because it was a fun way to introduce to kids that there are bad people who will do bad things, but showed that they could do something about it!

 

Nightshade

Title: Nightshade
Author: Andrea Cremer
Publisher: Philomel
Release Date: October 19, 2010
Received From: ATWT

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Summary:
Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything— including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

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Review:
I liked this new interpretation of werewolves. With paranormal books that have vampires and werewolves it is really nice to come across one with an unusual premise. Nightshade definitely does!

First of all the cover! So beautiful and different, it would totally draw my eye if I saw it on a shelf! I like the incorporation of blood because it is a werewolf novel!

The plot was beautifully written I never found myself wanting it to speed up. Regardless of all the backstory and history that had to be told. It was action packed and very unpredictable!

The characters in this book were amazing as well, Calla is one awesome heroine! If I had to choose a pack I would definitely choose her. Ren and Shay were both wonderful but I am not yet sure which one I liked better. One cool thing that Cremer did was she made the secondary characters just as important and different as the main characters. Very rarely do I come across a book where the author has done that!

I really loved this book and usually I am not drawn to paranormal books but this was definitely one of the best books I read in 2010! It was captivating and unpredictable, go run and pick this up! I cannot wait for the next book!

Unearthly

 

Title: Unearthly
Author: Cynthia Hand
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: January 4, 2011 (Today!)
Received From: Net Galley

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Summary:

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

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Review:

I have not traditionally been a big angel fan. All the angel books I have read were too “unearthly.” This was not the case with Unearthly, Clara was a real girl who happened to be part angel.

I liked that Clara knew that she was an angel because it made the story less “oh look what I can do” and more about her journey. I really liked the variety of characters in this book, and the real way that Clara interacted with them. Especially her relationship with her mom, it was a fresh breath of air to find a character who did not hate her mom 100% of the time, and to find a mom that for the most part was in the story. Even though sometimes she was kind of AWOL.

The one thing that I absolutely loved about this book was the slow growing relationships. During the relationship that was important it was a slow love not just ‘ooh a boy, I love him!” I liked the way it developed and was not just instantaneous as it is in many other books.

The ending was very unexpected, while I did kind of guess at one of the things, many of the twists were completely unexpected. Hopefully there is going to be another book because with that ending it needs one!

This book was beautifully written, and the characters and relationships were relatable. A fabulous Debut! 

Reading Resolutions Giveaway!

This a fun blog hop giveaway! All contests last through January 9th! Some are U.S. only and some international so go check the rest of them out!

My Contest!

U.S. Only (Sorry)

must be 13 or older

Must fill out this form to enter! 

Winner will win:

Book themed Swag

Chasing Windmills by Catherine Ryan Hyde (HB)

Hold Me Closer Necromancer by Lish McBride (ARC)

Low Red Moon by Ivie Devlin (ARC)

Good luck and make sure to check out the rest of the contests!

Linger

Title: Linger
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: July 13, 2010
Received From: ATWT/ Own

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Summary: In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

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Review:
This book is heartbreaking!
Stiefvater once again goes into the world of Sam and Grace, but this time we also get to see inside the minds of Isabelle and a new character Cole. I really like how we get to see all sides of the story so we are not as biased in each situation. This also in some ways makes the story that much more emotional. The ending will leave you screaming noooooooo….. and yearning for Forever.
I liked how once again the color of the words matched the cover of the book! I really enjoyed the character connections and the emotion that Stiefvater was able to show with such few words. I cannot wait for the next book!

2011 Debut Author Challenge

I am so excited! I read 38 last year and this year I hope to do even better! For challenge information go here and to sign up visit this post.




List of completed books!
1. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
2. Across the Universe by Beth Revis
3. Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon
4. Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey
5. Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday
6. Divergent by Veronica Roth
7.Enclave by Ann Aguirre
8. Frost by Marianna Baer
9. The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
10. Hourglass by Myra McEntire
11.Kings and Queens by Courtney Vail
12. The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker
13. A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan
14. Luminous by Dawn Metcalf
15. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
16. Possession by Elana Johnson
17. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
18. Timeless by Alexandra Monir
19. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
20. XVI by Julia Karr
21. Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Fun thingie

I've been seeing this around and I thought it would be fun!

Rules: It's simple, really. Just answer the questions using the name of a book you've read in 2010. You can go for serious answers that most closely match what your real answers would be, or you can go with the funniest ones you can come up with for your available titles. Try not to repeat any titles. Have fun!

Describe Yourself:  The Duff

 
How do you feel:  Inside Out

Describe where you currently live: City of Glass

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Mistwood

Your favorite form of transportation: Mockingjay

Your best friend is: Jane

You and your friends are: All Unquiet Things

What's the weather like: Ice

Favorite time of day: The Beautiful Between

What is life to you: Magic Under Glass

Your fear: My Unfair Godmother

What is the best advice you have to give: Linger/ My Fake Boyfriend is better than yours. (I could not pick!)

Thought for the Day:  I So Don’t Do Make-Up

How I would like to die: Front and Center

My soul's present condition: Matched

I love reading these, so if you did one leave a link and I'll check it out!

New Year Resolutions!

Happy New Year everyone! I am so excited it’s finally 2011 (I graduate this year!) I’m absolutely certain that it is going to be a great year for books!

Here are my blog related resolutions!

• Blog Everyday
  I want to do this because I have a habit of dropping off the blogosphere for a month or so too often. I am a person who works better if I have set goals so hopefully this will help. I am willing to give myself some leeway so if the week is really busy I want to blog at least 5 days.
• Blog about more things
  I want my blog to feel more personal so I am going to incorporate more things than just book reviews. I think the blog everyday thing will help with this because I will need to come up with something to talk about when I don’t have a review! If you have any ideas let me know!
• Review books right after I read them
  I think this is on most blogger’s resolutions! I will be able to write better reviews if I do them soon after I read them!
• Answer my emails right after I read them
  I read my emails but it takes me too long to answer them. I need to answer them as soon as I read them!
• Pick a debut author and become a champion for them and their book.
  I came up with this idea at the end of last year. There are so many different debut authors who have such great books and I want to do all I can to help promote their books. I am going to start with one and then maybe next year move to more. I will be doing a post about this in the near future but if you are a debut author and would be interested in this email me at a_readers_adventure@yahoo.com.

Have a happy new year!