- Number of pages: 856
Summary
Gaia Moore is brilliant and beautiful. She’s trained in three kinds of martial arts, has a reflex speed that’s off the charts, and can break codes in four languages.
She’s also missing the fear gene.
All Gaia wants is to be like everyone else. Instead, she’s left wondering about her past, her missing family . . . and the unavailable boy she’s falling for. But everything changes when she learns that someone is hunting her down for her special skills, and they’ll do anything to get her to.
But Gaia isn’t worried.
She is FEARLESS.
Review
Definitely not your average girl, that’s for sure. Gaia, pronounced “guy-uh”, is a rational, badass character that really knows how to fight . . . mostly for good. She’s cranky, judgmental, and a bit of an outsider. She’s badass. I said that already, but I’m just trying to make sure you understand how badass she is. She kicks butt and is too cool to take names, if that makes any sense. While she may have only one friend and no family that she can call her own AND is constantly a target of some kind.
This was definitely not your average book. The story was a complicated and complex story that rotated from many, many different points of view. Off the top of my head I would say there were at least 8 different characters’ points of view that you jump into, but guaranteed there are a few more that I forgot to mention. I have to say it was pretty cool sensing the whole story from basically everyone’s point of view, but there were time that it was tricky to handle, namely when it jumped from one seen to the scene before but with a different character. Make any sense? Of course after a while you see the connection, but there were some frustrating times where I was just like “Whaaaaaat?” You definitely just have to try to keep up, and not let yourself get lost.
Now you are probably wondering how this whole “no fear gene” works. I wont give up any details because you will probably want to read about it yourself, but I will say that you see her feel every emotion except fear. The lack of fear doesn’t mean there is a lack of emotion in this book. In fact, there were times where the lack of fear constituted a stronger set of emotions. It was interesting to see how the author wrote about it like that. The plot was interesting as well. There were many different conflicts, but the main conflict didn’t come up until the second half of the book, way way off near the end. Through the first half, though it was entertaining, I sometimes felt like I was waiting for the real to take place, you know? It was just a restless feeling I had when something was prolonged a bit. The way it was written was highly entertaining as well. There were some very funny LOL moments for me . . . actual laughing out loud.
Something I feel like I should definitely warn you about is how this book can get a little graphic. Everything was on overdrive and there was some talk that I felt was unnecessary and a little inappropriate. Some fighting scenes as well were a bit graphic and sometimes were disturbing. It kind of made me a bit uncomfortable.
This is a very big book, but it also turns out to be the first book in a series! So if you do decide to read this book, do not be surprised when you see that it did not end completely. Expect another book accompanying it! From 1 to 10? I give FEARLESS a 6.
Edenbrooke Giveaway!
tháng 3 28, 2012 Book Giveaway, Julianne Donaldson No comments
Wow, I am queen slacker this week. SO sorry! But good things come to those who wait!
I have a signed ARC copy of EDENBROOKE by Julianne Donaldson to give away! I am very excited about this as it's a smaller publisher and I want you all to have a chance to read it! BTW you can order it online, get it at Deseret Bookstore and Seagull Book, all Utah Costcos carry it, and Barnes and Nobles everywhere carry it! So go find it! You will love me!
Just fill out the form below. USA and Canada mailing addresses only please. The contest will be open until my birthday, April 6th! 11:59 pm EST.
P.S. you're all slackers with me too. I was going to give all of you 2 extra entries if you commented on Julie's guest post(I mean Julianne...I know her as Julie!) but none of you did although I know you read it. Next time! ;)
I have a signed ARC copy of EDENBROOKE by Julianne Donaldson to give away! I am very excited about this as it's a smaller publisher and I want you all to have a chance to read it! BTW you can order it online, get it at Deseret Bookstore and Seagull Book, all Utah Costcos carry it, and Barnes and Nobles everywhere carry it! So go find it! You will love me!
Just fill out the form below. USA and Canada mailing addresses only please. The contest will be open until my birthday, April 6th! 11:59 pm EST.
P.S. you're all slackers with me too. I was going to give all of you 2 extra entries if you commented on Julie's guest post(I mean Julianne...I know her as Julie!) but none of you did although I know you read it. Next time! ;)
The Movie vs. The Book: Hugo Cabret
Back in December, when the movie was still in theaters, I read The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. I saw the movie, by the name of Hugo, over the weekend.
The cast included the following and more:
Hugo Cabret - Asa Butterfield
Isabelle - Chloë Grace Moretz
Georges Melies - Ben Kingsley
Madame Emilie - Frances de la Tour
Monsieur Frick - Richard Griffiths
Overall, I believe the movie followed the book with exciting chase scenes and magical moments. The actors and director made the mystery of the Automaton, the key, and the old man, come alive for the viewer in an egaging and fun way.
This movie is definitely geared toward a younger age level, as was the book.
Click here to read my review of the book.
The cast included the following and more:
Hugo Cabret - Asa Butterfield
Isabelle - Chloë Grace Moretz
Georges Melies - Ben Kingsley
Madame Emilie - Frances de la Tour
Monsieur Frick - Richard Griffiths
Overall, I believe the movie followed the book with exciting chase scenes and magical moments. The actors and director made the mystery of the Automaton, the key, and the old man, come alive for the viewer in an egaging and fun way.
This movie is definitely geared toward a younger age level, as was the book.
Click here to read my review of the book.
Dark Divine Giveaway Winners!
Sorry this took me so long. Life has been crazy busy. I hope you enjoyed my posts about Edenbrooke. I saw a lady purchase it at our local costco and I just had to rave about it to her!
But this is about Dark Divine! Which you all know how much I love Bree and the series! 2 lucky winners will receive the whole trilogy from the publisher! So with no further adieu and the help of random.org our winners are...
Thanks for everyone who entered! Come back tomorrow for yet ANOTHER giveaway! Yeah this is a crazy giveaway month!
But this is about Dark Divine! Which you all know how much I love Bree and the series! 2 lucky winners will receive the whole trilogy from the publisher! So with no further adieu and the help of random.org our winners are...
Ansindt!
&
Christina Kit!
&
Christina Kit!
Thanks for everyone who entered! Come back tomorrow for yet ANOTHER giveaway! Yeah this is a crazy giveaway month!
The Movie vs. The Book: The Hunger Games
tháng 3 24, 2012 movie vs. book, young adult fiction No comments
According to Parade magazine, The Hunger Games was the most anticipated movie of 2012. The first, in a three, possibly four motion picture series was released this past Thursday at midnight. I had reserved my ticket back in February and had been anxiously awaiting my chance to see it.
Overall, I believe the movie was true to the book, and any small changes they did make, did not directly impact the plot.
Some differences include:
-Madge is eliminated from the movie all together, therefore Katniss buys the mockingjay pin herself.
-While the games take place, Seneca Crane is shown with other Gamemakers creating the events inside the arena.
-The mutated dogs at the finale of the games do not have the dead tributes features.
Again, none of these changes made the movie any less fantastic, and as Suzanne Collins is listed as one of the screenwriters of the movie, she obviously was okay with the changes as well.
The theater was completely full when I went yesterday evening, and many people were dressed for the occasion. One fan, was dressed at Finnick Odair (trident and all) who appears in Catching Fire. Others wore black and gold, or homemade Hunger Games t-shirts.
The movie had some very sentimental moments as did the book. *Spoiler* When Rue died, the entire audience in the theater put their hands up in the traditional three-finger salute.
If you haven't already read the book, I absolutely suggest you do, and then of course, go see the movie!
Click here to read my review of the books in the series, The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay.
Click here to watch the official movie trailer.
Overall, I believe the movie was true to the book, and any small changes they did make, did not directly impact the plot.
Some differences include:
-Madge is eliminated from the movie all together, therefore Katniss buys the mockingjay pin herself.
-While the games take place, Seneca Crane is shown with other Gamemakers creating the events inside the arena.
-The mutated dogs at the finale of the games do not have the dead tributes features.
Again, none of these changes made the movie any less fantastic, and as Suzanne Collins is listed as one of the screenwriters of the movie, she obviously was okay with the changes as well.
The theater was completely full when I went yesterday evening, and many people were dressed for the occasion. One fan, was dressed at Finnick Odair (trident and all) who appears in Catching Fire. Others wore black and gold, or homemade Hunger Games t-shirts.
The movie had some very sentimental moments as did the book. *Spoiler* When Rue died, the entire audience in the theater put their hands up in the traditional three-finger salute.
If you haven't already read the book, I absolutely suggest you do, and then of course, go see the movie!
Click here to read my review of the books in the series, The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay.
Click here to watch the official movie trailer.
Guest Post by Julianne Donaldson: A Day in the Life of a Romance Writer
There is so much to post about! I should have posted this yesterday but got busy with a certain movie premiere! Which I will post about later. Then there's the winner to random.org find for the Dark Divine giveaway! But I wanted you to all read this fabulous post. If you comment you might just be happy that you did tomorrow. Just sayin.
Julianne is the author of EDENBROOKE, a new regency romance that came out early last week. Julianne Donaldson grew up as the daughter of a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot. She learned how to ski in the Italian Alps, visited East Berlin before the wall came down, and spent three years living next to a 500-year-old castle.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif After earning a degree in English, she turned her attention to writing about distant times and places. She lives in Utah with her husband and four children. Edenbrooke is her first novel. You can find more about here at her website HERE.
8:00 a.m. I awake suddenly, look at the alarm clock, and try not to swear. I shouldn't have stayed up so late last night reading that book! Now the kids will be late to school unless some morning miracle happens.
Julianne is the author of EDENBROOKE, a new regency romance that came out early last week. Julianne Donaldson grew up as the daughter of a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot. She learned how to ski in the Italian Alps, visited East Berlin before the wall came down, and spent three years living next to a 500-year-old castle.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif After earning a degree in English, she turned her attention to writing about distant times and places. She lives in Utah with her husband and four children. Edenbrooke is her first novel. You can find more about here at her website HERE.
8:00 a.m. I awake suddenly, look at the alarm clock, and try not to swear. I shouldn't have stayed up so late last night reading that book! Now the kids will be late to school unless some morning miracle happens.
8:00 - 8:45 a.m. Chaos. Three kids to feed, dress, and get ready for school. Papers have to be signed and returned (why can I never find a pen?), shoes have to be found (have you looked in your room? by the front door? in the car?), backpacks packed and hair and teeth brushed. Finally, the front door is slammed, and it's just me, my three-year-old, and my dog. Oops! Forgot to let the dog out. Clean up the pee on the carpet. And on with the day.
10:00 - 12:00. It's Tuesday, so my three-year-old goes to my neighbor's house, where he plays with friends while I get some computer time. The first hour is spent answering emails, posting on my blog, and corresponding with my agent and publisher. The second hour I sit down, take a deep breath, and try to enter the world of romance and history. The dog barks. The doorbell rings. Someone calls to chat. I look at the clock. Fifteen minutes of writing time left! I scramble to reach my goal of 800 words. It's all a mess, but there might be some gems in there I can use.
12:00 - 3:30 p.m. I pick up my three-year-old, give him lunch, and we spend the afternoon cleaning the house, doing laundry, watching PBS, and playing with Legos. Don't forget to let the dog out!
3:30 - 6:30 p.m. The older kids come home, with friends, until the house is overrun with at least ten kids. There's homework, snacks, after-school activities (it's time to go to gymnastics! do you have your scout uniform? get in the car, everyone! hurry, we're late!), dinner prep, and drama.
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Husband comes home, we eat dinner, finish homework, run to basketball games, pick up from gymnastics, juggle church meetings, and in general act like chickens with our heads cut off. Finally the kids are in their beds (but not necessarily asleep).
8:30 - 10:30 p.m. It's time to unwind and spend some time with my husband. Dishes are optional, as is folding laundry. We like to sit on the couch together. He surfs the TV while I do research on my laptop. This is not writing time--I can't write with the TV on and kids coming downstairs (i'm thirsty. i can't go to sleep. everyone's talking and keeping me up. what's the deadliest insect in utah?). But I research the historical aspect of my books, look up photos of England, catch up on blogs I follow, email, write blog posts, etc.
10:30 - midnight or later. My time. I will pick up a good book or sit and dream of my own book. Late-night writing, if I'm not too tired, can be my favorite kind. As I drift off to sleep, I imagine my heroine falling in love, I dream of smoky looks and passionate love letters. I jump up to jot down a phrase or two, but all too soon the day has worn me out. Hopefully tomorrow I'll get more writing done.
Snooze.
Ugly to Start With
Ugly to Start With
John Michael Cummings
168 pages
Jason Stevens is a teen-aged boy growing up in historic Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. His father is hard to please, and the tourists never seem to leave. All the while, Jason is forever unraveling stories about his family, and the town he thought he knew everything about.
Cummings' new novel is made up of several short stories, all based upon the same main character. The only drawback to this novel is that it lacks a central plot line. That drawback can be easily overlooked though as clear descriptions and metaphoric phrases are not shy. The reader will have a painting in their mind drawn in by phrases like these: "Mrs. Grove had hair as red and frizzy as a copper wire." , "As I wrapped on the paint-blistered door of Rusty's whitewashed shack" , and "All around now were the greenest, picture-perfect expanses of transplanted grass, stabbed with shiny power-line polls,".
Jason's character is unique and engaging, again created in the reader's mind with details and imagery. Readers will be attracted to his distinct voice and care-free way of acting.
Written in first person, Jason's complicated life of confusing girls, unlikely jobs and failing grades, clearly depicts the lifestyle of a rural town, and the challenges that growing up has to offer.
Overall, Ugly to Start With was a good read, and I would like to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read and review his book before its published date.
Look for Ugly to Start With, on shelves near you this fall.
John Michael Cummings
168 pages
Jason Stevens is a teen-aged boy growing up in historic Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. His father is hard to please, and the tourists never seem to leave. All the while, Jason is forever unraveling stories about his family, and the town he thought he knew everything about.
Cummings' new novel is made up of several short stories, all based upon the same main character. The only drawback to this novel is that it lacks a central plot line. That drawback can be easily overlooked though as clear descriptions and metaphoric phrases are not shy. The reader will have a painting in their mind drawn in by phrases like these: "Mrs. Grove had hair as red and frizzy as a copper wire." , "As I wrapped on the paint-blistered door of Rusty's whitewashed shack" , and "All around now were the greenest, picture-perfect expanses of transplanted grass, stabbed with shiny power-line polls,".
Jason's character is unique and engaging, again created in the reader's mind with details and imagery. Readers will be attracted to his distinct voice and care-free way of acting.
Written in first person, Jason's complicated life of confusing girls, unlikely jobs and failing grades, clearly depicts the lifestyle of a rural town, and the challenges that growing up has to offer.
Overall, Ugly to Start With was a good read, and I would like to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read and review his book before its published date.
Look for Ugly to Start With, on shelves near you this fall.
Review: EDENBROOKE by Julianne Donaldson
tháng 3 21, 2012 Edenbrooke, Julianne Donaldson, regency, Romance No comments
EDENBBROOKE
by Julianne Donaldson
Paperback, 240 pages
Published: March 27th 2012 by Shadow Mountain
Placement in the Pile: Top Picks!
Summary:
Marianne Daventry will do anything to escape the boredom of Bath and the amorous attentions of an unwanted suitor. So when an invitation arrives from her twin sister, Cecily, to join her at a sprawling country estate, she jumps at the chance. Thinking she’ll be able to relax and enjoy her beloved English countryside while her sister snags the handsome heir of Edenbrooke, Marianne finds that even the best laid plans can go awry.
From a terrifying run-in with a highwayman to a seemingly harmless flirtation, Marianne finds herself embroiled in an unexpected adventure filled with enough romance and intrigue to keep her mind racing. Will she be able to rein in her traitorous heart, or will a mysterious stranger sweep her off her feet? Fate had something other than a relaxing summer in mind when it sent Marianne to Edenbrooke.
Review:
From page one I was drawn into Marianne's world. Each character was vivid and real. I was pulled into the world of Regency England where rules are strict, women are limited, love was pure and things are not always what they seem. Marianne certainly has to deal with all of this. And she is unfortunate enough to be a free spirit limited by her circumstances.
I devoured this novel and found myself dreaming about living in that world...plus it's England, my favorite place I've ever visited! This book is truly a "proper romance". My heart soared with the joys, and was pulled by the tensions of the situations that Marianne finds herself.
Fans of Jane Austen will fall in love with this new look into the life of a spirited young woman constricted by the world, searching for her place, and finding love.
I very much look forward to more from Julianne Donaldson!
My Sister's Keeper
My Sister's Keeper
Jodi Picoult
448 pages
Anna Fitzgerald was born as a genetically-matched donor for her older sister Kate, who was plagued with leukemia as a child. Kate has always been dependent on Anna, therefore Anna has not been able to live the life she wants. Now, Kate has gone into renal failure, and needs a kidney from Anna. Although she loves her sister, Anna has had enough and decides to hire a lawyer to sue her parents for medical emancipation.
This was an amazing book to read. Picoult tackles such an uncommon topic with clarity and sensitivity. Each chapter alternates between different main characters in the book; Campbell Alexander; her lawyer, Sara; Anna's mother, Brian; Anna's father, Jesse; Anna's brother, Anna herself, and others. I love this feature of the book because it helps the reader to understand how the lawsuit effected the people she loved the most.
Throughout the book, flashbacks occur, to show the connection between Anna and Kate. Each is meant to touch the reader in a sentimental or humorous way.
Some quotes from the book that I enjoyed include:
“You don't love someone because they're perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that they're not.”
“Maybe who we are isn't so much about what we do, but rather what we're capable of when we least expect it.”
“Extraordinary things are always hiding in places people never think to look.”
“It is the things you cannot see coming that are strong enough to kill you.”
“If you have a sister and she dies, do you stop saying you have one? Or are you always a sister, even when the other half of the equation is gone?”
Picoult wrote a book that will certainly touch your heart, and if you haven't already learned it, she will teach you the definition of family.
Jodi Picoult
448 pages
Anna Fitzgerald was born as a genetically-matched donor for her older sister Kate, who was plagued with leukemia as a child. Kate has always been dependent on Anna, therefore Anna has not been able to live the life she wants. Now, Kate has gone into renal failure, and needs a kidney from Anna. Although she loves her sister, Anna has had enough and decides to hire a lawyer to sue her parents for medical emancipation.
This was an amazing book to read. Picoult tackles such an uncommon topic with clarity and sensitivity. Each chapter alternates between different main characters in the book; Campbell Alexander; her lawyer, Sara; Anna's mother, Brian; Anna's father, Jesse; Anna's brother, Anna herself, and others. I love this feature of the book because it helps the reader to understand how the lawsuit effected the people she loved the most.
Throughout the book, flashbacks occur, to show the connection between Anna and Kate. Each is meant to touch the reader in a sentimental or humorous way.
Some quotes from the book that I enjoyed include:
“You don't love someone because they're perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that they're not.”
“Maybe who we are isn't so much about what we do, but rather what we're capable of when we least expect it.”
“Extraordinary things are always hiding in places people never think to look.”
“It is the things you cannot see coming that are strong enough to kill you.”
“If you have a sister and she dies, do you stop saying you have one? Or are you always a sister, even when the other half of the equation is gone?”
Picoult wrote a book that will certainly touch your heart, and if you haven't already learned it, she will teach you the definition of family.
Interview and Giveaway! Bree Despain
tháng 3 16, 2012 Author Interview, Book Giveaway, Bree Despain, The Dark Divine No comments
So when I was reading my ARC of THE SAVAGE GRACE I knew I had to do an interview with Bree for all of you. I was just loving this book so much and wanted to ask her some questions about her whole experience with it. So, here's the interview, and at the end a FABULOUS giveaway!
1) How was it writing the end of Grace and Daniel's story? How was it different from writing the other books?
I was surprised at how hard it was to write the end of the story. In fact, I kept turning in the manuscript without the last two chapters--because I couldn't bring myself to write "the end." I have to admit that I teared up a bit when I did, but it also feels really good to have brought the story full circle. Third books in a trilogy are challenging to write because there is SO MUCH going on that needs to finally be pulled together in a satisfactory way. I didn't want to drop the ball on the third book and leave a bad taste in readers mouths about the series as a whole. That's pressure!
2) The end of the book is complete, but of course the characters will go on with their lives. Are there any plans for another book or short story in the future?
I heard a famous author say once that the end of the book should feel like "just the beginning" for your readers to imagine in their own heads what happens to the characters after that. I really wanted to capture that feeling with the ending of this series. Right now, I have no plans for more books in the TDD world--but I'm not going to say "never." I do see myself possibly doing a couple of short stories just for fun.
3) The Savage Grace is my favorite book in the series. Do you have a favorite?
I love all the books for different reasons, but I think the first one, THE DARK DIVINE, will always have a very special place in my heart. It's the one that I wrote for myself and poured so much my heart into--without knowing if it would ever be published or if anyone other than my family would ever read it. However, I think TSG is probably the most fun for me to read--it really pushed my plotting and action-writing skills to the limit.
4) Is there anything about your writing process that is an absolute must for you? A quiet location? A certain snack?
Chocolate! I always have a little bowl of dark chocolate chips at my side while I write. Over the summer, I went on a really strict diet that didn't allow me any sugar (or chocolate!) for about a month. I was surprised that my writing productivity went way up during that month. But when I got my revisions back from my editor, I ended up having to rewrite almost every single sentence I'd written during my choclate-free-month. It may not be a very scientific conclusion, but that was enough for me to never try writing without chocolate again!
5) What is your favorite read lately?
My three favorite reads as of late: WHITE CAT by Holly Back, EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton, and UNDER THE NEVER SKY by Veronica Rossi.
6) What are you working on now?
I'm working on a new book that is slated for publication in Fall 2013. I don't know what I'm allowed to say about it yet, but I can tell you that it's a story I started before THE DARK DIVINE was published, and I am so excited to be working on it again!
and for my own knowledge... 7) How do you pronounce Sirhan?
I pronounce it Sir-han. Like "Sir" (as in, "Yes, Sir!") and "Han" (as in, "Han Solo" or "rhymes with "on"). But really, any way you want to pronounce it is fine by me.
Totally random tidbit about how I came up with that name: I found an old Life Magazine from 1969 in my Grandmother's house. The cover story was about a man named "Sirhan Sirhan" who had just been convicted for assassinating Senator Robert F. Kennedy. The article said that "Sirhan" means "wolf" and I decided to use it for the name of the formidable leader of the largest werewolf pack. The character's full name "Sirhan Etlu" means "Wolf Warrior."
Thanks so much Bree! It was a blast as always! NOW it's giveaway time! I am so ridiculously excited about this! The publisher has offered to give not just ONE but TWO of you the ENTIRE Dark Divine Trilogy!!!!!!
Just comment about Bree's interview, and fill out the form below! It's that easy!
Contest will be open just until Wed, March 21, 11:59 pm EST. So get on it!
Oh and P.S. Happy St. Patrick's day!
**The contest is USA mailing addresses only. Sorry for the inconvenience. I should have specified earlier.
1) How was it writing the end of Grace and Daniel's story? How was it different from writing the other books?
I was surprised at how hard it was to write the end of the story. In fact, I kept turning in the manuscript without the last two chapters--because I couldn't bring myself to write "the end." I have to admit that I teared up a bit when I did, but it also feels really good to have brought the story full circle. Third books in a trilogy are challenging to write because there is SO MUCH going on that needs to finally be pulled together in a satisfactory way. I didn't want to drop the ball on the third book and leave a bad taste in readers mouths about the series as a whole. That's pressure!
2) The end of the book is complete, but of course the characters will go on with their lives. Are there any plans for another book or short story in the future?
I heard a famous author say once that the end of the book should feel like "just the beginning" for your readers to imagine in their own heads what happens to the characters after that. I really wanted to capture that feeling with the ending of this series. Right now, I have no plans for more books in the TDD world--but I'm not going to say "never." I do see myself possibly doing a couple of short stories just for fun.
3) The Savage Grace is my favorite book in the series. Do you have a favorite?
I love all the books for different reasons, but I think the first one, THE DARK DIVINE, will always have a very special place in my heart. It's the one that I wrote for myself and poured so much my heart into--without knowing if it would ever be published or if anyone other than my family would ever read it. However, I think TSG is probably the most fun for me to read--it really pushed my plotting and action-writing skills to the limit.
4) Is there anything about your writing process that is an absolute must for you? A quiet location? A certain snack?
Chocolate! I always have a little bowl of dark chocolate chips at my side while I write. Over the summer, I went on a really strict diet that didn't allow me any sugar (or chocolate!) for about a month. I was surprised that my writing productivity went way up during that month. But when I got my revisions back from my editor, I ended up having to rewrite almost every single sentence I'd written during my choclate-free-month. It may not be a very scientific conclusion, but that was enough for me to never try writing without chocolate again!
5) What is your favorite read lately?
My three favorite reads as of late: WHITE CAT by Holly Back, EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton, and UNDER THE NEVER SKY by Veronica Rossi.
6) What are you working on now?
I'm working on a new book that is slated for publication in Fall 2013. I don't know what I'm allowed to say about it yet, but I can tell you that it's a story I started before THE DARK DIVINE was published, and I am so excited to be working on it again!
and for my own knowledge... 7) How do you pronounce Sirhan?
I pronounce it Sir-han. Like "Sir" (as in, "Yes, Sir!") and "Han" (as in, "Han Solo" or "rhymes with "on"). But really, any way you want to pronounce it is fine by me.
Totally random tidbit about how I came up with that name: I found an old Life Magazine from 1969 in my Grandmother's house. The cover story was about a man named "Sirhan Sirhan" who had just been convicted for assassinating Senator Robert F. Kennedy. The article said that "Sirhan" means "wolf" and I decided to use it for the name of the formidable leader of the largest werewolf pack. The character's full name "Sirhan Etlu" means "Wolf Warrior."
Thanks so much Bree! It was a blast as always! NOW it's giveaway time! I am so ridiculously excited about this! The publisher has offered to give not just ONE but TWO of you the ENTIRE Dark Divine Trilogy!!!!!!
Just comment about Bree's interview, and fill out the form below! It's that easy!
Contest will be open just until Wed, March 21, 11:59 pm EST. So get on it!
Oh and P.S. Happy St. Patrick's day!
**The contest is USA mailing addresses only. Sorry for the inconvenience. I should have specified earlier.
Book Signing Report: Bree Despain!
tháng 3 14, 2012 Book Signing, Bree Despain, The Dark Divine, The Savage Grace No comments
Yesterday I was lucky enough to go to the launch party and book signing at The King's English in Salt Lake City for THE SAVAGE GRACE, book 3 in the Dark Divine Trilogy.
It was so great to see Bree again and celebrate this awesome book! Here's some pics and highlights from her presentation entitled "The End".
*Once again I am just going to type my notes as I wrote them as Bree said them...so this is paraphrased Bree. ;)
It was so wonderful to see Bree again! I just love her smiling face, I love how much she cares about her readers, and especially I love her books. She's such an inspiration!
Alright, so that being said, come back tomorrow to see what Bree had to say for my interview with her! And there just might be something super super awesome posted along with that interview. ;)
It was so great to see Bree again and celebrate this awesome book! Here's some pics and highlights from her presentation entitled "The End".
*Once again I am just going to type my notes as I wrote them as Bree said them...so this is paraphrased Bree. ;)
- Sequels are hard. The Lost Saint, I affectionately refer to as the book that ate my soul. But the third book has to be easier to write, right? Heh. heh. Yeah right.
- You spend your writing career learning how to write a first book, that took me 10 years. No one teaches you how to write a second or third book
- At times this book had beasty claws, fangs and got very bloodthirsty around the full moon
- One obstacle was there are so many strings that need to be tied up in the final book, things you have to complete
- Also third books have a lot more climax, 2/3rds of the book is climax
- All the characters you've introduced, not just the main ones, have to have their stories come full circle. Some will fail at thier goals, some will succeed, some will even die.
- The hardest obstacle to overcome in writing this book was saying goodbye. When I typed the last words from book 3 I would be saying goodbye to charcters that had been talking to me since a dark cold night in January so long ago.
- I put off writing the end. I kept turning in drafts without the last few chapters
- Well I finally turned a draft in, still without the last few chapters and my Editor said "I love the ending!" But that freaked me out, that's not the end! I said. He told me they were already doing copy edits and were going to print in 2 days.
- So i had one night to write that perfect ending, to say goodbye
- what I finally had to do was force myself to stop thinking about what the perfect ending would be, and just write what felt true for the characters.
- When I finished
my husband bought me not just one kitten, but two! We call them the kittens Divine. Merlin is black and Avalon is grey.
It was so wonderful to see Bree again! I just love her smiling face, I love how much she cares about her readers, and especially I love her books. She's such an inspiration!
Alright, so that being said, come back tomorrow to see what Bree had to say for my interview with her! And there just might be something super super awesome posted along with that interview. ;)
Review: THE SAVAGE GRACE by Bree Despain
tháng 3 13, 2012 Book Review, Bree Despain, The Dark Divine, The Savage Grace, Top Picks No comments
THE SAVAGE GRACE
by Bree Despain
Hardcover 496 pages
Published March 13th 2012 by EgmontUSA (Yes folks, that's TODAY!)
Placement in the Pile: Top Picks!
Summary:
A troubled soul. An impossible choice. A final battle.
Wrestling with the werewolf curse pulsing deep inside of her, Grace Divine was finally able to find her brother, but it nearly cost her everything.
With her boyfriend, Daniel, stuck in wolf form and Sirhan's death approaching, time is running out for Grace to stop Caleb Kalbi and his gang of demons. If she fails, her family and hometown will perish. Everything rests on Grace's shoulders.
The final installment in The Dark Divine trilogy brings Daniel and Grace's love story to a breathtaking conclusion.
Review:
I cannot tell you how much I loved this book. It was the perfect conclusion to the series. It is a long book yes, but it never feels that way. The action just keeps building and building and building. Unlike another very popular book series, you will not feel like the final "battle" scenes are a let down. No, this book was everything it should have been, and more.
There is not a lot I can or want to say about content because I don't want to spoil it. But I will say that the romantics won't be disappointed, the action fans won't be disappointed. I laughed, I literally cried. I was surprised by some twists, not as surprised by others, but that was okay. I loved and hated characters in a way that made me really care about the book. I was worried a bit about the title and what it would mean (which you don't get till the very end!) In the end I was 100% satisfied with the story, but it still left room for me to think of the characters in the future.
Bree Despain, you recaptured my heart! Thank you so much for putting the time and effort into this one, cause it was my favorite of the series!
**Be SURE to come back often this week! I am having a "Divine" week here on the blog! We will be having an interview with Bree, a report of her book launch party tonight, and an AWESOME giveaway you won't want to miss!
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
tháng 3 10, 2012 Maureen Johnson, Mystery, Rating #5 No comments
Summary
The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveauz arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it’s the start of a new life at a London Boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city—gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific work of Jack the Ripper in the autumn of 1888.
Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only on who saw. Even her roommate, who was with her at the time, didn’t notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, what is he planning to do about her?
Number of pages: 372
Review
I’m not exactly sure how I feel about sleeping in my very dark, spacious room tonight. Not after reading this book.
And I’ll let you know why. This book is all about a series of murders that resemble the murders taken place in 1888. And let me tell you, none of them were pretty. The victims were mutilated in a series of ways that is pretty gory. I wouldn’t say the book is completely graphic, but when it came down to it some parts were pretty nasty to read about. But don’t let that freak you out! No, what is freakier than that is the invisible killer doing all of these murders. Yea . . . invisible killer.
This book was a good read. I had some issues with it at the beginning. I’d have to say that the book didn’t really pick up speed until 150 pages or so into the book, I thought. It went by meticulously slow at the set up of the store while Rory settled into her new school and you were caught up to speed on Jack the Ripper’s murders. It got more enjoyable near the second half of the book. That was where the more suspenseful side of the story kicked in. The plot was a good one. Definitely one that was planned out in all of it’s complexity. The main character was all right. I found her kind of tedious to follow sometimes, but she did well when push came to shove. Now the ending of the book was great. That really was a good ending for it over all. Now, it kind of leaves the reader with a new revelation. I’m not sure if that is supposed to signify the start of a new book, or just a way to close the curtains with a bang. I gets we will just have to wait and see. From 1-10? I’d give The Name of the Star a good solid 5.
Cover Close Up: The cover is really quite beautiful and interesting, but it has nothing to do with the story. At all. I hate when that happens . . .
(This is irrelevant, but when my room door is slightly ajar it sometimes closes by itself . . . and it just closed for no reasThursday Three (4)
1) I adore our library system. It had a large system of books available for their hold system. One thing I did the other day was put a bunch of St. Patrick's day books to read with my daughter on hold. And many of them have come in! I love reading books with my girls. I hope they learn to love reading as much as I do!
2) I'm just not ready to go to bed if I haven't read for a few minutes. It's my wind down time...sometimes. Sometimes a book grabs me and keeps me up. But a lot of the time I read a little and it helps my mind go to another world and not worry about what's going on in real life.
When is your favorite time to read?
3) Next week is going to be "Divine". In so so many ways! Be sure to check it out all week, not just Thursday.
2) I'm just not ready to go to bed if I haven't read for a few minutes. It's my wind down time...sometimes. Sometimes a book grabs me and keeps me up. But a lot of the time I read a little and it helps my mind go to another world and not worry about what's going on in real life.
When is your favorite time to read?
3) Next week is going to be "Divine". In so so many ways! Be sure to check it out all week, not just Thursday.
Everneath and Supernaturally Giveaway Winners!
As usual I want to thank you all for reading my blog and entering the giveaway. I have lots more giveaways this month so please don't fret if you didn't win this one!
Our two lucky winners are:
It just worked out that you both got your first pick! So that's nice!
Enjoy!
Our two lucky winners are:
Erin Thain: EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton
and
Maegan Langer: SUPERNATURALLY by Kiersten White
Maegan Langer: SUPERNATURALLY by Kiersten White
It just worked out that you both got your first pick! So that's nice!
Enjoy!