Win Tangled by Carolyn Mackler!

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Tangled (ARC) by Carolyn Mackler

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

Total = 5 entries

Contest ends @ midnight (CST) January 14, 2010. U.S. & Canada Residents Only (Sorry!)

Win Deadtown by Nancy Holzner!

**Contest Closed**

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Deadtown (signed ARC) by Nancy Holzner

Rules: 1 Winner!
1. Comment on Guest Post here: +1

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

Total = 6 entries

Contest ends @ midnight (CST) January 13, 2010. U.S. & Canada Residents Only (Sorry!)

Guest Post: Nancy Holzer - Interview with Deadtown's Protagonist Vicky Vaughn

I want to thank Nancy Holzner, author of Deadtown for stopping by today for an interview with Vicky Vaughn, Deadtown's Protagonist. Deadtown is in stores now!

Could you start off by telling readers a little bit about yourself?
The main thing to know about me is that I’m not human. I’m Cerddorion, one of a race of Welsh shapeshifters who trace our origins all the way back to the ancient goddess Ceridwen. Some norms confuse us with werewolves, but we’re not the same thing at all. Werewolves change into one creature—wolves—for the three nights of the full moon. The Cerddorion can also shift up to three times each lunar cycle, but the moon never forces a shift; we can spend the entire month in human form if we choose to. We can change our shape into any animal (or sometimes strong emotion can cause a shift), and we can do it at any time of the month, day or night.

Among my race, only females can shift. The ability manifests at puberty, and it disappears if the female gives birth. My older sister Gwen chose to give up shapeshifting when she started her family ten years ago. She had her reasons, but it’s not the choice I’d make. I spent years training to fight demons, and shapeshifting is an important weapon in that arsenal. To me, being a demon-fighting shapeshifter isn’t just what I do; it’s who I am. Of course, that makes relationships a little bit tricky. I’ll admit to being commitment shy. I don’t want to care about someone and then get mired in a big swamp of awkward when he decides he wants to start a family. Not gonna happen. So I keep my distance.

So you don’t date?
I said I’m commitment shy, not a hermit. Gwen is always trying to set me up with human guys—I think she’s hoping I’ll settle down and then we can swap recipes or something—but those dates invariably turn out to be disasters. Besides, I don’t need her help. I’ve been dating Kane (well, sort of) for almost three years. Alexander Kane is a prominent Boston attorney who also happens to be a werewolf. He’s passionate about securing civil rights for us monsters (don’t let him hear you say the word “monster,” though—to Kane, we’re “Paranormal Americans”). But his job means he works norm hours, and mine means I work nights, so we don’t get together as often as we’d like. But that’s okay, because we both love our jobs. Workaholics understand each other, you know?

And then there’s Daniel. He’s human, a detective. Nice looking. He’s about six feet tall, good build, with dark blond, curly hair and sky-blue eyes. We met when he had me pulled out of my bed by a couple of goons and dragged into headquarters for questioning. Not a very romantic beginning, I know, but that was due to a misunderstanding. I like Daniel. Maybe a lot. But I also get the feeling that there might be something he’s hiding from me. And that’s another reason why it’s smart to keep some distance between me and men.

You live in Deadtown, a section of Boston that’s restricted to paranormals. What’s it like living there?
Deadtown came into being about three years ago, when the zombie plague hit downtown Boston. That was a terrible day, like being in a war zone. I was right in the middle of it. One minute, everything was normal—people were hurrying down the crowded streets to go to lunch and run errands—the next minute all the norms around me were lying dead on the ground. Paranormals were immune, so we came forward to help enforce the quarantine zone and deal with the corpses. Except the corpses didn’t stay corpses for long. After three days, they started coming back to life. And so Boston found itself having to deal with two thousand newly risen zombies.

As you can imagine, the city wouldn’t let them leave the quarantine zone. Us, either. We got thanked for our help by being restricted to the area that came to be known as Deadtown. With time, the authorities used genetic testing to determine who’s human and who’s not—and required all paranormals to take up residence in Deadtown or leave the state. Because Massachusetts is one of a handful of states that grants paranormals any rights at all, most opted to move in.

Deadtown comes alive (so to speak) at night. Like vampires, the zombies don’t do well in sunlight. They won’t vanish in a puff of smoke or anything, but sunlight damages their skin. (And zombies don’t heal, so that’s a definite problem.) Dusk to dawn is when things happen here. Most zombies do manual labor on the construction projects that are constantly underway converting stores and office buildings into housing—Deadtown used to be a business district, so it wasn’t set up to become home to a couple thousand zombies, as well as vampires, werewolves, and assorted other nonhuman creatures. It’s crowded and, to tell the truth, it’s dangerous. Humans aren’t allowed in, for their own good. My neighborhood is full of creatures with superhuman strength and bad attitudes. Vampires (mostly) live by the rules and (mostly) stick to their one legally allowed pint of blood per donor per day. Werewolves make their way to one of the state-sanctioned retreat centers for the three days of each full moon. But zombies are still learning how to control their reanimated bodies. The slightest whiff of human blood sends them into a frenzy of hunger, and zombie blood-lust isn’t something any human would want to experience.

You work as a demon slayer. What’s that like?
I call myself a demon exterminator because I kill people’s personal demons for a living. For as long as we’ve existed, the Cerddorion have been sworn enemies of demons. Personal demons are the most common, and some people will pay me a lot to rid them of a demon infestation. It gives them peace of mind. My job is a lot like psychotherapy, but instead of a couch I use a flaming sword.

What advice do you have for people who are struggling with their own personal demons?
There are three main kinds of personal demons: Drudes, Eidolons, and Harpies. Drudes are dream-demons. They’re the source of most nightmares, and they feed on fear. Eidolons feed on guilt. Some Eidolons manifest as apparitions; others are a presence that keeps you awake at night, feeling like some hideous parasite is gnawing at your bones. And Harpies are revenge demons; people pay sorcerers to conjure Harpies and send them against their enemies.The thing about personal demons is that they don’t have independent existence. They’re conjured by overpowering emotion—fear, guilt, hatred. When emotions like those are left unresolved, they grow, and they take demonic form. So my best advice is to face negative feelings before they fester and grow into something you can’t control. I’d give you that advice even if you hired me. After I’ve clear out a demon infestation, if you don’t deal with the root emotion that conjured the demons, they’ll eventually come back. Face your fears. Face your guilt. Face your enemies. That’s how you conquer your demons.


Thanks Nancy!

For more information about Nancy Holzner and her books, please visit her site here.

Review: Deadtown by Nancy Holzner

Deadtown by Nancy Holzner
Pub. Date: December 2009
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 336pp

First in a brand new urban fantasy series that's "fresh and funny, with a great new take on zombies" (Karen Chance) and "full of dangerous magic and populated with characters so realistic, they almost jump off the page" (Ilona Andrews).

If you were undead, you'd be home by now...

They call it Deadtown: the city's quarantined section for its inhuman and undead residents. Most humans stay far from its borders-but Victory Vaughn, Boston's only professional demon slayer, isn't exactly human.

Deadtown is full of non-stop action with a heroine who rivals the likes of Buffy when it comes to demon slaying…

Holzner did a fantastic job with the characters in Deadtown. Vicky Vaughn is a shape-shifter and she’s in high demand when it comes to protecting the city from all sorts of danger. In a town where your worst nightmares constantly torment you, Vicky’s the only exterminator that can get the job done. Vicky is a very likable character and even though she seems as tough as nails she also shows us a vulnerable side. Vicky’s love life is pretty much nonexistent with werewolf lawyer Alexander Kane who’s just as busy. In steps Daniel Costello, a homicide detective investigating the death of one of Vicky’s former clients and you have a possible love triangle.

Deadtown is a welcomed addition to the urban fantasy genre. Holzner has created an exciting world where paranormals have their own town away from the biases of human politics. With vampires, werewolves, zombies, and demons combined into one setting, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by this book. And if Vicky’s job with a demon plagued client seemed easy, Hell is about to break loose when the Hellion who murdered her father shows up promising to end her and the city. Then tack on a research facility’s interest in Vicky’s abilities that could lead to dire consequences and Deadtown’s becomes a nonstop page turner.

Holzner’s fantastic world building of Deadtown and nonstop action had me flipping the pages with anticipation. I can’t wait to see what Holzner pulls out from under her sleeves next.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

2010 Author Debut Challenge List

Kristi @ The Story Siren is hosting a 2010 Author Debut Challenge. I've never joined a reading challenge before so I thought this would be the perfect time since there are so many debut books that I want to read in 2010.

Here's more information on the challenge directly from The Story Siren:

• The objective is to read a set number of YA (Young Adult) or MG (Middle Grade) novels from debut authors published this year.* I'm going to challenge everyone to read at least 12 debut novels! I’m hoping to read at least 30! You don’t have to list your choices right away, but if you do feel free to change them throughout the year. I will also be focusing on mostly Young Adult novels.
• Anyone can join, you don’t need a blog to participate. If you don’t have a blog you can always share your views by posting a review on Amazon.com/BarnesandNoble.com/GoodReads/Shelfari, or any other bookish site.
• The challenge will run from January 1, 2010- December 31, 2010. You can join at anytime!

If you would like to sign up, head over to The Story Siren for more info.
Here's my list:

1. Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore (I've already read this one)
2. Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves
3. Firespell by Chloe Neill
4. The Mark by Jen Nadol
5. All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab
6. The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard
7. A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker
8. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
9. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
10. Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White
11. The Line by Teri Hall
12. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
13. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
14. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
15. Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken
16. Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey
17. The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy
18. Mistwood by Leah Cypess
19. Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis
20. The Prophecy of Days by Christy Raedeke
21. The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell
22. The Beautiful Between by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
23. Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia
24. Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
25. Wolves, Boys and Other Things That Might Kill Me by Kristen Chandler
26. Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson
27. Everlasting by Angie Frazier
28. 13 to Life by Shannon Delaney
29. Tell Me A Secret by Holly Cupala
30. Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus
31. Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn
32. Other by Karen Kincy
33. Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
34. Losing Faith by Denise Jaden
35. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
36. The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
37. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
38. Freefall by Mindi Scott
39. Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler
40. The Witch's Alphabet by Caitlin Kittredge

Well, Gosh 40 seems like a lot. I'm sure my list will change to include more summer/fall/winter releases.

Review: Tangled by Carolyn Mackler

Tangled by Carolyn Mackler
Pub. Date: December 29, 2009
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Hardcover, 320pp
Age Range: 12 and up

Paradise wasn't supposed to suck.

Not the state of being, but a resort in the Caribbean.

Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen are all there for different reasons, but at Paradise their lives become tangled together in ways none of them can predict. Paradise will change them all.

It will change Jena, whose first brush with romance takes her that much closer to having a life and not just reading about those infinitely cooler and more exciting.

It will change Dakota, who needs the devastating truth about his past to make him realize that he doesn't have to be a jerk just because people think he's one.

It will change Skye, a heartbreakingly beautiful actress, who must come to terms with the fact that for once she has to stop playing a role or face the consequences.

And it will change Owen, who has never risked anything before and who will take the leap from his online life to a real one all because of a girl he met at Paradise. . . .

From confused to confident and back again, one thing's certain: Four months after it all begins, none of them will ever be the same.

Tangled takes readers on a crash course of how lives can change drastically by chance meetings where four teens on vacation in Paradise will get much needed wake up calls. Tangled is told over the course of four months in different points of views. This is the first book I’ve read by Carolyn Mackler and I love the premise of how the impact of events in Paradise changes the course of the characters lives.

Tangled starts off with Jena’s story where it all begins in Paradise. Jena lives her life through others whether it’s through quotes or discarded notes. She finally has to decide once and for all if she’ll constantly live vicarious through others or take action and start her own life. Dakota has to accept that some things in the past can’t be changed and move on to define himself from this moment forth. Skye has to learn how to stop living as a character that people see her as on the surface which could have dangerous consequences and finally admit that she needs help. Owen has to step out of the techno land that’s become his online life and take a chance by living in the real world.

The characters in Tangled are complex and through their baggage and insecurities, readers will be sure to turn the pages to see how the characters will fare in their journey to change their paths. Mackler’s writing style stays true to the characters voices and kept me engaged throughout and I ended up reading this book in one sitting. I will be sure to read more of Mackler’s books in the future.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

In My Mailbox (32)

For Review

All Unquiet Things (ARC) by Anna Jarzab
Pub. Date: January 12, 2010
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Format: Hardcover, 352pp
Age Range: Young Adult

Synopsis
Carly: She was sweet. Smart. Self-destructive. She knew the secrets of Brighton Day School’s most privileged students. Secrets that got her killed.

Neily: Dumped by Carly for a notorious bad boy, Neily didn’t answer the phone call she made before she died. If he had, maybe he could have helped her. Now he can’t get the image of her lifeless body out of his mind.

Audrey: She’s the reason Carly got tangled up with Brighton’s fast crowd in the first place, and now she regrets it—especially since she’s convinced the police have put the wrong person in jail. Audrey thinks the murderer is someone at Brighton, and she wants Neily to help her find out who it is.

As reluctant allies Neily and Audrey dig into their shared past with Carly, her involvement with Brighton’s dark goings-on comes to light. But figuring out how Carly and her killer fit into the twisted drama will force Audrey and Neily to face hard truths about themselves and the girl they couldn’t save.


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

Review: Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey-Fitzhenry

Pub. Date: December 2009
Publisher: Walker & Company
Format: Paperback, 256pp

On Solange’s sixteenth birthday, she is going to wake up dead. As if that’s not bad enough, she also has to outwit her seven overprotective older brothers, avoid the politics involved with being the only daughter born to an ancient vampire dynasty, and elude Kieran Black—agent of an anti-vampire league who is searching for his father’s killer and is intent on staking Solange and her entire family.Luckily she has her own secret weapon—her human best friend Lucy—who is willing to defend Solange’s right to a normal life, whether she’s being smothered by her well-intentioned brothers or abducted by a power-hungry queen. Two unlikely alliances are formed in a race to save Solange’s eternal life—Lucy and Solange’s brother Nicholas, and Solange and Kieran Black—in a dual romance that is guaranteed to jump start any romance-lover’s heart.Even fans of the genre who’ve seen it all will find a fresh read with kick-butt characters and family dynamics that ring true for all brothers and sisters—vampire or otherwise.

Hearts at Stake is full of exciting characters with romance, wicked humor, and non-stop action packed into a spellbinding world of danger at every turn.

When I first read the synopsis for Hearts at Stake, I couldn’t wait to read it and I’m so thrilled that it lived up to my expectations and then some. This book is one of those page turners that had me captivated with the world that Harvey created. I love the mythology of the different species of vampires that Harvey introduced in Hearts of Stake. No matter how creepy I found some of them to be, it just made this book more exciting because you never knew who was lurking around the corner to get a piece of the Drakes whether it be by drug induced pheromones to court Solange or bounty hunters set on destroying them.

There are so many exciting characters in this book that have become some of my favorites. Solange is the only girl with a house full of 7 older and overprotective brothers. Nicholas, Logan, and Quinn are my favorite brothers. I found myself crushing on Nicholas, he’s gorgeous and always somewhere brooding. Logan is the pretty boy full of charm and was constantly cracking me up. Quinn is fearsome and laughs in the face of danger. Lucy, Solange’s best friend is just crazy awesome. She’s just as protective of her best friend as the brothers. Lucy speaks her mind and she’s had her fair share of being around Solange’s annoying brothers. Nicholas and Lucy’s flirtatious encounters made me love these two characters even more. Lucy constantly had me laughing out loud when it came to anything Nicholas. Solange, the vampire princess has her own drama to deal with especially when rumors of power plays threaten the Drakes’ existence and on top of that she has to fight off the outrageous things her suitors are doing to get her attention. How can you blame her when there’s blood and gore involved? Solange and Lucy are two great heroines and I’m so glad they lived up to my expectations.

With unexpected turn of events at the end of this book, I can’t wait to see what Blood Feud - the next installment in The Drake Chronicles has in store for us. The synopsis says it will be Logan’s story and since he’s my second favorite brother, I can’t wait to read it.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Win Darklight & Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston!

**Contest Closed**

This is your chance to Win...

Wondrous Strange (signed paperback) & Darklight (ARC) by Lesley Livingston

Rules: 1 Winner!
1. Comment on 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) January 8, 2010. U.S. & Canada Residents Only (Sorry!)

Win Magic Under Glass & Swag by Jaclyn Dolamore!

**Contest Closed**

This is your chance to Win...

Magic Under Glass (ARC) & Swag by Jaclyn Dolamore

Rules: 1 Winner!
1. Comment on 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) January 7, 2010. U.S. & Canada Residents Only (Sorry!)

Guest Post: Lesley Livingston

I am thrilled to welcome Lesley Livingston, author of Wondrous Strange and Darklight to my blog today to talk about her writing life's principle and how it correlates to her writing. Darklight is available in stores now.

Please welcome Lesley everyone!

If you had to verbalize a slogan for your life – something you live by, like a principle – what would it be and how do you correlate it with your writing.

Ha! That one’s easy. Also… well… really hard. Given a choice, the slogan I would choose to exemplify my life – especially my writing life – would be from that most awesome of movies, GALAXY QUEST:

“Never give up! Never surrender!”

For this reason:

It took me ten years (give or take) to write my first book. It remains unpublished to this day. But it taught me how to write. It took me substantially less time to write my second book. It also remains unpublished to this day. But it got me an (awesome) agent. It took me just a little over two and a half months to write my third book. I did it with a 2-book contract in hand that was expanded to 3 before I was done writing the second one. The result is the WONDROUS STRANGE trilogy.

See above quote.

This business ain’t for the Faint of Heart or the Givers of Up. You cannot be a Giver of Up if you want to be published. You have to write the book. You have to finish writing the book. You have to polish it until your fingers bleed. You have to send it out time and time again into the cold cruel world and – sometimes – you have to know when to stop doing that and write another book. And sometimes… another one after that.

That’s why I say this question is an easy one to answer – and also very hard. Because I know that’s my motto. But I can also tell you that, some days, it’s a challenge to step up (or, perhaps, sit down) and live by it. Of course, if you do manage to stick with the GALAXY QUEST philosophy, it’s always possible that you can one day use a different quote from a different (equally awesome) movie as your motto – GHOSTBUSTERS. And that quote is:

“The next time someone asks you if you’re a god… You. Say. YES!”

Words to live by! ;-)

And here's one more bonus quote for you: it's not from a movie, just something a very wise man said to me once, and it's one I tend to fall back on quite a bit as just a way of approaching the world... "Some things have to be believed to be seen".

Cheers,
Lesley

Thanks for stopping by Lesley!

For more information about Lesley Livingston and her books, please visit her website here.

Review: Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn DolamorePub. Date: December 22, 2009
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Format: Hardcover, 240pp
Age Range: Young Adult

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Nimira is a trouser girl who singed and danced for pennies after moving from her home country to Lorinar in hopes of a better opportunity to change her status after some unfortunate problems at home. She finally gets a chance to accomplish her dreams when wealthy sorcerer Hollin Parry offers her a job to sing along with the accompaniment of an automaton. Soon Nimira is in over her head when said automaton starts to make sounds and she’s convinced the rumors are true of the automaton being haunted by a fairy prince. Nimira is then left with a decision to risk the chance of losing everything she’s worked hard for or take a chance on breaking the curse to rescue the fairy prince from an underlying plan that could cause war for both fairy and human worlds.

Magic Under Glass had some interesting characters. I didn’t know what to expect reading this book but I found myself thoroughly entertained with the originality of Magic Under Glass. Dolamore had no problems grasping my attention - Doomed love always seems to pull at my heart strings. Nimira is looked down upon in Lorinar with her dark skin and occupation as a trouser girl, but back in her country she would have been viewed with high esteem for her singing and dancing. So, her disadvantage in succeeding in Lorinar and breaking Erris, the fairy prince’s curse only made this novel more compelling with all the odds seemingly stacked up against her.

I was quite surprised with the unexpected ending of Magic Under Glass and I’m assuming it was left open for a sequel. I would love to see what adventures Nimira will have to in the light of everything they’ve been through.

Magic Under Glass is exquisitely written with a great mix of magic, romance, and suspense that is sure to appeal to readers of any age.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Review: Darklight by Lesley Livingston

Darklight by Lesley Livingston

Pub. Date: December 22, 2009
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Hardcover, 320pp
Age Range: 12

Faerie can't lie . . . or can they?

Much has changed since autumn, when Kelley Winslow learned she was a Faerie princess, fell in love with changeling guard Sonny Flannery, and saved the mortal realm from the ravages of the Wild Hunt. Now Kelley is stuck in New York City, rehearsing Romeo and Juliet and missing Sonny more with every stage kiss, while Sonny has been forced back to the Otherworld and into a deadly game of cat and mouse with the remaining Hunters and Queen Mabh herself.

When a terrifying encounter sends Kelley tumbling into the Otherworld, her reunion with Sonny is joyful but destined to be cut short. An ancient, hidden magick is stirring, and a dangerous new enemy is willing to risk everything to claim that power. Caught in a web of Faerie deception and shifting allegiances, Kelley and Sonny must tread carefully, for each next step could topple a kingdom . . . or tear them apart.

With breathtakingly high stakes, the talented Lesley Livingston delivers soaring romance and vividly magical characters in darklight, the second novel in the trilogy that began with wondrous strange.

Livingston follows up Wondrous Strange with a perfect combination of suspense, action, and romance in Darklight. After I finished reading Wondrous Strange last year, I jumped online to find out if there would be a sequel and I had to bite my nails because I didn’t have an answer. So, imagine how thrilled I was to finally get the news of a sequel, I was practically grinning for ear to ear.

I love the characters in this series. Livingston did an amazing job! Kelley and Sonny have been through so much as a couple and we get to see how their love stands the test of time plus other interferences that may or may not have any bearings on their relationship. Can these two catch a break? Puck and Tyff (Kelley’s Roommate) provide comic relief – I was constantly laughing at these two. I also found myself crushing on Fennrys, one of the Janus Guards. He had some great moments in this installment. The villains in this book were even creepily fantastic.

Livingston provided some unforeseen twist and turns in Darklight that had me on pins and needles which forced me to read Darklight in one sitting. Some answers are resolved while others are left for the next installment. I can’t wait to see how Kelley, Sonny and the rest of the gang fare after the events in this installment!

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Author Interview: Jaclyn Dolamore

Jaclyn Dolamore was homeschooled in a hippie sort of way and spent her childhood reading as many books as her skinny nerd-body could lug from the library and playing elaborate pretend games with her sister Kate. She skipped college and spent eight years drudging through retail jobs, developing her thrifty cooking skills and pursuing a lifelong writing dream. She has a passion for history, thrift stores, vintage dresses, David Bowie, drawing, and organic food. She lives with her partner and plot-sounding-board, Dade, and two black tabbies who have ruined her carpeting. Magic Under Glass is her debut novel and it's in stores today.

If you were a time traveler and could only go back in time what era would you choose and why?
Well, if I can pick a specific spot, I would go to the Columbia Exposition of 1893, otherwise known as the Chicago World's Fair. Because, there are so many things in the past I would like to see, but I think that has a lot of it in one place. It was a dazzling display of early electricity, new technology, and the inspiration for the Emerald City in Oz and Disney's theme parks. Must have been something to see...

What’s the nicest comment that a reader has said about your book?
Not too many people have read it yet, and getting feedback is still really a novelty. So every nice thing I hear, I get really excited about. But, when I'm depressed, I must say I look at the Booklist review that says, "Dolamore successfully juggles several elements that might have stymied even a more experienced writer." It sounds like I know what I'm doing. Woohoo!

Have you ever read a book that really changed the way you look at things, if so can you tell us about it?
Hmm. Good question. Generally, it's not so much one book as the cumulative effect of many books that has shaped the way I think, but I have many times read the Material World books by Peter Menzel (and later Faith d'Aluisio). They went to many countries all over the world and had a demographically average family put all their possessions in their front yard, and the family stood with them for a photograph. In Women in the Material World, they visited many of the same families again (and some different ones) and talked to them about their lives. Looking at the pictures, my first instinct is to judge the families by their level of technological progress. Like, oh, they have a TV, they're doing pretty well. But, the more you think about it, the more you notice how the happiness of the family isn't tied to their possessions. It makes you think about what is the best way to live, what can we learn from each other, what really matters?

So, your favorite YA novel is A True and Faithful Narrative by Katherine Sturtevant, can you tell us why you think readers should read it?
This book really had everything I like. The protagonist is a girl who wants to be a writer at a time (16th century) where women did not have many opportunities. The love interest is multifaceted and compelling. There is a political plot line about the Middle East that has echoes of our current day but was also relevant to their time. The writing is smart, and felt very historically accurate while not being stilted in the least. Often, although I love historical novels in theory, they feel more like a history lesson then truly placing me in the time among real individuals. This book didn't have that problem. I loved the characters, and their world felt real, as they would have felt it.

If you had to verbalize a slogan for your life – what would it be?
Pursue what makes you happy. I don't know how snappy that is as a slogan, but I think that's what life's about, and if I hadn't done that, I would not be answering interviews from anybody!

What question are you never asked in interviews but wish you were?
This is a hard question, because the best questions are the ones that make me go, "oh my gosh, I would never have even thought of that question!" But one of my favorite questions to ask other authors is, what themes have stayed with you all of your writing life?

Now, am I supposed to, like, answer that? ;)

I have always written about characters who are in some way outcast or on the fringe of society, who find their place in mainstream society without compromising who they are as people. For some reason I particularly like it when they have something external to deal with, like their race, their species (in a fantasy anyway), a disability or physical difference. In fact, if I tried to write a story without this theme, I think I'd be totally bored and give it up.

What’s next for you and your books?
I have another book coming up about a mermaid who loves reading (an inconvenient hobby for a mermaid) who falls in love with a winged guy (an inconvenient love interest for a mermaid). The pending title is, THE MERMAID WHO LIKED TO MAKE LIFE EXTREMELY HARD FOR HERSELF.

After that, I have other things I'm working on but no one has bought them yet so I don't want to jinx it.

Is there any additional info that you would like to share with your readers?
Lacinato, otherwise known as "dinosaur" or "Tuscan" kale, is far more delicious than curly kale. Please, everyone make it your green vegetable of choice so that every store will carry it and I won't always be looking for it. =D


Thanks Jaclyn!

For more information about Jaclyn Dolamore and her books, please visit her website here.

Author Interview: Lesley Livingston

I am thrilled to welcome Lesley Livingston to my blog. Lesley is a writer and actor living in Toronto, Canada. Captivated at a young age by stories of mythology and folk lore, past civilizations, and legendary heroes, she developed into a full-fledged Celtic Mythology Geek, steeped in stories of the Otherworld, Faeries and King Arthur. Lesley went on to earn a Master’s Degree in English from the University of Toronto specializing in Shakespeare and Arthurian literature. Darklight is the sequel to Wondrous Strange and it's in stores now.

How much research do you do before starting a novel?
It varies from book to book but, in general, I tend to write about topics I already have more than a passing familiarity with. So when I’m writing I usually already have an overall knowledge of my subjects and then the research end of things comes into play with making absolutely sure that I get the specifics right. For instance, I’ve been fascinated by Faerie lore since I was a kid and—as a Shakespearian actress myself—I already had a solid handle on not only the Bard but on the intricacies of the acting profession and what it’s like being involved with the kind of company and production that Kelley finds herself in with the Avalon Grande Players. So I might have to check details for a particular Faerie species or reference quotes from plays for accuracy. But one aspect that I had to do a fair amount of research on with these books was with my setting. I spent a lot of time with Central Park—both researching it and visiting it. No complaints, though—it has become one of my favorite places on the planet!

Are there any writers, past or present, who inspire your style?
Shakespeare, Guy Gavriel Kay, Tennyson, Parke Godwin, Jim Butcher, Jack Whyte, RJ Anderson, Lisa Mantchev… I tend to like writers who can infuse a touch of humor into even the most dire situations.

Which if any of your books were harder to write?
Book three in the trilogy (which is, at this point, still nameless) has been slightly more challenging to write than the other two—simply because of the fact that I have to weave together all of the plot lines from the first two books into a cohesive satisfying whole. I just sent the manuscript into my editor and have yet to receive my first-round revisions back yet—so, we’ll have to wait and see how I did! But, honestly, these books are so much fun to write, it doesn’t seem fair to call it “hard” work!

Can you share a teaser with us?
Sure! (*laughs evilly* this one’s kinda mean but, here you go!…)

“In spite of himself, Sonny knelt back down on the grass and glanced into the Faerie queen’s improvised scrying pool. He had no wish to spy on Kelley. Still, he found he could not look away. . . . The wild, dangerous look on Kelley’s face made her look so much like her mother that it gave Sonny a hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach. But not nearly as much as the last, lingering image that flared up in the water—the image of Kelley throwing her arms around another man.”

Can you tell us your favorite Fantasy Author, Book and Movie?
Guy Gavriel Kay is one of my all-time fave fantasy authors for his Fionavar Tapestry Trilogy (so there’s my author and book answer all rolled into one—you can get the trilogy in a lovely collected edition now—I read these books when I was a teenager and just loved them. Still do!)

As for fave fantasy movie? Can I go trilogy again?—it’s really all one story… I’m going to say the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I have a lot of faves in this department but I do truly love these movies.

What other projects are you working on?
Well, like I said, I just finished writing the third book in the WONDROUS STRANGE trilogy… and my editor is a speedy goddess so I imagine I’ll have revisions back on that in no time.

Meanwhile, I have another YA project I’m working on currently—I can’t say much but I can tell you it has elements of the paranormal, and a strong historical bent and there’s also a somewhat complicated romantic angle to it. And maybe time travel. Maybe. But you didn’t hear it from me. Also, there is another project that has recently started banging on the doors of my frontal lobes. And, of course, I’m always open to considering the possibility of more stories set in the WONDROUS universe, you know…..

So far, what has been the most surprising response to your book?
It’s all been surprising to me! It’s funny—as an author, you’ve been living with these characters inside your head and then the book is done and it’s ready to be published and all of a sudden you send them out into the world and you get to see how they fend for themselves. And when all of a sudden, you start getting email from readers who obviously care a great deal about your creations, it’s really gratifying and thrilling and marvelous. Also a bit humbling. The foreign reader-response has been really cool, too! When I get fans from Italy and Spain telling me how much they love Sonny and Kelley… that’s pretty freaking awesome!

Is there any additional info you would like to add?
Not so much info, but how about a great big “Thank You” to all of the people out there who have come with me so far on this adventure! I hope you enjoy the next chapter in the story of Sonny and Kelley and company. And all the best of the season—I hope it’s a magickal time for everyone!

And thanks, Tina! This was much fun!
Cheers,
Lesley


Thanks Lesley!

For more information about Lesley Livingston and her books, please visit her website here.

Monday Madness (25) Darklight & Magic Under Glass

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.

Darklight by Lesley Livingston

Pub. Date: December 22, 2009
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Hardcover, 320pp
Age Range: 12

Synopsis
Faerie can't lie . . . or can they?

Much has changed since autumn, when Kelley Winslow learned she was a Faerie princess, fell in love with changeling guard Sonny Flannery, and saved the mortal realm from the ravages of the Wild Hunt. Now Kelley is stuck in New York City, rehearsing Romeo and Juliet and missing Sonny more with every stage kiss, while Sonny has been forced back to the Otherworld and into a deadly game of cat and mouse with the remaining Hunters and Queen Mabh herself.

When a terrifying encounter sends Kelley tumbling into the Otherworld, her reunion with Sonny is joyful but destined to be cut short. An ancient, hidden magick is stirring, and a dangerous new enemy is willing to risk everything to claim that power. Caught in a web of Faerie deception and shifting allegiances, Kelley and Sonny must tread carefully, for each next step could topple a kingdom . . . or tear them apart.

With breathtakingly high stakes, the talented Lesley Livingston delivers soaring romance and vividly magical characters in darklight, the second novel in the trilogy that began with wondrous strange.

Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore
Pub. Date: December 22, 2009
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Format: Hardcover, 240pp
Age Range: Young Adult

Synopsis
Nimira is a foreign music-hall girl forced to dance for mere pennies. When wealthy sorcerer Hollin Parry hires her to sing with a piano-playing automaton, Nimira believes it is the start of a new and better life. In Parry's world, however, buried secrets are beginning to stir. Unsettling below-stairs rumors swirl about ghosts, a madwoman roaming the halls, and Parry's involvement with a league of sorcerers who torture fairies for sport. Then Nimira discovers the spirit of a fairy gentleman named Erris is trapped inside the clockwork automaton, waiting for someone to break his curse. The two fall into a love that seems hopeless, and breaking the curse becomes a race against time, as not just their love, but the fate of the entire magical world may be in peril.

Magic Under Glass Book Trailer

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

In My Mailbox (31)

For Review

Captivate by Carrie Jones

- Click here for Synopsis

Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey-Fitzhenry

- Click here for Synopsis

Dead Tossed Waves (ARC) by Carrie Ryan

- Click here for Synopsis



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

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Pub. Date: December 2009
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Format: Hardcover, 464pp
Age Range: Young Adult

There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

Lauren Kate’s Fallen is a compellingly dark and sexy page turner. I was thoroughly entertained by the setting and characters that Lauren created in Fallen. If you go by the synopsis, readers wouldn’t know that there’s a love triangle in this book. I for one loved that there were two guys (sort of ) vying for Luce’s attentions.

LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLEEEEE!

In the right corner, we have Daniel – he’s mysterious, gorgeous with gray violet eyes, a rockin bod and mysteriously alluring. You know what they say, you’re attracted to the unattainable.

In the left corner, we have Cam – he’s charismatic plus he’s also tall, dark and sexy with these alluring green eyes.

Honestly, I found myself more drawn to Cam but at the same time I couldn’t help but wonder what was going on inside Daniel’s head. So, who wins round 1? I say it’s a draw – It’s rare in a love triangle that I don’t have a favorite but with Fallen, I’m intrigued by both Daniel and Cam. I guess I’ll have to wait and see what happens in round 2.

There were other interesting and exciting characters in this book that I enjoyed getting to know. I thought the secondary characters were well rounded and each character had important rolls centered around Luce in a major way. While I had no problems figuring out one angle in the story, Kate managed to keep me in the dark on a few others which I didn’t see coming. I loved the mystery behind Daniel and Luce’s relationship and the forbidden love twist kept me on edge while trying to figure out if love would prevail.

I know I can’t wait to see what Torment, the next book in the Fallen Series has in store for us. With the way certain events panned out in Fallen, I’m curious know more about the past events that happened in these characters lives.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Winner of 600 Followers' Christmas List Contest!

The Winner is...

Please email me your address within 48hrs

Erica @ The Book Cellar

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Win The Dark Divine by Bree Despain!

**Contest Closed**

This is your chance to Win...

A signed copy of The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Rules: 1 Winner!
1. Comment on 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) December 31, 2009. U.S. & Canada Residents Only (Sorry!)

Winner of Beautiful Creatures & Swag!

**Contest Closed**

The Winner is...

Beautiful Creatures (ARC) & Swag by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Alexia561 @ Alexia's Books and Such

Please email me your address within 48hrs

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Review: The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Pub. Date: December 22, 2009

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Format: Hardcover, 384pp

Age Range: Young Adult

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.

Bree Despain weaves a mysterious tale around surprisingly impressive folklore to tell a captivating and spellbinding tale of Love, Danger & Forgiveness. I was thoroughly engrossed after the introduction of Daniel. There’s something so mysterious about him that just draws you in and dares you to uncover his secrets.

I didn’t know what to expect about that fateful night that left Jude and Daniel’s friendship destroyed. But let me tell you as the pages turned and the events unfolded, I was shocked and surprised because I was thinking something totally different about the mysteries surrounding Daniel. So, I can’t go into any more details without being too spoilery. You’ll have to find out for yourself.

I love all the characters in this book and that’s a feat considering it’s hard to find a book where you enjoyed reading about all of the characters. Grace is a pastor’s daughter and you know what they say about the pastor’s kids…. Anyway, I love the chemistry between Grace and Daniel and the immediate dangers that tied into their relationship and the fact that it kept me up late at night to finish the book.

Despain presented quite a few unexpected twists and turns in The Dark Divine that will have readers begging for more by the end of the book. So to say the least this was a DIVINE read indeed!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Author Interview: Bree Despain

I'm thrilled to be featuring Bree Despain, author of debut novel The Dark Divine today. Bree Despain rediscovered her childhood love for creating stories when she took a semester off college to write and direct plays for at-risk, inner-city teens from Philadelphia and New York. She currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah,with her husband, two young sons, and her beloved TiVo. The Dark Divine is scheduled to be released December 22, 2009.

What inspired you to write The Dark Divine?
I always like to say that The Dark Divine was born out of a perfect storm of thoughts, emotions, and memories that suddenly came together in my head on a dark night in January 2005. I was thinking about the song “Such Great Heights” by the Postal Service, my new favorite TV show (Buffy the Vampire Slayer reruns), a book I had recently read (SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson), and a random memory from the 9th grade. I looked up at a billboard at a stop light, and a conversation between a brother and a sister popped into my head. They were discussing an old friend who had suddenly reappeared in their lives. “He’s dangerous. You have to stay away from him,” the brother warned his sister.

I went home and started writing, and very soon that random 9th grade memory had morphed into the first scene in the first chapter of the book, and the conversation between the brother and the sister became the third scene. And that’s how it all started . . .

If your book was opted for a movie – Which actors do you think would best recreate the main characters in The Dark Divine?
Daniel is the easiest: Taylor Kitsch. I was watching Friday Night Lights one night with my hubby and Riggins (Taylor’s character) looked up at the camera with his beautiful brooding eyes, and I suddenly yelled, “It’s him! He’s Daniel!” And hubby totally agreed (somewhat begrudgingly because, you know, Taylor is so darn hot).

Grace and Jude are a lot harder for me to cast. They both would need to have dark hair and be attractive but also very “good kid” looking. I’d like a young Tom Welling look-alike for Jude. Or possibly Chase Crawford with dark hair. Leighton Meester has the right physical look for Grace, but I just can’t get over her mean-girl-ness in Gossip Girl. Grace is definitely NOT a mean girl! Sometimes I think Taylor Swift with curly dark hair might be a good fit because she is totally sweet but also very confident and determined.

Do readers have any casting suggestions? I’d love to hear them!

Can you share a teaser with us to get us *salivating*?
“Daniel!” I called as the engine roared to life.

He shifted forward on the seat of his bike, “You coming?”

“What? No. I can’t”

“Then why are you here?” Daniel looked at me then, his mud pie eyes—still splotched with red—searching my face.

I couldn’t stop it—that invisible thread pulled me right up next to him. “You got a helmet?”

“This is Zed’s bike. You wouldn’t want to wear his helmet if he had one.” Daniel booted the kickstand. “I knew you’d come.”

“Shut up,” I said, and climbed on the back of the motorcycle…

What other projects are you currently working on?
I’m currently working on a sequel for The Dark Divine. It is so much fun to get to spend more time with some of my favorite characters (and a few new ones). And it’s also fun to get to answer a few of the questions readers will have at the end of the first book.

I have a couple of other paranormal romance stories waiting to be written after the sequel, along with a bit more of a sci-fi romance. I also enjoy writing contemporary humorous fiction, and would love to publish in that genre someday.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
In my personal life, I’d say my two little boys. They are huge handful, but they are also very loving and creative, and it just melts my heart whenever they ask if they can tell me a story. The literary world had better watch out for those two in a couple of decades!

Professionally, I’d say that sticking through the 9 years of hard work and obstacles to finally get published. There were so many times that I thought it would never happen, but luckily I have a support group that is stronger than the negative voices in my head and I just kept on writing and revising and submitting until my dreams finally came true.

Where do you hope to take your writing in the future?
I have several books inside of me, so I hope to always be writing, and always creating more stories in my head—and hopefully people will want to keep paying me for them. :)

After the sequel for TDD, I hope to publish other paranormal novels and even a few realistic ones.

What question are you never asked in interviews but wish you were?
Can I send you a box of chocolates? Yes. Yes you can. As long as it is dark chocolate and dairy free :)

Is there anything else you want people to know about yourself or the book?
I am really really really excited to share the story with everyone and I hope you all enjoy it. I absolutely love writing and being an author is a dream-come-true. Oh, and also, I love chocolate (hehe). Thanks for the interview!

Thanks Bree!

For more information about Bree Despain and her books, please visit her website here.

Monday Madness (24): The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

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.

I will be featuring 3 books on my blog that have release dates of December 22, 2009. The Dark Divine by Bree Despain will be featured this week.

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Pub. Date: December 22, 2009
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Format: Hardcover, 384pp
Age Range: Young Adult

Synopsis
Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.

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

In My Mailbox (30)

For Review

Firespell: A Novel of the Dark Elite by Chloe Neill

- Click here for Synopsis

Anxious Hearts (ARC) by Tucker Shaw

- Click here for Synopsis

Dream Girl by Lauren Mechling

- Click here for Synopsis

Dream Life (ARC) by Lauren Mechling

- Click here for Synopsis


Bought

Fallen by Lauren Kate

- Click here for Synopsis

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

- Click here for Synopsis




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

Blogger Holiday Interview with Debbie's World of Books

Debbie is having a December Holiday Celebration featuring Author & Blogger Interviews and Contests.

Check out my interview with her as I discuss my favorite book of 2009, holiday plans, and my new year's resolution here.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

White Cat by Holly Black

Release Date: May 4, 2010

Description from Holly's Site

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers—people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they’re all criminals. Many become mobsters and con artists. But not Cassel. He hasn’t got magic, so he’s an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail—he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he finds himself sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He’s noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him. As Cassel begins to suspect he’s part of a huge con game, he must unravel his past and his memories. To find out the truth, Cassel will have to out-con the con men.

Holly Black has created a gripping tale of mobsters and dark magic where a single touch can bring love—or death--and your dreams might be more real than your memories.Edited to say: releases

Well, what do you think? It sounds absolutely fabulous to me!

Tempted by PC. Cast & Kristin Cast

Tempted by P.C Cast & Kristin Cast
Pub. Date: October 2009
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format: Hardcover, 319pp
Age Range: Young Adult

So…you’d think after banishing an immortal being and a fallen High Priestess, saving Stark’s life, biting Heath, getting a headache from Erik, and almost dying, Zoey Redbird would catch a break. Sadly, a break is not in the House of Night school forecast for the High Priestess in training and her gang. Juggling three guys is anything but a stress reliever, especially when one of them is a sexy Warrior who is so into protecting Zoey that he can sense her emotions. Speaking of stress, the dark force lurking in the tunnels under the Tulsa Depot is spreading, and Zoey is beginning to believe Stevie Rae could be responsible for a lot more than a group of misfit red fledglings. Aphrodite’s visions warn Zoey to stay away from Kalona and his dark allure, but they also show that it is Zoey who has the power to stop the evil immortal. Soon it becomes obvious that Zoey has no choice: if she doesn’t go to Kalona he will exact a fiery vengeance on those closest to her. Will Zoey have the courage to chance losing her life, her heart, and her soul? Find out in the next spectacular installment in the House of Night Series, Tempted.

I enjoyed Tempted a little more than its predecessor Hunted which really left me frustrated with the direction this series had taken. I did enjoy reading this book from Zoey’s and Stevie Ray’s point of view. It was nice to read Stevie Ray's perspective and I had some good laughs at the dialogue in this book.

I was a little disappointed in Eric's characterizaton. He went from being a possible crush to a childish jerk. I didn't get how he was perfect in the beginning of the series then there’s a complete 180 on his character. I loved Stark in this installment, he is swoon worthy but Heath is a complete DUD!! I just don’t get him, some of the things that came out of his mouth made me cringe and in his case, a HOT BOD = DENSE. I did find myself wanting to read more about Kalona and it was a nice contrast to see into his past and see how he used to be.

I'm still trying to get use to the slang in this series but sometimes it seemed a bit juvenile and the repetitiveness of Zoey's Cherokee name ut-te-wi-ta- sa-ga was quite annoying. Although there were plenty of things I disliked about the book, there were also parts that were really entertaining and held my attention long enough to find out how it would end. The ending was unexpected and I’m crossing my fingers that Burned will exceed my expectations.

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

In My Mailbox (29)

For Review

The Secret Year (ARC) by Jennifer Hubbard
Pub. Date: January 07, 2010
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Format: Hardcover, 1pp
Age Range: Young Adult

Synopsis
Take Romeo and Juliet. Add The Outsiders. Mix thoroughly.

Colt and Julia were secretly together for an entire year, and no one—not even Julia's boyfriend— knew. They had nothing in common, with Julia in her country club world on Black Mountain and Colt from down on the flats, but it never mattered. Until Julia dies in a car accident, and Colt learns the price of secrecy. He can't mourn Julia openly, and he's tormented that he might have played a part in her death. When Julia's journal ends up in his hands, Colt relives their year together at the same time that he's desperately trying to forget her. But how do you get over someone who was never yours in the first place?

Incarceron (ARC) by Catherine Fisher
Pub. Date: January 26, 2010
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Format: Hardcover, 448pp
Age Range: Young Adult

Synopsis
A thrilling, high-concept fantasy for fans of Garth Nix and Nancy Farmer. Incarceron is a prison so vast that it contains not only cells, but also metal forests, dilapidated cities, and vast wilderness. Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, has no memory of his childhood and is sure that he came from Outside Incarceron. Very few prisoners believe that there is an Outside, however, which makes escape seems impossible.

And then Finn finds a crystal key that allows him to communicate with a girl named Claudia. She claims to live Outside- she is the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, and doomed to an arranged marriage. Finn is determined to escape the prison, and Claudia believes she can help him. But they don't realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost more than they know.

Dragons of Darkness (ARC) by Antonia Michaelis
Pub. Date: January 2010
Publisher: Abrams,Harry N Inc
Format: Hardcover, 384pp
Age Range: Young Adult

Synopsis
The author-translator team behind the internationally acclaimed Tiger Moon reunites for this lush, exotic tale of fantasy and adventure—and dragons galore.

In this thrilling modern-day fable, two boys from very different backgrounds are thrown together by magic, mayhem, and a common foe. Jumar, an invisible prince, wants to free his native Nepal from invaders. Christopher, a shy German boy, wants to find his kidnapped brother. Together they embark on a journey through the wilderness of Nepal—a journey that proves to be a dangerous rite of passage. Fighting the beautiful but deadly dragons that beset the country, the two boys learn that in order to change the world, they must first change themselves.

Bought

The Splendor Falls by Rosemary Clement-Moore
Pub. Date: September 2009
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Format: Hardcover, 528pp
Age Range: Young Adult


Synopsis
Can love last beyond the grave?Sylvie Davis is a ballerina who can’t dance. A broken leg ended her career, but Sylvie’s pain runs deeper. What broke her heart was her father’s death, and what’s breaking her spirit is her mother’s remarriage—a union that’s only driven an even deeper wedge into their already tenuous relationship.

Uprooting her from her Manhattan apartment and shipping her to Alabama is her mother’s solution for Sylvie’s unhappiness. Her father’s cousin is restoring a family home in a town rich with her family’s history. And that’s where things start to get shady. As it turns out, her family has a lot more history than Sylvie ever knew. More unnerving, though, are the two guys that she can’t stop thinking about. Shawn Maddox, the resident golden boy, seems to be perfect in every way. But Rhys—a handsome, mysterious foreign guest of her cousin’s—has a hold on her that she doesn’t quite understand.

Then she starts seeing things. Sylvie’s lost nearly everything—is she starting to lose her mind as well?

Outlander (Paperback) by Diana Gabaldon
Pub. Date: August 2001
Publisher: Dell Publishing
Format: Paperback, 656pp

Synopsis
Unrivaled storytelling ... unforgettable characters ... rich historical detail ... these are the hallmarks of Diana Gabaldon's work. Her New York Times bestselling Outlander novels have earned the praise of critics and captured millions of readers.

Here is the story that started it all, introducing two remarkable characters, Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser, in a spellbinding novel of passion and history that combines exhilarating adventure with a love story for the ages....The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon — when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach — an "outlander" — in a Scotland torn by war and raiding Highland clans in the year of Our Lord ... 1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into intrigues and dangers that may threaten her life ... and shatter her heart. For here she meets James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, and becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire ... and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.


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