The Eclectic Book Lover

Rookie Wednesday: Kelly Creagh, author of Nevermore

2010-09-01T01:00:00.001-04:00

Rookie Wednesdays are where I interview authors, of any genre and/or reading level, with recent or upcoming debut novels. If you're an author with a recent/upcoming debut and would like to be interviewed, hit me up at jax @ eclecticbooklover . com

Today's debut author is Kelly Creagh whose YA novel, Nevermore, was just released in the US yesterday.

Great to have you here at The Eclectic Book Lover, Kelly! Let's start off with one random tidbit about yourself.

Thanks for having me! Something that I love for people to know about me is that I am a professional bellydancer and instructor. I especially enjoy performing to live Greek, Arabic or Egyptian music.

What's the best book that you've read over the past six months?

I really enjoyed The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafron. Actually, I listened to the audio of this and the musical accompaniment was so deliciously creepy. This was a wonderful spooky read.

What were you doing the moment you found out that Nevermore?

I was at work when I got “the call.” Looking back, I can’t really understand why I was so subdued. I think part of me thought that it wasn’t quite official yet. Even though I wasn’t really in a place where I could
shout, push myself around in my wheely chair and kick my legs, I really should have.
Was the process of writing and publishing your first novel what you expected it to be?

In many ways, no. While I spent about three years writing Nevermore and working toward my MFA in Writing for Children, the publishing process happened relatively quickly for me! I knew I had a great idea and a strong story, but I also knew that many novels can often take years to reach bookstore shelves. Just before finishing Nevermore, I met my agent at a conference. She requested the manuscript and, when I got home from the conference, I took some time to edit and polish and then sent it off. She soon offered representation and we began working together. From there, Nevermore gained interest from a few houses and sold to Simon and Schuster. That’s not to say there weren’t bumps and scrapes along the way. Most of that came during the initial drafting process. I remember that one day I literally had to sequester myself away in the bathroom, set up my laptop on the toilet and and lock the door just so that I could finish a scene.

Give us one embarrassing author moment:

That would be the last time visited Poe’s house in Baltimore. I went up the tiny winding staircase to his attic room. While positioning myself to have a seat on the top step and snap a picture, I accidentally touched the
floor beyond the no-entry point and set off the alarm! It was so LOUD. When I came back downstairs, I got THE LOOK from all my fellow museum visitors.

If you were interviewing yourself, what would you ask and what would the answer be?

I would ask myself what I would say to Poe if I had the chance to go back in time and speak to him in person. The answer is that I would tell him how his stories would change the world and how beloved a figure he would become. I would also ask him countless questions and maybe even sneak in a request for an autograph.

What would you most like potential readers to know about you and/or your book?

I would like potential readers to approach Nevermore with the expectation of reading something very different. Though the novel is paranormal in essence, my brand of the supernatural does not fall easily into any of the normal categories.

List 3-5 characters from Nevermore and do word associations.

Isobel - Audacity

Varen - Ember

Reynolds - Walking secret

Pinfeathers - Salacious

What's your favorite thing about Nevermore?

I love that the supernatural elements are subtle and creeping and that the darkness sneaks up on the reader.

What projects do you have in the pipeline?

Currently, I am working on the sequel to Nevermore.

Thanks for the great interview, Kelly!

Everyone - be sure to check out Kelly's site and blog for more info about her and her novel.

About Nevermore

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting

On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;

And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,

And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor

Shall be lifted - nevermore!

-- from "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe

Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.

Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.

As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.

His life depends on it.

Interview & Giveaway: Larissa Ione, author of Sin Undone

2010-08-30T23:30:00.056-04:00

Today I'm glad to be hosting Larissa Ione, who's Demonica paranormal romance series is a favorite of mine (LOVE Wraith!). Her latest installment, Sin Undone, was recently released and she's here to tell us a bit of what to expect.

Great to have you here at The Eclectic Book Lover, Larissa! Could you tell new readers a bit about your Demonica series?

First of all, thank you for this opportunity! It's nice to be here with you and your readers! Okay, so about the Demonica series...the easiest way to describe it is "Buffy The Vampire Slayer meets E.R." It's a series set in and around an underworld hospital run by vampires, werewolves, and demons. It's very dark, gritty, and sexy, but there are a few light moments in each book, mainly because I'm a little twisted like that...

Sin Undone features the first female Seminus demon in your books. Is she an anomaly or will there be more?

She's definitely unique, and she'll stay that way. She was created in sort of a "perfect storm" of events, and I just don't see that being recreated. But...because she's unique, it's always possible that she, unlike her brothers, may have female children. Hmm...the possibilities... *g*

I love how unique each of your heroes and heroines are. What sets Sin and Conall apart? What are their strengths and weaknesses?

Thank you! Sin is different from all my other heroines in that she's one of a kind. One of her greatest strengths is her ability to stay completely removed from her feelings -- which is important for someone who works as an assassin. But at the same time, it's one of her greatest weaknesses, because she needs to learn to trust her feelings in order to be stronger. Con is unique in that he's the first hero in the Demonica series who isn't related to the brothers who run the hospital. He's an outsider, and he's as new to the Seminus family dynamic as Sin is. His strength is his ability to make sacrifices for those he cares about. His weakness is his heritage, which makes him vulnerable to blood addiction.

List 3-5 characters with significant roles in Sin Undone and do word associations for them.

Ooh, good one. Okay, here goes:

Sin - Throwing knives
Con - Adrenaline
Luc - Full moon
Kar - New moon
Bran - Insane Asylum

What can readers expect to see from you in the future?

More dark, sexy paranormal romances! Sin Undone opens the door to a new series, the Lords of Deliverance, which is about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The first book, Eternal Rider, will release next April, and I'm super excited!

Thanks again for having me, and for the great questions!

Thanks for the interesting interview, Larissa!

Everyone - be sure to check out Larissa's site and blog for more info about her and her novels. Also, scroll down for a chance to win a copy of Sin Undone.

About Sin Undone

HER TOUCH IS DEADLY

As the only female Seminus demon ever born, master assassin Sinead Donnelly is used to being treated like an outcast. She spent decades enslaved, and now vows she'll die before she'll relinquish her freedom again. Then Sin's innate ability to kill her enemies goes awry: She creates a lethal new werewolf virus that sparks a firestorm of panic and violence.

HIS HUNGER CAN'T BE DENIED

Half-werewolf, half-vampire Conall Dearghul is charged with bringing in Sin to face punishment for the plague. And she's no stranger: He's bound to her by blood, and the one sexual encounter they shared has left him hungering for her raw sensuality. Worse, Sin is the underworld's most wanted and Con soon learns he's the only one who can help her . . . and that saving her life might mean sacrificing his own.

Giveaway

Courtesy of Grand Central Publishing, I have 5 copies of Sin Undone to giveaway with you all!

To win you must:

Be a resident of the US or Canada and at least 13 years of age
Tell us who's been your favorite character in the Demonica series so far and why OR (for those new to the books) what strengths or weaknesses do you like/dislike in romance heroes and heroines.
Leave an email address so that I can contact the winners
Post your comment by 11:59 PM EST on September 14, 2010

Good luck!

Pint Sized 'Pinions: Contemporary Romance Edition

2010-08-26T20:47:00.002-04:00

Pint-Sized 'Pinions are mini-reviews that I post often (usually weekly). The books reviewed have either been reviewed a lot or I don't have much to say for them, whether negative or positive, to justify an extended review.

Well, the first one's not technically a contemporary romance, but fans of the genre may like it...

Family Affair by Caprice Crane
Women's Fiction/Chick Lit
Bantam (September 29, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-0553386233
368 pages

When Layla Brennan married her high school sweetheart, Brett Foster, she finally got the big, loving family she’d always wanted: his. Now she’s closer to Brett’s parents than he is, partners with his sister in a successful pet-photography business, and confidant to his younger brother. She couldn’t be more of a Foster if she’d been born one. There’s just one problem: Brett wants a divorce. Stunned and heartbroken, Layla turns to the Fosters for comfort, only to realize that losing Brett means losing them as well. What else can she do but sue him for the most valuable thing he’s got–namely, his family. Breaking up may be hard to do, but for Layla and Brett it’s even harder to undo.

Fresh, funny, poignant, and brimming with insight into what makes modern families tick–and what can blow them apart–Family Affair proves that in love and war, everything’s relative.

Told in alternating POVs, Caprice Crane tackles an interesting subject in a humorous way. Unfortunately, all the humor in the world can't make up for Brett's selfishness. He's initially unwilling to work on their (relatively minor) issues and instead decides to dump his wife. After that, he goes on to be pretty hateful towards her when what she really deserves is some compassion and sympathy. While he goes on to make it up to Layla, I can't say that he was totally redeemed in my estimation. Still, Crane's trademark humor managed to rescue this novel for me somewhat. However, if you're looking for more likable characters, try her novels Stupid and Contagious and Forget About It.

Grade: C+

Crazy for Love by Victoria Dahl
Contemporary Romance
HQN Books (July 1, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0373774623
384 pages

Chloe Turner thought she was going to marry the perfect man—until her fiancé's plane crashed. And then she got the really bad news: he'd tried to fake his own death to avoid marrying her. Now America's most famous bridezilla (a tag she most definitely does not deserve), Chloe escapes to a remote island to avoid the paparazzi. And right next door is a man who just might be the cure for Chloe's heartache….

A magnet for wild, complicated women, Max Sullivan is relieved to have finally found someone "normal." Chloe is his girl-next-door fantasy come to life, and best of all, she gets him. With her, he can be himself, a treasure-hunting millionaire who desperately wants out of his sexy but reckless job. But when Chloe's notoriety catches up with them, will their torrid romance make it to the mainland?

Victoria Dahl has written some well-received contemporary novels in the past year. I particularly like the first two in her Tumble Creek series, Talk Me Down and Start Me Up, for their memorable and funny characters. Again, she does pretty well here with her plot and characters - all except for Max, the hero. He's quite boring and a bit weak. I did enjoy the book while reading it and I still wanted him to get it together with Chloe. Not my favorite Dahl book, though.

Grade: B-

CaddyGirls by V.K. Sykes
Contemporary Romance
Carina Press (July 5, 2010)
eISBN: 9781426890383

Torrey Green once had a promising golf career, now she's stuck caddying for butt-pinching businessmen. She doesn't mind playing dumb while hauling clubs if it means she can get her golf career back on track, and she's going to need an influx of cash to focus on the pro circuit. A booking from video game mogul Julian Grant could be Torrey's cash-flow solution.

In town for a business deal, Julian's partners plan for a little action on the greens. They're looking for some fun with their rent-a-caddy girls and have a lot riding on who can score, on the course and off. This type of gamble isn't Julian's style, but he'll do whatever it takes to keep his partners happy—even if that includes breaking a few hearts along the way.

Julian soon discovers that Torrey is more than just a caddy girl, and they spark an intriguing attraction—but if Torrey discovers the truth behind his foolish wager, all bets are off...

I wasn't sure what to expect prior to reading this ebook - I had never heard of the authors before (a husband and wife team). It turned out to be steamy and surprisingly complex for such a short read. Torrey is a strong and unique heroine and Julian was sexy, if a bit hard to love at one point. There romance begins fast but manages to remain mostly believable.

Grade: B

Each book was a review copy was provided by the publisher for an honest (and uncompensated) review.

Rookie Wednesday & Giveaway: Kathy Charles, author of John Belushi Is Dead

2010-08-25T01:59:00.008-04:00

So, I'm reinstating a former feature of mine today. Rookie Wednesdays are where I interview authors, of any genre and/or reading level, with recent or upcoming debut novels. If you're an author with a recent/upcoming debut and would like to be interviewed, hit me up at jax @ eclecticbooklover . com

Today's debut author is Kathy Charles whose YA novel, John Belushi Is Dead, was just released yesterday in North America and was initially published in Australia and New Zealand as Hollywood Ending.

Great to have you here at The Eclectic Book Lover, Kathy! Let's start off with one random tidbit about yourself.

I own a pug dog named Tubs, but really it is him who owns me.

What were you doing the moment you found out that John Belushi Is Dead had sold?

Uh, is it uncool to say I was sitting at my laptop frantically clicking the refresh button until I saw an email from my agent? Because if it is, I totally won't say that.

What's the best book that you've read over the past six months?

Imperial Bedrooms by Bret Easton Ellis.

Was the process of writing and publishing your first novel what you expected it to be?

Nah uh. I think I had an expectation that on the day of publication fireworks would go off and my life would change forever, but it doesn't. Careers take a slow time to build. If I've learnt one thing from publishing it is to have infinite patience. It's made me very zen. *Author's husband is laughing hysterically in the background*

Give us one embarrassing author moment:

At my launch party a group of teachers from my highschool all came, and it was lovely of them, but I felt so bad because there was one teacher's name I couldn't remember. It wasn't that I couldn't remember her - she was one of my favorite teachers - but my mind went blank! I had to admit I couldn't remember her name when I signed her book. It was horrible.

If you were interviewing yourself, what would you ask and what would the answer be?

Q. Kathy, are you really going to take a large chunk of time out of your first visit to New York to drive all the way to Maine to stand outside Stephen King's house like a total groupie? A. Yes.

What would you most like potential readers to know about you and/or your book?

John Belushi is Dead is unlike any other YA book you will ever read in your life. That's a promise.

List 3-5 characters from John Belushi Is Dead and do word associations.

Hilda - hopeful. Hank - craggy. Benji - troubled. Jake - suave.

What's your favorite thing about John Belushi Is Dead?

I've had so many comments from readers who say while they were reading it they couldn't stop themselves from jumping onto the internet to find out more about how these celebrities have died. I feel like it reminds people about all the amazingly talented stars we have lost that don't get enough attention, people like John Belushi, Chris Farley and Vic Morrow.

What projects do you have in the pipeline?

I've written two books since John Belushi is Dead, so fingers crossed they find a home!

Thanks for the fun interview, Kathy!

Everyone - be sure to check out Kathy's site and blog for more info about her and her novel. Also, scroll down for a chance to win a copy of John Belushi Is Dead.

About John Belushi Is Dead

IN THE END WE ALL FADE TO BLACK.

Pink-haired Hilda and oddball loner Benji are not your typical teenagers. Instead of going to parties or hanging out at the mall, they comb the city streets and suburban culs-de-sac of Los Angeles for sites of celebrity murder and suicide. Bound by their interest in the macabre, Hilda and Benji neglect their schoolwork and their social lives in favor of prowling the most notorious crime scenes in Hollywood history and collecting odd mementos of celebrity death.

Hilda and Benji’s morbid pastime takes an unexpected turn when they meet Hank, the elderly, reclusive tenant of a dilapidated Echo Park apartment where a silent movie star once stabbed himself to death with a pair of scissors. Hilda feels a strange connection with Hank and comes to care deeply for her paranoid new friend as they watch old movies together and chat the sweltering afternoons away. But when Hank’s downstairs neighbor Jake, a handsome screenwriter, inserts himself into the equation and begins to hint at Hank’s terrible secrets, Hilda must decide what it is she’s come to Echo Park searching for . . . and whether her fascination with death is worth missing out on life.

Giveaway

I happen to have an extra copy of John Belushi Is Dead and I want to share the love.

To win you must:

Be a resident of the US or Canada and at least 13 years of age
Leave a comment telling us who you think is a great deceased actor that tends to get overlooked.
Leave an email address so that I can contact the winner
Post your comment by 11:59 PM EST on September 8, 2010

Have at it!

Currently Coveting (15)

2010-08-24T23:30:00.001-04:00

In case you haven't seen this feature before, I'm switching from my usual Waiting on Wednesday post. Instead of just one upcoming title that I want, I'll list several, along with some backlisted books that I have on my wishlist too. If you guys have read any of the previous releases, let me know what you thought about them.

On Shelves Now

Black Swan Rising

Urban Fantasy

When New York City jewelry designer Garet James stumbles into a strange antiques shop in her neighborhood, her life is about to be turned upside down. John Dee, the enigmatic shopkeeper, commissions her to open a vintage silver box for a generous sum of money. Oddly, the symbol of a swan on the box exactly matches the ring given to her by her deceased mother. Garet can’t believe her luck and this eerie coincidence until she opens the box and otherworldly things start happening. . . .

That evening, the precious silver box is stolen. When Garet begins to investigate, she learns that she has been pulled into a prophecy that is hundreds of years old, and opening the box has unleashed an evil force onto the streets of Manhattan and the world at large. Gradually, Garet pieces together her true identity—one that her deceased mother desperately tried to protect her from. Generations of women in Garet’s family, including her beloved mother, suffered and died at the hands of this prevailing evil. Does Garet possess the power to reclaim the box and defeat this devastating force?

On her journey, she will meet the fey folk who walk unnoticed among humans and a sexy vampire who also happens to be a hedge fund manager that she can’t stop thinking about. But the fairies reveal a desire to overpower mere humans and the seductive vampire has the power to steal the life from her body. Whom can Garet trust to guide her? Using her newfound powers and sharp wit, Garet will muster everything she’s got to shut down the evil taking over her friends, family, New York City, and the world.

I don't recall when I first heard of this one, but it's been on my wishlist for a while. A vampire hedge fund manager? That's new...

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Young Adult General Fiction

Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he thought he was destined to live.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Alexie's YA debut, released in hardcover to instant success, recieving seven starred reviews, hitting numerous bestseller lists, and winning the 2007 National Book Award for Young People's Literature.

This one has kept popping up randomly over the last couple of months. I remember seeing it on someone's list of great YA for grown-ups. It won't leave me alone, so I'll be getting it soon.

Substitute Me by Lori Tharps

Women's Fiction/General Fiction

Zora Anderson is a 30-year-old African American middle class, college educated woman, trained as a chef, looking for a job. As fate would have it, Kate and Craig, a married couple, aspiring professionals with a young child are looking for a nanny.

Zora seems perfect. She’s an enthusiastic caretaker, a competent house keeper, a great cook. And she wants the job, despite the fact that she won’t let her African American parents and brother know anything about this new career move. They expect much more from her than to use all that good education to do what so many Blacks have dreamed of not doing: working for White folks. Working as an au pair in Paris, France no less, was one thing, they could accept that. Being a servant to a couple not much older nor more educated, is yet another. Every adult character involved in this tangled web is hiding something: the husband is hiding his desire to turn a passion for comic books into a business from his wife, the wife is hiding her professional ambitions from her husband, the nanny is hiding her job from her family and maybe her motivations for staying on her job from herself.

Memorable characters, real-life tensions and concerns and the charming—in a hip kind of way—modern-day Park Slope, Fort Greene, Brooklyn setting make for an un-put-down-able read.

I've seen this cover before, but the book really caught my eye when I saw this interview with author Lori Tharps at White Readers Meet Black Authors.

Upcoming Releases

The House of Dead Maids by Clare B. Dunkle

Young Adult
Release Date: September 14, 2010

Young Tabby Aykroyd has been brought to the dusty mansion of Seldom House to be nursemaid to a foundling boy. He is a savage little creature, but the Yorkshire moors harbor far worse, as Tabby soon discovers. Why do scores of dead maids and masters haunt Seldom House with a jealous devotion that extends beyond the grave?

As Tabby struggles to escape the evil forces rising out of the land, she watches her young charge choose a different path. Long before he reaches the old farmhouse of Wuthering Heights, the boy who will become Heathcliff has doomed himself and any who try to befriend him.

The synopsis says it all - Heathcliff pre-Wuthering Heights! And ghosts!

Unveiled by Courtney Milan
Historical Romance

Release Date: January 25, 2011

He was her bitterest enemy....

Ash Turner has waited a lifetime to seek revenge on the man who ruined his family, and at last the time for justice has arrived. At Parford Manor, he intends to take his place as the rightful heir to the dukedom, and settle an old score with the current duke once and for all. But when he arrives, he finds himself drawn to a tempting beauty who has the power to undo all his dreams of vengeance.

And her dearest love.

Lady Margaret knows she should despise the man who’s stolen her fortune and her father’s legacy—the man she’s been ordered to spy on in the guise of a nurse. Yet the more she learns about the new duke, the less she can resist his smoldering appeal. Soon Margaret and Ash find themselves torn between old loyalties—and the tantalizing promise of passion....

Milan released a great debut earlier this year (see my review of Proof by Seduction). I'm currently in the midst of (and thoroughly enjoying) her sophomore effort, Trial by Desire. So it goes without saying that I'm anticipating this one!

Coronets and Steel by Sherwood Smith

Fantasy

Release Date: September 7, 2010

In this new fantasy series, a young woman takes her own destiny by the hand-and the hilt.

California girl Kim Murray is unsatisfied with grad school and restless in life. Modern men disappoint her, and she studies ballet and fencing because they remind her of older, more romantic times.

She lives with her parents and her beloved but secretive aristocratic grandmother, who speaks only French and refuses to share stories about the mysterious family she left behind in Europe, inspiring Kim to travel there and find her roots.

Kim soon finds herself swept up in an adventure of fantastic deceptions and passionate intrigue-and a shocking realization about her own bloodline that leaves her reeling.

After discovering this author a couple of weeks ago, this one jumped out at me. I love stories where characters find out family secrets or discover their heretofore lost heritage.

C-Side Tales by Tara Kelly

Young Adult General Fiction

Release Date: ??? 2011

When privileged 17-year-old Jasmine gets kicked out of her house, she takes what is left of her savings and flees to Santa Cruz to pursue her dream of becoming a musician. Jasmine finds the ideal room in an oceanfront house, but needs to convince the three guys living there that she's the perfect roommate and lead guitarist for their industrial rock band, C-Side. Too bad she has major stage fright, and the cute bassist doesn't think a spoiled girl from over the hill can hack it.

Tara Kelly's January 2010 debut, Harmonic Feedback, has been one of my favorite reads so far this year. I'll definitely be buying this one whenever it comes out.

What books are you guys coveting right now?

Post-Mockingjay Blues

2010-08-24T01:31:00.002-04:00

It's over.

I've read it and had few days to reflect upon it. I'm sure I'll read it again. Probably sooner rather than later.

Still, there's nothing like reading a great book for the first time. Especially one that's the last in an amazing series.

It's time to move on to other books, though. Which shouldn't be hard considering my toppling piles.

But I don't want to. I want to revel in Mockingjay, in The Hunger Games. I want more of Katniss and Peeta and even that other guy.

I know what I need. Another epic story.

Got anything to cure the post-Mockingjay blues?

Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Spoiler Free!)

2010-08-23T00:00:00.026-04:00

Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, 3) by Suzanne Collins
Young Adult Dystopian/Sci-Fi
Scholastic Press (August 24, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0439023511
400 pages
Review copy provided by the publisher

Synopsis:

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins’s groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year.

As the final installment of a widely loved and thoroughly praised series, Mockingjay has proven to be a worthy conclusion. Not only does it meet the high expectations set by The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, but it's even more epic, suspenseful, heartbreaking and, ultimately, satisfying than its predecessors. In Mockingjay, the entire of Panem is the arena and Katniss finds that the true threats are more dangerous than any of the Capitol's manufactured muttations could ever be.

Collins is great at creating fully fleshed-out characters and putting them through their paces. This is especially true of Mockingjay, where no one is exempt from making mistakes and the realities of war have led characters to surprising choices and places. Collins portrayal of the Districts' uprising is excellent. Instead of turning the tale into one of good versus evil, the lines are blurred. The loyalties, agendas and intentions of everyone are often uncertain and the heroine's goals are usually the only constant.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the highly debated love triangle - involving Katniss's best friend, Gale Hawthorne, and pseudo-boyfriend, Peeta Mellark - which is an even larger part of the tale this time around (Collins even seems to poke fun at the issue once or twice). This is understandable given the dire circumstances that they find themselves in, the new and surprising complexities of the relationships, the repercussions that Katniss's choice will have and the much greater role that Gale plays compared to the previous books. However, this storyline is more important than any concerns about which boy Katniss is kissing next. Collins has made this particular drama about more than romance - its also about Katniss deciding who she wants to be and what she needs in life. While it takes almost the entire novel for her to reach a decision - Peeta, Gale or neither - she eventually does and, in my opinion, it's one that's in keeping with her character and the realities of her situation.

Mockingjay is a more reflective novel than the first two. Like Catching Fire, the energy and excitement take some building up and Katniss's inner struggle dominates the novel over the action. That's not to say that this story is lacking in any way but, due to the ravages of war and the many high personal stakes, it is more bleak and focused on Katniss's inner dialog. As for the ending, it manages to be somewhat ambiguous yet nicely wrapped-up and wholly appropriate. The rest is for you to find out.

Grade: A

Series Order (linked to my reviews):
The Hunger Games
Catching Fire
Mockingjay

Visit Suzanne Collins's site for more information about her and her novels.

Lazy Day

2010-08-21T13:18:00.001-04:00

I literally can't think up what to post today. I've forgotten any ideas that I had forming yesterday. I stayed up until the crack of friggin' dawn to finish a certain book that came on Friday. My head's so full of Mockingjay - I'm taking a break until Monday, maybe even Tuesday.

Have a great weekend, all!

Friday Feature: Something for readers, something for writers

2010-08-20T00:00:00.005-04:00

Friday Features are weekly posts that give the basic facts about an event or item. They are not always, but often are, book-related. If you have anything that you think I might find interesting enough to feature, feel free to send me an email at jax @ eclecticbooklover.com.

For Readers

Who: Young adult authors Brent Crawford, Hannah Harrington, April Henry, Kirsten Hubbard, Denise Jaden, Kody Keplinger, Jo Knowles, Lindsey Leavitt, Sarah Darer Littman, Michael Northrop, Sarah Ockler, Micol Ostow, Lisa Schroeder, Elizabeth Scott, Mindi Scott, Emily Wing Smith, Courtney Summers, Kristen Tracy, Melissa Walker, Sara Bennett Wealer, and Daisy Whitney.

What: The Contemps Challenge. Here's what they have to say about it:

Love to read contemporary fiction? Accept the Contemps Challenge and promise to read at least 18 of the 21 upcoming Contemps books between now and August 15, 2011. One lucky challenger will win the grand prize: ALL 21 of our books! That's like a whole bookshelf of books!

The books:

Losing Faith by Denise Jaden
The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger
Girl, Stolen by April Henry
Freefall by Mindi Scott
The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney
Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler
Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers
Trapped by Michael Northrop
Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer
Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt
Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard
Family by Micol Ostow
Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith
Pearl by Jo Knowles
Saving June by Hannah Harrington
The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder
Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott
Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker
The third book in the Carter series by Brent Crawford
Sharks & Boys by Kristen Tracy
Want to Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman

When: Now until August 15, 2011

Where: You can visit the Contemps at http://www.thecontemps.com/ to find out more about them, their books and the challenge. As far as the reading - you can do that anywhere. I'm sure the challenge is open to everyone, however I couldn't find anything about whether or not the contest is open to international readers...

Why: Because contemporary YA is great. Some of the best YA that I've read this year falls in this genre (and some were even written by a few of these authors). With so much focus on paranormal YA lately, I think it's great to see these authors band together to promote their work and their genre. This is definitely one blogger that'll be participating in the challenge - partly because most of these are already on my wishlist, but mostly to support them.

For Writers

Who: Anne at Chronicles of a Newbie and Lesleysays

What: The 2nd Annual Complete Your Draft Challenge - a NaNoWriMo-esque challenge. In Anne's words:

Those who sign up as novelists must write at least 25k new words, which is half of what NaNoWriMo requires in a month. Those that sign up as poets must write at least 1k new words. Please feel free to contact me, as this is open to discussion based on your project!

There's a ton of prizes up for grabs for participants as well as ways to get extra entries.

When: September 1, 2010 - 23:59 local time on September 30, 2010

Where: All of the deets can be found here

Why: Because I've got some writing plans of my own I think this is a great motivator for me as well as other fledgling (or even published) authors out there.

Pint-Sized 'Pinions: Dystopian Edition or A Hunger Games Love-fest + One Other Book

2010-08-18T22:30:00.006-04:00

I bet you saw this coming.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Scholastic Press (Sept 14, 2008)
ISBN-13: 978-0439023481
384 pages

Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When Kat's sister is chosen by lottery, Kat steps up to go in her place.

Seriously one of the best novels I've ever read. It's not lacking in anything. Characters, plot, action, dialog - you name it, it's spot on. Katniss is lovable in spite of her hard personality. It's rare to find a character like that done well, but Collins manages to do it. I love the way that she's reimagined the US as Panem, as well. And don't get me started on the amazing secondary characters (Haymitch! Peeta!) and the constant suspense.

Grade: A+

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Scholastic Press (Sept 1, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-0439023498
400 pages

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

Much the same as The Hunger Games (meaning it's great for all of the same reasons!). The only thing that hurts it is the somewhat repetitive occurrences and slow feel in the middle. Still, it's a great follow up and the last third is on par with the first novel.

Grade: A-

Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder
Harlequin Teen (April 1, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0373210060
384 pages

Keep Your Head Down.

Don't Get Noticed.

Or Else.

I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution.

I really enjoyed Snyder's Study series and was looking forward to her YA debut (because, despite common belief, the Study and Glass series are considered adult novels). Unlike Yelena, the Study series's heroine, Trella takes a while to warm up to. However, her story was unique and riveting and her voice did it justice. Also, Trella softened during the course of the novel and I found my feelings about her softening as well. My one complaint (and it's kind of a big one) - the story felt like a Disney version of a dystopic society. While the issues were serious, the characters were caricatured. Despite this, there are plenty of twists to be found in this book and I can't wait to see what the sequel, Outside In, has in store.

Grade: C+

For more reviews of YA dystopian book, see the list up at Lenore's site that other bloggers have contributed to. While you're there, check out Lenore's Dystopian August content.

Each book was a review copy was provided by the publisher for an honest (and uncompensated) review.

Currently Coveting (14)

2010-08-18T00:36:00.002-04:00

On Shelves Now

Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith

Young Adult Fantasy

Young Countess Meliara swears to her dying father that she and her brother will defend their people from the growing greed of the king. That promise leads them into a war for which they are ill-prepared, which threatens the very people they are trying to protect. But war is simple compared to what follows, in peacetime. Meliara is summoned to live at the royal palace, where friends and enemies look alike, and intrigue fills the dance halls and the drawing rooms. If she is to survive, Meliara must learn a whole new way of fighting-with wits and words and secret alliances.

In war, at least, she knew in whom she could trust. Now she can trust no one.

The Firebird edition of Crown Duel combines the hardcover editions of Crown Duel and Court Duel-and features a never-before-published story by Sherwood Smith!

I hadn't even heard of this series until the YA Fantasy Showdown.

Sabriel by Garth Nix
Young Adult Fantasy

Sent to a boarding school in Ancelstierre as a young child, Sabriel has had little experience with the random power of Free Magic or the Dead who refuse to stay dead in the Old Kingdom. But during her final semester, her father, the Abhorsen, goes missing, and Sabriel knows she must enter the Old Kingdom to find him. She soon finds companions in Mogget, a cat whose aloof manner barely conceals its malevolent spirit, and Touchstone, a young Charter Mage long imprisoned by magic, now free in body but still trapped by painful memories. As the three travel deep into the Old Kingdom, threats mount on all sides. And every step brings them closer to a battle that will pit them against the true forces of life and death—and bring Sabriel face-to-face with her own destiny.

With Sabriel, the first installment in the Abhorsen trilogy, Garth Nix exploded onto the fantasy scene as a rising star, in a novel that takes readers to a world where the line between the living and the dead isn't always clear—and sometimes disappears altogether.

Another one courtesy of the YA Fantasy Showdown. While I had heard of Sabriel prior to the event, I had never really paid it any attention. The same can be said for the two Garth Nix books (from the Keys to the Kingdom series) currently languishing on my shelves.

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman

Young Adult Fantasy

Eon has been studying the ancient art of Dragon Magic for four years, hoping he'll be able to apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune. But he also has a dark secret. He is actually Eona, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been living a dangerous lie for the chance to become a Dragon-eye, the human link to an energy dragon's power. It is forbidden for females to practice the Dragon Magic and, if discovered, Eon faces a terrible death. After a dazzling sword ceremony, Eon's affinity with the twelve dragons catapults him into the treacherous world of the Imperial court, where he makes a powerful enemy, Lord Ido. As tension builds and Eon's desperate lie comes to light, readers won't be able to stop turning the pages...

I actually first noticed this one about a month ago after seeing something touting the upcoming sequel, Eona. But, again, it was the YA Fantasy Showdown that led me to put it on my wishlist.

Upcoming Releases

Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self by Danielle Evans

Short Story Collection
Release Date: September 23, 2010

Introducing a new star of her generation, an electric debut story collection about young African-American and mixed-race teens, women, and men struggling to find a place in their families and communities.

When Danielle Evans's short story "Virgins" was published in The Paris Review in late 2007, it announced the arrival of a bold new voice. Written when she was only twenty-three, Evans's story of two black, blue-collar fifteen-year-old girls' flirtation with adulthood for one night was startling in its pitch-perfect examination of race, class, and the shifting terrain of adolescence.

Now this debut collection delivers on the promise of that early story. In "Harvest," a college student's unplanned pregnancy forces her to confront her own feelings of inadequacy in comparison to her white classmates. In "Jellyfish," a father's misguided attempt to rescue a gift for his grown daughter from an apartment collapse magnifies all he doesn't know about her. And in "Snakes," the mixed-race daughter of intellectuals recounts the disastrous summer she spent with her white grandmother and cousin, a summer that has unforeseen repercussions in the present.

Striking in their emotional immediacy, the stories in Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self are based in a world where inequality is reality but where the insecurities of adolescence and young adulthood, and the tensions within family and the community, are sometimes the biggest complicating forces in one's sense of identity and the choices one makes.

I spotted this a short while ago. Where, I don't know. I just know that I NEED it!

Mercy by Rebecca Lim
Young Adult Paranormal

UK Release Date: October 28, 2010

An electric combination of angels, mystery and romance, MERCY is the first book in a major new paranormal series. There's something very wrong with me. I can't remember who I am or how old I am, or even how I got here. All I know is that when I wake up, I could be any one. It is always this way. There's nothing I can keep with me that will stay. It's made me adaptable. I must always re-establish ties. I must tread carefully or give myself away. I must survive. Mercy doesn't realise it yet, but as she journeys into the darkest places of the human soul, she discovers that she is one of the celestial host exiled with fallen angel, Lucifer. Now she must atone for taking his side. To find her own way back to heaven, Mercy must help a series of humans in crisis and keep the unwary from getting caught up in the games that angels play. Ultimately she must choose between her immortal companion, Lucifer, and a human boy who risks everything for her love.

This was a random, Goodreads generated recommendation. A companion of Lucifer? I gotta get this one, despite it's lack of a US release.

The Boyfriend of the Month Club by Maria Geraci

Women's Fiction/Chick Lit

Release Date: December 7, 2010

This sexy, funny new novel asks: Can a woman find a modern-day Mr. Darcy in Daytona Beach?

At thirty, Grace O'Bryan has dated every loser in Daytona Beach. After the ultimate date-from-hell, Grace decides to turn her dwindling book club into a Boyfriend of the Month Club, where women can discuss the eligible men in their community. Where are the real life twenty-first century versions of literary heroes such as Heathcliff and Mr. Darcy?

Could it be successful and handsome Brandon Farrell, who is willing to overlook his disastrous first date with Grace and offers financial help for her parents' failing Florida gift shop? Or maybe sexy dentist Joe Rosenblum, who's great with a smile but not so great at commitment? Unfortunately, like books, men cannot always be judged by their covers...

A Goodreads giveaway find. I'm loving that the setting is Florida and that it comes out in December when the cold weather blues will be setting in.

Arranged by Catherine McKenzie

Women's Fiction/Chick Lit

Canadian Release Date: December 17, 2010

Anne Blythe is lucky. She's got a brand new book contract, a great newspaper job and a steadfast best friend, and she can land just about any man she sets her sights on - and the ones that appeal are typically tall, dark and handsome.

Problem is, the men she chooses never last. Shortly after yet another relationship goes down in flames, Anne comes across a card for what she believes is a dating service, and pockets it just in case. If she's so unlucky in love, maybe she could use a little assistance. Then her best friend announces she's engaged, and envy gets the better of Anne. Now's the time, she decides, to give the service a try - and she is shocked to discover that what the company specializes in are exclusive, and pricey, arranged marriages. After learning of the company's success rate, however, she overcomes her reluctance and signs on. After all, arranged marriages are the norm for millions of women around the world, and she's not done so well selecting a mate on her own. So why not use a professional service that claims it can produce the perfect match?

Some time later, Anne is travelling to a Mexican resort, where in one short weekend she will meet and marry Jack, the man they have chosen for her. And against all odds, it seems to be working out, until Anne learns that Jack and the company who arranged their marriage are not what they seem at all.

Ugh, another foreign-only release! I love this premise. I'll have to figure out a way to get my hands on it since there's no Book Depository listing for it.

What books are you guys coveting right now?

Mockingjay - My predictions on the death toll and injured list

2010-08-17T23:13:00.005-04:00

Like me, you've probably been inundated lately with a dearth of Mockingjay predictions and talk. But you haven't heard my thoughts yet! Here's who I think will fall - or come close - on August 24th.

(Note: This is all in good fun. Though, I do think that I make a pretty convincing argument for the demise of Gale . . .)

The Close Calls

Everyone - It's a time of upheaval! This means battles, assassinations, accidents, you name it. But I'm guessing you're looking for specifics, huh? Well, how about . . .

Katniss - Obviously.

Cinna - He's already in the Capitol's clutches suffering untold horrors. Who knows? He may be a hairsbreadth from becoming one of those creepy wolf muttations when Katniss and crew finally ride to the rescue!

Haymitch - He may be wily, but he's old and alcohol has taken a toll on his system. He's a great strategist/mentor/liar, but I wouldn't want him literally at my back during a fight.

Peeta - They've got him stashed somewhere, probably torturing him into giving up Katniss. But he can't die because . . . well . . . he's Peeta! And Katniss needs to realize just how much she'll be missing out without him in her life.

Prim - For shock value and the heartache. She'll pull through though . . . maybe.

The Exterminated

Countless Capitol citizens - The Districts are rising up and they have no tolerance for the shiny folks that put them through hell for decades. Those shallow, pampered and clueless Capitol denizens better grab their glitter and run!

Plenty of residents of the 12 districts - For the same reasons as above. The Capitol, though, has a working infrastructure already in place - leaders, chain of command, weapons at the ready, muttations . . .

President Snow - He pretty much represents the ultimate evil. Seriously, the man smells like blood - he can't be allowed to live! (Unless Collins is going for a bleak ending or comes at us with a surprise book 4! I know, I know - wishful thinking . . .) He'll probably be one of the last - if not the last - to go down (at the hands of Katniss herself, of course!) representing the end of the oppressive Panem as everyone knows it.

Mrs. Everdeen - Sure, she's not as oblivious as she once was but she's definitely not the head of their household. Since Katniss has assumed this role, their relationship has remained strained (though it's mended somewhat since the beginning of The Hunger Games). I'm envisioning a bittersweet end for Mrs. Everdeen. One in which Katniss is finally assured of the strength of her mother's love when she sacrifices herself for Katniss's survival

Gale - Come on, you had to have seen this coming since The Hunger Games. Gale's a hothead (even more so than Katniss). Exhibit A:

Gale knows his anger at Madge is misdirected. On other days, deep in the woods, I’ve listened to him rant about how the tesserae are just another tool to cause misery in our district. A way to plant hatred between the starving workers of the Seam and those who can generally count on supper and thereby ensure we will never trust one another. “It’s to the Capitol’s advantage to have us divided among ourselves,” he might say if there were no ears to hear but mine. If it wasn’t reaping day. If a girl with a gold pin and no tesserae had not made what I’m sure she thought was a harmless comment.

As we walk, I glance over at Gale’s face, still smoldering underneath his stony expression. His rages seem pointless to me, although I never say so. It’s not that I don’t agree with him. I do. But what good is yelling about the Capitol in the middle of the woods? It doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t make things fair. It doesn’t fill our stomachs. In fact, it scares off the nearby game. I let him yell though. Better he does it in the woods than in the district.

The Hunger Games, pgs. 13 - 14

We all know what happens to hotheads - they let their emotions get the best of them. Their judgment clouded, they fail to attack/defend properly. Then, they die. Now that he's finally got his fight, he's bound to get himself offed! Poor, Gale. He should really take a few notes from Peeta's book.

Review: For the Love of Mollie by KT Grant

2010-08-17T22:05:00.000-04:00

For the Love of Mollie by KT Grant
Erotic Contemporary Romance
Decadent Publishing (Aug 7, 2010)
Ebook
ISBN-13: 9781936394036
115 pages
Copy provided for review by the author

Synopsis:

Mollie McGree is on a mission to seduce her best friend, the sexy masseuse Juan-Carlos. But she wants to lose a few extra pounds first. She joins a gym run by self-made millionaire and personal trailer, Conner Bean. Conner thinks Mollie doesn't need to lose any weight, and is perfect the way she is. He plans to seduce the curvy Mollie by giving her his own special training sessions in passion and desire.

Soon Mollie is enjoying a no-holds-barred love affair with the vibrant and skilled Conner. But self-esteem issues on her part, as well as her unresolved feelings for Juan-Carlos, cause her to second guess Conner's motives. Conner will stop at nothing until he claims Mollie's heart for his own.

KT Grant's For the Love of Mollie is more sensual than most of my reads so be forewarned, it's not for the faint of heart. That said, it was new romance territory for me making it a refreshing read. I haven't come across many heroines that could be labelled as larger women. Curvy, sure - but Mollie thinks that she's a bit more than that. Her insecurities were understandable and completely relatable. Who hasn't had a body image issue at some point? At times, I found Mollie's constant harping on her weight issues to be annoying, however that's mostly due to my personal impatience than any characterization issues.

The hero, Conner, was also interesting. I found his adoration of Mollie utterly endearing and his perseverance in the face of her insecurities and obvious desires for her friend, Juan-Carlos, admirable. The two of them fall into bed with each other quickly. While I understand that the short length of the novel has something to do with this, I still wish that there had been more build-up of the tension. I also had some moments where I felt the dialog was off. The word choices sometimes felt odd or forced for normal, contemporary people.

Despite my complaints, I liked the premise behind For the Love of Mollie. I think that Grant's plotting was good and I'm interested to see where - and how far - she goes in her fairly new career.

Grade: C

Other Reviews:
Geeky Blogger's Book Blog - 3/5
Wicked Little Pixie - 4.5/5
Happily Ever After Review - 4.5/5

Visit KT Grant at her site and blog for information about her and her novels

Guest Post: Why Mollie? How To Create A Character by KT Grant

2010-08-17T01:00:00.005-04:00

Today I'm lucky enough to host KT Grant, author of three erotic romance novels. Her contemporary release, For the Love of Mollie, was just released this month. Some of you may also know her as the blogger Katiebabs of Babbling About Books, and More! I'm glad to have her here talking a bit about her heroine, Mollie and want went into creating her.

Why Mollie? How To Create A Character

One of the hardest parts when starting on a new book is coming up with the main protagonist, the character that the story revolves around. For the Love of Mollie and the character of Mollie McGree came out of my own experiences with my body image and weight issues. I've always dreamed about the perfect man sweeping me off my feet and not caring what I look like or if I'm not under a certain weight number or have a pants size too big. So many romances that I've read has a perfect looking heroine. My favorite romances are those with the not so perfect hero or heroine. These two characters may have specific traits that those other characters around them may find lacking. It could be their face, personality or their body. For the heroine, it's usually their disgust over the size of their chest or too many curves too count.

I've always wanted to write a romance with a heroine, who feels she's too curvy, is shocked by the hero who comes along and thinks she is perfect the way she is. The hardest part is writing a believable story where the handsome hero is attractive to the heroine. In turn she thinks she is all wrong for this man because of what she looks like. Mollie is beautiful. She has a curly black Herbal Essence type hair, a wonderful smile and looks great in a dress. So what if she may be a double digit size? She bemoans about her too big hips and thighs and decides she wants to do something about it. The reason she takes action is that she's attracted to her very good friend, Juan-Carlos, a sexy Cuban masseuse. Mollie thinks if she gets rid of her extra weight, Juan-Carlos will be interested in her and take their friendship to the next level. Out of nowhere comes Conner Bean, a younger, smoking hot man who sees Mollie and is instantly smitten. The thing with Conner is that even though he promotes health and fitness, and is surrounded by beautiful women who are afraid to eat because they think they'll get fat, is that he finds women with curves, exactly like Mollie, to be his ideal woman.

One of the favorite things while writing For the Love of Mollie was having Conner seducing Mollie through his stares, caresses and even with food. Conner becomes so aroused as he watches Mollie eating chocolate covered strawberries. He goes as far in his mind to want to eat chocolate off her body! And because Conner loves watching Mollie eat them, she in turn enjoys them also and doesn’t feel guilty about eating these treats.

By the time Conner shows Mollie how special she is to him and that she is everything beautiful and wonderful, Mollie beings to think that about herself because of Conner's love.

Are there any books you have enjoyed reading where the hero or heroine may think they are not so perfect on the outside?

About For the Love of Mollie

Mollie McGree is on a mission to seduce her best friend, the sexy masseuse Juan-Carlos. But she wants to lose a few extra pounds first. She joins a gym run by self- made millionaire and personal trainer, Conner Bean. Conner thinks Mollie doesn't need to lose any weight, and is perfect just the way she is. He plans to seduce the curvy Mollie by giving her his own special training sessions in passion and desire.

Soon Mollie is enjoying a no-holds-barred love affair with the vibrant and skilled Conner. But self-esteem issues on her part, as well as her unresolved feelings for Juan-Carlos, cause her to second guess Conner's motives. Conner will stop at nothing until he claims Mollie's heart for his own.

You can purchase For the Love of Mollie here

About KT

KT Grant is a self-proclaimed eccentric redhead who not only loves to read a wide variety of romances, but also loves writing it. Under her alter-ego, she is a well known book reviewer and blogger who doesn't shy away from voicing her opinion. A proud native of New Jersey, KT is multi-published and known for writing "out of the box" romances. KT has been quoted in such publications as the Romance Writers Associations’ Romance Writers Report and Night Owl Reviews. She has also been mentioned in the Guardian.UK, Publisher's Weekly's Beyond the Book and at Bookseller.com.

Visit KT Grant:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Her Personal blog - Babbling About Books, and More!

KT's other releases:

Lovestruck - Buy here

The Princess's Bride - Buy here

Review: Kiss It by Erin Downing

2010-08-16T16:20:00.002-04:00

Kiss It by Erin Downing
Young Adult General Fiction/Romance
Simon Pulse (June 15, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-1416997009
288 pages
Review copy provided by the author

A girl's gotta do who a girl's gotta do.

Chastity Bryan has never been shy about going after what she wants. And when sexy, mysterious, so-not-from-this-town Sebastian walks into Chaz's life, she knows in an instant that what she wants next is him. Chaz has no intention of playing for keeps—but she most definitely has intentions. Who needs true love when you've got true lust?

Sebastian has no idea what he's in for—but maybe neither does Chaz?.

I've been putting off this review for since the week before Kiss It was released. The reason for that? I was (and still am to a degree) uncertain about just what my feelings were toward this novel. With Kiss It, Erin Downing has told a very frank tale of teenage sexuality and the inevitable pressures and realities inherent to the subject that could potentially be very polarizing.

The protagonist, Chaz, narrates her quest to finally have sex. Her reasons for the urgency behind her goal seem stereotypical at first - she's a bundle of teenage hormones and horniness. However, despite being somewhat emotionally closed-off and having an aversion to romantic attachment, it becomes apparent through her loneliness amongst her friends and family that what she needs is a true connection with someone. Still, she's aggressive, blunt and, at times, given to using a certain male character to reach her goal. She feels guilt at the appropriate times, but her abrasive personality and the fact that she uses someone multiple times makes her a hard character to like. That said, I may not have liked Chaz much but at least she was real - a quality that I admire in people both actual and fiction. Her authenticity and awareness of her developing sexuality is something that I could relate to and, therefore, use to connect with her. As long as I can understand a character, I don't need to love them.

Another thing that makes Chaz more palatable and her story a bit less polarizing is the romance that takes place between her and Sebastien, a fellow high-school senior who is visiting his Dad in Chaz's town. The tension zinging between the two of them is present from the start and never lets up. That doesn't preclude there relationship from getting of to an awkward start, however. In Sebastien, Chaz finds a kindred spirit and an begins to open up to both him and the reader. As we gain insight into our protagonist, we also learn more about the mysterious and sexy boy that she's falling for. His story is pretty intriguing and unique, although I didn't quite buy how extreme it was made out to be.

While not surprising, it is interesting to watch Chaz's views of love and sex change during the course of the story. Her relationship with Sebastien progresses quickly but remains believable given the circumstances of the novel and their ages. If you choose to pick this one up, don't go into it thinking that it's just a romance. Not only is it more than that, but you'll inevitably be disappointed with the less-than-fairy-tale ending.

Though my regard toward Chaz remains somewhat conflicted, I do feel that it's important to have YA novels like this one - so open about the topic of sex while not being preachy or neglecting to touch upon various viewpoints.

Grade: B

Other Reviews:
The Story Siren - 5/5 stars
Persnickety Snark
Pop Culture Junkie - 3.5/5 stars

Visit Erin Downing's site and blog for more information about her and her novels.

Are we reading the same thing?

2010-08-16T13:01:00.001-04:00

That's the questions I sometimes have after reading other bloggers' reviews on books that I've read myself. The various ways that fellow readers interpret books never fail to surprise or intrigue me.

I recently read Lou's review of All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins at The Book Pushers and was stunned by her perception of a scene that was so disparate from my own interpretation of it. (LARGE SPOILER AHEAD!) The scene in question was one in which the main character, Callie, is caught kissing her former lover and longtime object of desire by her new boyfriend, Ian. I agree with Lou's assessment that it's kind of a forced occurrence used to cause some conflict between the hero and heroine. Where her ideas differ, however, is when it comes down to the who-did-what details. As I read the book, I perceived Callie as innocent and only a victim of her selfish ex's machinations and bad timing. Lou, though, saw it as Callie "kissing [her] ex to make sure [she didn't] have any feeling left for him". Now, I'm not disagreeing or disparaging Lou's viewpoint. I just find it fascinating the way that she experienced that scene.

This started me thinking about all of the other times this has happened. I don't know about you, but it happens to me often. Sometimes, the various interpretations just serve as fodder for my musings by giving me another way to look at a book that I've already read and formed opinions on. Other times, especially when it's a book that I have extremely negative or positive feelings about, I find myself wanting to rail at the commenter. How can they think that about ____ book? Clearly they must have read it wrong. They just don't "get" it.

But is there a such thing as "getting" a novel? Is anyone's reading experience ever wrong. I don't truly think so. Despite however I feel about a story, every reader is entitled (and should be encouraged) to experience it in their own way. That's the beauty of book blogging - it allows bloggers and commentators to put their two-cents in as well as view the story through the lens of someone else's experience.

Currently Coveting (13)

2010-08-12T13:18:00.002-04:00

On Shelves Now

The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, Volume I by Diana Wynne Jones

Young Adult Fantasy

In this multiple parallel universes of the Twelve Related Worlds, only an enchanter with nine lives is powerful enough to control the rampant misuse of magic--and to hold the title Chrestomanci...

The Chants are a family strong in magic, but neither Christopher Chant nor Cat Chant can work even the simplest of spells. Who could have dreamed that both Christopher and Cat were born with nine lives--or that they could lose them so quickly?

I'm ashamed to say that I've yet to read anything by Diana Wynne Jones, despite having heard so many great things about her work (esp. Howl's Moving Castle). What actually prompted me to put this on my wishlist was the YA Fantasy Showdown between the protagonist Christopher Chant and Hermione of Harry Potter fame.

Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and The Dawn of the Modern Woman by Sam Wasson
Non-fiction - Social History

Audrey Hepburn is an icon like no other, yet the image many of us have of Audrey—dainty, immaculate—is anything but true to life. Here, for the first time, Sam Wasson presents the woman behind the little black dress that rocked the nation in 1961. The first complete account of the making of Breakfast at Tiffany's, Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. reveals little-known facts about the cinema classic: Truman Capote desperately wanted Marilyn Monroe for the leading role; director Blake Edwards filmed multiple endings; Hepburn herself felt very conflicted about balancing the roles of mother and movie star. With a colorful cast of characters including Truman Capote, Edith Head, Givenchy, "Moon River" composer Henry Mancini, and, of course, Hepburn herself, Wasson immerses us in the America of the late fifties before Woodstock and birth control, when a not-so-virginal girl by the name of Holly Golightly raised eyebrows across the country, changing fashion, film, and sex for good. Indeed, cultural touchstones like Sex and the City owe a debt of gratitude to Breakfast at Tiffany's.

In this meticulously researched gem of a book, Wasson delivers us from the penthouses of the Upper East Side to the pools of Beverly Hills, presenting Breakfast at Tiffany's as we have never seen it before—through the eyes of those who made it. Written with delicious prose and considerable wit, Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. shines new light on a beloved film and its incomparable star.

I've been lusting after this one for months. I don't recall where I spotted, just that I was a while ago and it's about time that I bought it. I have a thing for Audrey Hepburn and documentaries/histories on culture and film.

A Girl Named Mister by Nikki Grimes

Young Adult Novel In Verse/General Fiction/Christian Fiction

My boyfriend used to think it was cute, a girl named Mister. Used to think I was cute. Used to be my boyfriend what feels like a million years ago. Then again, I used to be a good Christian girl, the kind who would never, well... Just goes to show how little people know. Even I was surprised by me. Now, I close my eyes hoping to see exactly where I went wrong.

Mary Rudine, called Mister by almost everyone, has attended church and sung in the choir for as long as she can remember. But then she meets Trey. His long lashes and smooth words make her question what she knows is right, and one mistake leaves her hiding a growing secret. Another Mary is preparing for her upcoming wedding and has done everything according to Jewish law. So when an angel appears one night and tells her that she---a virgin---will give birth, Mary can't help but feel confused, and soon finds herself struggling with the greatest blessing the world will ever know. Feeling abandoned, Mister is drawn to Mary's story, and together both young women discover the depth of God's love and the mysteries of his divine plan.

I haven't read (or been read) anything by Nikki Grimes since I was a child. It's also been a while since I've read a novel in verse or anything by a Christian publisher. I'm aiming to rectify all of that with this one.

Upcoming Releases

The Native Star by M. K. Hobson

Historical Fantasy
Release Date: Aug. 31, 2010

In the tradition of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, this brilliant first novel fuses history, fantasy, and romance. Prepare to be enchanted by M. K. Hobson’s captivating take on the Wild, Wild West.

The year is 1876. In the small Sierra Nevada settlement of Lost Pine, the town witch, Emily Edwards, is being run out of business by an influx of mail-order patent magics. Attempting to solve her problem with a love spell, Emily only makes things worse. But before she can undo the damage, an enchanted artifact falls into her possession—and suddenly Emily must flee for her life, pursued by evil warlocks who want the object for themselves.

Dreadnought Stanton, a warlock from New York City whose personality is as pompous and abrasive as his name, has been exiled to Lost Pine for mysterious reasons. Now he finds himself involuntarily allied with Emily in a race against time—and across the United States by horse, train, and biomechanical flying machine—in quest of the great Professor Mirabilis, who alone can unlock the secret of the coveted artifact. But along the way, Emily and Stanton will be forced to contend with the most powerful and unpredictable magic of all—the magic of the human heart.

Randomly found this through Goodreads giveaways. It sounds like it may have some steampunk elements as well - color me intrigued!

My Soul to Steal (Soul Screamers, #4) by Rachel Vincent
Young Adult Urban Fantasy

Release Date: Jan. 1, 2011

YOU WANT MY SOUL AND MY BOYFRIEND?

Trying to work things out with Nash—her maybe boyfriend—is hard enough for Kaylee Cavanaugh. She can’t just pretend nothing happened. But “complicated” doesn’t even begin to describe their relationship when his ex-girlfriend transfers to their school, determined to take Nash back.

See, Sabine isn’t just an ordinary girl. She’s a mara, the living personification of a nightmare. She can read people’s fears—and craft them into nightmares while her victims sleep. Feeding from human fear is how she survives.

And Sabine isn’t above scaring Kaylee and the entire school to death to get whatever—and whoever—she wants.

I DON’T THINK SO.

I've enjoyed the books in the Soul Screamers series so far (in varying degrees - see my reviews of books 1, 2 and 3). After My Soul to Keep, I'm eager as hell to check out book 4!

Entangled by Cat Clarke

Young Adult ??

UK Release Date: January 6, 2011 US Release: Unknown

The same questions whirl round and round in my head:
What does he want from me?
How could I have let this happen?
AM I GOING TO DIE?

17-year-old Grace wakes up in a white room, with table, pens and paper - and no clue how she got here.

As Grace's pours her tangled life onto the page, she is forced to remember everything she's tried to forget. There's falling hopelessly in love with the gorgeous Nat, and the unravelling of her relationship with her best friend Sal. But there's something missing. As hard as she's trying to remember, is there something she just can't see?

Grace must face the most important question of all. Why is she here?

A story of dark secrets, intense friendship and electrifying attraction.

Another Goodreads giveaway find (It's really a great way to find new-to-you books.) I don't know what genre this one falls under, but the synopsis has left me wanting. This is one of those instances where The Book Depository is genius. As of now, this book is only set to be published by Quercus - a British publisher. It sounds too interesting to miss though, so I'll be getting mine through The Book Depository.

What books are you guys coveting right now?

Contest form fixed!

2010-08-11T12:28:00.000-04:00

Hi guys,

Apparently there was an issue with the giveaway form for Captured by Desire by Kira Morgan. It's working now and I'll extend the contest for an extra day so it now ends on the 25th. Go enter here!

Having fun with the YA Fantasy Showdown

2010-08-10T10:20:00.002-04:00

So today marks the beginning of Heather Zundel's YA Fantasy Showdown. The list of characters is pretty diverse in both gender and race. What's really cool about it are the short scenes that Heather's written up imagining how the battle will go down between each match-up. Plus, I'm getting introduced to some characters/books!

Here's a look at the Edward vs. Katsa battle (click to enlarge):

Guest Post & Giveaway: What makes the perfect hero by Kira Morgan, author of Captured by Desire

2010-08-10T09:54:00.000-04:00

Today I'm lucky enough to host Kira Morgan, a prolific romance author that has written several novels under the names Sarah McKerrigan and Glynnis Campbell. Her latest release, Captured by Desire, is the first under her new pseudonym and was released on August 1st. Take it away, Kira!

What makes the perfect hero?

Broad shoulders, big muscles, white teeth, right?

Well...maybe. A certain amount of what we consider physical attractiveness stems from primal instincts rooted in caveman days when health and fitness ruled. Cavewomen needed mates who could hunt and who weren’t going to die before the last kid left the cave.

Now that our well-being doesn’t rely on our partner’s mammoth-hunting skills--though we still have a bit of a vestigial attraction to hunky men--our qualifiers for attractiveness have shifted. We’re now capable of finding beauty in every kind of beast: skinny boys with tattoos, red-haired beanpoles with freckles, roly-poly biker dudes, pale nerds in glasses.

It’s truly a blessing. Imagine if everyone hungered for the same man.

Thankfully, we seem to prefer different flavors. Some of us go for Gerard, some for George. Some like Legolas, some like Aragorn. Some of us are Edward ladies, some of us prefer Jacob.

But enough about looks.

We may yearn for those handsome hunks looming large on the movie screen, but when it comes to making a life with someone (which is, after all, the goal in a romance novel), heroes have much more depth.

So what does a woman want most in a hero?

Understanding.

Surprised? That’s what heroines are usually looking for in romance novels. Sometimes it takes the whole book to get to that point. The path may be fraught with miscommunication, mistakes, missteps. But eventually the hero gets the heroine. He GETS the heroine.

Maybe this is what makes readers fall in love with different heroes and different novels. All of us want to be understood, and the hero who touches the heroine (and us) in just the right place in the heart is the one who resonates with us long after we close the book.

The heroes I write, of course, always resonate with me. My hero may not be the biggest man in the room, but he has the most self-confidence. He may even be a bit cocky, which requires the heroine to knock him down a peg or two. He definitely has a sense of loyalty, a sense of honor, and a sense of humor. He’s kind, brave, and intelligent. He also has a lot of patience. I tend to write kick-arse heroines who need heroes strong enough to tame their wild ways and worthy enough to win their wayward hearts.

What about you? What kind of hero plays your heartstrings to perfection?

I hope my heroes resonate with you, too. Pick up a copy of CAPTURED BY DESIRE, then visit my website at www.glynnis.net/kiramorgan or friend me at www.facebook.com/kiramorganauthor and tell me if Rane MacAllister kept you up all night!

About Captured by Desire:

In 16th century Scotland, young Miss Florie Gilder runs away from her drunken foster father to find her real father and her noble heritage. Along the way, she is accused of theft, becomes a fugitive hiding in a forest, and is accidentally wounded by a handsome local huntsman. The huntsman--a Robin-Hood figure who poaches wild game from the landowner's estate to feed the starving poor--carries the beautiful maiden to a church where she is guaranteed 40 days of sanctuary from the law. During that time, he learns her true story, falls in love with her, and helps her in her quest, at the risk of his own life. Smitten with him, she worries more for his survival. But enemies of the state are seeking to overturn the Catholic royals, while a vicious noblewoman is out to destroy Florie.

Thanks for the great post, Kira!

Did Kira's post get you intrigued? Want to see what Capture by Desire has in store? Well, you should be sure to check out Kira's site for more info about her and her novels, but you can also try to win one of 5 copies graciously donated by Hachette. Just note the rules below and enter!

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Friday Feature (on Saturday): Dystopian August @ Presenting Lenore

2010-08-07T14:55:00.000-04:00

Who: Book blogger and dystopian YA enthusiast, Lenore

What: Dystopian August. According to Lenore, here's what she has in store:

Reviews of over 20 dystopian novels, past, present and future - complete with my infamous Zombie Chicken Ratings . . .

as well as . . .

Interviews with authors of dystopian fiction.

Dystopian Reader Views - I surveyed a ton of readers on fascinating dystopian related topics and I'll be sharing the results in a series of posts. You are invited to join in my posting your own response to the topic, either in the comments or on your own blog.

Previews of dystopian fiction coming out in 2011 and 2012.

Contests and book giveaways and more!

When: Throughout the entire month

Where: At Presenting Lenore

Why: Because I love YA dystopian lit and Lenore has a great lineup of content. I'm definitely going to participate and I encourage fellow readers and bloggers to do the same. Plus, Lenore is hosting a great giveaway for anyone that writes and submits a review of a dystopian book this month (you don't have to be a blogger to enter either!).

Pint-Sized 'Pinions: YA Fantasy Edition

2010-08-06T14:18:00.004-04:00

Today's minis cover three young adult fantasy novels and one middle grade fairy tale adaptation.

Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore
Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (December 22, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-1599904306
240 pages

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.

Dolamore's unique story is pretty engaging. I found myself caught up in Nimira's world and characters (although, I ended up liking Erris a bit more than I did Nimira). The plot was well-crafted and the love story was very sweet. In the end, I wished that the author had delved deeper into the world she had created. Especially when it came to the fairies. I'm glad that the ending came with a sense of resolution despite the fact that a lot was left open for the sequel.

Grade: B

Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Harcourt Children's Books (October 1, 2008)
ISBN-13: 978-0152063962
480 pages

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.

When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

I'm not doing a full-on review of this one because you can find those all over the place. Suffice it to say, all of the hype is worth it. This is truly one of the best YA novels that I've ever read in any genre. Katsa is an amazingly strong, yet vulnerable, heroine and her presence makes the wonderful world that Cashore created all the more captivating.

Grade: A+

Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken
EgmontUSA (March 23, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-1606840382
368 pages

When Wayland North brings rain to a region that's been dry for over ten years, he's promised anything he'd like as a reward. He chooses the village elder's daughter, sixteen-year-old Sydelle Mirabel, who is a skilled weaver and has an unusual knack for repairing his magical cloaks. Though Sydelle has dreamt of escaping her home, she's hurt that her parents relinquish her so freely and finds herself awed and afraid of the slightly ragtag wizard who is unlike any of the men of magic in the tales she's heard. Still, she is drawn to this mysterious man who is fiercely protective of her and so reluctant to share his own past.

The pair rushes toward the capital, intent to stop an imminent war, pursued by Reuel Dorwan (a dark wizard who has taken a keen interest in Sydelle) and plagued by unusually wild weather. But the sudden earthquakes and freak snowstorms may not be a coincidence. As Sydelle discovers North's dark secret and the reason for his interest in her and learns to master her own mysterious power, it becomes increasingly clear that the fate of the kingdom rests in her fingertips. She will either be a savior, weaving together the frayed bonds between Saldorra and Auster, or the disastrous force that destroys both kingdoms forever.

For a first novel from such a young author, Brightly Woven is a stellar debut. The world that Bracken built - with its elements of intrigue, religion and magic - was lovely. That said, it's not the best in YA fantasy. Although I was fascinated by the world that Bracken created, I was less than enamored of the characters. I don't always need to love main characters, but I do need to connect with them in order to care about their journey and I wasn't able to do that as much as I would have liked here. I also thought that too many ideas and elements were introduced that weren't explored enough.

Grade: B-

The Wide-Awake Princess by E.D. Baker
Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (May 11, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-1599904870
272 pages

In this new stand-alone fairy tale, Princess Annie is the younger sister to Gwen, the princess destined to be Sleeping Beauty. When Gwennie pricks her finger and the whole castle falls asleep, only Annie is awake, and only Annie—blessed (or cursed?) with being impervious to magic—can venture out beyond the rose-covered hedge for help. She must find Gwen's true love to kiss her awake.

But who is her true love? The irritating Digby? The happy-go-lucky Prince Andreas, who is holding a contest to find his bride? The conniving Clarence, whose sinister motives couldn't possibly spell true love? Joined by one of her father's guards, Liam, who happened to be out of the castle when the sleeping spell struck, Annie travels through a fairy tale land populated with characters both familiar and new as she tries to fix her sister and her family . . . and perhaps even find a true love of her own.

It's been a while since I've read a lighthearted middle-grade novel, so the innocence of this story took a chapter or two of getting used to. Once I acclimated though, I was utterly charmed. Annie is a smart and brave heroine that's easy to sympathize with no matter what your age. The mixture of original and borrowed fairy tale characters were fun and captivating, as was Annie's quest to save her family and kingdom.

Grade: B

Each book was a review copy was provided by the publisher for an honest (and uncompensated) review.

Audiobook curiousities

2010-08-06T02:40:00.000-04:00

As you may or may not know, AudiobookCommunity.com is doing a big promotion of YA audiobooks this summer by giving away downloads of popular and classic titles. I've been using the opportunity to give audiobooks a real try.

Growing up, I had listened to a few audiobooks - in school and at home. I remember really liking the experience of listening to a book, but that was before I grew out of wanting to be read to. Since my teens, I've always believed that I prefer holding a book and reading it for myself. This belief was cemented by my utter loathing of my dad's habit of reading almost everything aloud. So, you could say I've been a bit unfairly biased against purchasing audiobooks.

Since the Sync promotion began, I've downloaded quite a few of the books (never let it be said that I don't love a free book - no matter what the format is). The first that I listened to was Bloody Jack by L. A. Meyer, read by Katherine Kellgren. I was especially excited about it because I'd heard a lot of great things about the series and had been meaning to try it. If there was ever an audiobook that could fully convert a reader, it'd be this one.

Not only was the book phenomenal, but so was the narrator. Bloody Jack is about a London teen named Mary that disguises herself as a boy named Jack to gain a position on a Naval ship. It's set in the early 17th century and the characters are diverse. There are London street urchins (of which Jacky is one), members of more privileged classes, an Irish character and even a few Jamaicans. I'm not sure if Kellgren is British, but she did a very convincing job with the accents in my opinion. Plus, she's great at convincingly changing her voice from character to character. Kellgren's voice is so adept at showcasing personalities, feelings and situations that I almost became an instant convert to audiobooks. Almost.

The next one that I decided to listen to was The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, read by Carolyn McCormick. I've read the book before but I had decided to reread it and Catching Fire in preparation for Mockingjay's upcoming release. I just knew it would be good - I already loved the story and Bloody Jack had me convinced that audiobooks were manna.

Boy, was I let down.

McCormick's voice just did not invoke the spirit of Katniss for me. She failed to infuse her Katniss voice with the necessary senses of (mature) youthfulness and kick-assness. Her interpretations of the secondary characters were usually pretty good, even great in Haymitch and Effie's cases. However, her version of Peeta was laughable and sucked all of the romance out the tale. Maybe what hindered my enjoyment of the audio version was the fact that I'd already read the book and constructed my own ideas about the characters. Maybe, but I prefer to blame the narrator.

The Hunger Games didn't do much to dispel my notion that audiobooks have the power to diminish the enjoyment of a good story. In fact, it reinforced it. That said, I am more open to the idea of listening to a book. A story can really come alive in the right hands. I doubt I'll be buying many of them in the future but, if I get a great recommendation for one, I'll probably check more out.

How do you guys feel about audiobooks? Got any good recommendations?

Currently Coveting (12)

2010-08-04T20:10:00.007-04:00

On Shelves Now

Upstate by Kalisha Buckhanon

General Fiction

"Baby, the first thing I need to know from you is do you believe I killed my father?"

So begins Upstate, a powerful story told through letters between seventeen-year-old Antonio and his sixteen-year-old girlfriend, Natasha, set in the 1990's in New York. Antonio and Natasha's world is turned upside down, and their young love is put to the test, when Antonio finds himself in jail, accused of a shocking crime. Antonio fights to stay alive on the inside, while on the outside, Natasha faces choices that will change her life. Over the course of a decade, they share a desperate correspondence. Often, they have only each other to turn to as life takes them down separate paths and leaves them wondering if they will ever find their way back together.

Startling, real, and filled with raw emotion, Upstate is an unforgettable coming-of-age story with a message of undeniable hope. Brilliant and profoundly felt, it is destined to speak to a new generation of readers.

I found this one in a round-about way via one of those Goodreads sidebar suggestions of her other novel, Conception (which I also added to my wishlist). I chose to feature this one instead of the other due to its abundance of positive reviews and the fact that it won an ALA Alex Award (which is given to adult novels with young adult appeal).

Dormia by Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski
Young Adult Fantasy

Alfonso Perplexon is an unusual sleeper. He climbs trees, raises falcons, even shoots deadly accurate arrows, all in his sleep. No one can figure out why.
Then one evening a man arrives at Alfonso’s door, claiming to be Alfonso’s long-lost uncle Hill. This uncle tells a fantastical tale: Alfonso’s ancestors hail from Dormia—an ancient kingdom of gifted sleepers—which is hidden in the snowy peaks of the Ural Mountains. According to Hill, Dormia exists thanks to a tree known as the Founding Tree, with roots that pump life into the frozen valley. But the Founding Tree is now dying, and in a matter of days, Dormia faces an icy apocalypse.
Dormia’s salvation lies with the Great Sleeper, who possesses the special powers to enter a sleep trance and grow a new Founding Tree. Hill suspects that Alfonso is just such a person. In fact, Alfonso’s sleeping-self has already hatched this tree. Now the question is: Can Alfonso and his uncle deliver it in time? They must hurry, but they also must be careful not to be followed by Dormia’s age-old enemy, the Dragoonya, who are always hunting for one of the secret entryways into Dormia. Alfonso agrees to take the tree to Dormia, and thus begins one of the greatest adventures a twelve-year-old boy could ever wish for.

This book just came to my attention after receiving an eARC of the sequel, World's End. I love the idea of a hero that saves the day in his sleep!

His Darkest Hunger by Juliana Stone

Paranormal Romance

Jaxon Castille: jaguar shifter, warrior, assassin. He has long hungered for the chance to make his former lover, Libby Jamieson, pay for her deadly betrayal. After three long years he's finally found her. The hunt is over . . .

But the Libby that he finds is not what he expected. She has no memory of their tumultuous affair, of her treachery, of anything beyond her own name. A shadowy and deadly clan has marked them both for death, and in an instant, he game changes: the hunter has become the hunted.

On the run, with the ghosts of their past between them and a dark, desperate hunger quickly reclaiming their bodies and souls, Libby and Jaxon must discover the truth behind the dark forces working against them. Together, they must grab hold of a destiny that has the power to either heal them or destroy them.

But the truth is far more shattering than anyone could imagine . . .

Same deal as with Dormia. Honestly, I probably wouldn't have looked at this twice if I hadn't received the eARC of book 2, His Darkest Embrace, and read the good reviews for this one.

Upcoming Releases

Notorious Pleasures (Maiden Lane, #2) by Elizabeth Hoyt

Historical Romance
Release Date: February 1, 2011

Their lives were perfect . . .
Lady Hero Batten, the beautiful sister of the Duke of Wakefield, has everything a woman could want, including the perfect fiancé. True, the Marquis of Mandeville is a trifle dull and has no sense of humor, but that doesn't bother Hero. Until she meets his notorious brother . . .

Until they met each other.
Griffin Remmington, Lord Reading, is far from perfect - and he likes it that way. How he spends his days is a mystery, but all of London knows he engages in the worst sorts of drunken revelry at night. Hero takes an instant dislike to him, and Griffin thinks that Hero, with her charities and faultless manners, is much too impeccable for society, let alone his brother. Yet their near-constant battle of wits soon sparks desire - desire that causes their carefully constructed worlds to come tumbling down. As Hero's wedding nears, and Griffin's enemies lay plans to end their dreams forever, can two imperfect people find perfect true love?

Obviously I picked this because I loved its predecessor in the Maiden Lane series, Wicked Intentions (see my review). Lady Hero was an interesting character that I wanted more of in WI (rather than the heroine's sister, Silence, who was mildly boring).

The Locket by Stacey Jay
Young Adult Paranormal

Release Date: February 3, 2011

What if you got a second chance to fix your worst mistake?

What if you found out miracles could happen?

What if you found out that sometimes, miracles are curses in disguise...

One girl, two boys, and one very scary piece of jewelry.

The only reason this is on my wishlist is because I enjoyed Jay's Megan Berry books. What I liked most about her novels was the sense of humor. The Locket looks more serious in tone and I'm interested to see how she does with this one. I hope it doesn't read like all of the rest of the clone-like YA paranormal books.

Confessions of a Vampire's Girlfriend by Katie Maxwell/Katie MacAlister

Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Release Date: November 2, 2010

Got Fangs?

All sixteen-year-old Francesca Ghetti wants to do is have a normal life where she’s one of the crowd, blending in so no one will know just how much of a freak she is. Dragged to Europe by her mother to join GothFaire, a travelling band of psychics, magicians, and assorted other oddities, Fran has to cope with not only the normal angst of always being a fish out of water, but also with her own fate as a psychometrist.

Enter one Moravian Dark One (referred to by most people as vampires) named Benedikt who claims Fran is the key to redeeming his soul, a mysterious horse who seems to have an involved past, an immortal friend who remembers what Mozart was like, and a demonologist who thinks he’s Elvis, and you can understand why Fran despairs of ever fitting in.

Circus of the Darned

I’ve given up all hope of having a normal life. As if things weren’t freaky enough traveling around Europe with a group of witches, mediums, and magicians who make up my home-away-from-home (aka the GothFaire), now I also have to cope with a mysterious man who wants to steal my horse, and a time-travel counselor who insists I’m Cleopatra reincarnated.

I just want to go on a date with Benedikt, but when your boyfriend’s a vampire, nothing is easy. Not only is Ben keeping secrets from me, but somehow, I raised an entire battlefield of warring Viking ghosts–all of whom refuse to be sent back.

And I thought all I had to worry about was what to wear on my date…

MacAlister's Dark Ones series is a guilty pleasure of mine. This is an omnibus of her previously released YA installments in the series (released as Got Fangs? and Circus of the Darned) that's being put out the same day as In the Company of Vampires - the adult continuation of the story.

What books are you guys coveting right now?

Review: Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt

2010-08-02T11:00:00.011-04:00

Wicked Intentions (Maiden Lane, 1) by Elizabeth Hoyt
Historical Romance
Grand Central Publishing (July 27, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0446558945
416 pages
ARC received for review from publisher

Synopsis from Amazon:

A MAN CONTROLLED BY HIS DESIRES . . .

Infamous for his wild, sensual needs, Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire, is searching for a savage killer in St. Giles, London's most notorious slum. Widowed Temperance Dews knows St. Giles like the back of her hand-she's spent a lifetime caring for its inhabitants at the foundling home her family established. Now that home is at risk . . .

A WOMAN HAUNTED BY HER PAST . . .

Caire makes a simple offer-in return for Temperance's help navigating the perilous alleys of St. Giles, he will introduce her to London's high society so that she can find a benefactor for the home. But Temperance may not be the innocent she seems, and what begins as cold calculation soon falls prey to a passion that neither can control-one that may well destroy them both.

A BARGAIN NEITHER COULD REFUSE

Until picking up Wicked Intentions, To Seduce a Sinner had been the only Elizabeth Hoyt novel that I had read. I remember being so impressed with the story, especially how real and raw it felt - suspense plot and all. The hero and heroine were so well-drawn and complex that they outshone the typical rake and spinster archetypes.

The same holds true for Temperance Dews and Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire, who are so much more than the lonely widow and emotionally unavailable rogue. Lazarus could easily have been unlikable with his demanding and slightly self-absorbed personality. He has long ago given up on his ability to emotionally and physically connect with others. Upon meeting Temperance, he finds that maybe he was too hasty in his assumptions. I loved watching him exercise his curiosity and eagerness to understand and share her emotions. Temperance is likewise intrigued by this gentleman's inexplicable interest in her. She doesn't have a very high opinion of herself, due to a past mistake, and is dedicated to her self-imposed punishments. She faults herself for her very humanness, yet it's this humanity that captivates Lord Caire and leads him to discover his own.

As a couple, they are one of the best. They reached out, grabbed my heart, broke it and put it back together so that it was even better than before. These two broken individuals find themselves in dire circumstances that require them to rely on each other. Their unlikely romance is made believable by their dependency on the other to help them fix their desperate situations and, ultimately, heal themselves. All that plus the most instant, undeniable and extremely hot chemistry.

There are plenty of other interesting and well-constructed bits to the story apart from the romance. The King Lockedheart vignettes at the start of each chapter are fun to read and tie in nicely with some of the novels themes. While there's no explanation as to why the story is included, it does such a wonderful job of connecting to the tale - and echoing Lazarus's journey in particular - that it's randomness is easily forgiven.

The murder mystery at the heart of the plot is also engaging. This is mostly due to the atmospheric setting of St. Giles and the dangerous, desperate and depraved citizens that inhabit it. In fact, the depth and urgency added by St. Giles and it's gin-swilling denizens well-suits the serious nature of the romance and makes the coming together of Temperance and Lazarus that much more necessary.

I also enjoyed reading about the dynamics and background of the other members of the Makepeace clan, Temperance's family. Their issues, both personal and with each other, made for some great conflicts in Wicked Intentions and promise even more to come in future Maiden Lane novels. The subplot involving Silence, Temperance's younger sister, is an obvious set up for a future story with her as its heroine. I didn't care much for her naiveté or storyline for the first 2/3, but (once the climax came around for her) I ended up enthralled.

Enthralled - that's an apt adjective for how I feel about the novel and Hoyt. Even though I've only read two of her works so far, I think it's safe to say that she's my new favorite historical romance author.

Grade: A-

Visit Elizabeth Hoyt's site for more info on her and her novels.

Other Reviews:
Book Soulmates - 4/5
Book Binge - 4.5/5
Rundpinne - 4.5/5

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