Review #14 Ash

Ash

By Malinda Lo

Publication date: September 1, 2009

Rating:****

My review:

Ash has always loved hearing fairy tales and after her mother's death and father's remarriage the fairy tales are what help her through the tough times. When her dad dies suddenly, Ash is forced to work as a servant for her cruel stepmother and stepsisters since her father left so much debt behind. Ash is miserable with missing her mother and father and longing for her old home until she meets Sidhean, a powerful fairy who is taken with her, and Kaisa, the King's Huntress. Sidhean represents everything Ash used to long for as she read her fairy tales but her relationship with Kaisa becomes more real to her. Now she must make a difficult choice between the real world and the fairy tale.

Ash is a retelling of Cinderella with a twist. The elements of the original are there with the cruel stepmother and stepsisters but Ash goes beyond that to examine what happens when someone relies too much on the fairy tale/fantasy. There are fairytales sprinkled throughout the narrative but these are not the sanitized Disney-type fairytales. They are somewhat dark tales used by parents to teach children about living safely and wisely. For Ash, these tales have always represented a connection with her mother and it is only after she meets Sidhean and other fairies that she realizes the truth behind the stories. The love that grows between Kaisa and Ash and the intense connection between Ash and Sidhean are at the heart of the novel. Both relationships help Ash as she grieves the loss of her parents and deals with the new reality of being a servant.

The novel is beautifully written. I loved the use of fairytales. It reminded me a lot of Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt, one of my favorite YA novels. The scenes with the fairies were fantastically creepy and the world in which Ash lives is well drawn. I liked the character of Ash and I could connect with her. Unfortunately I could not connect with Kaisa or Sidhean very well and had trouble buying into the romance aspects of the novel. I was a little disappointed by the way the novel ended also. I felt it was abrupt. There were some story threads that I had hoped to see tied up. However I still enjoyed Ash and I hope to see more novels from Malinda Lo. She is definitely a YA author to watch.

Pick Your Lit Contest at YA Addict

Jami at YA Addict is celebrating reaching 50+ followers by having a Pick Your Lit Contest. You can enter to win one of the following books:

Gone by Lisa McMann

Heist Society by Ally Carter

Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

For more details and to enter the contest, visit YA Addict. The winner will be announced on March 12, 2010.

One Lovely Blog Award

I'm very happy that I've received the One Lovely Blog Award from Shantal at Booknerds are pretty too and from Christina at Confessions of a Book Addict. Thanks to both of you! It was very sweet of you.

The rules are:

• Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.
• 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.

I would like to pass this award on to the following lovely blogs:

1.Aleksandra's Corner
2.Alaine at Queen of Happy Endings
3. In the Library of Lady Violet
4. The Library Lurker
5. Literarily Speaking
6. Stories and Sweeties
7. Chrissy's World of Books
8. Secret Dreamworld of a Bookaholic
9.Rebecca's Book Blog
10.Reading the Best of the Best
11.Literary Wonders
12.Southern Bibliophile
13.The Lost Entwife
14.A Dazzling Distraction
15.Dead Book Darling

Review #13 The Oracle of Dating

The Oracle of Dating

By Allison van Diepen

Publication date: May 1, 2010

Rating:****

My review:

16-year-old Kayla has a secret that she is keeping from her parents, her friends, and her classmates: she is the Oracle of Dating, the love guru behind the popular dating advice blog and phone hotline. Even though she has only had two failed relationships herself, Kayla gives out practical dating advice for $5. Things are going smoothly until she starts to notice hot senior Jared Stewart and Kayla realizes she needs advice herself.

I found The Oracle of Dating to be a delightful and lighthearted look at relationships. Kayla is a funny and engaging character who is in some ways wise beyond her years. She offers usually sage advice to her older sister and her Oracle customers even though she has only been in two brief relationships herself. She does have a useful reference shelf of relationship self-help books of the Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus variety to augment her own wisdom. However she is in other ways just like any other regular teen facing dating woes, hanging out with friends, and dealing with school. Kayla and her friends party a little bit, sneaking into clubs with fake I.D.s, etc. so Kayla does act like a teen when not working as the Oracle of Dating.

From the beginning there are obvious sparks between Kayla and Jared and it is humorous to see Kayla try to keep from having any sort of attraction to him. Jared's character is also interesting and he perfectly complements Kayla. Kayla's friends unfortunately fall flat. They exist not as individuals but as interchangeable sidekicks for the most part. That is the one really disappointing thing about this novel. Hopefully in future books in the series we will get to know her friends better. Kayla's mother and stepfather are barely around but that is typical for YA novels. When they are around however they are likeable, especially Kayla's stepfather. Kayla's sister is important to Kayla and it is funny to see them interact. Kayla really cares for her sister and does her best to give her older sister good dating advice which I think is sweet.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable and entertaining novel. I even laughed out loud at times. This is the first Allison van Diepen novel I've read but I will definitely read the next book in this series. I think that teen girls who enjoy authors like Meg Cabot will really like The Oracle of Dating.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this title from the publisher for review purposes.

Review #12 The Lightkeeper's Daughter

The Lightkeeper's Daughter

By Colleen Coble

Publication date: January 12, 2010

Rating: ****1/2

My review:

Addie Sullivan has grown up as the daughter of a lighthouse keeper, aiding her mother Josephine after her father's death. But everything she's always believed about herself and her life comes into question when an injured man insists that she is not Addie Sullivan but Julia Eaton, an heiress who was believed to be lost at sea as a child. Addie agrees to go to the Eaton home as a governess to the young son of widower John North. Her true identity must be kept from her family while more proof is found. But someone doesn't want Addie to be reunited with her family and in her new home she doesn't know who she can trust.

Colleen Coble is known for writing suspenseful contemporary Christian fiction. I was surprised to learn that her new book would be a historical fiction novel set in the early 20th century and I wasn't sure if I would like it. However all my fears were laid to rest as she brought her trademark blend of romance and suspense to a historical setting. There are surprising plot twists that keep the pages turning and an unexpected resolution. Addie and John's romance is sweet and both characters are likeable. Addie has a lot of strengths and talents and as this is the first in a series I hope to see more of her in the rest of the books. I really liked the theme of family relationships and parent-child relationships in this novel. Addie's desire to be part of a family, John's concerns for his son's well being, the relationship between Addie and Josephine and the relationships between Addie and the other Eatons all added to the story. The novel made me think about where you draw the line when it comes to gaining approval from your family or honoring your parents' wishes and being true to yourself. 

I've always enjoyed Colleen Coble's suspense novels and I was surprisingly pleased with her new historical fiction novel. I eagerly await the next installment in the Mercy Falls series. I would recommend The Lightkeeper's Daughter to fans of Tracie Peterson and general readers of Christian romance.

Friday Finds (4)

Friday Finds are books that you've heard about during the past week. Friday Finds is hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading.

My finds this week:

The Queen's Governess by Karen Harper

This is a fictionalized account of the life of Kat Ashley, one of Queen Elizabeth I's most trusted ladies. As a fan of Tudor history I am particularly looking forward to reading this book.

Swoon at Your Own Risk by Sydney Salter

Description from Amazon.com:

"You’d think Polly Martin would have all the answers when it comes to love—after all, her grandmother is the famous syndicated advice columnist Miss Swoon. But after a junior year full of dating disasters, Polly has sworn off boys. This summer, she’s going to focus on herself for once. So Polly is happy when she finds out Grandma is moving in—think of all the great advice she’ll get. But Miss Swoon turns out to be a man-crazy sexagenarian! How can Polly stop herself from falling for Xander Cooper, the suddenly-hot skateboarder who keeps showing up while she’s working at Wild Waves water park, when Grandma is picking up guys at the bookstore and flirting with the dishwasher repairman?No advice column can prepare Polly for what happens when she goes on a group camping trip with three too many ex-boyfriends and the tempting Xander. Polly is forced to face her feelings and figure out if she can be in love—and still be herself."

Thanks to Dahlia at The Book Shopaholic for this find!

Not Quite Paradise by Adele Barker

Adele Barker writes of her experiences living in war-torn Sri Lanka for a year and then later when she returns during the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami. I really want to read this book about the land of my ancestors. Thanks to Ramblings of a Librarian Assistant for this find!

Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien

Description from author's website:

"After climate change, on the north shore of Unlake Superior, a dystopian world is divided between those who live inside the wall, and those, like sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone, who live outside. It's Gaia's job to "advance" a quota of infants from poverty into the walled Enclave, until the night one agonized mother objects, and Gaia's parents disappear. As Gaia's efforts to save her parents take her within the wall, she faces the brutal injustice of the Enclave and discovers she alone holds the key to a secret code, a code of “birthmarked” babies and genetic merit. Fraught with difficult moral choices and rich with intricate layers of codes, BIRTHMARKED explores a colorful, cruel, eerily familiar world where a criminal is defined by her genes, and one girl can make all the difference." This looks like it will be as good as The Forest of Hands and Teeth!

Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble

The premise of Dreaming Anastasia is that during the Russian Revolution, Anastasia Romanov didn't die but was instead "rescued" by the witch Baba Yaga. In modern times, Anne starts having bizarre dreams about Anastasia.

Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George

This is a retelling of Cinderella from the author of Princess of the Midnight Ball and Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow. I love fairy tales retold and I've enjoyed her other books so I am looking forward to this one.

Review #11 Magic Under Glass

Magic Under Glass

By Jaclyn Dolamore

Publication date: January 2010

Rating: **** 1/2

My review:

Nimira thinks her fortunes have changed for the better when she takes a job with sorcerer Hollin Parry to sing with his piano playing automaton. When she hears that previous singers have fled the job believing that the automaton is haunted, Nimira dismisses the rumors and determines that she will prove to her new employer that she can handle the job. Then she meets the automaton and while practicing, he starts trying to communicate with her. Nimira finds out that the automaton is actually a fairy named Erris who has been cruelly trapped within the body of the automaton. He enlists Nimira's help in setting him free but she must find an elusive sorcerer who may hold the secret to Erris's freedom before it is too late.

Magic Under Glass is set in a Victorian-like world where magic is part of the every day experience yet magical creatures like fairies are not trusted. Nimira is from Tiansher, a country where people value music, dancing, and the arts. She is made to feel out of place in Lorinar where she is ridiculed as a "trouser girl" and for her darker skin. Hollin Parry seems to value Nimira and her talent and he defends her against the rude treatment of the other Lorinarians. Nimira may be treated well at Parry's home of Vestenveld but there are strange occurrences that unsettle her and the menace of dark magic hovers. This sense of the gothic adds to the suspensefulness of the novel as does the creepy sorcerer Mr. Smollings. Nimira's friendship with Erris happens quickly and in no time at all the two of them are in love even though they can only communicate through the tapping of the piano keys.

Overall I really enjoyed Magic Under Glass although it does have some minor flaws. I like how the novel examines racism, prejudice, and personal responsibility. Nimira grows as a person through her interactions with Erris, Hollin Parry, and the other characters. She examines her decisions and the way she looks at herself. I do wish that more time was devoted to developing the relationship between Erris and Nimira and the ending begs for a sequel. I would like to see more world building as well including more about the fairies and the sorcerers. I hope that Jaclyn Dolamore will write a sequel so all my questions will be answered! For a first novel this was a good read. I would recommend Magic Under Glass to fans of Jessica Day George (Princess of the Midnight Ball), Shannon Hale (Princess Academy), and Julie Berry (The Amaranth Enchantment). I look forward to seeing more from this author!

Fabulous Sugar Doll Blogger Award

I have a new blog award from Reading in Color! Thank you Reading in Color for the Fabulous Sugar Doll Blogger Award!

The conditions of the Fabulous Sugar Doll Blogger Award are:

Thank the person who gave it to you and include a link to their blog

Copy the image and place it on your blog

Share 10 trivia facts about yourself

Pass the award on to 10 other fabulous bloggers

Leave comments on their blogs so they know they've won the award

Ten trivia facts about me:

1. I have been to four countries

2. I watch Jeopardy religiously and yell out the answers at the T.V. screen

3. Blue is my favorite color

4. I once wanted to be a paleontologist, a ballerina, and an astronaut

5. I cried when watching the new Star Trek film (at the beginning of the movie in case you were wondering)

6. I never finished reading Huckleberry Finn or Moby Dick even though I was an English major

7. English is not my first language but it is the only language I can speak fluently

8. I can't sew anything-I even have trouble reattaching buttons

9. If I could I would eat cereal for every meal

10. I am slightly klutzy and tend to trip over my own feet at least once a day

I'd like to pass this award on to these fabulous bloggers:

1. Mindful Musings

2. La Femme Readers

3. The Eclectic Reader

4. Along For the Ride

5.GreenBeanTeenQueen

6.The Undercover Book Lover (Not Really)

7.Library Lounge Lizard

8.Red Lady's Reading Room

9.Trisha's Book Blog

10.The Introverted Reader

400 Followers Giveaway at In Which A Girl Reads

To celebrate reaching 400 followers, Choco at In Which a Girl Reads is holding an international giveaway. The prize is a book of your choice from Book Depository up to a total cost of $20. For more details and to enter, visit In Which a Girl Reads. The deadline to enter is March 6, 2010.

Review #10 Tangled

Tangled

By Carolyn Mackler

Publication date: December 29, 2009

Rating: *****

My review:

Tangled tells the story of four teens who vacation at the same resort at the same time and how their lives are changed by their encounters. Jena and her mom go to the Paradise resort at the invitation of her mom's wealthy best friend. Jena does not want to spend her spring break at Paradise because it will mean hanging out with the beautiful, perfect, sophisticated Skye, daughter of her mom's best friend. Next to Skye, Jenna feels positively frumpy. Skye's life is far from perfect however even though on the surface she seems to have everything she could possibly want. Handsome and charming Dakota has secrets of his own and Owen is too busy blogging to notice what is going on around him.

The novel starts with Jena's perspective in April while at the resort and then switches to Dakota in May, Skye in June, and finally ends with Owen in July. It is not until we read each character's perspective that we reach the full picture. Each character has their own voice and it works very well. I only wish we could spend more time with each of the characters. There are moments of humor and sadness as we see what the characters are going through. The teens are written very realistically and they face realistic situations. All four of the teens have grown by the end of the book. Skye and Dakota who both come across as jerks at one point or another during the novel are given depth. There is more to their stories and it is revealed slowly. The novel has layers and it builds to a very satisfying conclusion.

Tangled is the first novel by Carolyn Mackler that I've read but I definitely plan to read her other books. I would recommend this novel to fans of Sarah Dessen and Elizabeth Scott and to those who like realistic teen fiction.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this title from the publisher for review purposes.

Blogger Buddy Award

Sara at Along For the Ride gave me the Blogger Buddy Award. Thanks Sara!  I would like to pass this on to some other bloggers whose blogs I enjoy:

Bookish in a Box
The Ninja Librarian
Learning to Trust
The Life (and Lies) of an Inanimate Flying Object
The Bibliophile's Journal

Waiting on Wednesday (4)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme to discuss upcoming books we can't wait to get our hands on. Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.


My pick this week:

The Fool's Girl

By Celia Rees

Publication date: April 2010 (UK),  August 2010 (US)

Description from author's website:

"Violetta and Feste are in London, the year is 1601 and William Shakespeare is enjoying success at the Globe Theatre. But Violetta is not there to admire his plays; she is in England to retrieve her country's greatest treasure, stolen by the evil Malvolio, and she needs help. In an adventure that stretches from the shores of Illyria to the Forest of Arden, romance and danger go hand in hand. In a quest that could mean life or death, can Violetta manage to recover the precious relic and save her country and herself?"

I have read two novels by Celia Rees, Pirates! and Sovay and I loved both of them. I am looking forward to reading this book because of the connection with Shakespeare. Celia Rees came up with the idea for this book while watching the Shakespeare play, Twelfth Night. I can't wait to see what she does with this story that is based on Twelfth Night.

What are you waiting on this week?

Bliss Award

I received the Bliss (Happy 101) Award from Amelia at Imagination in Focus. Thanks Amelia!

The rules are that I must list 10 things that make me happy and then pass it on to 10 bloggers.

Ten things that make me happy (in no particular order):

1. My sister Reneta

2. My cat "niece" Kitty (that's her in my profile picture)

3. Playing Scrabble with my mom

4. Watching Bollywood films with my parents

5. Spending time with friends

6. Reading (especially YA books)

7. Christmas

8. Summer

9. Working on my blog

10. Drinking a cup of tea while reading a good book

Ten bloggers I would like to pass this award on to:

1. Valentine's Deserted Island

2. Tea Time With Marce

3. Once Upon a Bookcase

4. Book Love: Teen

5. BookHounds

6. BookMagic

7. Books (are) Critical

8. Bookworming in the 21st Century

9. Confessions of a Book Addict

10. Grammar Girl

Teaser Tuesdays (3)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

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!

My teaser this week:

"People move for their careers-why not to find a man? In some parts of Alaska, single men outnumber women ten to one."

The Oracle of Dating by Allison van Diepen

p. 14

16-year-old Kayla has a secret that she is keeping from her parents, her friends, and her classmates: she is the Oracle of Dating, the love guru behind the popular dating advice blog and phone hotline. Even though she has only had two failed relationships herself, Kayla gives out practical dating advice for $5. Things are going smoothly until she starts to notice hot senior Jared Stewart and Kayla realizes she needs advice herself.

I only started reading The Oracle of Dating this morning but so far it is really funny and enjoyable.

What is your Teaser Tuesday this week?

The 2nd Reading Challenge

I decided to sign up for one more reading challenge. Royal Reviews is hosting the 2nd Reading Challenge, which involves reading the second book in a series or the second book you've read by an author.

There are four levels in the challenge:

Curious (3 novels)
Fascinated (6 novels)
Addicted (12 novels)
Obsessed (20 novels)

I am aiming for the Obsessed level. If you'd like to participate, sign up at Royal Reviews.

My list:
1. My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent
2. Captivate by Carrie Jones
3. The Promise by Chandra Sparks Taylor
4. I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter
5. The Blue Enchantress by Marylu Tyndall
6. O, Juliet by Robin Maxwell
7. The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig
8. Cross My Heart, Hope to Spy by Ally Carter
9. Still Sucks To Be Me by Kimberly Pauley
10. Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
11. Frostbite by Richelle Mead
12. The Off Season by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Blogoversary Contest at Steph Su Reads

Steph Su Reads is celebrating her one year blogoversary by having a huge book giveaway.

She is giving away ARCs of the following:

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink
Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater (signed)
The Snowball Effect by Holly Hoxter
Airhead by Meg Cabot
Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

She is also giving away books of the winner's own choice!

First-place winner will win THREE of the above ARCs, plus whichever THREE books published between Jan. 1, 2010-Feb. 28, 2010 they'd like.

Second-place winner will win TWO of the above ARCs remaining, plus whichever TWO books published between Jan. 1, 2010-Feb. 28, 2010 they'd like.

Third-place winner will win one of the above ARCs remaining, plus whichever ONE book published between Jan. 1, 2010-Feb. 28, 2010 they'd like.

Fourth-place winner will win one of the above ARCs remaining.

For more details and to enter this fabulous giveaway, visit Steph Su Reads.

Another Awesome Contest

Princess Bookie is hosting a contest where you can win an ARC of Linger by Maggie Stiefvater and two ARCs of your choice from this list:

Runaway by Meg Cabot
Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti
Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr
Wolves, Boys, and  Other Things That Might Kill Me by Kristen Chandler
Winter Longing by Tricia Mills
White Cat by Holly Black
Early To Death, Early To Rise by Kim Harrison
Rules Of Attraction by Simone Elkeles
Spells by Aprilynne Pike
Lies by Michael Grant

To enter or find out more, visit Princess Bookie.

Win a Copy of The Queen's Dollmaker

Enchanted by Josephine is hosting a contest to win a copy of The Queen's Dollmaker by Christine Trent. The book is donated by the author and she has written a fascinating guest post about the life of Madame Tussaud, the waxworks artist who figures prominently in the sequel. To enter and for more details, visit Enchanted By Josephine.

The Queen's Dollmaker is about a young woman whose talent for dollmaking comes to the attention of Marie Antoinette. Unfortunately this draw her into danger during the French Revolution. I can't wait to read this book!

It's Monday What Are You Reading? (3)

It's Monday What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme that started out at J. Kaye's Book Blog but is now hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books.

Books I finished last week:

Virgin: Prelude to the Throne by Robin Maxwell

The Promise by Chandra Sparks Taylor

The Lightkeeper's Daughter by Colleen Coble

The Secret Life of Josephine by Carolly Erickson

Tangled by Carolyn Mackler

Books reviewed:

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig

The Promise by Chandra Sparks Taylor

Currently reading:

Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

Planning to read this week:

Ash by Malinda Lo

Invisible Lives by Anjali Banerjee

The Oracle of Dating by Allison Van Diepen

The King's Rose by Alisa Libby

What does your reading week look like?

Please leave a comment, I'd love to know what you've been reading!

Review #9 The Promise

The Promise

By Chandra Sparks Taylor

Publication date: April 1, 2010

Rating: ***1/2

My review:

After a difficult junior year, Courtland Murphy doesn't know what to expect when she starts school in the fall. She plans to focus on basketball, her membership in Worth the Wait, and spending time with her friends and family. Unfortunately she faces a lot of bullying at school and difficulties at home with her dad's strange behavior and her mother's unexpected pregnancy. The one bright spot is her friendship with new student Aidan Calhoun but after all that she has been through Courtland doesn't know if she can trust him. This is book two in the Worth the Wait series.

The Promise is the first Chandra Sparks Taylor book that I've read. I unfortunately did not realize that this was book two in a series when I started reading it but the main events in book one, The Pledge, were explained so I was able to follow book two without a problem.

What I liked about The Promise is the realistic emotions expressed by the characters. Courtland especially goes through some really difficult things during the course of the novel. Sometimes in Christian fiction, it seems that the characters are put through a lot of terrible things but they are so cheerful that it comes across as fake. That is not the case in The Promise. Courtland, her family, and her friends all face hard situations and the characters are very authentic in their response to these situations. The main message of the series seems to be abstinence but not all of the characters choose to practice abstinence and the topic is handled well . The novel also looks at themes of forgiveness and family relationships. I think that aspect of the book is particularly well done.

One thing I did not like was the character of Allen. He seemed more like a caricature and we didn't really see in this particular novel what motivated him to behave the way he did. I did not see any resolution for his character so I am curious if there will be a third book in the series although Courtland is finished with school at the end of the second book. I also felt that there were too many "issues" crammed into the novel. It would have been nice to keep the focus on Courtland without going into so many side issues with the other characters, such as Courtland's best friend Bree.

Overall I did like The Promise. I read it fairly quickly because I wanted to know how the story would end and to have my questions answered. I became very absorbed in the story and angry at how Courtland was treated.  The Promise is entertaining and Courtland is a likeable character.   Although it is Christian fiction, the faith elements of the novel are not heavy handed. The novel is more about making good choices, being true to yourself, and believing that you should be treated with respect. The first novel in the series, The Pledge, was selected by YALSA for their 2010 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers list. I would not be surprised if The Promise also made the list for 2011. I think this novel would hold wide appeal for teenage girls.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this title from the publisher for review purposes.

Win an ARC of Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other.  Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack.  And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.


At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget.


Comes out in stores everywhere July 20th. Pre-order here.


Enter to win an advanced review copies of LINGER, Sisters Red, The Dead-Tossed Waves, and The Replacement on Maggie's blog.

In My Mailbox (3)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren to share what books you received for review, purchased, or checked out from the library during the past week.

Books I received for review: none

Books I purchased:

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Persepolis is a memoir of Marjane Satrapi's youth living in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Told in comic book style, it was made into an award winning film.

Books I checked out from the library:

Ash by Malinda Lo

Ash loses both her parents and is left to live with her mean stepmother. She takes comfort from the fairy tales that her mother used to read to her until one day she meets Sidhean, a real fairy.  Ash is a retelling of Cinderella featuring fairies and a surprise twist.

Invisible Lives by Anjali Banerjee

Lakshmi Sen gives up her dreams to run her mother's sari shop and agrees to an arranged marriage because it was her father's dying wish. Then she meets American Nick Dunbar and she starts to question what she wants in life.

Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

Nimira takes a job with sorcerer Hollin Parry to sing accompaniment with an automaton. Then she falls in love with the fairy Erris who is trapped inside the automaton and she tries to find a way to set him free.

My Lady of Cleves by Margaret Campbell Barnes

A novel that tells the story of Anne of Cleves, the fourth wife of Henry VIII, as she tries to survive the politics of the court and marriage to a volatile and powerful king.

O, Juliet by Robin Maxwell

This is a  retelling of Romeo and Juliet set in Florence. Juliet is betrothed to her father's business associate but then she meets Romeo when he crashes her best friend's engagement party. The two fall in love over poetry and Dante.

The King's Rose by Alisa M. Libby

Katherine Howard was a young teenager when she came to the attention of Henry VIII and became his fifth wife. This novel recounts her tragic story.

The Secret Bride by Diane Haeger

Mary Tudor was the youngest sister of Henry VIII. When her brother forces her to marry the old and ailing King Louis of France she gets him to promise that she will be able to marry whoever she chooses after King Louis dies. Mary plans to hold Henry VIII to his word as she sets her eyes on his best friend.

Friday Finds (3)

Note: I am posting this early because I have a really incredibly busy day Friday and I didn't want to forget.

Friday Finds are books that you've heard about during the past week. Friday Finds is hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading.

My finds this week:

Caleb + Kate

By Cindy Martinusen-Coloma

 Kate has every material thing she could want but has no friends because of her family's status. In contrast Caleb is working class but the two meet when Kate's parents purchase a hotel.

Cool Beans

By Erynn Mangum

 Maya Davis is happy with how her life is going until her best friend Jen unknowingly starts dating her high school sweetheart. This novel is based on Jane Austen's Persuasion.

The Bad Queen

By Carolyn Meyer

Part of the Young Royals series, this novel is about the rise and fall of Marie Antoinette.

Top Ten Uses For an Unworn Prom Dress

By Tina Ferraro

Description from Amazon.com: "Sophomore year, Nicolette Antonovich was dumped two days before prom by the hottest guy at school. As a result, she became the proud owner of one unworn, perfectly magical pink vintage dress. But Nic is determined to put that night behind her for good. She's a junior now— older, wiser, and completely overwhelmed by a new set of problems: (1) The bank's ready to foreclose on her childhood home. (2) Her father's too busy with his "replacement" daughter to care. (3) Her best friend's brother is an eternal thorn in her side. (4) Her best friend isn't exactly the rose attached to that thorn. (5) Rumors are flying around school that could get her kicked off the volleyball team, which would (6) ruin all chances of a college scholarship. (7) She still likes the boy who dumped her in the first place. (8) And what in the world do you do with an unworn prom dress, anyway? Strangely, it's getting to the bottom of this last dilemma that just might hold the answer to all Nic's problems. " Thank you Sara at Along for the Ride for this find!

Revolution

By Jennifer Donnelly

A young woman finds herself transported from modern times to the French Revolution. Thank you Kristi at The Story Siren for this find!

Thief Eyes

By Janni Lee Simner

Description from Amazon.com: "After her mother mysteriously disappears, sixteen-year-old Haley convinces her father to take her to Iceland, where her mother was last seen. There, amidst the ancient fissures and crevices of that volcanic island, Haley meets gorgeous Ari, a boy with a dangerous side who appoints himself her protector. When Haley picks up a silver coin that entangles her in a spell cast by her ancestor Hallgerd, she discovers that Hallgerd's spell and her mother's disappearance are connected to a chain of events that could unleash terrifying powers and consume the world. Haley must find a way to contain the growing fires of the spell—and her growing attraction to Ari. Janni Lee Simner brings the fierce romance and violent passions of Iceland's medieval sagas into this twenty-first-century novel, with spellbinding results." Thank you Kristi at The Story Siren for this find!

Forget You

By Jennifer Echols

Description from the author's website: "There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four-year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. With her life about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon. But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people—suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug." Thank you Library Lurker for this find!

I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend: A Secret Diary

By Cora Harrison

Description from Amazon.com: "When shy Jenny Cooper goes to stay with her cousin Jane Austen, she knows nothing of the world of beautiful dresses, dances, secrets, gossip, and romance that Jane inhabits. At fifteen, Jane is already a sharp observer of the customs of courtship. So when Jenny falls utterly in love with Captain Thomas Williams, who better than Jane to help her win the heart of this dashing man? But is that even possible? After all, Jenny’s been harboring a most desperate secret. Should it become known, it would bring scandal not only to her, but also to the wonderful Austen family. What’s a poor orphan girl to do? In this delicious dance between truth and fiction, Cora Harrison has crafted Jenny’s secret diary by reading everything Jane Austen wrote as a child and an adult, and by researching biographies, critical studies, and family letters. Jenny’s diary makes the past spring vividly to life and provides insight into the entire Austen family—especially the beloved Jane."

Review #8 The Secret History of the Pink Carnation

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation

By Lauren Willig

Publication date: 2005

Rating: ***1/2

My Review:

Graduate student Eloise Kelly is trying to research The Pink Carnation, an English spy from the time of Napoleon. During her search for information, she stumbles across the story of Amy de Balcourt, a young woman who hopes to go to France and meet The Purple Gentian, a spy and friend of The Scarlet Pimpernel.

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation is more a romantic comedy than a historical fiction novel. Most of the novel takes place in the past, following the adventures of foolhardy Amy de Balcourt and Lord Richard Selwick, the young nobleman Amy can't stand because of his close association with Napoleon. We learn right away the identity of The Purple Gentian and Amy's ideas of who he might be and her attempts at espionage are rather funny. There were some moments that I laughed out loud while reading this novel.

What I did not enjoy was the fact that Amy is supposed to be a well educated young lady yet she makes some really stupid decisions and draws some remarkably stupid conclusions. There were times when I just wanted to shake some sense into her. I guess that her knowledge would be limited to what she's read in books and  the fact that she has lived a sheltered life until she arrives in France which could explain some of her naivety but I felt that her character should have had more common sense. As the heroine of the novel I felt disappointed in her. I also expected better scenes of espionage. I am a fan of The Scarlet Pimpernel so I guess I expected more from this novel than what was delivered.

What made this novel enjoyable for me was the humor. Miss Gwen provided ample comedic jabs (with her pointed parasol) and there is some fun comedic dialog between Lord Selwick and Amy. I am sure that the series will improve as it goes on and I plan to read the rest of the books. I hope that I will like the other heroines more than Amy. Her cousin Jane in particular proved to be very intelligent and creative so I look forward to reading more about her in the books.

I would recommend this novel to those who enjoy romance novels, particularly historical romance. For those who like more history than romance, The Secret History of the Pink Carnation will not deliver.

Major Hunger Games News!

Today Scholastic released the new cover art and title for Mockingjay, the final book in the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. I love how the Mockingjay appears to be breaking free and the blue color is very optimistic. Mockingjay will be published on August 24, 2010. I'm so excited!

What do you think of the title and cover?

Waiting on Wednesday (3)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme to discuss upcoming books we can't wait to get our hands on. Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

My pick this week:

Anastasia's Secret

By Susanne Dunlap

Publication date: March 2, 2010

Description from author's website:

"The youngest grand duchess in the Russian imperial family comes of age during the revolution. Her family is imprisoned, conditions become worse and worse. But Anastasia has a secret that she keeps from her family, a love that endures through the horrors of war and the privation of imprisonment and deprivation.Will her love save her from the fate her family seems destined for? Or is she a creation of a rarefied atmosphere, unable to survive without her loved ones?"

I have been fascinated with the story of Anastasia since I was a teen studying about the Russian Revolution in history class. I remember the picture in my history textbook of young Anastasia with her siblings and parents and how sad I felt when I found out their fate. Needless to say I am excited about this new novel by Susanne Dunlap. I loved The Musician's Daughter, her other YA novel so I have high hopes for Anastasia's Secret. I am not sure what angle the author will take with the story but I am sure that I will like it. Find out more about Anastasia at Anastasia Lives, a blog created by Susanne Dunlap.

What's your WoW pick this week?