Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

August 3rd 2010 by St. Martin's Griffin

Paperback, 310 Pages

Copy Won

Book Synopsis

Lenah Beaudonte is, in many ways, your average teen: the new girl at Wickham Boarding School, she struggles to fit in enough to survive and stand out enough to catch the eye of the golden-boy lacrosse captain. But Lenah also just happens to be a recovering five-hundred-year-old vampire queen. After centuries of terrorizing Europe, Lenah is able to realize the dream all vampires have -- to be human again. After performing a dangerous ritual to restore her humanity, Lenah entered a century-long hibernation, leaving behind the wicked coven she ruled over and the eternal love who has helped grant her deep-seated wish. Until, that is, Lenah draws her first natural breath in centuries at Wickham and rediscovers a human life that bears little resemblance to the one she had known. As if suddenly becoming a teenager weren’t stressful enough, each passing hour brings Lenah closer to the moment when her abandoned coven will open the crypt where she should be sleeping and find her gone. As her borrowed days slip by, Lenah resolves to live her newfound life as fully as she can. But, to do so, she must answer ominous questions: Can an ex-vampire survive in an alien time and place? What can Lenah do to protect her new friends from the bloodthirsty menace about to descend upon them? And how is she ever going to pass her biology midterm?......(Goodreads)

Review

Fall into the world of dark romance, ruthless vampires, sacrificial love and oh yeah high school.........

Lenah a once powerful and feared vampire queen, has awoken to her new human life with the help of Rhode the vampire who made her in the 15th century when she was a young teenager. Having traded his life for hers Lenah has been given the chance to reclaim all the wonderful things she lost in her mortal death. During her reign as queen she was known for her ruthless murders, her vicious contempt for human life and her lust for another’s pain. Basically Lenah was pure evil and had no sympathy, no compassion and no traces of humanity. Regaining her humanity is awkward to say the least, while she has lost all of her vampire curse and most of her vampy powers she still retains the sight and the whole ESP next to me thing. Now enrolled at a private school, she must pass for a normal 16 year old girl, blending in the current modern day culture. But Lenah is watching the clock as well, watching the hours tick by to the day her coven will discover the secret and begin the hunt to track her down.

I really enjoyed this story, while it had its fair share of sappy teen romance centered around its young characters, Lenah and all the other vampires in the story were centuries old. The mix of ages gave the book an older appeal while still staying true to the YA market. I thought Maizel’s writing was done well and gave us a unique character in Lenah- actually two characters, due to one was evil Lenah and one was good Lenah. I of course liked good Lenah, its not easy to accept a character who kills children and munches on babies, but she certainly redeems herself multiple times by the end. Told almost entirely through Lenah’s -pov- we get the depth of her past through flashbacks, some terrible and murderous and some actually just sad…It was defiantly easy to see why Lenah was so miserable, who would want to live as a murderer, with the only desires for despair? The other thing surprising in this novel was the romance, not only do we get the potential hot guy verses the fun friend, we get the hot vampire verses my soul mate vampire and in each world the opposite lover wins. Four potential loves may seem overboard, but in a lifetime of hundreds of years I guess for today's standards it was a small amount, but disagree that 16 year olds should be having sex. While I never really connected to her and Justin (nor were her and Tony ever going anywhere) I did realize the significance of the relationships. For me I felt the strongest bond was between her and Rhode, as it went through all facets of a relationship with the ultimate sacrifice in the end. Speaking of endings...this one offers a cliffhanger with a bit of poetic beauty, leaving you waiting for more......

Rating

Infinite Days while remaining free of graphic sexuality, doesn't shy away from teens engaging in sex, sexual encounters, romance, underage drinking, underage clubbing, violence, blood lust, murder, mild language, themes such as spells, magic, and many elements of the Wicca religion. Ive read some blogs out there comparing this to Twilight romance, and I would suggest this is far from Twilight- the sensuality is heightened and the overall messages are completely different. Recommended to mature teens- 16 and up.

4/5- YA-Vampires

A Blog with Bite Group Review

Waiting on Wednesday (23)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine and features upcoming book releases. This week Im excited for................

 

Divergent by Veronica Roth

 May 2011 by HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books

Book Synopsis

In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris, and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together, they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes-fascinating, sometimes-exasperating boy fits into the life she’s chosen. But Tris also has a secret: one she’s kept hidden from everyone, because she’s been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly-perfect society, she also learns that her secret might be what helps her save those she loves . . . or it might be what destroys her.... (Goodreads)

  Hmmmmm, this sounds a little Hunger Games, a little Running Man...I guess we shall see in May!!    

Fat Vampire by Adam Rex

Fat Vampire by Adam Rex
July 27th 2010 by Balzer + Bray

Hardcover, 324 Pages

Compliments of the Public Library

Book Synopsis

Doug Lee is undead quite by accident—attacked by a desperate vampire, he finds himself cursed with being fat and fifteen forever. When he has no luck finding some goth chick with a vampire fetish, he resorts to sucking the blood of cows under cover of the night. But it’s just not the same. Then he meets the new Indian exchange student and falls for her—hard. Yeah, he wants to bite her, but he also wants to prove himself to her. But like the laws of life, love, and high school, the laws of vampire existence are complicated—it’s not as easy as studying Dracula. Especially when the star of Vampire Hunters is hot on your trail in an attempt to boost ratings.… (Goodreads)

Review

Doug wakes as a vampire....he doesn't really remember being turned, he just knows he's fifteen, fat and needs to find a chick that will dig his new status. He's thirsty, confused and has a bit of depression on the side but other than the fantasy of screwing some random gal on top of the Batmobile and making it to the Comic Con, Doug really doesn't have any goals. Or aspirations. Or loyalty. Or any other redeeming quality's.

The easiest way to say this is that Fat Vampire was just not for me....I loved, loved the cover and the hilarious thought of a fat vampire....but unfortunately everything just fell flat. Doug was a hard character to like, he actually was an easy character to hate. His raunchy humor the first few pages did bring a little laugh but after 100 pages of the same tasteless crap I just got annoyed. I realize his character had major insecurities with being fat, a vampire and worst of all -a chick repellent, but as the story unfolds Doug never becomes better....he gets more cocky, more crude and just a douche. He's mean, dumps his friend and gets physco with his girlfriend. Nothing ever really happens in the story, characters are introduced and then just vanish, plot lines are presented and then disappear. A tough gal is introduced and then she as well as the story just kind of tumble off somewhere to make-no-sense land. The rest of the characters did nothing to counter Doug's unlikable character and besides some funny parts, I guess Ive grown past the stage where farts and stinky boys are entertaining.

A tasteless romp with a lacking superhero and a lacking plot line. Not to mention a ridiculous villain and a dimwit chick. Basically just a vulgar story that made Fat Vampire anything other than not stand out.

Rating

Fat Vampire is a raunchy, offensive novel full of graphic language, taboo subjects, violence, graphic sexuality, disrespectful teens, crude boy humor and glorified underage teen drinking. For a book marketed to 15 year olds its ridiculous, I wouldn't recommended this novel because it wasn't for me, for readers interested in this it has R rated content and would be more suited for teens 17 and up.

1.5/5- YA, Vampire, Comedy

Fall Into Reading 2010

I'm excited to join the Fall Into Reading challenge, after seeing my friend Emily sign up, I thought it looked like fun and who can resist a fun challenge!! Hosted by Callapidder Days and runs through December 22- the rules are reading. So here is my potential list for fall reading.

1. Wolves, Boys and other Things that Might Kill Me by Kristen Chandler

2. The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

3. Dracula in Love by Karen Essex

4. The Skin Map by Stephen Lawhead

5. The White Queen by Philippa Gregory

6. The Duff by Kody Keplinger

7. Candor by Pam Bachorz

Want to join....head over to Callapidder Days and sign up!!

Loves First Bloom by Delia Parr

 
Love's First Bloom



Bethany House; Original edition (September 1, 2010)


byDelia Parr

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Delia Parr, pen name for Mary Lechleidner, is the author of 10 historical novels and the winner of several awards, including the Laurel Wreath Award for Historical Romance and the Aspen Gold Award for Best Inspirational Book. She is a full-time high school teacher who spends her summer vacations writing and kayaking. The mother of three grown children, she lives in Collingswood, New Jersey.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Ruth Livingstone's life changes drastically the day her father puts a young child in her arms and sends her to a small village in New Jersey under an assumed name. There Ruth pretends to be a widow and quietly secludes herself until her father is acquitted of a crime. But with the emergence of the penny press, the imagination of the reading public is stirred, and her father's trial stands center stage. Asher Tripp is the brash newspaperman who determines that this case is the event he can use to redeem himself as a journalist. Ruth finds solace tending a garden along the banks of the Toms River--a place where she can find a measure of peace in the midst of the sorrow that continues to build. It is also here that Asher Tripp finds a temporary residence, all in an attempt to discover if the lovely creature known as Widow Malloy is truly Ruth Livingstone, the woman every newspaper has been looking for.

Love begins to slowly bloom...but is the affection they share strong enough to withstand the secrets that separate them?.......

If you would like to read the first chapter of Love's First Bloom, go HERE.

Review

Set in the 1830's, Ruth Livingstone lives a not so quiet life. Her father a controversial minister at the time, helps young women who have turned to the life of prostitution get off the streets and begin a new start. Scandal breaks out when a young prostitute, one that the Minster was helping is found murdered. To protect the young woman’s illegitimate baby and his own daughter Ruth, he sends her and the baby away to live with an elderly couple. While Ruth’s father go’s on trail for murder, she will make the difficult journey into this new town and try and pretend she is a recent widow saved from the life of prostitution. Unable to share her true identity with anyone, she watches quietly the trail through the newspapers and catches the local gossip of her fathers assumed guilt. When the trail ends and her father is found innocent, Ruth can hardly wait to get home, find a family for Lily and begin her life again. But tragic events will change everything and force Ruth to remain in this place of lies and deceit. Only her identity cant be hidden for long, as the papers, town and a curious reporter are determined to find the whereabouts of the ministers daughter, Ruth will risk everything to protect the child with her and seek the love of a man she has no idea is looking for her.

Loves First Bloom had me from the first chapter.....around chapter five things slowed down and it became more of a slow developed love story, subtle but very realistic for the time and setting of the piece. While I enjoyed Jake and Ruth's friendship, the circumstances were rather odd and it was hard to connect to the whole situation. However, the ending was done very softly and left you with that good feeling that things would work out for the characters, overall well written and tenderly presented. I found this to be very mild for the usual christian fiction selections I would choose, I was hoping for a bit more scandal and grit concerning the murders and the actual "Fallen Angels" program, but the novel stayed very safe from any darker topics.

Rating

Suitable for most readers, but primarily I would recommend this to ones who enjoy Christian Fiction. Ruth is very open and honest about her faith. References to the word "Prostitute" is used often but remains a very wholesome novel.

3.5/5- Christian Fiction

Thanks to Bethany House via the CFBA for review copy

Horns and Halos Movie Review Edition

Horns and Halos Movie Reviews

So this year I have been doing Aimee's from My Fluttering Heart Horns and Halos Reading Challenge and one of the options was including movies, which was one of the reasons I set my goal so high because I knew there were some movies I wanted to check out.....so since January I have been sneaking in a few here and few there and must say out of the lot of movies I saw The Book of Eli was my favorite.........instead of doing separate posts for each movie I will do a couple posts with multiple movies.....so onto my take of some great, not so great and absolutely dreadful movies about Heaven, Hell Angels and demons.......

The Book of Eli, 2010 by Warner Brothers

5 Stars out of 5

Eli's opening scene is one of dust, gloom and a dreadful setting. In this apocalyptic, dystopian fueled world there is no water or access to the basic needs in life. Food is scarce, so scarce that cannibalism is running rampant and the only way to stay safe is to figure how not to get eaten.

This lost, forsaken, eat your neighbor world is not without hope though as Eli carries something sacred that can bring a person hope or an evil person power. He carries the only King James Bible left in the world, he also carries his gloves, a scary looking blade and never takes off his sunglasses.

During the war years past, most books were burned, all Bibles, Korans...everything. Deemed as evil the books were destroyed, but they missed one and now its Eli who carries it. For over 30 years he has traveled with it, protected it and has always been heading west. But Eli is not the only man who knows of the Book, a man named Carnegie has also been searching for it, he knows the power he would posses if he had access to it. He knows he could use it for his own desires and become the leader of the desperate and willing world. However, Eli's mission is not to give the book to Carnegie, its to take the book west and he will do anything to protect it.

I loved this movie, not only did it appeal to me because of the many dystopian elements but also because I like Denzel Washington. I thought all the actors played very realistic parts and showcased great acting and brought the characters real depth in this twisted society. The ending absolutely shocked me and left me thinking about it for days. A viciously violent movie that contains, gore, blood, cannibalism, rape and murder so not for the light heart, but all in all a great film.

Legion, 2010 by Sony Pictures

1 Star out of 5

Paradise Falls- a little gas station and diner in the middle of nowhere smack dab between a desert and some more desert. A Podunk place that serves traveling persons who happen to have the misfortune of having to eat there. The scene opens with a small staff of workers getting ready for the day to serve whomever they may encounter and begin with a snotty uptown couple with their rebellious, I think I'm a punk-rocker daughter.

Things are about to get pretty exciting for Paradise Falls, as the time of the apocalypse has come and the diners only waitress is just happening to be carrying the coming messiah. So little old ladies weary from a days travel just may happen to be flesh eating demons who say the F-word. Then gracefully scamper across the ceiling like a big twisted lizard. {reminds me of my third grade teacher}

Meanwhile the Arch Angel Michael gets thrown from Heaven and stripped of his wings, a decision he makes so he can help the human race fight against the Angels who are coming to rid the earth of the nastiness that is humans. Angels possess any unfortunate soul that passes them by and turns them into zombie type monsters hell bent on finding Charlie, the one who carries the messiah.

Ummmm how do I say this nicely.......this was without a doubt one of the worst movies I have ever seen. I mean its up there with The Crow 2 and Be Kind Rewind. It could literally melt your eyeballs out. Its a big mess of awful, with its terrible acting, cheesy plot line and horrendous theology. I think it was perhaps written by hyenas. 

Constantine,  2005 by Warner Brothers

4 Stars out of 5

Constantine played by Keanu Reeves, is a chain-smoking, exorcism-performing, living the lonely solitude existence ready to fight the good fight for his ticket to heaven. In the process of slowly dying from lung cancer, he spends most of his time sending rule-breaking demons back to hell. In this twisted little story of God verses the devil, Constantine has been born with the ability to see into the spiritual world, something that as a teenager drove him to suicide, his one way ticket to hell but Constantine was brought back and made to stay in the world...thus the whole looking for salvation, to bad about the lung cancer ticking down to his death. His few comforts in life are his cigarettes, his buddy Chas and knowing demons fear him. But instead of basking in the peace of his earthly duties, the angel Gabriel tells him his quest for salvation is hopeless. Well so much for all the demon fighting huh?

When Angela shows up in his life, looking for answers about her twin sisters death, the line between our world and the dimension of Hell cross over. Together the pair will have to defeat Gabriel and find the answers to stop the impending Apocalypse and all before Constantine dies of course.

I seriously liked Constantine, although its theology is basically laughable and its a borderline horror movie, I couldn't help but love Constantine's character. There is something about the cynical, dark superhero in a movie that I can't resist. To take this as a movie of spiritual substance would be a mistake but for a few hours of great special effects and Keanu Reeves, its worth it.

Waiting on Wedneday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine and features upcoming new release books, this week I'm excited for............

Drought by Pam Bachorz

Hardcover, 400 pages- January 11th 2011 by EgmontUSA

Synopsis

Ruby Prosser dreams of escaping the Congregation and the early-nineteenth century lifestyle that’s been practiced since the community was first enslaved. She plots to escape the vicious Darwin West, his cruel Overseers, and the daily struggle to gather the life-prolonging Water that keeps the Congregants alive and gives Darwin his wealth and power. But if Ruby leaves, the Congregation will die without the secret ingredient that makes the Water special: her blood. So she stays. But when Ruby meets Ford, the new Overseer who seems barely older than herself, her desire for freedom is too strong. He’s sympathetic, irresistible, forbidden—and her only access to the modern world. Escape with Ford would be so simple, but can Ruby risk the terrible price, dooming the only world she’s ever known?

Although the dystopian theme is certainly being cranked out by various authors, I just cant seem to resist its appeal. I'm looking forward to meeting Ruby and Ford.......................

A Friend in the Storm Blog Tour and Kindle Giveaway

A Friend in the Storm by Cheryl Ricker
August 26, 2010 by Zondervan

Hardcover Gift book, 96 Pages

Review Copy

Thoughts on and about the Book

A lovely ninety-six page book that contains heartfelt poetry, meaningful quotes and Scripture verses to uplift and encourage anyone who is going through a difficult time. Cheryl's unique personal little touches give the book that pretty feeling that can be passed onto your friends, daughter, mother or sister. A comforting gift to a person grieving, suffering or just plain down in the dumps. The simple cover to the delicate beautiful pages inside will make a special gift to any friend..........I really enjoyed reading through this small but significant book. I found the daily devotions very uplifting and after reading decided to pass it on to a friend who just lost her job. The power of words can do tremendous things to lift peoples spirits and motivate their hearts.

Rating-Suitable for all readers.

4/5- Gift book-Poetry-Scripture..........Thanks to Litfuse for review Copy

GIVEAWAY


Share Your Storm Kindle Giveaway

About Cheryl Ricker: Cheryl Ricker has a degree in creative writing and has written columns and articles for various magazines and newspapers. She's been writing poetry all her life and her poems have won awards in fine arts and literary magazines. Cheryl lives with her husband and two sons in Rochester, Minnesota Please check out Cheryl's website for more information. http://www.cherylricker.com/

For your chance to win and check out more thoughts on this book find more info at the Litfuse Blog tour schedule :HERE

Book Banning and Speak Giveaway

Well Banned Books week is right around the corner and while I was going to have something fun for that week planned, when the firestorm that is Dr. Scroggins arose I decided to push my giveaway up...and voice my opinion with Bloggers Speak Out, organized by Natalie at Mindful Musings and supported by many blogs.........Bloggers Speak Out is a movement sparked by the recent article, "Filthy Books Demeaning to Republic Education" by Dr. Wesley Scroggins that was published in the Springfield, MO News-Leader on September 18th. In this article, he requests that the following books be removed from the Republic school system: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler, and Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut.

When I first read Scroggins article, I was immediately mad because I felt he misrepresented the book Speak. I found nothing about that book pornographic and while the book touches on “touchy” subjects, I thought it presented a fairly well picture of high school. Scroggins claims the book makes teachers and adults look like losers, but I had a teacher like Mr. Neck, they do grace the doorways of the classroom and not all teachers are good teachers. I found nothing in Speak to promote the disrespect of teachers but the message to stand up for yourself. I also thought it was written in a way to relate to teenagers, and why would reading a novel about rape and a dysfunctional family be anymore offensive then say a story about 13 year old cousins who secretly get married, have sex and then kill themselves???? In the right setting and aimed at the appropriate age group Speak can be a very beneficial novel for teenagers, it has the power to reach, heal and change....especially a teen girl who has dealt with date rape. I wish there had been a book like Speak out there for me when I was 16. Perhaps it would have helped me SPEAK out about something that I went through my sophomore year of high school.....I completely disagreed with Scroggins opinion concerning this particular issue.

I have not read Twenty Boy Summer or SH5 so I don't know the content of those novels, so I don't have an opinion regarding them. In all fairness, I do believe Dr. Scroggins has the right to his opinion. I reread his article a few times and have to agree there is really no business for sexual education in fourth grade. As a parent and a tax payer I would have deep concerns about my 12 or 13 year old middle grade student being exposed to what they are teaching. I'm not against sex ed, my daughter just went through it and we discussed everything before hand, but I wouldn't want a teacher talking to my daughter about the appropriate ways to perform certain acts....that's crossing the line for my child and my opinion is just as valuable as the parent who does. I’ve always been one to say I don’t support book banning and I still don’t, but are school libraries and public libraries the same thing? Should a 14 year old freshmen have the same access to material an 18 year old senior has? Is having an opinion and strong viewpoint on what children should be taught in their own community’s closed mindedness? Are we only deemed wise and worldly if we support 15 year olds reading about (Scroggins example)...naked girls drinking from beer bong’s? Isn’t it up to the community, the tax dollar paying parents to decide what should and shouldn’t be acceptable for their children in a school setting? If its ok to promote Slaughter House Five, why are people suing to take the Pledge of Allegiance out of schools? Where is the uproar on freedom of speech for those issues? And furthermore just because Scroggins is using his uproar behind the use of his Christianity....not ALL Christians would agree with him, take me for example, while I don't use my blog for religious outlet, I certainly see the world through my faith.

I freely admit I censor myself from certain things, I refuse to watch horror movies nor will I let my children watch them. I censor books from my young teen everyday. A huge reason why I read YA is for her. And while she has read titles like Twilight, The Hunger Games and The Dark Divine, in no way is she mature enough to read titles like Before I Fall or Twenty Boy Summer. As she is only 14 yrs old it is my job as her parent to protect her and try to limit the things she is exposed to. I do not want to shelter her from the harsh realities of the world, but arm her with the knowledge to make appropriate decisions at the appropriate mature stages in her life. I don't believe this makes me a censor fueled burn books crazy person, it makes me a responsible parent. There many awesome, wonderful books out there that can be beneficial for kids, teens and adults but there are also many disturbing books out there that can harm a young child's mind. One comment on Dr. Scroggins article reads as follows:

.....ALL books should be available to EVERYONE! Any child of any age should be able to read any book he/she wants to. If they are to young, mentally, for the content of said book, they won't understand it and will stop reading. Leave the CHOICE to the individual................

That is one of the most asinine statements I have ever heard, so four year olds should look at playboys? And 6th graders should read titles from say authors like Holly Black or J.R Ward? Don't mistake open mindedness for ignorance.When it comes down to it reading is a choice, where we cannot ban and burn books, we as parents should be vigilant in what are kids are reading and watching.

Footloose Wisdom

SPEAK it Brother Shaw!!!!

GIVEAWAY

In support of the book Speak, I will be giving away one copy to one winner.

To enter please leave a comment and fill in the form. Open to everyone 16 and over. Will end Oct 3, 2010.
To get involved, voice your opinion or see all the blogs participating head over to Mindful Musings.

Below is a list of links of bloggers speaking out against book banning and censorship--in the form of giveaways, posts, and reviews. Some are "officially" participating in what we're calling Bloggers Speak Out, and others are posts that we've found around the blogosphere. If you get time, you should definitely check them out!
 

Giveaways of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

**All giveaways will end on 10/3, unless otherwise noted**

Papercut Reviews

Braintasia Books

Escape through the Pages

Tina's Book Reviews

Sea of Pages

Mrs. Deraps Reads

Moonlight Book Reviews

Cari's Book Blog

Just Your Typical Book Blog

For What It's Worth

Wondrous Reads (Ends 9/27)

Frankie Writes (Ends ?)

The Elliot Review (Ends ?)

The Bookologist (Ends ?)

La Femme Readers

Other Giveaways

-Lisa Schroeder: ARC of The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney (Ends 9/23)

-Will Write for Cake: Win Speak, Twenty Boy Summer, or Slaughterhouse Five

-Mindful Musings (here): Win Speak, Twenty Boy Summer, or Slaughterhouse Five

-Teens Read and Write: Win The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

-Mundie Moms: Win Speak, Burned, Twenty Boy Summer, or The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (Ends 9/26)

-Wicked Awesome Books: Win a "Filthy Books" Prize Pack

-Carol's Prints: Win Speak and The Mockingbirds

-Myra McEntire: Win Speak, Twenty Boy Summer, or Harry Potter

-The Bookish Type: Win Speak or Twenty Boy Summer

-Bea's Book Nook: Win Speak & an ALA Challenged Book (Ends 10/2)

-Sarah Ockler: Win a Wesley Scroggins Filthy Books Prize Pack (Ends 10/1)

Other Posts Against Book Banning and Censorship

Braintasia Books

Escape Through the Pages

As Told by Jen

Aine's Realm

The Compulsive Reader

Once Upon a Bookcase

Daily Dose

http://www.latebloomeronline.com/2010/09/speak-loudly-book-drop.html

A Life Bound by Books

Red House Books

Frankie Writes

Michelle's Bookshelf

I Should Be Writing

The Undercover Book Lover

Punk Writer Kid

Lisa and Laura Write

Between the Covers

Another Book Junkie

Jenni Elyse

Eve's Fan Garden

The Ultimate Dumpees

Reading the Best of the Best

The Pirate's Bounty

Reclusive Bibliophile

Book Faery

Bloggers Heart Books

Book Swarm

Fantasy 4 Eva

The Ladybug Reads

The Lady Critic's Library

Emilie's Book World

Jacob's Beloved

Just Your Typical Book Blog

Maggie's Bookshelf

Basically Amazing Books

Novel Thoughts

Random Ramblings

Holes in my Brain

Readligion

Vision Quest Fail

Shelby Barwood

Supernatural Snark

Consumed by Books

Ann Marie Gamble

The Darker Side of the Fire

Katie's Book Blog

Sassymonkey (BlogHer)

GreenBeanTeenQueen

Jessica Lei

Maria Romana

Abby Minard

The Mimosa Stimulus

Books and Things

Beyond the Trestle

Authors Speak Out

Laurie Halse Anderson: This guy thinks Speak is pornographic

Laurie Halse Anderson: The power of speaking loudly

http://evesfangarden.com/blog/2010/09/21/book-banning-by-gayle-forman/

http://evesfangarden.com/blog/2010/09/20/3993/

Karen Rivers

Sarah Ockler: I Speak Loudly for Speak

Sarah Ockler: On Book Banning Zealots and Ostriches

http://www.pageturnersblog.com/2010/09/using-book-to-open-conversation-banned.html

Cheryl Rainfield: Fight Against Ignorance

Myra McEntire: Speak Loudly: In Defense of Laurie Halse Anderson

Andrea Cremer: Speak Out

http://emilysreadingroom.blogspot.com/2010/09/guest-post-and-giveaway-natalie.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+EmilysReadingRoom+(Emily's+Reading+Room

Important Articles on the Subject

"Filthy Books Demeaning to Republic Education" (the article that started it all)

Scroggins' Official Complaint to the School Board (PDF)

"Republic School Book Choices under Fire" (Springfield News-Leader)

Laurie Halse Anderson's Editiorial in the Springfield News-Leader

Sarah Ockler's Editorial in the Springfield News-Leader

http://www.news-leader.com/article/20100922/OPINIONS03/9220365/1069/Students+should+get+to+read+about+worldNews-Leader

Essay: Kurt Vonnegut's Thoughts on the First Amendment

WINNERS!!!! Pearl in the Sand, Love me Tender

I have winners for Pearl in the Sand and they would be......

Stephanie

Jinky

Annette W

I also have a winner for Love me Tender.....

JuJu From Tales of Whimsy

Congrats and Thanks everyone for entering, winners I will send out emails or you can email me at willowdust@gmail.com

Matched by Ally Condie

Matched by Ally Condie

November 2010 by Dutton Juvenile

Hardcover, 384 pages

Review Copy

 

Book Synopsis

 

In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.

Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s barely any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one . . . until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow—between perfection and passion..........(Goodreads)

Review

On Cassias 17th birthday she is excited and thrilled to be attending her matching ceremony. Opting to marry and have a family she will be matched to an unknown boy and begin the slow process of courting until her 21rst year. Cassia though is shocked when her mate appears on the screen and is revealed as her best friend Xander, a boy who she has grown up with. She's shocked but happy of course to have lucked out with someone she already loves, the two are pretty excited but nervous around each other for the first time, due to the fact that now as best friends they will turn towards something deeper. When Cassia views her match screen later in private a surprising twist arises as the face of another boy is shown, a face she knows as well...a boy who lives a quiet life among them...a boy named Ky.

Matched brings a whole new meaning to the term "Big Brother". The people are sucked into this dystopian society hook, line and sinker- while everything is taken care of right down to a disease free society, dark things are lurking underneath the surface. Reading Matched was like reading about a bunch of robots, we eat at a certain time, we read only this, we listen to only that, we do only this. It was interesting to see all of these people living what looked like the perfect life in the beginning of the novel, quickly though the reader can see the evil and utter domination this society is under. With each convenience the people had you could see the complete stripping of their freedoms. Each meal is delivered and perfectly rationed...your thinking great no cooking, but the government decides what they ate. Exercise was mandatory- you think great never getting fat.....but the government decided what exercises they would do and how fast and how long. They were giving the option to get married or stay single...great, freedom to choose a family.....BUT the government decides their mates for perfect genetics and DNA. This is what they called Matching and this is the society Cassia lives in, completely brainwashed and accepting of the way of life, its the only thing she knows and the only way she has ever lived. When the Ky wrench gets thrown at her, life literally turns upside down. She cant help but be curious about the match with Ky and curiosity leads to encounter and encounter leads to things she never had any intention of. Once the clock starts ticking though, Cassia cant stop events from unfolding and as she struggles to make sense of friendship and true love, the officials have other plans for all of them.

Ohhhhhhhh this was awesome, a very faced paced thrilling ride of waiting to see what happens. I loved all the characters and the use of poetry, the simple desire of being able to write, something the society's people couldn't do I thought anchored the relationship between Cassia and Ky. He knew these simple things, something that highly attracted Cassia to him and also scared the officials. Imagine a poem being illegal, or a simple song being outlawed. I think Condie has got herself a winner here, one that will leave you excited at the end to read more and ask the question: How much control should the government have and how far are we willing to go in order for a perfect society?

Rating

Matched is a great dystopian story that can be enjoyed by teens and adults alike. I would suggest this for 8th grade and up. Contains: Violence, very mild sensuality (kissing, holding hands) and brainwashing.

4.5/5- YA- Dystopian 

Review Copy provided by Around the World Tours

Autumn's Promise by Shelly Shepard Gray

Autumn's Promise by Shelly Shepard Gray

Published August 2010 by HarperCollins Publishers

Paperback, 256 Pages

Review Copy

Book Synopsis

Some promises are meant to be broken... Until Robert Miller met Lilly Allen, his world had been dark. A widower after only two years of marriage, he'd been living in a haze, feeling that, at twenty-four, his life was already over. But thanks to his friendship with Lilly, he now has new reasons to wake up each day. He knows his connection to her doesn't make sense. She's only nineteen, with a past the whole town talks about. Even more, she's not Amish, like Robert. A marriage between the two of them could never happen. Lilly's heart is drawn to Robert, not to his faith. No matter how much she admires his quiet strength and dependability, she doesn't think she could ever give up her independence and reliance on the modern world. Is their love doomed before it even begins?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Autumn's Promise, go HERE.

Review

Autumn's Promise by Shelley Shepard Gray is the third and final book in the Seasons of Sugarcreek series. Lilly a nineteen year old girl recently recovering from a teen pregnancy that she miscarried in book two has just discovered her mothers pregnancy. Heart broken and angry Lilly finds herself pulling away from her family to grieve the loss of her child and grief the loss of her old life. While Lilly isn’t wanting to go back to the girl she was she also doesn’t want to feel the loneliness that has been surrounding her. Keeping busy with a new job and trying to fit in with the conservative community, Lilly wasn’t expecting love to find her.

Robert Miller, a young Amish man is still grieving the death of his wife Grace, he’s lonely and ready to move on. The most his heart desires is a real relationship but deep in his heart he doesn’t want that with another Amish woman…one who will move in and take up Grace’s spot, something his family and friends are trying desperately to make happen. But to the surprise of Robert and his family, he begins to notice the lovely Lilly and cant seem to break free from the spell he’s under. With both of them grieving over loss and loneliness they immediately are drawn together. What sparks between them is sudden and intense, but so many problems face the couple. She is English, he is Amish and they both live differently. While Robert wants to move forward with marriage, Lilly cant decide if being Amish is what’s for her.

I greatly enjoyed Autumns Promise and believe Gray had a wonderful voice in Robert who represented the Amish and in Lilly who represented the outside to bring the two different cultures front and center. Although the ending was a bit rushed with perfect resolve for all the characters, the two defiantly asked themselves some serious questions. I couldn’t help but love the outcome for both Robert and Lilly and cant wait to read more about them. A fun light read for any who love wholesome romance or Amish stories.

Rating

Autumns Promise is uplifting but yet deals with real life struggles, as Lilly's character is 19 this is a great story for teens as well as adults. Contains: romance, grief, drinking and driving, mild sexual discussions and Amish and culture differences.

4/5- Amish Romance

Thanks to Avon Inspire via the CFBA for review copy

About the Author

Since 2000, Shelley Sabga has sold twenty-six novels to numerous publishers. She has written a seven book contemporary series for Avalon books. She also published The Love Letter, a western for Avalon. Five Star Expressions published Suddenly, You in February of 2007. This novel is a historical western set in the mountains of Colorado. Shelley has written nine novels for Harlequin American Romance. Cinderella Christmas, her first novel with them, reached number six on the Waldenbooks Bestseller list. Her second book with them, Simple Gifts won RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice award for best Harlequin American Romance of 2006. The Mommy Bride, was chosen by Romantic Times Magazine as one of their TOP PICKS for May, 2008. Under the name Shelley Shepard Gray, Shelley writes Amish romances for Harper Collins’ inspirational line, Avon Inspire. HIDDEN and WANTED the first two novels of her ‘Sisters of the Heart’ series, were chosen to be Alternate Selections for the Doubleday/ Literary Guild Book Club. FORGIVEN, book 3, has received glowing reviews. Avon Inspire is releasing four novels by Shelley this year.Before writing romances, Shelley lived in Texas and Colorado, where she taught school and earned both her bachelors and masters degrees in education. She now lives in southern Ohio and writes full time. Shelley is married, the mother of two teenagers, and is an active member of her church.



WIN Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

GIVEAWAY Infinite Days by  Rebecca Maizel

Well I lucked out and won two of Infinite Days....so Im passing one on to my readers. All you need to do is be a follower and leave a comment. Extra entrys for having my button, tweets and all that just let me know in comment. I will pick a winner Oct 1, 2010.

Goodluck and Happy reading.....

The Hypnotist by M.J. Rose

The Hypnotist by M.J. Rose

Published May 1st 2010 by Brilliance Corporation

Hardcover, 416 Pages

Review Copy

Book Synopsis

Haunted by a twenty-year-old murder of a beautiful young painter, Lucian Glass keeps his demons at bay through his fascinating work as a special agent with the FBI’s Art Crime Team. Currently investigating a crazed art collector who has begun destroying prized masterworks, Glass is thrust into a bizarre hostage negotiation that takes him undercover at the Phoenix Foundation — dedicated to the science of past-life study — where, in order to maintain his cover, he agrees to submit to the treatment of a hypnotist. Under hypnosis, Glass travels from ancient Greece to nineteenth-century Persia, while the case takes him from New York to Paris and the movie capital of the world. These journeys will change his very understanding of reality, lead him to question his own sanity and land him at the center of perhaps the most audacious art heist in history — the theft of a 1,500-year-old sculpture from the Metropolitan Museum of Art............(GoodReads)

Review

So political crime thrillers are right up there with westerns for me...something I tend very rarely to read and nothing I would normally pick up. What intrigued me about M.J Rose's political, espionage series was the presenting of the story. Rose has a unique style to blend so many genre's together that you walk away having dabbled in a bit of everything from mystery to romance (were talking HOT romance) paranormal elements to draw darker fans and plenty of thrilling crime drama. The novels while richer when read in order can be read as stand alones and The Hypnotist indeed surprised me with its twisty story and crafty writing.

Memory Tools - objects that can help people with their pasts and grant access to great power, play a huge role in this series. When Lucian Glass an FBI art investigator is called to investigate a stolen painting, he is thrown back into his past and comes face to face with the man who destroyed his long ago art career. Little does Lucian now that this will put him at the center of a power play lead by Dr. Samuels a reincarnation expert who will stop at nothing to possess the Memory Tools. He also doesn’t know in the midst of his investigation a woman holding the key to both the past and the future will reawaken a desire so intense it will change him forever. The characters will race nonstop till the end diving deep into the world terrorism, art thief’s, wild romance and smuggling.

Overall I enjoyed diving into this dark and mysterious world, besides the huge amount main characters playing front and center which I tend not to like, it worked with the style of author as I haven't read anything like her out there. Over use of characters can be a turn off for readers wanting simple story's but don't let that scare you......be prepared for a mix of a bit of everything and to walk away shocked, thrilled and wanting more.

Rating

The Hypnotist is recommended to adult readers only and contains graphic language, violence, murder, paranormal elements and explicit sexuality (borderline erotic).

3.5/5- Mystery-Thriller

Thank you to Pump up Your Book for review copy



Welcome Author M.J Rose

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming author M.J Rose to Tinasbookreviews. Thanks M.J and welcome to the blog.


Finding Inspiration

Inspiration is a crazy thing. I don't know where it comes from but I'm thankful it does come. My characters are very elusive. They arrive like wisps of smoke. My first inkling about a new character comes as a question. A "what if". "What if" a man was in an accident and woke up with memories that don't belong to him. Then I start thinking of what kind of man would that be a conflict for. Who would hate that and fight it. Slowly a person starts to emerge.

Then I work on their names - for a main character it can take me a month to come up with the right name. And all too often I think I have the right name - then start working on the book and realize I have the wrong name. In The Memorist I wrote the whole book with Meer's name being something else and she was wooden on the page. Then I changed her name and she came alive. My real work with the characters is an evolution. For three months I don't write a word. Rather I do research and work on my main character's scrapbook. The very process of collecting her preferred poems, swatches of her favorite colors, and petals from the flowers she grows gives me time to find her.I collect the ticket stubs for a performance of the Metropolitan Opera that she went to, a postcard from her mother's first trip to Europe, a piece of the red and white string on the pastry box from her grandmother's apartment: it's all in the scrapbook. And only when I've found all the knickknacks of her life and I've done a fair amount of procrastinating do I even think about sitting down to write. And by then, I can't wait........................

M.J. Rose, is the international bestselling author of 11 novels;Lip Service, In Fidelity, Flesh Tones, Sheet Music, Lying in Bed, The Halo Effect, The Delilah Complex, The Venus Fix,The Reincarnationist, The Memorist and The Hypnotist. Rose is also the co-author with Angela Adair Hoy of How to Publish and Promote Online, and with Doug Clegg of Buzz Your Book. She is a founding member and board member of International Thriller Writers and the founder of the first marketing company for authors: AuthorBuzz.com. She runs two popular blogs; Buzz, Balls & Hype and Backstory.

Thank you M.J for stopping by today and best of luck with The Hypnotist the third installment in the Reincarnationist Series.