My Thoughts on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

For those of you who don't know, this is my first time reading Harry Potter.  I haven't watched the movies either (I've caught pieces of one or more of them but don't know the storyline).  

So I read the first two this month (January) and finally got the third read as well.  I said after I read book two that I think I would like them more with each one, as Harry grows up.  At least with the first 3 books.  And that definitely still holds true.  This one had a great story line with a fantastic ending!  

I guessed a few things early about the 'evil' dude, but really had no clue how things would go down.  I had my eyes glued to the pages of this one in the last quarter or so with no breaks.  Seriously, intense stuff my friends! 

I give this one my highest rating yet, the full 5/5 stars!  

I read the first three for the Potter-Thon in January, hosted by Lori at Pure Imagination.  My goal was three for this month.  For the remainder of the books my goal is to read one a month.  But if I have an urge to read more then that then I'll be okay with that too ;)  I kind of want to spread it out a little.  You can only read Harry Potter for the first time, once.  I'm going to fully enjoy and cherish the experience!

It's Monday! What are you reading? (23)

It's Monday!  What Are You Reading?  Is hosted by Sheila at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books.  It's a fun meme where we gather to share what we've read last week and our reading plans for this week.

Read last week:

Across the Universe by Beth Revis (Review)

Trapped  by Michael Northrop

Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3) by J.K. Rowling

Currently Reading:

Awakened (House of Night) by P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast

To Read:

I've really been turning down books for review so I can get through some books I already own.  Since there are hundreds it's hard to say what I'll start with.  But a few I want to read are:

The Lost Saint: A Dark Divine Novel by Bree Despain

Liar by Justine Larbalestier

Freefall by Mindi Scott

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Blameless (The Parasol Protectorate)  by Gail Carriger

Who knows if I'll read all them, or if my mood will take me elsewhere.  I look forward to getting some of the books read I already have on my shelf though!

Some of my posts for last week:

Book Review: Tracking the Tempest by Nicole Peeler

Book Review: Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning

Random Post: Requiring following for contests and buying followers

Book Review: The Fates Will Find Their Way by Hannah Pittard 

Book Review: Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian

My First Waiting on Waiting Wednesday ever!

Childrens Book Review: Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox

Book Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Book Review: The Oracle of Stamboul by Michael David Lukas

Saturday Situation~ Link up your reviews and giveaways

Brand new on the blog today:

Interview with Lisa Bergren and Giveaway of Waterfall

Interview with Lisa Bergren

I'm so excited because today we have the author Lisa Bergren here talking about The River of Time series!   Waterfall is released tomorrow, so be sure to pick up a copy.  

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and The River of Time Series?

 I'm a wife and mom of three, as well as an author--WATERFALL is my 18th novel, but my first YA.  The River of Time Series is about two American sisters who time-travel back to 14th Century Italy and discover love and life, at a whole different level.

Description of Waterfall:

Lisa Tawn Bergren's new YA series, River of Time, is romantic, historical fiction in which the plucky heroine doesn't have to fear a vampire's bite but must still fight for her life.

In Waterfall, American teenager Gabi Betarrini accidently finds herself in sixteenth-century Italy . . . Knights. Swords. Horses. Armor. And Italian hotties. Most American teens want an Italian vacation, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives there with their archaeologist parents. Stuck on yet another hot, dusty dig, they are bored out of their minds... until they place their hands atop handprints in an ancient tomb and find themselves catapulted into the sixteenth-century—and in the middle of a fierce battle between knights bent on killing one another.

What was your inspiration for the series?

I got interested in YA because my eldest, who is now almost sixteen, was a reluctant reader. I tried giving her book after book, but it wasn't until TWILIGHT that she understood the power of story, and how a book could keep you up all night reading. I read it with her, and then the rest of the series, and we had a blast discussing the characters and things we liked--and wrestled through a couple issues I didn't like as a mom. It led to some great conversations. After that, we read the HUNGER GAMES trilogy together, and had a similar experience. When I stood in the movie theatre when the first TWILIGHT movie was out, watching all those girls get so excited to see the book "come to life," and how attached they were to the characters, I knew I wanted to write something for that audience too. Something my daughters would read and get so excited about, they'd tell their friends, "You HAVE to read this!!" Hopefully, WATERFALL will snag its own share of passionate fans, even outside my kids' social circles. :-)

When you started writing the first book, Waterfall, did you already know it was going to be a series?  And was it all planned in your head already or did it come to you as you wrote?

I knew it was going to be a series--and a sort of "hooked" series, so we planned with the publisher to release them fast: WATERFALL in the Winter, CASCADE in late Spring, and TORRENT in the fall. We didn't want kids to have to wait to read the next one for long. I never know exactly what I'm going to write--only the broad brush strokes--what I want the characters to learn/encounter/conquer. The rest plays out like a movie in my mind.

 

What are some obstacle's you've had to overcome when writing this series?

Writing dialogue that sounds believable to teens. I had to get my daughters' friends to help me out--and had other readers via Facebook (River of TIme Series) who jumped in too. Apparently, "good grief" isn't something a kid would say. :-)

How did the title's come to you?  And that leads me to the cover of Waterfall, did you have any say on what it looked like?  It sure is beautiful!

I knew the series title right away--The River of Time. It sounded ethereal and romantic to me. Then I wanted water images for each of the titles of the book. WATERFALL is symbolic of the girls' fall into another time period, a pool that's fairly idyllic in some ways, but draining into a fast-moving river again. CASCADE is about them getting all churned up and pushed one way or another as things speed up, in their lives and in their hearts. TORRENT is when they really get hammered by the obstacles in their lives--and have to make it through. The River image gets broadened in TORRENT, to embody life itself--living deeply, feeling it rather than just surviving it--which I think is a big issue in our contemporary, fast-paced society.

And in regard to covers--I was lucky to have lots of input on the covers...about model choices, costuming, images, color. I'm so glad they turned out as beautifully as they did!

I'm guessing there was a lot of research done for these books being as they are a time travel historical fiction.  So what kind of research did you have to do?  Did you get to do a ton of traveling?

We have a passion for Italy and have a family travel web site, www.TheWorldisCalling.com. So yes, we got to go Italy several times and I can't wait to return. In regard to the historical research, I'd done a previous series for adults (The Begotten, The Betrayed, The Blessed), so happily, that was mostly in order in my head. The first time around, it took me a year to research!

Do you have a favorite book or series that you are always recommending to everyone?

I really enjoyed the Hunger Games trilogy last year. My favorite read was The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society--total delight. And the opposite of Collins's dystopia! I'm a fairly eclectic reader!

 

Where can you purchase your books?  Are they available everywhere?

Anywhere fine books are sold--isn't that the marketing line? :-) If a copy isn't on the shelves, they can order it for you. Or you can order it online. It releases Feb 1.

Anything else you want to say?

I'm really hoping this can be a "Mom and Me" kind of read--it's geared for teens, but I think a lot of adult women will enjoy it too. In the back are discussion questions--I love the idea of teens getting together to chat about the book, or a mom and daughter doing the same. As much as it's action and romance, there are some deeper things going on too, which I hope will lead to some great life discussions.

Also, I invite you to jump in with us via Facebook, at "River of Time Series." Lots of contests, giveaways and updates can be found there.

Thank you so much for stopping by and answering the questions!  And of course, thank you for the giveaway!

You can find Lisa on her Website | Facebook (River of Time Page) | Twitter

Read the prologue and first chapter at Scribd.

Watch the video trailer at YouTube. (I tried to load it on here but my computer is being difficult, it's really good though, go watch it!)

The Giveaway:This Giveaway has Ended

You want to win Waterfall for yourself?  Lisa is being awesome and is giving one copy away to one US or Canadian reader.   Just leave a comment about this interview or about how much you want to read the book and contact information and you'll be entered!  You must be 13 or older.  Ends Feb. 15, 2011.

In My Mailbox (44)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and is where we share the books we got through the week.  I've been doing a vlog every week for several weeks now but this time around I'm not because I'm sick with a sinus infection and I have company, so I don't really have the time for it.  But I did get a few books this week.

Borrowed:

 

Trapped by Michael Northrop (thank you Angela!)

Won:

 

The Ghost and the Goth  by Stacey Kade (signed!) with a magnet (yay! Love it!)

and

 

Once Dead, Twice Shy (Madison Avery, Book 1) by Kim Harrison

Thank you Heather at Buried in Books! 

For Review:

 

Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox by Susan Blackaby 

Bought:

Not a darn thing!  YAY me!!!! 

Saturday Situation- Link up your Reviews and Giveaways! 1/29

 Saturday Situation is hosted by both Lori at Pure Imagination and myself.  It's a linky for you to link your  Giveaways and Reviews (and whatever neglected posts you may have).  You'll find the same linky's at Pure Imagination, so don't enter them twice!

Keep in mind that you can add your links through the entire week.  

You can find this post again by clicking the button on the top right of my blog.  I'll try to keep it up to date to go to the newest Saturday Situation post.

We're using a new linky system.  If there's a glitch please bear with us!  We'll have it fixed shortly!

PLEASE make sure you use the correct linky! Giveaways go in the BOTTOM one!

BOOK REVIEWS AND OTHER NEGLECTED POSTS

Example:
Name: Fallout Review
URL: http://www.pureimaginationblog.com/2010/09/review-fallout-by-ellen-hopkins.html

BOOK RELATED GIVEAWAYS

Example:
Name: Middle Grade Giveaway- It's Raining Cupcakes and others Ends Sept 30th US Only
URL:http://www.pureimaginationblog.com/2010/09/middle-grade-giveaway.html

Book Review: The Oracle of Stamboul by Michael David Lukas

Title: The Oracle of Stamboul
Author: Michael David Lukas 
Details: Hardcover, 320 pgs. 
Published: Feb 1, 2011 by HarperCollins

isbn: 0755377699 (ISBN13: 9780755377695)

Reading Level: Adult but appropriate for young adult as well.

Source: HarperCollins for Review

Description:

A girl changes the course of the Ottoman empire in Lukas's middling debut. Eleonora Cohen--born in 1877 Romania, prophesied to alter history, and gifted with great intelligence--stows away at age eight to follow her father to Stamboul. Her first weeks there are a whirlwind of beautiful new dresses and cultural experiences, but the idyllic adventure takes a terrible twist after her father is killed in an accident and Eleonora is taken in by her father's wealthy and politically slippery friend. She proves to be a quick study, and once her tutor alerts the palace of Eleonora's immense intelligence, she finds herself in attendance at the sultan's court, commenting on a political standoff between the Ottoman empire, Russia, and Germany. As the sultan's interest in her grows, so, too, does her reputation and importance, though Eleonora is unsure if her new role is what she wants from life. 

My Thoughts:

Although I enjoyed this book I didn't love it.  The main reason is the way it was executed.  I didn't feel a connection to the story really and the way it was narrated everything felt sort of distant.  I've read other books in this style and although they are unique they are more difficult for me to enjoy.  Others however, do enjoy this style so please don't take that too much to heart.  

I thought that the author made some interesting characters but I can't say I connected with any of them.  I did like the main character, Eleonora but the fact that she was so young it was hard to have a real connection with her.  Plus the style of the writing sort of kept that from happening.  I did think that the moments that the author allowed us inside her head were special and I wished we'd gotten to know her a little differently.  I loved how smart she was and although she was only nine through the majority of the book she did feel older because she was so brilliant.

This is a magical historical fiction and the magic was interesting.  It was subtle, like her flock of birds that followed her around.  It made things a bit more interesting.  I do have to say that the book didn't feel so much like a historical fiction.  Felt more like a fantasy to me.  I really know nothing about that part of the world but just the way it was told made it feel that way.  

The end of the story fell a bit flat.  I felt like we didn't get the conclusion I was hoping for.  Unless the author is planning to write a second book it was a bit too inconclusive, in my opinion.

Overall I found myself enjoying the book but I didn't love it.  To me it was mostly the style of narration, but to others I'm sure that won't be bothersome.

This is a beautiful book with a gorgeous cover and deckle edges (at least in my advanced reading copy).

You can find Michael David Lukas at his website.

You can purchase from your favorite bookstore or any of my affiliate links (to the left and below).  All commission made is used to fund contests here. 

 Disclosure: I received a free advanced edition from the publisher for review.  I was not paid or influenced in any way.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Title: Across the Universe

Author: Beth Revis

Details: Hardcover, 398 pgs.

Published: Jan. 11, 2011 by Razorbill

isbn: 1595143971 (ISBN13: 9781595143976)

Reading Level: Young Adult

Source: Purchased

Description:

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder. Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.
Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.
Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

My Thoughts:
I was so all over the place about reading this book.  When I first heard of it I thought I probably wouldn't even try it just because it's science fiction in the outer space kind of way.  Not really my thing.  But then I kept seeing reviews everywhere just raving about it and I changed my mind.  But it wasn't until release day when I saw all the videos on everyone's blogs and couldn't stop hearing about it that I decided I HAD to have it.  I bought it that day.  I didn't get a chance to read it until now, a couple weeks later and I have to say I'm very glad I did get it!
Now the description makes it sound very much like a love story and I thought it wasn't really.  The two were drawn together but I didn't really feel the romance between them.  I felt like there wasn't really enough time to.  There was too much going on.
I did like the all the characters.  I felt like Elder was maybe a bit immature but it doesn't really give any negative points.  I really loved Harley and his creativity.  And Amy was a great character though a time or two I wanted to smack her.  It wasn't so bad though and it quickly passed.  It was just when she was SO determined that she didn't listen to anyone and was really putting herself into danger.
Figuring things out was really the best part of the book.  Although I guessed correctly on who was unplugging the chryogenically frozen people I didn't know for sure.  And there was so much more mystery to everything.
The beginning of the book was slow for me and that's what my biggest downfall of the book was.  Although I wasn't bored exactly I just wanted to see things start to happen.  It was a fast read though and once things picked up I really enjoyed the story and had no problems reading straight through.
This really felt like a dystopian to me.  Even though they are on a spaceship it's just a messed up world with weird scientific things going on and leaders that think they know best about everything.  I loved that.  And the fact that it was on the spaceship just made it so different, which is a definite plus.

You can find Beth Revis on her Website | Books Website |
You can purchase at your favorite bookstore or support my giveaways by using the affiliate links on my blog.

Children's Review: Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox

Title: Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox
Author: Susan Blackaby
Illustrator: Carmen Segovia
Details: Hardcover, 24 pgs.
Published: Jan. 4, 2011 by Sterling
isbn: 140274336X (ISBN13: 9781402743368)
Reading Level: Children Age 3 and up
Source: Sterling Publishing, for review

Description:

Happy Groundhog Day! But when Brownie steps outside, there's not even the slightest sign of spring-just her shadow, a frosty field, and a hungry fox who wants to munch her for lunch. Determined not to become a meal, Brownie finds a clever and tasty way to melt the ice and turn Fox into a friend and make the wait for winter's end a little warmer. Susan Blackaby's deliciously witty writing and Carmen Segovia's adorable animals and stunning landscapes combine to create a picture book filled with springtime joy. Just right for reading with a cup of cocoa and cinnamon toast;  Brownie's favorite meal!

Our Thoughts:

What an adorable book!  It came just in time as Groundhog Day is next week.  But this book doesn't talk about Groundhog day, though it talks about finding Spring.  So although it's a Groundhog Day book it really is appropriate for all winter.  

I thought it was a cute book the second I saw it even though it's not bright in colors.  There's snow through the entire thing so that makes for a lot of white, but the illustrator fills the pages.  It's not just a little portion of the page with the illustrations.  I love it when they are full pages of illustrations and it takes your eyes over the full pages, looking for little things like maybe a bird in a tree, or a leaf starting to grow.  

My kids loved this book, and that's what's important right?  I read it to my one year old who has zero attention span but he actually stopped playing to look up and see the book.  When my daughter got home and heard there was a new book she spun circles, she was so excited!  But when she saw it she was even more excited.  We haven't had much snow at all this year so that has made her even more obsessed with it.  She was enthralled with the story from the beginning and didn't interrupt me at all.  When I finished the kids sat down and looked at the pictures without me but when they finished they asked me to read it again!  

The book was fun to read though it wasn't rhyming or anything.  It was just a fun story with Brownie Groundhog tricking the fox over and over again and in the end them becoming friends.  

It was a middle length story.  It didn't take long to read but wasn't too short.  It was just perfect, I'd say!

I give it 4/5 for illustrations.

4/5 for the story.

And the kids give it 5/5!

You can purchase at your favorite bookstore or support my blog and giveaways by using my affiliate links.

Disclosure: I received this book free of charge in return for an honest review.  I was not paid or influenced in any way and all opinions expressed are my own.

Romantic Book Charms Giveaway *ENDED*

Valentines Day is coming up and Nancy, from Southwest Sky Jewelry is giving away this set of 5 romantic bookcharms.  

From Southwest Sky Jewelry: 

You Will Receive All 5 "Mini Book Charms" which Include:

-Classic "Wuthering Heights"
-Classic "Romeo & Juliet"
-Classic "Romeo and Juliet" in Color
-Classic "Lady Chatterley's Lover"
-Classic "Phantom of the Opera"

These Miniature Book Charms Include 28-30 Blank Pages and Open and Close Just Like a Book-(no writing inside).

These are Great for a Necklace or to Hang on a Book Mark, Party Favors, add a Ribbon to tie on Stemware for Wine Glass Charms, Etc.!

The Giveaway:

One person will win all 5 of these Mini Book Charms.
This Giveaway is open Internationally.  Please take note that Southwest Sky does not always ship Internationally, if you wish to purchase something and you are outside of the US please contact Nancy on her etsy.  This Giveaway ends February 11th, 2011

This Giveaway is now closed.

Required Entry:  Go to Southwest Sky Jewelry and come back and tell me your favorite item from her shop in a comment.  OR tell me what book you would most like to see made into a book charm (she does customs!).  Please include your contact information. 

  

  There are no extra entries this time around but if you like what you see I hope you'll:
Follow Southwest Sky Jewelry's Blog

Follow Southwest Sky on Twitter

And feel free to tweet this contest as well!

Disclosure:  The items being given away are provided by the company mentioned in return for this post advertising for them.  I will be mailing it myself but take no responsibility if it is lost in the mail.  I cannot promise that it will be perfect and take no responsibility for the condition. 

That being said I will do my best to insure it arrives safely and unharmed.

Winner of Alice in Wonderland Charm Necklace

There were 355 entries for the Alice in Wonderland Charm Necklace, quite a success if you ask me!  Thank you everyone who entered!  Remember that you can purchase the necklace at Southwest Sky Jewelry.

So the winner is...

Melissa Jackson!

Congrats!  

She has been notified and has 48 hours to reply.

Winner was selected using random.org

New Giveaway will be going up as soon as I can get the post wrote up! 

Check it out! I have a new design!

Do you like it?  Lori, at Pure Imagination and Use Your Imagination Designs (her design blog) did it!  I found a kit I fell in love with and told her may favorite elements and she did all the work.  I think it's amazing.  But there may be a few tweaks here and there to make so if you notice things that bother you please let me know!  

I'm going to be working on the sidebars today, so things will be rearranging still.

Be sure to grab my new button!

And

Thank You Lori!

Waiting on Wednesday (1)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating

I don't normally do Waiting on Wednesday as I just freak out about wanting these books more.  Plus it normally requires doing some research to find the books and the last thing I need is MORE books to obsess over.
But this week I'm already obsessing over a few books and I can't stop thinking about them!  So I thought I would do my first ever WoW.

When Jill finds a rusty sword tip on a Caribbean beach, she is instantly intrigued—and little expects it will transport her through time to the deck of a pirate ship. Will a dark enchantment, salty kisses, and a duel with an evil pirate captain leave her stranded in the eighteenth century forever?

Drawing on piratical lore and historical fact, Carrie Vaughn creates a vivid world of swaying masts and swelling seas, where blood magic overrules the laws of nature, romance is in the air, and death can come at the single slip of a sword.

Now it doesn't come out until March 15th and that seems like FOREVER.  It's being published by HarperTeen.  I would give my left kidney (or my right, it doesn't much matter) for this book.  Seriously. Just let me know if you have an ARC to trade and happen to need a kidney.  Or something else would work too. 
I  LOVE the cover, but the description is just amazing!  Time travel, pirates, romance...  Yep, just my thing!

This next book comes out much sooner, on February 1st actually.  I'm going to be doing an interview with the author as well as a giveaway of it so make sure you check it out January 31st.   I've entered some giveaway's for this book myself but I think I may cave in and buy this one (if the pocket book allows it, eeek!).

Lisa Tawn Bergren's new YA series, River of Time, is romantic, historical fiction in which the plucky heroine doesn't have to fear a vampire's bite but must still fight for her life. In Waterfall, American teenager Gabi Betarrini accidently finds herself in sixteenth-century Italy . . . Knights. Swords. Horses. Armor. And Italian hotties. Most American teens want an Italian vacation, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives there with their archaeologist parents. Stuck on yet another hot, dusty dig, they are bored out of their minds... until they place their hands atop handprints in an ancient tomb and find themselves catapulted into the sixteenth-century—and in the middle of a fierce battle between knights bent on killing one another.

Time travel too, and hot Italian knights?!  Yep, sounds delicious to me!   

Okay, and while I'm at it I'll throw in one more.  It's another one I'm DYING for!  

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger. 

There have been others before who’ve felt the Need, but they’re gone—erased from the memories of everyone whose lives they had touched. It's as though they never existed. This is the fate that awaits Charlotte. But the last thing Charlotte wants to do is disappear, to be Forgotten. She wants to stay with her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend’s arms forever. She wishes she could just ignore the Need, but she can’t. And as everyone important in her life begins to slowly forget her, she has to decide if she’ll fight the Need in order to remain herself—no matter how dark the consequences.

 I LOVE LOVE LOVE the cover, but the description just makes it sound AMAZING!  I've wanted it ever since I heard the description from Suzanne.  She made it sound so amazing because she really 'felt' the story when she was writing it.  I love it when I hear an author SO excited about the books they are writing!  That means it's going to be good, right?
This one releases June 21st, even further away!  It's being published by Balzer & Bray.

Book Review: Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian

Title: Not That Kind of Girl
Author: Siobhan Vivian
Details: Hardcover, 336 pgs.
Published: Sept. 1st, 2010 by Push
isbn: 0545169151 (ISBN13: 9780545169158)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Borrowed from friend Lori


Description:

Natalie Sterling wants to be in control. She wants her friends to be loyal. She wants her classmates to elect her student council president. She wants to find the right guy, not the usual jerk her school has to offer. She wants a good reputation, because she believes that will lead to good things.
But life is messy, and it's very hard to be in control of it. Not when there are freshman girls running around in a pack, trying to get senior guys to sleep with them. Not when your friends have secrets they're no longer comfortable sharing. Not when the boy you once dismissed ends up being the boy you wants to sleep with yourself - but only in secret, with nobody ever finding out.
Slut or saint? Winner or loser? Natalie is getting tired of these forced choices - and is now going to find a way to live life in the sometimes messy, sometimes wonderful in-between.

My Thoughts:
I wanted to read this book because my friend Lori said the main character, Natalie, is very different.  And she was right, she is definitely a different MC.  In some ways this book is a bit similar to The Duff by Kody Keplinger, but yet it's still quite different.
Natalie is a perfectionist.  She wants to have perfect grades, be the teachers pet, president of student council, have a perfect reputation... the list goes on.  She's quite judgmental of people, but yet she wasn't quite mean.  At least I didn't think she was mean, but she was a bit blunt and just saw things in black and white.  No in between.  Spencer comes along and is the complete opposite.  But yet they are friends.
I really thought that the author did a fantastic job of creating her characters.  Natalie and Spencer are two extremes and then Autumn, Natalie's best friend is the only one that hits more of the middle ground.   And Connor, well, he's a bit in the middle ground as well.  He's not a bad kid, and he's not a jerk like his friends, but he still parties and does things that Natalie completely frowns upon.  So when things develop between them it's almost shocking, but yet, not quite.  It was nice to see things happen and watch Natalie make some mistakes and then find her way to what she really wanted, no, needed. 
I think this is a fantastic book for teens.  To see that finding a middle ground and not being one extreme or another is important.  

 
You can find Siobhan Vivian on her Website. 
You can purchase at your favorite bookstore, or using any of my affiliate links and help me fund my contests.

Book Review: The Fates Will Find Their Way by Hannah Pittard

Title: The Fates Will Find Their Way
Author: Hannah Pittard

Details: Hardcover, 256 pgs.
Published: Feb. 1st, 2011 by Ecco / HarperCollins
isbn: 006199605X (ISBN13: 9780061996054)
Reading Level: Adult
Source: HarperCollins 
in return for an honest review

Details:

Sixteen-year-old Nora Lindell is missing. And the neighborhood boys she's left behind are caught forever in the heady current of her absence.
As the days and years pile up, the mystery of her disappearance grows kaleidoscopically. A collection of rumors, divergent suspicions, and tantalizing what-ifs, Nora Lindell's story is a shadowy projection of teenage lust, friendship, reverence, and regret, captured magically in the disembodied plural voice of the boys who still long for her.
Told in haunting, percussive prose, Hannah Pittard's beautifully crafted novel tracks the emotional progress of the sister Nora left behind, the other families in their leafy suburban enclave, and the individual fates of the boys in her thrall. Far more eager to imagine Nora's fate than to scrutinize their own, the boys sleepwalk into an adulthood of jobs, marriages, families, homes, and daughters of their own, all the while pining for a girl–and a life–that no longer exists, except in the imagination.
A masterful literary debut that shines a light into the dream-filled space between childhood and all that follows, The Fates Will Find Their Way is a story about the stories we tell ourselves–of who we once were and may someday become.

 
My Thoughts:

This book was different.  The first person narration wasn't from one specific person but was clearly speaking as, or for, the group of boys that we see throughout the story.  I can't say I loved that perspective but it wasn't bad either.
This story is kind of about what could have happened.  We see that Nora could have been kidnapped, she could have ran away, she could have done this or that.  And we see what may have happened if that had, in fact, happened.  I hated not knowing.  It drove me nuts!  I wanted to know where this girl disappeared to!  Each time I read what may have happened I was convinced that that's what happened.  Until I read the next one.  It was frustrating for me!
It was interesting seeing how each person lived their life.  The ridiculous things that boys do, that kids do, even that adults do when faced with fear, uncertainty, lust and pretty much any feeling. 
I'm not sure how I really felt about this book.  There were parts that were pretty interesting, but other things that bugged me.
I think I'll give it 3/5 moons though, as it was well wrote and the lives were pretty interesting.

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Disclosure: I received this book free of charge in return for an honest review.  I was not paid or influenced in any way and all opinions expressed are my own. 
 

Requiring Following for Contests and Buying your Followers (which is different!)..

 Not so long ago Lori at Pure Imagination, Angela at Reading Angel and myself held a giveaway giving away a $100 Gift card to a bookstore of their choice.  We did not require the entrants to follow us.  As matter of fact the three of us rarely ever require anyone entering our contests to follow.  I do the occasional followers giveaway that are just for my followers, but that's not often at all.  I prefer to have followers that want to follow my blog for the content and not just for extra entries to my contests.  I do love watching the numbers climb though, so I do have following my blog as an extra entry most of the time.
Lately I've noticed a lot of blogs that require people to follow them for every single giveaway they have, but many of those giveaways are sponsored by someone else.  So is it fair to require people to follow you when it's not really you giving the item away?  Where all your doing is writing up a post?  Writing up a post is work, I definitely agree with that, but I think that if you have great content then people will follow you.  Is it necessary to require following?   Now I know we all have different opinions on this, and really I'm neutral ground here.  I don't really like being required to follow to enter giveaways but I almost always (if not always) follow a blog if I'm entering their contest anyway.  I just don't like being told I have to follow them.
I've also been noticing more giveaways that are FOR gaining followers.  You pay to have your name in a linky on a blog that's giving money away.  You can pay to have different things, like for people to follow your blog or to follow you on twitter, etc.  Basically your money is contributing to the giveaway but you are literally BUYING your followers.  To be honest this is kind of leaving a bad taste in my mouth.  I can see how it's great to have more exposure, but really most of those people aren't looking at your content.  They are doing whatever is required to have an entry to win all this money.  Maybe a few will come back, but probably most are just there to win something.  Many will unfollow once it's finished.  I'm curious about other people's takes on this.  I say it leaves a bad taste in my mouth, but I love watching the followers grow too and even this is tempting to me, I just know it's not my thing, I would feel guilty~ but I'm not going to judge you.  I want to know your opinion on this.

So, is it right to require people to follow your blog for contests?  I'm okay with it if YOUR sponsoring the giveaway, providing the item yourself and shipping yourself.  But if your only writing up the blog post, then maybe not require it ALL the time.

And is it okay to buy followers (GFC, Twitter, Facebook, etc).   I don't think so for bloggers.  BUT if you have a business I do feel a bit different about that.  I think if your doing it for a business that's advertising and that's fine.  If you have a compelling argument about it being right for bloggers, please share!  Who knows, maybe I haven't seen that aspect.

Book Review: Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning

Title: Shadowfever (Fever series #5)
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Details: Hardcover, 594 pgs.
Published: Jan. 18, 2011 by Delacorte Press
isbn: 0385341679 (ISBN13: 9780385341677)
Reading Level: Adult
Source: Purchased


Description: Do Not read if you haven't read the previous books!

"Evil is a completely different creature, Mac.
Evil is bad that believes it's good."

MacKayla Lane was just a child when she and her sister, Alina were given up for adoption and banished from Ireland forever.

Twenty years later, Alina is dead and Mac has returned to the country that expelled them to hunt her sister's murderer. But after discovering that she descends from a bloodline both gifted and cursed, Mac is plunged into a secret history: an ancient conflict between humans and immortals that have lived concealed among us for thousands of years.

What follows is a shocking chain of events with devastating consequences, and now Mac struggles to cope with grief, while continuing her mission to acquire and control the Sinsar Dubh--a book of dark, forbidden magic scribed by the mythical Unseelie King that contains the power to create and destroy worlds.
In an epic battle between humans and Fae, the hunter becomes the hunted when the Sinsar Dubh turns on Mac, and begins mowing a deadly path through those she loves.

Who can she turn to? Who can she trust? Who is the woman that haunts her dreams? More importantly, who is Mac and what is the destiny she glimpses in the black and crimson designs of an ancient tarot card?

From the luxury of the Lord Master's penthouse, to the sordid depths of an Unseelie nightclub, from the erotic bed of her lover, to the terrifying bed of the Unseelie King, Mac's journey will force her to face the truth of her exile, and make a choice that will either save the world...or destroy it.

My Thoughts with No Spoilers for any of the Fever series:

The Fever series is one of the most all consuming series I've ever read.  It sucks you in and has you analyzing every little thing that happens.  The author sends you on a roller coaster where you don't know what is real and what isn't.
The sexual tension in these books is one of the things that has women all over the world sucking them in like it's their life force.  Seriously, I think Barrons (surely you've heard the name, even if you haven't read the books) is the man that has the most people lusting after that are just characters from books.  We don't know what he is, who he is, and even what he really, truly feels.  We just know we love him and we WANT him!
All I can say is this, if you have not read the Fever series and you are an adult, and you love urban fantasy then get on it already!  But, I do have to warn you, you will want all the books before hand because you've never read cliffhangers like these!  Be ready to read one and move onto the next immediately.


My real feelings on Shadowfever specifically (spoilers if you haven't read the previous books):
This book was everything I expected, wanted, needed, craved... and so much more.  It sucked me and the first 100 pages were devoured before I could even stand up.  I was furious, I was speechless, I had to find out What?! the heck happened?!  Then I started to breath again only to be thrust into another crazy cycle and forgot to breath for another 100 pages...
This book was like being on some crazy drugs.  I thought the other books were crazy, this one was WAY crazier!  I seriously wanted to scream WTF?! and then Heck YEAH! and then WTF? again.  I mean it was nearly impossible to keep my feelings in and not scream to the world.
KMM did it.  I mean she seriously created something that is unbelievable.  I mean, that girl has CRAZY imagination.  CRAZY!  And she has the ability to twist your mind like you wouldn't believe.  I just don't see how she managed to keep all the secrets in for that long.  She had to have been dying!  Everyone was analyzing everything, begging her for more details and we got NOTHING!  Well, now it's over.  And seriously, it's surreal.  I waited YEARS to get answers and now that I know them it's just... strange.  Don't get me wrong, this book was freaking amazing, but I can't believe I know.  I waited for this day for just so. freaking. long.

BUT it's not necessarily the end.  Before I knew that (I've stayed away from her forum for awhile now, I couldn't handle it anymore) I had a feeling that maybe she would do a spin off with Dani.  And it's still just a guess but I really hope she does do one with Dani.  The thing is, we learn some things about Dani, and are almost, but not quite introduced to a new character.  This character was just mentioned.  Now why would he be there at all if it wasn't to set something up? 

Karen Marie Moning's Website | Twitter |  Facebook
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Book Review: Tracking the Tempest by Nicole Peeler

Spoiler Free Zone: 
Before I do my review I want to share a bit of my thoughts of this series in general (so far) that is completely spoiler free for those who haven't yet read them.
Jane True is a fantastic series for urban fantasy and paranormal lovers.  Although I would think it's probably categorized as an urban fantasy it's definitely up there with the best paranormal romances.  It has plenty of romance, and it has all the crazy creatures I love in a good urban fantasy.
The Jane True series feels unique to me and I love that aspect.  I also love that the covers are completely different.  I really hate it when they have half naked men and women on them.  And I just love that it really stands out.
I highly recommend this series for any paranormal and UF lover, but it does have plenty of graphic scenes.  Sex, language and torture.  So it's for mature readers only.

Title: Tracking the Tempest (Jane True #2)
Author: Nicole Peeler
Details: Mass Market Paperback, 320 pgs.
Published: July 1st, 2010 by Orbit

isbn: 031605657X (ISBN13: 9780316056571)

Reading Level: Adult

Source: Purchased

Spoiler Zone! Don't read past here if you haven't yet read the first book!

Description: 

Valentine's Day is fast approaching, and Ryu - Jane's bloodsucking boyfriend - can't let a major holiday go by without getting all gratuitous. An overwhelming dose of boyfriend interference and a last-minute ticket to Boston later, and Jane's life is thrown off course.Ryu's well-intentioned plans create mayhem, and Jane winds up embroiled in an investigation involving a spree of gruesome killings. All the evidence points towards another Halfling, much to Jane's surprise...

My Thoughts:
I really like this series!  I think that even in a market saturated with paranormal and urban fantasy it's still unique.   I love Jane's personality and how she's so true to herself.  She's kind and thoughtful and always has her family and friends in mind first of all.  Their safety is first and foremost.  That being said, I felt like this was a bit slow in the beginning.  It may have been my mood but it didn't feel like it really picked up until later in the story.  But once it did, well it was hard to put down!  Constant action and twists and turns.
In this one Jane is learning what powers she has and it's pretty cool to watch her toughen up and to learn how to use them.
Ryu was great (and as hot as ever!) as well but we got to know a bit of another side of him.  The control freak side, which wasn't so great, but also showed how much he cared for Jane.
We also got to know Anyan a lot better!  And as a person, not a dog!  I think he's my favorite character in this book.  We got a hint of a love triangle so I'm anxious to see if there's anything to that.
We met many new characters in this book and some were infuriating!  I'm anxious to read the next book and watch them get taken down (at least I hope they do!)!
This really is a great series and I'm so glad I waited so that I can read the third book right away (well, after I get all my review books read...).
I give this one 4/5 moons!

You can find Nicole Peeler on her website/blog | Twitter
You can purchase at your favorite bookstore!