Children's Review: Oh So Brave Dragon by David Kirk

Oh So Brave Dragon by David Kirk
Hardcover, 40 pages
Expected publication: May 13, 2014 by Feiwel & Friends

Dragon knows he is supposed to be brave—because that’s what dragons do. He’s so brave and valiant, he’s ready to try out his fearsome roar! But when he hears something that scares him, he turns to his forest friends to find the noise, and to help him be brave.

Young readers will relate to Dragon’s fears, and delight in his quest to be brave. Bestselling author/artist David Kirk, creator of the popular Miss Spider series, has created another beautiful, meaningful picture book to follow Oh So Tiny.   

 This review was done by my 9 year old daughter with a little assistance by me (mostly the typing and rephrasing of some things).
The characters in this story are Dragon and forest animals.  Dragon tries to act brave and protect the animals, but he's really scared of his own roar.  He talks big, like he's the bravest ever, but really, he's more scared than the little forest animals. Once he pulls all the forest friends in and they work together to defeat the monster (non-existant as far as we can tell) he's brave and with his friends by his side.

The story is really short.  It only takes minutes to read.  

The pictures are colorful and I like the dragon pictures and all the forest animals.  I like the pictures when his mouth is open and when he roars.  

This book is good for little kids cause it's really short. It teaches kids that it's okay to be scared but if you have your friends you can be together and maybe be brave.

Disclosure: We received this book for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.
                                                                                                                                                                                

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Young Adult Review: Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira

Love Letter to the Dead by Ava Dellaira

Hardcover, 323 pages

Expected Publication: April 1st, 2014 

Source: Gift

It begins as an assignment for English class: Write a letter to a dead person. Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain because her sister, May, loved him. And he died young, just like May did. Soon, Laurel has a notebook full of letters to people like Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Amelia Earhart, Heath Ledger, and more; though she never gives a single one of them to her teacher. She writes about starting high school, navigating new friendships, falling in love for the first time, learning to live with her splintering family. And, finally, about the abuse she suffered while May was supposed to be looking out for her. Only then, once Laurel has written down the truth about what happened to herself, can she truly begin to accept what happened to May. And only when Laurel has begun to see her sister as the person she was; lovely and amazing and deeply flawed; can she begin to discover her own path.

I've been dreading writing this review.  It's just a difficult one to really piece together my thoughts.  They are all over the place. So I'll just start from how I felt from the beginning.

The first half or so of this book was rather slow for me. Sometimes I didn't feel like reading it at all.  But I had a friend tell me that there is more to it, that it's not just about her sister dying and her grief. So then I was curious and wanted to know what the other thing is.  I wasn't expecting it to take so long, and I was expecting more hints. Any hints were so vague I couldn't really guess.  I felt like I was grasping at straws. I kept expecting something to happen and it didn't.  Not until pretty close to the end when everything was revealed.  So that was frustrating to me. But if you can just go with it then maybe it wouldn't be so bad.  It might have partly been my mood too. 

The next thing I want to mention is definitely a positive. Laurel writes letters to dead people, mostly celebrities.  I could connect with this.  Kurt Cobain was my obsession in middle and high school. He died when I was in middle school but we (my friends and I) were obsessed from right before that.  And his death was like this permission slip to go all dark about it and really obsess.  So anyway, yeah, anything Kurt Cobain has me screaming YES in my head.  And all the music mentioned in the book had a very 90's vibe, which I also liked.  90's music rocked, what can I say?  I also liked that we learned little things about the people. I already know everything about Kurt, and I still enjoyed reading those bits. But I learned stuff about Amelia Earhart and many others that I didn't know. And it wasn't all random, it fit the story.

I was surprised that we could get such a strong vibe of Laurel's mindset from her writing the letters.  But we did.  I  mean she cried a lot and acted erratically at times and had me sometimes wondering if there was something more going on with her.  Once I found out more it made sense though.  I don't know whether I liked her, which I know sounds weird. But I totally understood her.  Actually, I understood her too well. {Except one thing toward the end that I did NOT get, AT ALL.}

This book deals with a lot and I'm not going to list them since that's a spoiler.  But it's very very dark.  Like seriously dark.  It was physically hard to read at times.  I had tears running down my face.  I was sobbing. I stayed up until 3 AM because my brain wouldn't shut off. I couldn't stop thinking about the book.  That's good and it's bad.  I don't know.  It's something. It's good when a book brings out so much emotion but not good when it kind of puts you in a dark place.  I read YA to kind of relive my teen years. I remember how strong my emotions were, how much LOVE I felt. How much I FELT in general. I remember the highs and the fun and all the feelings.  And I do remember the darker things, but I kind of don't want to relive them and  this book had me reliving those darker things.  This book was TOO real. It was TOO accurate. It was TOO dark.  I needed some light things to make it easier to take in.  There's just SO much happening and so much she's going through. And you add in her friends and their issues and it's kind of a lot. But connected, I did.  I understood everything far, far too well and personally it was hard.  If I was a TEEN reading this book when going through those things, that might be different. These things are firmly in my past. I survived. I moved forward. I live a normal life and am not {too} messed up.  So this book for teens?  Probably good. Kind of scary now that I'm an adult, but it's definitely realistic and we kind of have to deal with that. Unfortunately.

The romance in the book was good. I was unsure about it and took the whole book to be sure, but I can safely say that I'm happy with it.  Another thing I want to bring up is the LGBT theme. Laurel has two friends that are girls and early on we see they are attracted to each other (the other two friends, not Laurel) but they don't accept it themselves, they are definitely not ready to face anyone else and through the book it's a constant theme.  Of them loving each other but being afraid.  There are other issues with their families as well. I appreciated that this was in the book and I think it was presented realistically.

The end of the book was excellent. It had a full conclusion with things solved and wrapped up.  Laurel has a journey yet, but she's on the right path and I was 100% happy with it.

So what do I rate the book?  Seriously, I have no clue.  I'm going to go with 3.5 stars.

A reminder, I move to Wordpress TOMORROW (Tuesday) so please follow me by Bloglovin' or email so you don't miss out on anything!

Moving to Wordpress! Follow me by Bloglovin' or Email so you don't miss anything!

In case you missed my notices the past few days, I am moving to Wordpress. The move is happening Tuesday.  Make sure to follow me by Bloglovin' or email so you don't miss anything!  The site might be a mess for awhile as things get organized.  I am clueless about Wordpress so hopefully I can manage to figure it out, but bear with me as I do so! 

My Week in Instagram: Moving to Wordpress! A Few New Books & More Dog Pictures!

Happy Sunday everyone!

This post is in my week according to instagram. It's mostly the books I got but I take random pictures sometimes too.  Also, make sure you follow me on instagram, I follow back! 

 

Before you get started looking, I'm moving to Wordpress on Tuesday! So be sure to follow via email or Bloglovin' so you don't miss anything! 

  

From The Midnight Garden I won The Lost Planet by Rachel Searles. This looks like a very fun MG book! And I love their bookmarks!

I actually got Love Letters to the Dead a few weeks ago but it was in a huge stack and didn't really get featured.  I read this this week and I'm very conflicted still.  I'll have my review up soon.

I got Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis from Amulet Books.  This one sounds really intriguing. It has a June release and it's a different cover on goodreads. This is what it looks like there:

I think I like this cover better. But I don't mind the font based one at all.

The dog got a new bed.  He actually really loves it. I wasn't sure if it was worth the money ($35!) but he sleeps on it a lot and even at night, which is amazing.  Definitely worth the money! 

I was trying really hard to get a picture with his ears up and this was the best I could do. It's better when he's sitting and looking up. I swear he looks like a Beanie Boo with his huge eyes.  

I hope you all had a great week! 

Emerald Isle Trilogy Sale & Giveaway!

EMERALD ISLE TRILOGY
Boxed Set
By Renee Vincent

One man risks his life to save her.
Another risks his heart to love her.
Who will be the victor?

Three of Renee Vincent’s bestselling and critically acclaimed historical Viking romance novels are now available in one spellbinding bundle—yours for only 99¢ (limited time offer)

Full of fast-paced adventure, unforeseen plot twists, and courageous, to-die-for heroes like you’ve never read before, this extraordinary boxed set is sure to satisfy every readers’ craving for the ultimate in historical Viking romance.

Available now at:

Amazon | B&N | KOBO | Smashwords | ARe | Turquoise Morning Press

Ræliksen, Book 1
Mara, the daughter of an Irish clansman, was raised to believe the men of the North are heathens - murderous pagans without a moral bone in their bodies. Despite warnings of the Northmen's raids, and the growing threat of another incursion, Mara is continually drawn to her favorite place - the River Shannon.

Dægan Ræliksen, a wealthy chieftain from Norway's frozen fjords, secretly discovers Mara at the water's edge. He is charmed by her beauty and sensuous grace. As the days pass, his contentment with simply watching her grows thin. He can no longer deny his unabated desire for the young maiden. His search for a wife has ended.

However, Mara and Dægan come face-to-face in a time when Ireland is in turmoil - when every Irishman is being called up to fight against the Nordic foreigners. In these times of upheaval, how can Dægan make peace with Mara's father and acquire the woman he treasures? Furthermore, can Mara move past her fears and find the noble man within the savage?

Teaser Quote:

“You are correct in saying that desires often come from things we cannot easily gain—mine, being that of your love. By all accounts, I do wish I could steal it. But I am not that sort of man. I will wait. Forever and a day…I will wait.”

Reviews:

"This is my first read by Renee Vincent and she has undoubtedly earned a place on my auto-buy author’s list. This book and author earn my highest recommendations and I feel privileged to have read one of the best.”
~ 5 Stars TOP PICK ~ Night Owl Reviews

"…a fast-paced, action-packed historical romance, which Ms. Vincent brings to life right before your eyes; a story you will remember long after the last page is read."
~ 5 Blue Ribbons! ~ Romance Junkies


Mac Liam, Book 2

A tortured soul…

Breandán Mac Liam, the strapping young hunter from Ireland’s lush forests, is in love with Mara, an ineligible beautiful princess. For seven long years, he has been vividly haunted by her memory, taunted by the throes of his heartache. And not even the thought of her marriage to a Northman can extinguish the fierce, burning desire running rampant through his heart and soul.

An innocent heart…

Mara, the spirited Connacht princess, has no idea she is the object of the Irishman’s longing. She is living out her days on Inis Mór, raising a troubled son and trying to endure the cruel loneliness that afflicts her.

A deadly secret…

Ordered by the king on his deathbed, Breandán must return to Mara and bring her through the perilous lands of Connacht to fulfill her father’s last dying wish. But as their worlds collide, Breandán not only finds himself wrapped in the arms of Mara’s embrace, but thrown into a struggle to defend his honor.

With Mara caught between the family she loves and the father she knows, can Breandán uncover the mystery of her past and still protect her from a secret that threatens them all?

Teaser Quote:

“Mara, you are my next breath. You are the reason I breathe at all.”

Reviews:

"This is one fantastic historical…a must-read for anyone who enjoys historical romance and I cannot wait to read the final book of the trilogy as this story has stayed with me days after I read the last word."
~ 5 Hearts "5 Heart Sweetheart Award" ~ The Romance Studio

“Ms. Vincent surpassed all of my expectations with her impressive writing abilities, while offering more incites and revelations that will keep readers coming back for more. Readers should be warned of the emotional turmoil they will face once again while reading this incredible story. I eagerly anticipate the next story in this trilogy, yet already mourn the finality."
~ 5 Stars TOP PICK ~ Night Owl Reviews

The Fall of Rain, Book 3

Leif Dæganssen, an archeologist from Norway, is determined to trace back his Scandinavian roots as far as the Dark Ages and find proof of their existence on the Emerald Isle. After several years of living off the west coast of Ireland, he finally uncovers an ancient artifact—an intricately decorated chest with pagan carvings—buried beneath the very porch of his coastal cottage. Knowing it only confirms the presence of a glorified Norse-influenced settlement on Inis Mór, he’s determined to establish a link between himself and those who once inhabited the rugged isle.

For as long as she can remember, Lorraine O’Connor has had dreams of a Norse warrior kissing her. And even though she’s never fully understood the reason for her vivid subconscious imagination, she welcomes the meaningless and wanton pleasure of being in a Viking’s protective embrace—until the day she meets that brazen Northman on an impulsive vacation trip to Ireland.

Though blindsided by the relevance of her dreams and the strange familiarity of the man within them, Lorraine can’t help but feel a deep-seated intimacy toward Leif. And the more she gets to know him, the more she’s convinced they’ve shared a life together in a time long forgotten.

Are the clues to their ancestral past hidden within the contents of the chest or buried deep within their hearts?

Teaser Quote:

“What Lorraine has told you is the honest truth. There’s no denying who you are. But until you go in that house and dig up the evidence for yourself, you’ll never know who you used to be. Oh, I know you’ll realize it one day. By then, I fear it’ll be too late. So, don’t be a fool and let the only woman you’ve ever loved slip through your grasp. Three days, Leif.”

Reviews:

"I didn't believe it was possible to take Daegan and Mara's incredible love story to another level, but I am extremely pleased to be wrong. Every word seemed to have a purpose in helping create a beautiful and poetic ending to an unforgettable trilogy. If you've never heard of the name Renee Vincent then you're missing out on quality reading that's worth every second of your undivided attention. It's an escapists dream and I will most certainly be back for more."
~ 5 Stars TOP PICK ~ Night Owl Reviews

"An ingenious ending to an amazing trilogy! This series has become my all-time favorite."
~ 5 Blue Ribbons ~ Romance Junkies

Author Bio:

RENEE VINCENT is a bestselling Contemporary & Historical Romance Author. From the daunting, charismatic Vikings, to the charming, brazen Alpha male heroes of modern day, you’ll be whisked away to a world filled with fast-paced adventure, unforgettable romance, and undying love.

She also writes lighthearted, fancy-free Chick Lit Romance as GRACIE LEE ROSE. For those who love to read fun, wholesome, and endearing romantic stories (with a smidgen of spunk) that your mother, sisters, friends, and daughters can enjoy.

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions. 

Saturday Situation: Link Up Your Reviews & Giveaways!

Happy weekend everyone! Welcome to Saturday Situation! If this is your first time stopping by here's all the details for you:

Saturday Situation is hosted by both Lori at Pure Imagination and myself. It's a linky for you to link your book related giveaways and book 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 the newest Saturday Situation posts by the tab at the top of my blog labeled Saturday Situation.

I have an announcement!  I'm moving to Wordpress next week so PLEASE subscribe by email or bloglovin' so you don't miss out on posts!  Both are on my sidebar and easy to to do.  You don't want to miss out on Saturday Situation next week, do you?

Young Adult Review: Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen

Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen

Paperback, 436 pages

Expected Publication: April 1st, 2014 by Strange Chemistry

Source: Publisher

For those who have loved Seraphina and Graceling comes another truly fabulous fantasy...

For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined.

Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity.

But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting – she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods – part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader.

As Cécile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever.

I can tell you this, this certainly is a truly fabulous fantasy!  I had seen a lot of rave reviews for this book so I was a tad concerned about whether I could be let down because of the hype.  That has happened more than once lately.  But that certainly wasn't the case here!

Cecile is a very strong character.  She's headstrong but she also is strong in her beliefs and her sense of right and wrong.  She won't hesitate to put herself in danger to save another.  Sometimes she's a little quick to make judgement, or assumptions and may rush into something without thinking it through but by the end of the book she has this figured out and is far more cautious in thinking things through.  She is definitely a strong female character and one you should add to your list of favorite heroine's.

Tristan is also fantastic.  He's quick with the snappy comebacks and seems indifferent to Cecile at the start.  It's no big secret, we see immediately that he's much  more than his act puts on.  There's a reason for it, and even though at times he's being a true jerk, we know why.  And I have to admit, it was entertaining to read his dialogue with pretty much everyone.  We do get a few chapters from Tristan's POV. It's not often. Maybe two or three times, but it's revealing and it really helps us understand him much better and to know his motivations and mindset.

Almost the entire book takes place under a mountain, but don't be concerned about the world building, there's still plenty of it!  There's a witch's curse to break, a bonding to live through, history to learn about the trolls and much, much more.  On top of that there's politics which is kind of the center of everything.  I can see that the next book will certainly be revealing much more about the world and I'm curious to learn more about this curse.

The romance is somewhat of a slow burn.  It's rather difficult to explain how anything goes without revealing spoilers, and it's very important for you to entangle this romance yourself.  But I loved it.  I just had a few issues because their horrible communication and misunderstandings.  There were a few times I wanted to throw the book.  It was infuriating that they were both so quick to jump to conclusions.  It's not enough of a negative to take away a full star, so for this I would say it's a 4.5 star read.  Wonderfully delicious, complex and intriguing. I highly recommend!

Disclosure: I received this book for review purposes, all opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way. 

Middle Grade Review: Smasher by Scott Bly

 Smasher by Scott Bly

Hardcover, 256 pages

Publication Date: March 25th, 2014 by Blue Sky Press (Scholastic)

Source: Publisher

In this riveting suspense thriller, two children race the clock to stop a futuristic murderer and his plan to enslave the world.In thirty days, a cold-hearted corporate tycoon will unleash a deadly biological computer virus on the entire world. As the public eagerly awaits his invention that promises ultimate relaxation, harmony, and community, the evil big-business sorcerer plans to put an end to freedom.Can he be stopped? The world's only hope is if Charlie, a math genius with otherworldly skills, and Geneva, a robotic girl from the future, can team up to track down some very dark secrets. With a method that uses atomic particles, Geneva and Charlie use "Smasher" to break through the walls of time. They travel to find an unlikely solution. But will it work?Fresh, unique, and gripping, this page-turner also celebrates the power of love, hope, and friendship as it also raises provocative questions about technology, progress, and the nature of persecution.

This is one of those books that is hard to review because it's not a book aimed at me, it's not my genre of choice, but I believe in thinking outside the box and trying most anything. So what I didn't like about it is actually what makes it so good for it's actual targeted audience. This is a middle grade sci-fi thriller. It's very technology based but throws in some supernatural elements and time travel as well. I do like time travel, but the rest of that is not really my favorite. However, for what this is, for who it is for, it's done quite well.

These are some of the things you can expect.

• A boy from the past as the main character and a girl from the future (to us and the boy) who may or may not be a robot and who is able to time travel, camouflage and more. 
• A villain with alternating chapters featuring him (so an adult has a POV but it's third person- as is the other POV's).
• Secondary characters that we question whether they are truly devoted to the villain as we get conflicting information from them. This is not as confusing as it sounds.
• Time travel.
• Lots of technology that is not over explained but may be more easily accepted by the younger readers rather than myself, an adult that wants more thorough explanations.
• The Hum. Yeah- not sure how to explain this. Basically magic. Kind of. 
• Family, friends, humanity and a puppy. 

The beginning of the book was kind of slow for me.  It threw me off a little when Charlie comes from the past (way past) to the future (way future) and picks up on things so easily.  He has kind of an explanation for it, but I think I would have liked a little more of his awe about the whole thing.  

I enjoyed the little mysteries that were revealed but wish there had been maybe more foreshadowing so I could have guessed.  Since it's middle grade these things may not really be so important.

I struggled with the book holding my attention at times.  I guess I would say I wanted more of everything. More character development, more world-building, even more plot. But when you consider the targeted audience I wouldn't say this is actually a negative for the book.  If you gave this book to a middle grade boy or girl that was really into science and technology, you'd be placing it into the perfect hands. This book could be THE BOOK for them. The one that makes them want to read more books.  It's one I would say is probably better going to the right people rather than just recommending it anyone.  It's one I would consider gifting to my nephews who are really into technology.  

For myself I would say this is probably like a 2 star book.  But I also don't think it's fair to label it that because it's not a bad book, it's just not the book for me.  I'm rating it 4 stars because I think that it's a real winner for what it is.  I hope that makes sense.

Disclosure: I received this book for review purposes, all opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Author Interview with Rosie Pugh for The Pearliad

Today I have author Rosie Pugh on the blog for an interview! I don't think there's much I can really say except, welcome to the blog!

Can you tell us a bit about your book?

The Pearliad is a Young Adult novel, the first book of the Arca Trilogy, set in a modern world in which the Roman Empire never fell. The idea behind the story is that the moment a human being is born, the Fates assign them an ‘arca’ and place it anywhere in the world. It could be any kind of everyday object, created to blend in with the mortal world, and the person is given no clue as to where their arca is. You can only live as long as your arca remains intact; if your object is destroyed, you will die. However, there is one important draw to finding out what your own personal object is - because if you can recognise and possess your own arca, you can live forever.

Our heroine, Effie Seabright, is a teenage girl living on the Indigo Isles, a backwater of the Empire. She finds a pearl washed up on the beach by her home, and soon discovers that this pearl is the arca of Gideon Stickings, one of the most powerful and corrupt businessmen of the Roman Empire. Effie faces a difficult choice; she has to decide whether to protect the pearl, out of respect for the Fates and in accordance with the customs of her people, but somehow prevent this evil man from getting hold of his own arca and becoming immortal; once immortal, Stickings would become unstoppable.

Tell us 10 interesting facts about yourself.

1. I’m a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Tae Kwon-Do, which I’ve trained in since the age of six.

2. I was an extra in the 2008 horror film ‘The Children’ – and my name is listed on IMDb!

3. When I was four, I managed to get a chair stuck on my head.

4. My favourite food in the world is my mum’s roast lamb dinner.

5. When I’m stressed I crochet.

6. I’ve always been fascinated by names – which is why my pets from the past have been called Shingles, Hugo, Hepzibah, Archibald and Hector.

7. There is one Greek verb that I can always remember: ῥαφανιδόω (rhaphanidoo) which means ‘shove a radish up the arse’.

8. I was once a professional toga tie-er.

9. I can play ‘Daddy’s Taking Us to the Zoo Tomorrow’ very badly on the guitar … and there is video evidence somewhere to prove it!

10. Inexplicably, my arca would be a tin opener.


What kinds of jobs have you had besides writing?
I’m currently 20 years old and in my third year of University, so I’m afraid this question won’t be as interesting as it would be about other people! I worked at my local independent bookshop for two years while I was at school. I absolutely loved it; my favourite part was seeking out an obscure book for customers who had only a flimsy description of the cover to identify it. In fact, I first got the idea for the Arca Trilogy while I was sat behind the till on a quiet Saturday afternoon.

I have also worked at an After School and Holiday Club for 8-15 year old kids for the past 5 years. That is where I learnt that teenagers certainly do not need patronising, which is something that I have taken forward into my writing.


Do your own beliefs come through very strongly in your books, any examples?

There are no brazen attempts in the book to broadcast my personal beliefs. However, seeing as I created my own alternate universe in the Arca Trilogy, it was quite easy to use that world to highlight certain prejudices and preconceptions in our world. The reader gets a cursory glimpse of the inherent classism of the Roman Empire, which values Roman citizens far above citizens of any of the conquered territories. Britannians are called ‘barbarians’ and ‘Brittunculi’, a derogative name used by Ancient Romans to describe the natives of Celtic Britain.

Effie comes from a very isolated community called the Indigo Isles, which was inspired by an extinct rural community who lived on St Kilda in the Outer Hebrides of the UK. I incorporated many of the customs of the St Kildans in my portrayal of the Indigo Isles, with one significant difference: on St Kilda, only adult males were allowed to attend the daily ‘Parliament’ in which the activities of the day were discussed. On the Indigo Isles, both adult men and women attend the weekly Gathering; as Effie says, “a woman’s opinion on the Indigo Isles was just as important as a man’s. I took after Ma in that I’d listen first and speak later, but that didn’t mean either of us would go along with something we didn’t agree with”. This is a very important aspect that contributes to Effie’s worldview. She has never been told that she is inferior to a male, or to any other person who happened to be born in “the bright light of the Roman Empire”.


Do you have a favorite character you enjoyed writing about the most?

The Pearliad is a first person account from Effie’s point of view, and the plot very much centres on her actions, her thoughts and her feelings. She is as familiar to me as a sister, and I find it easy to inhabit Effie’s mind as soon as I settle down to write because we are very similar. It would feel like a betrayal to say I enjoy writing any other character more than I do Effie!


Do you have a character that was more difficult to write?

It took me a while to decide how I was going to characterise Gideon Stickings, the main antagonist. He is a complex character with an interesting back story (that is yet to be explored!), but, as a successful businessman, he needed to be able to mask all of that when confronting his adversaries. It helped to give him specific mannerisms and quirks that both identify him and repulse Effie.


Do you have a favorite scene?

My favourite scene to write was the climax of The Pearliad, in the penultimate chapter. I could visualise it so clearly in my head, and I hope that it comes across just as graphically for the reader. I remember feeling emotionally drained when I finished that scene.


If you could time travel when and where would you go and why?

I would go back to meet Homer, the Ancient Greek poet. It is so frustrating to study the works of one of the world’s most accomplished literary geniuses, hundreds of years before his time, and not know a thing about him. To think that he was crafting masterpieces still admired today before writing was even a widespread phenomenon is just mind blowing.


What is one book you would recommend that is not as well known as you feel it should be?

The Last Witchfinder by James Morrow. His use of language is sublime, his canvas vast and colourful.


What is one thing you have a passion for that you want to share with the world (other than writing)?

The study of Classics; that is, Ancient Greek and Roman literature, language, culture, mythology, history and philosophy. In the UK it is seen as 1) irrelevant in the modern world and 2) the domain of posh, upper class private schools. Neither of these are true, and I am a wholehearted supporter of the teaching of Latin, Greek and Classical Civilisation in state schools.


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

Well, first of all I need to finish university! This summer I will be writing the sequel to The Pearliad, called The Buttonica, and probably the following year I will complete the trilogy with The Ribbonid. I will never stop writing, but it remains to be seen whether I will need to get a full time or part time job to support myself when I leave Oxford. I have plans for at least another two stand alone novels when I finish the Arca Trilogy, so I’m sure there will be much more to come in the future from me!

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Young Adult Review: To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Hardcover, 368 pages

Expected Publication: April 15th, 2014 by Simon & Schuster

Source: Amazon Vine

Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control in this heartfelt novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer I Turned Pretty series.

What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them all at once?

Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren't love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she's written. One for every boy she's ever loved; five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

There are several things in this book that really stand out and that I found myself loving a lot. The characters. Lara Jean's personality really shines through in this book, but everyone else does as well. Her family especially.  Family. Family is an important part of the story. Sisters mostly, but her father is very present as well.  Diversity. Lara Jean and her sisters are half Korean. While it's not really an 'issue' in the book, it is mentioned as well as some minor little issues she's had in life with being Korean (mostly regarding Halloween costumes).

I loved the characters so much!  I know I mentioned that but I think I need to go into detail here.  The little things can really make a characters personality come through. For example Lara Jean is terrified of driving.  When explaining how she feels about this when driving it's easier to relate to her.  I'm not a timid driver, but when I was younger I was terrified of driving in the city.  Kitty, her youngest sister, is only 9 but is the smartest little 9 year old I've read about. She's precocious, I suppose you could say. And Margot was interesting because we see her in the beginning before she moves to Scotland for college and we're seeing her from Lara Jeans perspective, so when she comes back for Christmas we can see how both of them have changed.  I loved that Peter was a popular guy but still a good guy.  At least we think so. And his interaction with Kitty was entertaining.

The romance was unique in this book because it was hard to say who the romance was suppose to be with.  We have the neighbor boy, Josh, and then we have Peter. Josh is kind of off limits but everything changes when the love letters get mailed out and Lara Jean has to deny her love for him. Hence she turns to Peter. Her and Peter's relationship isn't real but it was interesting trying to figure out who she might end up with. Who she should end up with.

This book was slow paced for me. I sometimes didn't have a strong urge to pick it up.  It felt maybe a bit longer than it needed to be and maybe had too much included that didn't need to be there.  But it may have just been my mood as well.  And really, that characters still made up for it.

I was a bit disappointed in the end. I had in my head that this was a stand alone (contemporary books tend to be stand alones more often then not) so I had expected a full conclusion.  It's not really a cliffhanger or anything, it's just not everything tied up.  But then I realized that this is the first in a series. So there is more and I can overlook the fact that things aren't completely finished. I'll definitely read the next book as I'm very curious to see where things go.  And I really am attached to this family so I'll be happy to visit them again.

Disclosure: I received this book for review purposes, all opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Review Opportunity Sign Up: This Crumbling Pageant by Patricia Burroughs

Hello my lovely readers! I'm looking for reviewers for This Crumbling Pageant by Patricia Burroughs. This is a Dark Epic Fantasy with Romance and Young Adult crossover appeal. The book is scheduled to release May 6, 2014 in Hardcover, Trade and Digital by Story Spring Publishing, LLC  We are looking for reviews prior to the release and looking for quotes to be used in the final edition. So the sooner, the better, and you might get lucky enough to have a quote picked for the final copy of the book!  This will be chosen by the publisher and neither I nor the author has any input.

The book is available in ebook and paperback (of limited quantities) for review.  In addition there will be a rafflecopter with a $25 gift card giveaway provided for those posting a review April 1st-May 10th. All those who review will have an entry added into the rafflecopter to follow you in some way.

This Crumbling Pageant (The Fury Triad #1) by Patricia Burroughs
Page Count: 606 pages

Persephone Fury is the Dark daughter, the one they hide.

England, 1811. Few are aware of a hidden magical England, a people not ruled by poor mad George, but the dying King Pellinore of the House of Pendragon.

The Furys are known for their music, their magic, and their historic role as kingmakers. When Fury ambitions demand a political marriage, Persephone is drugged and presented to Society--

Only to be abducted from the man she loves by the man she loathes.

But devious and ruthless, Persephone must defy ancient prophecy, embrace her Dark magic, and seize her own fate.

Be swept away into the first book of a dark fantasy series combining swashbuckling adventure, heart-pounding romance, and plot-twisting suspense.

Fury Triad Website | Goodreads

About the Author:

Award-winning screenwriter and best selling novelist Patricia Burroughs loves dogs, books, movies, and football. A lifelong Anglophile, she treasures her frequent travels in the British Isles researching The Fury Triad, the epic fantasy that has taken over her life and heart. She and her high school sweetheart husband are living happily ever after in their hometown of Dallas, Texas.

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If you are interested in reviewing this title please remember that it is required to review on Amazon and Goodreads unless you are unable and your blog has a good reach.  

Signing up does not guarantee you a review spot.

Fill out this form to sign up

Giveaway: Leaping Leprechauns & Frolicking Fairies- The All Things Irish Blog Hop

Ginny from Gin's Book Notes, and myself, are excited to be hosting Leaping Leprechauns & Frolicking Fairies: The All Things Irish Blog Hop, running March 17th-24th.

This hop is to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and giveaway some goodies!  Enter my giveaway and then find the list below it for many more!

Giveaway:

On my blog you can enter to win a $15 Gift Card or book of choice from The Book Depository.   This way you can pick a book you've been wanting.

This is open worldwide.

Must be 13 or older to enter.

Fill out the rafflecopter.

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My Week in Instagram- Nope, My week in a video!

Happy Sunday everyone!

This post is in my week according to instagram. It's mostly the books I got but I take random pictures sometimes too. Also, make sure you follow me on instagram, I follow back!

I got a new computer!  It's a laptop and it has a webcam, so I can do videos again!  Unfortunately I can't seem to get my photos from instagram to share on here. So I'll have to work on figuring that out.  For now you can watch the video and/or check out my instagram photos.  Hopefully by next week I have figured out how to get the instagram photos on here.  For some reason when I try to save, it's not saving it as an image. I have a lot to figure out with this computer and it's weird settings.  

For some reason it cut off the very beginning where I introduce myself, even though I waited for the beep and then some.  But I did a few takes and every time it did that so I decided to go with this one.

Saturday Situation- Link Up Your Reviews & Giveaways!

Happy weekend everyone! Welcome to Saturday Situation! If this is your first time stopping by here's all the details for you:

Saturday Situation is hosted by both Lori at Pure Imagination and myself. It's a linky for you to link your book related giveaways and book 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 the newest Saturday Situation posts by the tab at the top of my blog labeled Saturday Situation.

Happy Hopping!

Starling Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway

I'm excited to host a stop on the Starling blog tour! This is the third book in The Secrets of the Eternal Rose series by Fiona Paul. This tour is hosted by Book Nerd Tours and you can find the tour page here.  I have a review and a giveaway for you all!

Starling (The Secrets of the Eternal  Rose #3) by Fiona Paul

Hardcover, 336 pages

Published: March 20th, 2014 by Philomel

Source: Publisher for Tour

The dark, seductive conclusion to the thrilling Secrets of the Eternal Rose trilogy!
In the final book in the trilogy, Cass and Luca are back in Venice trying to find the Book of the Eternal Rose to clear Luca's name and keep them both out of prison. But the hunters become the hunted when the Order of the Eternal Rose figures out their plan. Filled with twists and turns, danger and torrid romances, this novel brings the Secrets of the Eternal Rose novels to a thrilling, heart-pounding, sexy conclusion.

Like the description says, this really was a heart-pounding conclusion! Once I started reading I really didn't want to put it down. It has constant action and very little time to sit back and read. I liked this though and it kept me reading when other books have lost my interest because of their slower pace.

The streets and canals of Venice in this time period are vibrant and alive. It's easy to imagine the setting itself, but also all the people within it, even those that are just passersby.

Cass has always felt like a strong character to me. While she might be slightly torn in where her heart lies, she knows strongly in her heart what is right and wrong. When she knows people are being killed she knows she will do anything to save them. To bring down this Order even if she has to do it by herself. Her strength shone in Belladonna but it came through very much in this one as well. There was a time or two that I wasn't so sure she knew what she was doing, making some rash decisions, possibly putting trust into the hands of people she maybe shouldn't. But in the end she really came through and I enjoyed her growth in this one.

A large amount of her growth was obvious in the romantic sense. She had to make a decision about who she loves. We may have thought she already decided, but there are things that come into play here that we don't quite know for sure. Fortunately, she does. While I'm not a big fan of a love triangle, this felt like a realistic one. I can't get into it without spoilers, but you have to remember the teenage heart and how easily it is to get swept up into romance. How it all played out left me happy.

I'm sad to see the series end but I'm very happy with this conclusion. I most definitely recommend this series!

4 stars!

Disclosure: I received this book for review purposes, all opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

    

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Fiona Paul lives in the Midwest but travels a lot since she can’t breathe if she spends too much time away

from the ocean. She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a major in psychology and spent a year teaching English in Seoul, Korea while she was deciding what she wanted to be when she grew up. Answer: everything. In addition to being a teacher and writer, she’s also worked as a saute cook, sporting goods manager, veterinary assistant, and registered nurse. When she’s not working, you can usually find her kayaking, reading, or helping turtles cross the road. Her future goals include diving with great white sharks and writing more books, not necessarily in that order. Venom is her first novel.

Giveaway:

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Cover Reveal: This Crumbling Pageant by Patricia Burroughs

I'm excited to share the cover for THIS CRUMBLING PAGEANT, which is Volume One in the Fury Triad series by Patricia Burroughs. This is Epic Fantasy with romance and ya crossover appeal. The book is scheduled to release May 6, 2014 in Hardcover, Trade and Digital by Story Spring Publishing, LLC

About the Book:
Persephone Fury is the Dark daughter, the one they hide.

England, 1811. Few are aware of a hidden magical England, a people not ruled by poor mad George, but the dying King Pellinore of the House of Pendragon.

The Furys are known for their music, their magic, and their historic role as kingmakers. When Fury ambitions demand a political marriage, Persephone is drugged and presented to Society--

Only to be abducted from the man she loves by the man she loathes.

But devious and ruthless, Persephone must defy ancient prophecy, embrace her Dark magic, and seize her own fate.

Be swept away into the first book of a dark fantasy series combining swashbuckling adventure, heart-pounding romance, and plot-twisting suspense.

Excerpt

[Persephone Fury is the dark daughter, the one they hide from Society. But one night she is abducted and taken away to the most dangerous parts of London. Fierce and clever, she is able to rescue herself, only to collapse before she gets home. Fortunately for her, Sir Robin Fitzwilliam finds her. Even more fortunately for her family’s reputation, he believes her to be the young boy she’s masquerading as.]

Why would a child be out alone in the middle of the night?

Robin slid the slender youth’s body from the expensive saddle and staggered backward, not from the weight, for in truth, the boy weighed little, but from the reek of Shadows.

It was a miracle the gelding hadn’t tossed the stripling to rid himself of the Darkness on its back.

He eased the boy onto the ground.  The boy’s body was limp and his skin was hot and damp with sweat. Robin fumbled with the boy’s heavy jacket and grabbed the lapels to yank it open.

Thin fingers closed around his wrists. With a snarl, the boy heaved himself up and delivered a smart punch to Robin’s jaw, knocking him back on his heels in shock.

“Don’t touch me!” the boy rasped fiercely.

“You’re overheated. Let’s get that coat off—”

Two sharp-knuckled fists smacked into him at the same time, leaving both his cheeks stinging.

“Keep your hands off my coat!” The boy scrambled to his feet and leapt against the horse, attempting to mount.

“Gods damn it,” Robin spat, “you’re drowning in Shadows, boy, we need to—”

A foot caught him in the chest and he staggered back, then hurled himself forward, grabbed the boy by the collar, and yanked.

They both fell tumbling into the dirt. “You’d best pray it’s the Darkness that has driven you mad, boy, because if it’s not, you’ll pay for these bruises with some of your own!” He pinned the boy to the ground with one hand braced on a shoulder and continued, “I’m not going to hurt you. Just calm down and let’s see if we can relieve you.”

The boy relaxed, calming except for his heaving chest as he fought for air.

Robin’s mind raced through his options, coming up blank.

“Cat-mint...” the boy muttered. “Tincture of angelica. Blue chalcedony, jet, bronzite, amber—do you have any on you?”

“No,” Robin said, surprised.

The boy moaned. “Trifolium, then...” The boy’s head fell back into the dirt.

“Trifolium. I don’t know.”

“Clover,” the boy ordered, scorn dripping from his voice. “I’m speaking of clover.”

Robin paced along the road looking for a clump of clover, unsure whether to laugh or snarl.

“Do you at least know your Greek sigils?” the boy muttered weakly. “The banishing sigil performed with clover...”

 “I know sigils,” Robin said, amending silently, if I can remember the Greek ones from the schoolroom. If he got the scamp past this spell of poisoning, he was going to thrash him.

“How long has it been since you were cleansed?”

Impertinent little brat. “My soul is not overburdened.”

“You evaded my question, which is answer enough, may the gods deliver me,” the boy retorted with equal venom.

At the moment, Robin just needed to come up with an acceptable prayer. He held his hands over the boy’s body and called, “Away, away, from your feet and from all your limbs... erm... Shadows and every muscular pain!” he finished with a wince.

“Did you just use the prayer to rid me of gout?” the boy asked incredulously.

“I said Shadows,” Robin muttered.

The boy let out a disgusted sigh. “I’m doomed.”

About the Author:

Award-winning screenwriter and best selling novelist Patricia Burroughs loves dogs, books, movies, and football. A lifelong Anglophile, she treasures her frequent travels in the British Isles researching The Fury Triad, the epic fantasy that has taken over her life and heart. She and her high school sweetheart husband are living happily ever after in their hometown of Dallas, Texas.

Website | Planet Books Website | Mailing List | Facebook | Twitter

Giveaway:

Autographed Paperback ARC of  This Crumbling Pageant.

Open Worldwide!

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