Wednesday Wordle- July 21, 2010

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 21, 2010

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

Jealousy (Strange Angels #3)
by Lili St. Crow
Publication Release Date: July 29, 2010

From Lilith Saintcrow's website:

Dru Anderson might finally be safe. She’s at the largest Schola on the continent, and beginning to learn what it means to be svetocha–half vampire, half human, and all deadly. If she survives her training, she will be able to take her place in the Order, holding back the vampires and protecting the oblivious normal people.

But a web of lies and betrayals is still closing around her, just when she thinks she can relax a little. Her mentor Christophe is missing, her almost-boyfriend is acting weird, and the bodyguards she’s been assigned seem to know much more than they should. And then there’s the vampire attacks, the strange nightly visits, and the looks everyone keeps giving her. As if she should know something.

Or as if she’s in danger.

Someone high up in the Order is a traitor. They want Dru dead–but first, they want to know what she remembers of the night her mother died. Dru doesn’t want to remember, but it looks like she might have to–especially since once Christophe returns, he’ll be on trial for his life. The only person who can save him is Dru.

The problem is, once she remembers everything, she may not want to…

Book Review- Stork

I just finished reading Stork by Wendy Delsol for a Book It Forward ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

Sixteen-year-old Katla has just moved from Los Angeles to the sticks of Minnesota. As if it weren’t enough that her trendy fashion sense draws stares, she learns to her horror that she’s a member of an ancient order of women who decide to whom certain babies will be born. Add to that Wade, the arrogant football star whom Katla regrettably fooled around with, and Jack, a gorgeous farm boy who initially seems to hate her. Soon Katla is having freaky dreams about a crying infant and learns that, as children, she and Jack shared a near-fatal, possibly mystical experience. Can Katla survive this major life makeover and find a dress for the homecoming dance? Drawing from Norse mythology and inspired by The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen, debut author Wendy Delsol conceives an irreverent, highly entertaining novel about embracing change and the (baby) bumps along the way.

When I first saw Stork posted up for a tour, I had never heard of it, but the summary and the book cover caught my attention.  And boy am I glad it did.  I really enjoyed the story!

I liked Kat.  I thought she had spunk and was witting and I found myself laughing at the things she said and thought.  And I liked Jack as well.  I wasn't too sure at the beginning, but he definitely grew on me and by the end I thought he and Kat were a perfect match.

The idea of a "Stork" was a new one for me and one that I really enjoyed.  If I had any complaint, it would be that I would have liked to have read more about the babies being placed, since we only really get into one scenario.  And the last 25 or so pages totally shocked me!  I didn't see that coming at all! 

The ending definitely leaves you wondering what is going to happen next.  And I checked on Wendy Delsol's website and saw that Stork is the beginning of a trilogy and Frost, the next book, will come out in the Fall of 2011 (I don't want to wait that long!)

I gave this book a rating of 4/5.

Stork will be released on October 12, 2010.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 95
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 72
2010 Debut Author Challenge: 30
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 70

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Book It Forward ARC Tours.

Teaser Tuesday- July 20, 2010

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:

" 'Jack,' I said, 'I'm way past scared.  Just tell me.' "
~pg 165, Stork (ARC) by Wendy Delsol

Author Interview- Tricia Rayburn

Back in April, I had the chance to read Siren by Tricia Rayburn and really enjoyed it.  Read my review here.  Now I was lucky enough to get to ask Tricia some fun questions!

1. What kind of research did you have to do to write your story about Sirens?

I spent some time reading up on sirens in mythology, but they were really just my jumping-off point. I wanted SIREN to be a modern, unique story, so I spent much more time brainstorming my characters and the world of Winter Harbor.

2. Will there be a sequel? If so, can you give us the title, aprox date it will be released and tell us something about it?

Yes, there will be a sequel! The title’s in the works, but it should be out next summer. It’ll follow Vanessa as she deals with being back at school for her senior year, struggles with physical challenges and abilities, and confronts fears both old and new.

3. Did you have input on your cover of Siren? (I think it’s beautiful, especially the colors!)

I’m so happy you like the cover! I do, too. The concept was all Egmont—they had the idea from the day they bought the book!

4. What book are you currently reading right now and why?

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. I’d heard such great things about it I had to check it out!

5. What is your guilty pleasure, food-wise?

It’s a toss-up between mint chocolate chip ice cream and cheesy nachos with fresh guacamole!

Yum!  Thanks for letting us get to know you!

Check out her sites at http://www.triciarayburn.com/ or http://www.triciarayburn.blogspot.com/ 

Mailbox Monday- July 19, 2010

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

MONDAY

The Ghost and the Goth- Stacey Kade--review for an Around the World Tour

Beautiful Darkness- Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl--Bookmooch

Waxed- Robert Rave--review for TLC Book Tour








TUESDAY

Night Life (Vamps #2)- Nancy A. Collins--PaperbackSwap

After Dark (Vamps #3)- Nancy A. Collins--PaperbackSwap

Poison Study (Study #1)- Maria V. Snyder--PaperbackSwap








THURSDAY

Burned- P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast--Bookmooch

As You Wish- Jackson Pearce--Bookmooch

Crescendo- Becca Fitzpatrick--from publisher for review

Peter and the Shadow Thieves (#2)- Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson--Bookmooch







FRIDAY

Forget You- Jennifer Echols--review for a Galley/Pocket Book Tour

And One Last Thing- Molly Harper--review for a Galley/Pocket Book Tour

Stork-Wendy Delsol--review for a Book It Forward Tour








SATURDAY

Firelight- Sophie Jordan--review for an Around the World tour

The Sunday Salon- July 18, 2010

The Sunday Salon

Kory's birthday was on Tuesday so I decided to make a homemade cheesecake.  I got the recipe from the Kraft site and it turned out really well.  I think the hardest part was the crust.  I had a hard time making it even around the sides.  But the filling was really creamy and soo good!  I am definitely going to be keeping the recipe to make in the future.

I finished and reviewed the following books this week:

Salvaged by Stefne Miller

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade







I fulfilled items in the following challenges this week:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 91, 92, 93
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 68, 69, 70
2010 Debut Author Challenge: 28, 29
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 68, 69
 
I am currently reading Forget You by Jennifer Echols and up next is Stork by Wendy Delsol.

Book Review- The Ghost and the Goth

I just finished reading The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade for an Around the World Tour.

From Goodreads:

After a close encounter with the front end of a school bus, Alona Dare goes from Homecoming Queen to Queen of the Dead. Now she’s stuck here in spirit form with no sign of the big, bright light coming to take her away. To make matters worse, the only person who might be able to help her is Will Killian, a total loser/outcast type who hates the social elite. He alone can see and hear her, but he wants nothing to do with the former mean girl of Groundsboro High.

Can they get over their mutual distrust—and this weird attraction between them—to work together before Alona vanishes for good and Will is locked up for seeing things that don’t exist?

This book had me hooked from the very beginning.  This was a mostly light (there were a few dark-ish aspect), fun book.  The writing had me laughing often.

Alona is the girl you want to hate.  Selfish, bratty and thinks she rules the school.  But for some reason, I loved her.  I loved her comments and her witty remarks.  And Will wasn't bad either.  I felt bad for him and the way his therapist treated him.

I definitely liked the way the story ended.  I think it wrapped up well and happy.  But I can't wait to see what's going to happen next in the sequel, Queen of the Dead.  I'm hooked!

I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 93
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 70
2010 Debut Author Challenge: 29
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 69

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

The Friday 56- July 16, 2010

1. Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
2. Turn to page 56.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like).
5. Post a link along with your post back to Storytime with Tonya and Friends.
 

"Then, at the end of my freshman year, when my dad...did what he did, that only made things worse, in every way imaginable."
~From The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade

Friday Fill-In- July 16, 2010

Friday Fill-In

1. This is what life does. It lets you have your good days and your bad.
2. Why is it so hard to stop and appreciate the moment?
3. Upon reflection, college years were the best years of my life (so far).
4. I have been living in Florida for quite a long time.
5. Later, you wake up and realize the summer is going by too quickly!
6. I want to go on a cruise so I need to go to the far and boundless sea.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to the Ale House with a group of friends, tomorrow my plans include maybe going to see a movie with Kory and Sunday, I want to relax!