tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68911805106420961892024-03-08T01:50:48.511-05:00The Book PixieThis is a Young Adult and Middle Grade book review blog.~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.comBlogger1009125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-88554176099863837662014-07-05T11:35:00.000-04:002014-07-05T13:56:23.855-04:00Review: In the Shadows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18527495-in-the-shadows?ac=1">In the Shadows </a></i></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: large;">Kiersten White & Jim Di Bartolo</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: large;">Scholastic</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: large;">April 29th, 2014</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: large;">Young Adult</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: large;">For Review from Scholastic</span></b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Synopsis via Goodreads</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #d9d2e9;">From the remarkable imagination of acclaimed artist Jim Di Bartolo and the exquisite pen of bestselling author Kiersten White comes a spellbinding story of love, mystery, and dark conspiracy, told in an alternating narrative of words and pictures. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Cora and Minnie are sisters living in a small, stifling town where strange and mysterious things occur. Their mother runs the local boarding house. Their father is gone. The woman up the hill may or may not be a witch. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Thomas and Charles are brothers who’ve been exiled to the boarding house so Thomas can tame his ways and Charles can fight an illness that is killing him with increasing speed. Their family history is one of sorrow and guilt. They think they can escape from it . . . but they can’t.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #ead1dc;">Review</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;">When I first got this book in the mail, I had never heard of it before. This is especially shocking since I am a worshiper of the goddess that is Kiersten White. Needless to say that when I saw the lovely cover and Kiersten's name, I got pretty excited. I was a little wary of the whole mixed media thing (told through both written narrative and illustrative narrative), but when I started reading it, I was like, "Hey, this is kind of cool." As I got further into the book, I grew to like it even more. And by the end? I was in love, finding that <i>In the Shadows</i> had gradually, but surely, secured a special place on my heart's bookshelf. It is always so great when a book can surprise you with it's awesomeness.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><i>In the Shadows</i> is told from the perspective of five different characters: Cora, Millie, Thomas, Charles, and Arthur. Cora, the elder daughter, used to be fun and outgoing but, after an unfortunate incident and the death of her father, grew cautious and reserved. I loved that we actually got to see this scene happen, as it occurs before the rest of the story. I had a great deal of sympathy for Cora, though I wished I could have seen a little more of what she was like before, possibly through a couple of brief flashbacks via Millie. Millie is the polar opposite of Cora, possessing a sort of wildness and curiosity about her with a penchant for story telling. Thomas, the elder brother, was similar to Cora in that he wasn't much of a talker or adventurer, but I got this sense that he had a wild side back home, and I hated that I didn't get to see any of that in him at the boarding house; I wanted to know more about his past. Charles, his younger brother, is gravely ill but full of humor, charisma, and a live-life-while-you-can, no worries attitude that I adored. He loves a good problem to solve and Millie proves the perfect challenge for him. Then we have the broody and mysterious Arthur, who was, quite frankly, probably my least favorite of the group, but I came to appreciate him towards the end. Finally, we have our little group of villains. There is Mary, the crazy woman (witch?) that lives in the scary house on the hill. I actually really liked what was done with her character and found her to be surprisingly dynamic. Then there was Alden, who very thoroughly and effectively played the role of evil villain. And Constance, who is also, you know, evil. However, she had this deceptively sweet charm about her that I just loved. All of this being said, if there was one thing I had to pick as a weakness for the book, it would be the characters. They all had such great, distinct personalities, but they weren't given a lot of time to fully develop their potential. This bothered me some, because I wanted more, but I found not nearly as much as it would have bothered me in other books. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><i>In the Shadows</i> is told in two alternating story lines. One follows the lives of the aforementioned characters through the written narrative, taking place at a boarding house in Maine. Then there is the illustrated story line which follows a mystery man on a dangerous journey into the future and across the world as he searches for the society. I had a couple of characters that I was considering for the role of this mystery man, and in the end, the one I was most sure of was correct. Seriously though, this book had it all: a dash of romance, action, intrigue, and some mild horror. Seeing the two story lines play out in juxtaposition was thrilling and revealed information in some of the most fascinating ways that kept me guessing throughout. White and Bartolo made a very wise decision in how to go about writing the two stories in terms of plot timelines. All of this is why I wasn't too upset by the shortness of character development. This book was all about telling a story, and I could imagine sitting at the foot of a rocking chair while listening to some wise elder telling it to me. I could see <i>and </i>hear this story.This would make an awesome frikin movie if it weren't for the fact that it would probably get butchered. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #ead1dc;">Kiersten White's writing was just magical, but no shocker there. The style of this story was quite different than the Paranormalcy books, and her writing style adapted quite nicely to fit <i>In the Shadows</i>. It was lyrical, descriptive, and full of haunting and mesmerizing imagery. I enjoyed the third person (on the fence between omniscient and limited) perspectives, as it really added to the fact that the focus of this novel is to tell/show a story. However, I felt that this, combined with the fact that we had five perspectives, contributed to a lesser development of the characters. The written sections were often brief, and I sometimes had a hard time knowing who the focus was on. Honestly, I think this novel could have used a little more of the actual written sections to balance out the illustrated portions. This book could have easily been around 450 pages. Moreover, what was there did suffice to tell the story that needed to be told. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #ead1dc;">Jim Di Bartolo's illustrations were lovely and very versatile, though never in a way that felt inconsistent or disjointed. The dramatic lines, use of colors and shading did an excellent job of getting across the more eerie aspects of this story. At the same time, there would be panels that had me going, "Wow, this is really exquisite." Bartolo's illustrations worked so cohesively with the written narrative when it came to reflecting both <i>In the Shadow's</i> dark and beautiful sides. They also did a very efficient job of fulfilling their responsibility for their half of the story. They weren't pictures to simply be glanced over and moved past; they demanded to be looked at more closely for full appreciation and understanding of the story being told. And I loved this about them; they had good looks and a brain.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ead1dc;">As this book was drawing near its end, I could see a pretty clear connection between the two stories being told, but I also still had a ton of questions. More questions than I thought could be answered in what remained. But I was wrong, and the stories ended up pulling together to create the perfect conclusion. I'll admit, there were a couple of small questions that lingered about, but I was able to answer them for the most part by going back through the illustrated panels. <i>In the Shadows</i> wasn't a book that I finished and just put down; I took my time going back through, looking for things I might not have noticed the first time around, and it was great. Everything made so much sense going back with enlightened eyes. This book works excellently as a standalone novel (and let's face it, we could use more standalone books), but if another book came out following more closely the story that was told via the illustrations, I'd buy it. Cause I was left craving more.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #ead1dc;">In Essence</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Characters: </b><i>Great, distinctly varied cast of characters, but could have been more developed.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Writing:</b><i> Magical. But what else should I expect from Kiersten White? Would have liked to have seen a greater ratio of writing sections in contrast to the illustrated ones.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Plot: </b><i>Exciting, palpable, and brilliantly plotted.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Illustrations:</b> <i>Beautiful, dark, and creepy. </i></span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Ending:</b> <i>Perhaps a bit rushed, but wrapped things up wonderfully.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Enjoyment/Likability:</b><i> I didn't fall head over heels in love right off the bat; instead, it took its time winning me over. And what girl doesn't like to be properly wooed on occasion? </i></span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Recommendable:</b><i> OMG, yes. Read it! Perfect for a dreary, rainy evening. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Overall:</b> <i>This book had a couple of small flaws but, overall, was an exceptionally pleasant surprise, and I'm so glad that Scholastic sent it to me. Because of the format, this may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I highly recommend giving it a try, even if it is out of your comfort zone. </i>In the Shadows<i> is a masterpiece of a story, a work of art that only two truly great minds could have executed so seamlessly. This book has reaffirmed my love for Kiersten White's writing, and it has also given me a new illustrator to keep an eye out for. Mad props, you two. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Cover: </b><i>Frikin' gorgeous. The picture doesn't do it justice. The pattern around the edges and stuff is raised. The book is even pretty naked. ;) </i></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #ead1dc;">Buy <i>In the Shadows</i></span></b><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545561442/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0545561442&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20&linkId=3OWPMKYNTRUGHW5J"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Amazon</span></a> / <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G5N4TEE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00G5N4TEE&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20&linkId=2WWEBBTTN7LRQN7H"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Kindle</span></a> / <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-the-shadows-kiersten-white/1116995781?ean=9780545561440">B&N</a> / <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-the-shadows-kiersten-white/1116995781?ean=9780545561457">Nook</a> / <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Shadows-Kiersten-White/9780545561440/?a_aid=thebookpixie">Book Depository</a></span></span><br />
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~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-63881170327436024062014-06-29T07:08:00.000-04:002014-06-29T07:08:45.369-04:00Review: The Fault in Our Stars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11870085-the-fault-in-our-stars?ac=1">The Fault in Our Stars</a></i></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: large;">John Green</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: large;">Dutton Books</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: large;">January 10th, 2012</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: large;">Young Adult</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: large;">Bought on Kindle</span></b><br />
<b><br />
</b><b><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Synopsis via Goodreads</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #ead1dc;">Review</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;">*takes a deep breath* So, this review is neither raving nor scathing (well maybe some of the latter), but somewhere in between. I was really enjoying <i>The Fault in Our Stars</i> when I initially started it. But the further in I got, the more it seemed to just...leave a bad taste in my mouth. Especially the more I contemplated what I had just read upon finishing it. I find myself understanding why there is so much hype about it; at the same time, I'm not so sure it deserves it. After all, it is easy to play the right, and best, hand when you've got cards stuffed up your sleeves. (No, I'm not calling John Green a cheater. Just, he knew exactly what elements this story needed to be a big hit, and he used them all: dying teenagers; last chance, whirlwind romance; snark; irony; metaphors; a lot of frikin' metaphors made to make the reader feel smart and the characters seem deep and profound.)</span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #ead1dc;">Alright, so, I liked the characters, generally speaking. They were snarky, fun to read about, and I found myself rooting for them overall, though not especially invested in them emotionally. Unfortunately, their personalities were so similar that it was almost as though they were the same person/character/idea represented in male and female form. They made a big show of "not being their cancer" and the whole time I was like, "But you are!" They, and their family, were almost solely defined by the fact that both Gus and Hazel have cancer. I realize something like cancer tends to take over your life and all; I watched my dad die from cancer, so please don't try to tell me I don't know what it is like. However, for example, we know Hazel is taking college classes; why not include more of that area of her life in the story? Even if just a little more. I found it hard to believe that Hazel's one friend from the high school (nope, don't remember her name) was the first person her mom thinks of for Hazel to spend her birthday with, and yet she's almost never around. If she's that important, I would have liked to have seen more of her and what there was of her friendship with Hazel. I didn't feel as though any of the characters under went all that much growth throughout the story. They would appear to, at times, but then were right back to how they were.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #ead1dc;">As for the overall story line, I felt like it was trying to capitalize on everything that makes a book a bestseller. (See first paragraph). Hazel seems to pride herself on giving an honest, and somewhat brutal portrayal of what cancer is really like. And I'm sitting here thinking, "So it is normal for kids with cancer to fall in love with a hot fellow cancer dude at support group *spoiler* <span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">and lose their virginity together in fucking Austria</span></span> <span style="color: #ead1dc;">*spoiler*?" Someone please tell me how this is in any way a realistic portrayal of a teen with cancer. I am perfectly willing to admit that my view of this book is probably tainted by the fact that I have personally dealt with losing one of the two most important people in my life to cancer. Although, I actually feel as though I am more enlightened by it, rather than tainted. Because I have seen how ugly and awful the reality of cancer is first hand. And this, this was a very romanticized picture of it that wouldn't have bothered me so much if it would have just owned up to being so instead of trying to tout itself as some eye-opening breakthrough in YA literature on the subject of cancer. (I don't entirely blame John Green for this and realize this has more to do with the marketing of the novel.)</span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: #ead1dc;">The writing was nice, the pacing very fluid and consistent, with parts of it being very beautiful. I say parts because some of it felt like it was trying way too hard to be deep and profound, while others were genuinely...well...great. That said, even though there were sections of writing that I loved, the words did not feel believable coming from a couple of teenagers (or much of anyone, for that matter) who are supposed to be coming up with this stuff off the top of their heads and using it in everyday conversation. No, they read like a man sitting at a computer, or lying in bed, working over that section of thought countless times in his head until it is perfect. In other words, John Green's writing read like writing, and I often found this to result in my being pulled out of the story as I think, "Who the heck, teenager or otherwise, says stuff like that?"</span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #ead1dc;">Moreover, there were times throughout this novel that were prime for hardcore, heart wrenching emotion that were wasted because of a somewhat arrogant obsession with "beautiful, deep, and profound metaphors". I felt Green was too concerned with making things sound pretty and poetic in these emotionally wrought moments, causing the true, and ugly pain of the situations to leave me feeling next to nothing.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #ead1dc;">The ending, well I saw that coming from a mile off and was not the least bit surprised. When I went to turn the page on my kindle, only to see I had finished, there was a brief "Where's the rest?" moment, but I quickly recovered and shrugged it off like, "Well, yeah. Figures."<br />
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This review has ended up being more scathing than I initially intended. I liked the book fairly well while I was reading it. But the more I have thought about it since, the more I want to stick the killing thing between my lips and give it the power to kill me. In other words, it was a very in the moment read for me that I never should have given much thought to upon finishing.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><br />
</span> <b><span style="color: #ead1dc;">In Essence</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Characters: </b><i>Snarky and witty, but not very well rounded/developed. I wanted more depth, as opposed to the illusion of depth.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Writing:</b> <i>Occasionally gorgeous and clever, but felt ill utilized in places. Read quickly and smoothly.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>Prided itself on being honest, but didn't feel all that brutally revealing. Very caught up in the romance.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Ending: </b><i>Predictable and just...meh.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Enjoyment/Likability:</b> <i>I liked it most the time I was reading it. It was decent. Laughed a lot. Never found myself moved to tears though.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Recommendable:</b> Let's face it, you've either read it already, never plan to read it, or know you will read it at some point, regardless of what I've written above.<i> </i></span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Overall:</b> <i>In short, this is a good-ish book. Really. Especially if you take it for what it is, see it for what it isn't, and don't dig too deeply. I am definitely a subscriber to the "It's Overrated" club. Despite it falling short of my expectations (seriously, I've been hearing people sing this book's praises since before it ever officially released), I'm glad I read it, and it did get me out of my reading slump. My main issue with this book was that it seemed more concerned with being a bestseller than telling a meaningful story. (Fire up the torches.) I will be reading more of Green in the future, though, starting with Looking for Alaska, which I have heard is better. Also, John Green, I think you are a super cool dude and all. Nothing personal. I just didn't like this book.</i></span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Cover:</b> <i>Umm...simplistic? Sure, we'll go with that.</i></span><br />
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~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-61587320662644754112014-01-21T21:11:00.000-05:002014-01-21T21:11:10.800-05:00YA Kindle Book Deals! ~For $1.99~<br />
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<iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=000000&fc1=F3EDED&lc1=0000FF&t=thbopi00-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B0049195NY" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe> ~ <iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=000000&fc1=F7EFEF&lc1=0000FF&t=thbopi00-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B007SGTUUU" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe> ~ <iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=000000&fc1=F9F7F7&lc1=0000FF&t=thbopi00-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B005IQ2DOW" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br />
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~For $2.99~<br />
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<iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=000000&fc1=F3EBEB&lc1=0000FF&t=thbopi00-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B0052RDJAO" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe> ~ <iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=000000&fc1=FFFFFF&lc1=0000FF&t=thbopi00-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B002JWD6AS" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe> ~ <iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=000000&fc1=FBF3F3&lc1=0000FF&t=thbopi00-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B008L3ALV6" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br />
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<iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=000000&fc1=F5F1F1&lc1=0000FF&t=thbopi00-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B0051O9MJ0" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe> ~ <iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=020202&fc1=F7F3F3&lc1=0000FF&t=thbopi00-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B00DDWITQY" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe> ~ <iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=000000&fc1=F5EDED&lc1=0000FF&t=thbopi00-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B00EHKY36G" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br />
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<iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=000000&fc1=F3F3F3&lc1=0000FF&t=thbopi00-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B005SCS48K" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe> ~ <iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=000000&fc1=F7EFEF&lc1=0000FF&t=thbopi00-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B006564VQC" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br />
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~Between $3.00 and $4.00~<br />
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<iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=000000&fc1=FFFDFD&lc1=0000FF&t=thbopi00-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B0080K3D10" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe> ~ <iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=000000&fc1=F7F1F1&lc1=0000FF&t=thbopi00-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B004VN2ZYG" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe> ~ <iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=000000&fc1=F3E9E9&lc1=0000FF&t=thbopi00-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B0076DF978" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br />
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<iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=000000&fc1=F7EFEF&lc1=0000FF&t=thbopi00-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B00C7XTOKA" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jT50PkTYvAc/Ut8XzglsReI/AAAAAAAAHf0/dhqWQ55nXdA/s1600/Briana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jT50PkTYvAc/Ut8XzglsReI/AAAAAAAAHf0/dhqWQ55nXdA/s200/Briana.jpg" /></a></div>~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-46559760607310971302014-01-15T07:30:00.000-05:002014-01-15T07:30:01.368-05:00Waiting on Wednesday: Stolen Songbird<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1386265289l/17926775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1386265289l/17926775.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at <a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/">Breaking the Spine</a>.<br />
<b><br /><span style="color: #d9d2e9;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17926775-stolen-songbird">Stolen Songbird</a></i><br />
Danielle L. Jensen<br />
Strange Chemistry<br />
April 1st, 2014<br />
The Malediction Trilogy, #1<br />
Young Adult</span><br />
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Synopsis via Goodreads</span></b><span style="color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
For those who have loved Seraphina and Graceling comes another truly fabulous fantasy...<br />
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For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined.<br />
<br />
Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity.<br />
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But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting – she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods – part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader.<br />
<br />
As Cécile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever.</span><br />
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So, trolls. That's pretty new. I like new. The premise definitely has grabbed my attention, though the name for the city, Trollus, bugs me. This story has the potential for some amazing and unique world building that I look forward to experiencing. What do you think?<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xxp2rX31tGA/UsnJ5mPMWvI/AAAAAAAAHfM/-5QpVicXgO4/s1600/Briana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xxp2rX31tGA/UsnJ5mPMWvI/AAAAAAAAHfM/-5QpVicXgO4/s200/Briana.jpg" /></a></div>
~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-25306451684127882282014-01-08T09:30:00.000-05:002014-01-08T09:30:02.220-05:00Waiting on Wednesday: Nearly Gone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1371744467l/13409664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1371744467l/13409664.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at <a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/">Breaking the Spine</a>.<br />
<span style="color: #d9d2e9;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13409664-nearly-gone">Nearly Gone</a></i><br />
Elle Cosimano<br />
Kathy Dawson Books <br />
March 25th, 2014<br />
Young Adult</span></b><br />
<br /><b>
Synopsis via Goodreads</b><br />
Bones meets Fringe in a big, dark, scary, brilliantly-plotted urban thriller that will leave you guessing until the very end.<br />
<br />
Nearly Boswell knows how to keep secrets. Living in a DC trailer park, she knows better than to share anything that would make her a target with her classmates. Like her mother's job as an exotic dancer, her obsession with the personal ads, and especially the emotions she can taste when she brushes against someone's skin. But when a serial killer goes on a killing spree and starts attacking students, leaving cryptic ads in the newspaper that only Nearly can decipher, she confides in the one person she shouldn't trust: the new guy at school—a reformed bad boy working undercover for the police, doing surveillance. . . on her.<br />
<br />
Nearly might be the one person who can put all the clues together, and if she doesn't figure it all out soon—she'll be next.</span>
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</b><br />
<br />
This book had me at "Bone meets Fringe"; they're only two of the best shows ever! Of course, that also sets quite a high standard in my mind for this book to live up to. Can't wait to get my hands on this one and see just how good it really is. </center>
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~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-87484709557677022952013-12-27T07:52:00.000-05:002013-12-27T07:52:00.021-05:00Review: The Whole Stupid Way We Are<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14999813-the-whole-stupid-way-we-are?ac=1">The Whole Stupid Way We Are</a></i><br />
N. Griffin<br />
Atheneum Books for Young Readers<br />
February 5th, 2013<br />
Young Adult <br />
Unsolicited For Review</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Synopsis via Goodreads</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #d9d2e9;">What happens when everything you’ve got to give isn’t enough to save someone you love?</span><br />
<span style="color: #d9d2e9;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #d9d2e9;">It’s Maine. It’s winter. And it’s FREEZING STINKIN’ COLD! Dinah is wildly worried about her best friend, Skint. He won’t wear a coat. Refuses to wear a coat. It’s twelve degrees out, and he won’t wear a coat. So Dinah’s going to figure out how to help. That’s what Dinah does—she helps. But she’s too busy trying to help to notice that sometimes, she’s doing more harm than good. Seeing the trees instead of the forest? That’s Dinah.</span><br />
<span style="color: #d9d2e9;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #d9d2e9;">And Skint isn’t going to be the one to tell her. He’s got his own problems. He’s worried about a little boy whose dad won’t let him visit his mom. He’s worried about an elderly couple in a too-cold house down the street.</span><br />
<span style="color: #d9d2e9;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #d9d2e9;">But the wedge between what drives Dinah and what concerns Skint is wide enough for a big old slab of ice. Because Skint’s own father is in trouble. Because Skint’s mother refuses to ask for help even though she’s at her breaking point. And because Dinah might just decide to…help. She thinks she’s cracking through a sheet of ice, but what’s actually there is an entire iceberg.</span><br />
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<b>Review</b><br />
There is a wall in my dorm room, and on it exists an image of a girl standing in the snow, the words 'The Whole Stupid Way We Are' marked in the paint. Why? Because that is how hard I threw this frikin' book at the wall. True story. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Not really.</span> Don't get me wrong, it is a good book, great even, but it often had me wanting to pull my hair out. So. Exasperating. XD<br />
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Our protagonists, Dinah and Skint, bless their little hearts, are headed to no place good rather quickly. The two are pretty much all each other has and yet they manage to be both their own, and each other's, worst enemy. While Dinah has a pretty stable home life, Skint's couldn't be any further from that. They both seemed way too young to handle the gravity of Skint's situation, but then, I kept forgetting that they were actually well in there teens. Dinah is constantly trying to help, but in all the wrong ways, while Skint never asks for the help that he so desperately needs. He's stubborn. Angry. Cynical. Depressed by the crimes of the world. She's naive. Well-meaning. Fanciful. Blind to the harsh realities of the here and now. Watching these two together was like watching a train headed towards a disastrous crash. I knew I was helpless to do anything and found myself wishing I could protect them. Wishing for a miracle. My heart ached for them. My brain was mentally face-palming at Dinah's futile attempts. Neither character experiences a lot of development. In fact, Skint stays pretty static throughout, though I felt this was handled quite realistically. Dinah, on the other hand, didn't experience her pivotal turning point until right at the end. I often found myself wanting to reach into the book and slap her back into the real world.<br />
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<i>The Whole Stupid Way We Are</i> is very much a character-driven novel. The families in this book are so messed up, specifically Skint's. There are times when the reader is given a very close-up, personal look into Skint's family life and these glimpses often had me feeling disgusted, outraged, and helpless. The tension and conflict was so painfully palpable at times; it was overwhelmingly real. The relationship between Dinah and Skint is strictly platonic, which I appreciated. Romance was the last thing this book needed, so if you are a reader that craves that in a book, along with serious action, this isn't for you. That said, the family, friend, and community relationships are strong, well fleshed out elements.<br />
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I must say, I loved the writing. Griffin's style was beautifully sparse and to the point, though perhaps a bit bizarre. Despite being in third-person, the narrative was surprisingly charged emotionally. It took some getting used to at first; however it quickly grew on me, and it ended up being my favorite thing about the book.<br />
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At first, I thought about calling the ending sad, or maybe even heartbreaking. But honestly, I find the word tragic much more accurate. To be heartbreaking, I would have needed to be at least a little surprised by the ending. That said, I pretty much knew from the start that this book was not going to end well, therefor giving me the entire novel to resign myself to not getting a nice big happily-ever-after bow to tie things up. This didn't make the ending any less sad, though.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #ead1dc;">In Essence</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Characters:</b> <i>Frustrating, child-like (not -ish), overburdened. A great array of supporting characters.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Writing: </b><i>Beautiful and unique!</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Plot: </b><i>Emotionally evocative and often gut-wrenching.</i> </span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Ending:</b> <i>Tragic, suitable.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Enjoyment/Likability:</b> <i>Well it was sad and incredibly frustrating, so not enjoyable, but I did like the book.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Recommendable:</b> <i>Probably not everyone's cup of tea. Definitely on the quirky side of books. </i></span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Overall:</b> <i>The Whole Stupid Way We Are</i>, in my opinion, is in many ways a tragedy. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(For clarity, in the Romeo and Juliet sense. Not in the...let's say...Miley Cyrus sense.)</span> At times, this book left me so irritated, which it couldn't have done without having me seriously emotionally invested in it. If you prefer plot driven novels, this isn't for you. However, fans of character-driven contemporary YA should definitely give this book a try. It is a bit odd in its expression, but that's part of what made it so special and unique. </span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><b>Cover:</b> Very pretty and real feeling, if that makes sense. </span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="color: #ead1dc;">Buy <i>The Whole Stupid Way We Are</i></span></b><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0088P0JD2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0088P0JD2&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">Amazon</a> / <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-whole-stupid-way-we-are-n-griffin/1110155533?ean=9781442431560">B&N</a> / <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Whole-Stupid-Way-We-Are-N-Griffin/9781442431553/a?_aid=thebookpixie">Book Depository</a><br />
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~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-59143911851181552592013-12-04T21:47:00.000-05:002013-12-04T21:47:34.372-05:00An Update: Yes, I'm Still Alive!<center>Hello lovelies! I have missed you guys like crazy. I know I have been inactive for a while, and I'm sorry. This semester has been hell, and I have been dealing with a lot in my life lately. Next week is finals, and then I'M FREE! I will be back to actively blogging soon after and can't wait to start getting some reviews and posts up again. I've missed this community so much and am hoping next semester will allow me to stay consistently involved throughout. <br />
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On another note, for those of you who don't know, I also do a great deal of photography. From Dec. 16th until approximately Jan. 10th, I'm going to be in the New Jersey area. Jackson, to be more specific. If you would be interested in having some photos done during that time, please feel free to contact me. It's $45 for a CD of photos (or I can send them to you via Dropbox). For author photos, only $40. I am willing to travel into, within reason, Pennsylvania, New York, and other connecting states. That said, a travel/gas fee may be charged unless I was already planning to be in the area. If you'd like more information, contact me via my email or my Facebook photography page. In case you are wondering what my work looks like, here are a couple of examples:<br />
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You can like my page and find out more information below: <br />
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Also, if you just want to meet up and hang out one day, that's cool too. :D~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-1427016415375121512013-08-21T10:30:00.000-04:002013-08-21T10:30:02.932-04:00YA Kindle Deals! <center>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=000000&fc1=FFFFFF&lc1=FFFFFF&t=thbopi00-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B00AI1L6TK" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> ~ <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=000000&fc1=FFFFFF&lc1=FFFFFF&t=thbopi00-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B003G4W49C" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> ~ <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=000000&fc1=FFFFFF&lc1=FFFFFF&t=thbopi00-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B004CFA9RS" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></center>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T3wosdeLaOY/UQywJsOkUzI/AAAAAAAAG3s/uC8fX_1iNRU/s1600/Briana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="98" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T3wosdeLaOY/UQywJsOkUzI/AAAAAAAAG3s/uC8fX_1iNRU/s200/Briana.jpg" width="154" /></a>~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-42785535772026888962013-08-21T00:56:00.005-04:002013-08-21T00:56:55.779-04:00Waiting on Wednesday: Vengeance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at <a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/">Breaking the Spine</a>.<br />
<span style="color: #d9d2e9;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15697915-vengeance?ac=1"><i>Vengeance </i></a><br />
Megan Miranda<br />
Walker Childrens<br />
February 13th, 2014<br />
Fracture, #2<br />
Young Adult</span><br />
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Synopsis via Goodreads</b><br />
Nobody really believes in a curse. Until you know the people who disappear. Too much coincidence, you look for reason. Too much death, you grasp for something to blame. Carson pulled Delaney out and he died on the side of the road with her mouth pressed to his. Her air in his body. Troy. She told the cops it was suicide. Didn't matter. The lake released her and grabbed another. But when Decker's father dies in a pool of spilled water on their kitchen floor, all Decker can feel is a slow burning rage. Because he knows that Delaney knew that his dad was going to die. She knew and backed out of his house and never said a word. Falcon Lake still has a hold on them both, and Decker can't forgive Delaney until he knows why.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></b><br />
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I enjoyed <i>Fracture</i> fairly well and have been looking forward to delving more into the world that Megan Miranda has created. I still have a lot of questions and I'm hoping this book will answer them. Gotta say though, this cover doesn't quite live up to my expectations set by the previous book's cover. Not bad though.<br />
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Check out my review of <i>Fracture</i> <a href="http://thebookpixie.blogspot.com/2012/05/review-fracture-by-megan-miranda.html">here</a>. </center>
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~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-43459333317324451222013-08-20T20:08:00.001-04:002013-08-20T20:08:37.324-04:00Scorched Pre-Order CampaignFrom Sourcebooks....<br />
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It’s Game of Thrones meets The Terminator in award-winning author Mari Mancusi’s newest, powerful new series, SCORCHED which will be in stores on September 3rd! <br />
We’ve put together a fun campaign to thank readers for pre-ordering: send us your proof of pre-order and we’ll send you this fabulous dragon charm!<br />
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A Gift for You, for Pre-Ordering SCORCHED by Mari Mancusi<br />
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We have a special offer for U.S. and Canada YA fans for the release of SCORCHED by Mari Mancusi in stores in a little over three weeks! If you pre-order the book, we will send you an exclusive dragon charm—perfect to wear as jewelry or to decorate an accessory. You have until September 2 or until quantities run out. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eYqvZzyaZd0/UhQC1zUuNHI/AAAAAAAAHYk/iwrD8qdb6-w/s1600/Scorched.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eYqvZzyaZd0/UhQC1zUuNHI/AAAAAAAAHYk/iwrD8qdb6-w/s320/Scorched.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Here’s how to get your charm:<br />
1. Pre-order the book (print or eBook) through any retailer (Barnes & Noble, Amazon, your local independent bookseller/Indiebound, Books-A-Million, Hastings, etc.)<br />
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2. Email your proof of purchase (receipt or picture of the receipt) to teenfire@sourcebooks.com. Put “Scorched Pre-Order” in the subject line. Don’t forget to include your home address (US & Canada only please) so we can send you the dragon charm! If you’ve already pre-ordered this book—not a problem! Send us your receipt!<br />
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3. You will get an email back confirming when the items have been sent out. <br />
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4. Enjoy Scorched when it comes out in September!<br />
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Optional: take a pic of you and your dragon charm and share it with Mari Mancusi or Sourcebooks Fire on Twitter! You can find Mari @marimancusi and Sourcebooks Fire @sourcebooksfire.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nDukgxToF0/UUEXs-WEzSI/AAAAAAAAHTI/bWLjCB-k9Nk/s1600/Briana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nDukgxToF0/UUEXs-WEzSI/AAAAAAAAHTI/bWLjCB-k9Nk/s320/Briana.jpg" /></a>~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-76438807312535871692013-08-17T09:00:00.000-04:002013-08-17T09:00:04.573-04:00Guest Post: A Day in the 20's by Jillian Larkin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;">A little while ago, Jillian Larkin agreed to do a guest post for my blog. I gave her a couple of prompts to choose from and this is the question she picked: </span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #eeeeee;">If you could go back in time to the Roaring Twenties for one day, where would you go and how would you spend the day?</span></b><br />
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What an excellent question! I thought about this a lot while I was writing The Flappers series, so I’m glad I officially get to answer it now! I've often imagined how thrilling it would be to spend a day as Clara living her old flapper life in New York, before she moved to Chicago at the start of Vixen. The rush of the city in the 1920's—the lavish parties, glamorous fashion, and rebellious adventures—is sure to make for a fabulous and memorable experience. Even the legendary Jay Gatsby’s 12-bedroom mansion rested along Long Island’s Gold Coast, so I would absolutely have to take a trek out there. With all of the possibilities, why would I choose to spend the day any other place?<br />
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I’d start my day by getting my hands on some glad rags and beauty essentials on Fifth Avenue (nothing beats Chanel early in the morning!). I’d buy a glamorous day dress and a new gown for the evening's festivities (I’m a redhead like Gloria, so I may indulge in a deep green number to complement the fiery hue—and I’ve always been a sucker for peacock feathers). Then, to truly pull off my new look, I’d have to take the plunge and stop by a barber to get the infamous, short bob hairstyle that flappers are so known. After applying some coal and cherry red lipstick, I’d be the Real McCoy, and ready to meet up with new girlfriends for mimosas and brunch near Central Park.<br />
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Once all the plates have been emptied (and the waiters winked at), it would be time to see the sights! Although I am a proud and well-seasoned New Yorker, being a part of the City in the Roaring 20's would be an entirely new world in need of exploring. One stop I’d have to make would be the New Amsterdam Theater to see Ziegfeld's showgirl experience, Follies, in the flesh. The theatrical productions were known for their elaborate and awe inducing costumes and their larger than life stars such as Gilda Gray and Josephine Baker.<br />
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Once the sun went down, I'd truly embrace the flapper spirit. Who wouldn't take this once and lifetime opportunity to crash a ritzy Fitzgerald-esque party, show off one's spiffy get-up, and dance the night away? I'd most certainly have to kick off the night with a visit to a swank speakeasy—possibly The Back Room in the Lower East Side or Jack and Charlie’s 21 on 52nd Street, but definitely a classy joint—where I could scope out the pack for a worthy dance partner.<br />
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When it comes to dancing, I might have to pull a Lorraine and simply improvise the steps. However, if I picked it up quick, I love to learn the Charleston, the Black Bottom, and the Varsity Drag! I’d dance until my feet hurt before giving my lips a fresh coat and a blot or two, crowding into a cab with glamorous socialites, and charming my way into a hotsy-totsy, nouveau riche bash to munch on baby quiche and sway to the rhythm of the top-notch jazz band dressed head to toe in white on the far side of the ballroom.<br />
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Once even the most notorious flappers have called it a night, I’d take to the city’s streets one final time. After picking up a rich cup of coffee and a sticky pastry, I’d find a cozy bench to nestle on as I watched the sun peak over the New York skyline.<br />
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After 24 hours of imitating an authentic flapper, I know I’d be posilutely exhausted! I’d probably have to sleep for an entire day to catch up. The Clara's, Gloria's, and Lorraine's of the 1920's could go out on the town night after night with energy and ease, proud to be young women taking charge of their own lives. As for the flapper lifestyle, all I'd need would be a little taste—a chance to dance like Louise Brooks and dine like the Fitzgeralds. It would truly be a dream come true.<br />
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></b><br />
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Don't forget to check out Jillian's Flappers series! </span><br />
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~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-82975295067314882122013-08-03T18:35:00.000-04:002013-08-03T18:36:59.184-04:00Stacking the Shelves (4)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b> For Review from Netgalley</b><br />
~Losing It (ARC) edited by Keith Gray<br />
~<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307976815/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0307976815&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">The Book of Lost Things</a></i> (ARC) by Cynthia Voigt<br />
~<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0373210973/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0373210973&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">Witchstruck</a></i> (ARC) by Victoria Lamb<br />
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<b> For Review from Edelweiss</b><br />
~<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1606844199/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1606844199&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">White Space</a></i> (ARC) by Ilsa J. Bick<br />
~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1606842471/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1606842471&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20"><i>The Shadow Prince</i></a> (ARC) by Bree Despain<br />
~<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1606844393/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1606844393&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">The Scar Boys</a></i> (ARC) by Len Vlahos<br />
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<b> For Review from Jillian Larkin </b><br />
~<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385740352/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0385740352&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">Vixen</a></i> by Jillian Larkin<br />
~<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385740379/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0385740379&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">Ingenue</a></i> by Jillian Larkin<br />
~<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385740425/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0385740425&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">Diva</a></i> by Jillian Larkin<br />
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<b> Bought for Kindle</b><br />
~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004G8QNKI/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004G8QNKI&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">Wildefire</a> by Karsten Knight<br />
~<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005J5U07O/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005J5U07O&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">A Monster Calls</a></i> by Patrick Ness ($1.99!)<br />
~<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004QZ9P8S/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004QZ9P8S&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">Everybody Sees the Ants</a> </i>by A.S. King ($2.99!)<br />
~<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00779MWBM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00779MWBM&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">Of Poseidon</a></i> by Anna Banks ($2.99!)<br />
~<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003I55BIA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003I55BIA&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">Perfect Chemistry</a></i> by Simone Elkeles ($2.99!)<br />
~<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00745YWCQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00745YWCQ&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">Tessa Masterson Will Go to Prom</a></i> by Brendan Halpin & Emily Franklin ($2.99!)<br />
~<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VLZ5OK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004VLZ5OK&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">The Musician's Daughter</a></i> by Susanne Dunlap ($2.99!)</center>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></b></center>
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A big thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, and Jillian Larkin for the awesome review books! I'm so excited to be adding all of these to my personal library, and I can't wait to get started reading them.</center>
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~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-8249568702765271882013-07-30T23:00:00.000-04:002013-07-30T23:00:00.507-04:00Summer Giveaway Hop!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZEh2Idjwfe4/UfXpSvsLpYI/AAAAAAAAHXs/2QmyfqGbDNs/s1600/summer+13+giveaway+hop%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZEh2Idjwfe4/UfXpSvsLpYI/AAAAAAAAHXs/2QmyfqGbDNs/s320/summer+13+giveaway+hop%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a></div><br />
For this giveaway, I am giving one lucky reader the chance to win a copy of one of the following YA August 2013 releases. This giveaway is open internationally! Here are the choices:<br />
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<center><a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1356888889l/17190935.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1356888889l/17190935.jpg" width="120" /></a> <a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1359659137l/13636400.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1359659137l/13636400.jpg" width="120" /></a> <a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1372785234l/17290266.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1372785234l/17290266.jpg" width="120" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1370282544l/13477676.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1370282544l/13477676.jpg" width="120" /></a> <a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1350334557l/12930909.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1350334557l/12930909.jpg" width="120" /></a> <a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1362220428l/15740944.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1362220428l/15740944.jpg" width="120" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1354910609l/12140024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1354910609l/12140024.jpg" width="120" /></a> <a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1366395005l/13522285.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1366395005l/13522285.jpg" width="120" /></a> <a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1365589883l/17167166.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1365589883l/17167166.jpg" width="120" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1360281470l/11431896.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1360281470l/11431896.jpg" width="120" /></a> <a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1360689478l/17331289.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1360689478l/17331289.jpg" width="120" /></a> <a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1360776495l/14289306.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1360776495l/14289306.jpg" width="120" /></a><br />
<br />
<a id="rc-467db739" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/467db739/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script><br />
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And check out what other folks are giving away for the hop!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nDukgxToF0/UUEXs-WEzSI/AAAAAAAAHTI/bWLjCB-k9Nk/s1600/Briana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nDukgxToF0/UUEXs-WEzSI/AAAAAAAAHTI/bWLjCB-k9Nk/s320/Briana.jpg" /></a></center>~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-3386458406612392782013-07-30T17:00:00.000-04:002013-07-30T18:07:11.431-04:00Review: Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1370282544l/13477676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1370282544l/13477676.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><b><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13477676-forgive-me-leonard-peacock?ac=1">Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock</a></i></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: large;">Matthew Quick</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: large;">Little Brown Books for Young Readers</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: large;">August 13th, 2013</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: large;">Young Adult</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: large;">For Review from Publisher</span></b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Synopsis via Goodreads</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #d9d2e9;">In addition to the P-38, there are four gifts, one for each of my friends. I want to say good-bye to them properly. I want to give them each something to remember me by. To let them know I really cared about them and I'm sorry I couldn't be more than I was—that I couldn't stick around—and that what's going to happen today isn't their fault.</span><br />
<span style="color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Today is Leonard Peacock's birthday. It is also the day he hides a gun in his backpack. Because today is the day he will kill his former best friend, and then himself, with his grandfather's P-38 pistol.</span><br />
<span style="color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #d9d2e9;">But first he must say good-bye to the four people who matter most to him: his Humphrey Bogart-obsessed next-door neighbor, Walt; his classmate Baback, a violin virtuoso; Lauren, the Christian homeschooler he has a crush on; and Herr Silverman, who teaches the high school's class on the Holocaust. Speaking to each in turn, Leonard slowly reveals his secrets as the hours tick by and the moment of truth approaches.</span><br />
<span style="color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #d9d2e9;">In this riveting book, acclaimed author Matthew Quick unflinchingly examines the impossible choices that must be made—and the light in us all that never goes out.</span><br />
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<b>Review</b><br />
When I first read the synopsis of this book, I was immediately curious. Between the Holocaust incorporation and the mystery behind why Leonard is on a suicide/murder mission, I was sold. Then I realized it was by the same guy who wrote <i>The Silver Linings Playbook</i>, which I've seen and loved but still need to read. So despite the lackluster cover<sup>1</sup>, I was excited to dive right into this one. <br />
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Leonard Peacock, you'll never meet another character like this kid. He's odd, an original thinker, highly intelligent, as well as possessing of a great dry humor. He is also extremely depressed and a little mentally unhinged. For all of this, I loved him and kept hoping things would turn out alright for him in the end. Through his highly creative letters from his future self to his crazy journeys following people at the train station, you could tell that Leonard was desperately trying to find and cling on to some semblance of hope. Every now and then, he would do or say something that just made me face-palm, especially in regards to Lauren. That said, I found him to be flawed in the dynamic way that all of the best characters are flawed. Then there was Herr Silverman. How I wish I could have had a Holocaust class at some point as it is a subject I've always felt deeply connected to. And how I wish I could have had a teacher like Herr Silverman at some point<sup>2</sup>. He was a brilliant and compassionate man with an heir<sup>3</sup> of mystery about him. There was something familiar about Leonard's neighbor, Walt<sup>4</sup>, and I kept thinking how cool it would be to live next to him. Just go over and watch Bogart films, talk in code, etc. <br />
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This is where I take a brief moment to rant about something that just flat out bugged me. The female characters. They consisted of: the Jesus freak "romantic interest"; the oblivious/neglectful single moms; teachers and students<sup>5</sup> who abuse the power of their sexuality; etc. I'm not saying the author is sexist, or Leonard<sup>6</sup> for that matter, but I definitely got a slightly sexist vibe from the way all of the female characters seemed to be constructed in this novel<sup>7</sup>. <br />
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<i>Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock</i> is the stuff banned books are made of. And I mean this in the best way possible. The subject matter is dark, hard-hitting material addressing matters such as suicide, mental instability, the Holocaust, and other things that would spoil the book for you. There is swearing, including the infamous f-bomb, but it wasn't overdone or untasteful, imho. This book could be extremely difficult for me to read at times but for slightly different reasons than most of its readers<sup>8</sup>. The motivation behind Leonard's suicide/murder mission was slowly revealed in flashbacks throughout the story. I had my suspicions all along and they turned out to be correct, but this in no way hindered the story for me. The dry wit and humor helped add a much needed balance, keeping this story from being too heavy and weighted down. I absolutely loved the scenes from Leonard's Holocaust class and found them to be a welcome, appreciated addition to the plot. For the most part, this isn't the type of book you like or enjoy. It is the type of book you are either glad to have read or wish you hadn't. I, for one, am clearly the former. <br />
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Is there still such a thing as modernistic writing these days? Cause if so, I would definitely put Quick's writing in that category. The prose was raw and honest, making me feel like I was directly connected to Leonard's thoughts. The use of footnotes, periodic tid bits of verse, and pages containing only one word all served to increase the tangibility of the mood of the scenes as well as to give the reader a better idea of the mental instability of Leonard. I'll admit, the footnotes could be a little disruptive, but overall I thought they were a unique feature that the story really benefitted from. <br />
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My least favorite part had to be the ending. We kind of get an idea of where things are headed, but for me, I just didn't feel like I got enough closure. I kept "turning the pages" on my kindle looking for the rest only to realize that was it<sup>9</sup>. <br />
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<b>In Essence</b><br />
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<b>Characters:</b> <i>One of a kind protagonist. A couple great minor characters. Issues with female characters.</i><br />
<b>Writing:</b> <i>Intuitive and unique!</i><br />
<b>Plot: </b><i>Hard-hitting and compelling.</i><br />
<b>Ending: </b><i>Not enough closure for me. Too abrupt. </i><br />
<b>Enjoyment/Likability: </b><i>Not the kind of book you "enjoy" reading, but I'm really glad to have read it.</i><br />
<b>Recommendable:<i> </i></b><i>Yes! </i><br />
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<b>Overall:</b> <i>You'll never read anything else like it. The keen, deft manner in which Quick handles the subject matter and a remarkable protagonist make this a must-read. However, if you are looking for something light and fluffy, save this book for a time when you are ready for something that will cause gut-wrenching and not cavities. </i><br />
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<b>Cover:</b> <i>Wasn't a fan at first but kind of like it now. Very gender neutral. </i><br />
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<center><b>Buy <i>Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock</i></b><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316221333/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0316221333&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">Amazon</a> / <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forgive-me-leonard-peacock-matthew-quick/1113742195?ean=9780316221337&itm=1&usri=forgive+me+leonard+peacock">B&N</a> / <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A2E1EV8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00A2E1EV8&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">Kindle</a> / <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forgive-me-leonard-peacock-matthew-quick/1113742195?ean=9780316221320">Nook</a> / <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Forgive-Me-Leonard-Peacock-Matthew-Quick/9780316221337/?a_aid=thebookpixie">Book Depository</a></center><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">1. Though I think I like it better now.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2. I still got a couple years left of college to find one.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">3. No pun intended. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">4. My dad died of lung cancer but insisted on "burning 'em while I got em". Walt smokes despite having really bad lungs. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">5. The valedictorian was the prime example given. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">6. Though I feel like maybe he is, and his mother wouldn't have helped that matter. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">7. We just finished Light in August by William Faulkner in my summer Reading in the South class. One of the main things we discussed was whether or not Faulkner was a misogynist. Perhaps this is why I picked up on the way the female characters were drawn in this book, and perhaps I was reading too much into things. Or perhaps not. Either way, it is something that would have already been strongly in my mind while reading this.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">8. Let's just say that certain elements/scenes hit really close to home for me and call it a day. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">9. It probably didn't help that the story actually ends at about 88% of the way through.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nDukgxToF0/UUEXs-WEzSI/AAAAAAAAHTI/bWLjCB-k9Nk/s1600/Briana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nDukgxToF0/UUEXs-WEzSI/AAAAAAAAHTI/bWLjCB-k9Nk/s320/Briana.jpg" /></a>~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-6674551868777039942013-07-27T14:48:00.000-04:002013-07-27T14:48:50.780-04:00Stacking the Shelves (3)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mE_z6_6PtHM/UfQGRHGUi3I/AAAAAAAAHXc/5asKqZHYfZk/s1600/Stacking+the+Shelves.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mE_z6_6PtHM/UfQGRHGUi3I/AAAAAAAAHXc/5asKqZHYfZk/s320/Stacking+the+Shelves.png" /></a></div><center>As hosted by <a href="http://www.tyngasreviews.com/">Tynga's Reviews</a><br />
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<a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1360869442l/9879358.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1360869442l/9879358.jpg" width="120" /></a> <a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1369380115l/17370021.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1369380115l/17370021.jpg" width="120" /></a> <a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1357961172l/15942674.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1357961172l/15942674.jpg" width="120" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1360964957l/13576618.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1360964957l/13576618.jpg" width="120" /></a> <a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1360341740l/16088678.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1360341740l/16088678.jpg" width="120" /></a><br />
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<b> For Review from Scholastic</b><br />
~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545166667/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0545166667&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">Sorrow's Knot</a> by Erin Bow (ARC)<br />
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<b> For Review from Entangled</b><br />
~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D6KEIJ0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00D6KEIJ0&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">Darker Day</a> by Jus Accardo (ARC)<br />
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<b> For Review from Netgalley</b><br />
~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1402281218/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1402281218&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">Truly, Madly, Deadly</a> by Hannah Jayne (ARC)<br />
~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1467708879/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1467708879&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">A Wounded Name</a> by Dot Hutchison (ARC)<br />
~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738736244/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0738736244&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">The Truth About You and Me</a> by Amanda Grace (ARC)<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></b><br />
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I got some really exciting books for review this week! I'm especially looking forward to Sorrow's Knot by Erin Bow. Have any of you read any of these yet? Hope you all got some great books this week. :D</center><center><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nDukgxToF0/UUEXs-WEzSI/AAAAAAAAHTI/bWLjCB-k9Nk/s1600/Briana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nDukgxToF0/UUEXs-WEzSI/AAAAAAAAHTI/bWLjCB-k9Nk/s320/Briana.jpg" /></a></center>~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-85741155512602301852013-07-27T11:00:00.000-04:002013-07-27T11:00:03.907-04:00Author Interview: Natalie Standiford <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YrBul03zJKw/UfMsS9oDkAI/AAAAAAAAHWg/XBVjE565NSE/s1600/Natalie+Standiford.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YrBul03zJKw/UfMsS9oDkAI/AAAAAAAAHWg/XBVjE565NSE/s200/Natalie+Standiford.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #cccccc;">A little while back I read a book called <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16270141-the-boy-on-the-bridge">The Boy on the Bridge</a></i> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/136146.Natalie_Standiford">Natalie Standiford</a>. I loved it and asked the author if we could do an interview keeping in theme with the book and Russia. So here it is people!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></b></center>
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<b><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">TBP: Tell us a little bit about yourself.</span></b><br />
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<i>NS: I grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, went to college in Providence, Rhode Island, and since graduation have lived in New York City. I write books for children and young adults, mostly fiction. Some of my books are HOW TO SAY GOODBYE IN ROBOT, CONFESSIONS OF THE SULLIVAN SISTERS, THE SECRET TREE, and, most recently, THE BOY ON THE BRIDGE. Next spring Scholastic will publish two new middle grade books of mine, SWITCHED AT BIRTHDAY and the third book in the newest 39 Clues series, UNSTOPPABLE. I also play bass in the all-YA-author band Tiger Beat. Libba Bray is our lead singer, Dan Ehrenhaft plays guitar, and Barnabas Miller plays drums and sings.</i><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oTnVq9aqZAE/UfMykbajA4I/AAAAAAAAHWw/PvCacnQdG98/s1600/The+Boy+on+the+Bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oTnVq9aqZAE/UfMykbajA4I/AAAAAAAAHWw/PvCacnQdG98/s200/The+Boy+on+the+Bridge.jpg" width="90" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">TBP: Describe The Boy on the Bridge in nine words or less. </span></b><br />
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<i>NS: American girl goes to Russia, falls in love. Complications.</i><br />
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<b><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">TBP: You actually spent a semester abroad in Russia during the 80's. What made you decide to write a story that loosely incorporated those experiences. </span></b><br />
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<i>NS: I'd always thought of that time in Russia--the Soviet era--as kind of dreary, but a few years ago I saw a documentary about the famous ballet dancer Rudolph Nureyev. It focused on his defection to Paris in the 1970s, and the story was so dramatic and glamorous. It struck me that enough time has passed that that part of history has taken on a dramatic gleam. The Soviet Union is long gone--it's like a lost civilization. And I spent time there. I knew that lost place. I realized that experience was valuable and had the makings of a great story.</i><br />
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<b><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">TBP: What is one of your favorite memories from your time spent in Russia?</span></b><br />
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<i>NS: I loved the parties where everyone would crowd into someone's tiny apartment, someone would strum a guitar, and everybody would sing songs, old and new, all night.</i><br />
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<b><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">TBP: What is the one thing you miss the most about Russia?</span></b><br />
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<i>NS: I miss speaking the language and hearing it spoken all around me. It's a strange and beautiful language. I do get to hear it sometimes in New York, especially on the subway.</i><br />
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<b><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">TBP: In The Boy on the Bridge, Laura is proposed to by Alyosha. You, too, had a boyfriend while in Russia. Did he propose as well? How did things end between you too? </span></b><br />
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<i>NS: My Russian boyfriend did propose to me while I was there. I didn't know what to do. So I told him I wanted to finish college and then decide. I had a year of college left. We wrote to each other all year, but in the end I decided I wasn't ready for marriage and said no.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i> <i>I wrote an essay about this for the New York Times Modern Love column that gives a lot more detail if you're interested. You can find it in the Style Section on Sunday, August 4. </i><br />
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<b><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">TBP: Did you keep in touch with any of the people you met or were friends with in Russia? If not, do you wish you had?</span></b><br />
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<i>NS: I kept in touch with Sasha, my Russian boyfriend, for years after I left. He even came to New York to visit me once the travel restrictions in the USSR lifted.</i><br />
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<b><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">TBP: What would you say was the best thing you ate while there? The worst? </span></b><br />
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<i>NS: My two favorite foods were pelmenyi, slippery little pasta dumplings with meatballs inside drenched in butter (yum), and these puffy cookies that I don't remember the name of. The worst food was any kind of meat. It just didn't look good.</i><br />
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<b><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">TBP: Have you been back to Russia since your semester abroad? If not, do you ever consider going back someday?</span></b><br />
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<i>NS: I went back once for a short trip a year after my semester abroad. I would love to go again and see the new Russia but I haven't had the chance yet.</i><br />
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<b><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">TBP: What would you say was the most important thing you learned during your time abroad in Russia?</span></b><br />
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<i>NS: I learned how to really speak the language. I haven't used my Russian much since, so I've forgotten a lot of it, but I loved learning idioms and slang and proverbs and all the interesting nooks and crannies of another culture.</i><br />
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<i>I also learned a lot about how living in a different culture can make you see the world from a very different point of view. There's more than one way to see things, and I like to try to see life from a lot of different angles. It makes things interesting.</i><br />
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<b><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">TBP: Anything else you'd like to add before you go?</span></b><br />
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<i>NS: I've attached three pictures. One shows me when I was a college student in Leningrad. Another shows the outside of the dorm I lived in, Dormitory #6. And the third shows a doll that my Russian boyfriend painted to look like me. If you read the book you'll see why it's important. </i><br />
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<b><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-size: large;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc;"> I hope you all enjoyed hearing about Standiford's life while she was in Russia! I highly recommend that you check out her books. Thanks for dropping by and I'd love to hear what you have to say. :D</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nDukgxToF0/UUEXs-WEzSI/AAAAAAAAHTI/bWLjCB-k9Nk/s1600/Briana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nDukgxToF0/UUEXs-WEzSI/AAAAAAAAHTI/bWLjCB-k9Nk/s320/Briana.jpg" /></a>~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-50256490544098015322013-07-24T11:30:00.000-04:002013-07-24T23:06:42.824-04:00Cover Reveal: The Mephisto Mark<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BcQ-0CfWZcc/UfCSjJ9VZgI/AAAAAAAAHWI/xSWAIeqwE7E/s1600/TrinityFaegen_TheMephistoMark_HR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BcQ-0CfWZcc/UfCSjJ9VZgI/AAAAAAAAHWI/xSWAIeqwE7E/s320/TrinityFaegen_TheMephistoMark_HR.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18046744-the-mephisto-mark?ac=1">The Mephisto Mark</a></i></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Trinity Faegen</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Pink Publishing LLC</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">September 24th, 2013</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Mephisto Covenant, #3</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Young Adult/New Adult</span></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Synopsis via Goodreads</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Orphaned at six and sent to live with abusive relatives in Bucharest, Mariah learned early in life to box up violent, agonizing memories and put them in permanent mental storage. Now almost nineteen, she has a paying job, a tiny apartment, and a plan to attend university. She loves her independence and is steadily overcoming her past, but when an enigmatic stranger walks into the pub where she works and the trajectory of her life changes yet again, she begins to wonder if she’ll run out of mental shelf space.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The only females unafraid of the Mephisto brothers are the extremely rare Anabo, born without Original Sin. Over one hundred years ago, Phoenix was first to find one, but he made a fatal mistake and she was murdered by his oldest brother and enemy, Eryx. Phoenix soldiered through the next century wrapped up in grief and guilt, his only outlet planning takedowns of those who pledged their souls to Eryx. When one of his brothers brings Mariah to Mephisto Mountain, he’s torn between his instinctive, powerful need to pursue her, and his certainty that he can never have her.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Drawn into the world of the Mephisto, Mariah sees the pain and misery Eryx unleashes on humanity, and the boxes in her mind begin to fly open, one by one. All that keeps her from slipping off the edge is her unlikely, sexually charged friendship with Phoenix. He’s incredibly screwed up; she’s completely broken. It would take a miracle for them to find happiness. Then Eryx brings the war for Hell to a whole new level, forcing Mariah and Phoenix to make a choice that will bind them together for all eternity, or rip them apart forever.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nDukgxToF0/UUEXs-WEzSI/AAAAAAAAHTI/bWLjCB-k9Nk/s1600/Briana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nDukgxToF0/UUEXs-WEzSI/AAAAAAAAHTI/bWLjCB-k9Nk/s320/Briana.jpg" /></a>~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-71104909353349260182013-07-24T00:38:00.001-04:002013-07-24T00:38:38.808-04:00Waiting on Wednesday: Mayday by Jonathan Friesen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at <a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/">Breaking the Spine</a>.<br />
<br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17986285-mayday">Mayday</a></i><br />
Jonathan Friesen<br />
April 10th, 2014<br />
Speak<br />
Young Adult</span><br />
<br />
Synopsis via Goodreads</b><br />
Why’d I do it? I suppose it’s the only question that really matters. <br />
<br />
Seventeen-year-old Crow will stop at nothing to protect her younger sister—even if it costs her her own life. But then she’s given a chance to come back and make things right. There are a few catches, though. First, she won’t come back as herself. And before she can set things straight, she’ll have to figure out what’s what—and things aren’t exactly as clear-cut as she remembered.<br />
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Powerful and hard-hitting, this is a compelling story about what it means to live your life--for your own sake--from an award-winning author.<br />
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></b><br />
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First off, there is something I find very striking about this cover. However, I'm not sure how much I actually <i>like</i> it, yet. Moving on though, I love that this synopsis has just enough to hook my attention but also doesn't seem to give too much away. And the heroine's name is Crow. Odd, but I kinda like it. I'm very curious to see where this book will end up leading me. Unfortunately, I have got a very long wait ahead of me. <br />
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What do you think?</span></center>
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~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-75590985624069351872013-07-22T14:31:00.000-04:002013-07-22T15:25:22.782-04:00Giveaway: Infinityglass by Myra McEntire!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1360776495l/14289306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1360776495l/14289306.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14289306-infinityglass">Infinityglass</a></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Myra McEntire </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">EgmontUSA</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">August 6th, 2013</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Hourglass, #3</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Young Adult</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Synopsis via Goodreads</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">The stakes have risen even higher in this third book in the Hourglass series.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Hourglass is a secret organization focused on the study of manipulating time, and its members — many of them teenagers -have uncanny abilities to make time work for them in mysterious ways. Inherent in these powers is a responsibility to take great care, because altering one small moment can have devastating consequences for the past, present, and future. But some time travelers are not exactly honorable, and sometimes unsavory deals must be struck to maintain order.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">With the Infinityglass (central to understanding and harnessing the time gene) at large, the hunt is on to find it before someone else does.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But the Hourglass has an advantage. Lily, who has the ability to locate anything lost, has determined that the Infinityglass isn't an object. It's a person. And the Hourglass must find him or her first. But where do you start searching for the very key to time when every second could be the last?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks to Media Masters Publicity, one lucky winner will receive a copy of Infinityglass and an Infinityglass poster! Open to US only. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a id="rc-467db738" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/467db738/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script><br />
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</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nDukgxToF0/UUEXs-WEzSI/AAAAAAAAHTI/bWLjCB-k9Nk/s1600/Briana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nDukgxToF0/UUEXs-WEzSI/AAAAAAAAHTI/bWLjCB-k9Nk/s320/Briana.jpg" /></a>~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-60775376924394486882013-07-21T03:15:00.000-04:002013-07-21T03:15:11.779-04:00Stacking the Shelves (2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As hosted by <a href="http://www.tyngasreviews.com/">Tynga's Reviews</a><br />
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<b> For Review</b><br />
~<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1606844415/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1606844415&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">Infinity Glass</a></i> by Myra McEntire (Courtesy Media Masters)<br />
~<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316213101/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0316213101&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">The Coldest Girl in Coldtown</a></i> by Holly Black (Netgalley)<br />
~<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802734375/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0802734375&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">Wild Cards</a></i> by Simone Elkeles (Netgalley)<br />
<br />
<b> Bought for Kindle</b><br />
~<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005ZOBNOI/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005ZOBNOI&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">The Fault in Our Stars</a></i> by John Green ($3.99)<br />
~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007HC3RI6/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007HC3RI6&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20"><i>Starling</i></a> by Lesley Livingston ($1.99)<br />
~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0089LOGKM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0089LOGKM&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20"><i>Spellcasters</i></a> by Claudia Gray ($2.99)<br />
~<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007HB7Y2W/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007HB7Y2W&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">Defiance</a></i> by C.J. Redwine ($1.99)<br />
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I got some great books for review this week as well as some amazing kindle deals. I have heard so much about <i>The Fault In Our Stars</i> and was delighted to be able to snag it for such a bargain! <br />
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~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-14219817728771397232013-07-18T06:00:00.000-04:002013-07-18T06:00:11.566-04:00Review: Some Quiet Place<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1353174493l/15710557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1353174493l/15710557.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><b><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15710557-some-quiet-place?ac=1">Some Quiet Place</a></i></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;">Kelsey Sutton</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;">Flux</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;">July 8th, 2013</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;">Some Quiet Place, #1</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;">Young Adult</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;">For Review from Flux</span></b><br />
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</b> <b><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Synopsis via Goodreads</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #d9d2e9;">I can’t weep. I can’t fear. I’ve grown talented at pretending.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Elizabeth Caldwell doesn’t feel emotions . . . she sees them. Longing, Shame, and Courage materialize around her classmates. Fury and Resentment appear in her dysfunctional home. They’ve all given up on Elizabeth because she doesn’t succumb to their touch. All, that is, save one—Fear. He’s intrigued by her, as desperate to understand the accident that changed Elizabeth’s life as she is herself.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Elizabeth and Fear both sense that the key to her past is hidden in the dream paintings she hides in the family barn. But a shadowy menace has begun to stalk her, and try as she might, Elizabeth can barely avoid the brutality of her life long enough to uncover the truth about herself. When it matters most, will she be able to rely on Fear to save her?</span><br />
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<b>Review</b><br />
From the moment I saw this book's cover, I wanted it. And when I read what it was about, I wanted it even more. So yeah, had some pretty high expectations for it. While not as amazing as I had hoped, this book did prove to have a lot to offer. <br />
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From first appearances, it does seem as though Elizabeth is a very personality lacking heroine. Afterall, that's bound to happen when you can't feel emotions. However, the more I read, there were characteristics that I picked up on that began to craft a personality, of sorts. She was very calculated, wary, and serious, admittedly a far cry from the average protagonist. She also seemed to enjoy floating about in the denial river for the better part of the book. I agreed wholeheartedly with Fear; Elizabeth did care about people, even if she didn't think she did. She wasn't especially likable, but I did find myself cheering for her, and I grew to like her much more towards the end. Now, onto my favorite character. Fear has never felt so good! He was so mysterious and smexy and dear me I wanted Fear something awful. The way he seemed to torment Elizabeth, trying to get her to feel fear, while at the same time caring for her and protecting her at all costs. Plus it was revealed that there was a lot more to their relationship. Then there was our other love interest, Joshua. This dude was about as exciting as waiting for water to boil. He had one or two moments where I didn't think he was a total waste of words, but he was not a character I cared for. Maggie, Elizabeth's friend with cancer, showed so much potential but wasn't allowed to really develop. <i>Some Quiet Place</i> did have a pretty despicable villain, but I won't say who. But let me say, he totally oozed evilness. Other characters included a variety of emotions, a few elements, Elizabeth's complicated and unloving family, and others. This book had a huge array of different minor characters, but I didn't really see as much development amongst them as I'd have liked.<br />
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<i>Some Quiet Place</i> got off to a great, exciting start. Unfortunately, it kind of petered out after that and didn't gain momentum again until towards the end. It wasn't that the middle was bad, it just seemed to lag when juxtaposed amidst the rest of the story. That said, the whole story carried with it an element of suspense. Who is it that's after Elizabeth, the one that seems to strike fear into all the emotions and elements? And just who is Elizabeth, anyway? Some of these answers came easier than others. The whole concept of elements and emotions actually being, well, beings, was so imaginative and new for me. And the rural setting was beautifully crafted and depicted. There did seem to be a couple of plot holes though. One of which was in regards to the possibility of Elizabeth's existence considering her parentage, but to say more would spoil. At the same time, it is possible I misread something. <br />
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Sutton's writing style was probably the best aspect of this book, as well as the most consistent. It often took on a lyrical quality and she really had a way with words. Her imagery was immersive, completely pulling me into the world that she had created. <br />
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I was very happy with the ending. Mainly because of Fear. I love Fear. Ergo, I loved the ending. <br />
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<b>In Essence</b><br />
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<b>Characters:</b> <i>A little flat. Would have liked more development in this area. Great variety though.</i><br />
<b>Writing:</b> <i>Beautiful and immersive. </i><br />
<b>Plot: </b><i>Unevenly paced but very original concept and nice level of suspense.</i><br />
<b>Ending:</b> <i>Yes!</i><br />
<b>1st in Series:</b> <i>Does a great job of world building and introducing a variety of potential characters for future books. </i><br />
<b>Enjoyment/Likability:<i> </i></b><i>I had a few issues with it but enjoyed reading it just the same.</i><br />
<b>Recommendable: </b><i>Definitely worth a try.</i><br />
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<b>Overall: </b><i>Flawed but a subtly dark and intriguing storyline with great potential. A lot of people really loved this book. Looking forward to the second, which will actually follow a different main character. </i><br />
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<b>Cover: </b><i>Love, love, love!</i><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Buy <i>Some Quiet Place</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738736430/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0738736430&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">Amazon</a> / <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/some-quiet-place-kelsey-sutton/1113557692?ean=9780738736433&itm=1&usri=some+quiet+place">B&N</a> / <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CS73IH0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00CS73IH0&linkCode=as2&tag=thbopi00-20">Kindle</a> / <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/some-quiet-place-kelsey-sutton/1113557692?ean=9780738737560">Nook</a> / <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Some-Quiet-Place-Kelsey-Sutton/9780738736433/?a_aid=thebookpixie">Book Depository</a></div><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nDukgxToF0/UUEXs-WEzSI/AAAAAAAAHTI/bWLjCB-k9Nk/s1600/Briana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nDukgxToF0/UUEXs-WEzSI/AAAAAAAAHTI/bWLjCB-k9Nk/s320/Briana.jpg" /></a>~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-31795467690348503262013-07-17T14:00:00.000-04:002013-07-17T21:18:38.740-04:00Cover Reveal: Unafraid by Melody Grace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18039804-unafraid?ac=1">Unafraid </a></i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Melody Grace</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">August 25th 2013</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Beachwood Bay, #2</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">New Adult</span></b></div>
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<b>Synopsis via Goodreads</b></div>
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"The first time I saw her, I knew this girl was wilder than any stallion I’d ever trained. She was headstrong, wounded, passionate and free. And I had to have her…"</div>
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Brittany Ray doesn’t care about her bad reputation. Growing up in a sleepy beach town with a junkie mom and a runaway dad, Brit’s learned the hard way that the people you love will only let you down. It’s no use hoping for love or happiness. Some dreams aren’t meant for girls like her.</div>
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Hunter Covington is one of those dreams.</div>
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Gorgeous, charming Hunter is damn near perfect—and it’s killing him. Son of Charleston royalty, he’s been trapped in a gilded cage since the day he was born. Now he’s breaking free. He’s quit law school to restore his grandpa’s old horse ranch, trying to soothe the demons in his soul. But Beachwood Bay is full of old ghosts, like the mysterious girl who spent an unforgettable night with him—and then slipped away before dawn. Brit. </div>
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Everything about her screams danger, but Hunter doesn’t care: he’s never felt a connection so deep. And try as she may, Brit can’t resist the desire consuming her —or the safety she finds in Hunter’s arms.</div>
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A reckless passion. An undeniable bond. Scarred by their pasts, Brit and Hunter fight to heal old wounds. But will dark secrets tear apart their new beginning? And when love is the biggest risk of all, can they find the courage to face the future unafraid?</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T3wosdeLaOY/UQywJsOkUzI/AAAAAAAAG3s/uC8fX_1iNRU/s1600/Briana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="98" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T3wosdeLaOY/UQywJsOkUzI/AAAAAAAAG3s/uC8fX_1iNRU/s200/Briana.jpg" width="154" /></a>~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-34898479328113742882013-07-17T01:03:00.003-04:002013-07-17T01:06:41.289-04:00Waiting on Wednesday: Minders<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at <a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/">Breaking the Spine</a>.<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18079614-minders">Minders</a></i><br />
Michele Jaffe<br />
Razorbill<br />
January 30th, 2014<br />
Young Adult</span><br />
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Synopsis via Goodreads</b><br />
A high concept, cinematic read with a surprising twist, MINDERS asks the question: who is really watching who?<br />
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Q: If the boy you love commits a crime, would you turn him in?<br />
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Sadie Ames is a type-A teenager from the wealthy suburbs. She's been accepted to the prestigious Mind Corps Fellowship program, where she'll spend six weeks as an observer inside the head of Ford, a troubled boy with a passion for the crumbling architecture of the inner city. There's just one problem: Sadie's fallen in love with him.<br />
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Q: What if the crime is murder?<br />
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Ford Winters is haunted by the murder of his older brother, James. As Sadie falls deeper into his world, dazzled by the shimmering pinpricks of color that form images in his mind, she begins to think she knows him. Then Ford does something unthinkable.<br />
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Q: What if you saw it happen from inside his mind?<br />
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Back in her own body, Sadie is faced with the ultimate dilemma. With Ford's life in her hands, she must decide what is right and what is wrong. And how well she can really ever know someone, even someone she loves.<br />
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This sounds so exciting and compelling story! I've been wanting to read something by Jaffe for quite a while. Plus I also really like the cover! What do you think? Is this one on your watch-list for next year?</center>
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~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-39918908036051023542013-07-16T16:09:00.000-04:002013-07-16T16:09:13.259-04:00Top Ten Authors Who Deserve More Recognition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today's Top Ten Tuesday (Meme courtesy <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/2013/06/top-ten-books-daisys-read-so-far-in-2013.html">The Broke and the Bookish</a>) asks to name 10 authors who deserve more recognition than they get. Here are mine in no particular order...</div>
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<span style="color: #d9d2e9;"><b>1. <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/588558.Lisa_Schroeder">Lisa Schroeder</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Almost all of Schroeder's YA books are in verse (the newest isn't entirely), and I feel like there are still quite a few hold-outs running around who haven't given verse books a try. Thus she hasn't received the recognition she deserves. Lisa Schroeder has gorgeous, lyrical writing and I've read 4 out of 5 of her YA books so far. Love them all! If you are wanting to give verse a try, start here! Everyone should read her books!</span></div>
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<b>2. <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2980339.Shelena_Shorts">Shelena Shorts</a></b></div>
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This is an author I have had the great pleasure of meeting in person. She is super sweet and I love her highly original Pace series! </div>
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<span style="color: #d9d2e9;"><b>3. <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1348627.Cath_Crowley">Cath Crowley</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d9d2e9;">An Australian author, Cath Crowley really knows how to pack a punch in her writing. I fell head over heels in love with her novel Graffiti Moon. She really knows how to get you invested in a story through her remarkable characters and writing.</span></div>
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<b>4. <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5297325.Kate_Ellison">Kate Ellison</a></b></div>
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I have yet to read The Butterfly Clues, but I have read Notes From Ghost Town, which I found to be very immersive and subtly haunting. I'm predicting amazingness from her in the future. </div>
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<span style="color: #d9d2e9;"><b>5. <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2870420.Joy_Preble">Joy Preble</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d9d2e9;">This author first came onto my radar with her debut, Dreaming Anastasia. It is the beginning of one of the most highly imaginative series I've ever read with its lush Russian story elements. I've also read the sequel, Haunted, and need to read the final book. You've got everything from Anastasia, to Baba Yaga, to a rusalka, etc. </span></div>
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<b>6. <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2870363.L_K_Madigan">L.K. Madigan</a></b></div>
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An amazing author that this world lost way too soon to pancreatic cancer. Her novel Flash Burnout inspired me in a way no other novel ever had, and I loved it like crazy. The Mermaid's Mirror was also a really great read. One thing I appreciated so much about them was how the love of her own family seemed to carry into her books by creating characters whose families were actually a part of their lives. Project: Boy Next Door was published posthumously and is available for ebook. </div>
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<span style="color: #d9d2e9;"><b>7. <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17761.Lauren_Henderson">Lauren Henderson</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d9d2e9;">While I haven't read her newest book, I highly enjoyed her Scarlett Wakefield YA mystery series. Sure, I liked some better than others, but overall they were super fun and hilarious. Loved Henderson's British humor and the England/Scotland settings. Her books are perfect for putting up your feet and relaxing with a good cup of tea. </span></div>
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<b>8. <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/833687.Suzanne_Selfors">Suzanne Selfors</a></b></div>
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Her YA books are always light and fun with an element of whimsy. Saving Juliet is my favorite of the three I've read so far; I need to get a hold of her newest one. </div>
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<span style="color: #d9d2e9;"><b>9. <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/53574.Elizabeth_Chandler">Elizabeth Chandler</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d9d2e9;">While I haven't read her Kissed By an Angel series, I have read her entire Darkest Secrets series, which I began years and years ago. These books are haunting, mysterious, and their paranormal elements are a little more subtle. Before paranormal became all about vampires, werewolves, etc, they focused more on elements like ghosts, telekinesis, reincarnation, etc. That is what I loved so much about these books! </span></div>
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<b>10. <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2741432.Nova_Ren_Suma">Nova Ren Suma</a></b></div>
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Imaginary Girls, you'll never read anything like it. This chick has some killer writing, world-building, and characterization skills going on! I desperately want to get my hands on her other books. </div>
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<b><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;">So what about you? Have you read anything by these lovely authors? I'd love to hear what you have o say and please feel free to link your Top Ten post in the comments for me to check out. :D</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nDukgxToF0/UUEXs-WEzSI/AAAAAAAAHTI/bWLjCB-k9Nk/s1600/Briana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nDukgxToF0/UUEXs-WEzSI/AAAAAAAAHTI/bWLjCB-k9Nk/s320/Briana.jpg" /></a>~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891180510642096189.post-69586582005251240672013-07-15T20:28:00.000-04:002013-07-15T20:28:41.313-04:00Cover Reveal: Taming Cross by Ella James<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18166015-taming-cross">Taming Cross</a> </i><br />
Ella James <br />
Barkley's Books<br />
August 20th, 2013<br />
Love Inc, #2<br />
Adult</b></span><br />
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Synopsis</b><br />
For twenty-three years, Cross Carlson was a playboy. You know the type. Tall, dark, and wealthy. Blue-eyed. Charming. He seemed to have it all so easy. But Cross was harboring a terrible secret - one that helped ruin the life of an innocent girl and almost ended his own.<br />
Finally out of the hospital, Cross is flailing, scarred in both body and mind and stifled by the weight of the secret he still keeps. The only way to absolution lies in a Mexican convent, and going there could cost him everything.<br />
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If there's anyone who knows what it's like to screw up big time, it's Meredith Kinsey. Just a few years ago, Merri was an ordinary girl with a job at her college newspaper and white picket fence kind of dreams. Now she's holed up in a Mexican convent, hiding from a drug lord who thinks he owns her.</center>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nDukgxToF0/UUEXs-WEzSI/AAAAAAAAHTI/bWLjCB-k9Nk/s1600/Briana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nDukgxToF0/UUEXs-WEzSI/AAAAAAAAHTI/bWLjCB-k9Nk/s320/Briana.jpg" /></a>~The Book Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15626728583139972447noreply@blogger.com0