Review: Heart with Joy

Heart with Joy by Steve Cushman
Publisher: Blair, John F. Publisher
Pub. Date: September 28th, 2010
Pages: 182
Age Level: 14+

Synopsis via Goodreads
In Heart With Joy, fifteen-year-old Julian Hale’s life is turned upside down when his mother suddenly moves from North Carolina to Venice, Florida under the pretense of running her parents’ motel and finishing the novel she has been working on for years. While Julian has always been closer to his mother and wants to go with her, she tells him he has to stay with his father until the end of the school year.

Six weeks after his mother leaves, Julian’s father decides to run a marathon. This surprises Julian because he has never seen his father exercise, but once he agrees to help him train the two develop the sort of close relationship they’ve never had before. Also, with the help of an elderly neighbor, Julian learns that the most important thing in life is to follow your heart. And Julian’s heart leads him to a passion for cooking and a young cashier at the local grocery store. By the end of the novel, Julian is forced to choose between staying with his father and going to live with his mother.

Heart With Joy is an uplifting coming of age novel about cooking and bird watching, about writing and pottery, and about falling in love and the sacrifices we all make. But ultimately, it’s about the importance of following your heart and trusting that it will take you where you need to go.

Review
Heart with Joy is a wonderful story that is beautifully effective in its simplicity. It really shows the true value of remaining open to new friendships, understanding and connecting with those close to you, and finding that crucial thing in life that 'fills your hearts with joy'.

Julian is a mature, sweet, and realistic young man that I had no trouble falling in love with. I also loved how respectful he was; I'm tired of teen protagonists calling their parents and other adults by their first names unless they are told it's okay. Julian's relationship with Mrs. Peters was really one of my favorite aspects of this book. Mrs. Peters herself was such a sweet and lovely lady, wise in her age. She's the kind of woman I'd have loved to have had for a grandmother. I could easily see myself spending time with her in the same way Julian did. Like Julian, I've always found I get along with people much older than me better than I do with people my own age; this helped me relate to him more. Tia was a fun and witty friend/romantic interest. I really would have liked to have hung out with her and Julian cooking. Well except for the fact that I'd be a total third-wheel. And let me warn you, don't read this book on an empty stomach because all the delicious stuff Julian cooks will make you hungry. It's really got me wanting to cook more, something I'm sure mommy dearest is very glad of. As for Julian's parents, I thought they were very believable and well developed. Last, and indeed least, there was Simon, Mrs. Peters son, who was a total jackass. Nearly everytime he was around, I wanted to introduce his face to my fist.

One thing I loved about Heart with Joy was that while there was some light romance later on in the novel, it was mostly about Julian's growing relationship with his father and Mrs. Peters. It was nice to read a book where family and an old, but new, friend came first. Because Cushman didn't try and complicate the book with big plot twists, I found predictability wasn't really an issue. Instead of my mind wanting to jump ahead and figure out what would happen next, I was content to just enjoy what I was reading right then and there, letting everything come to me when and how it may.

At first, I found it odd that such a short book should have 52 chapters. However, I grew to appreciate it as it made it easier for me to tell myself, "Just one more chapter." This usually led me to another and then another. Also, despite being broken up into such brief chapters, Heart with Joy managed to flow beautifully from page to page, never feeling the least bit disjointed or choppy. Another thing, the numerous chapters and past-tense narration ended up providing a journalistic type style of writing. Julian's life was relatively routine and at first you might would think it'd be boring but it definitely wasn't. I really got to notice and appreciate all the finer and smaller details in his life, something the reader tends to miss out on in other books. It also allowed everything to develop and unfold in a well-paced manner. I absolutely loved this about Heart with Joy and found it to be the perfect technique to use considering this book's short length.

I actually found I liked the ending despite the fact that it left one big question hanging about without an answer to catch it. Surprisingly, this question didn't nag me. Instead, I accepted it for what it was and actually kind of liked that it was left slightly open ended.

Heart with Joy was a lovely, refreshing, and very realistic debut YA novel from Steve Cushman! While it was amazing, it wasn't in the sense that it automatically blew me away; it was something much more subtle that gradually sunk in the more I thought about it. I would highly recommend this novel to both teens and adults looking for a quick, heartwarming read. I will definitely be reading this one again and hope Cushman will continue to write more YA in future.

Grade
Characters: B+
Writing: B
Plot: B+
Ending: B
Enjoyment/Likability: A-
Recommendable: A-

Overall: B+

Cover: C

Noteworthy Passages: Firelight

Firelight (ARC) by Sophie Jordan
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pub. Date: September 7th, 2010
Pages: 336
Series: Draki #1
Age Level: 14+

Disclaimer: Please note that this is an ARC and passages and quotes below are subject to change in the final copy.

Synopsis via Goodreads
With her rare ability to breathe fire, Jacinda is special even among the draki—the descendants of dragons who can shift between human and dragon forms. But when Jacinda’s rebelliousness leads her family to flee into the human world, she struggles to adapt, even as her draki spirit fades. The one thing that revives it is Will, whose family hunts her kind. Jacinda can’t resist getting closer to him, even though she knows she’s risking not only her life but the draki’s most closely guarded secret.

Noteworthy Passages

Jacinda; pg. 104
I walk the halls like a coldly functioning robot. My draki continues it's slow descent. Suffering in silence, that part of me fades into the dark. Like a healing wound, it throbs less, hurts less, feels less. Wildly, I want to tear it open, rip wide the jagged edges...make it bleed. Make it remember.

Catherine and Jacinda; pg. 263
"I feel like a rebel just knowing you. Everyone keeps asking me if you really lit Brooklyn on fire."
I arch a brow. "On fire?"
Catherine plumps up a pillow beneath her head. "The actual event has gotten a bit exaggerated." Her lips twitch. "Maybe I had something to do with that."
"Nice. Thanks."
"No problem."

~~~~~~~~~~

Well, those are Firelight's Noteworthy Passages. At least according to me. lol. If you like, you can check out my Review. Thanks for stopping by and please feel free to comment! :D









PLEASE NOTE: This is a feature hosted here at my blog in which I present you with selected passages or quotes that I deem Noteworthy from a book I've just reviewed. My hopes are of course, that these passages will make you want to pick the book up and read it. This feature was started and created by me in January in hopes of making my blog more unique. That being said, I would like to kindly request that you do not use this feature as it was intended to be for my blog only and is not a meme. If you see some one else using it, please know it is without my permission. Thank you.

Review: Firelight

Firelight (ARC) by Sophie Jordan
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pub. Date: September 7th, 2010
Pages: 336
Series: Draki #1
Age Level: 14+

Synopsis via Goodreads
With her rare ability to breathe fire, Jacinda is special even among the draki—the descendants of dragons who can shift between human and dragon forms. But when Jacinda’s rebelliousness leads her family to flee into the human world, she struggles to adapt, even as her draki spirit fades. The one thing that revives it is Will, whose family hunts her kind. Jacinda can’t resist getting closer to him, even though she knows she’s risking not only her life but the draki’s most closely guarded secret.

Review
I really wanted to love Firelight, but I'm afraid that, while I still liked it, I was somewhat disappointed.

Jacinda, for me, was just an okay heroine. You're all familiar with the song 'Hot n Cold' by Katy Perry right? I'm sure everytime Will saw Jacinda, that song was playing in the back of his mind. Seriously, the girl was so indecisive. She could never make up her mind what she wanted and when she finally did, she couldn't decide how to get it. Some of this was justified considering her situation and being forced to choose between her own happiness and her family's but then it just got ridiculous. 'I need to stay away from Will. No I need to get close to him. No stay away! Get close, he awakens my inner draki!'And maybe it's just me but the way Jacinda kept saying, "He awakens my inner draki." sounded kinda...eh...sexual. *tries to reel in mind from gutter* Plus it seemed like she was using Will more than anything most of the time. As for Will himself, he was smoldering and had a dark secret. In other words, nothing out of the norm or that I haven't seen a million times; I actually found Cassian to be far more intriguing and I wanted more of him. Then the romance just really fell flat. I'm tired of these paranormal romances where two people just magically connect and that's the driving force behind the whole thing. That and the 'hunter and the hunted' aspect. And about Jacinda's sister, Tamra, well, pardon my french, but she was a real roaring bitch, not to mention selfish. I know she got treated like crap with the Pride and that was wrong and unfair but she didn't care one bit what Jacinda was giving up for her. At least Jacinda had the decency to care if Tamra was happy while Tamra only cared about herself 95% of the time. And the mom, I felt she made everything worse than it had to be by not telling Jacinda the whole truth about why they left in the first place and by always trying to prevent Jacinda from being what she was. She should have been more excepting and supportive of her daughter.

Within the first 50 pages, Firelight managed to go from being an enchanting, refreshing read to a been-there-done-that cliche. The story mostly ended up being about how Jacinda ends up moving to a new school and gets the attention of the hot, untouchable guy, who she just happens to have this magical connection with, along with having to hide a secret. I really wanted to see and spend more time reading about Jacinda's life with the pride, even if she still moved later in the book, because honestly, the beginning of the book rocked. Somehow though, the middle of the book still had it's redeeming qualities. There was some action and thanks to Jacinda's perpetual indecisiveness, suspense. I always felt very compelled to keep turning the pages. I guess in that way it was a lot like, and forgive the comparison, Twilight. Though Firelight was flawed, I still managed to enjoy the book.

I found Jordan's writing to be one of the most redeeming qualities about this book. It was beautifully descriptive, fast-paced, and sometimes even emotionally written. This is one book, though, that I think might would have actually been a bit better told in third-person narrative.

The ending was pretty great! It was filled with action leading up to a great cliffhanger. Though I had some issues with Firelight, something about the ending tells me that the next book is going to be much better and, hopefully, I'll be getting to learn more about Cassian and the pride.

Okay, so to me Firelight wasn't as great as it could have been and I did feel a bit let down. However it was still a decent story that I would read again, and I definitely plan to read the second book. A lot of people out there really loved this book and though I think you should keep my review in mind, I would like to encourage you to check out other reviews. This is only my opinion so remember that if my review happens to put you on the fence about Firelight. Despite my problems with this book, I'd still recommend it.

Grade
Characters: C-
Writing: B-
Plot: C
Ending: B
1st in Series: C
Enjoyment/Likability: C+
Recommendable: C+

Overall: C

Cover: A-

CLOSED! Delcroix Academy: The Candidates Giveaway!

Delcroix Academy: The Candidates by Inara Scott
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Pub. Date: August 24th, 2010
Pages: 293
Age Level: YA

Synopsis via Goodreads
Dancia Lewis is far from popular. And that's not just because of her average grades or her less-than-glamorous wardrobe. In fact, Dancia's mediocrity is a welcome cover for her secret: whenever she sees a person threatening someone she cares about, things just...happen. Cars skid. Structures collapse. Usually someone gets hurt. So Dancia does everything possible to avoid getting close to anyone, belieiving this way she can supress her powers and keep them hidden.

But when recruiters from the prestigious Delcroix Academy show up in her living room to offer her a full scholarship, Dancia's days of living under the radar may be over. Only, Delcroix is a school for diplomats' kids and child geniuses--not B students with uncontrollable telekinetic tendencies. So why are they treating Dancia like she's special? Even the hottest guy on campus seems to be going out of his way to make Dancia feel welcome.

And then there's her mysterious new friend Jack, who can't stay out of trouble. He suspects something dangerous is going on at the Academy and wants Dancia to help him figure out what. But Dancia isn't convinced. She hopes that maybe the recruiters know more about her "gift" than they're letting on. Maybe they can help her understand how to use it...But not even Dancia could have imagined what awaits her behind the gates of Delcroix Academy.

~~~~~~~~~
Contest Info

Prize:
One lucky winner will receive a SIGNED copy of Delcroix Academy: The Candidates by Inara Scott courtesy of her and her publisher.

Rules:
~You must FILL OUT THE FORM to enter.
~This contest is open to residents of the US and Canada only! However, if you have someone in the states or Canada who can ship the book to you, feel free to enter.
~Contest will run for only one week, ending at 11:59PM EST on Oct. 4th. Winner will be emailed and announced shortly after.

Extra Entries:
You can earn extra entries for being a follower, promoting this contest in a tweet, in your sidebar, and on Facebook. Must provide direct links. Also, those who commented on Inara's guest post prior to the posting of this contest will receive two extra entries.

Top 5 Books of 2011

As most of you know, Princess Bookie's Contest Craze has pretty much, more or less, begun. The first mini challenge is to list our top 5 books we're looking forward to in 2011. While there are far too many I'm looking forward to in 2011 to officially declare a top 5, here are five of some of the ones I'm looking forward to most.

#1. Mind Gap
by Marina Cohen
February 7th, 2011
Marina Cohen is a fairly new favorite author of mine after reading her YA novel, Ghost Ride. Seriously, that book was amazing and it's really got me craving more of her work. I've also just finished the her first ever book which is also the first book in her MG trilogy, Shadow of the Moon. While not as awesome as Ghost Ride, it was still pretty good and I'll be reading the second book in the trilogy soon. Plus the synopsis for Mind Gap sounds incredibly thrilling and spooky and the cover is so cool! You'll have to read my interview with Cohen to see what it's about as the synopsis is not listed on Goodreads.


#2. The Iron Quill (The Pace Series #3)
by Shelena Shorts
Pub. Date ?
This is the third book in Shorts' The Pace Series. This is a favorite series of mine so far and after the cliffhanger ending in The Broken Lake, I'm dying to find out what happens next. This truly is a unique and exciting series!


#3. Playing Hurt
by Holly Schindler
March 1st, 2011
Honestly, the YA world could do with more contemporary novels and this one sounds really good. Schindler's first novel, A Blue So Dark, is on my wishlist as well. I really like the sound of the overall premise and think I'm really going to enjoy this one. Plus, judging by a small sample I've read of A Blue So Dark, Schindler has a great writing style. :D




#4. Delirium
by Lauren Oliver
February 1st, 2011
Oliver's debut YA novel, Before I Fall, was such a beautifully, well-crafted book. I love her writing and she's pretty awesome herself. I'm really looking forward to reading more of her work, plus, who doesn't love a good dystopian novel? I think this is going to be a really amazing read.




#5. Hexbound (Dark Elite, #2)
by Chloe Neill
January 20th, 2011
I read Firespell earlier this year and really enjoyed it. The story line is great and I loved the characters. Plus, the cover totally rocks! I'm really looking forward to reading this one. :D

Guest Post: Inara Scott

Hello everyone and welcome! The lovely Inara Scott, author of Delcroix Academy: The Candidates, was kind enough to do a guest post telling us all a little bit about her life in highschool. And guess what? We've got pictures! So sit back, relax, and enjoy the post. :D

~~~~~~~~~~~

The Walrus Speaks (and other Tales from High School)
By: Inara Scott
Let me start by saying I didn’t go to Delcroix Academy and I don’t have superpowers. I know, a disappointment to you all, but I don't want to mislead anyone. Now, I’m sure you’re expecting me to delve into my deep emotional trauma and tell you all how I hated high school, how the cool kids picked on the nerdy kids, and how it was all very Glee-like with slurpees in the face.

Sorry. I will have to disappoint.

Not about the emotional trauma – I mean I did play a walrus in the school musical.


Yeah, the walrus was pretty bad. And I was awfully nerdy. Look at these glasses. Anyone want to challenge my nerd-card?


Okay, but here’s the thing. I actually enjoyed high school. Despite the occasional humiliating walrus incident, and what should have been some severe nerdy glasses-related trauma, I had a good time there.

I went to a public high school in Buffalo, NY. It was small and academically-oriented. It felt to me like everyone there had a unique talent, be it for drama or debate or political science. We didn’t have a football team and weren’t known for our sports (though as a swimmer, I can tell you our swim team rocked, and I think the cross-country team was pretty amazing). We did have great teachers and nice kids who pretty much all got along with each other.

This takes me to the first rule of fiction: nice people who get along are B-O-R-I-N-G. I defy you to find one good book that features nice people getting along. YOU CANNOT DO IT. Because you need a conflict to make a story. Conflict + character = story. It’s that simple.

When I looked back on high school, I knew I was going to have to find more than nice kids getting along with each other. I figured readers weren’t really interested in the walrus incident. Makes for a good picture, but not a good story. Unfortunately, the nerdy glasses would never sustain someone’s interest for 300 pages either. But the group of talented individuals, each one having something special? That had more promise. Especially if you created a mystery to go with those talents. And some intrigue, perhaps around whether the talents were good or bad. That had the potential for conflict.

So I started with the talents (especially talents with dangerous results), and then layered in a creepy administration with questionable motives. Characters? How about a girl who accidentally blows things up, a good boy (or is he?), and a bad boy (or is he?) and voila! I had my puzzle pieces. Conflict. Character. A story.

So that’s how my high school influenced Delcroix Academy. And that’s me, rocking out at the senior prom. Just to show you that even walruses know how to have fun. :D


~~~~~~~~~

I'd like to give a huge thanks to Inara for the fun guest post! I hope you all enjoyed it and will remember to check out here debut YA novel if you haven't already. Stay tuned because there will be a contest for Delcroix Academy: The Candidates tomorrow. Those who comment on this post prior to the contest going up will get two extra entries. Thanks for stopping by! :D

In My Mailbox (54)

In My Mailbox
IMM is a weekly meme hosted and created by Kristie atThe Story Siren and was inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

For Review from HarperCollins
~I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett
~ARC Tempestuous by Lesley Livingston
~ARC Entwined by Heather Dixon
~ARC Teeth: Vampire Tales by Various Authors
~ARC Father of Lies by Ann Turner
~ARC Plague by Michael Grant
~ARC Through Her Eyes by Jennifer Archer
~ARC The Six Crowns: Trundle's Quest by Allan Jones & Gary Chalk
~ARC Steel by Carrie Vaughn
~ARC A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford
~ARC Vampire Crush by A. M. Robinson
~ARC Fallen Angel by Heather Terrell
~ARC Emily The Strange: Dark Times by Rob Reger
~ARC Blood and Flowers by Penny Blubaugh

For Review from Holt InGroup
~Girl, Stolen by April Henry

Won from Fire & Ice
~Signed Everlasting bookmark

~~~~~~~~

Aside from Girl, Stolen, all of these books were a total surprise. A huge thanks to Harper! I've been dying to get my hands on Tempestuous! I'm sure I've got a lot of awesome reading ahead of me. Hope the rest of you got some great books as well and are enjoying your weekend.

Oh, I'm really trying to get my hands on Gone by Michael Grant. I have spare copies of Sea Change, Airhead, or Wings that I'd be willing to trade. Just use my contact button and email me if you're interested. Thanks! :D

Noteworthy Passages: Tangled

Tangled by Carolyn Mackler
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pub. Date: December 29th, 2009
Pages: 308
Age Level: 14+

Synopsis via Goodreads
Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen are all at Paradise—the resort in the Caribbean, that is—for different reasons, but in Paradise their lives become tangled together in ways none of them can predict. Over the course of four months, through four voices and four stories, what happened in Paradise will change them all.

In this extraordinary novel, the Printz Honor–winning author brings us her most accomplished work yet. Tangled is a story of the secrets we keep, the risks we take, and the things we do for love.

Noteworthy Passages

Dakota; pg. 147
As it is, she's buried in Lakeview Cemetary and I've been left behind to figure it out, wonder whether I could have prevented her from dying.
Well I couldn't. Because sometimes horrible things just happen and you have to live with the fact that there's no explanation. It is what it is. End of story.
I stayed there for a while longer, breathing in the damp leaves. And then, finally, I stood up, brushed the dirt off the back of my legs, and started out of the woods.

Owen; pg. 229
I shoved back my chair and stormed out of the restaurant. Once I made it to the curb, I realized I didn't have my wallet. Not to mention that my retainer was still on a napkin inside. Even so, I stared at the half-empty parking lot, imagining this grand escape where I hitched a ride away from here and when my mom came out she'd be stunned to see I was gone. Then she'd learn not to register me for some stupid seminar. I mean, it's one thing for kids at school to think you're lame. But when your own mother decides your social life needs saving? Then you're really in trouble.

~~~~~~~~

Tangled was a very enjoyable read that I think most any teen could like. Hopefully the passages I picked will make you want to read it if you haven't already. If you would like to learn more about my thoughts on Tangled then check out my Review!

Remember comments are always welcome and they make me happy. :D Hope you all enjoy your weekend.









PLEASE NOTE: This is a feature hosted here at my blog in which I present you with selected passages or quotes that I deem Noteworthy from a book I've just reviewed. My hopes are of course, that these passages will make you want to pick the book up and read it. This feature was started and created by me in January in hopes of making my blog more unique. That being said, I would like to kindly request that you do not use this feature as it was intended to be for my blog only and is not a meme. If you see some one else using it, please know it is without my permission. Thank you.

CLOSED! 700 Followers Giveaway #2: Passing Strange

Passing Strange (UK edition) by Daniel Waters
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's
Pub. Date: July 8th, 2010
Pages: 416
Age Level: YA

Synopsis via Goodreads
Karen DeSonne always passed as a normal (if pale) teenager; with her friends, with her family, and at school. Passing cost her the love of her life. And now that Karen’s dead, she’s still passing—this time, as alive. Karen DeSonne just happens to be an extremely human-like zombie. Meanwhile, Karen’s dead friends have been fingered in a high-profile murder, causing a new round of antizombie regulations that have forced them into hiding. Karen soon learns that the “murder” that destroyed their non-life was a hoax, staged by Pete Martinsburg and his bioist zealots. Obtaining enough evidence to expose the fraud and prove her friends’ innocence means doing the unthinkable: becoming Pete’s girlfriend. Karen’s only hope is that the enemy never realizes who she really is—because the consequences would be worse than death.

~~~~~~~~~~
Contest Info

Prize:
One lucky winner will receive a UK edition paperback of Passing Strange by Daniel Waters courtesy Leanee! I'll also throw in some cool swag just for good measure. :D

Contest Rules:
~While comments are appreciated, you must FILL OUT THE FORM linked below.
~Since this is a followers giveaway, you MUST BE A FOLLOWER.
~Contest is open to residents of the US only. Sorry but I'm broke and since I already have the book, I'll be shipping it. However, if you have someone in the states who can ship the prize to you, feel free to enter.
~Contest will end at 11:59PM EST on October 9th. Winner will be announced shortly after and will have 48hrs to respond to my email before another winner is chosen.

Extra Entries:
You can earn +2 extra entries by promoting this contest in a tweet, in your sidebar, and on Facebook. Must provide direct links. Those entered in my Ghost Ride giveaway will also receive +1 extra entry.

Review: Tangled

Tangled by Carolyn Mackler
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pub. Date: December 29th, 2009
Pages: 308
Age Level: 14+

Synopsis via Goodreads
Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen are all at Paradise—the resort in the Caribbean, that is—for different reasons, but in Paradise their lives become tangled together in ways none of them can predict. Over the course of four months, through four voices and four stories, what happened in Paradise will change them all.

In this extraordinary novel, the Printz Honor–winning author brings us her most accomplished work yet. Tangled is a story of the secrets we keep, the risks we take, and the things we do for love.

Review
At once both moving and humorous, Tangled is a well-crafted novel that shows how people's lives can intertwine and effect each other unexpectedly.

In the beginning, I thought the characters seemed a touch on the cliche side but, as the story progressed, the characters began to develop beautifully as I got to view the events unfolding from different perspectives. I would definitely say I related most to Jena and Owen. Like Jena, I'm a bit self-conscious and I tend to ramble sometimes in awkward situations. Also, she keeps a book of quotes that she likes and so do I; I loved the incorporation of that into the story. As for Owen, we're both avid bloggers, even if we blog about separate things. Dakota, to me, was the most dynamic character. In Jena's story, Mackler really set me up to hate Dakota and yet somehow she had me loving him in the end. He starts off as a real jerk but once his story starts, you really get to see another side of him. Skye was a slightly predictable character that I didn't dislike but didn't quite love either. I did, however, feel that her story was probably one of the most emotional. Plus the way Mackler ended Skye's story was just, wow! Overall, Tangled had a well-rounded and realistic cast of characters.

Tangled was both a quick and well-paced read full of humor and emotion. The one thing that kind of disappointed me though was how predictable it was at times. I expected a few more twists and was surprised by how simple and obvious the connections between the four characters were. However, once I got past the disappoint, I actually came to appreciate it; I mean, after all, not everything in life is as complicated as we try to make it. That being said, I actually think Mackler did a great job of crafting this story.

The writing was well done and I felt the dialogue was spot-on. I'm glad that Mackler wrote this book from four perspectives and all in first-person. It really worked perfectly for this book.

The ending was lovely and it tied everything together very nicely, in a way that was both happy and bittersweet, which I really liked.

All in all, Tangled is a very enjoyable novel and it does a great job of balancing the lighter side of the story with some of the slightly heavier topics. I would highly recommend this book to teens, both guys and girls. I can't wait to read more of Carolyn Mackler's work.

Grade
Characters: B
Writing: B-
Plot: B-
Ending: B
Enjoyment/Likability: B
Recommendable: B+

Overall: B

Cover: B

Noteworthy Passages: Bloodmaiden

Bloodmaiden by Christine E. Schulze
Publisher: Old Line Publishing
Pub. Date: May 28th, 2010
Pages: 208
Age Level: 12+

Synopsis via GoodReads
Zale. Gauthier. Varden. These three dynasties... They all sound like something out of an ancient, oriental myth or fairy tale. The concept of humans and dragons helping and living in harmony with one another, without fear. To me, that's exactly what they are. A distant dream only read of, whispered secretly, quietly yearned for. For, you see, I am the new Quelda of Tynan. These words echo the mystery, horror, and romance found within Schulze's fantasy novel. Along with her new husband, Chalom, Crislin must choose to embrace cruel tradition, run from it, or stand against it. The young couple's only hope is to rally the help of the three peaceful dragon dynasties of Sulaimon-but tradition is not on their side, even outside the realm of Tynan. The dragons outside Tynan's borders have been rumored as too stubborn and proud to believe their Tynanian brothers would commit such horrors as inflicted upon the Quelda. Gaining their aid is not a likely hope. Yet, any hope at all is valued in Tynan... If they are to stand a chance of bringing cruel tradition to a permanent end, Crisilin and Chalom must brave the constant, consuming blizzards of the Ever-white. They must brave the three dynasties and the challenges awaiting there. Together, they must convince the dragon emperors to allow them access to the shrines which house the sacred Aria - protective strands of music which may be able to disperse the evil from Tynan and unite the four dynasties of Sulaimon as a whole once again. Their only aid stems from a sprite whose moods are as unstable as her magic, a young minstrel, and a mysterious fox. Despite the odds, such plans are daring, dangerous, unprecedented, but fully possible - if they can escape the Wall first.

Noteworthy Passages

Crislin; pg. 89
The next moment, we were flying, weightless like feathers, laughing as we frolicked effortlessly. I wasn't sure which was more exhilarating-the plunging down or shooting up. Because once you knew the down would lead to an up, you could enjoy the down as its adrenalin pumped through you. But then to soar up and become one with the air as you gulped down the pure, cool gusts, to dance, jump, and run as if you were the wind...how indescribably amazing.

Crislin; pg. 143
Plunging into the sea of bright greens, the calm of the fields was replaced by a new sort of calm, one not so wistful and melancholy but dreamy and hopeful. We'd entered a new world, one my aunt told me of often as a young child. Everywhere life teemed. Monkeys chattered and leapt with silent deft over our heads. Flying squirrels dove and glided with the same ease and grace. All kinds of birds, hidden in the brilliant spectrum of huge, colorful, full-blooming flowers, sang in a beautiful cacophony of upbeat rhythms and soothing melodies. Water glistened upon every inch of the forest. Shafts of sun sneaked through the thick canopy of towering trees, lighting upon water droplets, illuminating everything with the tiniest, purest diamonds. We had stepped into one of the greatest storehouses of Usamah's greatest treasure.

~~~~~~~~~

Is that not some of the most beautifully descriptive writing you've ever read? Well, it is to me. Bloodmaiden was a great fantasy novel and I hope that these passages combined with my Review will encourage you to read it.

Thank you all for stopping by and please feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts. :D









PLEASE NOTE: This is a feature hosted here at my blog in which I present you with selected passages or quotes that I deem Noteworthy from a book I've just reviewed. My hopes are of course, that these passages will make you want to pick the book up and read it. This feature was started and created by me in January in hopes of making my blog more unique. That being said, I would like to kindly request that you do not use this feature as it was intended to be for my blog only and is not a meme. If you see some one else using it, please know it is without my permission. Thank you.

CLOSED! 700 Followers Giveaway #1: Clockwork Angel

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Pub. Date: August 31st, 2010
Pages: 479
Age Level: YA
Series: The Infernal Devices #1

Synopsis via Goodreads
Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: Jem, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa.

As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

~~~~~~~~~
Contest Info
Guess what everyone?! I finally reached 700 followers! Woot! I'm so excited and as a result, I'll be holding a couple of giveaways for ya'll. I have one other planned outside of this one and if I reach 750 followers, I'll have another. If I reach 800 followers, I'll have another one as well. This is a Clockwork Angel Giveaway! Originally it was going to be for two hardcovers of the book but one was damaged in shipping and so I'll be giving away my unread ARC as second prize and adding in swag for both winners.

Winners: 2

Prizes:
~1ST PRIZE winner will receive a hardcover copy of Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare, a poster, a journal, and some various swag.
~2ND PRIZE winner will receive my unread ARC of Clockwork Angel, a poster, and some various swag.
~Prizes were provided by Simon & Schuster, except for the swag which I'm providing.

Contest Rules:
~While comments are appreciated, you must FILL OUT THE FORM linked below.
~Since this is a followers giveaway, you MUST BE A FOLLOWER.
~Contest is open to residents of the US only. Sorry but I'm broke and these books are heavy so they'll cost more to ship. However, if you have someone in the states who can ship the prize to you, feel free to enter.
~Contest will end at 11:59PM EST on October 8th. Winners will be announced shortly after and will have 48hrs to respond to my email before another winner(s) is chosen.

Extra Entries:
You can earn +2 extra entries by promoting this contest in a tweet, in your sidebar, and on Facebook. Must provide direct links. Those entered in my Ghost Ride giveaway will also receive +1 extra entry.

Review: Bloodmaiden

Bloodmaiden by Christine E. Schulze
Publisher: Old Line Publishing
Pub. Date: May 28th, 2010
Pages: 208
Age Level: 12+

Synopsis via GoodReads
Zale. Gauthier. Varden. These three dynasties... They all sound like something out of an ancient, oriental myth or fairy tale. The concept of humans and dragons helping and living in harmony with one another, without fear. To me, that's exactly what they are. A distant dream only read of, whispered secretly, quietly yearned for. For, you see, I am the new Quelda of Tynan. These words echo the mystery, horror, and romance found within Schulze's fantasy novel. Along with her new husband, Chalom, Crislin must choose to embrace cruel tradition, run from it, or stand against it. The young couple's only hope is to rally the help of the three peaceful dragon dynasties of Sulaimon-but tradition is not on their side, even outside the realm of Tynan. The dragons outside Tynan's borders have been rumored as too stubborn and proud to believe their Tynanian brothers would commit such horrors as inflicted upon the Quelda. Gaining their aid is not a likely hope. Yet, any hope at all is valued in Tynan... If they are to stand a chance of bringing cruel tradition to a permanent end, Crisilin and Chalom must brave the constant, consuming blizzards of the Ever-white. They must brave the three dynasties and the challenges awaiting there. Together, they must convince the dragon emperors to allow them access to the shrines which house the sacred Aria - protective strands of music which may be able to disperse the evil from Tynan and unite the four dynasties of Sulaimon as a whole once again. Their only aid stems from a sprite whose moods are as unstable as her magic, a young minstrel, and a mysterious fox. Despite the odds, such plans are daring, dangerous, unprecedented, but fully possible - if they can escape the Wall first.

Review
Full of action, adventure, and exquisite writing, Bloodmaiden is an enchanting, heart-wrenching fantasy novel that perfectly balances the darker and lighter elements that are delicately woven throughout the story.

As surprisingly great as Bloodmaiden was, I felt that it was slightly weakened by the characters. They were mostly well done but you could definitely tell this was a more plot-driven book. Crisilin was a fairly good heroin. One thing I loved about Crisilin was how genuine her emotions seemed. She was rightfully afraid of the things happening but also brave when the time came for her to be so. Chalom seemed to me the weakest of all the characters. You never really heard much out of him except in the very beginning. This leads me to the romance between Crislin and Chalom which was under-developed and lacking in substance, in my honest opinion. Thankfully this was only a very small part of the book. As for the other characters, they were quite an eclectic lot; there was a sprite, a minstrel, a fox and a couple of others that gradually joined in. They all had their own unique personalities backing their characters and I feel they really contributed to the story. Oddly enough, I actually think I liked them a bit better than the two main characters.

The story behind Bloodmaiden is very luminously imagined and refreshingly original. Honestly, I wasn't very sure how well I was going to like this book when I picked it up; I can definitely say I was most pleasantly surprised. Schulze does a great job of laying the ground work in the beginning of the book. Never did I feel confused or like I was missing some key detail. Bloodmaiden was also wonderfully paced, never once having a dull moment. The world that Schulze created was absolutely magical, filled with dragons, sprites, earth hounds, and much more. The various kingdoms were also very distinguishable, each possessing their own cultural and geographical qualities. The story contained an airy lightness but also a darker and more urgent side, both of which were keenly intertwined. Another thing I loved was the incorporation of religious elements. They were subtly done so that a Christian like me would pick up on them; however, they weren't blatantly obvious enough to detract from the story for those non-religious readers out there.

The writing was beautifully crafted; everything was described in such a skillful and marvelous manner. It really helped evoke that captivating, magical feeling throughout the story and was also very emotionally wrought at times.

Bloodmaiden is one of those books that I think would have done great with a more bittersweet ending than it had. However I was still fairly pleased with the end and felt it wrapped everything up nicely.

In the end, I think Bloodmaiden deserves far more exposure and attention than it has received. For one so young, only 22, Schulze has managed to fashion a dazzling fantasy full of both good and evil, humor and sadness, action and adventure. The characters may not have been quite as developed as they could have been but Bloodmaiden is more than worth people's time. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to everyone. I feel this is a book that would easily appeal to middle graders, young adults, and adults. Bloodmaiden should not be overlooked.

Grade
Characters: C+
Writing: B+
Plot: B+
Ending: B-
Enjoyment/Likability: B
Recommendable: B+

Overall: B

Cover: C-

Noteworthy Passages: White Cat

White Cat by Holly Black
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Pub. Date: May 4th, 2010
Pages: 310
Series: The Curse Workers, #1
Age Level: 14+

Synopsis via Goodreads
Cassel comes from a family of curse workers -- people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail -- he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.

Holly Black has created a gripping tale of mobsters and dark magic where a single touch can bring love -- or death -- and your dreams might be more real than your memories.

Noteworthy Passages

Cassel, Dean Wharton, & Headmistress Northcutt; pgs. 6-7
"What about changes in appetite or sleep patterns?" He sounds like he's reciting the words from a book.
"The problem is my sleep patterns," I say.
"What do you mean?" asks Headmistress Northcutt, suddenly intent.
"Nothing! Just that I was sleepwalking, not trying to kill myself. And if I wanted to kill myself, I wouldn't throw myself off a roof. And if I was going to throw myself off a roof, I would put on some pants before I did it."

Cassel & Sam; pg. 135
"I really need your help."
"Are you okay? You sound serious."
I make myself laugh. "I have to spring a cat out of the Rumelt Animal Shelter. Think of it as a prison break."
It does the trick. He laughs. "Whose cat?"
"My cat. What do you think? That I break out the cats of strangers?"
"Let me guess, she was framed. She's innocent."
"Just like everybody else in prison."

~~~~~~~~~

Well there you have it everyone. I really enjoyed both these passages and I hope that you all do as well. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments, and don't forget to check out my Review.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a lovely weekend! :D









PLEASE NOTE: This is a feature hosted here at my blog in which I present you with selected passages or quotes that I deem Noteworthy from a book I've just reviewed. My hopes are of course, that these passages will make you want to pick the book up and read it. This feature was started and created by me in January in hopes of making my blog more unique. That being said, I would like to kindly request that you do not use this feature as it was intended to be for my blog only and is not a meme. If you see some one else using it, please know it is without my permission. Thank you.

In My Malbox (53)

In My Mailbox
IMM is a weekly meme hosted and created by Kristie atThe Story Siren and was inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

BookMooch
~ARC Losing Faith by Denise Jaden

Won from Bless Their Hearts Mom
~John Belushi is Dead by Kathy Charles

For Review from Celeste
~Signed! Oriana's Eyes by Celeste Simone
~Very pretty thank you card

For Review from Ednah
~Signed! Awakened by Ednah Walters

For Review from Marina
~Signed! Shadow of the Moon by Marina Cohen
~Signed! Trick of the Light by Marina Cohen
~Signed! 15 Ghost Ride bookmarks

~~~~~~~

So, that is what I got in my mailbox this week! Got quite a few really great books and some really awesome bookmarks which I'll randomly give out later on my blog. I hope all of you got some great stuff this week as well and are enjoying your weekend.

Review: White Cat

White Cat by Holly Black
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Pub. Date: May 4th, 2010
Pages: 310
Series: The Curse Workers, #1
Age Level: 14+

Synopsis via Goodreads
Cassel comes from a family of curse workers -- people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail -- he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.

Holly Black has created a gripping tale of mobsters and dark magic where a single touch can bring love -- or death -- and your dreams might be more real than your memories.

Review
Magic, crime, family, betrayal, deceit, love, and hate; White Cat by Holly Black had it all, and though I thought there were some things that could have been done better, this book still turned out to be quite the page-turner.

At first, I was a bit disappointed in Cassel's character. He was a bit two-dimensional and totally oblivious to to the things unfolding right before his very eyes. Thankfully, things changed and he developed into a more clever, realistic, well-rounded character that I grew to not only form a connection with, but to like as well. When it came to his relationship with his oldest brother Philip, I felt that I could actually relate to him a bit. I won't say why or how but just that I could, that's the important part. This made the connection I felt to him even stronger. As for his two brothers, Philip and Barron, I hated them; however I can not deny that they were indeed great characters. It was very essential that they were the back-stabbing jerks that they were. Otherwise, this book just wouldn't have had that same gut-wrenching quality that really helped make this book; there's nothing like a little brotherly betrayal to make things interesting. As for Sam, Daneca, and a certain white cat, I thought they were all good supporting characters, especially the white cat.

The idea behind White Cat was a very unique concept though I thought it could have been more efficiently executed than it was. I spent the first part of the book feeling like I'd been left out of the loop about something; in my opinion, Black really should have provided me with more background information about curse workers during the beginning. I think that one thing could have really made this book get off to a more improved start for me. Also, there wasn't really a lot going on but I still felt strangely compelled. About the middle of the book, things started getting more intense and exciting, even if a lot of the plot was predictable. By the end, White Cat had picked up speed and managed to have at least one surprise left for me. Really the last third of this book was the best part; had the rest of the book been as good as that, White Cat could have been amazing. Don't get me wrong, this book did have some great things going for it. Once it got going good, there was suspense and action, not to mention the overall imaginative idea and dark, rawness that this story possessed.

I thought the writing was good overall but not as good as it could have been. The pacing was a bit off but Black did do a good job of keeping me turning the pages and, even when the book wasn't at it's best, evoking emotion in me through the keenly wrought story.

I thought the ending was very well done; it left me thinking and looking forward to the next book and tied up all the things that needed tying up, which still wasn't everything. After all, this is a series.

In the end, I did have some issues with White Cat but I really feel that the positive won over the negative. There were still so many things that I felt Black did right. The story was gripping, unique, and a surprisingly deep, even emotional read; at least for me. I do recommend this book, especially for those looking for something a bit on the darker, grittier side of things. I do plan to read this book again in the future and I have every intention of reading the next book in this series.

Grade
Characters: C+
Writing: C+
Plot: B-
Ending: B-
1st in Series: C+
Enjoyment/Likability: C+
Recommendable: B-

Overall: C+

Cover: A

CLOSED! Giveaway of Ghost Ride by Marina Cohen

Ghost Ride by Marina Cohen
Publisher: Dundurn Press
Pub. Date: October 30th, 2009
Pages: 184
Age Level: 12+

Synopsis via GoodReads
Fourteen-year-old Sam McLean is less than thrilled with the prospect of moving to a collection of old mansions on the northern fringe of a small town called Ringwood. A nobody at his old school, Sam is desperate to be accepted by the cool kids and latches on to Cody Barns, aka Maniac. Cody's claim to fame is performing wild stunts - the crazier the better - and posting them on his blog.

When Sam reluctantly joins Cody and his sidekick, Javon, on their midnight ghost riding, a practice in which the driver and passenger climb onto the hood of their moving car and dance, something goes terribly wrong. Cody convinces Sam to flee the scene, leaving Javon for dead. But soon, mysterious messages appear on Cody's blog and anonymous notes are slid into Sam's locker. As Sam struggles with his conscience, a haunting question remains: Who else knows the truth?

~~~~~~~
Contest Info

Prize:
Thanks to Marina and Dundurn publishing, ONE lucky winner will receive a copy of Marina Cohen's YA novel, Ghost Ride.

Details:
~You must FILL OUT THE FORM to enter.
~This contest is open to residents of the US AND Canada! However, if you have someone in the states or Canada who can ship the book to you, feel free to enter.
~Contest starts today, Sept. 16th, and will end at 11:59PM EST on September 30th. Winner will be emailed and announced shortly after.

Special Bonus Entries:
~As a little surprise, those of you who commented on my interview with Marina, Review of Ghost Ride, and/or Noteworthy Passages of Ghost Ride PRIOR to this giveaway post will receive ONE EXTRA ENTRY for EACH comment. I will add these in myself.

Extra Entries:
~+2 For following my blog(Old or new)
~+2 Tweeting contest or linking it in your sidebar.
~+2 For giving me the title and author of a book that you loved but not many people know about. Prefer it to have under 200 ratings on GoodReads.

Links (To learn more about Marina and Ghost Ride)
~My Review
~My Noteworthy Passages
~My Interview with Marina

That's it folks and remember, while comments are appreciated, you must fill out the form below.

Author Interview: Marina Cohen

Hello everyone and welcome. I recently read this really great book called Ghost Ride by Marina Cohen. Honestly, I can't believe more of you haven't heard about it. After getting to know the author and reading her book, I decided that I had to interview her. Marina Cohen is sweet and a talented author. So everyone give a warm round of applause for Marina Cohen!

~~~~~~~~~~
The Book Pixie: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Marina Cohen: I always cringe a little at this question, because honestly, I can never think of anything really interesting to say about myself, but here we go. I’m a wife, a mother, a teacher and a children’s/YA writer. I adore fantasy and horror novels and movies. I love football and cooking—especially baking (I’m totally obsessed with gingerbread!). I’m a huge Bruce Springsteen fan. Fall is my favourite season—something about the smell, the comfort foods and the clothes make me feel like writing. (I'm with you there on the fall. I just absolutely love it best!)

TBP: Give us a brief description of your book, Ghost Ride.

MC: Ghost Ride is a paranormal thriller. To sum it up in one line: Crazy teen stunt goes ghostly wrong…

TBP: What inspired you to write Ghost Ride?

MC: I used to teach in a town called Stouffville, north-east of Toronto . Some of my students lived in a housing development called Sleepy Hollow. I’ve always loved Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow but thought it was a bit weird that anyone would want to name a new housing development of beautiful homes after the freaky tale. I began wondering what sort of modern story might take place in Sleepy Hollow today.

TBP: Did you ever find it difficult to write from a male's perspective?

MC: Ha! Not at all—in fact, I usually struggle more writing from a female POV! I think it’s because I’m still a bit of a tomboy at heart.

TBP: Would you say you have anything in common with your character, Sam? If so, what?

MC: I think deep down inside we all crave a sense of belonging—on that level, I really connected with Sam. Luckily, I’ve never wanted to “fit in” badly enough to do anything I knew in my heart was really wrong. I’ve known people who have, though—sad stories.

TBP: Ghost Ride is published by a small publishing house, Dundurn, based in Canada . What do you consider to be the advantages of being published by a smaller publishing house. The disadvantages?

MC: I’m thrilled to have two books published with Dundurn—they are a fabulous publisher and have been very supportive of my writing. One advantage is that I have gotten to know the staff on a personal level—my editor, publicist, sales representatives etc—they all seem to be working very hard to advance my career. I suppose one of the disadvantages of being with a smaller publisher is the financial reality--they just can’t provide the enormous advances or spend the same kind of money on publicity as larger houses.

TBP: You have another YA book, entitled Mind Gap, releasing next year. Could you give us a brief descritption of it?

MC: Mind Gap is another paranormal thriller. In this novel, 14 year-old Jake MacRae’s life is spinning out of control. The decisions he is making are destroying his life and he doesn’t seem to care. But what he doesn’t realize is that his decisions are also destroying the lives of those close to him. Then one night, Jake receives a mysterious text message inviting him to a flash party on a midnight subway train. As Jake leaves the platform, he has no idea he has boarded a train bound for his worst nightmare. And what’s more—he can’t get off.

TBP: Prior to writing Ghost Ride, you wrote two MG books, Shadow of the Moon and Trick of the Light. Could you tell us more about these?

MC: Ah! My first novel, Shadow of the Moon, is a MG fantasy about boy/girl twins who, armed only with a jar of fireflies, are sucked through the last light of a solar eclipse and must save the universe from darkness. It’s a story very close to my heart as it took months of writing, years re-writing, editing and submitting, dozens of rejections, before I finally received a contract for publication. Trick of the Light is the sequel. They were my first two babies and I’m very proud of them. Sadly, they were published by a very small Canadian publisher, Vanwell, who has since closed down their children’s line. I’m not giving up hope that another publisher might some day pick them up and I’ll finally write the third book to complete the trilogy.

TBP: If you could co-write a book with any YA author, who would it be and why?

MC: This is an awesome and impossible question! With all the amazing YA writers out there, how could I possibly choose one? If absolutely forced to make that most difficult decision—I would LOVE nothing more than to co-author a book with Kelly Armstrong. She is not only brilliant, but a writer after my own heart—deliciously creepy supernatural stuff! Not to mention she’s a fellow Canadian!

TBP: What are some of your personal favorite YA books?

MC: Wow. So many come to mind. Can I say the Harry Potter series? I know it begins as MG—but it is definitely top of my list. I felt such a loss at the end of that series—just wanted it to keep going on forever. Other Y/A books that have left their mark: LOTR, Catcher in the Rye, A Thief in the House of Memory, In the Garage, Speak, Shiver, The Summoning…Oh, and Coraline! I know it’s MG, but that novel scared me—and seriously, not much does.

TBP: Anything else you'd like to add?

MC: Yes! Thanks so much for taking the time to read and review my novel Ghost Ride—it really thrills me to know that people out there, such as yourself, are reading—and hopefully enjoying—my stories!

~~~~~~~~~

I'd like to give a huge thanks to Marina Cohen for letting me interview her! Also, thanks to all of you for stopping by. I just loved Marina's book Ghost Ride and I hope that ya'll will take a look at it and decide to read it. I'll soon be reading her two middle grade novels, which she mentioned above, and I will be reviewing those on my blog.

My Review of Ghost Ride
Noteworthy Passages of Ghost Ride

Stay tuned because tomorrow I'll be posting a contest for a copy of Ghost Ride. For those of you who comment on this interview BEFORE the contest post goes up, you will receive an extra entry which I'll add in. Thanks again for stopping by. :D