Book Review- Thirteenth Child

Last night I finished reading Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wrede.

Eff was born the thirteenth child. She grew up hearing stories about how the "Thirteenth Child" is supposed to have great talent but bring great danger and despair to everyone around her. Her twin, Lan, is the seventh son of a seventh son, or a double-seven and is supposed to have great magical talent, in a good way, and luck and everyone is in awe of him. This story tells of their growing up, from Eff's point of view, and the challenges they face.

This story started off really well. I loved reading about Eff, Lan, and their magic. I liked reading about how they grew up and how much magic was involved in their lives. But then towards the end it started talking about these bugs that sucked magic and that was the whole plot of the story at the end. It kind of turned me off to the story. But it was well written and something different in the YA paranormal world.

I gave this book a rating of 3/5.

This book fullfills items in the following challenges:

Paranormal 999 Challenge: Magicians

This book was reviewed for TeensReadToo.

Wednesday Wordle- July 22, 2009

Here is a screen shot of my Wordle for the week (Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from words that is seen on my blog)

Waiting On Wednesday- July 22, 2009

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Demon Princess: Reign or Shine

by Michelle Rowen

Publication Release Date: October 2009

From Michelle Rowen's website:

For Nikki Donovan, being a teenager can be hell. Literally.

As if trying to fit in at a new school and navigating the social scene isn’t enough stress for her, sixteen-year-old Nikki Donovan just found out that her long-lost father is, in fact, the demon king of the Shadowlands — the world that separates and protects ours from the Underworld. When she is brought there by the mysterious (and surprisingly cute) messenger Michael, she learns that her father is dying, and that he wants her to assume the throne. To complicate matters, a war is brewing between the Shadowlands and the Underworld, her half-demon qualities are manifesting, and her growing feelings for Michael are forbidden. Ruling a kingdom, navigating a secret crush, and still making it home by curfew — what’s a teenage demon princess to do?

Teaser Tuesday - July 21, 2009

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers!

My two teasers:

"Even Charlie, who was going off to university in the fall, was older enough that I didn't see him much. They felt more like strange grown-ups I had to be polite to than like family."

~pg 12, Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wrede

Book Review- Accidentally Dead

I just finished reading Accidentally Dead by Dakota Cassidy.


From the back cover:


It's a lousy first day on the job for Nina Blackman when a patient, loopy from the anesthesia, bites her. At least he was cute. But for real drama she can't beat the next evening. Nina wakes up with a set of razor-sharp fangs, bionic vision, supersonic hearing, and a taste for blood. There must be a good explanation. There is. It's her patient, Long Island vampire Greg Statleon.


A visit to his Long Island castle hardly results in a cure. Greg claims there isn't one. Unfortunately, Nina isn't wild about her lifestyle change--or the danger that goes along with it. She's determined to prove this infuriating vampire wrong. It's a shame he's so irresistible. It's a bigger shame that he's dead. On the other hand, they're perfect for each other--if Nina's willing to commit to one man for eternity.


This was another fun paranormal read. I liked Nina's outgoing and brash personality, and it touched my heart when Lou, Nina's grandmother, told Greg why she was that way. I am left wondering about the third friend, Wanda. In the book, Nina notices that something is wrong with Wanda, so I'm looking forward to reading about what that is in the next book in the series, The Accidental Human.


I gave this book a rating of 3/5.


This book fullfills items in the following challenges:
Paranormal 999 Challenge: Vampires

Mailbox Monday- July 20, 2009

Mailbox Monday: Here's what came in my mailbox this week:

MONDAY

Midnight Reign (Vampire Babylon #2)- Chris Marie Green

One Thousand White Women- Jim Fergus--no idea where this came from

Aging With Grace- Greg Liberman--ShelfAwareness

Selina Penaluna- Jan Page--review for TeensReadToo

WEDNESDAY

Bittersweet Sixteen- Carrie Karasyov--Bookmooch

Jailbait Zombie- Mario Acevedo--FrugalReader Book Ring

Twenty Boy Summer-Sarah Ockler and goodies (pop rocks, a cute notebook and pen, a lip smacker, Bubblicious bubble gum, and a lip gloss)--Contest win from Fantastic Book Review

THURSDAY

No Rest for the Wiccan (#4)- Madelyn Alt--FrugalReader

Hunted- P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast--FrugalReader

SATURDAY

Briar Rose- Jane Yolen--Bookmooch

The Divorce Party- Laura Dave--for review for Luxury Reading

Jet Set- Carrie Karasyov and Jill Kargman--FrugalReader Book Ring

Book Blogger Appreciation Week

Announcing the Second Annual Book Blogger Appreciation Week September 14-18, 2009
Last year over 400 blogs came together to celebrate the art of book blogging during the first ever Book Blogger Appreciation Week! I am so pleased to announce that the second annual Book Blogger Appreciation Week will be taking place September 14-18.

WHO Anyone who blogs about books is invited to participate. In fact, we want everyone who blogs about books and reading to be a part of this week!

WHAT A week where we come together, celebrate the contribution and hard work of book bloggers in promoting a culture of literacy, connecting readers to books and authors, and recogonizing the best among us with the Second Annual BBAW Awards. There will be special guest posts, daily blogging themes, and giveaways.

WHEN September 14-18, 2009

WHERE Here at the new Book Blogger Appreciation Week Blog! (Please note that this year there are three separate blogs and feeds—one for the main event, one for giveaways, and one for awards.)

WHY Because books matter. In a world full of options, the people talking about books pour hard work, time, energy, and money into creating a community around the written word. I, Amy, the founder of Book Blogger Appreciation Week love this community of bloggers and want to shower my appreciation on you!

WANT TO PARTICIPATE?Please help us spread the word about Book Blogger Appreciation Week by posting about it on your blog, stumbling this post, twittering about it, and telling everyone you know that it’s time to have a party and celebrate book bloggers!
Please register by filling out the registration form! Registering ensures your inclusion in the BBAW 09 Database of Book Bloggers and enters you into the drawing for the BBAW 09 Grand Prize!
Come back often as there will be many updates! And follow us on Twitter!
AWARDSBBAW Award Nominations will open tomorrow, July 15 on the BBAW Awards Blog.

Posted by My Friend Amy

Contest Winners- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

According to Random.org

I Heart Book Gossip

Courtney

Janel

Kitten22

bridget3420

have each won a copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and a Collector's Edition Gold Pin! Email your address to me at belle2211 AT yahoo DOT com by Monday at noon and I will have your copy sent out to you!

Thanks to Dina at Big Honcho Media for the giveaway!

The Sunday Salon- July 19, 2009

Another pretty easy week. Monday was Kory's birthday, so I made a german chocolate cake from scratch (the first thing I've ever baked from scratch!) I got a lot of reading done too!




I finished and reviewed the following books this week:
Summer House by Nancy Thayer
Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner
Mysteria Lane by MaryJanice Davidson, Susan Grant, Gena Showalter, and P.C. Cast
The Penny Pinchers Club by Sarah Strohmeyer
Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult
Jennifer's Body by Audrey Nixon

I fullfilled items for the following challenges this week:
Paranormal 999 Challenge: Witches (can also be used as Demons, fairy, and vampire), Demons

I am currently reading Accidentally Dead by Dakota Cassidy and up next is The Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wrede for a TeensReadToo book review.

Book Contest- Julie & Julia

Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have 5 copies of Julie & Julia by Julie Powell to give away!

Julie & Julia, the bestselling memoir that's "irresistible....A kind of Bridget Jones meets The French Chef" (Philadelphia Inquirer), is now a major motion picture. Julie Powell, nearing thirty and trapped in a dead-end secretarial job, resolves to reclaim her life by cooking in the span of a single year, every one of the 524 recipes in Julia Child's legendary Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Her unexpected reward: not just a newfound respect for calves' livers and aspic, but a new life-lived with gusto. The film version is written and directed by Nora Ephron and stars Amy Adams as Julie and Meryl Streep as Julia.

HOW TO ENTER:

+1 Post a comment saying that you would like to be entered (make sure to leave your e-mail address or your comment won't count!)

+1 Post about the contest on your blog and leave the link in your comment

+1 Become a follower (or if you already follow me, let me know!)

~~For each thing that you do, please leave a separate comment or you will only be entered once!!
~~The contest will end on Sunday July 26th at 11:59pm
~~This contest is open to US and Canada only, no PO Boxes.