In My Mailbox - August 14th

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren.

Since I was out of town last week for GenCon in Indianapolis, this is two weeks worth of books! :)

For Review:



Virals by Kathy Reichs (from Traveling ARC Tours)
Sleepless by Cyn Balog (from Traveling ARC Tours)



Radiance by Alyson Noel
The Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter



Nightshade City by Hilary Wagner
The Hole in the Wall by Lisa Rowe Fraustino



I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
When Blood Calls by J.K. Beck


Bought:
(From Borders)



Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink
The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa


(From Half-Priced Books - 6 books for $12!!!)



I, Coriander by Sally Gardner - one of the best books I read last year!
Epoch by Timothy Carter



Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke



Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine
The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine

Goodies from GenCon:



I can never resist the Artist's Gallery and picked up that picture in the lower right corner of the Girl with the Dagger. Next to it is a print by Nene Thomas - who is amazing. Above that is a bookmark of a print by Nene Thomas and to the right is a journal I picked up.


So, wouldn't have been as much if I hadn't gone book shopping - bad me. :)
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Giveaway winner!

Sorry about the slight delay in announcing the winner to the contest for a set of the Penguin 5 ARC box set! :)

Our winner is... Bridget Hopper from Readaholic!

I will be emailing you shortly to get your address!

No weekend spotlights this weekend. I'm going to schedule what I have this coming week and then hope more bloggers sign up. :)
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Read your own Books Read-a-thon

I'm joining Monica from The Bibliophile Book Blog in her readathon this weekend. I'll be out and about a bit today, but hope to still read a bit. I'm finishing off a library book right now and then I will be reading these books from my own shelves:

Other by Karen Kincy
Pegasus by Robin McKinley
Manifest by Artist Arthur
The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June by Robin Benway
She's So Dead to Us by Kiernan Scott
and hopefully all three in the series of Mackenzie Blues by Tina Wells

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Karma Bites

Author: Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas
Publication Date: August 16, 2010
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Copy provided by: Author/Publisher
Summary (via Goodreads):

Life seems to have it in for Franny Flanders. Her best friends aren’t speaking, her parents just divorced, and her hippie grandmother has moved in. ...more Life seems to have it in for Franny Flanders.

Her best friends aren’t speaking, her parents just divorced, and her hippie grandmother has moved in. The only karma Franny’s got is bad karma.

Then Franny gets her hands on a box of magic recipes that could fix all of her problems. It could even change the world! Finally, life is looking up.

But Franny is about to learn that magic and karma aren’t to be played with. When you mess with the universe, it can bite back in unexpected ways.

Ouch!

Why I read this: One of the authors asked me to review this novel and I couldn't resist - it's a debut for both authors, Middle Grade, and involves some magical elements. What's not to like?

Plot: When Franny discovers how to use her grandmother's magical box of recipes, she decides to put it to good use - solving all of her problems. Let's just say there's some seriously hilarious and horrible results to this use of magic.

I really loved this book. The plot moved and had some parts that had me keeling over laughing and other parts that made me go "awww". Definitely is a great book for girls in 4th grade and through middle school.

Characters: There are so many fun characters in this book, I just cracked up. Franny is your average middle schooler - sorta clueless when it comes to doing the right thing, but with the right idea in mind. She's funny and just wants to fit in and have a stress-free 7th grade year.

Franny's grandmother is a stitch - she's kooky and has some strange extracurricular activities that includes traveling to different parts of the world.

And then all the side characters... just wow. Some normal, most of them strange and out there, and definitely all of them amusing to watch interact.

Relatability: I think anyone who has been in school can relate to this book. I'm glad I didn't grow up in Franny's school - which is overly full of cliches and no real in-betweens. Definitely a fun book and I think girls will be the main audience for this novel.

Cover Commentary: Love it, definitely think it will appeal to my 5th grade students

Rating: 5/5 Roses

Buy it on Amazon*
Find it on Goodreads



*If you buy this book on Amazon through the link above, I will receive a small portion of the sales.
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Link a Contest Thursday

Rules (or at least STRONG suggestions):
1. Name the item being given away (instead of the blog name)
2. Give the end date in () after the name
3. Make sure to link DIRECTLY to that contest post - if you don't know how to do this - just click on the title of the contest blog and it will give a direct URL you can use.
4. If you want to post a contest you've found, make sure it isn't already posted.

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The Iron King

Author: Julie Kagawa
Publication Date: February 1, 2010
Genre: YA Fantasy
Copy provided by: Myself, bought at Borders
Summary (via Goodreads):

Meghan Chase has never fit in at her small-town high school, and now, on the eve of her 16th birthday, she discovers why. When her half brother is kidnapped, Meghan is drawn into a fantastical world she never imagined--the world of Faery, where anything you see may try to eat you, and Meghan is the daughter of the summer faery king. Now she will journey into the depths of Faery to face an unknown enemy . . . and beg the help of a winter prince who might as soon kill her as let her touch his icy heart. The Iron King is the first book in the Iron Fey series.

Why I read this: A lot of people have been RAVING about this book and after the twitter party for the second novel, I decided I needed to bump this up on my list.

Plot: Meghan has been seeing strange things on and off for a long time, but when her little half-brother is replaced by a changeling, she must decide whether she wants to forget everything and live a normal life or risk her life to save him. With the help of Puck, she finds the truth behind who her father really is and must run from his protection so she can search for her brother.

Filled with adventure, romance, and danger - The Iron King is not a novel you want to miss. After reading this book, I can see where all of the praise is coming from. It's a book you can't put down for long and one that makes you long for more.

Characters: I have to thank Julie for not throwing the romance in our faces. It's developing and conflicting - a very Romeo & Juliet type of scenario only with a heck of a lot more danger involved if they wish to truly be together. Meghan just has to fall for a prince of the dark faery court - the ones that constantly fight with her father. Ash knows that he cannot betray his queen, but admirably helps Meghan on her quest, his own feelings becoming obvious as they travel together. Meghan is a strong and complicated character - she's knows what is right, but she also listens to her heart.

Ash is cold, but does not hide his interest in Meghan, despite the consequences that he may face if anyone were to find out. He's gorgeous and dangerous and definitely an intriguing male figure.

Puck is a hilarious character, obviously interested in Meghan, but to no avail. He seems to know his part is to guide and is not always present during the book for different reasons. Even if he were to vie for Meghan's affections, I think it wouldn't be met with much response from her - even if Ash wasn't in the picture.

Relatability: Lovers of fantasy and Shakespeare will just fall in love with this book. Guaranteed.

Cover Commentary: Gorgeous. I love the soft pastel colors!

Rating: 5/5 Roses

Buy it on Amazon*
Find it on Goodreads



*If you buy this book on Amazon through the link above, I will receive a small portion of the sales.
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Virals

Author: Kathy Reichs
Publication Date: November 2, 2010
Genre: YA Paranormal/Sci-Fi
Copy provided by: Traveling ARC Tours
Summary (via Goodreads):

Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage "sci-philes" who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever.

As the friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their newfound physical gifts to solve a cold-case murder that has suddenly become very hot if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer's scent.

Fortunately, they are now more than friends they're a pack. They are Virals.

Why I read this: It looked like an awesome, action-filled plot. She's also a well-known adult writer and I wanted to see how this one would turn out.

Plot: Tory never imagined moving in with her father on a remote island would bring the adventures she embarks on. The only other teens that live on the island are 3 guys, who are all some sort of scientific geeks like herself. It all starts with a monkey flinging a piece of metal at her head and her curiosity that leads to revealing a long-buried murder and a new virus that will change their world forever.

With nonstop action and an intriguing mystery to uncover, I couldn't put this book down. I liked the twists that I didn't see coming and just the overall pacing of the plot. Definitely a series I will be reading every single book of. Now, the long wait for the 2nd novel begins!

Characters: I just love when you have smart characters - ones that are still normal - have crushes, don't sit around just tweaking gadgets and gizmos, but actually embark on some seriously insane adventures. Tory is still a teenage girl, although an unusual one who knows a little too much about identifying human bones and other aspects of science. I like seeing her not completely immune to the popular crowd at school - almost fitting in with them if she wanted to.

I also love the guys she hangs with on the island. They're all unique in their own way and definitely not adverse to following her insane plans. Tory is definitely a leader and I can't wait to see what's to come next.

Relatability: Anyone who has watched Bones or read that series by Kathy will be able to connect to this book. I think also anyone who loves science and paranormal elements will get a kick out of this one.

Cover Commentary: Definitely shows that this is an adventure novel. Love it.

Rating: 5/5 Roses

Buy it on Amazon*
Find it on Goodreads



*If you buy this book on Amazon through the link above, I will receive a small portion of the sales.
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Inside Out

Author: Maria V. Snyder
Publication Date: April 1, 2010
Genre: YA Dystopian Fiction
Copy provided by: Netgalley
Summary (via Goodreads):

Keep Your Head Down.

Don't Get Noticed.

Or Else.

I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for ...more Keep Your Head Down.

Don't Get Noticed.

Or Else.

I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution.

Why I read this: I love anything Maria writes and was really excited when she came out with this dystopian novel. I'm just sad I didn't read it sooner - cause it is full of awesome!

Plot: Trella is thrown into a rebellion without really meaning to. She's got certain experience in the pipes that makes her a necessary part of changing how things work in the system. She may not believe in the mythical way to save them, but she becomes involved because of curiosity and because her only real friend Inside is willing to risk it all to find a way out.

This book will blow you away - it is full of action, adventure and a bit of an emotional roller coaster. I love the twists and turns - getting to know Inside - a place that is both formidable and interesting at the same time. I don't normally read e-books but I couldn't stop flipping through this on the computer, it was that good.

Characters: I really liked Trella, despite her unfriendly nature and distancing herself from everyone around her. She warms up - maybe not quite to something that could be called friendly - but definitely more cooperative. I love her devotion and brilliant way of getting out of sticky spots. She's a character to admire certainly.

Relatability: Lovers of dystopian fiction and all things Maria V. Snyder will enjoy this book. Out of all of Maria's books - I have to say this is my favorite.

Cover Commentary: Love it. Definitely stands out.

Rating: 5/5 Roses

Buy it on Amazon*
Find it on Goodreads



*If you buy this book on Amazon through the link above, I will receive a small portion of the sales.
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It's Monday, What are you Reading?

This fantastic meme is now hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.

Read this past week: (reviews coming soon)
The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton
Virals by Kathy and Brendan Reichs
Black Bird Vol. 1 by Kanoko Sakurakoji
Black Bird Vol. 2 by Kanoko Sakurakoji
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Currently Reading:
Sacred Scars by Kathleen Duey
Karma Bites by Stacey Kramer and Valerie Thomas

Upcoming:
Shadows of the Redwood by Gillian Summers
The Fire Lord's Lover by Kathryne Kennedy
After School Nightmare vol. 9 by Setona Mizushiro
After School Nightmare vol. 10 by Setona Mizushiro
Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog
Sleepless by Cyn Balog


Reviewed Last Week:
Young Bess by Margaret Irwin
The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride
The Body at the Tower by Y.S. Lee
Book Views (9): The Midnight Charter by David Whitley, The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk, and The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancy
The Julian Game by Adele Griffin
Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Interview:
Y.S. Lee


And if you want to be nice to me... comment on one of these posts - they have ZERO comments:
Saturday Spotlight - Badass Bookie
Sunday Spotlight - Reading the Best of the Best
Radiant Shadows
Saturday Spotlight - YS Princess's Ideas, Resources, and Reviews


Our trip to Indianapolis for GenCon was fun! :) I didn't read as much as I thought I would, but that means I was busy hanging out with the hubster. :) It's nice to be home though.

Countdown to going back to work begins.. I have two days of work stuff next week, two the week after and then I'm in it until next June (besides the usual breaks, of course). Oh summer, why must you end?
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Saturday Spotlight - Badass Bookie

Name: Lisa
Nickname and/or blog name: Badass Bookie
Blog URL: http://badassbookie.blogspot.com/

Tell me a bit about yourself.
Confessions of my life aye? Well I am a undercover teenage girl who is secretly from Planet X(squared) I am here on Earth to find the best books to take back to the Queen of the Faeries. Okay, only the teenage part is true the rest is just a fragment of my imagination (hehe). Anyhow, I currently live in Australia with my addiction to books. In my free time I like to read and read and read (oh and blog :P ...and add daydream to that too), However before you say "you have no life" when I'm not reading I like to hang out with friends, hit the beach, go shopping (mainly books and only when I'm not broke) and well that's pretty much it about me...now you can say you don't have a life *cries*. =)

When and why did you start your blog?
I started my blog a little over three months ago simply because there was no one I could really understand my love of books. Everyone around me would rather watch Glee or Gossip Girl or Modern Family (not that I don't watch TV it's just second preference)so I decided to join the wider community who actually appreciate books! Special credit goes to Karin from Karin's Book Nook for it was her blog that got me thinking about starting my own blog!

What is your blog all about? Any cool features you want to share?
I dedicate my blog to reviewing YA, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy and Chick Lit Literature however I usually just Review YA unless it's a cross between two genres. I have a blog feature called Three Wishes Wednesday that is basically three wishes on Wednesday (pretty simple) and recently started one called Writer's Block which I am beginning to feel is the biggest epic fail EVER but you know.....

What are some of your favorite genres and/or books currently?
My favorite genres include YA, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy and the occasional Chick Lit. I am currently reading the Second Short Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyer. I'm also reading Iron King by Julie Kagawa (although this is a on and off one for I have been reading this for the last two month) I'm reading another few that I can't remember right now! (Start too many!)

How do you find out about the books you read?
Ummmm mostly through other blogs by reading review and wishlists. Goodreads is a big influence as well. Libraries and bookshops and sometimes I check out books by the same author.

Any tips or advice for those starting or thinking about starting a blog?
Well I've only been blogging for so long and kinda not in the position to give advice but Catchy Titles are always good! Also, treat your blog like a Barbie - MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL!!!! Join meme's and blog directories and that's about it...


Fun advice! Make sure to check out Lisa's blog. :)

If you're interested in being a spotlighted blogger, please fill out this form.S

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Beautiful Darkness

Author: Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Publication Date: October 10, 2010
Genre: YA Paranormal/Fantasy
Copy provided by: Book it Forward Tours
Summary (via Goodreads):

Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.

Sometimes life-ending.

Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

Why I read this: I absolutely LOVED the first one, so I had to read this one ASAP. Kami and Margaret are awesome!

Plot: After the ending of the first book, Lena seems different and keeps changing as the book goes on - she starts distancing herself from Ethan and doing uncharacteristic things - like dressing more gothy and hanging out with the bad crowd. Also, she spends a lot more time with a dangerous looking guy on a motorcycle than with Ethan and cuts him off from what she is feeling inside. What Ethan must do is figure out how to help Lena without losing her. But does Lena want saving?

The plot of the second book does not disappoint, there's danger and emotional ups and downs for both the characters and the reader. And this book brings you deeper into a different world, one which I wasn't sure we'd ever see them explore. It's definitely a journey and I cannot wait to see what happens next.

Characters: Ethan really is a great guy. You can tell by the way he thinks - it's much different from being inside a girl's head - that is certain. He's worried, but he keeps his distance even when Lena seems to be going off the deep end - he's respectful of her space and her decisions, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want to help. I really like that it's from his perspective and that the girl is the mystery, not the guy... it's nice to see how different a guy reacts to similar situations we see in other paranormal novels featuring the voice of a girl (aka Evermore, Evernight, etc...).

I worry about Lena in this book, as Ethan does as well. She's definitely changing and there's something influencing that change. I really just love the mystery surrounding her in both this book and the first.

Relatability: I think anyone can relate to this story, it's mainly about relationships and change along with some dealing with grief. I love the feel this book has and it's definitely great to have a good male viewpoint.

Cover Commentary: I just love it - although my hubby was like haven't you read that? And I was like... no, the covers are just similar - and then I showed him the difference and he was like "oh, they changed the colors..." very perceptive.. lol. I do like them. Definitely a stand-out cover.

Rating: 5/5 Roses

Buy it on Amazon*
Find it on Goodreads



*If you buy this book on Amazon through the link above, I will receive a small portion of the sales.
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Link a Contest Thursday

Rules (or at least STRONG suggestions):
1. Name the item being given away (instead of the blog name)
2. Give the end date in () after the name
3. Make sure to link DIRECTLY to that contest post - if you don't know how to do this - just click on the title of the contest blog and it will give a direct URL you can use.
4. If you want to post a contest you've found, make sure it isn't already posted.

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The Julian Game

Author: Adele Griffin
Publication Date: August 26, 2010
Genre: YA Realistic Fiction
Copy provided by: Traveling ARC Tours
Summary (via Goodreads):

New girl Raye Archer is desperate for a way into the In crowd, so when ice-queen Ella Parker chooses her to get back at her ex, the gorgeous Julian Kilgarry, Raye is more than game. Even if it means creating a fake Facebook identity as “Elizabeth” so that she can learn enough about Julian to sabotage him. While a fun and dangerous thrill at first, what Raye hadn’t counted on was falling for Julian herself—and igniting Ella’s rage.

As Raye works to reconcile the temptress Elizabeth with her real-life self, Ella serves up her own revenge. Now it’s Raye who falls victim, as Ella creates an online smear campaign of nasty rumors and trashy photographs. Suddenly notorious, Raye has to find a way out of the web of deceit that she’s helped to build, and back to the relationships that matter.

Adele Griffin’s riveting novel explores the issues of generation Facebook: the desire to be someone else, real versus online friends, and the pitfalls and fallouts of posting your personal life online for all the world to judge.

Why I read this: I really loved the cover... yeah I know... that really is my only reason.

Plot: Quite an interesting plot - what it involved was a group of cruel popular girls and a new girl who couldn't help but like the attention of their cruel leader even if it meant stooping to an interesting level of evilness. I felt like the plot was really about finding who you really are and really aren't - trying on different personalities to see if they fit. And revenge.. of course.

Characters: Raye is great starting out by slowly becomes pulled into Ella's plan to get revenge on her old sweetheart. She loses sight of her normal standards and starts to become gutsy. I'm just glad that she begins to go back to her old self towards the end of the book.

Julian is a major hottie, but I could tell right off - player! But it was really fun to see him interact with Raye.

Relatability: I mean this whole book was based off of social networking and how easy it is to become a different person online. Every teen I know has facebook and probably feels a bit more gutsy on there then in real life. Definitely something a lot of people can relate to.

Cover Commentary: The reason I read this book - it's that awesome.

Rating: 5/5 Roses

Buy it on Amazon*
Find it on Goodreads



*If you buy this book on Amazon through the link above, I will receive a small portion of the sales.
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Book Views (9)

Book Views is an idea that Kate over at The Neverending Shelf created. Basically, I give you a picture, the summary and a review (in less than 75 words).

The Midnight Charter
by David Whitley

Summary (via Goodreads): Agora is an insular city-state where anything can be bought and sold. Everything is a commodity; goods, services, people, thoughts, concepts and even emotions are bartered on the open market. It’s an economy without money, where trade is the only way of life and debt is death. The successful elite rule, plague festers in the pitiless slums, and children are possessions until their twelfth birthdays.

In the ancient tower of Count Stelli, the city’s greatest astrologer, two children meet, both of whom have been sold into servitude. Mark is an emotional, imaginative boy who is sold by his father to the Count’s grandson in return for medical treatment. The other child, Lily, is reserved and thoughtful; an orphan now owned by the Count. At first, threatened with being thrown out to die on the disease-ridden streets if they displease their masters, Mark and Lily’s only goal is to work and survive. However, as they begin to understand that they can shape their own destinies, they each find their own path — Mark within the system, angling for power and the security it brings; and Lily beyond it, determined to change the city forever. Unbeknownst to them both, however, Mark and Lily are watched by the mysterious ruler of Agora, the Director of Receipts, whose interest in the apparently insignificant pair is more than a passing one.

Review: A fantastic adventure novel that involves fantasy and historical elements. It was quite a tale that I won't be forgetting any time soon. I highly recommend reading this novel because there are so many elements to the plot and characters that you will be taken by the story being told and not want to put it down.

Final Verdict: Definitely read this book, the audio was fantastic if you like to listen to books.

The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin
by Josh Berk

Summary (via Goodreads): Being a hefty, deaf newcomer almost makes Will Halpin the least popular guy at Coaler High. But when he befriends the only guy less popular than him, the dork-namic duo has the smarts and guts to figure out who knocked off the star quarterback. Will can’t hear what’s going on, but he’s a great observer. So, who did it? And why does that guy talk to his fingers? And will the beautiful girl ever notice him? (Okay, so Will’s interested in more than just murder . . .)

Those who prefer their heroes to be not-so-usual and with a side of wiseguy will gobble up this witty, geeks-rule debut.

Review: A hilarious mystery involving a humorous and sardonic narrator - one who is both deaf and fat and nowhere close to being popular. This book will make you laugh and I really couldn't stop reading it. Will makes a fantastic narrator for this fabulous story.

Final Verdict: If you want to laugh, read this book. If you don't want to laugh - you NEED to read this book...

The Monstrumologist
by Rick Yancy

Summary (via Goodreads): A monster-hunting doctor and his apprentice face off against a plague of monsters in the first book of Rick Yancey's new series, The Monstrumologist.

Review: A terrifying and suspenseful novel that I could only listen to during the day, for fear of nightmares. Will Henry is probably the bravest and humblest lad you've ever meet and really is one of the best seriously male characters I've read in a while. Definitely a story that is dark and full of horror!

Final Verdict: I highly recommend reading this novel! (Not for the faint of heart...)

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T2T: Body at the Tower + Interview

Author: Y.S. Lee
Publication Date: August 10, 2010
Genre: YA Historical Mystery
Copy provided by: Traveling to Teens
Summary (via Goodreads):

This is another colourful, action-packed Victorian detective novel about the exploits of agent Mary Quinn. At a young age, Mary Quinn is rescued from ...more This is another colourful, action-packed Victorian detective novel about the exploits of agent Mary Quinn. At a young age, Mary Quinn is rescued from the gallows and taken to Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls. The school turns out to be a front for a private detective agency. At age 17, Mary takes on her first case (A Spy in the House). In this, the second book of the series, Mary Quinn sets out to uncover the truth behind a suspicious death at St. Stephen's Tower, better known as the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament. The accident occurred after hours in a highly public part of town and despite the presence of night watchmen. Mary, disguised as Mark Quinn, becomes a builder's assistant to find out the truth about the body at the tower.

Why I read this: I loved the first book and when I was given a chance to tour with this 2nd book, I couldn't resist.

Plot: Mary has a new assignment for the Agency - one which involves her dressing like a boy to investigate a mysterious death on a work site. This disguise may be a reminder of the past for her - a problem which she pushes aside to perform the job necessary to find the truth behind the accident/murder on the site. Although, when James Easton makes an appearance, she must yet again cover up the real reason why she is where she is and dressed as a boy no less. But will James distract her from her investigation?

Characters: I have to admire Mary's character - one who knows so much about the levels of society around her and tries her darndest to think the best of those she meets. She is definitely a young woman of many resources and I love her slightly feminist attitude.

James Easton is as stubborn and handsome as ever. I really enjoyed watching the two characters interact throughout the novel.

Relatability: Anyone who loves mysteries, rags to riches stories, and Victorian London will enjoy this novel.

Cover Commentary: Gorgeous as always and for once the model fits what I envision Mary to look like.

Rating: 5/5 Roses

Buy it on Amazon*
Find it on Goodreads



*If you buy this book on Amazon through the link above, I will receive a small portion of the sales.

Interview with Y.S. Lee

What's the best thing about being an author?

Everything! It’s a dream job: creative, self-directed, and limited only by your courage and talent.

When and why did you begin writing?

I began writing fiction with the goal of publication after finishing my PhD in Victorian literature and culture. (Before that I wrote a lot of academic research papers, including a book.) I started because I was at a crossroads: I didn’t want to become a university professor and thought it was a good time to try something I’d never before had the guts to do.

What was the most challenging aspect of writing The Body at the Tower?

I found it very difficult to imagine a Victorian building site – the scale, the density, what people did before big machines. This meant that I did a lot of research (a good thing – I adore research) to put things in perspective. For example, Big Ben (the largest bell in the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament) weighs over 13 tons. The workers had to lift it 200 feet into the air to install it. Can you imagine? It took a major pulley system and a team of dozens of men working for almost 24 hours to get it into position. It’s exhausting just thinking about it.

What are some of your favorite books?

Pardon me – I’ll have to break things down into subcategories, here. ;)

YA:
Madeleine L’Engle – anything featuring the Murry/O’Keefe families
L.M. Montgomery – the Emily Starr trilogy

Literary fiction:
Beryl Bainbridge, According to Queeney
Jane Gardam, Old Filth
Douglas Coupland, Hey Nostradamus!

Nonfiction:
Claire Tomalin, The Invisible Woman
Judith Flanders, The Victorian House (fantastic for Victorian daily-life research)

Do you have a favorite theme or genre that you like to write about? Is there a genre that you'll probably stay away from and why?

I think it’s too early in my career for a major theme to emerge, but I love the Victorian period and will almost certainly set novels in it again. Actually, I love history in general, so would never rule out any particular period.

I don’t see myself writing horror (too wussy) or sci-fi (I lack an advanced science background). But apart from that, I remain open-minded.


What's next for you?

There’s a possibility of a fourth Mary Quinn novel, and that’s what I’m working on now. I’m also thinking about an unrelated historical novel that’s set in southeast Asia, but I’m feeling cagey about the details. ;)


Thank you Y.S. for answering my questions! You can find Y.S. Lee on her website and also on twitter.

Check out the rest of the tour stops!

The next stop is Green Bean Teen Queen.

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The Tension of Opposites

Author: Kristina McBride
Publication Date: May 25, 2010
Genre: YA Realistic Fiction
Copy provided by: Traveling ARC Tours
Summary (via Goodreads):

It’s been two years since Noelle disappeared. Two years since her bike was discovered, sprawled on a sidewalk. Two years of silence, of worry, of fear.

For those two long years, her best friend Tessa has waited, living her own life in a state of suspended animation. Because how can she allow herself to enjoy a normal high school life if Noelle can’t? How dare she have other friends, go to dances, date boys, without knowing what happened to the girl she thought she would share everything with?

And then one day, someone calls Noelle’s house. She’s alive.

A haunting psychological thriller taken straight from the headlines, The Tension of Opposites is a striking debut that explores the emotional aftermath of a kidnapping on the victim, and on the people she left behind.

Why I read this: Sara from The Hiding Spot raved about how great this book was, so I had to check it out.

Plot: A very eye-opening look at what happens after trauma - a girl kidnapped and raped for years is found and returns home. Her best friends must deal with having her friend back, but as an almost entirely different person. I loved the struggle between moving on and trying to get back her friend's lost years. Definitely a moving story.

Characters: Tessa is quite the friend - driving away any other friends while her friend was missing. But as Noelle warms up to her again, Tressa seems only concerned with her friend's happiness and not her own.

Tessa's love interest is quite the major hottie. Also, he's quite a realistic character, as he sees that Tessa only cares about her friendship with Noelle when she returns, including when they are together. He shows Tessa that she can't just push her own feelings and life away any time Noelle needs her.

Relatability: I can relate a little to Tessa. I was a bit of a loner in high school for a while and know how that feels. There's definitely a lot the reader can relate to - changing friendship, romance, and finding happiness.

Cover Commentary: Very enticing and really makes you want to pick it up.

Rating: 5/5 Roses

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*If you buy this book on Amazon through the link above, I will receive a small portion of the sales.
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Young Bess

Author: Margaret Irwin
Publication Date: 1944, reprint March 2010
Genre: Adult Historical Fiction
Copy provided by: Sourcebooks
Summary (via Goodreads):

Growing up in the shadow of her dead mother, the infamous Anne Boleyn, young Princess Elizabeth has learnt to be continuously on the watch for the political games played out around her. It is never certain when one might rise, or precariously fall, out of royal favor.

When her distant father, Henry VIII, dies, the future brightens for Elizabeth. She is able to set up a home with Henry's last wife, Katherine Parr who now has a new husband, Tom Seymour. Tom, however, is playing a risky game. Marrying a widowed queen is one thing, flirting with the King's daughter and second in line to the throne is another. As the adolescent Elizabeth finds herself dangerously attracted to him, danger encroaches upon herself and the kingdom.

Why I read this: I love historical fiction and have been fascinated with this time period for quite some time.

Plot: This novel follows the life of the daughter of Anne Boelyn - Elizabeth. The plot felt slow moving most of the time - the history buildup at the beginning felt a little overdone and more like a history book. The whole book read a little more like a history book told through a story but livened up after 50 pages in.

Characters: You definitely get into the head of Bess and how like Anne she really turned out to be - even as a child.

Relatability: After watching the Tudors and reading a few books about that specific time period, I already knew quite a bit of the background already. It's definitely an interesting period in England's history.

Cover Commentary: I love the new cover.

Rating: 3/5 Roses

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*If you buy this book on Amazon through the link above, I will receive a small portion of the sales.
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It's Monday, What are you Reading?

This fantastic meme is now hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.

Read this past week: (reviews coming soon)
Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder
Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Mouse Guard Volume 2: Winter 1152 by David Peterson
The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancy
The Body at the Tower (The Agency, Book 2) by Y.S. Lee

Currently Reading:
The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

Upcoming:
Shadows of the Redwood by Gillian Summers
The Fire Lord's Lover by Kathryne Kennedy
After School Nightmare vol. 9 by Setona Mizushiro
After School Nightmare vol. 10 by Setona Mizushiro
Virals by Kathy and Brendan Reichs
Sacred Scars by Kathleen Duey


Reviewed Last Week:
The Sorcerer of Sainte Felice by Ann Finnin
Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James
Book Views (8): The Season by Sarah MacLean, The Carbon Diaries 2015 by Saci Lloyd, and Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs.
Wildthorn by Jane Eagland

Interviews/Guest Blogs posted:
Ann Finnin
Kirsten Miller
Brenda Pandos

NEWS!

• So, the hubster and I are headed to Indianapolis early (aka 4 am) on Thursday morning for GenCon! He's more excited then me.. but it's going to be a semi-vacation for us as well. I hope to read, he wants to game... and hopefully we won't spend as much as we did last time (I bought a lot of cool artwork, he bought a lot of games and cool schtuff...).
  
• Not sure what books I'm gonna pack yet, but I'll still be around.. I'm dragging my laptop around with me, so I'll still be around - probably waiting for the hubster on and off. I spent most of the time last time watching anime. :-D
• So... thinking about a giveaway thingie. Not sure yet.. but keep your eyes open.. may involve top commentators...:)
  

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Wildthorn

Author: Jane Eagland
Publication Date: September 6, 2010
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Copy provided by: Book it Forward Tours
Summary (via Goodreads):

Seventeen-year-old Louisa Cosgrove longs to break free from her respectable life as a Victorian doctor's daughter. But her dreams become a nightmare w...more Seventeen-year-old Louisa Cosgrove longs to break free from her respectable life as a Victorian doctor's daughter. But her dreams become a nightmare when Louisa is sent to Wildthorn Hall: labeled a lunatic, deprived of her liberty and even her real name. As she unravels the betrayals that led to her incarceration, she realizes there are many kinds of prison. She must be honest with herself - and others - in order to be set free. And love may be the key...

Why I read this: It looked like an intriguing plot for a YA Historical Fiction novel.

Plot: Louisa finds herself at an institution for the insane. She's a woman of class who has no idea why she has been sent to Wildthorn Hall - under a different name no less. The book spends some time flashing back to the past events of Louisa's life and what had led her to where she is now. It's a mystery and romance and a fascinating novel.

Characters: I wasn't quite sure what to expect of Louisa as I was unsure if she was truly crazy or not. The flashbacks really give you a glimpse into her character. I also wasn't quite aware that this book would have a GLBT theme to it - which was lovely and such a beautiful relationship arises from the novel.

Relatability: Genre-wise, I'm used to the time period, which helped me solve the mystery before it was truly revealed.

Cover Commentary: Absolutely lovely.

Rating: 5/5 Roses

Buy it on Amazon*
Find it on Goodreads



*If you buy this book on Amazon through the link above, I will receive a small portion of the sales.
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Guest blog with Brenda Pandos

Today I have with me Brenda Pandos, author of The Emerald Talisman. My blog is the first stop on the blog tour which is hosted by Eleni from La Femme Readers, and I will be reviewing The Emerald Talismen in a few weeks time.

I asked Brenda to do a guest blog about her research process for her novel and here is what she wrote:


First, I want to say thanks to Kristen for asking me to be a guest blogger. This is truly a wonderful honor.

My story sprung from a difficult period in my life where I needed to escape into someone else’s life for a while so I invented one. I’m really glad I did because it gave me something to look forward to every day and brought happiness I didn’t expect.

I’ve always had a very active imagination, maybe overactive (hence why I can’t watch horror movies or even swim alone in a pool – thanks Jaws!). I would get teased about talking to myself as a kid. But if my mom gave me some tape, clothes pins, paper and some bed sheets, I’d be entertained for hours. I even sewed a mermaid tail out of my mom’s old nightgown and swam around in the pool, trying to trick the neighbor kids, telling them I was a real mermaid.

When I started out, I just imagined a very elaborate rescue scene (which is now chapter and sent it to a friend. She told me to keep going. The rest of the premise of The Emerald Talisman developed later around the guise of a piece of powerful jewelry, a tortured guy with a complicated paranormal past and a misfit girl with a similar situation. I gave Julia the gift of empathy so readers could get a glimpse of what the other characters are feeling even when the story is told in her POV and she’d know when the bad guys were close.

My setting is in the Santa Cruz Mountains in California, a place I know pretty well and miss tremendously. I wanted a place I could see in my head so I wouldn’t get too complicated for myself because research stopped the natural flow of writing for me. Though I did Google a lot of details to make sure they were right.

Actually, after writing the emergency room scene, something very similar happened to me where my husband had to go to the emergency room. I arrived later and had to wait to get authorization to see him. At the time, was totally freaked until I could get inside. It confirmed I’d nailed that scene.

Additionally, I did look up some vampire lore and read a few books on writing, character development and editing.

I’m not sure if this is helpful for aspiring writers. I think writing about things you are privy to opens a world people can now experience. Though I’ve never encountered a vampire, my story is what I’d like to have happen if I ever did.

Thank you Brenda for sharing that with us! I'm really looking forward to reading your novel!

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July In Review

Books Read and Reviewed (Click links):
1. Wereling by Steve Feasey
2. Halo by Alexandra Adornetto
3. Gloomcookie vol. 1 by Ted Naifeh (manga blog)
4. SPHDZ #1 by Jon Scieszka
5. Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
6. Chosen - The Graphic Novel by Ted Dekker (manga blog)
7. This is Me From Now On by Barbara Dee
8. The Sorcerer of Sainte Felice by Ann Finnin
9. Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James
10. Tyger, Tyger by Kersten Hamilton
11. The Clockwork Three by Matthew Kirby
12. The Season by Sarah MacLean
13. Carbon Diaries 2015 by Saci Lloyd (audio)
14. Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs (audio)

Read, but not reviewed:
15. Vampire Knight vol. 1 by Matsuri Hino
16. Vampire Knight Vol. 2 by Matsuri Hino
17. Faeries' Landing vol. 1 by You Hyung
18. Faeries' Landing vol 2 by You Hyung
19. After School Nightmare vol. 1 by Setona Mizushiro
20. After School Nightmare vol. 2 by Setona Mizushiro
21. After School Nightmare vol. 3 by Setona Mizushiro
22. After School Nightmare vol. 4 by Setona Mizushiro
23. After School Nightmare vol. 5 by Setona Mizushiro
24. Young Bess by Margaret Irwin
25. After School Nightmare vol. 6 by Setona Mizushiro
26. The Midnight Charter by David Whitley (audiobook)
27. The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride
28. Wildthorn by Jane Eagland
29. After School Nightmare vol. 7 by Setona Mizushiro
30. After School Nightmare vol. 8 by Setona Mizushiro
31. The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk
32. The Julian Game by Adele Griffin
33. Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder
34. Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
35. Mouse Guard Volume 2: Winter 1152 by David Peterson
36. The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancy
37. The Body at the Tower (The Agency, Book 2) by Y.S. Lee

(Most of those graphic novels will be reviewed as a series over on my other blog).

Number of pages read this month: 10,291


Books read so far this year: 182 See List Here
Pages read this year: 43,697

Some of my favorite reads this month were: Carbon Diaries 2015, Beautiful Darkness, and Inside Out. :)

Challenge updates:
Graphic Novels Challenge: Read 15 books (64 total)
CYBILS Award Challenge: Read 3 books (29 total for MG GNs, 9 total for YA GNs, and 29 total for YA Fantasy)
Debut Author Challenge: Read 9 books (48 total)
Reading From My Shelf Project: Read 4 books (32 total)
Books Won Reading Challenge: 0 books read (3 total)
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Sunday Spotlight - Reading The Best of The Best

Name: Kailia Sage
Nickname and/or blog name: Reading The Best of The Best
Blog URL: http://readingthebestofthebest.blogspot.com/



Tell me a bit about yourself.
Hi everyone! I'm Kailia and I'm 15.I'm still a student (sadly!) I've been reading for as long as I can remember and I read just about any book. I love to write as well as read and I hope to have a book published in the future!

When and why did you start your blog?
I began blogging on September 16, 2009. I wasn't new to blogging, but I was on the internet looking for a review of a book, and I stumbled across a book review blog and I fell in love. It's a great way to share my thoughts on the books I read not to mention, making new friends!

What is your blog all about? Any cool features you want to share?
I read and review the books I read and I love to have interviews with authors! I participate in a lot of memes like In My Mailbox and Waiting On Wednesday. I did start Trailer Review Tuesday where I would post up coming movie trailer and say what I think about it, but I haven't posted one in a while.

What are some of your favorite genres and/or books currently?
YA, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction, Paranormal. Basically anything that looks or sounds good. One of my favorite books right now is Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. It's been stuck in my heard ever since I read it! I can't believe its Lauren's debut book!

How do you find out about the books you read?
Internet. I follow a lot of blogs and I'm always looking to see what they review or whats new. My friends recommend some and other bloggers recommend books too. I tweet a lot so that another place.

Any tips or advice for those starting or thinking about starting a blog?
Don't think about getting followers, or comments, or free books. Blog becasue you want to. Blog about what YOU want to blog about, not someone else. Do it because you want to, not because you have to!


That's some great advice Kailia! I definitely say I must agree!

If you're interested in being a spotlighted blogger, please fill out this form.

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