Follow Friday and Blog Hop

Follow Friday

Feature:

Question: If you have , or would have a daughter, what book would you want her to read?

Answer: I would have a whole list for her! Hunger Games being the first, the thing is hunger games will never go out of style, ever, because it isn't modern or at a set future. Number two would be how to kill a mockingbird.

[Want to join the following fun? Check out the rules at Parajunkee's View]

Book Blogger Hop

Question: What is the one bookish thing you would love to have no matter the cost?

Answer: Honestly? Bookshelves, tons of them that line the room! Or one of those nifty nooks.

Basically these shelves are perfect!



[Want to join the hopping fun? Check out the rules at Crazy for books]

This week on the blog:
IMM 12
Author Interview: Beth Fehlbaum
WOW: Demonglass :D
BR: Just One Wish by Janette Rallison

Just one Wish by Janette Rallison

Description:


Seventeen-year-old Annika Truman knows about the power of positive thinking. With a little brother who has cancer, it’s all she ever hears about. And in order to help Jeremy, she will go to the ends of the earth (or at least as far as Hollywood) to help him believe he can survive his upcoming surgery.


But Annika’s plan to convince Jeremy that a magic genie will grant him any wish throws her a curve ball when he unexpectedly wishes that his television idol would visit him. Annika suddenly finds herself in the desperate predicament of getting access to a hunky star actor and convincing him to come home with her. Piece of cake, right?


Janette Rallison’s proven talent for laugh-out-loud humor, teen romance, and deep-hearted storytelling shines in a novel that will have readers laughing and crying at the same time.


Epic Wins:

• A hair brain adventure. She basically goes to Hollywood with no plan other than to find Steve and maybe pretend to be snake wrangler.
• Annika will do anything and everything for her little brother Jeremy, it is so admirable. Her family means so much to her which is a stark contrast to Steve.
• She comes up with THE craziest maneuvers, many of them are unbelievable! Literally, could someone really sneak into a set just because they are holding a snake?? The reason this is a win is beside the weirdness of all her ideas it is really funny to read about how everything goes as unplanned. :)
• Annika can read people body language to see if they are lying or doubtful which really helps her with her fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants-and-wing-it schemes.
• Jeremy, he such a cute little six-year old and always says the right thing. He loves Annika and her stories and is wise beyond his years.
• Annika is determined to make Jeremy’s wish come true, no matter the embarrassment.
• Steve, though very arrogant, ends up being a sweet heart (well for the most part, sometimes he just makes you mad but that's the point!)
• When Maid Marion falls into the fish pond (who wouldn’t love that? The cute guy is distracted by you and pushes the stuck-up girl into her place!!)
• A lot of situation where you just have to laugh
• Annika’s story for Jeremy… so sweet.
• The ending, though slightly sad, was wonderfully sweet and delicious. "Don't worry I wont tell Maid Marion" -Jermy

Epic Fails:

• Steve sometimes is a jerk and sometimes he is sweet heart. It’s like he is bipolar or he just can’t decide if he is a snooty star or a down to earth guy who acts. (Flipping whip lash if you ask me but I suppose it is to keep you guessing!)
• Annika isn't on speaking terms with god. She blames him for Jeremy’s cancer. She also attempts to pray and can’t bring herself to do it because the last time she did pray they found out Jeremy had cancer. I think it is kind of wrong of her to think God doesn't care (but that is just my opinon). She keeps saying he hates her and that he doesn’t want to hear from her. This aggravates me just slightly (that’s a lie it aggravates me a lot!).
• Steve and his family… they are very dysfunctional but aren’t all families. Mainly I don't like how Steve ignores what he has, a perfectly healthy brother.
• Annika is like an ice queen, she keeps to herself and only worries about Jeremy. She locks everybody else out. I must rationalize this because I would probably do the same if it were my little brother.

Overall:


This book made me cry, in the worst sense of the word, more like sob. It just hits hard in certain times and you can’t help but say what I would do if my brother had cancer? It makes you want to go and hug your family everyday and say I love you, never good bye. Annika’s story isn’t about hope but about learning to hope. Evidently, this book was amazing and I’m gonna stop rambling now!


just sayin,
-Kare

Waiting on Wednesday: Demonglass

Waiting on Wednesday

I'm really in love with this cover! I can't wait to read this book!



Description: (goodreads)

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.
Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.
But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?
 
Demonglass is to be published on March 1st , 2011 by Hyperion Books (children)
 
Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Author Interview: Beth Fehlbaum

Hope in Patience:

Hardcover

Publisher: Westside Books

Date: October 27, 2010 (YES that means today!)

ISBN: 978-1934813416

Price: $16.95

Description:

Fifteen-year-old Ashley Asher has spent half of her life living in fear. Her stepfather has been sexually abusing her for years, but her mother doesn't believe her. After his latest assault lands her in the emergency room, Child Protective Services finally removes Ashley from her home, and sends her to live with the father she barely remembers and his new family.

Her new life in Patience, Texas, is much better. She's in therapy to deal with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and is trying to make her way in a new high school. She's getting used to living with her father, stepmother, and stepbrother, and she's made new friends in the summer course taught by her stepmother, Bev. She even joins the track team at the urging of her new African American friend, Z. Z.

But Ashley is so traumatized by her past that she sometimes scratches herself until she bleeds and sleeps in her armoire, even though she knows she's safe now. Worse, when her stepfather is finally put on trial for hurting her, she learns that truth and justice don't always go together. Will Ashley adjust to a better life? Will she trust enough to date Josh, the cute guy on her track team who likes her? YA readers will be caught up in the heart-pounding story of a damaged girl trying to heal herself and get on with the rest of her life.

[Read the first chapter of Hope in Patience and learn more about Ashley here: http://www.bethfehlbaumya.com/]

Interview with Beth:

BETH FEHLBAUM-AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY:

Born in Dallas, TX, Beth Fehlbaum has never left the Lone Star State. A special place for her, Fehlbaum has authored two young adult novels set in Texas.

Fehlbaum graduated in English from the University of Texas at Arlington and received her masters in Elementary Education from Texas A&M-Commerce. The author has always had a passion for teaching, social justice and insisting upon authenticity in the classroom, much like one of the characters in her newest teen novel Hope in Patience (October 27, 2010, WestSide Books). Fehlbaum was inspired to write Hope in Patience, which tells the story of a young teens road to recovery after being sexually abused, from her own personal life experiences.

Aside from her career as a writer, Fehlbaum enjoys teaching 5th grade students in a bilingual education program in East Texas.

Fehlbaum married her high school sweetheart, and together they have three daughters in college. Her favorite place in the world is her own front porch, where she writes books at a table built by a good friend.

Q & A:

What is your hope in sharing Ashley’s story?

Everyone has something they are afraid of; something they think they cannot possibly overcome. I want them to know that it IS possible to face one’s greatest fears and overcome what is most frightening to them.

Your book is about surviving, and you have survived. What is your advice for those who are struggling with abuse?

Tell. Tell someone they trust. If that person doesn’t listen, tell someone else. Keep asking for help because there are people in the world who will believe you.

Ashley has a group of friends that she meets over the summer and they soon become a support group, who is your support group?

My inner circle: my husband, daughters, and very close friends. We all hold each other up when it’s hard to stand on our own.

You have had a hard life, seeing where you are now, would you change anything?

That’s a great question. I’ll answer it by saying that it’s impossible to live in the world of what-if. I was in that world for years; I struggled with accepting things as they are in my life—without certain people in it, and with the painful stuff that happened. I’ve made peace with what I’ve lost, and I love my life and the people in it. I have everything and everyone I need to function well in the here and now. Accepting the truth and living in reality is a very peaceful place to be.

I just want to say that I think you are very strong person and I respect you in ever sense of the word.

Thank you, Kara! That’s very cool of you to say.

I do want to bring some fun into this interview so I just want to know some fun things.

What is your favorite Ice cream?

I don’t know if you have Braum’s ice cream stores where you live, but I have a real weakness for their frozen yogurt chocolate-vanilla twists in a waffle cone.

How many kids do you have?

Three daughters. My oldest is 24 and getting her Ph.D. in Sociology; my middle one is 22 and getting her Master’s of Fine Arts in Creative Writing & Publishing; my youngest is 20 and studying to be a nurse.

What is your favorite author or book?

I have a lot of favorite authors; the last book I read that I could not put down was HATE LIST by Jennifer Brown. I get distracted easily, so for me to be unable to put a book down—that means the story’s got me and it’s not letting go.

If you could spend a whole day with somebody, living or dead, who would it be?

I’d love to spend the day with all three of my daughters. They all live out of state and we won’t be all together again until Thanksgiving. I’m really looking forward to it.

What are your future plans as far as books go?

I’m at work on TRUTH IN PATIENCE. I’m planning to finish it this coming summer. I’m a teacher and I don’t have a lot of time for writing during the school year. TRUTH IN PATIENCE continues Ashley’s story. I anticipate it’ll be the last in the Patience series. But who knows?

Will you ever dabble in fantasy or historical fiction or do you like contemporary better?

I doubt I’d write fantasy; maybe historical fiction. But I really seem to fit with realistic fiction.

Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions!

They were great questions! Thanks for asking them. :) I invite readers to drop by my website, http://www.bethfehlbaumya.com/ , to check out Chapter 1 of HOPE IN PATIENCE. Click on the events link to see where I am on my blog tour, tv & radio appearances, and appearances I’ll be making in the future!

I really encourage you to check out the first chapter it was really good and worth every second of your time! Check back to see my review!

Other Books by Beth:

Courage in Patience (the first book in the series)

just sayin,

IMM (12)

InMyMailbox

[Lets give props to Kristi (The Story Siren) for her amazing meme that allows us to drool over what books people got in their mailbox. If you want go get in on the IMM Magic check out Kristi's blog ]



http://www.sharingmachine.com/index.php?comic=mtts

This picture defines me... I stalk the mailbox most days!

Library:

hmmm.... is it bad if you have 16 books checked out from the library?

(thats retorical don't answer it)

Safe by Susan Shaw

Angus, Thongs, and Full-frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison

Me, My Elf, and I by Heather Swain

Star Girl by Jerry Spinelli

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

The Indigo Notebook (Notebook #1) by Laura Resau
Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien

For Review:

Let me just say Random Buzzers is amazing and 1/2! This week I recived a package with six (COUNT THEM SIX) books to review. If that isn't epic enough they want to have me as their buzz blogger and they keep sending me free books they are amazing just go sign up for it and do the activities (which are kind of fun :). Humbled and honored thats all I'm saying.

Wish by Joesph Monninger

 Sphinx's Queen (Sphinx #2) by Esther Friesner

 A Good Horse by Jane Smiley

 The Ruby Notebook (Notebook #2) by Laura Resau

 The Fortune of Carmen Navarro by Jen Bryant

 The Dark Deep (hunchback assignments #2) by Arthur Slade

Wow, ok, such a good week! What did you get in your mailbox? (link it and I'll visit you :)

just sayin,

Blogger Giveaway

What's up for grabs?

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Description (goodreads)

Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.

Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.

As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.

His life depends on it.

Where?

Susan Coventry's book blog Reading World

When does it end?

October 31st

I mean really doesn't it interest you to at least get a free copy!

Follow Friday / Blog Hop

I feel like dancing across the room for ya! Hang on one sec!

*dancing awkwardly and singing off key*

It's Friday! :D


Follow Friday

  This weeks feature: Emily @ What book is that? Question: What book are you currently reading? Old Magic, it's amazing in every way but not! I just can't believe I haven't read it before now. [Want to join the following fun? Check out the rules at Parajunkee's View]

Book blogger hop

Question: Where is your favorite place to read?

Well I really love to read on my bed... lame, I know but that's where I read most of the time. :D

[Want to join the hopping fun? Check out the rules at Crazy for books]

just sayin,

One lovely blog award

So this is how it goes:

One Lovely Blog Award official rules:

*Accept the award! (easy enough right?)

* Post it on your blog  

Link the name of the person who has granted the award to his or her blog

Kari @ Under the Fairy Dust (one heck of a blogger!!)

*Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.

**Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

The blogs I've chosen for the award:

[I'm cheating and only picking a few sorry...I feel lazy today :]

In the library of Lady Violet

Imagination in Focus

Cicely loves books 

Page Turners Gone Wild

Call me Crazy

Midnightblooms

See Scoot Read

Frazzled book Nommer

You really should check out these blogs because they are pretty much the amazing epicness I live for!

Powers by Deborah Lynn Jacobs

Description: (goodreads)


I let him take my hand. The cold blue flame in his eyes held me, seared me. “Do you feel it?” he asked. “It’s a warm tingle, isn’t it? In your hands, moving up your arms, like a current.”


“No.” My hands tingled with warmth. It moved up my arms like a current.


When Gwen and Adrian meet, they unlock each other’s latent psychic powers. It’s too bad they can’t stand each other, don’t trust each other, and do everything they can to manipulate each other. Will they use their power to save lives? Or will it destroy them both? Written in alternating voices, this is a compelling, suspenseful novel about power in all its forms—psychic, physical, sexual, romantic


Epic Wins:

• The electricity between the characters is (Would it be lame if I said electrifying?? Yeah your right, new word!) Exhilarating.
• The point of views: It switches between Gwen and Adrian at moments of intensity and flows just as well.
• It’s set in Canada, so go Canada! It was cool to read about the difference in country (I also enjoy when books are in England or Australia!) Its fun to see the different words they use like grade 8 instead of eighth grade.
• Their powers are so cool. She has visions (usually of people dying!!) and he can read minds. It presents the negatives of the powers also, which I would hate being a mind reader! I don’t want to know that my parents are using the shower… TOGETHER!!! GROSS! I feel so bad for Adrian.
• When Adrian humbles himself he truly is amazing, the kind of guy you want… for the most part. You would have to say the French alphabet and sing Frère Jacques to keep him out of your thoughts though.
• Adrian in general. He starts out as one of those arrogant types but by the end he opens up and is completely different.

Epic Fails:

• First I hated Adrian then the hate transferred to Gwen like the way the power surges between them.
• Gwen gets a makeover and well I don’t think red hair and green contacts were a good look for her (in my head that is and everyone in the book agreed!)
• Gwen has no self-esteem, and so she locks people out and over reacts.
• Adrian is manipulative and uses Gwen to get to the power. But don’t be fooled Gwen has some tricks up her sleeve.
• No actual sex but there are some pretty heavy scenes, the ones where they almost do but at the last minuet  don’t. Then there is the parents in the shower. Not as bad as it could have been though.

Overall:


I loved the book! I loved the way the characters developed and how they grew somewhat together. The images in my head of when they connect still linger in my brain. The message was strong; a big gift usually has a big price.


just sayin,
-Kare

Waiting on Wednesday: Wish

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

 My Choice this week is:

Wish by Joesph Monninger

Publication date: November 9th

Description: (amazon)

Bee’s brother, Tommy, knows everything there is to know about sharks. He also knows that his life will be cut short by cystic fibrosis. And so does Bee.


That’s why she wants to make his wish-foundation-sponsored trip to swim with a great white shark an unforgettable memory.

But wishes don’t always come true. At least, not as expected. Only when Bee takes Tommy to meet a famous shark attack survivor and hard-core surfer does Tommy have the chance to live one day to the fullest.
And in the sun-kissed ocean off a California beach, Bee discovers that she has a few secret wishes of her own. . . .
 
just sayin,

IMM (11)

InMyMailbox

[Lets give props to Kristi (The Story Siren) for her amazing meme that allows us to drool over what books people got in their mailbox. If you want go get in on the IMM Magic check out Kristi's blog (link above) ]



http://www.sharingmachine.com/index.php?comic=mtts

This picture defines me... I stalk the mailbox most days!

Won:

Swag:

Soul Screamers Book mark

Soul Screamers Poster



note: this isn't my poster but it looks like this and I coun't get a good picture of mine!



Bought:

The Thief by Megan Whallen Turner

Net Galley:

The Mermaids Mirror by L.K. Madigan

This week on the blog:
Wow: The Locket
BR: It started with a Dare by Lindsay Faith Rech (in which I ramble about banana peels!)

It Started with a Dare by Lindsay Faith Rech



Description:


Self-proclaimed nobody CG Silverman sees her move to an upscale new school as her chance to be somebody different. Her devil-may-care attitude attracts the in-clique, and before CG realizes it, a routine game of truth or dare launches her to iconic status.
While this rebel image helps secure CG’s newfound popularity, it also propels her through a maze of unprecedented chaos, with each new lie and every dare opening doors that, in most cases, were better off left shut.


CG is on a collision course with disaster. Will she be able to keep up the façade? Or will the whole world find out she’s a fraud?


Epic Wins:

• Alex: I’ll be blunt about this. If it wasn’t for the shred of hope that she might get Alex back I would NOT have finished the book. He may have only been in one scene but I wanted her to realize he was the one she should be wanting (not her 29 year old teacher or the manipulative 19 years old) but she didn’t for a while. I knew she still loved him because still wore the friendship bracelet.
• Glory: The spunky redhead who wears over sized overalls. OK so she wasn’t the cutest sounding girl but she was the best (excluding Alex). Out of all the people CG meets with in her new town Glory is my favorite. She is always herself. Never contradicts herself, or lies, or you know creates a fake identity online and flirts with her English teacher. The best friend you could ever ask for but CG finds that out too late.
• Sammie: A big, sweet teddy bear. Unfortunately she finds herself corrupted by the worst crowd of friends which leads to some pretty nasty conclusions.
• The fact that CG had to get popular by lying only to realize the truth of who she really was, she had to become someone else to find out she liked who she was. All I’m saying is literary genius! Although what a waste of time for CG
• The Message (part one): Be the absolute best you, not who you think you want to be but who you truly are. Something teens really need to hear! CG learns the hard way that being you is way easier then lying to reach the top.
• The Message (part two): Lying sucks! You keep building and building laying more and more cement down until you seal yourself in. When you try to work your way out of it, it’s hard to break through the dried cement. It’s harder than building it was.
• Some of the words that come out of that girl’s mouth! Sure she swears for real, and then inserts the cuss words in weird sequences, but the funniest thing she does is make up the weirdest things. I’m pretty sure one of them is about antelope poop…just sayin.
• There was no sex! Most books don't offer that
• A really quick read, the pace was very nice.

Epic Fail:

• I know its a book about lying but there was a LOT of lying, like crazy I-jumped-over-the-moon type lying.
• She had a thing for older men. I felt this was weird. 
• CG as her self amazed me but when she lied she annoyed me. 

Overall:


If it wasn’t for Alex and the ending I would not like this book, as is, I say it was OK. I most likely won't recommend it but eh if you don’t mind obscenities,a  lying 15 year old, and a lot of DRAMA then this is your book. Me, not so much my cup of hot chocolate!


Just sayin,
-Kare

Waiting on Wednesday: The Locket

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

The Locket :

By Stacey Jay

Pub Date: February 3rd, 2011

[Goodreads]

What if you got a second chance to fix your worst mistake?

What if you found out miracles could happen?

What if you found out that sometimes, miracles are curses in disguise...

One girl, two boys, and one very scary piece of jewelry.

 

[My Thoughts] 

 

The concept sounds cool, though vague, the possibilities are endless. The cover is also appealing (which is a huge factor of why I chose this book).

IMM (10)

InMyMailbox
[Lets give props to Kristi (The Story Siren) for her amazing meme that allows us to drool over what books people got in their mailbox and to flaunt what we got :) ]

For Review:

The Secret to Lying  by Todd Mirchell

Won: (randon buzzers! I love random buzzers... it's amazing!)

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

(still have to read the first one but hey I won this one!)

Library:

[I have decided I am a book-a-holic, even walking into the library brought on a high. A book high. I try not to check out books but if I walk in I can’t resist! I love the library! :D ]

Books:

Forgive my fins by Tera Lynn Childs

The Eternal Ones by Kristin Miller

At First Sight by Catherine Hapka

Old Magic by Marianne Curley

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Storm Glass Maria V. Snyder

Audio Books:

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Evermore by Alyson Noel

Flight by Sherman Alexie

Net Galley:

[I know some people don't like e-books but I decided what the heck I have a reader why not?]

The Dating Oracle by Allison Van Diepen

(My Review)

 It Started with a Dare by Lindsay Faith Rech