tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66749410109485239172024-03-04T23:42:41.924-05:00Through the Looking GlassSara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-24272278794218486052012-09-26T12:10:00.001-04:002012-09-26T12:10:19.094-04:00“Waiting On” Wednesday (14)<br /><p><a href='http://www.throughthelookingglassblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/WOW2.jpg'><img height='113' width='224' src='http://www.throughthelookingglassblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/WOW2_thumb.jpg' alt='WOW2' border='0' title='WOW2' style='border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto'/></a> </p><br /><p align='center'>âWaiting OnâWednesday is a weekly blog meme hosted by Jill at <a href='http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/'>Breaking the Spine</a>. Here, we shine the spotlight on books that are coming out soon that we are excited about reading!<br /></p><br /><p align='left'><img height='353' width='236' src='http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1336527144l/13513071.jpg' align='left' alt='The Innocents (The Innocents, #1)' border='0' style='border-right-width: 0px; margin: 2px 5px 5px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px'/></p><br /><p>The Innocents by: Lili Peloquin<br/>Publication Date: October 16, 2012<br/>Publisher: Razorbill<br/>Genre: Contemporary, Gothic, Romance, Mystery<br/>Series: The Innocents #1<br/>Page Count: 288<br/>Pre-order a copy: <a target='_blank' href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1595145826?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1595145826&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2'>Amazon</a>, <a target='_blank' href='http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-innocents-lili-peloquin/1108563879?ean=9781595145826&r=1&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-GwEz7vxblVU-_-10%3a1&'>Barnes and Noble</a></p><br /><p>Summary from Goodreads:</p><br /><blockquote><br /><p><em>Nothing ever came between sisters Alice and Charlie.<br/>Friends didn’t.<br/>Boys couldn’t.<br/>Their family falling apart never would.<br/>Until they got to Serenity Point.<br/>“The Innocents” is the first in a new series of young adult novels that weave a saga of nail-biting drama, breathless romance, and gothic mystery.</em></p><br /></blockquote><br /><p>The cover is what drew me in on <em>The Innocents</em>. It looks like a wonderful new contemporary/mystery series with some gothic elements and romance too!</p><br /><p><img height='357' width='237' src='http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1338990879l/12751687.jpg' align='right' alt='Finale (Hush, Hush, #4)' border='0' style='border-right-width: 0px; margin: 2px 10px 5px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px'/>Finale (Hush, Hush #4) by: Becca Fitzpatrick<br/>Publication Date: October 23, 2012<br/>Publisher: Simon and Schuster Childrenâs Publishing<br/>Genre: Paranormal, romance, angels, fantasy<br/>Series: Hush, Hush #4<br/>Page Count: 448<br/>Pre-order a copy: <a target='_blank' href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?keywords=9781442426672&index=books&linkCode=qs&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20'>Amazon</a>, <a target='_blank' href='http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/finale-becca-fitzpatrick/1109156341?ean=9781442426672&r=1&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-GwEz7vxblVU-_-10%3a1&'>Barnes and Noble</a></p><br /><p>Summary from Goodreads:</p><br /><blockquote><br /><p><em><strong>Fates unfurl in the gripping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Hush, Hush saga.</strong>Nora is more certain than ever that she is in love with Patch. Fallen angel or no, he is the one for her. Her heritage and destiny may mean they are fated to be enemies, but there is no turning her back on him. Now Nora and Patch must gather their strength to face one last, perilous trial. Old enemies return, new enemies are made, and a friend’s ultimate betrayal threatens the peace Patch and Nora so desperately want. The battle lines are drawnâbut which sides are they on? And in the end, are there some obstacles even love can’t conquer?<br/></em></p><br /></blockquote><br /><p>I have been in love with this series since the month <em>Hush, Hush</em> came out! It is for sure one of my absolute favorite series of all time. This is the last book! I hate to see the series end, but I hope it ends well. I canât wait for it!</p><br /><p> </p><br /><p><a href='http://www.throughthelookingglassblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/blogsign.png'><img height='103' width='224' src='http://www.throughthelookingglassblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/blogsign_thumb.png' alt='blog sign' border='0' title='blog sign' style='border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto'/></a></p><br /> <br/><a href='http://www.throughthelookingglassblog.com/2012/09/waiting-on-wednesday-14-2.html'>“Waiting On” Wednesday (14)</a><br />Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-59728658717307034002012-09-23T07:33:00.001-04:002012-09-23T07:33:01.389-04:00Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans<br /><p><img src='http://c.gigcount.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bHQ9MTM*ODM5OTYwNzk1MCZwdD*xMzQ4Mzk5NjU*NDYzJnA9MTA5ODIzMSZkPUxldmVsMiZuPXdvcmRwcmVzcyZnPTImbz1lYjUy/YjRiZTg3NmU*NDgzYTE*YzkyYTMyZWE2YTE5NyZvZj*w.gif' height='0' width='0' border='0' style='visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;'/><img src='http://c.gigcount.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=1098231.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEzMjkzNTk4MzEzMzgmcHQ9MTMyOTM1OTgzNjM2NyZwPTEwMDMwMjImZD1CZXR3ZWVuJTIwdGhlJTIwTGluZXMmZz*y/Jm89MzkzOTIzZmU2NDJjNDY3NDgwY2UwNTA2OWU*MmY1MGYmb2Y9MA==.gif' height='0' width='0' border='0' style='visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;'/><iframe src='http://go.thesyn.com/level2/level2.html' id='Bookframe' width='350' height='500' frameborder='0' scrolling='no'>Please view with IFRAME compatible browser</iframe></p><br /> <br/><a href='http://www.throughthelookingglassblog.com/2012/09/level-2-by-lenore-appelhans.html'>Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans</a><br />Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-86066993791991670762012-09-17T01:35:00.001-04:002012-09-17T01:35:24.909-04:00Test Post from Through the Looking Glass<p>Test Post from Through the Looking Glass http://www.throughthelookingglassblog.com</p>Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-20374086483249416812012-09-12T23:54:00.001-04:002012-09-12T23:54:33.494-04:00Moving to Wordpress!<p><font color="#000000" size="3">Hi, everyone! I have some very exciting news to share with you lovely people today! I am moving to Wordpress! I have been chatting with bloggers on Twitter and doing loads of research about making the switch and it seemed like the best option for me. I am planning on getting a blog design very soon as well, to match my shiny new Wordpress site! </font></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><font color="#000000" size="3">You can now find my blog here:</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.throughthelookingglassblog.com/"><font color="#9b00d3" size="3">http://www.throughthelookingglassblog.com/</font></a></p> Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-25820153638733727752012-09-11T00:00:00.000-04:002012-09-11T00:00:05.230-04:00YA Releases - 9/11 - 9/22<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Tilt" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1346263814l/11133791.jpg" width="140" /> <img alt="Sons of the 613" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1344607735l/13429613.jpg" width="133" /> <img alt="Beyond: A Ghost Story" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1333578339l/13275209.jpg" width="140" /> <img alt="Unspoken (The Lynburn Legacy, #1)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1333397426l/10866624.jpg" width="132" /></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11133791-tilt"><span style="color: #741b47;">Tilt</span></a> </span>by: Ellen Hopkins - 9/11/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13429613-sons-of-the-613"><span style="color: #741b47;">Sons of the 613</span></a> by: Michael Rubens - 9/11/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13275209-beyond"><span style="color: #741b47;">Beyond: A Ghost Story</span></a> by: Graham McNamee - 9/11/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10866624-unspoken"><span style="color: #741b47;">Unspoken (The Lynburn Legacy #1)</span></a> by: Sarah Rees Brennan - 9/11/12<br />
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<img alt="My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1337575585l/13101487.jpg" width="133" /> <img alt="Fang Girl" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1330286614l/13455572.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt="Like Moonlight at Low Tide: Sometimes the Current Is the Only Thing That Saves You" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1344713100l/13700670.jpg" width="137" /> <img alt="The Hunt (The Secret Circle, #5)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1330351646l/13502350.jpg" width="133" /><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13101487-my-super-sweet-sixteenth-century"><span style="color: #741b47;">My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century</span></a> by: Rachel Harris - 9/11/12<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13455572-fang-girl"><span style="color: #741b47;">Fang Girl</span></a> by: Helen Keeble - 9/13/12<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13700670-like-moonlight-at-low-tide"><span style="color: #741b47;">Midnight at Low Tide: Sometimes the Current Is The Only Thing That Saves You</span></a> by: Nicole Quigley - 9/11/12<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13502350-the-hunt"><span style="color: #741b47;">The Hunt (The Secret Circle #5)</span></a> by: L. J. Smith - 9/11/12</div>
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<img alt="Shadowfell (Shadowfell, #1)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1344028313l/13257528.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt="Hidden (Firelight, #3)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1346193503l/13455538.jpg" width="133" /> <img alt="Island of Doom: Hunchback Assignments 4" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1333578421l/13321213.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt="Hanging by a Thread" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1329949928l/13262764.jpg" width="130" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13257528-shadowfell"><span style="color: #741b47;">Shadowfell (Shadowfell #1)</span></a> by: Juliet Marillier - 9/11/12</div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13455538-hidden"><span style="color: #741b47;">Hidden (Firelight #3)</span></a> </span>by: Sophie Jordan - 9/11/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13321213-island-of-doom"><span style="color: #741b47;">Island of Doom (The Hunchback Assignments #4)</span></a> by: Arthur Slade - 9/11/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13262764-hanging-by-a-thread"><span style="color: #741b47;">Hanging By a Thread</span></a> by: Sophie Littlefield - 9/11/12</div>
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<img alt="The Brides of Rollrock Island" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1332260943l/11164791.jpg" width="136" /> <img alt="Vessel" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1333623382l/13056868.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt="Flesh & Bone (Benny Imura, #3)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1326316057l/13147460.jpg" width="134" /> <img alt="Call the Shots (Swim the Fly, #3)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1333579109l/13414871.jpg" width="134" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11164791-the-brides-of-rollrock-island"><span style="color: #741b47;">The Brides of Rollrock Island</span></a> by: Margo Lanagan - 9/11/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13056868-vessel"><span style="color: #741b47;">Vessel</span></a> by: Sarah Beth Durst - 9/11/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13147460-flesh-bone"><span style="color: #741b47;">Flesh and Bone (Benny Imura #3)</span></a> by: Jonathan Maberry - 9/11/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13414871-call-the-shots"><span style="color: #741b47;">Call the Shots (Swim the Fly #3)</span></a> by: Don Calame - 9/11/12</div>
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<img alt="Come August, Come Freedom: The Bellows, The Gallows, and The Black General Gabriel" height="200" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/167840000/167840496.JPG" width="140" /> <img alt="Anything But Ordinary " height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1345041892l/13455498.jpg" width="133" /> <img alt="Personal Effects" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1330545297l/9372419.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt="Fish in the Sky" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1333579157l/13530949.jpg" width="140" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13531763-come-august-come-freedom"><span style="color: #741b47;">Come August, Come Freedom: The Bellows, The Gallows, and The Black General Gabriel</span></a> by: Gigi Amateau - 9/11/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13455498-anything-but-ordinary"><span style="color: #741b47;">Anything But Ordinary</span></a> by: Lara Avery - 9/11/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9372419-personal-effects"><span style="color: #741b47;">Personal Effects</span></a> by: E. M. Kokie - 9/11/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13530949-fish-in-the-sky"><span style="color: #741b47;">Fish in the Sky</span></a> by: Fridrik Erlings - 9/11/12</div>
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<img alt="Flock (Stork, #3)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1333240399l/13249141.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt="Daylight Saving" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327237724l/12332386.jpg" width="129" /> <img alt="Dead Cat Bounce" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1337638337l/13516831.jpg" width="133" /> <img alt="Josie Griffin is Not a Vampire" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1339091746l/13501564.jpg" width="132" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13249141-flock"><span style="color: #741b47;">Flock (Stork #3)</span></a> by: Wendy Delsol - 9/11/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12332386-daylight-saving"><span style="color: #741b47;">Daylight Saving</span></a> by: Edward Hogan - 9/11/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13516831-dead-cat-bounce"><span style="color: #741b47;">Dead Cat Bounce</span></a> by: Nic Bennett - 9/13/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13501564-josie-griffin-is-not-a-vampire"><span style="color: #741b47;">Josie Griffin is Not a Vampire</span></a> by: Heather Swain - 9/13/12</div>
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<img alt="Nerve" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1338287597l/13088498.jpg" width="133" /> <img alt="Lindsey Lost" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1337104235l/13505639.jpg" width="133" /> <img alt="Ten " height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1332152297l/11958033.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt="Because It Is My Blood (Birthright, #2)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1333038441l/13163011.jpg" width="133" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13088498-nerve"><span style="color: #741b47;">Nerve</span></a> by: Jeanne Ryan - 9/13/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13505639-lindsey-lost"><span style="color: #741b47;">Lindsey Lost</span></a> by: Suzanne Marie Phillips - 9/18/12<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11958033-ten"><span style="color: #741b47;">Ten</span></a> by: Gretchen McNeil - 9/18/12<br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13163011-because-it-is-my-blood"><span style="color: #741b47;">Because It Is My Blood (Birthright #2)</span></a> </span>by: Gabrielle Zevin - 9/18/12<br />
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<img alt="Seconds Away (Mickey Bolitar #2)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1340043925l/13593563.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt="Butter" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1330188575l/9634267.jpg" width="133" /> <img alt="Glass Heart (Cold Kiss, #2)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1330100591l/13455568.jpg" width="135" /> <img alt="Adaptation" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1344645496l/10744752.jpg" width="133" /><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13593563-seconds-away"><span style="color: #741b47;">Seconds Away (Mickey Bolitar #2)</span></a> by: Harlan Coben - 9/18/12<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9634267-butter"><span style="color: #741b47;">Butter</span></a> by: Erin Jade Lange - 9/18/12<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13455568-glass-heart"><span style="color: #741b47;">Glass Heart (Cold Kiss #2)</span></a> by: Amy Garvey - 9/18/12<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10744752-adaptation"><span style="color: #741b47;">Adaptation</span></a> by: Malinda Lo - 9/18/12<br />
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<img alt="The Diviners (The Diviners, #1)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1336424966l/7728889.jpg" width="133" /> <img alt="Cursed" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309806695l/11945589.jpg" width="133" /> <img alt="The Crown of Embers (Fire and Thorns, #2)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1335241091l/10816908.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt="The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle, #1)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1346601744l/13449693.jpg" width="132" /><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7728889-the-diviners"><span style="color: #741b47;">The Diviners (Diviners #1)</span></a> by: Libba Bray - 9/18/12<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11945589-cursed"><span style="color: #741b47;">Cursed</span></a> by: Jennifer L. Armentrout - 9/18/12<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10816908-the-crown-of-embers"><span style="color: #741b47;">The Crown of Embers (Fire and Thorns #2)</span></a> by: Rae Carson - 9/18/12<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13449693-the-raven-boys"><span style="color: #741b47;">The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle #1)</span></a> by: Maggie Stiefvater - 9/18/12<br />
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<img alt="What's Left of Me (The Hybrid Chronicles, #1)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1329477948l/11043618.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt="The Dead Girls Detective Agency" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1335203080l/13493304.jpg" width="133" /> <img alt="Burn for Burn" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1332791803l/13406425.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt=" Safekeeping" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1334624579l/13493462.jpg" width="132" /><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11043618-what-s-left-of-me"><span style="color: #741b47;">What's Left of Me (The Hybrid Chronicles #1)</span></a> by: Kat Zhang - 9/18/12<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13493304-the-dead-girls-detective-agency"><span style="color: #741b47;">The Dead Girls Detective Agency</span></a> by: Suzy Cox - 9/18/12<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/13406425-burn-for-burn"><span style="color: #741b47;">Burn for Burn</span></a> by: Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian - 9/18/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13493462-safekeeping"><span style="color: #741b47;">Safekeeping</span></a> by: Karen Hesse - 9/18/12<br />
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<img alt="Stormdancer (The Lotus War, #1)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1345651276l/13538816.jpg" width="131" /> <img alt="The Peculiar" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1342944438l/13455553.jpg" width="132" /><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13538816-stormdancer"><span style="color: #741b47;">Stormdancer (The Lotus War #1)</span></a> by: Jay Kristoff - 9/18/12<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13455553-the-peculiar"><span style="color: #741b47;">The Peculiar</span></a> by: Stefan Bachmann - 9/18/12</div>
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Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-90888946690580614162012-09-10T18:31:00.001-04:002012-09-10T18:31:18.026-04:00My Tips For Attending an Author Event<p><font color="#000000" size="3">Hi, lovely readers! This is a special post for a few reasons; 1) I hardly ever come up with ideas for discussion posts, 2) I think this will be really helpful for a lot of avid readers, 3) I haven’t found a lot of posts like this on the web. Today, I’ll be talking about tips for attending an author event/signing/panel, etc. I’ve attending a good amount of events and know what to expect and what to prepare for and I learn something new every time. I hope you learn something from this post!</font></p> <p><strong><font color="#000000" size="4">Preparation</font></strong></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">- Depending on how popular the author is or how many books he/she has written, you may want to reserve a seat in the front row. A lot of times, the whole front row is reserved but nobody shows up and they let people sit there. Arriving early is important at any author event to get a decent seat. As for questions, the authors usually pick<img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 6px 5px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" align="left" src="http://ourlovelywords.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/open_book_bigger.jpg" width="282" height="192"> people from all over the audience.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">- Buy the Books! If you don’t own a book by the author or want another one, be sure to purchase it early because sometimes the copies run out really fast. If you’re hesitant about buying a hardcover for the semi-hefty price (I get that way sometimes), just think about how you are supporting the author and/or local bookstore providing the copies.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">- Most times at signings, they have people walking around passing out sticky notes for you to write your name or a message in that you want the author to include in their signing. I don’t like fumbling around in my bag and trying to label all my books, so I just do it before I leave for the event. It’s so much easier to just write the note and stick it on the title page and have it ready for the author to sign.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">- Talk to readers! I’m not a social butterfly whatsoever, so I was kind of hesitant at first to do this, but it turned out being fantastic to interact with other fans of a book series or novel, etc. Just walk around and casually mention if someone’s read the book, even if they are complete strangers. I met a couple of girls at a recent signing and we got into deep conversation about the Caster Chronicles series and the upcoming movie. It’s especially fun for me because no one in my family reads YA and I don’t have many friends that do, and I am always eager to discuss the latest books with people.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">- This sort of goes along the same lines as the last tip, but you should bring some friends! I go to a lot of events by myself but it is always more fun with a friend who has also read the author’s books or wants to.</font></p> <p><strong><font color="#000000" size="4">During the Event</font></strong></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">- Bring a camera! I love taking pictures of authors when they are answering questions or having a conversation. However, if you want to take photos during the event, definitely get a seat towards the front or else you might not get good shots. Taking photos helps capture the memory of the event, which is always great!</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">- Ask questions! Authors love it when you ask them new or unusual questions. Just be sure that your question has a purpose. Don’t ask pointless questions; it just wast<img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.elcivics.com/images/free-speech-microphone.jpg" width="257" height="176">es the author’s time. Its always very fulfilling having your question answered. I know that I sometimes feel like I shouldn’t ask a question because everyone’s eyes in the audience immediately avert to you, and that is uncomfortable to me. But it is well worth it because all of the other people looking at you probably feel the same way. So go for it!</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">- Take Notes! This helps, especially if you are an aspiring author like myself. Whenever the author cracks a funny joke or says something that strikes you as especially significant, write it down! Over time, you can collect valuable advice from author speeches and conversations. Its simple and easy just to bring a pad of paper and a pen and jot some things down!</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">- If you have books to get signed, then you might want to leave the event a few minutes before the author is done speaking and when he/she is wrapping everything up/answering the last questions and stand in line. When the event is actually over (depending on the popularity of the author), the line is usually 10-20 people long. </font></p> <p><strong><font color="#000000" size="4">After the Event (The Signing)<img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.ecsheedy.com/memos/pen-700.jpg" width="240" height="190"></font></strong></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">- Talk to people in line! This passes the time while you are waiting to get signed and you also learn some fascinating stuff about the readers and maybe even the book. </font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">- Treat the authors like a regular person. This is important so that you don’t end up choking up in front of the author and wasting the short time you have to greet the author. They are rather extraordinary for writing and publishing their book, in my opinion. However, they are normal people like you or me and they like it when you talk to them casually like they are a new acquaintance/friend. </font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">- Be Unique! Sometimes I just like my full name signed but sometimes not. If I have done an interview with an author and introduce myself at the signing, they usually include something about that in their message. You can write a special message that’s personalized on your sticky note to make it more unique. </font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">- If you ask for a photo of the author when you are getting your book signed, they usually don’t mind. Its always a good idea to do this to share with your friends and tell them you met your favorite author!</font></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#000000" size="3">Thanks for reading my tips and I hope they help you in your next visit to an author event! </font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#000000" size="3">Please let me know in the comments if you have any extra tips that I didn’t include or questions!</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#000000" size="3"></font></strong> </p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#000000" size="3"></font></strong> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMI7iWvGGTkxMs3i5oycLtXfWUNGxSwCg2UmOtpdU4Jj8AxR_iudxvpaRzYOvGqeoKZO7HnctkU1e_3pr2R8EQdmyhOdsKkSWR8MRN5l7kkwNdUh3bSjj4tIPqI1LLVbZ6Q-G6b7klzfE/s1600-h/blog%252520sign%25255B9%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="blog sign" border="0" alt="blog sign" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_e351WVJ9U9THSYMOTlyDcshHyCehrn-aSAo1CP5-q4vec0QfvZxTOlWtznryTzLPz1Yd3xmRJDAQV5C14WgQN1LuRKfkgPsc66z4i75-C2m054Dloj3h22NogbrwXlXb1UlhLa94XYm/?imgmax=800" width="224" height="103"></a></p> Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-63852896763910663482012-09-06T00:00:00.000-04:002012-09-06T00:00:03.098-04:00The Dark Unwinding Blog Tour: Interview with Sharon Cameron and Giveaway!<p><font color="#000000" size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0zO8iY2WjDA/UEfvccmmeoI/AAAAAAAAAuw/6tmJ-dPl5qM/s1600-h/darkunwindingtourbanner34.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="darkunwindingtourbanner3" border="0" alt="darkunwindingtourbanner3" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--tfRQisc0oo/UEfvcpdyQHI/AAAAAAAAAu4/AWI5-d1MUXk/darkunwindingtourbanner3_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="410" height="229"></a></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">I am proud to be a part of the marvelous blog tour for Sharon Cameron’s marvelous book, The Dark Unwinding. I love this title so much! Hannah at the Book Vortex organized this blog tour and she did a wonderful job, as usual. You should all go out and get a copy of the Dark Unwinding; it is fantastic! Sharon answered some of my questions and I hope you all enjoy her responses! Below is some more info on Sharon and her book.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7psng_WRYUc/UEfvdA1eycI/AAAAAAAAAvA/0ui6b3rAEu4/s1600-h/4711web%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 4px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="4711web" border="0" alt="4711web" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mB82chiQG4Y/UEfvecYIL0I/AAAAAAAAAvI/_hXk6D9z1z0/4711web_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" height="351"></a></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><strong>Sharon Cameron</strong> Author Bio:</font></p> <blockquote> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Sharon Cameron was awarded the 2009 Sue Alexander Most Promising New Work Award by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators for her debut novel, The Dark Unwinding. When not writing Sharon can be found thumbing dusty tomes, shooting her longbow, or indulging in her lifelong search for secret passages.</font></p></blockquote> <blockquote> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">You can find Sharon…</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CameronSharonE" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">@CameronSharonE</font></a><br>on Facebook: <font color="#9b00d3">Sharon Cameron’s Page<br></font></font><font color="#000000" size="3">on her Website: <a href="http://sharoncameronbooks.com/" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">sharoncameron.com</font></a></font></p></blockquote> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="The Dark Unwinding" align="right" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1340389392l/11733187.jpg" width="280" height="437"></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"></font> </p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"></font> </p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">T</font><font color="#000000" size="3">he Dark Unwinding by: Sharon Cameron<br>Publisher: Scholastic Press<br>Publication Date: September 1, 2012<br>Genre: Steampunk, Historical, Mystery<br>Page Count: 318<br>Buy the Book:<font color="#9b00d3"> </font><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Dark-Unwinding-Sharon-Cameron/dp/0545327865/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346469059&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Dark+Unwinding" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">Amazon</font></a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dark-unwinding-sharon-cameron/1108374873?ean=9780545327862&r=1&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-GwEz7vxblVU-_-10%3a1&" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">Barnes and Noble</font></a></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Summary from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11733187-the-dark-unwinding" target="_blank"><font color="#000000">Goodreads</font></a>:</font></p> <blockquote> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><em>A spine-tingling tale of steampunk and spies, intrigue and heart-racing romance!<br>When Katharine Tulman's inheritance is called into question by the rumor that her eccentric uncle is squandering away the family fortune, she is sent to his estate to have him committed to an asylum. But instead of a lunatic, Katharine discovers a genius inventor with his own set of rules, who employs a village of nine hundred people rescued from the workhouses of London.<br>Katharine is now torn between protecting her own inheritance and preserving the peculiar community she grows to care for deeply. And her choices are made even more complicated by a handsome apprentice, a secretive student, and fears for her own sanity.<br>As the mysteries of the estate begin to unravel, it is clear that not only is her uncle's world at stake, but also the state of England as Katharine knows it. With twists and turns at every corner, this heart-racing adventure will captivate readers with its intrigue, thrills, and romance.</em></font></p></blockquote> <p><b><font color="#000000" size="3">And now for the interview!</font></b> <p><b><font color="#000000" size="3"></font></b> <p><b><font color="#000000" size="3">Describe The Dark Unwinding in one sentence.<br></font></b><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><i>The Dark Unwinding</i> is an eerie gothic mystery with splashes of steampunk, romance, intrigue, and insanity, a bit like <i>Jane Eyre</i>, only with gears!</font></font><b><br></b><b><font color="#000000" size="3"><br>What kind of research is involved in writing a steampunk novel?<br></font></b><font color="#000000" size="3">The research for the steampunk aspects of <i>The Dark Unwinding</i> was much more hands on than the other topics I researched (like autism and mental illness). It involved things like listening to a steam engine, or watching clockwork run, or manufacturing gun cotton in the basement and exploding it in the back yard. Really I just needed to know how bad the gun cotton smelled (confirmation: it reeks!), but the opportunity to explode it was more than my husband could resist. Still worried we’ve put ourselves on some sort of FBI list by purchasing all those weird chemicals!</font><b><br><font color="#000000" size="3"><br>Is there a message in The Dark Unwinding that you want your readers to grasp?<br></font></b><font color="#000000" size="3">Many! Compassion, and the willingness to stand up and sacrifice for those you love being two of them. But I think one of the more subtle messages in the book is the question: “what is normal?” The Victorians had such rigid ideas of “normality” and Uncle Tully certainly flies in the face of all them. I think one of the major lessons for Katharine is learning to let go of her idea of “proper” and allowing herself to become a free and independent thinker.</font><b><br><font color="#000000" size="3"><br>What do you think makes a good story?<br></font></b><font color="#000000" size="3">Tone and atmosphere, to begin with. I’m always hooked immediately when I can “feel” a story from the first few sentences. And of course multi-layered characters with difficult choices make a good story. But I’m always looking for a “great” story, and for me a story becomes “great” when not only am I sucked in by the atmosphere and characters and the plot, but by a deeper meaning that runs beneath it all. It may be a meaning that only I pull out, but that’s okay! </font><b><br><font color="#000000" size="3"><br>As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?<br></font></b><font color="#000000" size="3">Not a writer! The thought never occurred, which seems ridiculous to me now. I wish it had! I wanted to be a musician, and then later I wanted to teach music. I loved teaching, especially one on one, though now I realize that what I was really doing was just delving into people’s brains and learning what made them tick, which is not all that different from what I’m doing now! I think teaching was great training for developing characters.</font><b><br><font color="#000000" size="3"></font></b></p> <p><b><font color="#000000" size="3">What did you consider most challenging about writing The Dark Unwinding, or writing in general?<br></font></b><font color="#000000" size="3">I think my toughest challenge so far has been learning to how to find a way to please others while pleasing myself. When you’re getting critiqued from several different sources (agent, editor, critique group) it can be hard to find ways to solve problems that are obviously problems, but in a way that still makes the story uniquely yours. I think I’m still working on this. Probably always will!</font><b><br><font color="#000000" size="3"><br>What was your inspiration for Katharine?<br></font></b><font color="#000000" size="3">Well, she’s definitely a little like Jane Eyre in her strong-willed practicality, but she’s also got a liberal dash of Anne Shirley when she puts on those roller skates and goes sliding down hills. </font><b><br><font color="#000000" size="3"></font></b></p> <p><b><font color="#000000" size="3">Is there something that makes The Dark Unwinding stand out? <br></font></b><font color="#000000" size="3">That’s a difficult question, Sara, especially when you’re talking about your own work! But I think maybe what makes my book different from other YA out there is that it’s not easily defined, it’s historical (only different), gothic (only different), steampunk (only different) and romance (only different). And maybe that it feels a more like a classic than most books out there, though with structure and language that is a touch more modern.</font> </p> <p><strong><font color="#000000" size="3">Thanks so much to Sharon for the wonderful interview! I definitely think that The Dark Unwinding is unique to YA!</font></strong></p> <p> </p><a id="rc-f7e0c76" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f7e0c76/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> <script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script> Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-86188417253234947152012-09-04T21:36:00.001-04:002012-09-04T21:36:25.226-04:00Don’t Turn Around by: Michelle Gagnon<img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="Don't Turn Around" align="left" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1336645130l/13643168.jpg" width="280" height="431"> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Don’t Turn Around by: Michelle Gagnon<br>Publication Date: August 28, 2012<br>Publisher: HarperTeen<br>Genre: Thriller, Mystery<br>Series: PERSEPHoNE Trilogy #1<br>Source: ARC from Publisher (Thanks HarperCollins!)</font><font color="#000000" size="3"><br></font><font color="#000000" size="3">Page Count: 320<br>Author Website: <a href="http://www.michellegagnon.com/" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">Michelle Gagnon</font></a><br>Buy the Book: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Turn-Around-Michelle-Gagnon/dp/0062102907/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346808430&sr=8-1&keywords=michelle+gagnon+don%27t+turn+around" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">Amazon</font></a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dont-turn-around-michelle-gagnon/1108621166?ean=9780062102904" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">Barnes & Noble</font></a></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Summary from Goodreads: </font></p> <blockquote> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><em>Sixteen-year-old Noa has been a victim of the system ever since her parents died. Now living off the grid and trusting no one, she uses her computer-hacking skills to stay safely anonymous and alone. But when she wakes up on a table in an empty warehouse with an IV in her arm and no memory of how she got there, Noa starts to wish she had someone on her side.<br>Enter Peter Gregory. A rich kid and the leader of a hacker alliance, Peter needs people with Noa’s talents on his team. Especially after a shady corporation threatens his life. But what Noa and Peter don’t realize is that Noa holds the key to a terrible secret, and there are those who’d stop at nothing to silence her for good.<br>Filled with action, suspense, and romance, this first book in a new trilogy offers readers nonstop thrills.</em></font></p></blockquote> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><strong>My Review:</strong></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">The first thing I heard about this book was that it was a techno-thriller. While I didn’t exactly know what that referred to, I was immediately interested. <em>Don’t Turn Around </em>is Michelle Gagnon’s first YA book and it was definitely fast paced and had a great plot. It’s something I think even adults could read and enjoy.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Noa is a runaway. She has been in the foster care system since she was a small child and has been to juvie a few times. The book begins as she wakes up, strapped to an operating table of sorts. I think this was an excellent way to hook the reader because I could not put the book down for a while after that. Noa is remarkably resilient throughout the events of the story, which is one of my favorite characteristics. She is trying to piece together what exactly happened to her when she woke up. At the same time, she can’t step out of the shadows or let her guard down for a second because there are men after her. Whatever happened to her, they weren’t intent on letting her go anytime soon.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">The book switches perspectives from Noa to Peter, and then to Amanda. Peter is a rich kid with an internet hacking site called /ALLIANCE/. He and other members of the site track down organizations or groups who are working against ethics, rights, or the law, and take them down in the most creative way possible. I love this idea. I hope there’s something like that in real life. Noa is one of his best hackers. He asks her for a favor and from then on him and Noa are basically companions in trying to figure out who’s responsible for Noa’s capture.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">The next perspective is Amanda’s. She is Peter’s ex-girlfriend and lost her brother to drugs. I think that the book would’ve been the same or better without her point of view. I don’t think it brought anything special to the storyline.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">While goons are chasing their every move, Peter and Noa fight for their lives and the truth and they won’t stop until they find what they’re looking for. Michelle Gagnon’s <em>Don’t Turn Around </em>is an enjoyable thriller with people on the run and lives at stake. It kept me on edge most of the time!</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#000000" size="3"><strong>Official Rating:<br></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEite73ufXJPCOcVvSBjNq1Ji_ierTPF36fwQfmcf0Z7FJzYS1rex8UdG-Vt2nYLVDt1KOhwzB0CG1PbBuct6J98QhM4AADhRw8CmjJ7gZPyiMyU6UBzscjT2GW3NR6qZbH9neW63ANLHr-l/s1600-h/Thee%252520and%252520a%252520half%252520Un-birthday%252520cakes%25255B6%25255D.png"><strong><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Thee and a half Un-birthday cakes" border="0" alt="Thee and a half Un-birthday cakes" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhXdpq2k9CfeJ3k3n4PM6dv_SlyRDIHJWnoh1duOpdNx9p3yYp8M2o2_JF5GfE4ilCHtQ03ApJ1rFVTxh8_mR8qUMcuD6-JGtjD0I9V-36cIwObSUeuWcAqvydnThbnCpUuTOM_p4z9Fy/?imgmax=800" width="242" height="96"></strong></a><br>Three and a half Un-Birthday Cakes!</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><strong></strong></font> </p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><strong>Don’t forget to get <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15775532-no-escape" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">No Escape, a Don’t Turn Around Story</font></a> for your e-book or mobile device!</strong></font></p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15775532-no-escape" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="No Escape" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1343757264l/15775532.jpg" width="195" height="310"></a></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRwe7q5YuV7R0XK9ulPk8-8_SazXkmev-nfohtvUl1StTwGPoAUl502cNnlHbzxdWIhqJpmbOfuunot47T2y7VcWaU3xtuy6BW9WdanunHGkkBS-lTsodnuK1bu09SIhTvYnvuNeduXr5/s1600-h/blog%252520sign%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="blog sign" border="0" alt="blog sign" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVuxMHrpr-NwOtJCCGNgkyhiCBXXO0FFO5pAg5gxC2THuZpgpIaD2r40uy_HqN7qwQ0HMq8RNELsWSkahCyza4clKIdyYCHJz90PotNb-OJ8a1CO3cnLQDJjE6jlTVJA9IWHG7hT521jn/?imgmax=800" width="224" height="103"></a></p> Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-89383309313886078812012-09-01T00:19:00.001-04:002012-09-01T00:19:31.226-04:00The Dark Unwinding Release Day!<p><font color="#000000" size="3">So, the highly anticipated book from Scholastic, The Dark Unwinding by: Sharon Cameron, is releasing TODAY! All of us who are participating in the blog tour are absolutely ecstatic because this book is amazing! I will be having an interview with Sharon and a giveaway of some fabulous bookmarks coming up on the blog! Sharon made a fantastic video about the release of her book. Take a look!</font></p><iframe height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yuoam6E1eD4" frameborder="0" width="640" allowfullscreen></iframe> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Here’s some more info about Sharon and the Dark Unwinding!</font></p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="Sharon Cameron" align="left" src="http://www.sharoncameronbooks.com/images/headshot-about.jpg" width="252" height="340"></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><strong>Sharon Cameron</strong> Author Bio:</font></p> <blockquote> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Sharon Cameron was awarded the 2009 Sue Alexander Most Promising New Work Award by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators for her debut novel, The Dark Unwinding. When not writing Sharon can be found thumbing dusty tomes, shooting her longbow, or indulging in her lifelong search for secret passages.</font></p></blockquote> <blockquote> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">You can find Sharon…</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CameronSharonE" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">@CameronSharonE</font></a><br>on Facebook: <font color="#9b00d3">Sharon Cameron’s Page<br></font></font><font color="#000000" size="3">on her Website: <a href="http://sharoncameronbooks.com/" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">sharoncameron.com</font></a></font></p></blockquote> <p> </p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="The Dark Unwinding" align="right" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1340389392l/11733187.jpg" width="280" height="437"></p> <p> </p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">The Dark Unwinding by: Sharon Cameron<br>Publisher: Scholastic Press<br>Publication Date: September 1, 2012<br>Genre: Steampunk, Historical, Mystery<br>Page Count: 318<br>Buy the Book:<font color="#9b00d3"> </font><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Dark-Unwinding-Sharon-Cameron/dp/0545327865/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346469059&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Dark+Unwinding" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">Amazon</font></a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dark-unwinding-sharon-cameron/1108374873?ean=9780545327862&r=1&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-GwEz7vxblVU-_-10%3a1&" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">Barnes and Noble</font></a></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Summary from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11733187-the-dark-unwinding" target="_blank"><font color="#000000">Goodreads</font></a>:</font></p> <blockquote> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><em>A spine-tingling tale of steampunk and spies, intrigue and heart-racing romance!<br>When Katharine Tulman's inheritance is called into question by the rumor that her eccentric uncle is squandering away the family fortune, she is sent to his estate to have him committed to an asylum. But instead of a lunatic, Katharine discovers a genius inventor with his own set of rules, who employs a village of nine hundred people rescued from the workhouses of London.<br>Katharine is now torn between protecting her own inheritance and preserving the peculiar community she grows to care for deeply. And her choices are made even more complicated by a handsome apprentice, a secretive student, and fears for her own sanity.<br>As the mysteries of the estate begin to unravel, it is clear that not only is her uncle's world at stake, but also the state of England as Katharine knows it. With twists and turns at every corner, this heart-racing adventure will captivate readers with its intrigue, thrills, and romance.</em></font></p></blockquote> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuT8R04ttj-hd_g__-7UypB2ADqUd45wnkF_u7ODaSGKDrUv4sGG0i6L4xThKc6eTufQjIhScl0u37oIiL8OokD5F_4TVlSuv-qLXNm6Q5miOGrYeVpJCsp8TSZapLPdRfnPXHvMTQh8F/s1600-h/blog%252520sign%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="blog sign" border="0" alt="blog sign" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DHIV05PUWdU/UEGM0i_eo4I/AAAAAAAAAtk/iACT-ikMXT4/blog%252520sign_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="224" height="103"></a></p> Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-89488955642073438002012-08-31T12:23:00.001-04:002012-08-31T12:23:58.537-04:00September TBR<p><font color="#000000" size="3">Hi, lovely readers! I didn’t read much in the month of August, what with school starting again. Now that I am in the hang of things and on schedule, I can do a TBR! I usually have TBR’s every month, I just don’t do posts about them. I’ve decided to start now just so you know what I am reading during the month and you can refer back here and see the reviews or read the same books and tell me if you like them! I also wanted to apologize for not posting much in August! Its for the same reason mentioned earlier in this post. I hope I get around to reading all of these sure to be fabulous books this month!</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><u>August TBR:</u></font></p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7514925-tiger-lily" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="Tiger Lily" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1329681513l/7514925.jpg" width="162" height="240"></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12805941-perfect-escape" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="Perfect Escape" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320899550l/12805941.jpg" width="163" height="240"></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13533688-sacred" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="Sacred" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1333061438l/13533688.jpg" width="162" height="240"></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12987192-the-forsaken" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="The Forsaken (The Forsaken, #1)" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1332152940l/12987192.jpg" width="161" height="240"></a></p> <p> </p> <p align="center"><font color="#000000" size="4">Be sure to tell me in the comments below what you plan to read this month and if you’ve read any of these!</font></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VAKi-0WK2XU/UEDlG0GY9yI/AAAAAAAAAtA/HF0_vGJV-eI/s1600-h/blog%252520sign%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="blog sign" border="0" alt="blog sign" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOhXp9RhhLLsKR-BdPFWmbDP_TDj_3-W582ERGz8HB8FfCMdn74JvugTn570MNAw4jFXYQqq7WQXjV1gffHqK0OJF4ORJ4J5piFKrg68tw2cAa2S6ZiMki9Ea8E_yEdQR0uDvS0j8KwSl/?imgmax=800" width="224" height="103"></a></p> Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-23779814317420409112012-08-13T20:48:00.001-04:002012-08-13T20:48:11.049-04:00Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by: Jesse Andrews<p><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 7px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" align="left" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1337216932l/12700353.jpg" width="272" height="423"></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by: Jesse Andrews<br>Publisher: Amulet Books<br>Publication Date: March 1, 2012<br>Format: Hardcover (from Library)<br>Genre: Humor, Realistic, Contemporary<br>Page Count: 295<br>Cover Rating: 6/10<br>Author Website: <a href="http://jesseandrews.com/" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">Jesse Andrews</font></a><br>Buy the Book: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1419701762?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1419701762&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">Amazon</font></a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/me-and-earl-and-the-dying-girl-jesse-andrews/1105802919?ean=9781419701764&r=1&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-GwEz7vxblVU-_-10%3a1&" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">Barnes and Noble</font></a></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Summary from Goodreads:</font></p> <blockquote> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><em>Greg Gaines is the last master of high school espionage, able to disappear at will into any social environment. He has only one friend, Earl, and together they spend their time making movies, their own incomprehensible versions of Coppola and Herzog cult classics.<br>Until Greg’s mother forces him to rekindle his childhood friendship with Rachel.<br>Rachel has been diagnosed with leukemia—-cue extreme adolescent awkwardness—-but a parental mandate has been issued and must be obeyed. When Rachel stops treatment, Greg and Earl decide the thing to do is to make a film for her, which turns into the Worst Film Ever Made and becomes a turning point in each of their lives.<br>And all at once Greg must abandon invisibility and stand in the spotlight.</em></font></p></blockquote> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><strong>My Review:</strong></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Jesse Andrews weaves together a story filled with humor, coping, high school, being a teenager, etc. in <em><font color="#8064a2">Me and Earl and the Dying Girl</font></em>. It is a cleverly quirky book. This is not one of those books about someone who gets cancer and it’s just depressing. Although it does have it’s moments. But for the most part, it is a funny and honest book filled with truth and comedy.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Greg S. Gaines is the narrator of this tale. He is a senior high school student. He is purposefully invisible and has devised a system where he doesn’t belong anywhere and yet belongs everywhere in cliques at his school. He has an irritating mother, a strange father, and an aggressive cat. In the book, he reminisces about many embarrassing childhood experiences, partly to introduce his purpose for telling his story. We really get a good look at his life and what he feels in <em><font color="#8064a2">Me and Earl and the Dying Girl</font>. </em></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">When a girl he sort of dated when he was younger is diagnosed with Leukemia, Greg is swiftly instructed by his demanding mother to become Rachel’s friend again. Greg isn’t thrilled about this. In fact, he’d rather not. When he visits Rachel again after some awkward phone conversations, he immediately starts cracking jokes. I love this about Greg. He can make a joke about almost anything, especially with Rachel. She snort-laughs at his jokes and they have more of a friendship than I think Greg ever notices. </font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Earl is Greg’s friend/co-worker. He lives with various siblings and half-siblings with a mother who barely shows her face. He seems to be what a lot of people would say is a “bad influence” on Greg, but I think just the opposite. While Earl swears a lot and is always getting into fights with his brothers, he is remarkably compassionate about Rachel.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Greg is constantly confused about how he feels about Rachel and life and everything. He frequently wants to punch himself in the face throughout the book. He made me laugh uncontrollably at times! While some of the things he does and says are simply hilarious, he truthfully tells the story of him and Earl and Rachel. They all kind of form an inexplicable bond throughout the story. Rachel is the only fan of Greg and Earl’s films and Greg is always making her laugh loudly. </font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><em><font color="#8064a2">Me and Earl and the Dying Girl</font></em> is a book that I would definitely recommend. Especially if you want a good laugh! There is a good amount of profanity in it, for those of you who don’t read books with profanity. </font></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#000000" size="3">Official Rating:</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-T3pwqYXagOQ/UCmgRUozhNI/AAAAAAAAAsI/zoDRVCXQ0FI/s1600-h/Four%252520Un-birthday%252520cakes%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Four Un-birthday cakes" border="0" alt="Four Un-birthday cakes" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-g6ZCThIYwQQ/UCmgRuxFD6I/AAAAAAAAAsQ/KOt-lGPDZQI/Four%252520Un-birthday%252520cakes_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="224" height="81"></a><br><font color="#000000" size="3">Four Un-Birthday Cakes!</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#000000" size="3"></font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YVaETabgKxM/UCmgR2pYf5I/AAAAAAAAAsY/yWceVn2uqBA/s1600-h/blog%252520sign%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="blog sign" border="0" alt="blog sign" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTohwAIiecPHuJ32HjRexKUheLHkw03wzQVF-7XAw0oqwW7hXSPHH_h866MWpeiGL6WnEYly9EXBdF52ETpej4d6ZEZQPwFBQecNl8fdAXwDbfFmH-8Vk-09gBcQV0Cuwa-HUQFs5_4Ru/?imgmax=800" width="224" height="103"></a></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"></font> </p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"></font> </p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"></font></p> Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-91138066365565174562012-08-12T13:45:00.000-04:002012-08-12T13:45:00.187-04:00Releases This Week (August 12-18)<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Rise of the Elgen" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1332381911l/12512738.jpg" width="125" /> <img alt="Touched" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1319554621l/7773320.jpg" width="131" /> <img alt="Suck It Up and Die" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1333578352l/12919804.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt="Kissing Shakespeare" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1333578392l/12969574.jpg" width="131" /></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12512738-rise-of-the-elgen"><span style="color: #741b47;">Rise of the Elgen (Michael Vey #2)</span></a> </span>by: Richard Paul Evans - 8/14/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7773320-touched"><span style="color: #741b47;">Touched</span></a> by: Cyn Balog - 8/14/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12919804-suck-it-up-and-die"><span style="color: #741b47;">Suck It Up and Die (Suck It Up #2)</span></a> by: Brian Meehl - 8/14/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12969574-kissing-shakespeare"><span style="color: #741b47;">Kissing Shakespeare</span></a> by: Pamela Mingle - 8/14/12</div>
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<img alt="Intentions" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1333578108l/13089714.jpg" width="135" /> <img alt="False Memory (False Memory, #1)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1333152704l/10194494.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt="My Sister Lives On The Mantelpiece" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1322355930l/13068707.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt="Soonchild" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1329982011l/13479530.jpg" width="135" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13089714-intentions"><span style="color: #741b47;">Intentions</span></a> by: Deborah Heiligman - 8/14/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10194494-false-memory"><span style="color: #741b47;">False Memory (False Memory #1)</span></a> by: Dan Krokos</div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13068707-my-sister-lives-on-the-mantelpiece"><span style="color: #741b47;">My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece</span></a> </span>by: Annabel Pitcher - 8/14/12</div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13479530-soonchild"><span style="color: #741b47;">Soonchild</span></a> </span>by: Russell Hoban - 8/14/12</div>
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<img alt="The Heroes of Olympus: The Demigod Diaries" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328573978l/12959086.jpg" width="151" /> <img alt="The Unnaturalists" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1325517400l/9853994.jpg" width="131" /> <img alt="Counting Backwards" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1333481814l/12988059.jpg" width="131" /> <img alt="The Kill Order (Maze Runner, #0.5)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1330636153l/13089710.jpg" width="132" /></div>
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<br /></div>Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-48093102688894622142012-08-08T11:36:00.001-04:002012-08-08T11:36:52.443-04:00Authors at the Decatur Book Festival 2012: Interview with Kristen-Paige Madonia and Giveaway!<p><font color="#000000" size="3">I have the immense pleasure of having Kristen-Paige Madonia on the blog today! She is the author of the much anticipated book, Fingerprints of You, which released yesterday! She will be attending the Decatur Book Festival in September, so I thought I would let you all get to know her and her book a bit better! She was also generous enough to provide a signed copy of the book to one lucky winner! Below is some more info about the book and Kristen.</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_KaiCWZ-f8zRjy8KBAECv8uy-JoEwoQDOnaNAprf3hyphenhyphenmPpw_Swqirrafl73oPGRr-qCdnfq2a4hw7BvFrKRIVVLPpWkgyMXhDQ0RtMHe4trq7-w1FVndQbp7UilEsulb30ATIq0R725V/s1600-h/Fingerprints-Front-Cover11.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 6px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Fingerprints Front Cover" border="0" alt="Fingerprints Front Cover" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWW904boD6FQ0UmkYRFX5-vcLlVmYYFWVzVfIXiLsDPmthEoTmdaNgyEha3KgKdJad5RVe33381mMAizOUKJK86NZKSKUm0dO3qBdMMGc72hcrXb7j95WPHRP1Pu4DywQIsachT6OMxFtL/?imgmax=800" width="235" height="359"></a></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Fingerprints of You by: Kristen-Paige Madonia<br>Publication Date: August 7, 2012<br>Publisher: Simon and Schuster BFYR<br>Genre: Contemporary, Road Trip<br>Page Count: 272<br>Author Website: <a href="http://kristenpaigemadonia.com/" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">Kristen-Paige Madonia</font></a><br>Buy the Book: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1442429208?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1442429208&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">Amazon</font></a><font color="#000000">, </font><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fingerprints-of-you-kristen-paige-madonia/1104861145?ean=9781442429208&r=1&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-GwEz7vxblVU-_-10%3a1&" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">Barnes and Noble</font></a></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Summary from Goodreads:</font></p> <blockquote> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><em>Lemon grew up with Stella, a single mom who wasn’t exactly maternal. Stella always had a drink in her hand and a new boyfriend every few months, and when things got out of hand, she would whisk Lemon off to a new town for a fresh beginning. Now, just as they are moving yet again, Lemon discovers that she is pregnant from a reckless encounter—with a guy Stella had been flirting with.<br>On the verge of revisiting her mother’s mistakes, Lemon struggles to cope with the idea of herself as a young unmarried mother, as well as the fact that she’s never met her own father. Determined to have at least one big adventure before she has the baby, Lemon sets off on a cross-country road trip, intending not only to meet her father, but to figure out who she wants to be.</em></font></p></blockquote> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><strong>Author Bio (From her website):</strong></font></p> <h3><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zpDgIXNNDd8wTNdG7W7emagBxyHvn0b4Y6tL_JVuKcvmWAPr6MXwioJppx8QcnbhVMK2sdvBZwkhrZicZxo79xCsMIz-BOT_CO7x0pGgWyz0q5A71y6lpq4ulHsrE1qQ2YXreoLUWSfg/s1600-h/Author-Photo-Credit---Christopher-Go%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Author Photo Credit - Christopher Gordon" border="0" alt="Author Photo Credit - Christopher Gordon" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JoMacG-jIh8/UCKHc5W8U2I/AAAAAAAAAr0/nSGOwxq_12I/Author-Photo-Credit---Christopher-Go%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="257" height="405"></a></h3> <blockquote> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><em>Kristen-Paige Madonia is the author of Fingerprints of You, a young adult literary novel that will be published in August by Simon & Schuster. Her short fiction has appeared in various publications including Upstreet, New Orleans Review, American Fiction: Best Previously Unpublished Short Stories by Emerging Writers, and Sycamore Review; she has received awards or fellowships from the Sewanee Writers’ Conference, the Vermont Studio Center, the Juniper Summer Writing Institute, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Hedgebrook Writers’ Retreat, Millay Colony for the Arts, the Key West Literary Seminar, and The Studios of Key West. She was a finalist for the 2011 Virginia Commission for the Arts Fellowship in Fiction, and in 2010 she was awarded the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival Prize. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from California State University, Long Beach and a BA in Media Arts and Design from James Madison University. Kristen-Paige currently lives in Charlottesville, Virginia where she teaches creative writing and is at work on her second novel.</em></font></p></blockquote> <p> </p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Here’s my interview with Kristen:</font></p> <p><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><b>Describe Fingerprints of You in one sentence.</b><br>A pregnant teenager embarks on a cross-country road trip to San Francisco in search of her father, a man she has never met, as she tries to unravel the secrets of her family.<br><b><br>What inspired you to write Fingerprints of You?<br></b></font></font><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><b>Fingerprints of You</b><b> </b>began with the central characters, and I first imagined Lemon and Stella when I was living in San Francisco just after finishing my MFA. I liked to work in coffee shops in the city, and one afternoon I spotted a woman and a teenager crossing Fillmore Street in front of the cafe where I was writing. They immediately became Lemon and Stella: a feisty mother-daughter duo in the mist of that strange period of time when the child is becoming an adult and the parent is becoming, in the eyes of the child, an individual or person outside of their parent role. A good portion of the book is about Lemon's realization that her mother has a complicated past, a history that has informed every decision she has made for the two of them, and the novel, in part, began with that idea. I was inspired by the mother-daughter relationship, but particularly by the relationship between a child and a single-parent. Stella became pregnant when she was still very young and, as expected, not prepared for that sort of situation. And Lemon has never met her father, Stella managed to keep any information about him a secret, so the consequences of that decision was intriguing to me. Exploring that void and the affects of it on Lemon's relationship with her mother was one of the primary seeds of the book. San Francisco was always a central source of inspiration - I lived there for over three years, and I wanted to pay tribute to the rich art and music culture there. In a way, <b>Fingerprints of You </b>is a love letter to San Francisco, it's a thank-you note for the ways it shaped and changed me.</font></font> <p><b><font color="#000000" size="3">Is there a message in Fingerprints of You that you want your readers to grasp?<br></font></b><font color="#000000" size="3">I hope readers leave the book with a greater awareness of the impact we can make on one another. We don’t always know that we’re doing it, but we leave marks on one another all the time. The interaction may seem small or insignificant when it happens, but we often affect one another in ways we’re not always aware of. It may be a quick conversation on a bus or a handful of weeks working together, a shared concert experience or a brief moment in a restaurant… we don’t always know that we’re doing it, but we can affect one another in monumental ways. I hope readers leave the book inspired by that idea: we’re constantly impacting the people around us – the people that pass in and out of our lives – we’re all connected. The exchanges we have may seem small, but can often be more powerful than we know. </font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><b>Who are your top three favorite authors and why?</b><br>Oh I could never pick a top three! I read all kinds of things depending on my mood, so my favorites change all the time. Tom Robbins, Jhumpa Lahiri, T.C. Boyle, Milan Kundera, and Zadie Smith… the list is endless and absolutely wide-ranging. Charles Dickens comes to mind because I tend to read <i>Great Expectations</i> every few years, and it always feels familiar but simultaneously changed each time I return to it. It seems to me that a book is a different book for every reader, and that once it is published, it doesn’t belong to the author at all. Once it exists in the world, it becomes the readers’ as they bring their own experiences, emotions, and viewpoints into the novel. <i>Great Expectations</i> changes each time I read it depending on what I’m facing in my own life. Raymond Carver and John Updike have also been a large influence on my work, and I often reread their work when I'm looking for inspiration. Same goes for Chekhov, Irving, and Vonnegut.</font></font> <p><b><font color="#000000" size="3">What books have you read lately and loved?<br></font></b><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><i>Where Things Come Back</i> by John Corey Whaley is a new favorite, and I was thrilled to hear the news when he won the William C. Morris Debut Award and the Michael L. Printz Award. It's a super smart book, and I've been recommending it to everyone I know. I also recently read <i>Model Home</i> by Eric Puchner, which I loved, and Eleanor Henderson's <i>Ten Thousand Saints</i>, a brilliant book and fascinating study of point of view. This summer I taught a creative writing class at the University of Virginia, and I reread Flannery O'Connor's collection <i>A Good Man is Hard to Find</i>, a book I think all writers should read at some point. </font></font> <p><b><font color="#000000" size="3">What books have most influenced your life?<br></font></b><font color="#000000" size="3">I can’t remember exactly when I received my copy of the <i>Giving Tree</i>, but that slick green cover is the first book I think of when I try to retrace my steps as a reader, as the kind of person that curls up with a set of characters for hours with no recognition or care that the “real world” continues to spin outside the pages. The book follows the life stages of a young boy and a tree as the boy ages and the tree provides any and everything the boy asks for: branches to swing from as a child, apples to sell and lumber to build a home with as an adult, and, eventually, a stump to sit and rest on as an old man. Shel Silverstein is a brilliant writer, the first I remember being truly moved by as a child, and I owned all his books. But <i>The Giving Tree</i> is the one I returned to most. And now, I wonder if it’s also the book I should credit in terms of my first interest in writing coming-of-age stories. Because isn’t that what’s it’s about? A child gradually loses his innocence and makes his way into that eyes-wide-open phase of life when he realizes things aren’t always what they seem, that life can be devastating and demanding just as often as it can be delightful. And if we believe the tree serves as metaphor for a parent, which I do, the boy, like most children, doesn’t recognize the sacrifices the parent has made; he doesn’t understand how much the tree gives up to take care of him. The parent-child relationship, the loss of innocence, that strange but brilliant time in life when you realize the world is much larger than you thought, those are the ideas that continue to fascinate me as a reader and motivate me as an author.</font> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">As a college student, like many college students do, I fell in the love with the Beats, and part of my literary heart will always belong to Jack Kerouac’s <i>On the Road</i>. It was published in 1957, but there’s something timeless about the spontaneous cross-country road trip, the jazz and the booze, the poetry, and the indulgent sex and drug binges. It’s a journey book, a genre I tend to favor, and the characters are on a quest for faith and love and friendship, as they hunt for a sense of an authentic and meaningful life. At the time Kerouac wrote the novel, it was a proclamation for a stripped and nonconformist existent, a reaction against the 1950s culture and social “norms”, but I think the book resonates with young readers across generations regardless of the current national climate.</font> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">It's typically the voice I remember most about a good book, so inevitably, Jonathan Safran Foer’s <i>Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close</i> falls at the top of my list in terms of books I have read often and studied for my own work; I’m fairly certain I’ve bought at lease five copies. When I think of the book, it’s Oskar Schell I hear, that raw and frantic nine-year-old that carries the reader through the streets of New York in the wake of 9/11. It’s his humor, his heartache, his honesty, and his grief that haunts me -- not just the feel of the emotions, but the SOUND of them. He floats through an adult world as a child fighting the struggle between self-destruction and self-preservation, another coming-of-age novel, I suppose, but the voice is strictly his, Oskar unfiltered and up close, and that’s what stays with you after you close the book. As a writer and a reader, it’s always the voice that leaves me breathless; it’s the voice of the work that serves as my barometer for amazing fiction.</font> <p><b><font color="#000000" size="3">As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?<br></font></b><font color="#000000"><font size="3">A writer - for as long as I can remember, I've always wanted to be a writer, no questions asked.<br><b><br>What did you consider most challenging about writing Fingerprints of You, or writing in general?<br></b></font></font><font color="#000000" size="3">In general, I don’t work well with outlines and tend to find them restricting… for me the process is messy and unpredictable and without rules, which one of the things I enjoy most about writing first drafts, so I don’t usually know where a book is beginning when I first start. It’s a process of discovery and I like to allow the work to surprise me and to go places I hadn’t predicted or planned for. Because of that approach, I spend an incredible amount of time revising my work and often write dozens of drafts before I'm satisfied. With <i>Fingerprints of You</i>, I struggled with the ending during my first round of rewrites and again after we sold the book to Simon & Schuster while I was working on the final version. I always knew something was off but never could quite get it right in terms of the sequence of events that followed the climactic scenes. Endings are always so challenging. I'm fortunate because I have the most amazing agent, one of the few that still makes time to work with her authors editorially, so we talked a lot about those final chapters, and I wrote a variety of versions before we began submitting the manuscript to publishing houses. And then I went through the same process all over again once I started working with editor! It was worth it though, and in the end I was absolutely satisfied with the way the book concludes.</font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><b>What did you enjoy most about writing Fingerprints of You?<br></b>One of the most enjoyable sections to write were the scenes that explored the live music setting in San Francisco. There's such a rich historical music culture in San Francisco, and it was important to me to portray that in the novel. When the book opens, Lemon has never been to a concert, but seeing live music and going to concerts and festivals is a huge part of my own life, so I wanted to give that to her. I revisited some of my favorite shows and memories from my time in San Francisco and tried to merge the most interesting moments and people from my experiences at the Fillmore, the Warfield, free concerts in Golden Gate Park, Great American Music Hall… I sent Lemon to the Haight to watch the street musicians and to a New Year’s festival where she’s introduced to the underground music scene and jamtronica, a Burning Man kind of vibe. I loved writing those sections and showing her how impactful live music can be, how it can change your perspective and create a sense of community. <br></font></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Thanks so much for having me on Through the Looking Glass, Sara!</font><b><br></b><b></b></p> <p><strong><font color="#000000" size="3">And now here’s the wonderful giveaway!</font></strong></p> <p> </p><a id="rc-f7e0c75" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f7e0c75/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> <script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script> Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-17734637293435347922012-08-05T13:00:00.001-04:002012-08-05T13:00:05.343-04:00Wentworth Hall by: Abby Grahame<p><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 11px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="Wentworth Hall" align="left" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1334242042l/12747188.jpg" width="284" height="446"></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Wentworth Hall by: Abby Grahame<br>Publication Date: May 1, 2012<br>Publisher: Simon and Schuster BFYR<br>Format: Nook Book<br>Genre: England, Contemporary, Historical Fiction<br>Page Count: 276 (Nook Book: 155)<br></font><font color="#000000" size="3">Cover Rating: 7/10<br>Buy the Book: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1442451963?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1442451963&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">Amazon</font></a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wentworth-hall-abby-grahame/1105947468?ean=9781442451964&r=1&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-GwEz7vxblVU-_-10%3a1&" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">Barnes and Noble</font></a></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Summary from Goodreads:</font></p> <blockquote> <p><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><em>The prettiest people often have the ugliest secrets… <br>Eighteen-year-old Maggie Darlington has turned into an entirely different person. The once spirited teen is now passive and reserved. A change Lord and Lady Darlington can’t help but be grateful for.<br>It’s 1912, and the Darlingtons of Wentworth Hall have more than just the extensive grounds to maintain. As one of Britain’s most elite families, they need to keep up appearances that things are as they have always been… even as their carefully constructed façade rapidly comes undone.<br>Maggie has a secret. And she’s not the only one… the handsome groom Michael, the beautiful new French nanny Therese, the Darlingtons’ teenage houseguests Teddy and Jessica, and even Maggie’s younger sister Lila are all hiding something. Passion, betrayal, heartache, and whispered declarations of love take place under the Darlingtons’ massive roof. And one of these secrets has the power to ruin the Darlingtons forever.<br>When scandalous satires start appearing in the newspaper with details that closely mirror the lives of the Darlingtons, everyone is looking over their shoulder, worrying their scandal will be next. Because at Wentworth Hall, nothing stays secret for long.</em></font></font></p></blockquote><font color="#000000"></font> <blockquote> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><strong>Teaser: </strong></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">“ Peering into the crack of the open door, Nora saw Maggie sink into the ripped leather couch, weeping.<br></font><font color="#000000" size="3"> Nora decided to let Maggie have her moment of grief in private. When she was sure that Teddy was gone, she scampered back down the dark, moonlit hall, to her room.”<br></p></blockquote></font> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><strong>My Review: </strong></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Whenever I hear about a book set in the Roaring 20’s or early 1900’s, I must read it. That was the main thing that made me read this book. It was also portrayed to be about a family with lots of dark, ugly secrets. I thought, what could be a better combination? It didn’t turn out to be as amazing as I hoped for, but it was still a good read and I’m glad I read it. Any brief trip to the 20’s is great to me!</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><em>Wentworth Hall</em> is the title of the book and also the name for an enormous estate owned by the Darlington family. They are old money, but these days things aren’t looking so good for them financially. The book starts off with Maggie Darlington returning from a year long stay in France. With her new maturity and worldliness, her family notices that she has also grown uncharacteristically indifferent towards everyone. She used to be a fierce horsewoman with a no-nonsense attitude. Her sister Lila and some of the house staff grow curious as to what happened in France to change her so. </font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Lila, the sixteen year old sister of Maggie, is the baby of the family. While she has matured into a young woman, her parents and everyone seem to think she should still be treated like a little girl. Maggie has always had the spotlight with boys and people in general. As much as Lila tries, guys just fall head over heels in love with Maggie and leave Lila by the wayside.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Nora, the ladies maid to Lila and Maggie, is all about gossiping and learning secrets about the Darlington's and whoever else. The book switches perspectives between most of the main characters, which I didn’t particularly enjoy in this book, but it was okay. Terrible satires about the Darlington family are posted in a newspaper and it could be any one of the family or staff. This was a very mysterious element of the story that kept me guessing! </font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">As for the secrets in <em>Wentworth Hall</em>, they weren’t exactly what I expected. I expected them to be darker, or something. But rest assured, they are definitely juicy and scandalous!</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">I’ve heard this book heavily compared to the popular British television show, Downton Abbey, and while I like the show better, this book is certainly for fans of the show. It focuses a lot on the house staff as the show does and has secrets galore!</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><em>Wentworth Hall</em> was a rather short read. I both liked and didn’t like that. Some details could have been better explained but it ended well. It was a fun and quick read for those of you who like that sort of thing.</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#000000" size="3"><strong>Official Rating: <br><br></strong><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mAVZ0TMW5tw/UB6mjXrxsoI/AAAAAAAAAqw/TB4QG95-zbI/s1600-h/Three%252520Un-birthday%252520cakes%25255B3%25255D.png"><strong><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Three Un-birthday cakes" border="0" alt="Three Un-birthday cakes" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LxIP3kulOo4/UB6mj6IAzOI/AAAAAAAAAq4/vP4HBstmvLA/Three%252520Un-birthday%252520cakes_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="194" height="86"></strong></a><br>Three Un-Birthday Cakes</font></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#000000" size="3">Like the 1920’s? Here’s some books you may like:</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><font color="#000000" size="3">(Click on the image for more info!)</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7719248-bright-young-things" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="Bright Young Things (Bright Young Things, #1)" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1339953783l/7719248.jpg" width="161" height="240"></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9490038-beautiful-days" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="Beautiful Days (Bright Young Things, #2)" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1339953843l/9490038.jpg" width="161" height="240"></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12682801-the-lucky-ones" target="_blank"><img alt="The Lucky Ones (Bright Young Things, #3)" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1330542177l/12682801.jpg" width="162" height="240"></a> <a title="The Diviners by: Libba Bray" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7728889-the-diviners" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="The Diviners (The Diviners, #1)" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1336424966l/7728889.jpg" width="163" height="240"></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7903851-vixen" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="Vixen (Flappers, #1)" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320413887l/7903851.jpg" width="162" height="240"></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9711804-ingenue" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="Ingenue (Flappers, #2)" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1333578373l/9711804.jpg" width="162" height="240"></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11541556-diva" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="Diva (Flappers, #3)" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1319235241l/11541556.jpg" width="161" height="240"></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13449242-debutantes" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="Debutantes" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1335999622l/13449242.jpg" width="156" height="240"></a> </p> <p align="center"><font color="#000000" size="3"></font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcFo3WczI9JAIHv_4u0qoz3REFxb__x3okLWO_OtQnf0cVZpTREBxfQwddy-lbiO0_WsZCIiMj6bzg81H2rzxL37-yY8pdjXHp5qq8bOG4EPbsJewbM_aAIdqPDdPQakj5YF6l6-aPMnz/s1600-h/blog%252520sign%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="blog sign" border="0" alt="blog sign" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uBCby5uqkis/UB6mlEv4G-I/AAAAAAAAArI/C2gn_-ku3ow/blog%252520sign_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="224" height="103"></a></p> Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-72608395266199418702012-08-05T04:55:00.003-04:002012-08-05T04:55:52.593-04:00Releases This Week (August 5 - 11)<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Nevermore: The Final Maximum Ride Adventure (Maximum Ride, #8)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328150920l/11946245.jpg" width="131" /> <img alt="Girl of Nightmares (Anna, #2)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1339383661l/12507214.jpg" width="137" /> <img alt="Fingerprints of You" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1329664040l/12987191.jpg" width="133" /> <img alt="Auracle" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1330992053l/11362198.jpg" width="136" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11946245-nevermore"><span style="color: #741b47;">Nevermore (Maximum Ride #8)</span></a> by: James Patterson - 8/6/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12507214-girl-of-nightmares"><span style="color: #741b47;">Girl of Nightmares (Anna Dressed in Blood #2)</span></a> by: Kendare Blake - 8/7/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12987191-fingerprints-of-you"><span style="color: #741b47;">Fingerprints of You</span></a> by: Kristen Paige-Madonia - 8/7/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11362198-auracle"><span style="color: #741b47;">Auracle</span></a> by: Gina Rosati - 8/7/12</div>
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<img alt="Rift (Nightshade Prequel, #1)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1330633411l/13157446.jpg" width="133" /> <img alt="Courtship and Curses (Leland Sisters, #3)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1318901161l/5585365.jpg" width="135" /> <img alt="The Betrayal of the Living (Blood Ninja, #3)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328327425l/13144034.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt="Carter's Unfocused, One-Track Mind" height="200" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/118900000/118903810.JPG" width="137" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13157446-rift"><span style="color: #741b47;">Rift (Nightshade Prequel #1)</span></a> by: Andrea Cremer - 8/7/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5585365-courtship-and-curses"><span style="color: #741b47;">Courtship and Curses (Leland Sisters #3)</span></a> by: Marissa Doyle -8/7/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13144034-the-betrayal-of-the-living"><span style="color: #741b47;">Betrayal of the Living (Blood Ninja #3)</span></a> by: Nick Lake - 8/7/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12029592-carter-s-unfocused-one-track-mind"><span style="color: #741b47;">Carter's Unfocused, One-Track Mind (Carter Finally Gets It #3)</span></a> by: Brent Crawford - 8/7/12</div>
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<img alt="Between You & Me" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327619923l/13062508.jpg" width="130" /> <img alt="Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1335819760l/7896527.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt=" Beautiful Lies " height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1341434741l/13416093.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt="The Boy Recession" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1321566682l/12055999.jpg" width="130" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13062508-between-you-me"><span style="color: #741b47;">Between You and Me</span></a> by: Marisa Calin - 8/7/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7896527-throne-of-glass"><span style="color: #741b47;">Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1)</span></a> by: Sarah J. Maas - 8/7/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13416093-beautiful-lies"><span style="color: #741b47;">Beautiful Lies</span></a> by: Jessica Warman - 8/7/12</div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12055999-the-boy-recession"><span style="color: #741b47;">The Boy Recession</span></a> </span>by: Flynn Meaney - 8/7/12</div>
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<img alt="Wake (Watersong, #1)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320388139l/10586539.jpg" width="131" /> <img alt="Capital Girls" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328119968l/12987847.jpg" width="133" /> <img alt="Counting Backwards" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1333481814l/12988059.jpg" width="131" /> <img alt="Innocent Darkness (The Aether Chronicles, #1)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1318875432l/9277339.jpg" width="130" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10586539-wake"><span style="color: #741b47;">Wake (Watersong #1)</span></a> by: Amanda Hocking - 8/7/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12987847-capital-girls"><span style="color: #741b47;">Capital Girls (Capital Girls #1)</span></a> by: Ella Monroe 8/7/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12988059-counting-backwards"><span style="color: #741b47;">Counting Backwards</span></a> by: Laura Lascarso 8/8/12</div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9277339-innocent-darkness"><span style="color: #741b47;">Innocent Darkness (The Aether Chronicles #1)</span></a> </span>by: Suzanne Lazear - 8/8/12</div>
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<img alt="Glitch (Glitch, #1)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1326131169l/10535458.jpg" width="133" /> <img alt="Burn" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327936839l/12971648.jpg" width="129" /> <img alt="Narc" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1331003432l/12971650.jpg" width="129" /></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10535458-glitch"><span style="color: #741b47;">Glitch (Glitch #1)</span></a> </span>by: Heather Anastasiu - 8/7/12<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12971648-burn"><span style="color: #741b47;">Burn</span></a> by: Heath Gibson - 8/8/12<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12971650-narc"><span style="color: #741b47;">Narc</span></a> by: Crissa-Jean Chappell - 8/8/12<br />
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<br /></div>Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-5093415758568475282012-08-04T13:08:00.001-04:002012-08-04T13:29:15.777-04:00Authors at the Decatur Book Festival 2012: Interview with C. J. Redwine and Giveaway!<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">C. J. Redwine, author of the upcoming book, <em><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11410430-defiance" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9b00d3;">Defiance</span></a></em>, is here today to share a little bit about herself and her book! I have wanted to read Defiance since 2011 when I heard about it and the thrilling plot. I also have a giveaway going on at the end of this post for some SIGNED Defiance bookmarks! This is the second installation of my blog series featuring authors appearing at the Decatur Book Festival in September. Be sure to check it out and come if you live in GA. It is so much fun and lots of popular YA authors will be there! Below is some information about C. J. and <em>Defiance</em>.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<img align="left" alt="Defiance (Defiance, #1)" border="0" height="363" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1341967711l/11410430.jpg" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="237" /><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Defiance by: C. J. Redwine<br />Publication Date: August 28, 2012<br />Publisher: Balzer + Bray<br />Genre: Fantasy, Dystopia, Fantasy<br />Series: Defiance #1<br />Page Count: 416<br />Author Website: <a href="http://cjredwine.com/CJ_Redwine/Home.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9b00d3;">C. J. Redwine</span></a>, <span style="color: #9b00d3;"><a href="http://cjredwine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Pre-order the book: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062117181?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0062117181&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9b00d3;">Amazon</span></a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/defiance-c-j-redwine/1108621179?ean=9780062117182&r=1&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-GwEz7vxblVU-_-10%3a1&" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9b00d3;">Barnes and Noble</span></a></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Summary from Goodreads:</span><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><em>Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.<br /><br />At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.<br /><br />As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.</em></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><img align="right" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzK36pANlBF9SCL88d3S0Gp3P5jem2Ousl7hsSpWN99CrZHMSPZILV2fnupTd7Bs-SQ1vj_YfDmJH-jZfPx8-J7INcUmJIIXlL9JKEcYuKukPKMO0C6enAVlaOEa55vOUF88YYyZr2fM/s320/cjredwine2.md.jpg" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> <br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong>Author bio</strong>:<br />C.J. Redwine loves stilettos, lemon bars, and any movie starring Johnny Depp. She lives in Nashville with her husband, four kids, two cats, and one long-suffering dog. To learn more about C.J., visit her website at </span><a href="http://cjredwine.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: black;">http://cjredwine.blogspot.com/</span></a> <br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong> </strong></span> <br />
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<span style="color: black;">Here is my interview with C. J. Enjoy! Share!</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong><br /></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>Describe Defiance in one sentence.</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">When Rachel Adams commits treason to escape her cloistered city and search for her missing father in the Wasteland beyond, she discovers romance, heartbreak, and a war two decades in the making.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">What inspired you to write Defiance?</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">I had the idea of a fire-breathing Leviathon-like beast living underground and then saw a picture of a fortress that reminded me of a city-state. I asked myself why people would choose to go back to living in city-states and from there Defiance was born.</span> <br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong><br /></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>Is there a message in Defiance that you want your readers to grasp?</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Hope is precious and worth hanging onto even when it seems all is lost.</span> <br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong><br /></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>Who are your top three favorite authors and why?</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Oh, man. Only three? Hmm ... definitely J.K. Rowling. I'd crawl inside her head and just live there for a year or two if I could. I re-read the Harry Potter books every couple of years and am just amazed at the world building and the scope of imagination. I also am a huge fan of Stephanie Perkins. Her books are just delicious. The world wraps around you, and I love the way she notices quirky details about her characters. And finally C.S. Lewis because not only did he create incredible fantasy realms, he brought a depth of intellect and passion to his works that few can equal. </span><span style="color: black;"><strong><br /></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>What books have you read lately and loved?</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Timepiece by Myra McEntire (so funny and fast-paced!), Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry (raw and beautiful!), and Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (amazing fantasy word!)</span> <br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong><br /></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>What books have most influenced your life?</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">The Bible, The Chronicles of Narnia, Grimm's Fairy Tales, The Hunger Games, and the entire Harry Potter series.</span><span style="color: black;"><strong><br /></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>What do you think makes a good story?</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Feeling a strong connection to the characters and the world. If I care about them, I care about the outcome of the plot. My favorite books are both epic and intimate, and I think that's accomplished by having an intimate story of characters we love played out on an epic stage in a world that transcends our own ordinary lives.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">I wanted to be Nancy Drew. And also Wonder Woman. The plan was to be Nancy Drew until it was time to spin madly in circles and shed my clothes to display my HOLY AWESOMESAUCE BATGIRL! Wonder Woman underroos. Please don't tell me I'm the only one who did that.</span><span style="color: black;"><strong><br /></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>What did you consider most challenging about writing Defiance, or writing in general?</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Beginnings are a challenge for me. I almost always (Ok, FINE. Always.) start in the wrong place and have to revise and revise until I nail it. I also think it's a challenge to get the world building right. It's all about knowing your world inside and out and then seeding in little details here and there to create the overall picture.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>What did you enjoy most about writing Defiance?</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">The sense of accomplishment when I finished. This was by far the most ambitious book I'd ever attempted, and when I finished the last scene, I felt proud of myself for seeing it through and telling the kind of story I wanted to read.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>Is there something that makes Defiance stand out (except the absolutely gorgeous cover)? </strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Well ... it's genre-bendy. (Oh, yes. That's totally a word. I'm a writer. I get to make this stuff up.) It's a fantasy adventure, but it has elements of post-apocalyptic, dystopia, steampunk, romance, and light sci-fi, so ... something for nearly everyone, lol.<br /><br /><strong>Thanks so much for doing this interview! I cannot wait to see C. J. at the Decatur Book Festival in </strong></span><span style="color: black;"><strong>September!</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">And now here’s the wonderful giveaway you’ve all been waiting for! </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Guidelines:<br />- There will be two winners (1 bookmark per winner)<br />- US Only.</span></span><br />
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<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-78223975790208199242012-08-02T09:32:00.001-04:002012-08-02T09:32:20.372-04:00Authors at the Decatur Book Festival 2012: Jessica Khoury Interview<p><font color="#000000" size="3">The author of highly anticipated book, <em>Origin</em>, Jessica Khoury is here today and I am thrilled to share with you a fantastic interview with her to kick off my series on the Decatur Book Festival 2012! When I saw that <em>Origin </em>is comparable to lost, I was sold! I hope you all enjoy the interview! Below is a little more info about Jessica and her book.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 7px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="Origin" align="left" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1335206578l/13455112.jpg" width="187" height="306"></font></p> <p><font color="#000000"><font size="3">Origin by: Jessica Khoury<br>Publication Date: September 4, 2012<br>Publisher: Razorbill<br>Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopia, Fantasy<br>Page Count: 372<br>Author Website: </font><a href="http://www.jessicakhoury.com/" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3" size="3">Jessica Khoury</font></a><br><font size="3">Pre-Order the Book: </font><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1595145958?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1595145958&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3" size="3">Amazon</font></a><font size="3">, </font><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/origin-jessica-khoury/1108931150?ean=9781595145956&r=1&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-GwEz7vxblVU-_-10%3a1&" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3" size="3">Barnes and Noble</font></a></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Summary from Goodreads:</font></p> <blockquote> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><em>Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that surrounds her sterile home—and sneaks outside the compound for the first time in her life.<br>Free in the jungle, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Together, they embark on a race against time to discover the truth about Pia’s origin—a truth with deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.<br>Origin is a beautifully told, shocking new way to look at an age-old desire: to live forever, no matter the cost. This is a supremely compelling debut novel that blends the awakening romance of Matched with the mystery and jungle conspiracy of Lost.</em></font></p></blockquote> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><strong>Author Bio (From her blog):</strong></font></p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 3px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rG6qV2wpFvEdKmnjqXmf_ZxUaXjkYIGXC6ZHxaQLvuFx883tPU2iefpklFS8w6FFjWr9-gRGw7U9YoQfIRhGNwIGHIp3NNxhaEFwfPH_X3lMgbg7qQEdyEU3C_FJOA7CAg3mwH1dFE_z/s320/Jessica+Beeman+1.jpg"><font color="#000000" size="3"><em>Hi! I'm Jessica Khoury, I'm 22 years old, and I'm part Scottish and part Syrian. I was born, raised, and still live in a small town called Toccoa in the mountains of north Georgia with my husband, Ben. When I was four, I wrote my first book--an unauthorized sequel to Syd Hoff's Danny and the Dinosaur--which I illustrated, stapled together, and placed on the shelf of my preschool classroom. That's right. My career began with four-year-old fan fiction.<br><br>Besides writing, I love playing and coaching soccer, directing stage plays, and traveling around the world. Some of my favorite things: airports, funnel cake, thunder, Spanish national soccer team, beech trees, MINI coopers, and southern sweet tea.<br><br>Origin is my debut novel and will be released from Penguin's Razorbill imprint September 2012. Rights have also been sold in Germany, Spain, Poland, Bulgaria, and Holland. Film rights have been optioned by Scott Steindorff and Dylan Russell at Scott Pictures/Stone Village.</em></font> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br>Without further adieu, here is my interview with Jessica!</font></p> <p><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><b>Describe Origin in one sentence.</b><br></font></font><font color="#000000"><font size="3">Origin is the story of Pia, who has been genetically engineered to be immortal, and her journey to escape the scientists who created her and, with the help of a boy from the jungle, discover the dark truth behind her existence.<br><b><br>What inspired you to write Origin? <br></b>I was out taking a walk one day and thinking about my writing. Up until last summer, all I had written was high fantasy, and I just couldn't get it off the ground. So I though, "Hey... there <i>are </i>other genres. What if I wrote something else?" So I kept walking, and a few minutes later this image fell into my mind: a crying girl trapped by glass walls and surrounded by jungle. I was fascinated by her and asked myself, <i>Why is she crying? </i>My self said to me: <i>Well, because of a boy, of course. </i>One question led to another, and ten minutes later I was running home to write the first chapter.<br><b><br>Is there a message in Origin that you want your readers to grasp?<br></b>I write to tell a story, not a message--though every book, ultimately, <i>does </i>end up having a message, usually even the author doesn't know what it is until the book is finished. At least, that's how I work. I think if I had to choose one message that I found in the book for readers to take away, it would be the challenge for them to ask the same questions of themselves that Pia must ask of herself (and there are <i>lots </i>of those).<br><b><br>Who are your top three favorite authors and why? <br></b>Lloyd Alexander--it was his books which first inspired me to take writing seriously, and prompted me to write my first novel when I was thirteen. He remains to this day my most beloved author; he had a gift with words, characters, and worlds that continually amazes and enthralls me. I also love Lois McMaster Bujold, who creates the most unique and compelling characters of any science fiction writer I've read--and she's won more Nebulas and sci-fi awards than any other woman! Go, girl! I also greatly admire Jean Craighead George; her books made me fall in love with nature and animals, and these passions I got poured into <i>Origin.</i><br><b><br>What books have you read lately and loved?<br></b>Earlier this year I finished reading the <i>Tomorrow </i>series by John Marsden. It's an Australian series about a girl named Ellie and her friends, who go camping and return to find their country has been invaded by an enemy force. She and her friends become guerrilla fighters behind enemy lines. Very emotional, epic, and spine-tingling books. The movie version just came out and it was amazing too!<br><b><br>What books have most influenced your life? <br></b>Syd Hoff's <i>Danny and the Dinosaur </i>was the first book I ever read, and the first book I ever wrote was its unofficial sequel. ;-) Lloyd Alexander's <i>Westmark </i>trilogy was the book which inspired me to write my own first novel. Brian Jacques' <i>Redwall </i>made me fall in love with fantasy. Orson Scott Card's <i>Ender's Game </i>made me fall in love with science fiction. But the book which has most influenced me is the Bible--but I know, I know. That's cheating. =)<br><b><br>What do you think makes a good story?<br></b>A good character. That's all that it comes down to. When we read, it is the characters to whom we relate. They are the ones we cheer for, boo, or cry over. No book will live in readers' hearts if the characters are not compelling, endearing, and unforgettable.<br><b><br>As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? <br></b>An author. (Also, an orca trainer and a zoologist--and those dreams are by no means over! ;-)<br><b><br>What did you consider most challenging about writing Origin, or writing in general? <br></b>Origin, being set in the Amazon jungle, was challenging because I'd never even <i>been </i>to a jungle of any kind, except concrete ones. So I had to spend twice as much time researching as I did writing for this book. That meant hours on the internet, reading books, watching documentaries--even playing "Sounds of the Rainforest" tracks while I wrote.<br><b><br>What did you enjoy most about writing Origin?<br></b>I really enjoyed studying the culture of the indigenous people in the Amazon basin. I knew a little bit about them, having read extensively on the life of Steve Saint, a missionary who, with his friends, was killed there over fifty years ago. I got to learn a lot about their lives, folklore, and, of course, the jungle. This is saying a lot--in school, I always <i>hated </i>research. Still do. But when I'm researching for a book, it's a totally different story. I fell in love with the Amazon, its people, and the mystery which enwreathes this mighty forest, which is one of the last true wild frontiers on our planet.<br><b><br>Is there something that makes Origin stand out (except the absolutely gorgeous cover)? <br></b>There is really nothing like <i>Origin </i>on the market right now. There are very few YA books set in the jungle, which makes it unique. Also, in <i>Origin </i>I approach immortality (usually always found in paranormal/fantasy books) from the perspective of science fiction, which is also kind of unusual in YA. Though the story isn't without its paranormal elements--it just depends on whose perspective you end the book with. That's all I'll say about that. ;-)<br></font></font></p> <p><font color="#000000"><font size="3">Thank you so much for this interview, Sara! What an honor to be on your blog! =)<br><strong></strong></font></font></p> <p><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><strong>Thanks so much for doing this interview! I cannot wait to see you at the Decatur Book Festival in September!</strong></font></font></p> <p><strong><font color="#000000" size="3"></font></strong><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZfRz5wDMZy0/UBqBYq3JQII/AAAAAAAAAp8/d_lkx0DNtjU/s1600-h/blog%252520sign%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="blog sign" border="0" alt="blog sign" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PQ0Ga8r_0qU/UBqBY71RXPI/AAAAAAAAAqE/-jmXUl76IRo/blog%252520sign_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="224" height="103"></a></p> Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-61427588075375014772012-08-01T14:14:00.001-04:002012-08-01T14:14:49.561-04:00Unspoken by: Sarah Rees Brennan<p><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 9px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="Unspoken (The Lynburn Legacy, #1)" align="left" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1333397426l/10866624.jpg" width="286" height="417"></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">Unspoken by: Sarah Rees Brennan<br>Publication Date: September 11, 2012<br>Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers<br>Format: e-ARC (Thanks Netgalley & Random House!)<br>Genre: Mystery, England, Romance, Magic<br></font><font color="#000000" size="2">Series: #1 in The Lynburn Legacy <br>Page Count: 370<br>Author Website: <a href="http://sarahreesbrennan.com/" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">Sarah Rees Brennan</font></a></font><font color="#000000" size="2"><br>Buy the Book: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375870415?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0375870415&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">Amazon</font></a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unspoken-sarah-rees-brennan/1111591939?ean=9780375870415&r=1&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-GwEz7vxblVU-_-10%3a1&" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">Barnes and Noble</font></a></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">Summary from Goodreads:</font></p> <blockquote> <p><font color="#000000" size="2"><em>Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.<br>But all that changes when the Lynburns return.<br>The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?</em></font></p></blockquote> <p><font color="#000000" size="2"><strong>My Review:</strong></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">I haven't read Sarah's Demons Lexicon Trilogy, but I might now! She writes with such wit and humor and realness. Unspoken was the best of mystery, secrets, and England, that I've seen in YA in a long time!</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2"><em>Unspoken</em> hooked me from the first pages. Kami Glass has always wanted to be a reporter, revealing the juiciest stories and much as she's tried, there is nothing special to be found about her town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Or so she thinks. Just as school begins and Kami starts the school newspaper, the town's mysterious founding family, the Lynburns, return to town. All of the townspeople are wary around them. Naturally, this sparks Kami's curiosity, especially when she meets Ash Lynburn, the new boy at school.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">Ever since Kami can remember, there has been a voice in her head of a boy named Jared. She was never alone with his presence in her mind, a constant comfort, even though she knew he wasn't real. Ash Lynburn has a brother named Jared. Coincidence? I think not. When Kami discovers that the voice in her head belongs to a very real person, she is overwhelmed with an onslaught of emotions; she doesn't know how to feel about it. Neither does Jared.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">Soon after the Lynburns return, strange things start happening in Sorry-in-the-Vale. Everyone, including Kami's friends and parents, are telling her to stay away from Ash and Jared, that they are bad news, without explaining why. Her curiosity peaked, Kami begins spending more time with the boys and delving into the towns uncovered secrets, all the while stepping into a world that there will be no turning back from.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">Kami's friend Angela, is one of my favorite "best friend" characters. She is brutally honest all the time and never holds back how she feels about anything. Now, I've seen these traits in characters before and it has been portrayed badly, but Sarah perfected Angela, I think.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">There is definitely a love triangle in <em>Unspoken</em>, for those of you who don't like those. Personally, I usually like them and this one especially! There is so much complexity to Jared and Kami's relationship that she doesn't really know how to deal, but she knows that whatever she feels for him, it is strong. Ash is always right there for Kami, she doesn't have to worry about his voice inside her head and he is just there, without the issues she has with Jared. I cannot wait to see how this plays out in the next book!</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">There is a massive cliffhanger at the end of this book, so prepare yourself! Its all quite worth it, though. I absolutely recommend this!</font></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#000000" size="2">Other books by Sarah Rees Brennan:</font></strong></p> <p><img alt="The Demon's Lexicon (The Demon's Lexicon Trilogy, #1)" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312517218l/1829655.jpg" width="161" height="240"><img alt="The Demon's Covenant (The Demon's Lexicon, #2)" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327882253l/6594657.jpg" width="162" height="240"><img alt="The Demon's Surrender (Demon's Lexicon Trilogy #3)" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1294614773l/9666870.jpg" width="161" height="240"></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-tMh08udfx1I/UBlyF-rk8WI/AAAAAAAAApg/olAKh1PYcEc/s1600-h/blog%252520sign%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="blog sign" border="0" alt="blog sign" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGkQEnHShvdb6ZCtgPWbzDwvMp_dj199nWJvX_ttxNwgPfPrIaLieqD7eaF_rUA6syK15MJecZG-EZD4Aitio2zjPvAQap8URwF-K1P0vDtRZPcDtjh0FnDn5qAeWr4hJtghWGndNgsBo/?imgmax=800" width="224" height="103"></a></p> Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-43089542742155703572012-07-28T05:15:00.001-04:002012-07-28T05:15:52.267-04:00Fury by: Elizabeth Miles<p><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 11px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="Fury (The Fury Trilogy #1)" align="left" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1340333716l/11514838.jpg" width="270" height="413"></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">Fury by: Elizabeth Miles<br>Publication Date: August 30, 2011<br>Publisher: Simon Pulse<br>Format: Nook Book<br>Genre: Contemporary, Mythology<br>Series: #1 in The Fury Trilogy<br>Author Website: <a href="http://www.elizabethmilesbooks.com/" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">Elizabeth Miles</font></a><br>Buy the Book: <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fury-elizabeth-miles/1100403064?ean=9781442422261&r=1&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-GwEz7vxblVU-_-10%3a1&" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">Barnes and Noble</font></a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fury-Elizabeth-Miles/dp/B007F7TXMM/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343466571&sr=1-3&keywords=fury" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">Amazon</font></a></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">Summary from Goodreads:</font></p> <blockquote> <p><font color="#000000"><em>It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But all is not as it seems... Em is thrilled that the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend. And on the other side of town, Chase’s social life is unraveling and the stress of his home life is starting to take its toll. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel....And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed. In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. There are three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—to choose who will pay. Em and Chase have been chosen.</em></font></p></blockquote> <p><font color="#000000" size="2"><strong></strong></font> </p> <blockquote> <p><font color="#000000" size="2"><strong>Teaser:</strong></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">“<em>Sometimes sorry isn’t enough. </em>She didn’t know what the note meant. Not really. But she could tell by the cold, black feeling deep in the put of her stomach that it was true.”</font></p></blockquote> <p> </p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2"><strong>My Review:</strong></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">Whenever I see a book that is remotely related to Greek mythology in YA, I cannot resist picking it up! The same was the case with <em>Fury</em>. While it didn’t have as many mythological elements in it, I think it made for a good mix of contemporary and mythology.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">The story follows Emily Winters and Chase Singer, switching perspectives. They are both normal high school students. When three gorgeous new girls arrive in their town of Ascension, Maine, things start to get strange. Immediately, I knew that the girls, Ty, Meg, and Ali, had to be the Furies of Greek mythology. I loved how there is no aspect of myth in the story until the Furies arrive and that Chase and Em have no idea what’s going on behind the curtain, so to speak.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">Em and Chase both have a dirty secret, hence the Furies arriving in town. Em’s best friend, Gabby is dating the guy that Em has been secretly crushing on for months. Finally, she has a chance to be with him while Gabby is away for winter break. Em thinks that as long as Zach breaks up with Gabby the minute she returns, everything will be alright. This kind of bothered me a bit; how hopelessly naïve Em is that she thinks her friend will forgive her for getting together with her boyfriend while she was away. Still, it was a big mistake, but not big enough to suffer the Furies wrath over.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">Chase has a secret of his own, which I spent a good portion of the book anticipating. One of the Furies, Ty, latches onto Chase and he practically melts in her presence. Little does he know, he is being lured into a trap!</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">The Furies of Greek myths are hideous female creatures, determined to mete out justice in the manor they see fit. In <em>Fury</em>, they attain the perfect disguise, beautiful girls. While Chase falls head over heels for Ty, Em is not to easily fooled. The girls keep leaving red flowers in their wake, as a sort of warning sign. Ty, Ali, and Meg are very mysterious girls, even in their disguises. </font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">I cannot wait for the sequel, Envy, to come out!</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2"></font> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbX6OxXulwJ8HdjFzPZStoogYWegimgynee-y012urZmAoEfstFUO0ySObY3JxeqUEAbffz5eC4XEyUqAlk6wQdoXlp8bINepmAN0g9E37gmkk3i9pADJFROuiNt7Mf8s5pSjuGd0L34Mv/s1600-h/blog%252520sign%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="blog sign" border="0" alt="blog sign" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6VHpoI2WR7FXvdUZrr-xvP045NfxOpMD53UiC0l0kWdanpt7DxUNau_YnZFFHXMqPFt2jmmDfsLbvwPTsLZtn4RFTrtsxlHJcliZ3NvkJUTV3cQaZQYmVvpzHzORuj2yL836prkKq1F5/?imgmax=800" width="224" height="103"></a></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2"></font> </p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2"></font></p> Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-78944867566809274652012-07-16T15:32:00.001-04:002012-07-16T15:32:47.149-04:00Pandemonium by: Lauren Oliver<p><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 7px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="Pandemonium (Delirium, #2)" align="left" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1310371414l/9593911.jpg" width="269" height="414"></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">Pandemonium by: Lauren Oliver<br>Publisher: HarperTeen<br>Publication Date: February 28, 2013<br>Genre: Dystopian, Romance<br>Page Count: 375<br>Author Blog: </font><a href="http://laurenoliverbooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3" size="2">Lauren Oliver</font></a><br><font color="#000000" size="2">Buy the Book: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/006197806X?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=006197806X&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">Amazon</font></a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pandemonium-lauren-oliver/1103167901?ean=9780061978067&r=1&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-GwEz7vxblVU-_-10%3a1&" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">Barnes and Noble</font></a></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">Summary from Goodreads:</font></p> <blockquote> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">I'm pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,<br>pushing aside thoughts of Alex,<br>pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,<br>push,<br>push,<br>push,<br>like Raven taught me to do.<br>The old life is dead.<br>But the old Lena is dead too.<br>I buried her.<br>I left her beyond a fence,<br>behind a wall of smoke and flame.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2"><em>Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite.</em></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote> <p><font color="#000000" size="2"><strong>Teaser:</strong></font> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">“ If you take, we will take back. Steal from us, and we will rob you blind. When you squeeze, we will hit.</font> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">This is the way the world is made now.”</font></p></blockquote> <p><strong><font color="#000000" size="2">My Review:</font></strong> <p><font color="#000000" size="2"><em>Pandemonium</em> is a poetic story of resilience and what someone is willing to go through to stand up for what’s right. In a world under a horrible illusion, Lena is one of the few who has seen the truth, but not without a cost. </font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">Lena is one of the most resilient characters I have ever seen in YA. She comes from a regular family in Portland, where she lived well and had sufficient means. She goes from that lifestyle to living underground with the Uncureds, never sure if they have enough food to get by and having to work all day. Lena and all of the people around her are against the deliria. They are roughing the wilderness because they won’t succumb to the government’s horrid procedure that each citizen is required to receive.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2"><em>Pandemonium</em> switches Lena’s perspective from her in present day to her half a year (or so) ago. I wasn’t sure if I’d like this at first, but then found that it was kind of essential in getting the whole story out and a very clever thing for Lauren to do.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">Undercover, Lena is working with Raven, the woman who rescued her following the events of <em>Delirium</em>, and Tack, a member of their group<em>. </em>Together,they are just like any other family living in New York City, only they are wearing deep masks. </font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">Mourning the loss of Alex, Lena struggles at times to make it through, but she always prevails, always finds a way to move forward. She meets Julian seemingly by chance and starts to believe that there is more than meets the eye for the poster-boy of Deliria Free America, an organization Lena Morgan Jones is a member of. He is afraid of the procedure and if he will survive it. Once he gets to know Lena, he begins to realize that not all Uncureds are hostile and what his father has been teaching him all his life is a lie.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">I loved reading conversations between Julian and Lena. I think they have amazing chemistry. Fair warning, <em>Pandemonium </em>has a wicked cliffhanger, so prepare yourself for jaw-dropping, yelping, and other declarations of blissful frustration. </font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">I cannot wait to read Requiem in 2013!</font></p> <p><strong><font color="#000000" size="2">Other books by Lauren Oliver:</font></strong></p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="Delirium (Delirium, #1)" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1298079937l/7686667.jpg" width="116" height="180"><img alt="Before I Fall" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1340449209l/6482837.jpg" width="119" height="180"><img alt="Hana (Delirium, #1.5)" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1324106918l/12663646.jpg" width="121" height="180"><img alt="Liesl and Po" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1298937848l/10425811.jpg" width="117" height="180"></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PUMxzz_yzuA/UARsXGvTziI/AAAAAAAAAos/OPVimRhESIU/s1600-h/blog%252520sign%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="blog sign" border="0" alt="blog sign" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8M0HeJc_X49UPXvR8BJVWUtGKGxX6qINse8210k1ZsHsJ_gUvf5_3gyRiHh8AFumvtngQqlHUfKkmyhynGaajHEGxy8jlm0yqqBuuHyXH0U35oRxdS9TKk-5P6Zs3v9tAKTAPH0fgpK4/?imgmax=800" width="224" height="103"></a></p> Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-68196947185984165672012-07-15T00:00:00.000-04:002012-07-15T00:00:02.796-04:00Releases This Week (July 15 - 21)<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Spark (Sky Chasers, #2)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1335804294l/12882328.jpg" width="131" /> <img alt="Before You Go" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1340326443l/12728003.jpg" width="135" /> <img alt="The Unquiet" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1315596890l/11969941.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt="Holding On to Zoe" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1333379217l/12952173.jpg" width="134" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12882328-spark"><span style="color: #741b47;">Spark (Sky Chasers #2)</span></a> by: Amy Kathleen Ryan - 7/17/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12728003-before-you-go"><span style="color: #741b47;">Before You Go</span></a> by: James Preller - 7/17/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11969941-the-unquiet"><span style="color: #741b47;">The Unquiet</span></a> by: Jeannine Garsee - 7/17/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12952173-holding-on-to-zoe"><span style="color: #741b47;">Holding On to Zoe</span></a> by: George Ella Lyon - 7/17/12</div>
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<img alt="A World Away" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320771011l/12924075.jpg" width="133" /> <img alt="The Girl With Borrowed Wings" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1335899969l/11737310.jpg" width="131" /> <img alt="Small Damages" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327932861l/12849260.jpg" width="150" /> <img alt="Wicked Jealous: A Love Story" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327945073l/12925358.jpg" width="132" /> </div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12924075-a-world-away"><span style="color: #741b47;">A World Away</span></a> </span>by: Nancy Grossman - 7/17/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11737310-the-girl-with-borrowed-wings"><span style="color: #741b47;">The Girl with Borrowed Wings</span></a> by: Rinsai Rossetti - 7/19/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12849260-small-damages"><span style="color: #741b47;">Small Damages</span> </a>by: Beth Kephart - 7/19/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12925358-wicked-jealous"><span style="color: #741b47;">Wicked Jealous: A Love Story</span></a> by: Robin Palmer - 7/19/12</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IARSc2O97Rjfuhg45dCSFtCr4Tsxqt8CcdcsWLHGvKmltsH2sOfgwa7bLGA8R7FLRH828lquxr7KpShdBgg0nxFxq_xUpjLX-v33pQ6Yk2CzEFbSrbsjsLFO6_nBhEAjQmTgKdLs3H8e/s1600/blog+sign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IARSc2O97Rjfuhg45dCSFtCr4Tsxqt8CcdcsWLHGvKmltsH2sOfgwa7bLGA8R7FLRH828lquxr7KpShdBgg0nxFxq_xUpjLX-v33pQ6Yk2CzEFbSrbsjsLFO6_nBhEAjQmTgKdLs3H8e/s1600/blog+sign.png" /></a></div>Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-80283235812162664042012-07-12T15:53:00.001-04:002012-07-12T15:53:46.689-04:00Authors at the Decatur Book Festival 2012<p><font color="#000000" size="2">Up until September, when the Festival begins, I will be featuring several different authors on my blog that will appear at panels and signings at the Decatur Book Festival in Atlanta. I will be doing interviews and guest posts about the authors and their books to let you all get to know them better! I am looking forward to the DBF this year! So many wonderful authors will be attending! If you live in Georgia or are attending the DBF, please feel free to let me know in an email or comment or tweet, etc.If you have any requests for guest posts or things you would like to see in this blog series, email me at <strong><font color="#000000">throughthelookingglassreviews@hotmail.com</font></strong> For more information on the Festival schedule, authors that will be appearing there, and more, visit <a href="http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/2012/index.php" target="_blank"><font color="#9b00d3">decaturbookfestival.com</font></a>. </font></p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" border="0" alt="Profile Picture" src="https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/373032_103050183814_1422950338_n.jpg" width="196" height="196"></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnnAza135tZXZB35oSbw34964j0oUpl0AJiz6e_YtpX6de77hRwbcgVoJynNkMqp0037N1Juxgv9yy5d07SAvsF-9Uht0b0Kl033I7tdavYhuDKpjR6WRsJr_Wj0zxY3Rd0Ox5ZwZoqJ-/s1600-h/blog%252520sign%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="blog sign" border="0" alt="blog sign" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HUTQELyv1Yk/T_8rR3KOb6I/AAAAAAAAAog/a_AlhJjQqdM/blog%252520sign_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="224" height="103"></a></p> Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-22020165313790330472012-07-11T17:06:00.001-04:002012-07-11T17:06:57.794-04:00Discussion: Insta-Love in YA<p align="center"><font color="#000000" size="2"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vB4v_N68TUc/T_3q6p9WoRI/AAAAAAAAAno/BYyk9LrKp6Y/s1600-h/discussionlogo%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="discussionlogo" border="0" alt="discussionlogo" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu60K6OunUcrXlyuaQQFi63uubVXqlT9Ftz_5Lvnm-kntV6fDFgZFM5VA3ZPK99tjK1XvtFe3Xspt799_5wIMoSmSTwx7qUcOodgMTEctEgPXJH46YhI1wPW8kMnZqyW6iCd5fibsbjFNU/?imgmax=800" width="250" height="182"></a></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">If you are at all familiar with the Young Adult genre, then you know have heard of this. Insta-love. I don’t know if that’s what everyone calls it but it seems to describe it pretty well for me. While I haven’t read many books out of the YA genre, I know that insta-love is a lot less present in adult fiction/literary fiction, etc. I’d just like to say that even with this discussion, YA remains my favorite genre of books. But what’s up with insta-love?!</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">Just last week, my friend Allie, who sometimes posts on this blog, and I were browsing the shelves at her local Barnes and Noble. We were discussing what books she’s read and I want to read and so on. There were several times that I saw books that I would recommend, but I know Allie shares my dislike of insta-love, and there were so many books that had it! Even she told me I might not like some because of that. And then we got into a conversation about the irritating goblin that is insta-love, and how it sneaks its way into books that would otherwise be four or five star-worthy.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">Maybe it’s just me, but I think insta-love is somehow becoming more apparent. These past few weeks, I have been careful to evaluate books before I read them to see if they have it in them, it irritates me so. What I don’t understand is why the author can’t just take their time and let a relationship grow gradually? Especially if the book is a series. As a writer myself, I can kind of understand the urgency to write down the love you know your characters will have. I always tell myself that the story will turn out amazingly better if I let the relationship between two characters grow slowly. </font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">Insta-love, when I see it in books, always costs the book one or sometimes even two stars in the rating. I hate to do that because, in some cases, the book would be wonderful in every other way than that. I feel like in reviews, I should warn readers with big and bold text, saying “BEWARE THE INSTA-LOVE”. </font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">The more I think about it, the more ridiculous it sounds that two people can fall in love so quickly. Sometimes I’m even taken aback by it. I was, definitely, when I finished reading Romeo and Juliet, and I found myself thinking “Why do people think this is the best love story in history?”. It was terrible! How could they die for each other after only knowing themselves for a week or so?! How could they call that even a remotely good love story? The worst case of insta-love I’ve read so far and I hope I don’t come across anything worse. </font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="2">While I know we all love reading about blossoming love in YA, why does insta-love have to happen so much?</font></p> <p><strong><font color="#000000" size="2">What are your thoughts on insta-love? I would love to hear them in the comments!</font></strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><font color="#000000" size="2"></font></strong> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LY6HdCQPXD4/T_3q7rTp3mI/AAAAAAAAAn4/dVQSU7tcd9k/s1600-h/blog%252520sign%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="blog sign" border="0" alt="blog sign" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OK6rjg12gf4/T_3q8OCIy_I/AAAAAAAAAoA/8-joyOy8YJ8/blog%252520sign_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="224" height="103"></a></p> Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-18361185464040462492012-07-10T00:00:00.000-04:002012-07-11T12:43:30.374-04:00Reading Road Trip Giveaway 2012: Georgia!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white;">Hello, everyone! Today I have the pleasure of featuring the state I live in, Georgia, on the 2012 Reading Road Trip, hosted by Britta at</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #741b47;"> <a href="http://www.ilikethesebooks.com/"><span style="color: #741b47;">I Like These Books</span></a></span><span style="background-color: white;"> and Hafsah at </span><a href="http://www.iceybooks.com/" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #741b47;">Icey Books</span></a><span style="background-color: white;">. Before I get start on the fabulous giveaway, I am going to show you some fun things to do in Georgia that I have either done or want to do.</span><br />
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<center><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SkycE3V8rDG5ep7qrg47_qUzAOMpSLhHdOwmoZxVu3k/edit"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUk2BXs9fnNhzSDysbuKTxNm2o8YA9j7O3IV4kqMNQV2Qku9HBfMnT57vHkARO5wIBuGdRbxVR5au6nMryMxCgy7TGG6XG_B1p1qETuAAajyukfW_OWeY2S1AJ7ShmK3eaNoWyPJr9gLIP/s166/hafsah%2520button.jpg" /></a></center>
<b>Amicalola Falls</b><br />
I've been here a few times and it is always wondrous and beautiful. A wonderful place to go hiking, have brunch at the lodge, go camping, or simply enjoy the view.<br />
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<b>Georgia Aquarium</b></div>
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I've been here many times and it is always awe striking how big everything is. They have the largest viewing window in North America and a tunnel you can walk through with a gigantic tank as its walls.</div>
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<img height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cOcLZozjIY71MDdqLWV8D30k2_5grnw0LchdSVdM8QSQKqyBhh2w3augtEz6WyCIk91fIfdEfBQX5xcG01LI0tOU9T0fkBHQfYTDjAknGb4WYMB8n_dh_twgFiFLGkb8_e2pVl53D9Q/s320/aquarium.jpg" width="320" /> <img height="240" src="http://alexanlenoxblog.com/files/2012/05/georgia-aquarium.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<b>Decatur Book Festival</b></div>
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I've been here once and it blew me away. I heard somewhere that it is the largest book festival in the South or US. There are always some of my favorite authors there. I saw Cassandra Clare there when I went. The author I am featuring in this giveaway, Jackson Pearce, was also at the same signing. She was dressed as Magnus Bane! It was hilarious and absolutely the best bookish time I've had. Here is the link to the<a href="http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/2012/index.php"> <span style="color: #741b47;">DBF website</span></a>. </div>
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<a href="http://web.library.emory.edu/sites/web.library.emory.edu/files/ajc_dbf_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://web.library.emory.edu/sites/web.library.emory.edu/files/ajc_dbf_logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And now time for the giveaway!</div>
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I dedicated my giveaway to Jackson Pearce. She lives in Atlanta and writes fairytale retellings and contemporary. My giveaway is of two of her books! Her Fairytale Retellings books are getting new paperback covers but I'm not sure when those release. If you want one please specify when you win and I will see what I can do. Good luck!</div>
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<img alt="As You Wish" border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1319175193l/6750586.jpg" style="background-color: white;" width="131" /> <img alt="Sisters Red (Fairytale Retellings, #1)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1291052720l/6357708.jpg" style="background-color: white; text-align: left;" width="133" /> <img alt="Sweetly (Fairytale Retellings, #2)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327950306l/9415956.jpg" style="background-color: white; text-align: left;" width="132" /> <img alt="Purity" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1326474250l/9268789.jpg" style="background-color: white; text-align: left;" width="133" /></div>
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GUIDELINES:</div>
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- 2 winners ( 1 book per winner)</div>
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- US only</div>
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- Must be 12 or older to enter</div>
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- You may choose any of her published books ( all listed here)</div>
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- Have fun!</div>
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f7e0c73/" id="rc-f7e0c73" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js">
</script>Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674941010948523917.post-24222225159994724602012-07-01T00:00:00.000-04:002012-07-01T00:00:03.459-04:00Releases This Week (July 1-7)<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Choke" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1319821439l/12972654.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt="Quince Clash (Border Town Series #2)" height="200" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/159700000/159700546.JPG" width="124" /> <img alt="Waking Storms" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327951914l/12628635.jpg" width="133" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12972654-choke"><span style="color: #741b47;">Choke</span></a> by: Diana Lopez - 7/1/12</div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;">Quince Clash (Bordertown #2)</span> by: Malin Alergia - 7/1/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12628635-waking-storms"><span style="color: #741b47;">Waking Storms (Lost Voices #2)</span></a> by: Sarah Porter - 7/3/12</div>
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<img alt="Once (Eve, #2)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1321127130l/12924253.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt="Team Human" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1337566744l/12640578.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt="White Glove War (Magnolia League, #2)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1318906417l/12814550.jpg" width="131" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12924253-once"><span style="color: #741b47;">Once (Eve #2)</span></a> by: Anna Carey - 7/4/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12640578-team-human"><span style="color: #741b47;">Team Human</span></a> by: Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan - 7/3/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12814550-white-glove-war">T<span style="color: #741b47;">he White Glove War (Magnolia League #2)</span></a> by: Katie Crouch and Grady Hendrix - 7/3/12</div>
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<img alt="The Girl Is Trouble " height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327996361l/12923321.jpg" width="133" /> <img alt="For What It's Worth" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327952379l/12969619.jpg" width="137" /> <img alt="52 Reasons to Hate My Father" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327882365l/9791906.jpg" width="133" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12923321-the-girl-is-trouble"><span style="color: #741b47;">The Girl is Trouble (Girl is Murder #2)</span></a> by: Kathryn Miller Haines - 7/3/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12969619-for-what-it-s-worth"><span style="color: #741b47;">For What It's Worth</span></a> by: Janet Tashjian - 7/3/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9791906-52-reasons-to-hate-my-father"><span style="color: #741b47;">52 Reasons to Hate My Father</span></a> by: Jessica Brody - 7/3/12</div>
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<img alt="Tiger Lily" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1329681513l/7514925.jpg" width="133" /> <img alt="The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1326130873l/11737265.jpg" width="130" /> <img alt="Soulbound" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327882259l/13049069.jpg" width="133" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7514925-tiger-lily"><span style="color: #741b47;">Tiger Lily</span></a> by: Jodi Lynn Anderson - 7/3/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11737265-the-best-night-of-your-pathetic-life"><span style="color: #741b47;">The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life</span></a> by: Tara Altebrando - 7/5/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13049069-soulbound"><span style="color: #741b47;">Soulbound (Legacy of Tril #1)</span></a> by: Heather Brewer - 7/5/12</div>
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<img alt="Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1333480069l/11737266.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt="Just for Fins (Fins, #3)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1321127151l/13019704.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt="A Witch in Love (Winter Trilogy, #2)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1323050567l/12971630.jpg" width="130" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11737266-amelia-anne-is-dead-and-gone"><span style="color: #741b47;">Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone</span></a> by: Kat Rosenfield - 7/5/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13019704-just-for-fins"><span style="color: #741b47;">Just for Fins (Fins #3)</span></a> by: Tera Lynn Childs - 7/3/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12971630-a-witch-in-love"><span style="color: #741b47;">A Witch in Love (Winter Trilogy #2)</span></a> by: Ruth Warburton - 7/5/12</div>
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<img alt="Dark Destiny (Dark Mirror, #3)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1335600927l/12596373.jpg" width="133" />
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12596373-dark-destiny"><span style="color: #741b47;">Dark Destiny (Dark Mirror #3)</span></a> </span>by: M.J. Putney - 7/7/12</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IARSc2O97Rjfuhg45dCSFtCr4Tsxqt8CcdcsWLHGvKmltsH2sOfgwa7bLGA8R7FLRH828lquxr7KpShdBgg0nxFxq_xUpjLX-v33pQ6Yk2CzEFbSrbsjsLFO6_nBhEAjQmTgKdLs3H8e/s1600/blog+sign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IARSc2O97Rjfuhg45dCSFtCr4Tsxqt8CcdcsWLHGvKmltsH2sOfgwa7bLGA8R7FLRH828lquxr7KpShdBgg0nxFxq_xUpjLX-v33pQ6Yk2CzEFbSrbsjsLFO6_nBhEAjQmTgKdLs3H8e/s1600/blog+sign.png" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>Sara H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15061985261273095357noreply@blogger.com0