Seduce the Darkness by Gena Showalter

Seduce the Darkness is part of Ms. Showalter's Alien Huntress series. Due to a war between otherworlders and humans, Earth is barely recognizable but still habitable. Bride McKells is a vampire who secretly resides amongst the humans. She used to be hunted by fanatics but since the war she has been able to reside undetected... her only problem she has never met another vampire and she has many unanswered questions about her race. Then one day she meets Devyn, King of the Targons - he promises to have all the answers to her questions. He is a womanizer and has dedicated himself to sleeping with women of all races, he considers it his collection. And although he's been with vampires before, several at once even, he has found a match in Bride who does not fall for his womanizing ways. In fact, she is just as good looking, cocky and when they find that her blood is a cure for a deadly alien disease, she becomes essential to humans.

This was definitely different as it dealt with aliens (a first for me). I fell in love with both Devyn and Bride - although they were both cocky and full of themselves, they were very likeable and quite funny. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the things they would say and do. I also really liked Devyn's friendship and interactions with the men and women who were part of his alien hunting team. This is the first book that I read of Ms. Showalter's and it was loads of fun - with several naughty parts but the story was not overpowered by the steamy love scenes. There was plenty of action and character dynamic to keep your pique interested. There was even a twist or two that I did not see coming. Although this is not the first book in the series you can definitely start here and, like me, read your way back. If you like your paranormal romances steamy with plenty of action than this is definitely one you won't want to miss out on.

The Devlin Diary by Christi Phillips

Hannah Devlin is a physician in 1672 London. Although it is illegal for women to administer physick, Hannah is well learned in medicine thanks to her physician parents. She has found a calling in taking care of the poor and aiding them with their everyday maladies. She has found that this calling helps her cope with her life's misfortunes, she has lost her husband, baby daughter and, most recently, her father. One night, Hannah is whisked away by Lord Arlington (Secretary of State) and is forced to help him and the King's mistress with an unfortunate ailment... it's either that or prison for illegally practicing medicine. While at Court, she meets Dr. Edward Strathern but she has also been brought to the attention of the College of Physicians. She now knows her days as a doctor are almost at an end... that is, until several courtiers start turning up dead and Dr. Strathern convinces her that this conspiracy dealt with her late father and even possibly the King himself.

Claire Donovan has just landed the job of her dreams. She has been asked to temporarily teach history at Trinity College in Cambridge, year 2008. Her new job entails speaking about her favorite subject (history), a beautiful set of rooms, and a key to all of the college's libraries and storage rooms. One day she stumbles upon an old diary written in code and discusses it with a colleague over dinner. Shortly thereafter it comes to her attention that this professor has stolen her ideas for decoding the diary and is writing a book about it. She confronts him about his sleazy ways and succumbs to her anger by punching him in the nose - but is still at a loss about what to do about her stolen ideas... it's her word versus his. That is easily resolved since the guy is found dead the next day; the only problem, he is found dead with a copy from a page out of the diary saying "Pay Up". With the help of Andrew Kent, it is up to them to discover what could this centuries old diary reveal that would lead to murder three hundred years later.

Ms. Phillips did her homework on this one. It was very interesting to read about Charles II's England. It's a time that I know little about, so it was definitely a learning experience for me. I loved reading Hannah's chapters - they were detailed to the point where you felt as if you were walking down the road through seventeenth century London. Ms. Phillips is quite a story teller and I was wholly immersed in the story just after a couple of chapters. Full of mystery, intrigue and suspense - I found it difficult to put down.

From what I have read, Claire Donovan is also the heroine in Ms. Phillips' previous book, The Rosetti Letter. I still have not had an opportunity to read it (although I have a copy of it on my shelves - horray for Pocket Books), but I would like to make note that this did not affect or alter my opinion on this book whatsoever. This can be read as a stand-alone book without a problem.

I highly recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction, with lots of murder and mayhem and a bit of romance thrown in for good measure. I loved it and I'm sure you will too.

What are you Reading on Mondays? (Week 6/28/09)

For everyone elses responses, please visit J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book Blog. What am I reading this week?

Last week I read the following:

The Devlin Diary - Christi Phillips [review]

Seduce the Darkness - Gena Showalter [review]

Drawing in the Dust - Zoe Klein [review]

My Forbidden Desire - Carolyn Jewel [review]

I also reviewed the following:

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist - Rachel Cohn & David Levithan [review]

Wings - Aprilynne Pike [review]

The Vanishing Sculptor - Donita K. Paul [review]

My reading last week was not what I had hoped for - so yes, I'm reading The Castaways this week. For one, I have had a dreadful cold (I mean bad enough to where I actually had to go and get checked out by a doctor). For some reason I can't concentrate while reading when I'm sick. I know that sounds silly, but I just can't. Don't ask me why... And secondly, I was getting ready for my vacation this week. Yep, I'm on vacation right now on Sanibel Island on the Gulf coast of Florida. The hotel we're staying at is gorgeous and the views from our balcony are to die for. The weather is not all that great (it's rained all day) thus, I'm catching up on my blog posts for the week. Hopefully the weather clears up tomorrow so that I can take some pictures and show you guys.

So tell me, what are you reading this week?

Giveaway: Off Season and Disappearance of Irene Dos Santos

Acclaimed novelist Anne Rivers Siddons's new novel is a stunning tale of love and loss. For as long as she can remember, they were Cam and Lilly--happily married, totally in love with each other, parents of a beautiful family, and partners in life. Then, after decades of marriage, it ended as every great love story does...in loss. After Cam's death, Lilly takes a lone road trip to her and Cam's favorite spot on the remote coast of Maine, the place where they fell in love over and over again, where their ghosts still dance. There, she looks hard to her past--to a first love that ended in tragedy; to falling in love with Cam; to a marriage filled with exuberance, sheer life, and safety-- to try to figure out her future.It is a journey begun with tender memories and culminating in a revelation that will make Lilly re-evaluate everything she thought was true about her husband and her marriage.

Irene dos Santos disappeared at age 15. Believed to have drowned while on holiday with her best friend, Lily Martinez, her body was never found. Now, years later, she appears ghostlike in Lily's dreams, prompting a quest for the truth behind her disappearance. Mysteriously, Lily, eight-months pregnant with her first child, slips and falls on the same day that the statue of Maria Lionza, Patron Saint of their Venezuelan town, cracks in two. Confined to her bed, Lily is surrounded by her family and closest friends, who agree that a Novena to Maria Lionza will guide the baby's spirit safely into the world. Together, through their nine nights of prayer, each offers a story to entertain Lily and her baby. What emerges is a vivid picture of Venezuela during a time of revolution and uncertainty-and the unraveling of the mystery behind Irene dos Santos.

I have 5 copies of each book!

So here are the rules: Leave a comment for one entry. If you follow this blog or already are following leave me an extra comment for your second entry. Follow me on Twitter, another entry. (you guys know the drill) Your entry is for both books - although if you only want one please specify that in your comment.

PLEASE make sure to leave an e-mail address - if not, I have no way of getting in touch with you if you do win. Books will be delivered directly from Publisher so giveaway is only available for residents of the US and Canada and no P.O. Boxes please. Winners will be drawn 7/17/09.

Good luck!

Giveaway Results: The Night Gardener

Winners were chosen! (drumroll please)

1- jjfiji

2- LoveMyCoffee

3- Vicki

4- edeliz

5- ...MY NAME IS ELENI AND I AM A BOOKAHOLIC...

Winners were chosen using random.org. I will be e-mailing each of you and/or leaving you a comment. You have until Wednesday to provide me with your mailing addresses. If I haven't heard from you by Wednesday, a new winner will be chosen.

If you're interested in more giveaways, you're still in time for Bound to Please and To Beguile a Beast (ends 7/03/09) and Stand the Storm and A Summer Affair (ends 7/10/09). Plus I'll have a new giveaway posted this afternoon.

The Vanishing Sculptor by Donita K. Paul

Tipper, a young Emerlindian, has been responsible for her family’s upkeep since her sculptor father vanished several years back. It’s been years since she last saw her father, and her mother's, the Lady Peg, mental health has slowly been deteriorating since then, so she has had to single-handedly do everything in her power to maintain her family’s good name. She has even had to sell her father’s beloved sculptures for money in order to pay their servants and purchase food. Until the night her father, Verrin Schope, returns with tales of wondrous places, gateways, and the fact that he keeps appearing and disappearing and then reappearing through her mothers closet. It seems the gateway that brought him back home is unstable and keeps bringing him back and forth through time which is ultimately affecting his health in the process. Yet there is hope as three of his sculptures can save him, the only problem, Tipper obviously sold these pieces and she has no idea whom the buyers were or even in which town or village they might be able to start looking in. Thus the adventure begins for Tipper, Verrin and Tipper’s faithful guardian, Beccaroon (who’s a five-foot tall parrot), as they set forth on this journey.

Since I have never read any of Ms. Paul’s "DragonKeeper Chronicles", a lot of the terms used in this story were new to me. Luckily, there was a handy glossary at the back of the book that I kept referring to for help. And I also want to make note that there were some inconsistencies with the map and the story itself - so I was a little lost at times as to where exactly the characters were in the story when compared to the map, but other than that, I can definitely see the appeal this story would have on children and adults alike. The story has an undeniable Christian message, but it is subtle enough for a non-believer to also enjoy the book.

The characters were quirky, funny and quite endearing and Ms. Paul’s writing builds a world that you can definitely envision. I recommend this for young and older readers alike, or anyone who enjoys science fiction, good writing and magical characters.

Themed Reading Challenge 2009 Wrap-Up

I completed the Themed Reading Challenge. I chose books that were being adapted or had been made inot movies. Here is my original post and my final list.

1 Speak - Laruie Halse Anderson (completed 6/08/09)
2 He's Just Not That Into You - Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo (completed 3/06/09)
3 Confessions of a Shopoholic - Sophie Kinsella (completed 2/02/09)
4 Stardust - Neil Gaiman (completed 3/22/09)
5 The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - John Boyne (completed 3/07/09)
6 The City of Ember - Jeanne DuPrau (completed 4/13/09)
7 I Love You, Beth Cooper - Larry Doyle (completed 6/12/09)
8 Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist - Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (completed 6/14/09)

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Wings is the debut novel of Aprilynne Pike. In it we are introduced to Laurel - a not-so-human girl who discovers that she is a fairy who has been sent by the fae to live among humans to guard one of the gateways to Avalon. Little does Laurel know that there are other dangerous beings also trying to find this magical gateway which places her and her human family in real danger. Luckily for her she is not alone as she discovers more and more about who and what she is. David - the cute boy from school, who just happens to be a whiz in biology, helps her understand some of the scientific changes her body is going through. And then there’s the mysterious Tamani.... although she’s not very trusting of him at first, he is the one that helps her understand that she is not human but a fairy... like him.

This was super neat! Ms. Pike explores the realm of faeries and immerses us in a world that is very unique. Although I can’t really say I have read any Fae books, the legends I’ve come to know (and I blame this on Disney) are nothing like the world Ms. Pike creates in Wings. I must say that her take on fairy life is refreshing, if not AWESOME.

Although this follows the traditional set up most fantasy/love triangle/young adult fiction titles we've seen in the past few years, this story, involving the mystical world of the Fae, Camelot, and the doors to Avalon, had me hooked from page one.

I fell in love with the characters and I am already torn between who Laurel will choose - David or Tamani. Apparently this will be a 4-part series, and I am already anxious for the next installment!

To learn more about author, Aprilynne Pike, you can visit her blog here.

Books Into Movies Challenge Wrap-Up

I completed the Books Into Movies Challenge - although there were really on two books required, I set a goal of 10 and read 12. I like to read the book before watching the movie so this was quite easy for me. Here's my final list:

1 The Christmas Jars - Jason F. Wright (completed 1/01/09)
2 The Reader - Bernard Schlink (completed 1/02/09)
3 Where the Heart Is - Billie Letts (completed 1/05/09)
4 Blindness - José Saramago (completed 1/11/09)
5 Confessions of a Shopoholic - Sophie Kinsella (completed 2/02/09)
6 He's Just Not That Into You - Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo (completed 3/06/09)
7 The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - John Boyne (completed 3/07/09)
8 Stardust - Neil Gaiman (completed 3/22/09)
9 The City of Ember - Jeanne DuPrau (completed 4/13/09)
10 Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson (completed 6/08/09)
11 I Love You, Beth Cooper - Larry Doyle (completed 6/12/09)
12 Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist - Rachel Cohn & David Levithan (completed 6/14/09)

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

It all starts when Nick asks Norah to be his girlfriend for five minutes. See Nick’s ex-girlfriend just walked into the club where Nick’s band is playing... with a new guy. So Nick thinks that if the girl sitting next to him at the bar (Norah) will just act like his girlfriend for a couple of minutes - he’ll be able to avoid that whole "I can’t live without you" scene with the ex. Nick was definitely not expecting Norah’s reaction to his question, since she grabs him and plants a big, juicy wet one on him. That one kiss is the beginning of their adventure that takes place throughout one crazy night in the Manhattan underground punk scene... a car that won’t start, writing a song while sitting on the curb, bar hopping, chasing Where’s Fluffy?, a jacket once owned by Salvatore, and eventually two kids who just wanna be themselves and be liked for who they are.

I know nothing about punk music, only a tad about Manhattan (since I’ve only been there once), yet I still managed to fall in love with this book. The writing is phenomenal - especially the dialogue - clever and witty, yet still touchingly real. It was funny and had depth and heart. You really felt for these two people and felt like you could know them in real life. Their mutual love for music is really explained and you feel it through the writing. The story is told in the first person switching back and forth each chapter between Nick and Norah's point of view. I found myself relating more to Nick than to Norah, he was more reserved and maybe even a little naive. Norah I found I couldn't really relate to so much, but she was still a very funny and likeable character.

I actually read this book before I saw the movie. If you’ve seen the movie and haven’t read the book because of this, you should definitely read the book. They are two different entities with some similarities. They are both good in their own way so this is one I’ll have to say: "Don’t judge a book by its movie."

All in all, I love the idea of this book. It is entertaining, funny and heartwarming. I can definitely see myself reading this over and over - and enjoying it the same, or more, every time.

What are you Reading on Mondays? (Week 6/22/09)

For everyone elses responses, please visit J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book Blog. What am I reading this week?

Last week I read the following:

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist - Rachel Cohn & David Levithan [review]

Wings - Aprilynne Pike [review]

Ghostgirl - Tonya Hurley [review]

The Vanishing Sculptor - Donita K. Paul [review]

Bound to Please - Lilli Feisty [review]

I also reviewed the following:

Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson [review]

I Love You, Beth Cooper - Larry Doyle [review]

Annie's Ghosts - Steve Luxenberg [review]

So what are you reading this week?

Giveaway: Stand the Storm and A Summer Affair

Even though Sewing Annie Coats and her son, Gabriel, have managed to buy their freedom, their lives are still marked by constant struggle and sacrifice. Washington, DC's Georgetown neighborhood, where the Coatses operate a tailor's shop and laundry, is supposed to be a "promised land" for former slaves but is effectively a frontier town, gritty and dangerous, with no laws protecting black people.

The remarkable emotional energy with which the Coatses wage their daily battles--as they negotiate with their former owner, as they assist escaped slaves en route to freedom, as they prepare for the encroaching war, and as they strive to love each other enough--is what propels Stand the Storm and makes the novel's tragic denouement so devastating.

Sheila Crispin Cook, mother of four young children and nationally renowned glassblower, bites off more than she can chew when she agrees to co-chair the Nantucket's Children Summer Gala. Sheila is asked to chair the benefit, in part, because she is the former high school sweetheart of rock star Max West. Max agrees to play the gala and it looks like smooth sailing for Sheila-until she promises a "museum-quality" piece of glass for the auction, offers her best friend the catering job, goes nose-to-nose with her Manhattan socialite co-chair, and begins a "good-hearted" affair with the charity's Executive Director, Lockhart Dixon.

Hearts break and emotions are pushed to the limit in this riveting story of one woman's attempt to deal with loves past and present, family, business, and high-powered social pressures. Elin Hilderbrand's unique understanding of the joys and longings that animate women's lives will make this her newest summer bestseller.

I have 5 copies of each book!

So here are the rules: Leave a comment for one entry. If you follow this blog or already are following leave me an extra comment for your second entry. Follow me on Twitter, another entry. (you guys know the drill) Your entry is for both books - although if you only want one please specify that in your comment.

PLEASE make sure to leave an e-mail address - if not, I have no way of getting in touch with you if you do win. Books will be delivered directly from Publisher so giveaway is only available for residents of the US and Canada and no P.O. Boxes please. Winners will be drawn 7/10/09.

Good Luck!

Spring Reading Thing 2009 Wrap-Up

I love this challenge! Here's the final list:

1 Secrets to Happiness - Sarah Dunn (completed 6/10/09)
2 I Love You, Beth Cooper - Larry Doyle (completed 6/12/09)
3 Annie’s Ghosts - Steve Luxenberg (completed 6/13/09)

4 Matrimony - Joshua Henkin (completed 3/24/09)
5 Nineteen Minutes - Jodi Picoult (completed 3/28/09)
6 Stardust - Neil Gaiman (completed 3/22/09)
7 Laura Rider's Masterpiece - Jane Hamilton (completed 3/29/09)
8 Firefly Lane - Kristin Hannah (completed 4/01/09)
9 Shoot the Moon - Billie Letts (completed 4/04/09)
10 I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti - Giulia Melucci (completed 4/06/09)
11 The Lake that Stole Children: A Fable - Douglas Glenn Clark (completed 4/06/09)
12 The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane - Katherine Howe (completed 4/09/09)
13 Girls in Trucks - Katie Crouch (completed 4/12/09)
14 The City of Ember - Jeanne DuPrau (completed 4/13/09)
15 The People of Sparks - Jeanne DuPrau (completed 4/14/09)
16 One Deadly Sin - Annie Solomon (completed 4/16/09)
17 Jantsen's Gift - Pam Cope & Aimee Molloy (completed 4/20/09)
18 The Late, Lamented Molly Marx - Sally Koslow (completed 4/22/09)
19 The Blue Notebook - James A. Levine (completed 4/26/09)
20 The Forgotten Garden - Kate Morton (completed 4/30/09)
21 The Prophet of Yonwood - Jeanne DuPrau (completed 5/02/09)
22 My Little Red Book - Rachel Kauder Nalebuff (completed 5/04/09)
23 The Simplest of Acts and Other Short Stories - Melanie Haney (completed 5/05/09)
24 The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers - Angie Fox (completed 5/08/09)
25 Mother of the Believers - Kamran Pasha (completed 5/10/09)
26 Dead and Gone - Charlaine Harris (completed 5/11/09)
27 The Book Thief - Markus Zusak (completed 5/16/09)
28 Burning Wild - Christine Feehan (completed 5/17/09)
29 Twenty Boy Summer - Sarah Ockler (completed 5/19/09)
30 A Hint of Wicked - Jennifer Haymore (completed 5/21/09)
31 Mating Rituals of the North American WASP - Lauren Lipton (completed 5/24/09)
32 The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie - Jennifer Ashley (completed 5/25/09)
33 The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie - Alan Bradley (completed 5/28/09)
34 In the Land of Cotton - Martha A. Taylor (completed 5/30/09)
35 Something Borrowed - Emily Giffin (completed 6/02/09)
36 Obama’s Blackbery - Kasper Hauser (completed 6/01/09)
37 If I Stay - Gayle Forman (completed 6/02/09)
38 Marked - P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast (completed 6/05/09)
39 Wintergirls - Laurie Halse Anderson (completed 6/07/09)
40 Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson (completed 6/08/09)

Giveaway Results: When the Time Comes

Winners were chosen! (drumroll please)

1- gaby317

2- etirv

3- Betty and Boo's Mommy

4- Beth

5- MarionG

Winners were chosen using random.org. I will be e-mailing each of you and/or leaving you a comment. You have until Wednesday to provide me with your mailing addresses. If I haven't heard from you by Wednesday, a new winner will be chosen.

If you're interested in more giveaways, you're still in time for The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos (ends 6/26/09) and Bound to Please and To Beguile a Beast (ends 7/03/09). Plus I'll have a new giveaway posted this afternoon.

Annie's Ghosts by Steve Luxenberg

One afternoon Steve Luxenberg receives a call from his sister asking if he knew that their mother had a sister. This was news to him, since everyone knew Beth Luxenberg (his mom) was an only child. He never took it up with his mother as she was very fragile at 80 years of age and her health was in rapid decline; shortly after she passed away. Six months after her death in 1999, the secret surfaces again. Yet this time there was a name, Annie. With the consent of his brothers and sister, Steve begins to dig into his mothers past - and talk about having skeletons in your closet.

He soon discovers that his mothers name really isn’t Beth. That yes, there was an aunt who’d been hospitalized most of her adult life in a mental institution and that Beth hid this secret for many decades. In this real life detective story, of sorts, he seeks to find out WHY? Why was Annie kept a secret?

Steve’s search gives you a glimpse into State mental health care institutions, eugenics in the United States, the pressure on families with mentally ill children, as well as he takes you through Depression-era Detroit, the Holocaust and even Vietnam.

Mr. Luxenberg’s writing captured me from the start and I was very intrigued to find out exactly who Annie Cohen was. I was going through all types of emotions from frustration when he would reach a dead end to pure joy when he would discover some new tidbit of information that would help move his search forward. This is a subject that I’ve never really read about so that alone was a page turner for me but I also found it unique that Mr. Luxenberg would constantly have to make the choice between acting as a journalist and the impact that the family secret would have on him as well as his family.

This book is definitely a serious one, but I found it to be very interesting (I definitely learned a thing or two) so I would base my recommendation on that.

What's on Your Desk Wednesday Thursday?

Vanessa over at Book ♥ Soulmates tagged me with this weekly meme - What's On Your Desk Wednesday. This meme is hosted by Sassy Brit.

Here are the rules:
- Grab a camera and take a photo of your desk!
- Or anywhere you stack your books/TBR pile. And no tidying!
- Add this photo to your blog.
- Tag at least 5 people!Come back here and leave a link back to your photo in the comments section.
- That's it.

I got tagged yesterday for this meme but I have been sick and out of it so I decided to post my response today. I did take the pictures last night so it technically is Wednesday.

So let me explain, I don't really own a desk. My husband and I live on laptops at home. Throughout the week what I do is keep all the books that arrive in my kitchen on my countertop. I don't cook (as some of you already know) so my kitchen is mostly there for pretty. These are all the books I've received this week. I normally keep them there 'till Saturday and then haul them upstairs and put them in my bookshelf.

This is my fantabulous book shelf that I got myself for Christmas. It recently had more books then this but I hauled them off to the library about two weekends ago (I donated more than 40 books). They love me at my library :D I also pass a lot of them along to the girls in my book club.

Here are my five tags:

1 Michelle @ A Reader's Respite

2 Veens @ Giving... Reading - a Chance...!!!

3 Sheri @ A Novel Menagerie

4 Dar @ Peeking Between the Pages

5 Jess @ Barney's Book Blog

I Love You, Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle

Denis Cooverman - class valedictorian, captain of the debate team and your all-around nerd is standing on stage, sweating profusely and giving his graduation speech when he decides to live on the edge and says:

"I love you, Beth Cooper."

Yep, in front of his 500+ classmates and their relatives.

Beth Cooper - head cheerleader, most popular and the hottest girl in school has only the vaguest idea of who Denis is. They’ve been in the same classes their whole lives but Denis has always sat behind her in class and never actually uttered a word to her. When Beth agrees to “maybe” make it to a graduation party Denis spontaneously decides to throw, little does he know that Beth has a very big, muscular boyfriend in town on furlough from the United States Army who is not very happy about his “creative” speech.

I was looking for a book that would make me laugh and was not serious whatsoever and definitely found it in "I Love You, Beth Cooper." This is the classic tale of the nerd loving the most beautiful girl in school - in a “day in the life of” scenario. It took me back and captured that high school surreal feeling of social status and angst. It's like Return of the Nerds, where the nerds become semi-cool, get the girl, and realize that there's more to life outside the world of high school and all its pettiness.

This is one of the funniest books I've read in a long time. Any book that quotes characters from some of the funniest movies of all time has to be funny! And the comics were just hilarious. I will confess, I actually bought the book because I skimmed through it and was laughing at how funny the illustrations were.

If you’re in the mood for something fast-paced and highly-entertaining then this is definitely your book.

The movie comes out this summer - here's the trailer.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Melinda Sordino starts her freshman year in high school as an outcast. She was just like any other kid in eighth grade, she was popular and had many friends, but there was a problem over the summer. While attending a party with some friends, Melinda ended up having to call the police. Now her friends won’t talk to her and most of the kids in her school know she’s the one who made the call so they shun her as well. The story takes place throughout Melinda’s school year as we see how her silence deteriorates her and eventually comes out at the end with redemption and the courage to speak the truth.

I thought it was neat how truly immersed in Melinda's mind you are but at the same time you still are not able to see the whole story at once. This is a powerful novel, and readers can enjoy both Melinda's wry humor and her heart-wrenching pain. The metaphors and symbolism add to the richness, but the primary attraction is Melinda herself - you become one with her and I found that I cared deeply for her and ached for her sadness. Although most girls will not be able to relate to Melinda directly, her tale is one that needs to be told. She is a survivor and a heroine and a voice that every young girl should learn from.

This was a very unique coming-of-age story but, more importantly, the author addresses issues that are difficult to discuss (I won’t go further into these issues as I don’t want to give any of the story away). If you enjoy books with a strong message, creative writing, and an intriguing plot than Speak will be the book for you.

What are you Reading on Mondays? (Week 6/15/09)

For everyone elses responses, please visit J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book Blog. What am I reading this week?

Last week I read the following:

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson [review]

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson [review]

Secrets to Happiness by Sarah Dunn [review]

I Love You, Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle [review]

Annie's Ghosts by Steve Luxenberg [review]

I also reviewed the following:

If I Stay by Gayle Forman [review]

Marked by P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast [review]

So what are you reading this week?

Giveaway: Bound to Please and To Beguile a Beast

FROM FANTASY TO ECSTASY

Ruby Scott is a beautiful, quiet event planner who leads an oh-so-respectable life. Yet the things that go on in her secret fantasies are anything but. She has every intention of keeping her hidden desires under wraps-until she meets a gorgeous, hard-muscled man ten years her junior. Mark St. Crow is a gifted, up-and-coming musician who collects erotic art and loves to "play" women as much as his piano. After one night of uninhibited passion, Ruby realizes there's no turning back. But as she surrenders to her deepest needs and lets Mark control every forbidden thrill, her passion for him builds. Can the wild, intoxicating nights they share lead to a love that will last forever?

CAN A WOUNDED BEAST . . .

Reclusive Sir Alistair Munroe has hidden in his castle ever since returning from the Colonies, scarred inside and out. But when a mysterious beauty arrives at his door, the passions he's kept suppressed for years begin to awaken.

TRUST A BEAUTY WITH A PAST . . .

Running from past mistakes has taken legendary beauty Helen Fitzwilliam from the luxury of the ton to a crumbling Scottish castle . . . and a job as a housekeeper. Yet Helen is determined to start a new life and she won't let dust-or a beast of a man-scare her away.

TO TAME HIS MOST SECRET DESIRES?

Beneath Helen's beautiful façade, Alistair finds a courageous and sensual woman. A woman who doesn't back away from his surliness-or his scars. But just as he begins to believe in true love, Helen's secret past threatens to tear them apart. Now both Beast and Beauty must fight for the one thing neither believed they could ever find-a happy ever after.

I have 5 copies of each book !

So here are the rules: Leave a comment for one entry. If you follow this blog or already are following leave me an extra comment for your second entry. Follow me on Twitter, another entry. (you guys know the drill)

PLEASE make sure to leave an e-mail address - if not, I have no way of getting in touch with you if you do win. Books will be delivered directly from Publisher so giveaway is only available for residents of the US and Canada and no P.O. Boxes please. Winners will be drawn 7/03/09.

Good luck.

Givewaway Results: Smart Mama; If Your Kid Eats this Book; Man's Book; and Obama's Blackberry

Winners are in y'all and we are just so excited to spread the good cheer! I know, I know, it's hard to contain yourselves, but here goes:

Smart Mama's Green Guide:
1- Renee G
2- bettycd
3- Lesley
4- Allison
5- Kitten22

If Your Kid Eats This Book, Everything Will Still Be Okay:
1- sharon54220
2- Sissa
3- Heather
4- Victoria
5- gaby317

The Man's Book:
1- MJ
2- Dina
3- Linda Ellen
4- MarionG (Anonymous)
5- EmmyLine

Obama's Blackberry:
1- windycindy
2- Carlene
3- Belinda M
4- Misusedinnocence
5- M.

Way to go you guys! woot! You rock! E-mails will follow shortly. Winners were chosen using random.org. You have until Tuesday to provide me with your mailing addresses. If I haven't heard from you by Tuesday, a new winner will be chosen.

If you're interested in more giveaways, you're still in time for When the Time Comes by Paula Span (ends 6/19/09) and The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos (ends 6/26/09). I'll also have a new giveaway posted this afternoon for all you romance lovers.

Secrets to Happiness by Sarah Dunn

Holly Frick is 30-something, recently divorced, writer and just down in her luck. Through Holly we meet several of her friends, Amanda - married with a year and a half old baby and at the brink of entering into an affair; Betsy - close to 40, still single and trying hard not to stay that way; Spence - one of Holly’s ex’s with female troubles due to his womanizing ways; and then there’s Leonard - Holly’s work partner who is extremely dissatisfied with life. All of them reside in New York and through conversations and their daily interactions you get a nice glimpse into what these hectic lives are about.

This is one of those books where every time a new character is introduced the story spans out into their own chapter with their own storylines. So yes, there are multiple stories happening at the same time, but once you’re past the confusion of who is who, they really start to grow on you. These are average people who are discontent with their lives, trying to better themselves and doing their hardest to find happiness.

Although I really didn’t relate to any of the characters, I really enjoyed this one. Sarah Dunn is one funny lady. I found myself laughing out loud - some parts were just hilarious. I truly enjoyed the great dialogue and admired Ms. Dunn’s ability to get into the heads of both men and women. Her characters were all broken in one way or another but they were also witty, humorous and just plain fun.

There was one line that really touched me:

"You keep walking, and you keep breathing, and then one day

you notice again, the feel of the wind on your cheek."

So if you’re in the mood for something fun, intelligent and with a great sense of humor (sounds like the perfect man, doesn’t it? haha) then this is the book for you. Plus, who can resist that spectacular cover? You know me, I’m a sucker for a good cover.

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

In Wintergirls we meet Lia, 18 years old and the skinniest girl in her school. Lia and her best friend Cassie make a vow when they are twelve to be the skinniest girls in their class and this has come to pass. Because of years of struggling with their weight issues/eating disorders, Cassie has developed a severe case of bulimia, so severe in fact, that it takes her life. Lia, on the other hand, lives on, but with a severe case of anorexia... among other things. When Cassie is found dead, alone in a hotel room, Lia can’t help feeling guilt, she was the last person Cassie reached out to and she did not answer her calls. Shortly thereafter, Lia feels she is being haunted by her friend’s restless spirit who is taunting her and pressuring her to eat less and less and join her.

I never could imagine the struggle that someone like Lia is going through. Her internal dialogue, debating on what to eat (or not eat). The calorie counting, the blogs created by others like her, the constant weighing in (and the lengths she goes through to appear that she isn't losing weight when she has to weigh in), the changes her body was going through (it’s amazing what our bodies will do to adapt and live). Reading about how she longs to be able to simply eat and not obsess over every single bite of food, the hundreds of sit-ups and hours on the stair climber....

Kudos to Laurie Halse Anderson for tackling this difficult subject matter in such an honest and unflinching way. I started to think that this should be recommended reading for any teen girl - but I think that someone who is already predisposed to eating disorders or inclined to self-mutilate, might read this book and have it act as a "trigger" to such behaviors.

It was so hard to read, but even more difficult to stop reading. It's honest. It's explicit. It's raw. I liked it.

2009 YA Challenge Wrap-Up

I have completed the 2009 YA Challenge. I wasn't much of a YA reader before but this challenge has created a monster. This was loads of fun and a great introduction to my new favorite genre.

Here is my final list:

1- The Thief Lord - Cornelia Funke (completed 1/29/09)
2- Inkspell - Cornelia Funke (completed 1/15/09)

3- The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - John Boyne (completed 3/07/09)

4-The Lake that Stole Children: A Fable - Douglas Glenn Clark (completed 4/06/09)
5- The City of Ember - Jeanne DuPrau (completed 4/13/09)
6- The Prophet of Yonwood - Jeanne DuPrau (completed 5/02/09)

7- Stardust - Neil Gaiman (completed 3/22/09)

8- M is for Magic - Neil Gaiman (completed 2/25/09)

9- The People of Sparks - Jeanne DuPrau (completed 4/14/09)

10- Secret Vampire - L.J. Smith (completed 1/13/09)
11- Twenty Boy Summer - Sarah Ockler (completed 5/19/09)
12- If I Stay - Gayle Forman (completed 6/02/09)

Marked by P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast

Marked is the first in the House of Night series. We are introduced to Zoey Redbird and a world where vampyres have always existed, where you are tracked down by what resembles a bounty hunter and are "Marked" if you are one of the chosen to learn the ways and eventually become a vampyre. In this case, the story starts with Zoey being marked within the first couple of pages. After the "Change" she is taken to The House of Night (a school for fledgling vampyres-in-training) where she is to begin her new life away from her family and lifelong friends. As it so happens, Zoey is not your average fledgling, she has been favored by the vampyre Goddess, Nyx to be her eyes and ears, so that alone causes her to be somewhat of an outcast, but luckily for her she is paired up with a fantastic roommate who introduces her to a wonderful group of friends. Soon after her arrival she starts discovering her powers as well as that other students also have their own special powers and are misusing them. Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny, with a little help from her new vampyre friends.

For some reason I had been staying away from this series... I think it was just a bit too mainstream for me. But thanks to some friends (and I won’t mention who), I was told how fantastic they were, how I would love them, and I was not disappointed. Although I did find myself comparing the story a lot to Harry Potter, once I got past that, I really enjoyed the whole gist of it. I loved the fact that there was a special vampyre school where your classes started at night and you had these great subjects (like fencing and equestrian classes).

I will forewarn though, that considering that this is a book geared towards young adults, it did have a fair share of sex in it. But with that said, I did appreciate the "opinions" expressed in the story about sex, drugs, and alchol. I don't think it took away from the book, on the other hand, I think it helped to build Zoey's character as a non-conformist and moral young lady.

This is a unique spin to the basic vampire story. Not too shabby I must say. Plus, I liked the subtle cliff-hanger at the end, so I’m definitely intrigued. This first book sets up what appears to be shaping up to be a really great story, and I will eagerly seek out the sequels.

New Author Challenge 2009 Wrap-Up

I finally completed the New Author Challenge. Although I originally agreed to only 25 - I was able to do 50. Here is my original post on the challenge as well as my final list.

My List:
1 Julia Leigh - Disquiet (completed 1/01/09)
2 Jason F. Wright - Christmas Jars (completed 1/02/09)
3 Bernard Schlink - The Reader (completed 1/03/09)
4 Billie Letts - Where the Heart Is (completed 1/05/09)
5 Mark Haddon - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (completed 1/07/09)
6 Laurie Viera Rigler - Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict (completed 1/09/09)
7 José Saramago - Blindness (completed 1/11/09)
8 L.J. Smith - Secret Vampire (completed 1/13/09)
9 Allison Winn Scoch - Time of My Life (completed 1/17/09)
10 Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (completed 1/19/09)
11 Yann Martel - Life of Pi (completed 1/23/09)
12 Tiffany Baker - The Little Giant of Aberdeen County (completed 1/26/09)
13 Sarah Shun-lien Bynum - Ms. Hempel Chronicles (completed 1/27/09)
14 Kazuo Ishiguro - Never Let Me Go (completed 2/01/09)
15 Sophie Kinsella - Confessions of a Shopoholic (completed 2/02/09)
16 Candace Bushnell - One Fifth Avenue (completed 2/09/09)
17 Diana Gabaldon - Outlander (completed 2/19/09)
18 Daniel J. Tomasulo - Confessions of a Former Child (completed 2/22/09)
19 Sophie Dahl - Playing with the Grown-Ups (completed 2/24/09)
20 A.M. Homes - The Mistress's Daughter (completed 3/03/09)
21 Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo - He's Just Not That Into You (completed 3/06/09)
22 John Boyne - The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (completed 3/07/09)
23 Chris Tusa - Dirty Little Angels (completed 3/14/09)
24 Rick D. Niece - The Side-Yard Superhero (completed 3/19/09)
25 Joshua Henkin - Matrimony (completed 3/24/09)
26 Jane Hamilton - Laura Rider's Masterpiece (completed 3/29/09)
27 Kristin Hannah - Firefly Lane (completed 4/01/09)
28 Giulia Melucci - I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti (completed 4/06/09)
29 Douglas Glenn Clark - The Lake that Stole Children: A Fable (completed 4/06/09)
30 Katherine Howe - The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane (completed 4/09/09)
31 Katie Crouch - Girls in Trucks (completed 4/12/09)
32 Jeanne DuPrau - The City of Ember (completed 4/13/09)
33 Annie Solomon - One Deadly Sin (completed 4/16/09)
34 Pam Cope & Aimee Molloy - Jantsen's Gift (completed 4/20/09)
35 Sally Koslow - The Late, Lamented Molly Marx (completed 4/22/09)
36 James A. Levine - The Blue Notebook (completed 4/26/09)
37 Rachel Kauder Nalebuff - My Little Red Book (completed 5/04/09)
38 Melanie Haney - The Simplest of Acts and Other Short Stories (completed 5/05/09)
39 Angie Fox - The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers (completed 5/08/09)
40 Kamran Pasha - Mother of the Believers (completed 5/10/09)
41 Markus Zusak - The Book Thief (completed 5/16/09)
42 Sarah Ockler - Twenty Boy Summer (completed 5/19/09)
43 Jennifer Haymore - A Hint of Wicked (completed 5/21/09)
44 Lauren Lipton - Mating Rituals of the North American WASP (completed 5/24/09)
45 Jennifer Ashley - The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie (completed 5/25/09)
46 Alan Bradley - The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (completed 5/28/09)
47 Martha A. Taylor - In the Land of Cotton (completed 5/30/09)
48 Emily Giffin - Something Borrowed (completed 6/02/09)
49 Kasper Hauser - Obama's Blackbery (completed 6/01/09)
50 Gayle Forman - If I Stay (completed 6/02/09)

I can't wait to do this again next year!