Review: Soulless by Gail Carriger

Soulless by Gail Carriger
Pub. Date: October 2009
Publisher: Orbit/Yen
384pp

Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire -- and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

SOULLESS is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.

Soulless is laugh out loud funny! I really didn’t know what to expect going into reading this book, but I am thrilled to say that it delivered on all accounts. The plot, characters, and writing has me wanting to dive in and read more of Carriger’s books.

Once I got use to the jargon and supernatural culture in Soulless, this was an exciting page turner for me. I had some late nights with this book and it was so hard to put it down. The main character Ms. Alexia Tarabotti is downright hilarious. She is outspoken, witty, and charming throughout this whole book. I absolutely adore her! I loved every interaction Alexia had with Lord Maccon, a sexy alpha werewolf who also happens to be a government official sent to investigate the supernatural disappearances in Victorian London. You could practically see the sparks flying between these too. The secondary characters deliver too. One of my favorite characters in this book has to be eccentric vampire, Lord Akeldama. He is so funny and charming with his words of endearment for Alexia. Just about everything that came out of his mouth had me laughing.

I will admit there were times where I was tempted to pull out a dictionary with some of the medical terms that were used to describe the whole soul measuring process, but I love the direction Carriger took with this book. All the supernatural beings and their culture were a great addition to the story and I was quite intrigued with the mystery behind discovering the chances of drones surviving metamorphosis if they were to be turned into a vampire or werewolf.

Soulless totally rocks and if you’re looking for something different, this highly entertaining historical fantasy is definitely a great book to read.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Review: Betraying Season by Marissa Doyle

Betraying Season by Marissa Doyle
Pub. Date: September 29, 2009
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
336pp
Age Range: Young Adult

Penelope (Pen) Leland has come to Ireland to study magic and prove to herself that she is as good a witch as her twin sister, Persy. But when the dashing Niall Keating begins to pay her court, she can’t help being distracted from her studies.

Little does Pen know, Niall is acting upon orders from his sorceress mother. And although it starts as a sham, Niall actually falls deeply in love with Pen, and she with him. But even if he halts his mother’s evil plan, will Pen be able to forgive him for trying to seduce her into a plot? And what of Pen’s magic, which seems to be increasingly powerful?

Betraying Season is full of magic, romance and betrayal that will compel you read this book nonstop down to the very last page. If you though Bewitching Season was great, then you will be thrilled with Betraying Season as it bests its predecessor. I love the direction Doyle took Betraying Season in by giving the readers different viewpoints from Pen Leland and Niall Keating. The alternating viewpoints had me loving this book even more as I got to see inside each of the characters head and watch their journey of growth and ultimately what led them to fall in love. I also loved every aspect of this story from the magic that surrounded the story to the romance that had me smiling with every encounter that Pen and Niall had with each other.

How can you not love the regency period, where the characters get to go to dances in hopes of finding a suitor? Although Betraying Season is a bit different from Bewitching Season in that Pen is in a different country and her focus is mainly to improve her magical abilities, but it was enjoyable to see a different setting where certain events in this story ultimately turned into a beautiful and magical journey for Pen.

Doyle manages to continue to provide humor full of laugh out loud moments in Betraying Season with a different character by the name of Corkwobble. I really enjoyed read about him as he is also one of my favorite characters in this book. It was also nice to see Pen’s growth in Betraying Season since in Bewitching Season she wasn’t as accomplished in magic as her twin Persy. I loved the conversations or should I say the constant flirting between Pen and Niall as it always put a smile on my face. It was lovely seeing them fall for one another. The secondary characters were a joy too, I loved everything about this book even the diabolical plot that was woven into the story.

If you loved Bewitching Season, then you will not be disappointed in Betraying Season. I don’t know what Doyle has in store next for her readers but I look forward to reading more of her books and would love to see more of the Leland Twins or perhaps even dear Charles.

Rating: 4 ½ out of 5 Stars

Author Interview: Gail Carriger

Today, I'm ecstatic to be hosting the charmingly funny Gail Garriger where she tells readers more about her writing. Ms. Carriger began writing in order to cope with being raised in obscurity by an expatriate Brit and an incurable curmudgeon. She escaped small town life and inadvertently acquired several degrees in Higher Learning. Ms. Carriger then traveled the historic cities of Europe, subsisting entirely on biscuits secreted in her handbag. She now resides in the Colonies, surrounded by a harem of Armenian lovers, where she insists on tea imported directly from London and cats that pee into toilets. She is fond of teeny tiny hats and tropical fruit. Soulless is her first book and is in stores today.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
Only recently. I always wanted to be an archaeologist, writing was rather more like breathing, just something I did. It was only with Soulless that I realized I might actually have a career as a writer. I still haven't recovered from the shock.

What was the inspiration behind writing Soulless?
I wanted to write something with an urban fantasy feel but which challenged the tropes of that genre: so I went with a light-hearted tone, steampunk elements, and a historical setting. Basically, I wrote the book that had everything I liked to read all in one place. I never thought it would sell, because I figured something with so many different elements wasn't marketable. Luckily, Orbit didn't agree with me.

How did you come up with the title Soulless? Was it the original title?
Soulless was always the title, because it is one of the defining features of our heroine – she has no soul. I wrote the book to stand alone, and it was only later I realized editors were interested in a series. So the hardest part, for me, was coming up with the series title. I had a number of options and ended up polling friends, which resulted in The Parasol Protectorate.

What author(s) have influenced your writing?
For this book, authors like P.G. Wodehouse, Dickens, and Austen all have had some influence - but I try to ensure my language is accessible to modern readers. Those who know me well claim they can detect Pratchett and Adams lurking in Soulless as well, I am overly fond of both The Silly and The Flippant.

What’s the most positive comment a reader has said about your book?
People have been so amazingly kind so far I hardly know where to start. Although, I will say fan mail from librarians always touches me deeply. Here are some of my favorites (edit at will)...

"Laugh out loud funny and refreshingly different, Soulless kept me turning pages well into the night."
~ Angie Fox (she gave me my cover blurb)

"The Parasol Protectorate presents what is perhaps the most original twist on vampire and werewolf mythology to ever appear in the genre."
~ Robert William Berg (he gave me probably my best review, I was overcome when I read it - I swear he's not getting a bribe)
http://www.robwillreview.com/?p=432

"This book is something special, a paean to and gentle satire of the Victorian delight with frivolity, witty to the end." ~ JD Sawyer
http://jdsawyer.net/2009/07/28/etiquette-by-the-full-moon/

"It's as fun as it looks, I promise you, and I love that this feels like something new." ~ Janice Y.
http://www.paperbackswap.com/book/reviews.php?isbn=9780316056632

"I wanted to pick it up as soon as possible whenever I had to put it down." ~ Janicu
http://janicu.wordpress.com/2009/06/12/soulless-by-gail-carriger/

"I fell quickly into comfort with the writer's style and pace, caring about the characters by the end of the 2nd page." ~ Donna Ricci
http://apps.facebook.com/facebookshelf/books/2595168-gail-carriger-soulless-the-parasol-protectorate

"No one ever explains the octopuses, but that's part of its charm." ~ smartygirl
http://smartygirl.livejournal.com/203969.html

If you had one chance to travel back in time, which time period (and in which country) would you want to visit?
What a dastardly question to ask an archaeologist. In covenant with my discipline, I have to pick a place and time that very little is known about, say distant prehistory (e.g. the peopling of North America), or possibly a little understood civilization (e.g. the Etruscans). If it was more of a vacation jaunt, I'd be torn between Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece. Because I'm female, I'd probably end up in Ancient Egypt, during the reign of Akhenaton.

What other projects are you working on?
I've handed in Blameless, the second book in The Parasol Protectorate series. Right now I'm working on the second draft of Changeless, the third book, which is due in to my editor shortly. I have an un-sellabe YA fantasy that someday I'll dig out of the trunk and rework. I just saddled my agent with a sci-fi YA with a kick-ass female heroine, which was the book I always wanted to read when I was 10 but couldn't find. We shall see what she says. It was written on spec, and the market is tough right now.

Is there anything else you want people to know about yourself or the book?
Someday, all will indeed be revealed about the octopuses.

Thanks Gail!

For more information about Gail Carriger and her books, please visit her website here.

Author Interview: Marissa Doyle

Today, I'm thrilled that Marissa Doyle, author of Bewitching Season and sequel Betraying Season stopped by to share with readers more about her writing. Betraying Season hit shelves today!

Marissa Doyle graduated from Bryn Mawr College intending to be an archaeologist but somehow got distracted. When not writing historical-set YAs and fantasy for adults and kids, she's sailing on Cape Cod, quilting, or collecting 19th century fashion prints. She lives in her native Massachusetts with her family, an alarming number of research books, and a highly opinionated fourteen-pound lop-eared rabbit who shares her fondness for coffee and dark chocolate.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
The silly thing is, I'm not sure. I'd had book ideas floating around in my head all through my late twenties and thirties, but had my hands full with being a stay-at-home mom to my three small children. It wasn't until I decided to try a writing class once my youngest were in fifth grade that I finally sat down to write...and it immediately turned into a full-time occupation!

What was your inspiration behind Betraying Season?
Conspiracytheorists aren't just a modern phenomenon. When Queen Victoria first came to the throne, she was an unmarried girl of 18, and the person next in line for the throne should she die was one of her middle-aged uncles. He had a rather bad reputation (mostly undeserved), and there were a lot of people who were convinced that he was plotting to murder Victoria so he could become king of England. He wasn't, of course, but sometimes people like to believe in crazy things. So when I was looking for a way for Pen to save the Queen in Betraying Season just as Persy had in Bewitching Season, I remembered this and used it as the basis for my plot.

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
A lot of places...I have a couple of blank books where I scribble down story ideas or character sketches or settings. I write down interesting dreams--and have based a couple of stories on ideas from dreams...and of course, there's history. I read a lot of biographies and social histories, which are a great source for plot twists and settings and general atmosphere for my stories.

Who’s your favorite character and why?
I assume you mean in Betraying Season? This may sound silly, but I definitely fell in love with Niall... I'm quite fond of Dr. Carrighar and his grandmother, too...and Corkwobble, of course. Doireann was one of the characters I found most interesting to write, though, because she's so conflicted and messed up.

In your opinion, what’s makes a good story?
Characters I care about or can somehow identify with, who have believable wants and needs and reasons for acting as they do. Plots that are twisty and turny, but not painfully so. Beautiful writing, but nothing so artificial that I'm thinking about the writing--I want the author to be like the Wizard of Oz (you know, "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.") I want to hear the characters' voices, not the author's.

What? Me demanding? Yeah, a little, I suppose. :) I love reading "good" stories, and analyzing just how the author did what he or she did that made it "good". If I can make it through a book without trying to take it apart while I'm reading it, it's not just good--it's FABULOUS!

How many books can we expect in this series?
Definitely one more--it's already under contract to Henry Holt for release in 2010 or 2011...and I have an idea worked out for one more after that...but I think that will be it, at least for now. I have other ideas I want to play with and stories I want to write, some of which will have historical settings too, though.

Where do you hope to take your writing in the future?
I'm loving writing historical-set books for teens...I'm a total history geek, and I love trying to show just how fascinating it can be--how life and people have changed in some ways, and remained the same in others. And writing for teens is the best because teens are such an amazing audience--they don't have preconceptions about books. That's just wonderful--it means that I as a writer can write what I want to/need to without an internal list of "rules" in my head, and I know teen readers will judge my books for what they are, not what they wanted them to be. So yes, more YA books from me...and maybe a few adult ones as well. But no vampires. I just don't do vampires. :)

Is there any additional information that you would like to add?
Not really...only that I love to hear from readers and invite everyone to visit my website, www.marissadoyle.com, and my blog http://nineteenteen.blogspot.com (all about teens in the 19th century) and The Enchanted Inkpot, a community on LiveJournal for YA and MG fantasy fiction that I helped found: http://community.livejournal.com/enchantedinkpot/

Thanks Marissa!

For more information about Marissa Doyle and her books, please visit her website here.

Monday Madness (16) Betraying Season & Soulless

What is Monday Madness?

It’s the phenomenon affecting all book lovers as we count down the hours in hopes of getting our hands on highly anticipated books on release day. So, come join me throughout the week where I will be featuring Author Interviews, Reviews and Contests for great books.

Betraying Season by Marissa Doyle
Pub. Date: September 29, 2009
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
336pp
Age Range: Young Adult

Synopsis
Penelope (Pen) Leland has come to Ireland to study magic and prove to herself that she is as good a witch as her twin sister, Persy. But when the dashing Niall Keating begins to pay her court, she can’t help being distracted from her studies.

Little does Pen know, Niall is acting upon orders from his sorceress mother. And although it starts as a sham, Niall actually falls deeply in love with Pen, and she with him. But even if he halts his mother’s evil plan, will Pen be able to forgive him for trying to seduce her into a plot? And what of Pen’s magic, which seems to be increasingly powerful?

Soulless by Gail Carriger
Pub. Date: October 2009
Publisher: Orbit/Yen
384pp

Synopsis
Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire -- and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

SOULLESS is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.

Want More? Head over to The Book Butterfly on Tantalizing Tuesday for a special treat!

In My Mailbox (23)

For Review

ICE by Sarah Beth Durst

BALLAD by Maggie Stiefvater

SOULLESS (ARC) by Gail Carriger

Bought

Thirst No. 1 : The Last Vampire/ Black Blood/ Red Dice by Christopher Pike

The Darkest Whisper (Lords of the Underworld Series #4) by Gena Showalter

Thanks to Kristi @ The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox and Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie for the inspiration.

Winner of Crazy Beautiful!

The Winner is...

Crazy Beautiful (ARC) by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Debbie F

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Winner of The Hollow!

The Winner is...

A signed copy of The Hollow by Jessica Verday

Susan Byerly

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Win Candor by Pam Bachorz!

**Contest Closed**

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Candor (ARC) by Pam Bachorz

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Comment on Author Interview here: +1

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Contest ends @ midnight (CST) October 8, 2009. U.S. and Canada Residents Only (Sorry!)

Review: Candor by Pam Bachorz

Candor by Pam Bachorz
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Pub. Date: September 22, 2009
Age Range: 12
256pp

---

Pam Bachorz delivered a thrilling debut novel full of suspense, betrayal and forbidden romance.

Picture this: One day your family moves to this beautiful little town where all the residents are nice, environment friendly, the teens don’t break curfew, they eat healthy and they strive for excellence by constantly studying and excelling in their classes. Well, that doesn’t sound too bad right? Well not for Oscar Banks who’s been living in Candor, FL since it was founded and he knows the truth… Everyone is being controlled by subliminal messages and he’s found a way to work around the loopholes to help others. Oscar has a perfect system that allows him to do as he pleases until he meets Nia, a girl who’s captured his heart and he wants her just the way she is, but at what cost will he go against everything he‘s worked for to keep her in his life…

I enjoyed the uniqueness of the characters in Candor. First there’s Oscar, the golden boy who can do no wrong that everyone looks up to and then there’s the real Oscar, the rebel that no one gets to see unless you’re one of his clients and I loved that about this story seeing him managing the different personas in different situations. Bachorz did a fantastic job with the characters in Candor. There were some touching moments then there were the laugh out loud moments which I really enjoyed coming from what goes on inside Oscar’s head.

Candor is a great sci-fi story and I enjoyed the pacing of the story which kept the suspense up to compel me to read this book down to very last page nonstop. I had to know how everything would pan out for Oscar especially with how serious the consequences for not being “Candor like” involved. Just when I assumed what I thought the ending would be, I got an eye opener. Now that’s what I get for assuming because the ending was “WOW!” It was so unexpected.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Author Interview: Pam Bachorz

I'm thrilled to be featuring author Pam Bachorz today, her debut novel, Candor is in stores today! Pam Bachorz’s debut novel Candor was inspired by the six years she lived in Celebration, Florida–a “model” small town–when she thought, What if . . . ? She now lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, with her husband and son.

You have 3 FAVE questions that you ask other authors, can you tell us what they are and how would you answer them?
I love this, I have to face my very own questions! OK here they are, with my answers:

I think teen books can, and should, be read by grown-ups. Tell my grandma Grace why she should read your book.
CANDOR is a great read for adults, too. What adult hasn't wished that they could think differently, act different, eat differently--or even more darkly, control the behavior of their children?

What would your 16-year-old self say if she read your book?
She'd say, "Cool! It's about time you did this! Now. Have you met Lois Duncan yet? How about Vivian Schurfranz?" Those were two of my favorite authors, when I was a teen. I don't even know if Vivian Schurfranz was a pen name or a real person!

I am fascinated by writers' inspirations. Tell me about a real-life setting that found its way into your book.
CANDOR was inspired by the six years I lived in Celebration, a planned community in central Florida, just south of Orlando. It was beautiful, but its perfection could be eerie: white picket fences lining the streets, with gorgeous flowers, shady front porches and never, ever any graffiti. (I finally got to graffiti my town in CANDOR--several times over...). So the book is full of settings inspired by Celebration. I think my favorite is my main character's secret hideout, the tricked-out garden shed behind the gorgeous Candor model homes. Oscar's got forbidden foods, drinks and games hidden behind the pegboard walls. I love thinking that it could actually be true: somewhere in Celebration, hidden in a fancy garden shed, is a stash of Devil Dogs and M&Ms. (Do you hear that sound? Everybody in Celebration is running out to check their garden sheds...). You can see some pictures of settings that inspired CANDOR on my website at http://pambachorz.squarespace.com/candor-inspiration/.

Would you say that your book is intended for both audiences, or is it a surprise to find out how strongly adults feel about them?
I wrote a story that entertained me, about teen characters, without worrying too much about the audience. I hope that both teens and adults read and enjoy CANDOR.

Do you find that your characters are shaped by the towns they live in?
For me, setting is always another character in my stories. It interacts with my characters and influences their mood, their behavior, and their actions. Of course when the setting includes brainwashing Messages that are hidden in ever-present music, the setting is DEFINITELY shaping the characters! There's no escaping the setting in CANDOR. It makes my story possible.

What’s your favorite Brainwash movie?
I am going to cheat a little and go with a TV show: LOST. They've hinted at brainwashing but backed right off. Remember how they showed a room where people are forced to sit in chairs and wear weird goggles and watch TV until... well, I'm not sure... maybe their ears bleed? It was only in one episode. When I saw it, I was both fascinated and horrified. Fascinated because it was cool, and horrified because I already had a kind-of similar brainwashing area ("The Listening Room") in CANDOR. But in my room, it's a very fancy spa-like place with music (and Messages) constantly playing. You go in with problems and come out days later with your brain "wiped clean". Of course there are a few little side effects... what fun would it be if there weren't?

Do you have any more books in the works at the moment?
I am working on another dark YA for Egmont USA. It's too soon for me to share details but suffice to say that again I'll be writing about a place that COULD exist today where very bad things are happening... and my main character has to fight her way out of it.

Would you like to share any additional info with the readers?
You can read the first chapter of CANDOR for free on my website at http://www.pambachorz.com/candor-chapter/, as well as listen to a playlist of songs that helped to inspire CANDOR (I swear there aren't any Messages in them!) and read my blog. Come visit!

Thanks Pam!

For more information about Pam Bachorz and Candor, please visit her website here.

Monday Madness (15) Candor by Pam Bachorz

What is Monday Madness?

It’s the phenomenon affecting all book lovers as we count down the hours in hopes of getting our hands on highly anticipated books on release day. So, come join me throughout the week where I will be featuring Author Interviews, Reviews and Contests for great books.

Candor by Pam Bachorz
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Pub. Date: September 22, 2009
Age Range: 12
256pp

Synopsis
In the model community of Candor, Florida, every teen wants to be like Oscar Banks. The son of the town’s founder, Oscar earns straight As, is student-body president, and is in demand for every club and cause. But Oscar has a secret. He knows that parents bring their teens to Candor to make them respectful, compliant–perfect–through subliminal Messages that carefully correct and control their behavior. And Oscar’s built a business sabotaging his father’s scheme with Messages of his own, getting his clients out before they’re turned. After all, who would ever suspect the perfect Oscar Banks?Then he meets Nia, the girl he can’t stand to see changed. Saving Nia means losing her forever. Keeping her in Candor, Oscar risks exposure . . . and more

Candor Book Trailer

Want More? Head over to The Book Butterfly on Tantalizing Tuesday for a special treat!

In My Mailbox (22)

Bloomsbury sent me this one for review:

Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Pub. Date: October 13, 2009
Age Range: 12 and up
336pp

Synopsis
Lyn is a neo-gladiator’s daughter, through and through. Her mother has made a career out of marrying into the high-profile world of televised blood sport, and the rules of the Gladiator Sports Association are second nature to their family. Always lend ineffable confidence to the gladiator. Remind him constantly of his victories. And most importantly: Never leave the stadium when your father is dying. The rules help the family survive, but rules—and the GSA—can also turn against you. When a gifted young fighter kills Lyn’s seventh father, he also captures Lyn’s dowry bracelet, which means she must marry him... For fans of The Hunger Games and Fight Club, Lise Haines’ debut novel is a mesmerizing look at a world addicted to violence—a modern world that’s disturbingly easy to imagine.

For Review:

Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue by Hugh Howey
Publisher: Norlightspress.Com
Pub. Date: September 28, 2009
292pp

Synopsis (Amazon)
Molly gets kicked out of the Naval Academy and loses the only two things that truly matter: flying in space and her training partner, Cole. A dull future awaits, until her father's old starship-missing for a decade-turns up halfway across the galaxy. Its retrieval launches Molly and Cole on the adventure of a lifetime, one that will have lasting consequences for themselves and billions of others. The simple quest to reconnect with her past ends up forging a new future. And the forgotten family she hoped to uncover becomes one she never foresaw: a band of alien misfits and runaways. Together, they form a new family-the crew of the starship Parsona.

I got a Rampant bookmark - thanks to Lizzy @ CornucopiaofReviews

So, most of you know that I'm obsessed with the Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning and to show you how much I purchased...

I Heart Barrons Tote & MacHalo mouse pad! Isn't it lovely?

Winner of Vampire Academy Series!

The Winner of the 1st 3 books in the VA Series is...

Natalie @ Mindful Musings Book Blog

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Winner of Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda!

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Devil's Kiss (signed) by Sarwat Chadda

WilowRaven @ Red House Books

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Winner of Ash by Malinda Lo!

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Ash (ARC) by Malinda Lo and a signed poster

Leslie @ The Chic That Reads

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Win Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe!

**Contest Closed**

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Give Up the Ghost (signed) by Megan Crewe

Rules: 1 Winner!

Comment on Author Interview here: +1
Comment on My Review here: +1
Link to blog: +1
Follow me on Twitter +1
Follower : +2

Total = 6 entries

Contest ends @ midnight (CST) October 2, 2009. U.S. and Canada Residents Only (Sorry!)

Win Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough!

**Contest Closed**

This is your chance to Win...

Once a Witch (signed) by Carolyn MacCullough

Rules: 1 Winner!

1. What is one time period you would choose to live in other than the current one and why? +1
2. Comment on Author Interview here: +1
3. Comment on My Review here: +1
4. Link to blog: +1
5. Follow me on Twitter +1
6. Follower : +2

Total = 7 entries

Contest ends @ midnight (CST) October 1, 2009. U.S. and Canada Residents Only (Sorry!)

Review: Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe

Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Pub. Date: September 15, 2009

Age Range: Young Adult

256pp

Cass McKenna much prefers ghosts to “breathers.” Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable. They know the dirt on everybody . . . and Cass loves dirt.

She’s on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of all of the poseurs in her school. But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass’s whole scheme hangs in the balance. Timwants her help to contact his recently deceasedmother, but Cass is less than enthusiastic.

Kicking and screaming, Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim’s life. And she’s more surprised than anyone when she realizes that maybe some living people aren’t so bad if she’d only give them a chance.

Cassie McKenna has been an outcast since Jr. High and she wants payback. Lucky for her she has help finding out her fellow student’s deepest and darkest secrets from the dead – Ghosts that is…

Crewe’s Give Up the Ghost is a pleasantly light paranormal read. I was able to read this book is one sitting, I enjoyed it so much! This is the first ghost book that I’ve read that didn’t give me the heeby jeebies, which was a surprise in itself. Cass is a loner and with her only friends being ghosts, I felt bad for her and enjoyed seeing her dish out the dirt on the students that she called poseurs. Hey how could I not like her “tell like it is” attitude even if the info came from ghosts? But when it really came to what mattered most, I was glad to see Cass’s transformation to finally opening up to Tim and letting him see a different side of her. To be honest, *sigh* It was sweet!

Give Up the Ghost flowed easily and I really liked the direction Crewe went with the story. I really didn’t expect Tim’s character to change so drastically but Hey, I think I enjoyed the book more because of it. I was thinking this book could go in so many directions and was quite surprised and delighted in how it actually ended.

Here’s to hoping for a sequel! I look forward to seeing where Megan takes her books. This book kind of reminded me of Ghost Whisperer a little bit but not in a creepy way.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars.

Review: Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Pub. Date: September 2009

Age Range: Young Adult
304pp

Tamsin Greene comes from a long line of witches, and she was supposed to be one of the most Talented among them. But Tamsin's magic never showed up. Now seventeen, Tamsin attends boarding school in Manhattan, far from her family. But when a handsome young professor mistakes her for her very Talented sister, Tamsin agrees to find a lost family heirloom for him. The search—and the stranger—will prove to be more sinister than they first appeared, ultimately sending Tamsin on a treasure hunt through time that will unlock the secret of her true identity, unearth the sins of her family, and unleash a power so vengeful that it could destroy them all. This is a spellbinding display of storytelling that will exhilarate, enthrall, and thoroughly enchant.

Once a Witch is a great story with a splendid storyline that had me wrapped up into the suspense surrounding Tamsin’s life. This book has a nice flow to it and reading it felt effortless and the plot flowed perfectly together. Once a Witch is an exciting read and kept me turning the pages. I’ve not read too many stories about witches but Once a Witch is a great addition to the supernatural world. I loved the time travel aspect of the story which only made the book more exciting and I got quite a few laughs out of it too.

The characters in Once a Witch are quite interesting with the uniqueness of their family and rituals and the different abilities that they have. Tamsin feels like an outsider in her own family of witches because she never developed a “talent.” I’m sure readers can relate to having an older sibling who everyone thinks is the golden child who’s constantly in the spotlight. So, I can see why Tamsin acts the way she does in wanting to prove something to everyone. Tamsin seems somewhat of the rebel in the family which made her even more interesting. Then there’s the gorgeous Gabriel, one of my favorite characters in this book. Gabriel enters back into Tamsin’s life and his background & “talent” is just as interesting plus he kept me laughing throughout this book. I hope I’ll get to see more of him in the next installment.

I love the whole idea of a family of witches and how each had these amazing powers. One of my favorite scenes in this book was the poker game – I was laughing so hard! There were times where this book reminded me of one of my favorite TV Series – Charmed. I can’t wait to read the sequel Always a Witch!

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Author Interview: Megan Crewe

I'm thrilled to welcome Megan Crewe today as she talks about her debut novel Give Up the Ghost. Megan Crewe lives in Toronto, Canada, with her husband and two cats (and does on occasion say "eh"). She tutors children and teens with special needs, and spends most of her free time reading everything she can get her hands on. Give Up the Ghost was released today.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I always wanted to write--I've been making up stories and writing them down for as long as I can remember. I didn't start thinking of it as something I might do as a career until I was around 10 years old. I had a teacher who encouraged me, and I started sharing my stories with classmates and seeing that they enjoyed them, too, and that made me think maybe I could be a "real" writer. :)

What inspired you to write Give Up the Ghost?
An image popped into my head of a girl talking to her sister, just an everyday conversation, except her sister was a ghost. I loved the idea of writing about a character who had embraced her odd ability, and figuring out how she'd gotten to this point in her life.

How did you research for Give Up the Ghost?
GHOST didn't actually require much in the way of research--I'd already read quite a bit about ghosts, and I drew on my own school experiences and those I'd heard about from friends. I did find the book ODD GIRL OUT by Rachel Simmons quite helpful in developing Cass's backstory (it's about social bullying among teen girls).

Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Thankfully, I've never been bullied or known someone who was bullied close to the extent that Cass was. Nor have I ever seen a ghost. Some of the settings are based on places in my life, though--parts of the school echo my high school, and the lake area is very similar to the beaches on Lake Ontario in my city.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in writing your book?
I learned that sometimes a book needs to be written in first person! That might sound silly, but the books I'd written before GHOST (now trunked) were all in third person, so I assumed GHOST would be, too. But right from the start Cass insisted on telling the story herself. That ended up being a welcome surprise, because her voice is one of my favorite things about the book.

What can we expect from you in the future/Are there any other projects you’re working on?
I'm always working on other projects, all YA at the moment, some paranormal, some fantasy. :) And I hope to be able to share news about them soon, but at the moment I cannot.

Is there anything you would like to share with the readers?
If you're interested in finding out more about behind the scenes stuff like the book soundtrack, or giving the first chapter a read for free, stop by the GIVE UP THE GHOST section of my website. ( www.megancrewe.com/gutg ) I also welcome e-mails from readers, so don't be shy if you've got something you'd like to say!


Thanks Megan!

For more information about Megan Crewe and Give Up the Ghost, please visit her website here.

Author Interview: Carolyn MacCullough

Today, I'm excited to be featuring Carolyn MacCullough as she talks about her current novel, Once a Witch. Once a Witch is in stores now. Carolyn MacCullough received her MFA in creative writing from the New School and is the author of three previous young adult novels. She lives with her husband in Brooklyn.

Once a Witch is different from your other novels, what was the inspiration behind it?

Actually, I don't know why it took me so long to write a fantasy novel since those were the books I was drawn to most as a teenager and am still drawn to now! But my immediate inspiration came when I took up running (very briefly) one April. I used to run through brownstone Brooklyn and desperate to distract myself from the agony of exercise, I used to study all the cool architectural details on the brownstones. I always passed this one little gargoyle statue and I always thought to myself, "what kinds of stories could he tell if he could talk?" Then I started thinking about a character that had the power to give speech to inanimate objects. And then I started thinking about this character's sister who has no power at all and how that made her feel. That was how my main character, Tamsin, first popped into my head.

What was the hardest part about writing Once a Witch?

The fantastical elements--I loved writing them and I also struggled with them because when you write a fantasy, the rules of the world you're creating have to be clear, and above all, consistent--otherwise you lose your readers!

How was the research process for this book?

The research was a lot of fun. There's two episodes of time travel in this book so I needed details like hair, clothing, speech, etc. Google was my friend! The sequel, Always a Witch, is set in 19th century New York so as you can imagine, that involved a whole other level of research!

Did you learn anything interesting through research for your book?

I learned a whole lot of misconceptions and odd bits of trivia or beliefs about witches. I.e. while witches are supposed to ride broomsticks, warlocks are supposed to ride pitchforks. I think I'd stick with the broomstick.

What’s your favorite Witch Movie?

Hmmmm....tough one. I can tell you my favorite witch books--Escape to Witch Mountain and Return from Witch Mountain--both by Alexander Key. I read those over and over when I was a kid. Oh, and of course, my favorite current witch books have to be the Harry Potter series.

What can the readers expect next from you?

Well, the sequel to Once a Witch--currently titled Always a Witch. And then, more YA fantasy novels for sure! I'm hooked on writing them!

What question are you never asked that you would like to be asked in an interview?

What character would you like to be most and why? If I could be a character for just a little while it would have to be Harry from Robin McKinley's The Blue Sword. She gets to ride an amazing horse and swing a sword and generally be a bad ass! I love that book!

Is there anything you would like to say to your readers?

I love hearing from readers! So come visit me at http://www.onceawitch.com/ and to find out more about my other books check out http://www.carolynmaccullough.com/

Thanks Carolyn!

For more information about Carolyn MacCullough and her books, please visit her website.

Monday Madness (14): Once a Witch & Give Up the Ghost

What is Monday Madness?

It’s the phenomenon affecting all book lovers as we count down the hours in hopes of getting our hands on highly anticipated books on release day. So, come join me throughout the week where I will be featuring Author Interviews, Reviews and Contests for great books.

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pub. Date: September 2009
Age Range: Young Adult

304pp

Synopsis
Tamsin Greene comes from a long line of witches, and she was supposed to be one of the most Talented among them. But Tamsin's magic never showed up. Now seventeen, Tamsin attends boarding school in Manhattan, far from her family. But when a handsome young professor mistakes her for her very Talented sister, Tamsin agrees to find a lost family heirloom for him. The search—and the stranger—will prove to be more sinister than they first appeared, ultimately sending Tamsin on a treasure hunt through time that will unlock the secret of her true identity, unearth the sins of her family, and unleash a power so vengeful that it could destroy them all. This is a spellbinding display of storytelling that will exhilarate, enthrall, and thoroughly enchant.

Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Pub. Date: September 15, 2009
Age Range: Young Adult
256pp

Synopsis
Cass McKenna much prefers ghosts to “breathers.” Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable. They know the dirt on everybody . . . and Cass loves dirt.

She’s on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of all of the poseurs in her school. But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass’s whole scheme hangs in the balance. Timwants her help to contact his recently deceasedmother, but Cass is less than enthusiastic.

Kicking and screaming, Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim’s life. And she’s more surprised than anyone when she realizes that maybe some living people aren’t so bad if she’d only give them a chance.

Give Up the Ghost Book Trailer

Want More? Head over to The Book Butterfly on Tantalizing Tuesday for a special treat!

Winner of Vampires, Werewolves & Fairies - OH MY!

The Winner is...

Sarah Mason

Please email me your address with 48hrs

Thanks to everyone for participating!

In My Mailbox (21)

Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Pub. Date: September 2009
Age Range: Young Adult
336pp

I have the UK Version and I love the U.S cover so I had to go out and buy it. I aslo have a contest going on for a signed copy of Devil's Kiss

Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Incorporated
Pub. Date: September 2009
Age Range: Young Adult
320pp

Synopsis (Author's website)

Sixteen year old Anne thinks her life is pretty ordinary – until she smacks into handsome, mysterious, and okay, annoying Ethan on her way to chemistry class. Now Anne has powers she doesn’t understand, a history altering mission she may not want, and a growing attraction to this blue-eyed stranger. And Ethan- who at eighteen made some choices he’s starting to regret – realizes that Anne is the girl for whom he’s been searching – for a very, very long time. Stir in doomed Russian Grand Duchess Anastasia – who is definitely not quite as dead as the history books say – and Baba Yaga, the legendary witch from Russian folklore, and you’ve got DREAMING ANASTASIA, a contemporary YA fantasy that alternates between the voices of Anne, Ethan, and Anastasia as Anne and Ethan join forces to battle the bad guys and save Anastasia. Only problem is – no one’s quite sure who’s really bad and who’s good. And everyone has some secrets.

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren and was inspired by Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie

Review: Sea Glass by Maria Snyder

SEA GLASS by Maria Snyder
Publisher: Mira
Pub. Date: September 2009
448pp

Student glass magician Opal Cowan's newfound ability to steal a magician's powers makes her too powerful. Ordered to house arrest by the Council, Opal dares defy them, traveling to the Moon Clan's lands in search of Ulrick, the man she thinks she loves. Thinks because she is sure another man—now her prisoner—has switched souls with Ulrick.

In hostile territory, without proof or allies, Opal isn't sure whom to trust. She can't forget Kade, the handsome Stormdancer who doesn't want to let her get close. And now everyone is after Opal's special powers for their own deadly gain…

Once again, Snyder continues to amaze me with the world that she’s created. It’s unlike any setting that I’ve read. It’s refreshing and the more I read her books the more I fall in love with her world. She has crafted a beautiful setting with wonderful characters that will keep you turning the pages in the wee hours of the night.

Sea Glass picks up were Storm Glass left off with a turn of events going from good to bad in a drop of a coin. Opal goes through a complete transformation in this book and I enjoyed seeing the stages of her growth throughout this book. Snyder gives us more unexpected twists and turns in Sea Glass and I’m so happy about one in particular that we get to see at the end of the book but I’ll keep it to myself because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone.

Snyder did grace us with some of our favorite characters from the Study Series again and I have to say that Janco is one of mine. He had me cracking up in this book and I can only hope that I will get to see more of him in the future along with some of the Study Series cast. Kade has grown on me tremendously since Storm Glass and I’m excited to see what the future has in store for him.

If you are looking for a magical setting away from Vampires, Werewolves and Fairies, I think you should take a chance on this series. It will totally knock your socks off!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Pub. Date: September 2009
Age Range: Young Adult
400pp
Series: Hunger Games Series, #2

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If you were left on the edge by The Hunger Games then be prepared to be BLOWN AWAY by Catching Fire. I was left Speechless! How do I write this review by not spoiling it for the readers who’ve not read The Hunger Games?

What are the Hunger Games?

In desolate lands where greed is run by the Capitol, 13 districts – strike that! I mean 12 districts have to attend the annual reaping where 1 girl and 1 boy from each district will be picked to attend the annual hunger games to fight to the death. Sounds Crazy right? Well I don’t know if “Crazy” is the right word to describe this series…

How about AWESOME.FANTASTIC.BRILLIANT.MINDBOGGLING.BREAK.YOUR.NECK.TO.GET.A.COPY!

Didn’t you guys see how these crazed fans were trying to get their hands on an ARC copy of Catching Fire? I must admit that I was totally one of them.

Katniss is the main heroine in this series and she’s a feisty one. If you like your heroines strong and not dependent on a man to fight their battles then Katniss is your girl. Katniss will do anything to protect the ones she loves even if it includes giving up her life. Well it can’t get any better than that right? I’ll let you decide…

Decisions, Decisions…This series is about strategy and a test of will. It’s High Octane with tricks and traps around every corner, so be prepared to be gorefied! Is gorefied a word? Well I’m talking about blood and gore. This series is ruthless but for you ladies that have to have romance in your novels, don’t worry this series has that too! I can only imagine what this would look like on the big screen. Yes! That’s right! The Hunger Games is coming to a theatre near you!

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Winner of The Tear Collector!

The Winner is...

The Tear Collector (ARC) by Patrick Jones

Mishel @ mis(h)takes

Please email me your address within 48hrs.

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Bad Boy Bonanza: Hush, Hush Pre-Order Contest

**Contest Closed**

BAD BOY BONANZA!

Question: Are you ready to SWOON?

Answer: "OMG - YES!" *Fanning*

Here's your chance at an opportunity to win some great reads where these Bad Boys are off the charts!

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick is among these great reads with an irresistible Bad Boy by the name of Patch Cipriano. He's every girl’s fantasy of the ultimate bad boy!

Hush, Hush will have sparks flying off the pages ultimately leaving you begging for more!

In honor of this fabulous book, Kim (The Book Butterfly) and I thought it would be a great idea to support Becca’s book by throwing a contest were readers pre-order/order Hush, Hush in order to be eligible to enter the contest.

As you may or might not know, Becca informed readers on her blog that the ending to Hush, Hush was changed. Well, you know what that means? For those of us that love Hush, Hush we’ll be pre-ordering the book.

Take a good luck @ Bad Boy Bonanza's prize bucket that these AWESOME Bloggers & Authors donated to help support Becca!

1. The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan,
2. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (October one with Bella & Edward’s favorite book)
3. The Dark Divine (ARC) by Bree Despain
4. Twilight Poster
5. As You Wish by Jackson Pearce
6. Candor by Pam Bachortz
7. $20 Amazon Gift Card
8. Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
9. Tin Grin by Catherine Robinson
10. Love is Hell (Anthology)
11. Prom Dates from Hell (Anthology)
12. Stealing Death (ARC) by Janet Lee Carey
13. Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr
14. Hush, Hush (ARC) by Becca Fitzpatrick
15. Project 17 by Laurie Stolarz
16. Swoon by Nina Malkin
17. Blood Promise by Richelle Mead
18. The Sound of Munich (S.A.S.S.) by Suzanne Nelson
19. Monster by Walter Dean Myers
20. $10 Gift Card online book store
21. Blue Moon by Alyson Noel
22. Eternal Kiss (Anthology)
23. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
24. Invisible Touch by Kelly Parra

These are the Awesome Bloggers and Authors who contributed:

Becca Fitzpatrick (Blog), Bree Despain (Blog), Eleni @ LaFemme Readers, Harmony @ Harmony Book Reviews, Jacqueline @ The Eclectic Book Lover , Jessica @ Book Reviews by Jess, Jo @ Once Upon a Bookcase, Kim @ The Book Butterfly, Kimberly Derting (Blog), Lauren @ Shooting Stars Mag, Laurie Stolarz (Website), Lenore @ Presenting Lenore, Nicole @ Word For Teens, Regie from The Undercover Book Lover, Shalonda @ Shalonda’s Blog, Shelly @ Write for a Reader & Tina @ Fantastic Book Review

You have to pre-order/order Hush, Hush to be eligible to enter the contest.

Please email receipt to Tina @ fantasticbookreview(at)gmail(dot)com or Kim @ bookbutterfly9(at)gmail(dot)com

Rules: 8 Winners - 3 prizes each!

Pick your top 8 PRIZES - (Guarantee you get one of your choices) Random Generator will pick other 2 prizes!

+1 Comment: Please comment that you have sent your pre-order/order receipt to Tina @ Fantastic Book Review or Kim @ The Book Butterfly
+1 Comment: Who's your favorite Bad Boy/Fictional Crush?
+1 Comment: Pick top 8 prizes
+1 Link contest to blog or tweet about it
+1 Follow or Friend the Prize Bucket Participant's Blogs for a total of 17 entries
Total = 21 entries

Contest ends @ midnight (CST) October 30, 2009. U.S. & Canada Residents Only!

Win Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted!

**Contest Closed**

This is your chance to Win...
Crazy Beautiful (ARC) by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Rules: 1 Winner!

1. Comment on Author Interview here: +1
2. Comment on My Review here: +1
3. Link to blog: +1
4. Follow me on Twitter +1
5. Follower : +2

Total = 6 entries

Contest ends @ midnight (CST) September 25, 2009. U.S. and Canada Residents Only (Sorry!)

Win The Hollow by Jessica Verday!

**Contest Closed**

This is your chance to Win...

The Hollow (signed) by Jessica Verday

Rules: 1 Winner!
1. Comment on Author Interview here: +1
2. Comment on My Review here: +1
3. Link to blog: +1
4. Follow me on Twitter +1
5. Follower : +2

Total = 6 entries

Contest ends @ midnight (CST) September 24, 2009. U.S. and Canada Residents Only (Sorry!)

Review: Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pub. Date: September 2009
Age Range: Young Adult
208pp

In an explosion of his own making, Lucius blew his arms off. Now he has hooks. He chose hooks because they were cheaper. He chose hooks because he wouldn’t outgrow them so quickly. He chose hooks so that everyone would know he was different, so he would scare even himself.

Then he meets Aurora. The hooks don’t scare her. They don’t keep her away. In fact, they don’t make any difference at all to her.

But to Lucius, they mean everything. They remind him of the beast he is inside. Perhaps Aurora is his Beauty, destined to set his soul free from its suffering.

Or maybe she’s just a girl who needs love just like he does.

Crazy Beautiful is a delightfully re-imagined twist on a modern day fairy tale…

The characters in Crazy Beautiful are quite enjoyable. We have Aurora, the “Beauty” who everyone is instantly drawn to. She’s such a nice girl and overlooks the drama that comes with every day high school rumors and gossip. She’s also fair and believes in second chances. Then we have Lucius, the “Beast” who everyone distances themselves from due to his hooks for hands. He’s the outsider trying to make-up for his past mistakes while trying to fit into a new school.

I enjoyed that this book was written from Aurora and Lucius’s alternating viewpoint which provided insight to how each character felt about being at a new school and ultimately how their feelings for one another progressed as the story went along. Lauren did a great job in having readers connect with the characters through their views on high school popularity and family.

Crazy Beautiful was a quick and enjoyable read with only 187pgs and by the end of the book, I only wished there was more. I would have loved to see more of Aurora and Lucius outside of the school setting. I look forward to reading more of Lauren’s work.

Rating: 3 ½ out of 5 Stars

Review: The Hollow by Jessica Verday

The Hollow by Jessica VerdayPublisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Pub. Date: September 2009

Age Range: Young Adult

544pp

When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead?and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her best friend, but privately, she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special.

Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her—one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.

From the opening of the book, Verday takes us right into Abbey’s mindset after the loss of her best friend Kristen. We get to see how she copes in her daily life without Kristen. I enjoyed reading Abbey’s reflections on her friendship with Kristen and how inseparable they were and how much fun they had together. They made so many plans together when Kristen was alive and I got a better understanding of Abbey’s feelings of loneliness and the guilt from moving on with her life. Then out of nowhere, Caspian, a mysterious and gorgeous stranger comes into Abbey’s life. Caspian helps Abbey cope with her grief and her loneliness starts to turn into belonging again. I was totally wrapped up in Abbey’s and Caspian’s intense relationship. The newness of their relationship and getting to know each other and falling in love kept me turning the pages.

I love Verday’s writing style and how it made me feel like I’m living in the book alongside Abbey and her fascination with The Sleepy Hollow Legend and her many trips to the cemetery. I also enjoyed the details of Abbey’s love of perfume making.

I really didn’t know what to expect as the pages finally dwindled down, because there are some mysteries yet to be resolved. There’s one major piece to the story that I did not see and that left me baffled with a “Who? What? & How?” I was shocked! Verday did a great job keeping me in suspense. My heart goes out to poor Abbey - Can’t even catch a break! I felt so bad for her. When I finally got down to the last chapter, I knew I would have to wait it out for some answers…

The Hollow is a great start to a series and I can’t wait to read the next chapter in Abbey’s story!

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars