Review: Wayfarer by R.J. Anderson

WAYFARER by R.J. Anderson
Pub. Date: June 2010
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Hardcover, 296pp
Age Range: Young Adult

The faeries of the Oak are in danger of extinction, and their only hope for survival rests in fifteen-year-old Linden. Armed with the last of her people's magic, she travels bravely into the modern human world. Along the way she makes a reluctant ally—a human boy named Timothy.

Soon Linden and Timothy discover a danger much worse than the Oakenfolk's loss of magic . . . a potent evil that threatens to enslave faeries and humans alike. In a fevered, desperate chase across the country, Tim and Linden must risk their lives to seek an ancient power before it's too late to save everyone they love.

In WAYFARER, the stakes are even higher as we follow Linden and Timothy on an unforgettable adventure to save the fairies of Oakenwyld.

Linden is appointed for an important task to seek out other faeries in hopes of restoring magic to the faeries of Oakenwyld. Her journey leads her to Timothy, whose suspicions of his cousin Paul’s and Knife’s urgent whispers, leads into an argument that sends him on the run. Linden, then becomes an uninvited guest as Timothy heads to the one place that Linden views as an opportunity to find the help she desperately seeks. Soon, Linden’s and Timothy’s adventures take them deep into dangerous territory. With the weight of Linden’s and Timothy’s lives and Oakenwyld’s future at stake, WAYFARER became a nonstop page turner as these two raced across the country for aide.

As difficult as it was at times for Linden and Timothy, I loved that Linden did not let her fears stop her from keeping her vows. I fell in love with these two. The new faeries (dangerous, exciting, and creepy) and the new places Linden and Timothy visited drew me deeper into this book with its nonstop danger and new discoveries at every turn. Anderson continues to pull me into the world of Oakenwyld. The magical intrigue, mix of delightful characters, and great storytelling makes this series a fantastical read. I was quite surprised with the direction this series took.

I could get lost in Anderson’s world of faeries. It’s magical, enchanting, and so different from other books that I’ve read about fairies, which is why I’m now a big fan of this series. WAYFARER delivers at being just as good as its predecessor. I’m extremely excited that I can continue reading more about Oakenwyld. There are two more installments left in this series. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Sensational 7 Q & A with R.J. Anderson!

Have you ever wanted to know what it would be like to hang out with your favorite author(s)? In an attempt to get a better understanding of authors, my Sensational Seven Q & A takes a closer or more personal look at these authors to give you a glimpse of the personalities behind the writing of your favorite books.

“Talent alone cannot make a writer. There must be a man behind the book; a personality which, by birth and quality, is pledged to the doctrines there set forth, and which exists to see and state things so, and not otherwise.” By Ralph Waldo Emerson

R.J. (Rebecca) Anderson was born in Uganda, raised in Ontario, went to school in New Jersey, and has spent much of her life dreaming of other worlds entirely.

As a child she immersed herself in fairy tales, mythology, and the works of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and E. Nesbit; later she discovered more contemporary authors like Ursula LeGuin, Patricia A. McKillip and Robin McKinley, and learned to take as much pleasure from their language as the stories they told.

Now married and the mother of three young sons, Rebecca reads to her children the classic works of fantasy and science fiction that enlivened her own childhood, and tries to bring a similar sense of humor, adventure, and timeless wonder to the novels she writes for children and young adults.

WAYFARER is in stores now!

If you were given a chance to travel back in time, what year or place would you go / Why?
You know, you would think this is a nice light question... and I'm about to give it this big theological answer, but I'm a preacher's daughter so that's how I roll.
I'd like to go back to Israel in the year 33 or so, on the day Jesus rose from the dead. In Luke 24 there's a story about how later that day, Jesus joined two of his disciples walking down the road to Emmaus, and had a long conversation with them. I would love to listen in on that conversation!

Describe your novel in seven words or less?
Linden and Timothy get into big trouble!

(I cannot tell a lie: Saundra Mitchell, author of Shadowed Summer, came up with that one. I owe you, Saundra! I am terrible at seven-word answers.)

Please share with us about your favorite book and fictional crush to date?
C.S. Lewis's The Silver Chair made a huge impact on me as a kid. It's so dark and gloomy and even scary in parts, but Jill is a wonderful tough, headstrong, yet vulnerable character (and I strongly identified with her misery over being picked on at school) and I adore Puddleglum.

As for a fictional crush, I have several (hello, Mr. Knightley), but most recently I fell in love with Jared Sapiens, the young tutor from Catherine Fisher's Incarceron and its sequel Sapphique. He's brilliant, scholarly, has a powerful sense of honor and duty, but he's willing to risk everything -- his position, his reputation, even his life -- to get to the truth and do what's right. He's got this quiet bravery and integrity, and this selfless love for Claudia, that just made me adore him from the start. It doesn't hurt that he's slim and dark and green-eyed and has beautiful hands, either. :)

If you could be any character in fiction, whom would you be / Why?
Eowyn in Tolkien's The Return of the King. She's beautiful, intelligent, determined, wields a mean sword, slays the Lord of the Nazgul (and deliver one of the best lines of the whole book in the process), and gets to marry Faramir, who is one of my other literary boyfriends. You can't get much cooler than that.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you/ Why?
I couldn't think of an answer, so I ran my pic through Celebrity Face Recognition. The #1 answer? Danny Elfman. HARSH, software people, HARSH.

However, the next best female match was Debra Messing, about whom I know nothing except that she was in "Will and Grace," a show I've never watched. Um, okay then?

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be – please explain?
The Boundary Between, which is a snippet of a longer quote which appears in the Acknowledgments of my first novel -- "This world of ours, and worlds unseen / and thin the boundary between." I've spent much of my life with my feet in this world and my head in another, whether it's some fantastic world of my imagination, or the realm of the spiritual and theological.

How would you describe yourself/life in seven words?
A curious mixture of practicality and daydreaming.

Bonus:

**Is there any additional info you would like to share with your readers about what’s next for you and your books?**
There is! My next book will be ARROW, coming out in January 2011, which wraps up many of the loose ends introduced in the first two faery books. But that doesn't mean I'm done with faeries, because there's going to be a fourth book called SWIFT in 2012. And in between those two, I have a non-faery novel coming out -- a paranormal YA thriller called TOUCHING INDIGO, which is the story of a girl with synesthesia who ends up in psychiatric care after the death of a schoolmate, trying to figure out if she is responsible for the other girl's murder. So that should keep me busy for a while at least!

Thanks for stopping by R.J.!

For more information about R.J. Anderson and her books, please visit her website here.

Monday Madness (49): Wayfarer by R.J. Anderson

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.

WAYFARER by R.J. Anderson
Pub. Date: June 2010
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Hardcover, 296pp
Age Range: Young Adult

Summary (Author's Website)
The faeries of the Oak are in danger of extinction, and their only hope for survival rests in fifteen-year-old Linden. Armed with the last of her people's magic, she travels bravely into the modern human world. Along the way she makes a reluctant ally—a human boy named Timothy.

Soon Linden and Timothy discover a danger much worse than the Oakenfolk's loss of magic . . . a potent evil that threatens to enslave faeries and humans alike. In a fevered, desperate chase across the country, Tim and Linden must risk their lives to seek an ancient power before it's too late to save everyone they love.

Want More?

Browse inside WAYFARER here.

Order WAYFARER @ Amazon, Barnes and Noble & Borders

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

In My Mailbox (54)

For Review

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, #1) (ARC) by Cassandra Clare

Paranormalcy (ARC) by Kiersten White

Bought

Blood Feud (The Drake Chronicles, #2) by Alyxandra Harvey

Dark Flame (The Immortals, #4) by Alyson Noel

Wayfarer (Faery Rebels, #2) by R.J. Anderson

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

Winner of Sisters Red!

The Winner is... SISTERS RED (ARC) by Jackson Pearce

Sophia Lee

Please email me your address within 48hrs.

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Win 13 to Life by Shannon Delany!

**CONTEST CLOSED**

This is your chance to Win... 13 TO LIFE (Paperback) by Shannon Delany

Swag: bookmarks, a signed mini poster, and a signed bookplate

Rules: 1 Winner!

1. Comment on Interview here: +1

2. Comment on Review here: +1

3. Link to blog: +1

4. Follow me on Twitter +1
5. Follower : +2

Total = 6 entries

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) July 8, 2010. U.S. & Canada Residents Only (Sorry!)

**If you are an international resident and have someone in the states that I could mail the prize to, then you can enter the contest**

Review: 13 to LIfe: A Werewolf's Tale by Shannon Delany

13 TO LIFE: A WEREWOLF'S TALE by Shannon Delany
Pub. Date: June 22, 2010
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format: Paperback, 320pp
Age Range: Young Adult

Jessica's life seemed difficult enough since the sudden loss of her mother, but meeting Pietr Rusakova turns her world upside down again. The newest member of Junction High, Pietr is a first generation Russian-American, a fact that by itself makes him different enough to get lots of attention in the small town. But Pietr is far more than good looks and an interesting accent, Pietr has secrets to hide-secrets including dramatic changes he's undergoing that will surely end his life early. Secrets dating back to the Cold War get the better of Jessica's curiosity, leading her into an exciting and dangerous world where her understanding of reality and what makes a man or a monster will be challenged.

Jessie’s had more than her fair share of life altering experiences, but she never expected that her life would once again, spiral out control by the mysteries surrounding the gorgeous new guy. Jessie’s not one to leave skeletons in the closet – being a reporter for her high school paper and all. Nothing ever happens in her small town of Junction and with Pietr coming from a place connected to a gruesome attack, the wheels start to turn. I couldn’t wait to connect the dots right alongside Jessie.

Jessie is a refreshing character in the fact that she did not immediately go all goo-goo eyes over the new boy. Their rocky start made me enjoy their blossoming romance even more. Jessie’s and Pietr’s easy banter reeled me into their world from start to finish. Their connection to each other was deliciously enticing and eerie to explore.

13 TO LIFE delivers on all that I enjoy about this genre - a dangerous secret, suspenseful intrigue, and a magnetic romance. Connect these themes to Shannon’s easy writing style and great storytelling and now you have an irresistible werewolf tale. I’ll be eagerly looking out for Shannon’s next installment in this series.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Blog Tour: 13 to Life by Shannon Delany

I'm today's stop for Shannon's Delany's Start Your Day with Serial Tour!

Shannon Delany has written stories since she was a child. She began writing in earnest when her grandmother fell unexpectedly ill during a family vacation. In 2008 her greatly abbreviated version of 13 to Life (written in just five weeks) won the grand prize in the first-ever cell phone novel contest in the western world through Textnovel.com.

Shannon was thrilled when St. Martin’s Press offered her a contract for a series about her 13 to Life characters. She expanded on the cell phone novel version, adding the subplots and characters she didn’t have time to during the contest. As paranormal as werewolves seem, the grief Shannon used to build Jess’s character is something she personally experienced with the loss of her own mother. Focusing on Jess and Pietr’s story of loss, love and dramatic and dangerous changes, Shannon came to better grips with her own struggle. The resulting novel has earned her blurbs from authors she respects most.

The first novel in Shannon’s YA paranormal series, 13 to Life hit shelves today!

Previously a teacher and now a farmer raising heritage livestock, Shannon lives and writes in Upstate New York and enjoys traveling to talk to people about most anything.

If you were given a chance to travel back in time, what year or place would you go / Why?
1593. The meeting of Irish pirate queen Grace O'Malley and Queen Elizabeth I. And I would take antibiotics and hand sanitizer because Grace was rumored to have the sniffles. ;-)

Describe your novel in seven words or less?
Teenage love, loss and--oh, yeah--werewolves. (Please note the order is order of importance.)

Please share with us about your favorite book and fictional crush to date?
My favorite book changes. I'll go with the one currently on my dresser. It's an old (OLD) copy of Charles Johnson's A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pyrates. Huh. Lots of pirate stuff showing up recently. Fictional crush--I recently admitted to finding Captain Jack Sparrow (as portrayed by Depp, of course) quite intriguing.

If you could be any character in fiction, whom would you be / Why?
I really have no desire to be a fictional character because I get to be any and all of them any time I open a book. And since there are so many talented authors I feel I've already lived a thousand lives (and my own life is quite often stranger than fiction).

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you/ Why?
Oh! Emma Watson. She's far cuter than I ever was (and a good actress). I think anyone having a movie made deserves to have it acted by someone far cuter (and younger) than themselves. Being the subject of a film is the height of vanity, I'd imagine.

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be – please explain?
A Woman of Many Lives. I've already zipped through a couple pseudonyms on my path to publication and get to be a slightly different person at book events than at home on the farm--which is also different than when I was a teacher, or an Educational Director at a zoo or a freelance artist or a freelance author or a worker on a factory line. And those are only on the tip of the iceberg when it comes to lives I've led or roles I've already played.

How would you describe yourself/life in seven words?
Adventurous, curious, impetuous, domestically-impaired, mother and wife.

Bonus:

**Is there any additional info you would like to share with your readers about what’s next for you and your books?**
All I can say is that the second book in the 13 to Life series has already gone through copyedits and the third book is due in early August and I keep getting more and more good news from my publisher.


Thanks for stopping by Shannon!

For more information about Shannon Delany and her books, please visit her website here.


Shannon's hosting several contests during the Start Your Day with Serial Tour. The big contest will award one lucky winner with a royal amber pendant, pietersite jeweled bookmark, stuffed wolf, 13 to Life mousepad, pen, tote, signed poster, personalized copy of 13 to Life and both of the 13 to Life pins. All you need to do is comment at 13 of the blogs hosting Shannon during her 30 day tour. Everyone who does so will be entered into a random drawing. Winner may be international.

As part of her tour, Shannon's also giving out sneak peeks throughout the month from her book:

13 to Life: Chapter 3, part W (used with the author’s permission)

I paused on the landing between floors, certain I’d lost him. But he was suddenly at the base of the stairs. I pulled back from the banister and watched. It was odd, observing him. He swung his head from side to side, like he was searching for some invisible clue to my path.

Monday Madness (48): 13 to Life by Shannon Delany

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.

13 TO LIFE: A WEREWOLF'S TALE by Shannon Delany
Pub. Date: June 22, 2010
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format: Paperback, 320pp
Age Range: Young Adult

Synopsis
Jessica's life seemed difficult enough since the sudden loss of her mother, but meeting Pietr Rusakova turns her world upside down again. The newest member of Junction High, Pietr is a first generation Russian-American, a fact that by itself makes him different enough to get lots of attention in the small town. But Pietr is far more than good looks and an interesting accent, Pietr has secrets to hide-secrets including dramatic changes he's undergoing that will surely end his life early. Secrets dating back to the Cold War get the better of Jessica's curiosity, leading her into an exciting and dangerous world where her understanding of reality and what makes a man or a monster will be challenged.

Want More?

Check out a free snippet of 13 TO LIFE here.

Order 13 TO LIFE @ Amazon, Barnes and Noble & Borders

Check out the Book Trailer

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

In My Mailbox (53)

For Review

The Dark Goddess (Billi SanGreal, #2) (ARC) by Sarwat Chadda

Bought

Cheat the Grave (Sign of the Zodiac, #5) by Vicki Pettersson

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

Winner of Forgive My Fins!

The Winner is... FORGIVE MY FINS (ARC) by Tera Lynn Childs

Swag: Bookmarks & mer mark temporary tattoos

Carrie at In the Hammock Blog

Please email me your address within 48hrs.

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Win Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala!

**CONTEST CLOSED**

This is your chance to Win... TELL ME A SECRET (HC) by Holly Cupala

Rules: 1 Winner!

1. Comment on Interview here: +1

2. Link to blog: +1

3. Follow me on Twitter +1
4. Follower : +2

Total = 5 entries

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) June 30, 2010. U.S. & Canada Residents Only (Sorry!)

**If you are an international resident and have someone in the states that I could mail the prize to, then you can enter the contest**

Sensational 7 Q & A with Holly Cupala!

Have you ever wanted to know what it would be like to hang out with your favorite author(s)? In an attempt to get a better understanding of authors, my Sensational Seven Q & A takes a closer or more personal look at these authors to give you a glimpse of the personalities behind the writing of your favorite books.

“Talent alone cannot make a writer. There must be a man behind the book; a personality which, by birth and quality, is pledged to the doctrines there set forth, and which exists to see and state things so, and not otherwise.” By Ralph Waldo Emerson

Holly Cupala wrote teen romance novels before she ever actually experienced teen romance. When she did, it became all about tragic poetry and slightly less tragic novels. When she isn't writing and contributing to readergirlz, she spends time with her husband and daughter in Seattle, Washington. These days, her writing is less about tragedy and more about hope. TELL ME A SECRET is her first novel. Ten percent of the author's proceeds go toward World Vision's Hope for Sexually Exploited Girls.

TELL ME A SECRET will hit shelves at June 22, 2010!

If you were given a chance to travel back in time, what year or place would you go / Why?
The beginning, or the end—to find out how it really went down, or how it will. With a bang or with a whimper? Or maybe both? Of course, then I’d love to hijack the time-travel system, because there would be so many more places and times and people to visit…

Describe your novel in seven words or less?
Sisters, secrets, superhot sci-fi guy, family, forgiveness.

Please share with us about your favorite book and fictional crush to date?
Book crush…ooh. Are we talking books or characters? If we’re talking characters, I’d say Kartik from Libba Bray’s Great and Terrible Beauty series. Maybe because in my mind, he looks like my devastatingly handsome husband (who is also Indian). ;)

If we’re talking books, I’d say I have a crush on Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going. It’s so funny and truthful and full of heart. And I have a crush on everything written by my favorite author, Italo Calvino.

If you could be any character in fiction, whom would you be / Why?
I tend to like reading serious fiction, but in this fantasy, I’d like some fun and laughter and maybe a bit of romance—Princess Mia comes to mind! Or fantastic and adventurous, like Yvaine in Neil Gaiman’s Stardust. Then I would retreat to someone more thoughtful, like Deanna in Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you/ Why?
I can’t see this happening, but I’ll go with it! Someone who's a mix of serious, dorky, melancholy, funny, shy, and maybe a little outrageous...? Kirsten Dunst has a great mix of cheeky solemnity, with a dash of goofball—I think she could probably pull me off with much more charm than I do! .

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be – please explain?
Oh, eek—it took us hundreds of title ideas to come up with the perfect one for TELL ME A SECRET! But I do like to write about secrets, and there are many yet to be told and lots of layers to uncover. So…how about…Telling Secrets, One Page at a Time. (Ok, that needs some revision!)

How would you describe yourself/life in seven words?
Hard stuff, beautiful stuff, hope is left.

Bonus:

**Is there any additional info you would like to share with your readers about what’s next for you and your books?**
First, I would love to give a big virtual thank-you to you and all of the bloggers and readers who have generously supported me and TELL ME A SECRET. I’m amazed and grateful!

In addition to getting to visit your lovely blog, my blog tour kicks off this week—I’m visiting different blogs (books! secrets! swag!) through the end of July, and I will be featured at readergirlz throughout August (http://readergirlz.blogspot.com/). You can find the full schedule at my website, http://www.hollycupala.com/. Thank you so much for having me, Tina!

Thanks for stopping by Holly!

For more information about Holly Cupala and her books, please visit her website here.

Monday Madness: (47): Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala

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.

TELL ME A SECRET by Holly Cupala
Pub. Date: June 22, 2010
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Hardcover, 304pp
Age Range: 12 and up

Summary (Author's Website)

Tell me a secret, and I'll tell you one...

In the five years since her bad-girl sister Xanda’s death, Miranda Mathison has wondered about the secret her sister took to the grave, and what really happened the night she died. Now, just as Miranda is on the cusp of her dreams—a best friend to unlock her sister’s world, a ticket to art school, and a boyfriend to fly her away from it all—Miranda has a secret all her own.

Then two lines on a pregnancy test confirm her worst fears. Stripped of her former life, Miranda must make a choice with tremendous consequences and finally face her sister’s demons and her own.

In this powerful debut novel, stunning new talent Holly Cupala illuminates the dark struggle of a girl who must let go of her past to find a way into her future.

Want More?

2 chapter sneak preview: TELL ME A SECRET

Order TELL ME A SECRET @ Amazon, Barnes and Noble & Borders

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

In My Mailbox (52)

For Review

Burned (House of Night, #7) by P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast
Pub. Date: April 2010
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format: Hardcover, 323pp
Sales Rank: 248
Age Range: Young Adult

Synopsis
When friends stop trusting each other, Darkness is there to fan the flames…

Things have turned black at the House of Night. Zoey Redbird’s soul has shattered. With everything she’s ever stood for falling apart, and a broken heart making her want to stay in the Otherworld forever, Zoey’s fading fast. It’s seeming more and more doubtful that she will be able pull herself back together in time to rejoin her friends and set the world to rights. As the only living person who can reach her, Stark must find a way to get to her. But how? He will have to die to do so, the Vampyre High Council stipulates. And then Zoey will give up for sure. There are only 7 days left…

Enter BFF Stevie Rae. She wants to help Z but she has massive problems of her own. The rogue Red Fledglings are acting up, and this time not even Stevie Rae can protect them from the consequences. Her kinda boyfriend, Dallas, is sweet but too nosy for his own good. The truth is, Stevie Rae’s hiding a secret that might be the key to getting Zoey home but also threatens to explode her whole world.

In the middle of the whole mess is Aphrodite: ex-Fledgling, trust-fund baby, total hag from Hell (and proud of it). She’s always been blessed (if you could call it that) with visions that can reveal the future, but now it seems Nyx has decided to speak through her with the goddess’s own voice, whether she wants it or not. Aphrodite’s loyalty can swing a lot of different ways, but right now Zoey’s fate hangs in the balance.

Three girls… playing with fire… if they don’t watch out, everyone will get Burned.

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

Winner of Everlasting by Angie Frazier!

The Winner is... EVERLASTING (signed) by Angie Frazier

Jessy

Please email me your address within 48hrs

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Win Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce!

*CONTEST CLOSED*

This is your chance to Win... SISTERS RED (ARC) by Jackson Pearce

Rules: 1 Winner!

1. Comment on Interview here: +1

2. Comment on Review here: +1

3. Link to blog: +1

4. Follow me on Twitter +1
5. Follower : +2

Total = 6 entries

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) June 24, 2010. U.S. & Canada Residents Only (Sorry!)

**If you are an international resident and have someone in the states that I could mail the prize to, then you can enter the contest**

Review: Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

SISTERS RED by Jackson Pearce
Pub. Date: June 2010
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Format: Hardcover, 328pp
Age Range: Young Adult
Source: Publisher

Scarlet March lives to hunt the Fenris--the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.

Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts ferociously alongside her. But even as more girls' bodies pile up in the city and the Fenris seem to be gaining power, Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves. She finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax and Scarlett's only friend--but does loving him mean betraying her sister and all that they've worked for?

An impeccable retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, SISTERS RED exudes a dark, dangerous, and creative edge. I’ve read quite a few fairy tale retellings and SISTERS RED takes the cake. This novel hooked its claws into me from the beginning with the foreboding danger lurking around the girls. I found my eyes glued to the pages and was breathlessly anticipating what would happen next.

SISTERS RED is told in alternating view points through Scarlett’s and Rosie’s eyes. The March sisters are different in their own right and I loved their strength in wanting to fight for what they wanted. Scarlett’s duty to keep Rosie safe and protect other girls from the wolves was admirable, especially having to endure her battle scars after her attack. Then there’s Rosie’s yearn for more out of life, even if it tears the sisters apart. And finally, we are introduced to Silas, a carefree, protective, and fierce woodsman who could very well destroy Scarlett’s and Rosie’s sisterly bond. Pearce’s imaginative writing turned SISTERS RED into a heart-pounding and tumultuous read. The danger surrounding the sisters’ lifestyle and choices about the future made this novel and thrilling read.

Who knew that a retelling could be so good? I can’t wait to see what the sequel, SWEETLY has in store for us. SISTERS RED’s dark twist will thrill readers to no end.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Sensational 7 Q & A with Jackson Pearce!

Have you ever wanted to know what it would be like to hang out with your favorite author(s)? In an attempt to get a better understanding of authors, my Sensational Seven Q & A takes a closer or more personal look at these authors to give you a glimpse of the personalities behind the writing of your favorite books.

“Talent alone cannot make a writer. There must be a man behind the book; a personality which, by birth and quality, is pledged to the doctrines there set forth, and which exists to see and state things so, and not otherwise.” By Ralph Waldo Emerson

Jackson Pearce is twenty-five years old and currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with a slightly cross-eyed cat and a lot of secondhand furniture. She recently graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in English and a minor in Philosophy. She auditioned for the circus once, but didn't make it; other jobs she's had include obituaries writer, biker bar waitress, and receptionist. In addition, Jackson coaches both colorguard and winterguard at a local high school.

Jackson began writing when she got angry that the school librarian couldn't tell her of a book that contained a smart girl, horses, baby animals, and magic. Her solution was to write the book herself when she was twelve. Her parents thought it was cute at first, but have grown steadily more concerned for her ever since. She is the author of AS YOU WISH and her current novel, SISTERS RED is in stores today!

If you were given a chance to travel back in time, what year or place would you go / Why?
I think I’d go to the early 1900’s. So much was happening there from a cultural standpoint—technology was developing and changing lives, women in the U.S. were finally standing up together for their rights, and music and fashion were both getting bolder and sexier. Not to mention the fact that some amazing people were alive back then—Mark Twain, Nikola Tesla, Thomas Edison…

Describe your novel in seven words or less?
BAM! KAPOW! WOOSH! STAB! I love you.

Please share with us about your favorite book and fictional crush to date?
Easy. Harry Potter and Harry Potter. Or maybe the Weasley twins. Or maybe Lupin. The final books in this series are ripe with sexy male characters.

If you could be any character in fiction, whom would you be / Why?
Oh, that’s tough. I think I’d like to be Katsa, from GRACELING. Awesome fighting skills, a healthy AND romantic relationship, and a grace that makes her basically indestructible. What’s not to like?

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you/ Why?
Samuel L. Jackson. Because we have the same name, sort of.

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be – please explain?
Srsly?

How would you describe yourself/life in seven words?
Books, Jokes, Videos, Colorguard, Candy, Lalala, Joy

Thanks for stopping by Jackson!

For more information about Jackson Pearce and her books, please visit her website here.

Monday Madness (46): Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

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.

SISTERS RED by Jackson Pearce
Pub. Date: June 2010
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Format: Hardcover, 328pp
Age Range: Young Adult

Synopsis
Scarlet March lives to hunt the Fenris--the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.

Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts ferociously alongside her. But even as more girls' bodies pile up in the city and the Fenris seem to be gaining power, Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves. She finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax and Scarlett's only friend--but does loving him mean betraying her sister and all that they've worked for?

Want More?

Look Inside: SISTERS RED

Order SISTERS RED @ Amazon, Barnes and Noble & Borders

Check out the Book trailer!

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

In My Mailbox (51)

For Review

13 to Life: A Werewolf's Tale by Shannon Delany

Pub. Date: June 22, 2010
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format: Paperback, 320pp
Age Range: Young Adult

Synopsis
Jessica's life seemed difficult enough since the sudden loss of her mother, but meeting Pietr Rusakova turns her world upside down again. The newest member of Junction High, Pietr is a first generation Russian-American, a fact that by itself makes him different enough to get lots of attention in the small town. But Pietr is far more than good looks and an interesting accent, Pietr has secrets to hide-secrets including dramatic changes he's undergoing that will surely end his life early. Secrets dating back to the Cold War get the better of Jessica's curiosity, leading her into an exciting and dangerous world where her understanding of reality and what makes a man or a monster will be challenged.

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

Winners of Claire de Lune!

The Winners are...CLAIRE DE LUNE (HC) by Christine Johnson

*Simon Pulse has graciously offered up 5 copies*

Latishajean
Lena
Book Sake

Katelyn

Hannah S

I've informed the winners, please email me your addresses

Thanks to everyone for participating!

The Winner of Angel Star Prize Pack!

The Winner is... ANGEL STAR (signed ARC) by Jennifer Murgia

Swag: bookmarks, signed bookplates, the octagram pendant & a silver prayer box

Martha Lawson

Please email me your address within 48hrs

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Win Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs!

**CONTEST CLOSED**

This is your chance to Win... FORGIVE MY FINS (ARC) by Tera Lynn Childs

Swag: Bookmarks & mer mark temporary tattoos

Rules: 1 Winner!

1. Comment on Interview here: +1

2. Comment on Review here: +1

3. Link to blog: +1

4. Follow me on Twitter +1
5. Follower : +2

Total = 6 entries

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) June 17, 2010. U.S. & Canada Residents Only (Sorry!)

**If you are an international resident and have someone in the states that I could mail the prize to, then you can enter the contest**

Review: Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

FORGIVE MY FINS by Tera Lynn Childs
Pub. Date: June 01, 2010
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Hardcover, 304pp
Age Range: 12

Summary (Amazon)

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it's not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you're a normal teenage girl, but when you're half human, half mermaid, like Lily, there's no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily's mermaid identity is a secret that can't get out, since she's not just any mermaid—she's a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn't feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she's been living on land and going to Seaview High School ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems—like her obnoxious biker-boy neighbor, Quince Fletcher—but it has that one major perk: Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren't really the casual dating type—the instant they "bond," it's for life.

When Lily's attempt to win Brody's love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily ever after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

Review
Tera lured me into her world with the promise of an enchanting romance, full of hilarious moments as we follow Lily through her relationship drama. What more can you expect when 1 kiss bonds you to a mate forever? In Lily’s case, she’s running out of time to profess her love to Brody. But, she can’t catch a break, especially when Quince - Son of a Swordfish (In her words) is constantly pestering Lily and in the process ruining every moment Lily has with Brody.

FORGIVE MY FINS intrigued me with its fresh take on mermaid mythology. I loved Lily’s family dynamic. She’s half human – half mermaid and she gets to live in both worlds. It was also refreshing to see Lily go about her day to day activities in both worlds. Good or Bad - Whatever the case may be. There was always a good laugh at an incident or another. I loved everything about Lily’s Kingdom, Thalassinia! Tera’s introduction of Thalassinia captivated me with its beauty. If I could live in a fictional world, Thalassinia would have to be on my places to visit. I can NOT mention Quince – another swoon worthy bad boy! I couldn’t get enough of the scenes that involved Lily and Quince. *Sigh*

After certain events went down, I’m curious about what will happen in the sequel. Readers looking for a fresh take on a magical mermaid story should pick this novel up. I will definitely be waiting to read the sequel!

Rating: 4.5 out 5 Stars

Sensational 7 Q & A with Tera Lynn Childs!

Have you ever wanted to know what it would be like to hang out with your favorite author(s)? In an attempt to get a better understanding of authors, my Sensational Seven Q & A takes a closer or more personal look at these authors to give you a glimpse of the personalities behind the writing of your favorite books.

“Talent alone cannot make a writer. There must be a man behind the book; a personality which, by birth and quality, is pledged to the doctrines there set forth, and which exists to see and state things so, and not otherwise.” By Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tera Lynn Childs is a wannabe goddess and the author of OH. MY. GODS., GODDESS BOOT CAMP, and her current mermaid tale, FORGIVE MY FINS. Tera lives nowhere in particular and has spent time fleeing hurricanes, making character profiles on MySpace, blogging with the Buzz Girls at booksboysbuzz.com and the Fivers at livingyourfive.com, and writing wherever she can find a comfy chair and a steady stream of caffeinated beverages.

FORGIVE MY FINS is in stores today!

If you were given a chance to travel back in time, what year or place would you go / Why?
I'm a History Channel junkie (and Discovery Channel, Science Channel, National Geographic Channel... basically anything with dramatic documentaries) so this is a really hard decision. There have been so many wonderful times in history. I could choose the Victorian London of Charles Dickens, Boston during the Revolutionary War, or Egypt during the construction of the Great Pyramids. But I guess, if I could choose just one, it would be Ancient Greece so I could attend the Dionysian theatre festivals. I would love to experience the power and emotion of Antigone in its original style.

Describe your novel in seven words or less?
Mermaid princess kisses wrong human, magically bonded.

Please share with us about your favorite book and fictional crush to date?
Another toughie, because this one changes every day. Right now, the books for which I would walk across hot coals to get the next in the series are Hunger Games and Catching Fire. My all-time favorite fictional crush is Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice (see next question). As for more contemporary crushes, I'd have to say I'm definitely Team Gale, and I'd spend quality time with Seth from Wicked Lovely, Titus from Fly on the Wall, and Po from Graceling.

If you could be any character in fiction, whom would you be / Why?
Lizzie Bennet from Pride and Prejudice because she's smart and funny and knows herself, well, Darcy. He was the original bad boy romantic hero. Very handsome, very rich, and (in the end) very kind and generous.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you/ Why?
Drew Barrymore. She's funny and quirky and the kind of girl you'd like to spend a Girls' Weekend with. I've always respected her acting skills, her directorial debut (Whip It) proves she's got other skills, too, and I admire how she's risen above the horrible and destructive things in her past.

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be – please explain?
The Life of a Theatre Brat

When I tell people how much I moved around growing up (a different school/city/state/country every year or two until high school) they almost always as if I'm a military brat. But no, I tell them, I was a theatre brat. My parents met at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival in the summer of 1965, my mom was working in the costume shop and my dad in the scene shop. You cannot possibly overestimate the bizarre life of a theatre person. In my parents' garage right now are: three and a half painted-white mannequins, giant sheets of mirrored plexiglas, enough tools to build small housing development, and various lighting instruments, colored gels, scenic paints, and who knows what else. Good theatre is a balance between creativity, practicality, entertainment and education. Growing up in this environment has definitely influenced my writing to be the same.

How would you describe yourself/life in seven words?
Always changing, always learning, always dreaming big.

Bonus:

**Is there any additional info you would like to share with your readers about what’s next for you and your books?**
Next up from me is the sequel to FORGIVE MY FINS. (Right now it doesn't have an official title, but I'm calling it FINS ARE FOREVER.) It should be out Summer 2011. And *then* in Fall 2011 I'll release the first book of a new (also untitled) trilogy about triplet descendants of Medusa who discover they are destined to guard the door between the world of monsters and the world of men. Very kick-butt, Buffy-esque, mythological action. I'm writing the first book right now and am so unbelievably excited about this one.

Thanks for stopping by Tera!

For more information about Tera Lynn Childs and her books, please visit her website here.