In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren to spotlight what books we've received for the week.
I haven’t bought any books in a few months so I don’t feel too guilty about my purchases this week.
Almost all adult. I think I’m a little burned out on YA right now and I’m trying to mix up my reading genres a little more to avoid reading slumps.
Bought:
Sacrificial Magic (Downside Ghosts book #4) by Stacia Kane – I already read this on Netgalley already but the series is a favorite of mine and I want to make sure it sells lots of books so I bought it to add to my collection. ~goodreads
The Darkest Seduction (Lords of the Underworld #9) by Gena Showalter – I’ve been waiting a long time for Paris’s book. I am a tad afraid to read it though. I’m hearing mixed opinions. ~goodreads
Kindling the Moon (Arcadia Bell #1) by Jenn Bennett – Another series I’ve heard great things about. ~goodreads
The Iron Duke (Iron Seas #1) by Meljean Brook – I’ve been wanting to read this one for a long time so I was happy to see that my bookstore finally had it in stock. ~goodreads
Wicked As They Come (Blud #1) by Delilah S. Dawson - “Have you ever heard of a Bludman? They’re rather like you and me—only more fabulous, immortal, and mostly indestructible. (They’re also very good kissers.)” Described as part paranormal and part steampunk, Wicked As They Come sounds really fun! It’s been getting rave reviews too. ~goodreads
OK Don’t judge me on this next one. I am aware of the horrible cover. But it was this review on Fiction Vixen’s blog that convinced me.
My Life As a White Trash Zombie (White Trash Zombie #1) by Diana Rowland – No explanation needed. The title and cover say it all. Can’t wait o read it! ~goodreads
Thank you to Pam from Midnyte Reader for loaning me this one.
Netgalley:
Velveteen by Danny Marks – I’m reading this one now and hope to finish it up this week. ~goodreads
That should keep me busy for awhile. What did you guys get this week?
Orphaned into the household of her Aunt Reed at Gateshead, subject to the cruel regime at Lowood charity school, Jane Eyre nonetheless emerges unbroken in spirit and integrity. She takes up the post of governess at Thornfield, falls in love with Mr. Rochester, and discovers the impediment to their lawful marriage in a story that transcends melodrama to portray a woman's passionate search for a wider and richer life than Victorian society traditionally allowed. With a heroine full of yearning, the dangerous secrets she encounters, and the choices she finally makes, Charlotte Bronte's innovative and enduring romantic novel continues to engage and provoke readers...
Review:
I haven't been able to make it through one classic novel since high school - which was a very, very, very long ago and only when it was required reading. My eyes glaze over after a few pages. I just cannot get into the writing style or time period.
My blogger friends Julie and Alex invited me to join their read-a-long of Jane Eyre, splitting the novel into 10 chapters per week over a month with weekly email discussions. I tried joining a read-a-long for David Copperfield by Charles Dickens last year and never made it past page 50 so I didn't hold out much hope.
But…..
I made it! I finally finished AND enjoyed a classic!
Since so many people have already read and loved Jane Eyre, I'm not going to get into the specifics of the plot. Most of you already know what happens. These are just a few observations from someone who struggled with but ultimately enjoyed the novel.
I didn't get off to a great start. I had a tough time getting though the first 10 chapters. Jane leads an awful life and I felt an enormous amount of sympathy for her but I had a difficult time feeling any real connection to Jane. She views almost everything through the prism of how things affect her. This sounds horrible of me because things are terrible for her and at such a young age but I kind of wanted her to stop droning on about how everyone hates her. I know….I know……I'm a terrible person. I didn't start connecting with her character until she finally got to Thornfield and met Mr. Rochester and his staff.
Mr. Rochester. Now there's a really complex character. One thing I loved about him was that when he loves - he loves passionately. He declares it from the rooftops and doesn't care what anyone thinks. Societal judgment be damned. Of course that causes problems since he's already married and all.
Like Jane, I think he views everyone else through this narrow prism of how he has been wronged in the past. Unlike kind, loving Jane though, I think Mr. Rochester has less ground to stand on. He talks about the various women who have hurt him but when he gets the chance to form a relationship he lies or in the case of poor Adele and Bertha, is outright mean. He does this extraordinarily kind thing by taking them both in and then proceeds to say cruel things or ignore them completely.
I think I can see now who almost every brooding man in current literature is based on. He embodies all the passive aggressive behavior - the "I'm not worthy & only you can make me worthy" declarations of half the men in my HR/PNR's. Ironically, I find Jane is much spunkier and independant than most of today's heroines. Hmmmm.
I had an up and down relationship with Jane and Rochester throughout the book. I ended up loving them both and their growth as individuals. They really go through A LOT and are complex and messy in ways that most novels today just don't allow their characters to be.
I'll just touch on a few more random things.
* Jane is ugly. How do I know this? Because about 100 people tell her TO HER FACE that she is ugly. What is up with that? Is this common in classic literature? Of that time period? It’s not even during a fight or by a mean person all of the time. Otherwise very nice people say “Hello Jane, nice to meet you – oh my you’re ugly.”
*There was a touch of paranormal throughout the story and it never quite worked for me. I kept expecting some big reveal about ghosts or something. I wish it was either explored further or not brought up at all.
*After Mr. Rochester's declaration of love to Jane I think he went off the deep end. lol What was that?? He's happy I know. I'm happy for them but he went from 0-100 in the span of 1 or 2 pages and I kept thinking…."who is this person?" I think I would have ran away if I was Jane. Or spiked his drink with a sedative.
* Despite that outburst I was totally sold on them as a couple by the end. They wouldn't have been right for each other if they had married earlier in the book. Jane still wasn't her own person and Rochester wasn't ready to surrender his control and love freely yet.
*I loved how Jane stood by her faith and her convictions. She never wavered. Ever. Not even if it meant losing the love of her life. She’s a great role model for today’s women.
* Adele. Poor little Adele. I felt so bad for her for most of this book. Rochester ignores her then Jane storms off leaving her with Mr. R. Sad :-( Surprisingly she rises above and turns out just fine.
Rating: 3 out of 4 I still had a rough time reading with the overly descriptive prose and that period of time doesn’t appeal to me as a reader but I really enjoyed Jane Eyre. I think when you have two compelling characters such as Jane and Rochester it helps you overcome any hurdles you might have. I also loved being able to discuss my progress with Julie & Alex. We each noticed different things and had different points of view each week which helped me understand both Jane & Rochester better. It also helped me get through any parts that were becoming a struggle for me.
What are your favorite classic novels? Which ones should I try next? Are there any that aren't 600 pages long??!!
It isn't easy being the rather overlooked and unhappy youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week. Sunday’s only comfort is writing stories, although what she writes has a terrible tendency to come true.
When Sunday meets an enchanted frog who asks about her stories, the two become friends. Soon that friendship deepens into something magical. One night Sunday kisses her frog goodbye and leaves, not realizing that her love has transformed him back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland—and a man Sunday’s family despises.
The prince returns to his castle, intent on making Sunday fall in love with him as the man he is, not the frog he was. But Sunday is not so easy to woo. How can she feel such a strange, strong attraction for this prince she barely knows? And what twisted secrets lie hidden in his past - and hers? ~ goodreads
This fairy tale retelling sounds particularly whimsical & romantic to me. Even though I’m not sure how you stop picturing the swoony prince as a frog lol
Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf? Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others. Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart? (YA – Mature) ~goodreads
Review:
There are a few genres that I don't enjoy reading. Historical and fantasy would be at the top of that list. Usually when i read about high courts, doomed duchess', arranged marriages and political intrigue I'm bored to tears. Yet, when I read Grave Mercy, which contains all these elements and more at a whopping 564 pages, I was completely swept away. I connected with everyone. Whether they be good, bad or something in between; and there is a lot of moral ambiguity in Grave Mercy.
From the moment I met the young Ismae I was hooked. Rescued just in the nick of time from an abusive arranged marriage, she is whisked away to the convent of St. Mortain to serve as the handmaiden of death.
I may not be a fan of historical or fantasy but I am a huge fan of cold assassins! Ismae and the other girls brought to the convent are trained in the ways to kill a man using stealth, poison and seduction. The girls have all been abused by men in some way and readily embrace their new life and service to their God without question. Although this book is considered historical fantasy, I felt it had more of a darker medieval tone and that darkness is what won me over.
Ismae is definitely one of my favorite heroines. She's vulnerable but practical. She doesn't have super human strength but knows how to use the weapons and training afforded her in a ruthless and cunning way that will chill you. She believes the convent saved her life and has no problems carrying out vengeance on their behalf to anyone who receives the marque of Mortain. Her absolute faith in what she's doing and dedication to Mortain’s will wins you over even though you know that luring and killing men is wrong. And how could you not love a girl who's armed to the teeth with knives and poisons under her beautiful gown?
Once Ismae leaves the convent and is assigned to protect Duchess Anne of Brittany, she finds herself on her own to interpret the convent & Mortain's wishes. While posing as a mistress to Gavrial Duval, the Duke’s bastard son and brother to Anne, she finds that the convents direct orders don't always match with the facts before her very own eyes or with the strong sense of guidance she feels from her God in time of need. This leaves Ismae conflicted over whether she should carry out her assignments without question in vengeance or act with mercy against her convent's wishes. I love when characters begin to question their own belief system and are allowed to grow as a result of that.
The elements of fantasy, magic, and romance are used sparingly in this novel as character development takes center stage . The romance was slow and sweet making it believable. Because of the sheer length and scope of Grave Mercy, a number of richly layered relationships are able to be introduced and develop. All of them were just as fascinating to me as the romance.
This book reads as a stand alone but is the book #1 in the His Fair Assassin series. Each book will focus on a different girl from the convent and there are enough loose threads to leave you wanting for more while still wrapping up all the main plot points nicely.
Rating: 3.8 out of 4 A little slow to start but I had that rare reading experience of being completely engrossed in this world for 3 days and I never wanted to leave. I loved these people like friends and family. I honestly could have read another 100 or so pages about them. Ismae is a strong heroine worth emulating and Duval, with his strong convictions and loyalty, is hero worth loving.
When Chess Putnam is ordered by an infamous crime boss—who also happens to be her drug dealer—to use her powers as a witch to solve a grisly murder involving dark magic, she knows she must rise to the challenge. Adding to the intensity: Chess’s boyfriend, Terrible, doesn’t trust her, and Lex, the son of a rival crime lord, is trying to reignite the sparks between him and Chess. Plus there’s the little matter of Chess’s real job as a ghost hunter for the Church of Real Truth, investigating reports of a haunting at a school in the heart of Downside. Someone seems to be taking a crash course in summoning the dead—and if Chess doesn’t watch her back, she may soon be joining their ranks. As Chess is drawn into a shadowy world of twisted secrets and dark violence, it soon becomes clear that she’s not going to emerge from its depths without making the ultimate sacrifice. ~ goodreads
Note: There are no spoilers for Sacrificial Magic but there are a few for the previous books in the series. IMO they must be read in order. You can read my review for the first three books in the series here.
Review:
Life…work... love... these things have never been easy for Chess Putnam. In Sacrificial Magic, the fourth book in the Downside Ghosts series, all three collide with shocking and often heartbreaking results.
It's hard to read about a character that struggles and f*cks up as much as Chess. This poor girl has had the worst of life thrown at her and she numbs the pain with drugs and self-destructive behavior. Kane has the herculean task of pushing us out of our comfort zone while still keeping us rooting for Chess. She accomplishes that task.
I was definitely pushed out my comfort zone in this book. Chess is working on yet another case for the Church with help from Lex, her ex- lover, while she battles her insecurities in her relationship with her current lover, Terrible. Just when Chess and Terrible take one giant leap forward they do something that makes them fall two steps back. I was really frustrated with Chess for a lot of this book but man the things she confronts are huge and ultimately she's growing as a character and I was proud of her.
There are several big ( and I mean BIG) developments on different fronts that all come to a head at the end of Sacrificial Magic. I would say that this book is a game changer. Chess will no longer be able to hang back and work for all the various sides - Lex, Bump, and the Church. She's going to have some tough choices to make. This couldn't come at a worse time for her since she's finally learning to let people show her some affection and realizes that she can have people in her life that don't want anything in return from her.
Out of all the ghosts and personal issues Chess has to face the thing that creeps me out the most continues to be the Church. I chafe at anything that requires that kind of blind loyalty. Chess still follows the Churches teachings without question. I'm really hoping that changes at some point.
Despite the physical & emotional turmoil Chess goes through in this book, I felt that Sacrificial Magic had a lot of lighter moments. Chess actually smiles a few times. I particularly love her new friendship with Beaulah, a woman she meets during the case she's working on. It's an interesting dynamic in Chess's mostly testosterone filled world. I also enjoyed her conversations with Elder Griffin. Of course the big draw of this series for most people is the relationship between Chess & Terrible (& Lex?) but this is about the growth of Chess and adding these different types of relationships in her life helps her confront her issues from all sides.
As wonderful as the fantasy idea of falling in love with a guy and having that solve all our problems sounds, it's just that - a fantasy. Love does help and that relationship can give you the strength & support you need but it's never a magic fix and Stacia explores that even though it's painful to read at times. We want the fantasy. As they say it takes a village. Chess has a strange, wacky band of villagers as her support group but at least she's not on her own anymore.
Rating 3.5 out of 4 This is the most important book of the series IMO. It almost hurt to read at times but ultimately you will come out the other side smiling. I did have a hard time with the "downside speak" at first. Maybe it's been awhile since I had read the last book or maybe because Lex, Bump & Terrible were in this book more so the dialect was more prevalent but it took me some time to get the feel of it again.
Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine to spotlight upcoming releases that we're anticipating.
I haven’t done one of these since November of last year but when I saw the cover reveal for this book last week I knew it was time to do a WoW post.
Velveteen (Velveteen #1)
By Daniel Marks
October 9th, 2012
Random House Children’s books
Velveteen Monroe is dead. At 16, she was kidnapped and murdered by a madman named Bonesaw. But that's not the problem.
The problem is she landed in purgatory. And while it's not a fiery inferno, it's certainly no heaven. It's gray, ashen, and crumbling more and more by the day, and everyone has a job to do. Which doesn't leave Velveteen much time to do anything about what's really on her mind.
Bonesaw.
Velveteen aches to deliver the bloody punishment her killer deserves. And she's figured out just how to do it. She'll haunt him for the rest of his days.
It'll be brutal . . . and awesome.
But crossing the divide between the living and the dead has devastating consequences. Velveteen's obsessive haunting cracks the foundations of purgatory and jeopardizes her very soul. A risk she's willing to take—except fate has just given her reason to stick around: an unreasonably hot and completely off-limits coworker.
Velveteen can't help herself when it comes to breaking rules . . . or getting revenge. And she just might be angry enough to take everyone down with her. goodreads
I’ve been a huge fan of Daniel’s since reading his very adult Amanda Feral zombie series. (writing under the name Mark Henry) I’ve also watched him tweet about writing Velveteen for about a year now and I’m dying to see what kind of fresh voice he can bring to the YA genre. I’m hoping for dark and creepy and just by looking at the cover and summary, I’m sure he’ll deliver.
Book Blogger Confessions is a meme that posts the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month, where book bloggers "confess" and vent about topics that are unique to us. Feel free to share, vent and offer solutions. Just keep it respectful - no bashing authors or other bloggers!
If you want to participate just grab our button and include it in your post with a link to either Tiger's All Consuming Media or here on For What It's Worth. We will be providing a linky at the end of our posts so people can "hop" to see all the participants answers.
Question: Everyone LOVES that book! Why don't I? How do you handle being the one reviewer who doesn't like a book that's taking the blogosphere by storm? Do you write a review? Pretend you didn't read the book?
I used to love every book I read. I really did. Even minor flaws were overlooked. I was with the majority of people saying every book was AWESOME!
But the more I read and the more I blog, the more books start sounding similar to me. Maybe it's just the nature of blogging and reviewing. I now look at books with more of a critical eye than I used to.
Either way this situation happens to me about 80% of the time with any book I read these days.
At first I thought something was wrong with me because I wasn't "getting" a particular book. What exactly am I not seeing?? Maybe I read the book wrong. lol How did 500 people on goodreads give this book 4 or 5 stars and I gave it two? How is that possible? Should I read it again and expect a different outcome?
This is a little off topic but I finally realized what was happening.The book reviewing blogosphere is vast but we do tend to read/review the same books for the most part. When I see a gorgeous cover & dozens of great reviews over the course of a week I start thinking "maybe I should read that book" even if it wasn't something that interested me before. I found myself not liking most of the books I was reading because of the way I was choosing them. Don't get me wrong, I have found a lot of great books through blogger recommendations and reading outside my comfort zone. However, I've found that what works best for me is to chose my next book for a number of different reasons, with good book buzz being just one of them. Since I've changed how I select my books, I find this happening less often but it doesn't really bother me anymore anyway. It's just my opinion - one among thousands - and I'm allowed to have it.
When it does happen I review the book. Every time I write a negative review for a popular book I hold my breath after I post it, waiting for the onslaught of "you stupid moron….this is the best book ever & you are the dumbest person ever for not liking it." Despite all the drama that seems to thrive on twitter & goodreads, I have found bloggers to be very supportive of differing opinions. Most have disagreed with me but understood where I was coming from with my thoughts. The other side is that even though you feel all alone in not liking a particular book - there are always others who feel the same. I get a lot of comments that say "omg, I thought it was just me!" There is no way that 100% of readers will like every book. Not possible. You are never alone.
Now, just to contradict myself, there have been a few occasions where it has made me feel awful that I didn't like a book; like when it's my BFF's favorite book. This makes me feel like dog poo. I feel like it's a direct insult on them and their reading tastes even though I of course don't mean it that way. I feel like I'm insulting their mother.
The Soul Screamers series by Rachel Vincent. This is one of my BBC co-host Tiger's favorite series. It makes me feel horrible that I don't like it because as she has stated in the past, we are 90% book compatible. I want to be 100% book compatible! I've tried reading it, I keep trying, but nothing….sorry.
Put down that tomato right now! Do not throw it at me! I know you all love the series but I don't.
The other book is Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. Again. I'm sorry, I didn't like it. It's Brooke from Brooke Reports favorite book ever! Have you met Brooke?? She's THE most adorable person and I had to tell her I didn't like her FAVORITE book after she begged me to read it. That girl is passionate about her books! I admit it…..I tried to avoid THE conversation. i didn't add my rating to goodreads right away. I considered adding one star to cushion the blow. I haven't written a review for Shatter Me but it's because I didn't have strong feelings either way, not to avoid Brooke's wrath. lol (btw - she eventually found out that I didn't love the book and still loves me anyway - whew! Crisis diverted)
I think the bottom line is that it's difficult to feel like a party pooper especially when everyone is talking about a great book on Twitter/Facebook etc. You want to be part of the fun. You want to LOVE every book. I love discussing & pimping great books so it makes me sad when I'm not feeling the love myself but I just keep reading until I find the next great book that I can swoon over.
**This wasn’t part of this week’s question but I’m curious……how do you feel when people don’t love a book that YOU LOVE? My answer: It doesn't really bother me but I tend to avoid reviews if it's anything the might upset me. *anti-Peeta=death glare* I want the right to to be honest about what I read so I should allow others their opinion too.
Upcoming Questions:
April 2nd - Spoilers in reviews: Do you read them, do you include them? How to you describe (or avoid describing) spoilery parts of a book?
April 16th –: Review/Guest post requests: Do you have a review request policy? Has it changed over time? How do you handle requests that don’t meet your criteria? In the past, what types of "pitches" have caught your attention? Are there any (non-specific) examples of requests that are off-putting to you as a blogger?
I celebrated my 25th wedding anniversary this week (WOO-HOO!) so in honor of that momentous occasion I’m posting a cute romantic video I found.
P.S. Love you Kevin. Here’s to 25 more!
Don’t Let Me Fall by Lenka
Ok – now let’s back to bloggy buisness!
Wrap-up!
Reviews: Mini reviews: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews, And then Things Fall Apart by Arlana Tibensky, Unforgettable by Loretta Ellsworth
Guest Posts & Features: AAD Author Spotlight with Carolyn Crane – Can I just say for the 1000th time how much I love Carolyn and her writing?? There! I just did.
Cover Reveal! for EASY by Tammara Webber. Check out this upcoming YA – Mature stand alone novel
Book Blogger Confessions reminder – New post goes up Monday. Join the discussion – should be a good one! We’ll be talking about that dreaded reading moment when you realize you don’t like THE BEST BOOK EVER even though everyone else does.
Giveaways! Kiss Me I'm Irish Giveaway Hop! – I’m giving away Irish band swag and your choice of one book from Jeri Smith-Ready’s Shade trilogy! Ends at 12:01am EST on March 20th
Please join me in welcoming Boone Brux, author of the Bringer and the Bane series, to For What It’s Worth as part of my AAD Author Spotlight series.
Shield of Fire (Bringer and the Bane, Book #1)
Protecting humans is the Bringers’ duty. Sending demons to the Shadow World is their pleasure.
In one night, Ravyn’s life plunges from barely tolerable to deadly. Forced to flee the only home she’s known, she stumbles headlong into the clutches of Icarus, a powerful demon intent on stealing her powers. Unfortunately for him, she has no intention of cooperating.
When Rhys realizes the woman he’s rescued from the Bane Demon is no mere human, his obligation as a Bringer dictates he protect and train her in the ways of his people. But he’s unprepared for the intense desire he feels for the fiery Ravyn. To surrender to his need may mean her death.
As the Demon King’s desire for ultimate power escalates, fathers are slated against sons, and foes are made allies. The Bane threat upon them, Rhys and Ravyn must quest to unite the last of the Bringers—and explore a passion too powerful to ignore. ~ goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Karen: Describe yourself Twitter style - 140 characters. (feel free to use Twitlonger :-) ) Boone: Warm-blooded, funny, easily distracted, coffee addict, beer drinker, loyal, believes she’s still 25, loves elastic waistbands, meant to live in the tropics
K: Use the same format to describe your writing or your latest book. B: Medieval epic fantasy, yummy heroes, nasty demons, kickass heroines, plot twists, never know who’s good or bad, rich world, magic
K: Do you have any superstitions or rituals that you follow before writing? B: No, I try to make rituals, but life never cooperates. If anything, I’d have to say that having a clean office is my ritual. I can’t concentrate in clutter and chaos. The only other superstition is to try and not complain about editing and issues that revolve around my world of writing. I’m afraid if I grumble over edits or having too much to do, it may all end. So I don’t complain about getting exactly what I asked for.
Karen: “So I don’t complain about getting exactly what I asked for.” I really like that philosophy Boone. It’s a good rule to live by that we often forget.
K: Do you have a favorite snack that you need to have around? B: Coffee, coffee, and more coffee. It sustains me through the morning and forces me to get off my big butt to pee or fill up my cup. You know when they say, “If you love it so much, why don’t you marry it?” I would. If I could, I’d marry coffee. All of it. I’d be a coffee polygamist.
K: What are you most looking forward to at AAD in August? B: I can honestly say that I’m looking most forward to interacting with readers. I haven’t had much of a chance yet. Whenever I think about mingling at AAD, I get a little giddy. The same thing happens when my husband makes margaritas.
K: Is there a book you've recently read that you would tell everyone to go out and buy right NOW!
B: I love humorous books, so anything that makes me laugh is a must read. I just reread Christopher Moore’s Fool. It’s about a court fool named Pocket and is a parody of King Lear. I was skeptical at first, because making King Lear funny seemed impossible, but it didn’t disappoint. Moore’s Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal, is also an excellent read.
Karen: Thanks for stopping by today Boone and I’m looking forward the reader/author interaction at AAD too. See you there!
Bio: Boone has lived in the beautiful state of Alaska for nearly two decades. She
spent many of those years in the bush, where the internet and flush toilets
were a luxury. Boone’s motto? “Have laptop, will travel.” It’s not uncommon
to see her pounding away at her computer during camping trips, fishing expeditions, or in their family plane as they fly over the open tundra.
Welcome to the Team Kilt /St. Patty’s Day celebration hosted by Jeri Smith-Ready & the Kiss Me I’m Irish Giveaway Hop hosted by Kilt & Keeley fan site.
We’re celebrating all things Irish especially Mr. Logan Keeley from Jeri’s Shade Trilogy!
There will be a full day of fun including two SHADEboys Twitter chats & a chance to win the very last SHINE ARC! Make sure you’re following Jeri’s blog, Logan & Zach on Twitter to keep up to date on all the happenings.
For the giveaway hop I’m supposed to talk about my favorite things from Ireland or about a favorite kiss story. I’m going to be honest here – I’m tired & I don’t feel good as I’m writing this post - I don’t know much about Ireland, even though I have some of the Irish blood (& temper – just ask my husband) in me.
I really don’t have a good kiss story either so I’m going to weasel out of the whole thing by giving you random St. Patrick’s Day Irish facts & kissing quotes…and of course a giveaway!
Facts:
*St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17 because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is believed that he died on March 17 in the year 461 AD. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history. St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland, and a provincial holiday in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
*In Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, people traditionally wear a small bunch of shamrocks on their jackets or caps. Children wear orange, white and green badges, and women and girls wear green ribbons in their hair.
*The Irish flag is green, white and orange. The green symbolizes the people of the south, and orange, the people of the north. White represents the peace that brings them together as a nation.
*One estimate suggests that there are about 10 000 regular three-leaf clovers for every lucky four-leaf clover.
*Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.
KISSING
" A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous."
Ingrid Bergman
" Her kisses left something to be desired... the rest of her."
Unknown
" When I saw you, I was afraid to meet you... When I met you, I was afraid to kiss you... When I kissed you, I was afraid to love you... Now that I love you, I'm afraid to lose you."
Unknown
“Kissing-and I mean like, yummy, smacking kissing - is the most delicious, most beautiful and passionate thing that two people can do, bar none. Better than sex, hands down.” Drew Barrymore
I’m going to end this with these two pictures of Ireland’s infamous rainbows that made me think of Logan.
These three books were a nice deviation from the typical YA. All are contemporaries – light on romance and none of the books are preachy or over the top, even though they are each tackling serious issues. We just get a simple story where we spend quality time getting to know the main characters as the story slowly unfolds.
So give these three books a shot if your looking for something a little different. All are fairly quick reads.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews Seventeen-year-old Greg has managed to become part of every social group at his Pittsburgh high school without having any friends, but his life changes when his mother forces him to befriend Rachel, a girl he once knew in Hebrew school who has leukemia. ~ goodreads
Review: Sound depressing? You would be wrong. In fact Greg informs us right from the start that we will get "precisely zero Important Life Lessons, or Little-Known Facts About Love, or sappy tear-jerking Moments When We Knew We Had Left Our Childhood Behind for Good…." Sort of the anti-The Fault in Our Stars.
Greg speaks directly to the reader in a very honest way, letting us see him warts and all. He's not a perfect kid & is really rather selfish but it is fun to see this honest portrayal of a teenage boy in high school. Greg's descriptions of high school cliques is spot-on and had me cringing from my own memories.
The first half of this book is funny. Scratch that. It's HYSTERICAL. I was laughing so hard my animals started looking at me funny. Unfortunately the narrative starts to lean more towards annoying than funny and I felt like the story had no real direction around the halfway point. Greg even asks us a few times why we're still reading his stupid book. I don't think I would go that far but I did start to lose interest.
Overall a fun, quirky story using a combination of regular dialogue, bullet point lists, movie script format (Greg is an aspiring director) and catchy chapter titles like: Batman Versus Spider-Man & A Moron's Guide to Leukemia, to tell the story of Greg's journey with Earl and Rachel - the dying girl.
P.S. I beg to differ with Greg but I think there were a few important life lessons and maybe not big tear jerking moments but I may have sniffled a little. Amazon: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
And Then Things Fall Apart by Arlaina Tibensky Keek’s life was totally perfect.
Keek and her boyfriend just had their Worst Fight Ever, her best friend heinously betrayed her, her parents are divorcing, and her mom’s across the country caring for her newborn cousin, who may or may not make it home from the hospital. To top it all off, Keek’s got the plague. (Well, the chicken pox.) Now she’s holed up at her grandmother’s technologically-barren house until further notice. Not quite the summer vacation Keek had in mind.
With only an old typewriter and Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar for solace and guidance, Keek’s alone with her swirling thoughts. But one thing’s clear through her feverish haze—she’s got to figure out why things went wrong so she can put them right. ~ goodreads
Review: This is a very quiet sort of book. Keek is going through all the typical teen angst of a 15 year old but in her case she's confined to a bed with chicken pox.
It's seems like such an odd concept - to tell a story where the MC is basically in a room, with little outside contact for two months, while grappling with the major issues of her life. Sex with her boyfriend, fighting with her best friend and family upheaval - while stuck in bed - without the internet *gasp*. We are so connected these days that we don't take the time to be alone with our thoughts anymore so it was an interesting perspective.
Keek is brutally honest with the reader as she works through her issues by reading Sylvia Plath and writing poetry. Her personality sometimes comes off as self absorbed and over dramatic but I think that's typical for the "it's the end of the world" mindset of a 15 year old. This book probably isn't going to be for every reader but I found it's simplicity a plus. Amazon: And Then Things Fall Apart
Unforgettable by Loretta Ellsworth Baxter Green isn’t like everyone else. While most people would forget about the little details of everyday life, Baxter never forgets—not pain, not hurt, not embarrassment. In fact, Baxter never forgets anything—not even a string of account numbers, flashed before his eyes by his mother’s criminal boyfriend, Dink, for use in a credit card scam. Years after his testimony has locked Dink away, Baxter and his mother are in a new town, trying to forget the danger Dink brought into their lives. Baxter wants to hide his unique ability, but it becomes increasingly more difficult when he reconnects with Hallie, a girl from his childhood who has lived on in his memory long after she has forgotten him. Can Baxter win Hallie’s heart? Loretta Ellsworth’s newest novel is one readers will never forget. ~ goodreads
Review: Baxter remembers every single detail of his life. Every. Single. One. At first I thought this was some cool superpower, paranormal book but Baxter's problem is very real and not very cool at all.
Like And Things Fall Apart, Unforgettable is an understated novel although there is more action and drama involved.
I could not help but love Baxter. He's so sweet and so frustrated by his own life. He's this ordinary kid with this strange ability/(disability?) Known in school as Memory Boy, he has a tough time and is sometimes misunderstood because he can ace all tests as long as it involves memory but fail when it doesn't. It's sad that he can remember the bad times in as much excruciating detail as the good things in his life. He has also been exploited by his mothers boyfriend for criminal activity. An act that has Baxter & his mother on the run.
When he reconnects with Halle, the girl he's been in love with since kindergarten, who doesn't remember him at all, he starts pushing out of his comfort zone and tries to achieve a sense of normalcy to win her over.
Though slow at times, this is such a sweet story. I love how Baxter associates sounds with images. He sees daffodils when he hears Halle's voice for example. I also felt frustrated with Baxter as he struggled to fit into a world that just doesn't understand his way of thinking. Amazon: Unforgettable
If you have been reading my blog recently you may have noticed that I have become a bit obsessed with the (new to me) Disillusionists Trilogy and it’s spin off novellas. Carolyn Crane has become a must read/auto buy author for me. So I am beyond excited to have Carolyn guest blogging here today.
Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post!
THERE’S A THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND DOOM. No wager is too outrageous for Simon Fitzgerald, the most reckless of the Disillusionists. His dark secrets drive him to take increasingly extreme risks, but he’s never lived so quite so dangerously as when he hooks up with Midcity’s most powerful prognosticator. Fawna Brady is tormented by the destinies she sees for those around her. To Fawna, knowledge of the future is a cage she’d do anything to escape. She’s stunned to discover a taste of the freedom for which she yearns at the side of Simon, the one person in the world who despises everything she is, everything she stands for. Simon’s defiant attitude toward destiny captivates Fawna, but will her love destroy him? And will Simon rush headlong into the delicious doom she offers? (e-book novella) Read my review for Devil's Luck here Read my review for the Disillusionists Trilogy here
Please join me in giving Carolyn a warm welcome!
Seven confessions about luck!
In honor of upcoming St. Patty’s day, and the fact that Devil’s Luck, my new stand-alone novella from the disillusionists world, just came out, I’m talking about luck today!
My sordid history in the luck business I used to work at this import store where we had little trinkets and masks from all over the world. We really didn’t know what most of the stuff was, but our manager always told us to say everything was for good luck. Let me tell you, we sold some very demonic-looking masks and trinkets to people that they thought were for luck, but heavens knows what they were really for (cue Brady Bunch music. Greg finds the amulet in the Hawaiian cave!) But part of me thinks, if they thought it was for luck, it was probably lucky. Hopefully.
Luck in books Do you ever think, with different people in your life who are important to you, how lucky you were to ever cross paths with them? I think that about books all the time. I feel like some authors have really changed my life, either by bringing me endless pleasure, or else by showing me new things as a writer, and that it was sheer luck I came to read them. Because really, isn’t it so random, what makes you pick up a book? For me, it kind of depends on who I am interacting with at the moment, what I read and hear at specific times. In a parallel existence, I could easily not have read anything by Kresley Cole, for example and be a massive Karen Marie Moning fan. However, in this existence, I am a massive Kresley Cole fan and I have not yet read KMM (but I have her on my shelf! *ducks from flying projectiles*).
Luck in writing More than anything in the world, I like to sit around at home and not go places, except for the occasional run. But, as a married person who is not a hermit and who also works as a freelancer, I must go places. Sometimes when I go to, say, a meeting, I see or hear something unexpected that gives me an idea for whatever story I’m working on, and I’ll think, Wow, lucky I went to that meeting.
But then again, maybe if I was forced to go somewhere totally different, a picnic, and had a different experience, maybe that would impact the story and I’d think, Wow! Lucky I went on that picnic! Sometimes I think novels are just a giant collage of all the stuff sifting through your life. Oh, this is a random post indeed!
My theory on luck The only way you can truly know what is really lucky is if you had an alternate timeline of yourself without that thing.
Social media luck Woody Allen said that 90% of life is showing up. I think it applies to social media luck. So many lucky and cool things happen on social media, like twitter, but you have to be there. Engaged. Sometimes I just go there and have nothing to say! But even then, I follow interesting links. You never know when hermity Carolyn Crane is lurking.
Character luck I made Simon, the hero of Devil’s Luck to be a villain in the first book, Mind Games. Seriously, I didn’t want people to like him. And I found out that when you try to make dark and unlikable, they often turn quite interesting and likeable. So I let him be frenemies with Justine, and eventually I liked him so much, I gave him his own book. I feel lucky that this happened - that I learned this character-creating lesson from Simon, and got this great character to write a novella for. I think a lot of character luck like that is following your gut.
Devils luck Did you know nobody really agrees on what Devil’s Luck means? If you look online, you can see that some people feel it ‘devil’s luck’ is especially bad luck. Other people feel devil’s luck is good luck. I suppose it all depends on if you think the devil is lucky.
Karen, I am so happy you invited me here. thanks so much. And also, for the idea of posting about luck. Happy St. Patrick’s day. I hope luck follows you and your blog readers.
About Carolyn...
I’m a writer living in Minneapolis with my husband and two daring cats. I work a day job as a freelance advertising writer, and have for years. I’ve also waited tables at a surprising number of Minneapolis restaurants and bars (though not as many, incidentally, as my writer husband has). I’ve also been a shop clerk and a plastics factory worker, which I was dismal at (think I Love Lucy). Also, I can relate almost any life experience to one or another Star Trek episodes, and if you invite me to your party, your cheese plate will be in grave danger. During rare moments when I’m not at my computer, I can be found reading in bed, running, helping animals, or eating Mexican food.
Karen here! Thank you Carolyn! I will try not to be too scary/stalkerish when I meet you at the Authors After Dark Convention in August lol
Carolyn is giving away an e-copy of Devil's Luck to one lucky winner! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form to enter. I’ll announce the winner on Sunday!
Must Read Monday is a new meme hosted by Jen from What's on the Bookshelf to showcase a book or series (old or new) that we recommend.
I’m picking several books by an author that writes really strong female characters and smoking hot sex scenes - Victoria Dahl
Her Tumble Creek series is one of my favorites.
Talk Me Down - book #1 – bestselling erotic author hooks up with uptight, hunky chief of police. Hilarity and embarrassing situations ensue.
Start Me Up - book #2 – This is one of my all time favorite adult contemporary books. It is so hysterically funny and sexy with a hot nerdy hero.
Lead Me On - book #3 – I have to admit this wasn’t my favorite of the series but still cute and sexy.
A Little Bit WIld – I’m not a big fan of historical romance but since I enjoyed Dahl’s writing I decided to give the York family series a go. I really enjoyed book #1 (my review) She brings her trademark humor and smart characters to this series as well.
I would love to have a little reading/napping area like this. What I like about this photo is that it seems within the realm of possibility too. Of course it wouldn’t be as pretty or designer as in this photo but a trundle bed with drawers could be used to store books. You could always add overhead shelving.
Blog ramblings….I finally started using Windows Live Writer to format my posts. Bloggers have told me to try it for years now but I resisted. I have a Mac so it is a little more complicated (you have to also run Parallels Desktop for Mac – which my DH just got for free) but it has made blogging SO much easier! I’m still finding my way around and exploring all the Plug-ins but it has already improved my blogging experience 100%! It’s FREE too so go check it out if writing posts wants make you gouge your eyes out.
Giveaway! Feeling Lucky? March giveaway! You can win ANY one book up to $20.00 value as long as it is released during the month of March - your choice!
Happy Sunday!
Source: xkcd A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language (I spent WAY too much time on this site this morning)
Welcome to the random ramblings of a reader, armature baker, & inflexible yogi. I'm a lover of good food, TV, music & all things nature. My favorite thing is being a dog mom to @Ripley_kai_yay
Release date - April 3, 2012
- Release date - March 27, 2012
P.S. Love you Kevin. Here’s to 25 more!
