Guardian of the Dead Giveaway!!!

Hi Guys, I wanted to do a giveaway to say Thank You for hanging in there while I take care of some family issues. I really am hoping to be back up and blogging within 2 weeks or so. But for now I have been collecting some things for giveaways.

So Thank You for hanging in there!!!

Now on to the good stuff!

Win a Paperback copy of Guardian of the Dead.

Little Brown just released Guardian of the Dead in paperback 

and they graciously gave a copy to me for a giveaway! 

Read my review HERE!!

This is an intriguing YA urban fantasy in the tradition of Holly Black and Wicked Lovely. Set in New Zealand, Ellie's main concerns at her boarding school are hanging out with her best friend Kevin, her crush on the mysterious Mark, and her paper deadline. That is, until a mysterious older woman seems to set her sights on Kevin, who is Maori, and has more than just romantic plans for him. In an effort to save him, Ellie is thrown into the world of Maori lore, and eventually finds herself in an all-out war with mist dwelling Maori fairy people called the patupaiarehe who need human lives to gain immortality.
The strong, fresh voice of the narrator will pull readers in, along with all the deliciously scary details: the serial killer who removes victim's eyes; the mysterious crazy bum who forces a Bible on Ellie telling her she needs it; handsome, mysterious Mark who steals the Bible from her and then casts a forgetting charm on her. All of this culminates in a unique, incredible adventure steeped with mythology, Maori fairies, monsters, betrayal, and an epic battle.

Rules:

There will be one winner

International

Ends 9\16

To Enter: 

Just leave a comment with your email address 

and a quote from your favorite book!!

Extra entries:

Follow +1

Tweet +2

Sidebar +3

Blog Post +4

* Please provide link!!

Good Luck and Happy Reading!!

Coolest Bookshelves... EVER!

Hey guys, So I have stumbled across some really neat bookshelves. (Most of which I want really bad)

So I thought I would share them with you!!! Enjoy!!!

Console Reading Bookshelve Bench by Stanislav Katz.

designed by David Garcia for the Archive series.

The Flybrary Bookshelf create the levitation effect, hanging the books on a metal strips.

Malagana Design

Paagman Book Store bookshelves interior design

Also check out these really cool Bookends!

by Artori Design

October Hill Dora Designs Cuddly Creature Bookends

I actually own these... and they are the best!!

So there you have it... Happy Reading!!

In My Mailbox (6)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren

This week i got a few great titles for review.  

After the death of her free-spirited mother, sixteen-year-old Alex Lee must leave her home in northern California to live with her wealthy grandmother in Savannah, Georgia. By birth, Alex is a rightful, if unwilling, member of the Magnolia League, Savannah's long-standing debutante society. She quickly discovers that the Magnolias have made a pact with a legendary hoodoo family, the Buzzards. The Magnolias enjoy youth, beauty and power. But at what price?As in her popular adult novels, Crouch's poignant and humorous voice shines in this seductively atmospheric story about girls growing up in a magical Southern city.

 The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. 
If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. 

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

 Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose.
Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother's scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she's known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?

 Each night at precisely 4:33 am, while sixteen-year-old London Lane is asleep, her memory of that day is erased. In the morning, all she can "remember" are events from her future. London is used to relying on reminder notes and a trusted friend to get through the day, but things get complicated when a new boy at school enters the picture. Luke Henry is not someone you'd easily forget, yet try as she might, London can't find him in her memories of things to come. 
When London starts experiencing disturbing flashbacks, or flash-forwards, as the case may be, she realizes it's time to learn about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future.

Thanks to all the wonderful publishers who supplied these amazing books!


What did you get in your mailbox this week?  

Review: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Kendare Blake

Hardcover, 320 Pages

Tor Teen

August 30, 2011

"Thunder Bay, Ontario, is our destination. I'm going there to kill her. Anna Korlov. Anna Dressed in Blood."

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.

*************

Kendare Blake has created a world that has left me craving more. From the very first page, I was hooked. Anna Dressed in Blood is a beautifully written horror story with everything you would want rolled into one book. If you like a gruesome horror story, this book is for you. If your into a good Murder Mystery, Anna Dressed in Blood is right up your ally. If you want a uniquely written story with humor, love, loss and characters that will blow you away, Then Anna Dressed in Blood is your book.

Cas is no ordinary teenager... He is a bad ass ghost killer. Cas along with his mother, travel the world in search of ghosts who need to be sent from this world. After receiving a tip, Cas travels to Thunder Bay, Ontario in search of her, Anna Korlov, Anna Dressed in Blood.  Blake has captured Cas's character perfectly. She has turned him in to a real person, from his laid back; carefree attitude, to his use of teenage slang, he definitely reminds me of my younger brother. It is not very often when you find the main character to be male, and it brings a new freshness to YA books. 

Anna was such an amazing character to read. She was genuinely scary and yet had a softer side that made her one of my favorite characters in YA to date. Anna is constantly struggling to find herself which gives you such a diverse and interesting perspective to read. I love constantly wondering what she will do next. 

Anna Dressed in Blood was by far my favorite read of 2011. I loved the dark humor and the gruesome details that Blake has introduced in her story. She has truly captured the essence of a teenage boy in today's society and the more reserved side of a girl who grew up in the 1950's.  The way Blake was able to tap into the mind of each character and made them feel so real was mind-blowing and I have truly enjoyed every word she has written. Overall I give Anna Dressed in blood 5+ Hoots. It was exceptionally written and laugh out loud funny. I can not wait to revisit this wonderful world in the sequel.

Author Spotlight: Marianne De Pierres Author of Burn Bright

Please Welcome

Marianne de Pierres

Author of

Burn Bright 

1) Could you tell us a bit about yourself.

I was born and grew up on a wheat and sheep farm in Western Australia. As the youngest by quite along way, I was left on my own a lot to read books, dream and run wild. Adolescence was rough when I was wrenched from my lovely cocoon and sent to boarding school. I started writing at an early age (eight) but didn’t really knuckle down to it until I was about 30. Since then I’ve worked hard to become a better writer. In my leisure time I love sport and reading and TV.

2) What was the inspiration for writing Burn Bright?

I’ve always been interested in the idea freedom versus rules and regulations. And I’m fascinated with nocturnal creatures. The two things kind of collided and Burn Bright was their baby!

3) Were there any personal experiences that went in to writing Burn Bright?

I think as a young girl I experienced minor forms of oppression and those things came out in the writing of the book. As a teenager you can feel very disempowered and Retra’s journey helped put some things to rest for me. As the writer, I was cheering for her (the character) to get strong and more confident.

4) Was Retra's character based on anyone or were they purely made up character? What is she like?

Retra is a purely fictional character. She’s a girl who’s had little life experience and has been terribly sheltered. Going to Ixion is the beginning of her discovering herself and the world. She’s shy but smart and she’s very loyal.

5) What was your inspiration in the cover art for Burn Bright?

That was my publisher’s inspiration. We knew we wanted something really special, and someone at Random House had see Jaroslaw Kubicki’s work. Once you’ve read the book you’ll understand that it’s a perfect fit. I think he is an inspirational artist.

6) Do you plan to have Burn Bright as a stand alone novel or part of a series?

It’s part of a series called The Night Creatures trilogy. Book two, Angel Arias, will be out later this year. And book three, Blaze Dark, will be available next year.

7) Do you write to music? If so, what is your favorite?

Funnily enough, I can’t. I love music too much and find it too distracting while I write. However I listened to Yunyu’s song (http://www.burnbright.com.au/the-music/) so many times during the time I was writing Burn Bright, that I think of that as my soundtrack.





8) What do you plan on doing in the future?

Well, I have book three still to write. I also have an idea for a book written about which I call Emo Traders which will be my next young adult proposal. Can’t tell you too much yet ,but it’s a neat and scary idea. Watch the website www.burnbright.com.au for updates.

9) What are you reading right now?

I’m reading a lot of crime novels at the moment. It seems to suit my mood.

10) Who are a few of your favorite authors?

In YA: Melissa Marr and Isobelle Carmody.
In SF: Ian McDonald, Jon Courtenay Grimwood and Nancy Kress
In Crime: Stuart MacBride and Michael Connelly

In Paranormal Fantasy: Patricia Briggs, Diana Pharoah Francis, Kat Richardson

Where to find Marianne:
Twitter
Website
Facebook
Goodreads

Review: The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

Kelley Armstrong
Hardcover, 359 pages
Harper Collins, New York
April 12th 2011


Sixteen-year-old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn't know much about her background - the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip - but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical-research community on Vancouver Island.

Until now.

Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town - from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend's hidden talent for "feeling" out people and situations, to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel . . . . different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya's biological parents and it's easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet.

In The Gathering, New York Times best-selling author Kelley Armstrong brings all the supernatural thrills from her wildly successful Darkest Powers series to Darkness Rising, her scorching hot new trilogy. 

*********************

Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors, so when I found out she was starting a new series I was thrilled. She is the type of author who sucks you into a book and wont let go until the very last page. 

The Gathering is the first book in the Darkness Rising trilogy. Maya, the main character is just an ordinary girl, living in a very small town. She is a very likable character, she is smart and sweet. But Maya also is a very strong girl, she doesn't let people push her around or get to close. I love the fact that she really has a sense of who she is. She is the type of main character who you can really follow.

Her best friend Daniel is the big brother type of guy that you cant help but fall in love with. He is sweet and very protective of Maya. He has a good sense of humor and will stand up for what he knows is right. I absolutely love Daniel. He is someone you wish to have as your best friend. He is always by Maya's side and is always there when she has to deal with the hard stuff.

Rafe, the bad boy from out of town is Maya's new crush. She always thought he was the school's player, but now he is showing her a new side to him. As their relationship progresses, Maya seems skeptical of the way Rafe is acting. She learns that things are not what they seem. I liked Rafe well enough, he has the bad boy thing going for him but he just seems a bit played out to me. I feel like the bad boy who has a softer side and a secret thing is a bit over played. But all in all he is an OK character.... I really like Daniel :)

Overall The Gathering was a good first in a trilogy book. I liked the fact it gave you a solid back story and gave you time to get to know the characters. I feel that things could have moved a bit faster but all in all I feel it will make the other books in the trilogy better. A good connection with the characters is important and I do like when an author takes the time to establish them. I also have to had that this book has a major cliff hanger ending. I finished the last page and flipped to the next expecting a new chapter to began. I dont hate cliff-hangers but it just makes it 10 times harder to wait for the next book.

I give The Gathering a 4+. It had very likable characters, a well written plot and an interesting story. I am very excited to read The Calling, The second book in the Darkness Rising Trilogy, coming in April 2012. I also hear that she might merge The Darkest Powers and The Darkness Rising Trilogy's together which is very exciting. If you love Kelley Armstrong as much as I do, I say, you should really pick up The Gathering. It is sure to be a very exciting story!

Author Spotlight: Aimee Carter

Please Welcome

Aimee Carter

Author of

The Goddess Test!

1) Could you tell us a bit about yourself. 

 I'm Aimée, and I write too much for my own good. I love dogs, books, music, and I got a degree in screenwriting and film from the University of Michigan. I've been writing since I was eleven, and I got my start in fan fiction. The Goddess Test is my first published novel, but I wrote roughly two dozen manuscripts before it. I'm represented by the lovely Rosemary Stimola. The Goddess Test will be released on April 19th, 2011, from Harlequin Teen.

2) Could you tell us a bit about The Goddess Test? 

 The Goddess Test is a sort of a sequel to the myth of Hades and Persephone. The back of the book sums it up rather nicely:


It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.


Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.


Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

If she fails...

3) What was the inspiration for writing The Goddess Test? 

 I've loved Greek mythology for as long as I can remember. D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths was one of my favorite books as a kid, and I used to reread the myths over and over. This story has been in the back of my mind ever since I was a kid, and over the years the pieces fell into place. Finally in 2007, I put pen to paper.

4) Were there any personal experiences that went in to writing The Goddess Test? 

 Funny you should ask. In the story, Kate's had to face the reality that her mother, who is her only family, will die very, very soon - she's suffering from cancer, and she's at the end. They return to her mother's hometown, and Kate is essentially her caretaker, being thrust into this very adult role that she's trying so hard to handle. But she's eighteen, and this is a lot for an adult to go through with support, let alone a teenager who's in a strange place where she doesn't know anyone.

About four months after Harlequin Teen made an offer to publish The Goddess Test, my father had two heart attacks and wound up having to have heart surgery. Those few weeks and the months after were so much like what Kate was going through - not exactly by any means, since my father was recovering (and has since recovered). But it was setback after setback, and I think that gave me a lot keener insight into what Kate was going through. Because I was still in the editing stage of the book, I went through and added some of those aspects in, trying to make the story more authentic in that regard.

5) Was Kate's character based on anyone or was she a purely made up character? What is she like?

 Kate is purely fictional, though like I mentioned, in later edits a lot of what she was going through with her mother and some of her feelings on the matter were taken from my experience taking care of my father. She's gone through a lot, but she doesn't let it get to her - she does what she has to do when she has to do it. It's hard for her to open up to new ideas, and she's a very closed-off person based on the life she's lived so far, particularly with her mother so sick. But she really develops throughout the story, and I hope she's someone you can root for.

6) What was your inspiration for Henry's Character? Could you tell us a bit about him? 

 Henry...oh, Henry. I can't say too much without it being a big spoiler, but I spent a lot of time developing his character and deciding exactly who he is and what he's gone through. He and Kate complement each other in interesting ways, as he's experienced a great deal of tragedy and loss in his life as well. He has his own set of goals separate from Kate, which I hope makes him a more intriguing character than just Kate's love interest. Melissa Anelli, who read and was kind enough to provide a blurb for the book, once called Henry "Heathcliff with a sense of humor".

7) What was your inspiration in the cover art for The Goddess Test? 

 I have nothing to do with the cover art - most authors don't have any input. The fantastic artists at Harlequin Teen did an outstanding job, and I adore the cover to pieces. I had no idea what to expect, had no mental image of what it might look like, so that was a great day, that first glimpse of their vision for the cover.

8) Do you plan to have The Goddess Test as a stand alone novel or part of a series? 

 Originally I wrote it as a standalone, and it can stand on its own as a story. However, once it was over, I realized there was still so much story to tell, and it became a trilogy. I've written the sequel, Goddess Interrupted, which will be out in January 2012, and I'm about to start writing the third book as well.

9) Who is your favorite character in the book? And why? 

 That's kind of like asking who's my favorite child! I love them all, even the baddies. Nothing's worse, in my opinion, than being asked to follow a boring character around for four hundred pages, and I tried not to do that. I think if I had to pick...my first instinct is to say Ava, who is a classmate of Kate's and somewhat of a bully. But then I have to say Henry, and then I have to say James (another classmate of Kate's), and it's all one big mess. So let's go with my top three instead: Ava, Henry, and James. As for why, I'd say it's because all three of these characters surprised me in the writing and editing process. I love their voices and how they interact with others, and each of them has a story that I really enjoyed creating.

10) If The Goddess Test was made into a movie, Who would be your dream cast? 

 I just did a blog post on this! I almost never picture actors as characters in my head when I'm writing them, but I do have a few firm contenders:


Kate - She would be by far the hardest to cast. I think I'd prefer a newcomer. Someone brunette and not stunningly gorgeous, but other than that, her face has always been fuzzy to me.

Henry - Ben Barnes, hands down. He fits Henry perfectly, both in his looks and his acting voice (and I've always pictured Henry with a British accent). If by some miracle there was ever a movie, I would give up my first born to have him play Henry.

Ava - Elisabeth Harnois. This is an example of a character whose face I did picture from day one, and Ava has always been Elisabeth Harnois to me, though she's in her thirties now.

James - I've never run across an actor who looked exactly like my mental image of James, but Mitch Hewer (from the UK version of Skins) is fairly close. As far as personality goes, however, Darren Criss (best known from playing Blaine from Glee) would be a perfect fit. I'm willing to sacrifice hair color for Darren. :)

11) Do you write to music? If so, what is your favorite? 

 I used to for a long time, but I found I paid more attention to the music than to the writing. Now if I listen to music while writing, it's because I'm in a public place and trying to drown others out. Right now I've been listening to Apocalyptica's version of Nothing Else Matters on repeat. No words, so it works out well.

12) What do you plan on doing in the future? 

 That depends entirely on how many people buy my books. I would love to keep writing and publishing novels for the rest of my life, but I'm only 25, so who knows what the future brings? If I had a choice though, writing novels would be it.

13) What are you reading right now? 

 I just finished Beth Revis' wonderful novel, ACROSS THE UNIVERSE. I'm in the middle of rereading HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS before the movie's release this summer. I haven't read it since it was released, so it's almost like discovering an entirely new book.

14) Who are a few of your favorite authors? 

 JK Rowling, without question. The Harry Potter series is the reason I stuck with writing, and I wouldn't have gotten this far if it hadn't been for her. Orson Scott Card is one of my all-time favorites as well. Anne Bishop, Suzanne Collins, David Eddings, Kevin Brooks, Meg Cabot, Rick Riordan...too many to count! I do tend to be a rereader with books and authors. If I love something, I'll reread it once a year or so.

15) Anything you would like to add? 

 Thanks for having me, and I can't wait to hear what you think of The Goddess Test!

Where to find Aimee:

Goodreads

Facebook

Website

Twitter

Blog   

                                                           ********************

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.