Obligatory New Year's Post

2010 is quickly approaching and I'm starting the annual "Oh crap it's time for me to think about Resolutions!" Seriously, every year I plan all these THINGS that I want to accomplish in the new year and every single friggen year they fall to pieces! *sigh* Sooo...anywhoodle. This is what my insanely brilliant mind has come up with for this blog in the new year! These don't sound too far fetched so I just might be able to stick with them!

• I will post at least 4 times a week (memes, reviews, interviews, etc)
• I will try to host 1 giveaway a month. (i love doing these things and they rock for traffic)
• I will try to write longer and more in depth reviews.
  
• My rating system will change. I'm working on it right now. My rating system sucks right now and I need something more substantial.
  

So there. Those are my blog resolutions! My regular ole life resolutions are the typical: I'm gonna loose a bajillion pounds by 2011, etc etc.

Merry Christmas Everybody!

I hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas!

What are you Reading?

This weekly meme is hosted by J.Kaye's Book Blog (click the picture to visit that page.)


Last week I posted that I wanted to read two books. Not that many and I should have been able to finish them, but (always a but, right?) not only did my husband get sick but so did my son and I. Sooo...needless to say not only was I busy getting better, but also nursing them back to health too. Mommies don't usually get to just take sick days do they?

Anywho, I'm going to keep the two books from last week, Strange Angels and The Hobbit.

Since this is a Holiday week I won't put anymore. I'll be lucky to read them both!

What are you reading?

Review: The Wives of Henry Oades

From Amazon:
When Henry Oades accepts an accountancy post in New Zealand, his wife, Margaret, and their children follow him to exotic Wellington. But while Henry is an adventurer, Margaret is not. Their new home is rougher and more rustic than they expected—and a single night of tragedy shatters the family when the native Maori stage an uprising, kidnapping Margaret and her children.

For months, Henry scours the surrounding wilderness, until all hope is lost and his wife and children are presumed dead. Grief-stricken, he books passage to California. There he marries Nancy Foreland, a young widow with a new baby, and it seems they’ve both found happiness in the midst of their mourning—until Henry’s first wife and children show up, alive and having finally escaped captivity.

Narrated primarily by the two wives, and based on a real-life legal case, The Wives of Henry Oades is the riveting story of what happens when Henry, Margaret, and Nancy face persecution for bigamy. Exploring the intricacies of marriage, the construction of family, the changing world of the late 1800s, and the strength of two remarkable women, Johanna Moran turns this unusual family’s story into an unforgettable page-turning drama.



My Review:
I cannot begin to express how much this book pulled me in. I was so caught up in the drama! The first wife and children get captured and are presumed dead, and then the heart break! OMG! I was riveted! This book reads like a soap opera, almost. I loved that the two main women in this book learned to interact. I don't think I would be able to cope if something like this were to happen to me and my husband! There were spots where it got a wee bit slow, but those weren't enough to take away from the story or make it boring. I really did enjoy reading this book and highly recommend it.

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (February 23, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 034551095X
• ISBN-13: 978-0345510952

**I was given a free copy in return for an honest review!**

Blog Tour-Just Breeze

Eighth grade starts out the same as every other year for Breeze Brannigan. She’s still the tallest student, boy or girl, in her class, wears shoes that would fit an elephant, and her smile reveals dazzling braces that blind everyone within ten feet. She also has to deal with the dented fender on her sister’s VW that they paint to cover up and the new girl in school, Allison, who likes to steal boyfriends. Breeze isn’t concerned. She’s everybody’s bud. No boy is interested in her. Then there’s Cam, AKA Carlomango Christiano y Moises, who Breeze thinks must be from another planet because none of the boys At Whispering Springs Middle School are that polite. He also has a secret, a secret that could mean life or death for Cam and his mother, a secret Breeze must help him keep.

My Review:

Breeze reminded me of myself when I was younger. She's not the popular girl, she's a bit clumsy, she's got wild hair, and just feels out of place. This book was a delightful trip down memory lane. Breeze is a very lovable character. Her boring life gets a very unexpected shake-up when she meets Cam., the mysterious new boy that seems to like her. Breeze is a fun and at times funny story about a girl just learning to be herself. This is definitely a book aimed at the YA genre (on around the 8th grade level,) but I am a 29 year old woman and had a blast reading it! I'd recommend it for a quick fun read!

My Rating: 4/5

Library Lounge Lizard's Christmas Contest!

On Day 3 of the 12 Blogs of Christmas...Library Lounge Lizard is hosting a giveaway for some really awesome books!


Check it out HERE!

What are you Reading?

What are you reading on Mondays? is a weekly meme hosted by J.Kaye's Book Blog (click button to visit the blog.)

Here are the books that I'm reading/will read this week. After posting such a ridiculously long list last week, I'm gonna keep it simple, short, and sweet! I definitely learned my lesson!

So up first: I'm going to finish up The Wives of Henry Oades (DONE)
Then it's onto:

• The Hobbit (which is part of the 2010 challenge, but I'm going to read it early)
• Strange Angels

I MAY (if I finish these before the end of the week) read one of these:

• Gringa in a Strange Land
• Defenders of the Scroll (finish it up)
• The Manufactured Identity

So there..that first list is what I WILL read this week. The second is if I have time. What are you reading this week?

This Looks Like Fun!

Check out these blogs and what they are doing! Contests and fun posts galore!

2010 Challenges!!!!

Wheel of Time Series (I'm going to attempt this one. I'm not sure I can stick to the discussions but I will try to read the whole series in a year!) Click the button below to visit the Challenge page.

January
Book #1: The Eye of the World
February
Book #2: The Great Hunt
March
Book #3: The Dragon Reborn
April
Book #4: The Shadow Rising
May
Book #5: The Fires of Heaven
June
Book #6: Lord of Chaos
July
Book #7: A Crown of Swords
August
Book #8: The Path of Daggers
September
Book #9: Winter's Heart
October
Book #10: Crossroads of Twilight
November
Book #11: Knife of Dreams
December
Book #12: The Gathering Storm

Sword of Truth Series: I have read this series but I'd like to read it again. I'm a big fan of the TV show and thought this was a fun challenge to enter. Again, click the button below to go to the challenge page.

The Books (in order):
Wizard's First Rule
Stone of Tears
Blood of the Fold
Temple of the Winds
Soul of the Fire
Faith of the Fallen
The Pillars of Creation
Naked Empire
Chainfire
Phantom

Confessor

Lord of the Rings: I cannot believe that I have never read these books! So when I saw the challenge I just had to join up!

• January: The Hobbit at A Striped Armchair

• February: The Fellowship of the Ring at The Literary Omnivore

• March: The Two Towers here at Shelf Love

• April: The Return of the King at Just Add Books

Personal Chunksters Challenge: These are HUGE books! I'm planning on reading these next year!

• Gone With the Wind
• The Mists of Avalon
• Les Miserables
• The Chronicles of Narnia
• Anna Karenina

100 Books in 2010: I almost succeeded with this challenge this year, so hopefully I will make it next year!

blog Tour-The Scottish Thistle

Loyalty and honor. A Highland warrior prizes both more than life, and when he swears his oath on the dirk, he must obey or die. Duncan Cameron heeds his chief’s order without question, but discovers his wife-to-be is no fair maiden. Although women are no longer trained in the art of fighting, Rory MacGregor follows in the footsteps of her Celtic ancestors. Secrets from the past and superstitious folk endanger Rory and Duncan as much as Bonnie Prince Charlie and his uprising to win back the British throne for his father. Rory and Duncan must make difficult choices that pit honor and duty against trust and love.

My review:

This book is long but doesn't feel that way. You really slip into the story and find yourself getting to know Rory and Duncan from the start. There is a familiar Romeo and Juliett kinda feeling to this novel, but it's not cliched or overly dramatic. I loved how Rory was fiercly independent and ready and willing to do whatever it took to help her people! She is such a strong character and was well written by Vallar. I loved the book from start to finish. The ONLY grump I could come up with is that it took me a while to get used to the Scottish dialect that's peppered throughout the novel. Even the dialect didn't keep me from enjoying myself.
My Rating: 4/5

Blog Tour-The Ghost, The Eggheads, and Baby Ruth's Piano

It’s the summer of 2004 and Freddie Holtzman can’t wait to get to Camp Mason, a summer camp for eggheads or rather, gifted teens. He hopes to reconnect with Ginny Haig, a girl he met at camp last year. Freddie’s old friends, Logan and Monty, are there along with some new faces. He tries to win Ginny’s affection, but every time he tries to talk to her, he says—and does—nerdy things. At Camp Mason, a science fair pits the eggheads against one another for the top prize of a five thousand dollar scholarship. But, when the projects go missing, friendships are put to the test, relationships get put on hold, and everyone’s a suspect. To make matters worse, the camp is haunted by young Billy Mason who died there decades ago.
My review:

This book was so very fun to read! I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from the book based on the title, but I was happily surprised. It took me a little under a day to read this story, which is very good for me! I was completely drawn into Freddie's story and kinda felt like I was at the camp too! The story was well written and never felt like a kid's book. This IS labeled as Children's Fiction but I think that even grown ups would like it! This is one of those books that I found myself hard pressed to find something wrong with it...Really the only thing I could come up with is that it's too short!

My Rating: 4.5/5

Blog Tour-The Magic Warble

Twelve-year-old Kristina Kingsly feels like the most unpopular girl in her school. The kids all tease her, and she never seems to fit in. But when Kristina receives an unusual Christmas gift, she suddenly finds herself magically transported to the land of Bernovem, home of dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals, and the evil Queen Sentiz.

In Bernovem, Kristina not only fits in, she’s honored as “the chosen one” the only one who can release the land from Queen Sentiz’s control. But it’s not as simple as it seems. To save Bernovem, she must place the gift she was given, the famous “Magic Warble” in its final resting place. And she must travel through the deep forest, climb a treacherous mountain, and risk capture by the queen’s “zelbocks” before she reaches her destination. Guided by her new fairy friends, Clover and Looper and by Prince Werrien, a teenage boy, as well as an assortment of other characters, Kristina sets off on a perilous journey that not only tests her strength but her heart.

My review:

This is a very cute story! I loved slipping back into my childhood and feeling as if I were reading my first fantasy novel! I would definitely recommend this book to kids ages 9-12 that are looking to dip their toes into the fantasy genre. As a grown-up, I did recognize a few cliched characters but that didn't stop me from immersing myself into the story! The plot was well developed, for a kid's book. The characters are also well done. I did enjoy seeing Kristin evolve as the story progressed. It was a quick read that made me smile on several occasions!

My rating: 4/5

The Trailer:

THANK YOU!!!!

My super awesome Secret Buddy's gift came through today! Thank you Kristina (Violetlady) from http://violetladyathome.blogspot.com/!!!

She got me an adorable little notebook, some really smell good soap, a thing of Christmas hankies (OMG where have these been my entire life!?), an awesome headband (needed one of these so badly!), some Burt's Beeswax lip balm and this awwwwwesome smelling satchety keychain thing! I don't really have keys for it but I can just make due with smelling it every five minutes! That's what I've been doing since I got it in the mail!!!

So thank you very very much Kristina! :)

Blog Tour-Cemetary Gates

CEMETERY GATES

All the signs are there. Dead things everywhere. Nightmares of bloody bodies and eaten corpses. Michael knows he’s coming for him. The prophecy cannot be fulfilled without him. From behind the Cemetery Gates, his brother, Shane, enters the world. He’ll force Michael and the others to take their rightful place at his side.

When Michael decides to go to a neighbor’s party, a beautiful stranger thrusts him into his past. Through meditation, Michael is thrown back into a world he had long tried to forget. He works quickly because time is short. Shane is on the prowl. He'll force Michael to fulfill his destiny.

Only, Michael has a problem with what he is sent to do and he's tired of running. As he recalls who and what he is, he realizes he's humankind’s only hope for survival. He decides to battle his brother, not only for the woman he loves, but also for the redemption of his soul.

My Review:

I have to be honest, this book was at times confusing. There were constant shifts of time frames and characters at times, and those had me re-reading and occasionally lost. The characters themselves were very well written, though. Paige did a very good job at that. The back story was well crafted and well written too. I felt like each main character got plenty of "page time" and was well developed enough. I have no complaints about that part. Basically the book's guts were good, but there were those pesky time jumps, flashbacks and viewpoint shifts that kept me from really getting into the book.

Maybe this wasn't the right book for me? Maybe not the right time.

Here is another review:
Jen's Book Talk


My rating: 3/5



**I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.**

What are you Reading?

I have lofty reading goals this week! Yup! I have a stack of books I wanna read! I may not make it to my goal of 100 books read in '09 but I'll get as close as I can!

So without further delay here is what I plan on reading:

• Exit Music-Ian Rankin
• Savage Days Haunted Nights-Bennett Kremen
• The Wives of Henry Oades-Johanna Moran
• Secrets of a Christmas Box-S. Hornby-DONE
• Defenders of the Scroll-Shiraz
• To Beguile a Beast-Elizabeth Hoyt-DONE
  

I'm still reading To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt so that would make it 6 books read this week, if I make it! Woo hoo..it's gonna be a coffee fueled week! :) What are you guys reading?

Read.Read.Read-a-Thon Conclusion

In total I spent about 8 (ish) hours reading. I took a very big break in the middle and near the end to rest and eat. I had a blast though! I read 2 books which equates to 591 pages, and I started on To Beguile a Beast so I'll add the pages that I read of that to get a grand total of 611 pages read all day! Not as much as I hoped but still that's two more books to add to my goal!

Thanks to Dreadlock Girl for hosting this event! I had so much fun!

Annnnddd We're Off!

And we're off! I picked my book! Made my coffee and am just about to settle down to start!

First book:

It's 8:05 am CST! I'm ready to party! See ya in about an hour or so!

Update 1: 9:00Am
Pages Read: 23 (slow going because I've developed a huge headache. waiting for ibuprofen to kick in)
Snacks Eaten: water and egg drop soup
Breaks Taken: a few. because of my head.
Where I've Been: sitting in my comfy chair.

Update 2: 10:26
Pages Read: 17...sigh. my head is throbbing. looking at the bottle i noticed it's for kids. no other headache medicine int he house and husband is at work all day. i am going to take a little nap and put the read a thon on pause for an hour or so. i'll pick up where i left off.
Snacks Eaten: none
Breaks Taken: many many many
Where I've Been: all over the place
Update 3: 1:00pm (When I start again) I took a nap and plan on starting up at 1pm CST!
Pages Read:42
Snacks Eaten: cheese crackers
Breaks Taken: none! my head is gone! *must be that special voodoo!*
Where I've Been: my comfy chair!
Update 4: start 2:00pm
Pages Read: 40
Snacks Eaten: none
Breaks Taken: none
Where I've Been: still in the chair
Update 5: start at 3pm (still reading Green)
Pages Read: 53
Snacks Eaten: nope
Breaks Taken: none
Where I've Been: at my desk
Update 6: starting at 4pm
Pages Read: 77 almost done with Green
Snacks Eaten: popcorn
Breaks Taken: one to make the popcorn and feed the kid
Where I've Been: kitchen, desk, comfy chair :)
Update 7: 5pm finished Green
Pages Read: 101
Snacks Eaten: none
Breaks Taken: none
Where I've Been: desk
Second Book:
Update 8: 6pm started Confections of a Closet Master Baker
Pages Read: 47
Snacks Eaten: no snacks
Breaks Taken: no breaks
Update 9: 7pm
Pages Read: 79
Snacks Eaten: no snacks
Breaks Taken: no breaks
Update 10: 8pm still on Confections, gonna try to stay up as late as I can. I probably will crash at midnight (ish) but I'll do what I can!
Pages Read: finished Confections with 97 pages/Started on To Beguile a Beast (husband's gonna tease me for this one!!!)
Snacks Eaten: pizza! my husband brought some home from work! yummy! :)
Breaks:1 big one to eat and hang out with mr. man
Third Book:
Update 11: 9pm Reading Beguile a Beast. This will probably be my last update. I can feel myself fading out and my husband's going to take the computer over. I'll stay up a wee bit longer and update tomorrow morning, but I probably won't last til midnight! *sigh* I'm getting old.
Pages Read: 20 pages
Snacks: nothing
Breaks: a couple to get kid ready for bed (he got to stay up past his bedtime!) and clean up the kitchen.

****From now til the end of the night I probably won't be able to update every hour. I WILL update tomorrow with my night's progress, etc. My computer has now been taken over by a kid and will be taken over by a Husband when he comes home! Look for my update tomorrow morning! Good Luck everyone! Have fun! Happy Reading!****

Lord of the Rings Read a Long

I am ashamed to say that I have never read a single book in this series. I OWN them, but haven't cracked their spines yet. (sounds quite disturbing when I say it that way!) I have glanced at them once or twice on one of those many "What to read?" days, but never actually started one. Now imagine how excited I was to find this Read a Long!?

It's hosted by Shelf Love, I believe her name is Teresa. Here is what the website says:

Starting January 1, 2010, we’ll be reading one book from the series (including The Hobbit) each month with a goal of finishing all four books in April. We’ll be taking turns hosting the readalong, so you can follow our intrepid fellowship of readers around the blogosphere. Here’s where you’ll find us each month:

• January: The Hobbit at A Striped Armchair
• February: The Fellowship of the Ring at The Literary Omnivore
• March: The Two Towers here at Shelf Love
• April: The Return of the King at Just Add Books

Anyway, I'm so excited to actually do this! My husband seriously could not believe someone that called themselves a book nut had never actually read the series! So yeah..pshaw on him now!

This Weekend's Read-a-Thon

Dreadlock Girl Reads is hosting a Read-a-Thon starting tomorrow! I already did a post about it but I wanted to start off by saying I've already picked out a HUGE stack of books to choose from. I won't list them so I don't feel too tied down when I start. I haven't gotten my snacks yet but I will do that tomorrow morning bright and early. I'm thinking I'll start sometime around 8 or 9am tomorrow. I won't be able to do the full 24 hours but I'll try for as long as I (and my son) can hold out.

I'm about 25 books shy of my goal for the year so I'd be geeked if I can get a little closer this weekend! Anywho..I'll come back tomorrow and post the first update for my "Go Time!"

Books in the Mail

All of these were in my mailbox today! Wow! I haven't seen such a booky day in a long time!

Aww yeah son, it's ON! Another Read-a-Thon!

Woot woot! I failed on the Thanksgiving Read so I figured why not join this one and try again? I'll fill in my list for what I'll read! I'll load myself up with caffeine and snacks and stay up as late as I can! Click the picture ^ to join in!

1. 
   

What are you Reading?

(click on the picture above to visit the home of this weekly meme at J.Kaye's Book Blog)

Reading Now: The Scottish Thistle-DONE

Up Next:

• Just Breeze-DONE
• Samson's Walls-DONE
• Searching For Whitopia
• Divorce Sucks-QUIT-totally not what I expected.
  

Thankfully Reading Weekend Wrap Up

Well this excellent weekend reading event was just not meant to be for me. I think I read a total of 50 pages all weekend. I felt sick for the first half and then got better. Treated myself to some Chinese food to celebrate and wound up with food poisoning. So Sunday was spent mainly hugging porcelain and miserably wrapped up on the couch begging for death. Yup..plans totally went down the drain. Oh well. I've seen a lot of posts for people that got a LOT of reading done this weekend and Congratulate them!

Maybe next time, eh?

Thankfully Reading Weekend Update 2

So yesterday was a reading BUST! I seriously started to feel icky at the end of the morning. I wasn't sure what was going on but I feel better today! Sooo..gonna plug in and do this thang!

Ever have a book that's well written and isn't at all bad, but you just can't get into it? That's exactly how I am right now with The Scottish Thistle. It's a good book and I like the characters but I just am lagging. Maybe it's because this is the 3rd blog tour book in a row? I'm probably going to cut back on those after these few I have left.

So there ends my update and rambling! Once the coffee kicks in I'll be ready to go! Happy Reading!

Tynga's 300 Followers Contest

This contest is awesome! Check out what you could win!

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks

Skinwalker by Faith Hunter

Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper

Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men by Molly Harper

Nice Girls Don't Live Forever by Molly Harper

Storm Born by Richelle Mead

Dark Visions by L.J. Smith

Fade Out by Rachel Caine

Soulless by Gail Carriger

Marked by P.C. Cast

Flesh Circus by Lilith Staintcrow

Hunting Grounds by Patricia Briggs

Playing With Fire by Gena Showalter

There are all brand new!!

There will be a total of 4 winners

1st winner - 3 books of their choice

2nd winner - 2 books of their choice

3rd winner - 1 book of their choice

See what I mean? Contest ends December 23rd. So get your butt over there and enter! Let them know that Melissa C sent ya (pretty please)

CONTEST PAGE

Thankfully Reading Weekend Update 1

Well I haven't started reading just yet. I'm about to pop some popcorn, feed the kidlet, and get my book pile ready! I've got a few blog tour books to crack into but there are some of my own that are calling my name.

• The Scottish Thistle-blog tour book
• Samson's Walls-review
• Just Breeze-blog tour book
• Defenders of the Scroll-review book
• Hades Daughter-bought book
• Divorce Sucks-review book
• Searching for Whitopia-review book

These aren't set in stone but what I'd like to get read. Several are very VERY thick so I probably will not get to those but I'll give it a try!

Thankfully Reading Weekend

I'm reading this weekend! I've got tons of books to read and reviews to write so yay! I probably won't spend the WHOLE time on reading but I will get as much in as I can! I love love loved the Read-a-Thon and have been jonsing for more!

Have fun! Oh yeah and check out the website: Book Blog Social Club

Blog Tour-Too Many Visitors For One Little House

Book Description:
The crabby neighbors of El Camino Street are not very happy when cousins, aunts, uncles, and grannies arrive for a big noisy reunion at the house of the new family on the block.

My Review:
I read this book with my five year old son. He really loved the artwork found in the book. (Illustrations by Veronica Walsh) The story kept both of us entertained and made my son giggle. This was a cute story and a very good lesson in inclusion. There are only about 40 pages to this little book, but my son and I spent an hour or so looking at each drawing and talking about the book. He's asked me to read it to him about 5 more times since then, so I'd say it was a success, wouldn't you?

I'd definitely suggest this book for children ages 3-6 and especially children starting school. I think my son loved the message because he's just now learning how to interact with people that are different. Just like the nosy neighbors in the book!

Website

My Son Has to Have This!!!!

The Mommy Files is giving away a Strider Sports Running bike!!! This looks like something my son would go nuts for! He's five and just getting interested in bikes. He's still very anxious about trying to actually ride one, so this looks just perfect! I mean look at it!
Doesn't it look like fun? They should make some for adults! LOL
Anyway, check out the giveaway deets and enter! Thanks for reading my Mommy Ramblings for now!

CONTEST RULES

The Great Kindle Giveaway!!!

The Great Kindle Giveaway is being held over at Bibliofreak !!! This is freaking awesome!! Enter in for your chance to win one of these

Ain't it purdy? I have been dying to get my hands on one of these thingies for ages! Well not ages but you get the point! Anyway, here are the deets to the giveaway! Good luck!

From the site:
The drawing will occur on December 18th. The drawing will be randomized using random.org. Every point you get above qualifies you for another entry. Having the highest score doesn’t guarantee you a Kindle, but it does increase your chances.

What's Up With That?

.....successful ingredients to a strong marriage......

I know my blog hasn't been all that active this last week. I have a really good excuse though! I do! My son AND my husband have been sick! We found out yesterday that the boy has Strep throat and probably the man does too. Awesome! I don't know what it is about men but they become babies if they are sick. So I have been taking care of two babies all week. The little man got a shot of good old penicillin so he should be good to go tomorrow (at least that's what the doctor says) and the big man says he's feeling better. So that's my excuse!

My blog isn't dead. I'm not done yet! I have plenty of Blog Tours for you coming up between now and December 16th! Six of them to be exact! Plus I'm planning a few little goodies here and there to spice up the holidays a bit! Next week I'll catch up with all the fun meme's I've been missing!

So that's me..hope you guys haven't quit me already! :)

Mini Review-Sugar Time

Charlotte "Sugar" Kane was someone that I could relate to almost instantly. I loved how tough but emotional she was. This was a quick read and definitely in what I could consider the "chick lit" genre but not overly sappy. The whole time I read this I was hoping things would work out for her. I was cheering her along and hoping that she showed all her naysayers that and "old" lady could still rock it. I liked how it wasn't a fairytale Hollywood ending, but still felt right.

I'm not sure if my copy was an ARC or not, but there were a few typo's and some formatting issues that at times distracted me from the story. That was about the only problem I had with the book. It wasn't a light and fluffy, but wasn't too serious. I would say that it was just right. I'll give it a 3.5/5!

Blog Tour-Bitter Night

SOMETIMES YOU CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES. AND SOMETIMES, THEY CHOOSE YOU...

Once, Max dreamed of a career, a home, a loving family. Now all she wants is freedom...and revenge. A witch named Giselle transformed Max into a warrior with extraordinary strength, speed, and endurance. Bound by spellcraft, Max has no choice but to fight as Giselle's personal magic weapon -- a Shadowblade -- and she's lethally good at it. But her skills are about to be put to the test as they never have before....

The ancient Guardians of the earth are preparing to unleash widespread destruction on the mortal world, and they want the witches to help them. If the witches refuse, their covens will be destroyed, including Horngate, the place Max has grudgingly come to think of as home. Max thinks she can find a way to help Horngate stand against the Guardians, but doing so will mean forging dangerous alliances -- including one with a rival witch's Shadowblade, who is as drawn to Max as she is to him -- and standing with the witch she despises. Max will have to choose between the old life she still dreams of and the warrior she has become, and take her place on the side of right -- if she survives long enough to figure out which side that is....

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (October 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416598146
• ISBN-13: 978-1416598145

Check Out The Website

Participating Blogs:

Book Junkie: http://myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com/
Debbie’s World of Books: http://debbiesworldofbooks.com
Starting Fresh: http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/
Patricia’s Vampire Notes: http://patricias-vampire-notes.blogspot.com/
The Neverending Shelf: http://neverendingshelf.blogspot.com
My Life in Not So Many Words: http://www.ziarias.blogspot.com/
Booksie’s Blog: http://booksiesblog.blogspot.com/
Readaholic: http://bridget3420.blogspot.com/
Pick of the Literate: http://bookrevues.blogspot.com/
Temple Library Reviews: http://templelibraryreviews.blogspot.com/
The Eclectic Book Lover: http://www.eclecticbooklover.com/
Confessions Of A Romance Book Addict: http://confessionsofaromancebookaddict.wordpress.com
The Life (and Lies) of an Inanimate Flying Object: http://haleymathiot.blogspot.com/
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Blog Tour-Tirissa and the Necklace of Nulidor

One day twelve-year-old Tirissa discovers
that everyone in her village is under a
spell. Everyone but her!

Then she sees a mysterious stranger
change into a huge bird, a bird with a
beak like a sword. Did he cast the magic
spell? She's desperate to find someone
who can break it,so she flees, leaving her
village behind. She soon meets some
wood nymphs and learns that she is part
wood nymph, too!

An old herbwoman tells her to seek help
from a wizard who lives far away, and her
journey takes her across the Three
Kingdoms.

Along the way she's joined by a kindly
troll and an overweight, lazy palace
guard. They are pursued by the twin
princes of Kellayne, the best hunters in the
Blue River Kingdom, as well as by the
huge, dangerous bird.

Meanwhile, an evil wizard watches Tirissa
and her friends in his magic mirror and
plans to cast a second magic spell that
will kill everyone in the Three Kingdoms...

Read an Excerpt

My Review:

This YA Fantasy novel will please any budding fan of the genre. I enjoyed it tremendously. The characters all were well written and fleshed out perfectly. The magic system was explained well enough that I wasn't left wondering what was going on, as is the case in some fantasy plots. Willow has a good heroine here in Tirissa. She's a very strong little girl and has a tender heart!

I enjoyed the story and how well the plot moved. The action was well choreographed. The only problem I may have with this book (and it's a nit-picky one) is Tirissa and company seemed to get out of trouble a bit too easily. Everything sort of fell into her lap or was explained a bit too perfectly. I don't however think that is that big of an issue. This is Willow's first novel and it is a good one at that. I see from her website that she is thinking of a sequel and I for one will be excited to see what happens next.

Tirissa is a solid effort and a very enjoyable book. I would recommend it to young girls AND young boys alike. I'll give this book a rating of 4/5! Enjoy!

Join Tirissa's Facebook fan page for a chance to win a free copy of the book:
http://tinyurl.com/yzna8l7

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 338 pages
• Publisher: Outskirts Press (August 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 143274013X

Intertwined Sweepstakes

Like to talk about books?

There is a new forum in the blog-o-sphere that needs more members! If you like to talk to books and have a preference to the YA genre (but not limited to) then check it out!

Kate of The Neverending Shelf has opened up the forum and so far it has plenty of potential and a very nice vibe! There will also be a book club if members are so inclined! So visit the FORUM and check out her blog.

I Joined the Swap and You Should Too!

What swap is that you might ask?! Click on the cute button up there ^^ and find out! It's gonna be fun! I LOVE getting cute things from strangers! Tee hee! So throw some Holiday Cheer on someone and sign up! Registration ends on November 12th so hurry up and mosey over there!

Friday Somethings (non-book related)

I will give you a random peek into what I'm looking forward to this weekend. *drool*
New Season starts tomorrow!

Blog Tour-Medina Hill

From TundraBooks.com:

In the grimy London of 1935, eleven-year-old Dominic Walker has lost his voice. His mother is sick and his father’s unemployed. Rescue comes in the form of his Uncle Roo, who arrives to take him and his young sister, Marlo, to Cornwall. There, in a boarding house populated by eccentric residents, Marlo, who keeps a death grip on her copy of The New Art of Cooking, and Dominic, armed with Incredible Adventures for Boys: Colonel Lawrence and the Revolt in the Desert, find a way of life unlike any they have known. Dominic’s passion for Lawrence of Arabia is tested when he finds himself embroiled in a village uprising against a band of travelers who face expulsion. In defending the vulnerable, Dominic learns what it truly means to have a voice.

Trilby Kent brilliantly handles a far-off time and place to present a story of up-to-the-minute relevance.

About the Author:



Trilby Kent was born in Toronto, Ontario, and grew up in cities on both sides of the Atlantic. After completing degrees at Oxford University and The London School of Economics, she worked in the rare books department at a prominent auction house before turning to writing feature articles for publication in Europe and North America. She now lives in London, England. Medina Hill is Trilby Kent’s first novel.

My Review:

This short book is such a wonderful surprise! I was NOT prepared for the character of the book! I know that sounds strange, but the book was just so much like an old friend! I loved it! The characters are delightful and well written. Trilby Kent is truly talented!

Dominic is a character you just wanna hug and take good care of! Each of the characters are written in a way that you just know them! They come to life on the pages and won't leave you be! Sancha is fiesty, Marlo is your kid sister or at least that's what I got from them!

Basically, I loved this book. I was surprised! I wasn't sure what I was getting into. The cover reminded me of Angela's Ashes, so I was expecting something a bit depressing. I'm so glad I got a chance to review this book! I'll keep my eyes peeled for more from Kent. Medina Hill is a excellent first book! I give it a 4.5/5!



Tour schedule can be found HERE

Blog Tour-Hoodoo Sea

About the book: (from the website)

The government of the United States of America is on the verge of startling the world.

Billions of dollars had been invested in its space program.

And now, the moment of truth has arrived...

Scott Reed is the man for the historic mission. He is the Wing Commander chosen by the elite brass at NASA. The assignment to test flight the first speed of light craft, held top secret, was about to shock the world. The risk? Utter and complete failure. The reward? Being a part of the greatest human accomplishment ever known to mankind.

Major James Harrow, second in command of the four person crew, despised his Wing Commander. Harrow was a proud and patriotic American. What was NASA thinking when they selected a Canadian to pilot the voyage? There was no comparison as to who was the better skilled aviator. This was his time, his moment. Major James Harrow was about to prove to everybody they were wrong to bypass him as Commander.

The weather conditions were perfect and lift-off for the test flight was text book. The triumphant cheers from Mission Control in Houston were echoed all the way to Cape Canaveral. The silent fear of the first hurdle of the flight had been succumbed. All systems were go! That is, until the crew and SOLT-X1 entered the Bermuda Triangle...

About the Author: (from the website)


Rolf Hitzer was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in 1959 and raised by his parents, Erna and Julius Hitzer.

Rolf attended Princess Margaret Elementary School, John Pritchard Junior High and Graduated from Kildonan East Regional Secondary School where he had majored in Culinary Arts.

Rolf is married to his wife Irma since 1997. Together they have a wonderful blended family with Rita and Clark Bodoano and Grand children, Alexandria, Patrick and Braeden. Jason and Leah Tutlies, and Grandson Easton. Mandel Hitzer, and the youngest Jessica Hitzer. Clearly the growth of his family is still a work in progress.

Rolf Hitzer has several passions besides writing, they include being at the log cabin on weekends. Spending time on the water with a fishing pole in hand. Wildlife viewing and especially Moose calling during the fall rut. Playing a range of Poker card games and a variety of board games.

Rolf is a Member of the Winnipeg Real Estate Board, The Manitoba Real Estate Association and the Canadian Real Estate Association. He is currently working on his second novel.

My Review:

This was definitely a surprising book! I was totally expecting it to go one way but then it flips and turns another! Hoodoo Sea is a good first novel, written by Rolf Hitzer! The characters are well developed and nicely fleshed out and the plot was amazingly well done for a first time writer!

I will admit to not being a total fan of the cover (both front and back) but I will say that once you open the book and get reading you will forget about it and get lost in the story.

From start to finish, this book was a fun read. I love the Bermuda Triangle and all the weirdness that comes with it, so this book was a treat for me! The story did seem a bit abrupt at the end, but it worked so I am not calling that a strike against it.

All in all I say this is a solid effort from Mr. Hitzer and would definitely suggest this book! I give it a strong 4/5 rating and definitely hope to hear more from Rolf Hitzer in the future!