Tyger Tyger Now Out in Paperback

If you haven't read this wonderful book, now's the time. You won't be disappointed. Book 2 is getting ready to be released as well. Perfect time to pick up a new series.

Telling Lies Blog Tour September 28, 2011

Telling Lies - Cathi Stoler (Blog Tour)

Synopsis (B&N):

How many lies does it take to get away with murder?A chance encounter at Florence's Uffizi Gallery plunges Women Noweditor Laurel Imperiole and private investigator Helen McCorkendale into an investigation of missing persons and stolen Nazi art. Could the man Laurel bumped into really have been Jeff Sargasso, an art dealer and friend who perished in the World Trade Center on 9/11? Searching for answers, Laurel and Helen thread their way through a sinister-and possibly deadly-skein of lies.

My Thoughts:

I found this to be a great little mystery. Put together high society, fake deaths, high priced art and what do you get? A whole lot of intrigue.

The story is told from different viewpoints which can be hard to follow in some books but it flowed well with this one. The viewpoints gave the story a well rounded flavor, flowing together in a way that made the story interesting to follow and kept me reading.

The cast of characters were great and well thought out. I think Helen was my favorite of the bunch. I found her to be funny, sharp and entertaining. Laurel wore on my nerves a bit with her tunnel vision of revenge. I got the sense she needed to be right. Had to get to the end no matter the cost. She is impulsive, reckless, often times acting without giving a second thought to the potential outcomes. A trait I understand and can empathize with but it drives me nuts at the same time.

Author's Website: Cathi Stoler

Blog Tour Website: Telling Lies Blog Tour

Book Trailer:

Musing Mondays

What does it take for you to give up on a book you’re reading?

I used to never give up on a book but at some point, I have found a few that have drove me to that point.

Usually it's a character I just cant get in vibe with. I gave up one very popular series because I loathed the main character to the point I couldn't enjoy the series anymore.

Sometimes, though rarely, I just can't get into a book. Like I said it's rare because I am pretty good at choosing something I would like.

What Are You Reading

It's Monday What are you reading this week? Hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books. This is a meme to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week.

Books I finished in the last week:

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour - Morgan Matson

By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead - Julie Ann Peters

Telling Lies - Cathi Stoler

Books I am reading this week:

Bargains and Betrayals - Shannon Delany

Romeo & Juliet - William Shakespears (work in progress)

Books to Finish This week:

Bargains and Betrayals - Shannon Delany

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted byMizB of Should Be Reading and it asks us to...

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my teaser this week:

"I know him. And he's been dead for the last nine years," she tossed over her shoulder as she turned a corner and disappeared from view.

Telling Lies - Cathi Stoler pg.3

Mailbox Monday & What Are You Reading

Will be back next week...

I've been down with a horrendous cold for the past 5 days and just wasn't up to getting the post done this week. Good new is I am on the mend finally heh.

By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead - A Review

By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead - Julie Anne Peters (own)

Synopsis:

Daelyn Rice is broken beyond repair, and after a string of botched suicide attempts, she’s determined to get her death right. She starts visiting a website for “completers”— www.through-the-light .com.

While she’s on the site, Daelyn blogs about her life, uncovering a history of bullying that goes back to kindergarten. When she’s not on the Web, Daelyn’s at her private school, where she’s known as the freak who doesn’t talk.

Then, a boy named Santana begins to sit with her after school while she’s waiting to for her parents to pick her up. Even though she’s made it clear that she wants to be left alone, Santana won’t give up. And it’s too late for Daelyn to be letting people into her life…isn’t it?

National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters shines a light on how bullying can push young people to the very edge.

My Thoughts:

This was a quick read. It wasn't an easy read but I had to keep reading to see what happened to Daelyn. She is such a traumatized girl and my heart ached for her. This book was about potential effects bullying can have on a person.

I was saddened by Daelyn and how "broken" she felt. My heart wanted to grab on and hug her no matter how hard she fought against it. I wanted to shake her and tell her she wasn't worthless and the world would definitely not be a better place without her. This is what Santana did in his own persistent way. What a courageous characters both of them were in their own ways.

What I took away from this story is there is hope no matter how dark your days may seem. There is hope. No matter how slight it appears. There is hope.

Author's Website: Julie Anne Peters

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour - A Review

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour - Morgan Matson (own)

Synopsis:

Amy Curry is having a terrible year. Her mother has decided to move across the country and needs Amy to get their car from California to Connecticut. There’s just one small problem: Since her dad died this past spring, Amy hasn’t been able to get behind the wheel. Enter Roger, the nineteen-year-old son of an old family friend, who turns out to be unexpectedly cute . . . and dealing with some baggage of his own.

Meeting new people and coming to terms with her father’s death were not what Amy had planned on this trip. And traveling the Loneliest Road in America, seeing the Colorado mountains, crossing the Kansas plains, and visiting diners, dingy motels, and Graceland were definitely not on the itinerary. But as they drive, Amy finds that the people you least expected are the ones you may need the most — and that sometimes you have to get lost in order to find your way home.

“One of the most touching, irresistible, and feel-good road trips I’ve been on in a long, long while.” —Deb Caletti, National Book Award Finalist

My Thoughts:

I picked a great summer to read this book. Having spend several weekend taking daytime road trips throughout Oregon, this book had exactly what I was looking for at the time I picked it up to read.

I found Amy and Roger both to be well written characters. I felt so bad for both of them for different reasons. Amy losing her dad and trying to deal with the survivor guilt was heartbreaking to read. Roger dealing with the heartache of a fresh break up and trying so hard not to show how he was feeling, was equally heart wrenching on different levels.

The best part of this book though was the road trip itself! It was amazing. I almost felt like I was right along with them living this amazing adventure. The pictures, receipts, photos made this book that much more enjoyable. They just added that something "extra" to the book.

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted byMizB of Should Be Reading and it asks us to...

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my teaser this week:

I had never thought I'd see a Realtor's sign on our lawn. Until three months ago, my life had seemed boringly settled.

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour - Morgan Matson pg. 9

Mailbox Monday & What Are You Reading

Mailbox Monday was originally hosted by Marcia at the Printed page but now it is a traveling meme. This month it is hosted by Amused by Books.

I received a couple of books this week:

The Future of Us - Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler (LibraryThing)

Hades - Alexandra Adornetto (Publisher)

It's Monday What are you reading this week? Hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books. This is a meme to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week.

Books I finished in the last week:

The Iron Knight - Julie Kagawa

Want to Go Private - Sarah Darer Littman

Books I am reading this week:

Romeo & Juliet - William Shakespeare (I will be reading this in doses. I have yet to read a book by Shakespeare and I will prevail and get one read lol )

Will be starting another book, I just can't decided yet which one.

Books to finish this week:

Something just not sure which one yet lol

Want To Go Private - A Review

Want To Go Private - Sarah Darer Littman (Amazon Vine)

Synopsis:

Abby and Luke chat online. They've never met. But they are going to. Soon.

Abby is starting high school--it should be exciting, so why doesn't she care? Everyone tells her to make an effort, but why can't she just be herself? Abby quickly feels like she's losing a grip on her once-happy life. The only thing she cares about anymore is talking to Luke, a guy she met online, who understands. It feels dangerous and yet good to chat with Luke--he is her secret, and she's his. Then Luke asks her to meet him, and she does. But Luke isn't who he says he is. When Abby goes missing, everyone is left to put together the pieces. If they don't, they'll never see Abby again.

My Thoughts:

My thoughts are all over the board with this one. During the first part of the book, I alternated between horror with what I was reading to disgust. However, at the same time, I got to thinking children being targeted by sexual predators online is dirty, disgusting and horrific and maybe me feeling that way was what was intended. I will say the content may have been more graphic than needed to get the point across but I don't judge that. I look back and remember how stubborn I was when I was a teenager and sugar coating something would have made me turn my head the other way. So maybe it's a good thing. So be warned.

Okay now that I have that out of the way. Let me say I read this book in less than a day. The writing flowed well, I got caught up in the story and characters. I ultimately liked the message it sends. As a parent, I was left with chills. My heart ached for everyone involved. I liked how Sarah gave us views of how others were feeling and dealing with what had happened. It gives readers a peak into the whole picture as opposed to just a singular view.

I'd recommend the book. I would warn of the strong content, but I would recommend it.

Author's Website: Sarah Darer Littman

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted byMizB of Should Be Reading and it asks us to...

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my teaser this week:

The Guardian didn't seem surprised. "This trial is not only for y0u, knight," it said, sweeping a robed arm at the group behind us. "Anyone who wishes to see the End of the World must first make it through the gauntlet.

The Iron Knight - Julie Kagawa somewhere around pg 187. ( ARC subject to change)

What Are You Reading

It's Monday What are you reading this week? Hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books. This is a meme to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week.

Books I finished in the last week:

In The Forests of the Night - Kersten Hamilton

Books I am reading this week:

The Iron Knight - Julie Kagawa

Books to Finish This week:

The Iron Knight - Julie Kagawa

I'm hoping to start Scott Westerfeld's Goliath this week as well.

In The Forests of the Night - A Review

In The Forests of the Night - Kersten Hamiton (Author)

Synopsis:

The battle against goblinkind continues . . . but which side will Teagan be on?

Teagan, Finn, and Aiden have made it out of Mag Mell alive, but the Dark Man’s forces are hot on their heels. Back in Chicago, Tea’s goblin cousins show up at her school, sure she will come back to Mag Mell, as goblin blood is never passive once awoken. Soon she will belong to Fear Doirich and join them. In the meantime, they are happy to entertain themselves by trying to seduce, kidnap, or kill Tea’s family and friends. Tea knows she doesn’t have much time left, and she refuses to leave Finn or her family to be tortured and killed. A wild Stormrider, born to rule and reign, is growing stronger inside her. But as long as she can hold on, she’s still Teagan Wylltson, who plans to be a veterinarian and who heals the sick and hurting. The disease that’s destroying her—that’s destroying them all—has a name: Fear Doirich. And Teagan Wylltson is not going to let him win.

My Thoughts:

We learned so much more on Teagen in this book and I really feel as if I know and understand her character much better now. Finn is still the same ole charming Irish boy as he was in the first book. Mameio intrigues me and I'm finding I want to get more story on her as well as Teagan's brother Aiden.

I hope we get to see more of Mag Mell. That worlds intrigues me. There is so much fantasy there and I want to explore it all.

I did sometimes fell a bit overwhelmed with the amount of characters to keep straight but I found them all to be interesting enough that it didn't bother me too much.

Again I find myself drawn into Kersten's storytelling. While not nearly as action packed as the first book, I still really enjoyed this one and look forward to reading book three.

Author's Website: Kersten Hamilton