CONTEST: Win a Copy of Soulless by Gail Carriger!

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED

Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she’s a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she is being rudely attacked by a vampire to whom she has not been properly introduced!

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire, and the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate. With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible.

Can she figure out what is actually happening to London’s high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? And who is the real enemy . . . and do they have treacle tart?

“Soulless” is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking… Soulless hits shelves Oct 1, 2009.

CONTEST: WIN A COPY OF SOULLESS!

TO ENTER:
Leave a comment with your email address

BONUS ENTRIES:

+1 Link to any social network of your choice or
+1 Comment on Gail's Guest Post Here!

CONTEST ENDS:

October 11th 2009 at Midnight Eastern Standard Time
This contest is open Internationally!

Guest Post with Gail Carriger, Author of Soulless

Since I write comedy and alternate history, I spend a good deal of time investigating historical quirks. One of my favorite things to do is take vampires and werewolves and make them responsible for the most unexplainable facts and ridiculous minutia of the ancient world.

Why? Because werewolves and vampire are intrinsically absurd. For example: Have you ever worn fangs? Well I have, and there's quite the adjustment period resulting in a tender lower lip and a pronounced lisp. Thus, newly minted vampires are obviously going to lisp. Those with longer fangs may even drool a bit. You see? Comedy gold. And werewolves? My warped little mind always jumps to other types of were-creature. How about a weresheep, a weredachshund, or a wereplatypus? A weregoat? Bahahaha! Skulks about under the full moon, viciously breaking into a girl's closet to eat all her shoes! I don't know about you, but I'm trembling in my...oh wait.

What I ended up doing for the Parasol Protectorate series was divide up world history into different camps. For some cultures this is easier than others. The Vikings, with all that hair and Fenrir and everything, were definitely werewolf oriented. The Romans, being decadent, incestuous, and obsessed with luxury goods, were trafficking with vampires. I'm inclined to think the Greeks were altogether anti-supernatural because of their obsession with human perfection. The Ancient Egyptians had animal headed gods, so I come right back to werewolves. Catholic Inquisition? Now we can all guess what that was really about!

And then I sally forth into the unexplainable: how did tiny Britain manage to conquer an empire? Because they were the first culture to integrate vampires (as political advisors) and werewolves (as military agents) fully into their society. This, coincidentally, also explains King Henry VIII's break with the Catholic Church (the marriage thing was just a cover up) and the British Regimental system (which makes absolutely no sense until you realize it's based on pack dynamics).



But what about that minutia you mentioned, Ms. Carriger? Well, Gentle Reader, here are some quick thoughts.

1. Russian folk dancing = squarely at the werewolf door.

2. Bet I can guess who started the whole "quenching a sword in blood" rumor.

3. Retsina, metaxa and ouzo = cruel tricks played on the Greeks by the vampires.

4. Absurdly high cravats , well, they hide neck bites now don't they?

5. Ever wonder why Italian food has so much garlic in it? Anti-vampire protection. Go pesto go, rah rah rah!

6. That phrase "born with a silver spoon" takes on a whole new meaning if there are werewolves running around.

7. And what about the term "Dark Ages?"

8. I leave you with one final thought: Scottish haggis and blood pudding. 'Nuff said.

Ms. Carriger began writing in order to cope with being raised in obscurity by an expatriate Brit and an incurable curmudgeon. She escaped small town life and inadvertently acquired several degrees in Higher Learning.

Ms. Carriger then traveled the historic cities of Europe, subsisting entirely on biscuits secreted in her handbag. She now resides in the Colonies, surrounded by a harem of Armenian lovers, where she insists on tea imported directly from
London and cats that pee into toilets. She is fond of teeny tiny hats and tropical fruit. Soulless is her first book.

Gail Carriger is the author of Soulless a novel of vampires, dirigibles, and parasols due out Oct. 1, 2009 from Orbit US. You can find Gail on her website, livejournal, blogspot, Facebook, and Twitter.

CONTEST WINNERS!

It's that time again! The winner of my contest to win a signed copy of Once a Witch is :

Sarah @ Limerick's Book Spot!

The winner of Another Faust & Book Poster is

Casey @ A Passion for Books!

Congratulations! I've heard back from both of you and your prizes are on the way!

Thanks to everyone who entered and good luck with the other contests!

Book Review: Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph

SHRINKING VIOLET BY DANIELLE JOSEPH
Publication Date: May 5th 2009

SYNOPSIS: High school senior Teresa Adams is so painfully shy that she dreads speaking to anyone in the hallways or getting called on in class. But in the privacy of her bedroom with her iPod in hand, she rocks out -- doing mock broadcasts for Miami's hottest FM radio station, which happens to be owned by her stepfather. When a slot opens up at The SLAM, Tere surprises herself by blossoming behind the mike into confident, sexy Sweet T -- and to everyone's shock, she's a hit! Even Gavin, the only guy in school who she dares to talk to, raves about the mysterious DJ's awesome taste in music. But when The SLAM announces a songwriting contest -- and a prom date with Sweet T is the grand prize -- Sweet T's dream could turn into Tere's worst nightmare....

REVIEW: Teresa (Tere) Adams lives in constant fear of being asked to speak out loud in class. Her interactions with others are difficult and often painful. In fact, Tere is so shy that most teachers have given up on calling on her altogether. Tere prefers to hide out in her bedroom, pretending to be a DJ for Miami’s hottest radio station, the SLAM 92.7. Through a stroke of luck, Tere gets her chance to DJ and blossoms under the guise of her alter ego – Sweet T. Meanwhile, she is forced to participate in a group oral presentation project with new crush Gavin, who just happens to love Sweet T and her radio show. How long can Tere keep her radio persona a secret from Gavin and everyone else? And could Sweet T actually help her overcome the shyness in her life and land her the guy of her dreams?

Shrinking Violet is a beautifully written and memorable debut novel that is both humorous and extremely touching. It's a story about a girl who struggles with a commonly misunderstood problem – debilitating shyness. While most people are probably not as shy as Tere, we’ve all had instances where we feel self-conscious or lack confidence in our opinions. As someone who has struggled with shyness all my life, I was really able to connect with Tere and feel all her insecurities and doubts as if they were my own. I loved the way she lived out her dream, despite the sheer terror of taking those first courageous leaps. Gavin, the cute boy she crushes on was my other favorite character. He appreciated her for who she truly was – both her shy self AND the spunky girl deep down inside. I also loved the personalities inhabiting the radio station. Their characters were quirky and a lot of fun, especially the chest hair baring, aging DJ Derek and Pop Tart, the front desk receptionist with the heart of gold.

I thought radio was the perfect venue to transport Tere out of her crippling shyness. Being a DJ means not having to worry about body image and self confidence issues. It's all about the music and the voice. It wasn’t an overnight transformation or one that happened without the support of some great people in her life too. This aspect helped make the story much more realistic for me. And really, what better way for Tere to come out of her shell than to talk about something she was already truly passionate about- her love of great music!

Shrinking Violet is about a girl who chases down a dream despite all the obstacles in her way and comes out a triumphant winner on the other side. Shy girls will be cheering for Tere everywhere. I’d recommend this book for anyone who loves music and is looking for a fun, romantic read with a positive underlying message!


Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: MTV (May 5, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416596968
ISBN-13: 978-1416596967
Buy at Amazon, Borders, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Indiebound


Danielle Joseph was a college DJ for five years on the Gyroscope, a world music show. She also interned at several top Boston radio stations while earning her BFA in Creative Writing and an MA in Marketing Communications and Advertising from Emerson College. She has taught Creative Writing and English to Middle school students.

Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, Danielle now lives in Miami, Florida with her husband and two young sons. These days you can find her cruising around with the tunes blaring and her internal DJ hard at work.

Visit the Official Website of Danielle Joseph and check out her playlist for Shrinking Violet.

Save Shrinking Violet Campaign & Contest!

SAVE SHRINKING VIOLET!

Pull Up Your Sweater!
Help Tere keep her voice!

WHAT IS SHRINKING VIOLET? It's a young adult novel about an extremely shy high school senior trying to find her voice and reach her dream of becoming a DJ, despite the obstacles that stand in her way. Check out my review HERE.

SYNOPSIS: High school senior Teresa Adams is so painfully shy that she dreads speaking to anyone in the hallways or getting called on in class. But in the privacy of her bedroom with her iPod in hand, she rocks out doing mock broadcasts for Miami's hottest FM radio station, which happens to be owned by her stepfather. When a slot opens up at The SLAM, Tere surprises herself by blossoming behind the mike into confident, sexy Sweet T to everyone's shock, she's a hit! Even Gavin, the only guy in school who she dares to talk to, raves about the mysterious DJ's awesome taste in music. But when The SLAM announces a songwriting contest, and a prom date with Sweet T is the grand prize, Sweet T's dream could turn into Tere's worst nightmare. . . .

Praise for Shrinking Violet:
"Bella, eat your heart out. Tere is the girl every young woman truly wants to be. . . . Brilliant work, Danielle Joseph." -Ellen Hopkins, New York Times bestselling author of Identical

The book is about to go on back order and in order for more copies to be printed, more people have to place orders for the book.

So here's how you can help-

CONTEST

Danielle Joseph is running a contest for those that want to have some fun!

There will be FOUR winners, each receiving a $25 GIFT CERTIFICATE to itunes or the bookstore of their choice.

(***I'm throwing in some ARC's to her contest pot- you can also win a copy of Ash by Malinda Lo, Give up the Ghost by Megan Crewe and My Invented Life by Lauren Bjorkman!**)

To Enter to Win, head on over to Danielle's blog HERE.

SPECIAL BONUS

If you enter Danielle's contest, I will give you TEN EXTRA ENTRIES in any contest you have entered on my blog!

Just email me at bookbutterfly9@gmail.com or leave a comment here. Please include your links letting me know what you did and also which contest(s) you want your entries to apply for.

Win a Copy of My Invented Life and Pair of Necklaces!

Roz is the zany and fearless girl in Lauren Bjorkman's YA novel MY INVENTED LIFE.
Roz and Eva share an advice blog called ASK MY SISTER--(mostly) good advice for those who dare.

If you’re having difficulties in the romance department, or can’t decide which way you swing, or want to take revenge on some fly-bitten clotpole there is always online ouija.

But if you want crazy good advice, Ask My Sister!

Dear Roz,

My ex-BFF stole my boyfriend from me. Now she’s going to the prom with him. Is it wrong to try to give her mono by drinking out of her soda can during lunch?

More Than Tempted

Dear More Than Tempted,

You can give someone mono just like that? Wow. I’m so jealous. Did someone invent Mono brand lipgloss? Or are you a carrier?

Either way, your plan is perfectly diabolical. Which is why I love it! I think you should do it. But please don’t share this letter with Eva because it might give her ideas. I’m the one usually stealing her boyfriends, you know. Even though I try to wait until they’re exes.

If you’re worried about the moral implications... I checked with the Centers for Disease Control.

No one has ever died from mono. And all’s fair in love and war, especially when it comes to boyfriends!

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED

How would you like to win a SIGNED copy of MY INVENTED LIFE AND A PAIR OF SISTER NECKLACES (handmade by Lauren Bjorkman from crystals, sterling silver findings and sterling chains) ? It's easy! All you have to do is submit a letter (long or short) to Ask My Sister!

TO ENTER: Email your questions to lauren@laurenbjorkman.com or
submit them at Lauren's Blog!

Waiting on Wednesday: Wish by Alexandra Bullen

This week's pre-publication can't-wait-to-read pick of the week is:

Wish by

Alexandra Bullen

Publication Date: January 1st 2010

For broken-hearted Olivia Larsen, nothing can change the fact that her twin sister, Violet, is gone... until a mysterious, beautiful gown arrives on her doorstep. The dress doesn't just look magical; it is magical. It has the power to grant her one wish, and the only thing Olivia wants is her sister back.

With Violet again by her side, both girls get a second chance at life. And as the sisters soon discover, they have two more dresses-and two more wishes left. But magic can't solve everything, and Olivia is forced to confront her ghosts to learn how to laugh, love, and live again.
In a breathtaking debut from Alexandra Bullen, WISH asks the question: If you could have anything, what would you wish for?

(I love the shimmery cover of this book and the synopsis. Can't wait to get my hands on it! )

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event to spotlight upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. It's hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Interview with Author Sarah Beth Durst & Contest!

Today I'd like to welcome author Sarah Beth Durst, whose exciting upcoming novel, ICE releases October 6th 2009!

Sarah Beth Durst is the author of Ice, as well as Into the Wild, an Andre Norton Award Finalist for Young Adult Science Fiction & Fantasy, and its sequel, Out of the Wild. She has been writing fantasy stories since she was ten years old and holds an English degree from Princeton University. Sarah lives in Stony Brook, New York, with her husband and children, for whom she would happily journey east of the sun and west of the moon. For more information, visit her at sarahbethdurst.com.

Your upcoming novel ICE, a modern retelling of the Nordic legend "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" is about a polar bear, true love and one girl's impossible journey across the frozen Arctic. Can you share with us any teasers or give us a sneak peek as to what we can expect to read about in ICE?

Here's one of my favorite moments from ICE:

Cassie had never seen such a beautiful mirage. Spires soared above her. They shimmered in the bending light. At the tips of the spires, the ice curled into the semblance of banners, frozen midwave. She waited for it to shrink to its normal proportions: an ordinary ridge or an outcrop of ice that had been stretched by a trick of the light.

But it did not shrink or stretch. It shone like a jewel in the sunlight.

"Welcome to my castle," the bear said.

ICE is an adventure and a love story. It's about Cassie, the daughter of an Arctic research scientist, and what happens when she walks outside her father's research station and meets an impossibility, a polar bear who talks to her.

What was your inspiration for ICE -- can you give us any insight into that first spark that helped form the idea for the novel? In addition, can you tell us about how ICE has changed since your initial rough draft?

I knew I wanted to write about a girl who kicks butt, and I knew I wanted to write about real love (not the love-at-first-sight, if-Cinderella-and-the-prince-are-so-perfect-together-then-why-don't-they-tell-each-other-their-NAMES love). I found both things in the Norwegian folktale "East of the Sun, West of the Moon," specifically a version of the tale illustrated by P. J. Lynch, in which you can see the girl's fierceness and the depth of her love on every page.

The novel changed immensely from that initial idea, though. ICE is not a strict retelling. I changed major plot elements, switched the setting from Norway to North America, moved it up to modern day, and added my own major plot points and magic system. For example, my "lassie" isn't a peasant's daughter; instead, she's a snow-mobile-riding scientist. And my polar bear is not an enchanted prince; instead, he's the Angel of Death for polar bears. Kind of a big change. :)

Do you have anything in common with Cassie's character in your novel? Do you ever base your characters on people you know?

Nope. Cassie is way braver than I could ever be. She's a look-before-she-leaps kind of girl. (Literally. She's always leaping off cliffs and into oceans and such.) I'm more a make-a-lot-of-lists and think-of-a-comeback-two-weeks-later kind of girl. But I loved living vicariously through her.

Looking at the beautiful, shimmering cover art of ICE, one can just imagine Cassie and her polar bear being swept away through a wintery realm. Did you have any input in the book cover and what did you think about it the first time you saw it?

I had zero input in the book cover, except to hope with crossed-fingers and crossed-toes that they'd put a polar bear on the cover. When I first saw the art, I said, "Oh, oh, oh, look! Yay!" (or something equally incoherent), and then jumped out of my chair and danced. I LOVE my cover! The artist captured the feel of the book and look of the characters as perfectly as if he'd swooped into my brain and scooped out the image.

You’re an avid researcher of fairy tales and have posted many of the enchanting, obscure ones on your website for readers to enjoy. Of all the fairy tales you’ve ever come across, which one is your favorite, and conversely, which one is your least favorite?

I love Beauty and the Beast because it's about real love -- the kind of love that develops over time and is based on friendship, not on admiration of one's pretty dress, pretty voice, or inexplicably fragile shoes. My least favorite is the Juniper Tree, which involves murder, cannibalism, and a freaky bird.

If you could dive into any fairy tale and magically become one of the characters for just one day, which one would you want to become?

Hmm... Most of the heroines are miserable for most of their tales. And the villains might have fun in the middle of the story, but they typically die in horrific ways. So I'd have to vote for the fairy godmother from Cinderella. Nothing bad happens to her, and she gets a magic wand!

You were a multiple award nominee and award finalist for your debut novel Into the Wild. Since then, you’ve also published a follow up book, Out of the Wild, and contributed multiple essays to popular books such as Mind Rain: Your Favorite Authors on Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies Series. In all your experience, what would you say are the best and worst things about becoming a published author? In addition, has there been anything that completely took you by surprise once you became published?

Best thing is knowing that dreams can come true. I have wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember, and I love thinking about how ecstatic my ten-year-old self would be if she knew I'd really be doing this! Worst thing about being published is worrying about whether or not people will like your story. A week before my first book came out, I had a recurring dream that our house was being attacked by zombies. I both can't wait for people to read my books and am petrified about it.

Do you have any writing quirks to share with us, such as a special place you like to tuck yourself away in or certain coffee/food you have to have, music to listen to, etc? What is your writing schedule – do you write at nighttime, daytime, etc?

I like to eat chocolate while I write. Especially Raisinets. But I don't have a particular schedule. My one rule is that I need to write every day. I like to start by writing emails or blog comments or just noting the events of the day -- anything to get my fingers warmed up with stringing sentences together. I find it helps to kind of sneak up on the day's writing. Otherwise, if you sit down and say, "Now I shall work on my novel, the dearest dream of my heart," you might freeze up.

Do you often hear from readers and what sort of things do they say about your books?

I love email from readers! And blog comments! And tweets! I think it's rather amazing that with 26 letters, you can put images from your head into the head of a stranger, and I love hearing that my words have made someone -- someone who I'll never meet -- smile.

You have a pet cat named Perni – do you get inspiration from her for the animals in your novels?

My cat likes to participate in my writing process. Entire house with lots of soft surfaces, yet she only wants to lay on the manuscript page that I'm attempting to edit. She has been known to chew on scenes that she dislikes.

Your next novel after ICE is a magical story set at Princeton University, where you attended college. Can you tell us anything more about that novel or any other projects you are working on?

My next novel is called TIGERLILY. It's about magic at Princeton, and it will be coming from Simon & Schuster in fall 2010. I’m really, really excited about it!

Is there anything else you would like to add today?

Thanks so much for all the great questions!

CONTEST
NOTE: THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED
Sarah has given me one copy of ICE to give away!

TO ENTER- Leave me a comment telling me what your favorite fairy tale is.

+1 BONUS- Link/Post this contest to any social network of your choice!

CONTEST ENDS 10/20

OPEN TO US & INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTS!

For another chance to win, check out Squeaky Books for the contest they are running!

Book Review: The September Sisters by Jillian Cantor

THE SEPTEMBER SISTERS by JILLIAN CANTOR

SYNOPSIS: Abigail Reed and her younger sister, Becky, are always at each other's throats. Their mother calls them the September Sisters, because their birthdays are only a day apart, and pretends that they're best friends. But really, they delight in making each other miserable. Then Becky disappears in the middle of the night, and a torn gold chain with a sapphire heart charm is the only clue to the mystery of her kidnapping. Abby struggles to cope with her own feelings of guilt and loss as she tries to keep her family together. When her world is at its bleakest, Abby meets a new neighbor, Tommy, who is dealing with his own loss, and the two of them discover that love can bloom, even when it's surrounded by thorns.

This exquisitely written first novel illustrates life as it truly is—filled with fear and danger, hope and love, comfort and uncertainty.

REVIEW: The September Sisters is Jillian Cantor's stunning debut novel. The raw emotions of love and loss were so honest that I was immediately drawn into the story and couldn't help but become attached to Abby. I thought the way Jillian Cantor crafted the opening scene was extremely clever. To find out what happened to Becky ahead of time and then be transported back to the night of the disappearance made the story more poignant too.

Abby alternated between conflicting emotions in the aftermath of her sisters' disappearance. These feelings (including resentment, heartbreak, uselessness) were very understandable and made the story more real to me. Her sister's disappearance overshadowed every future interaction (or lack thereof) with her parents. There was one point where Abby wanted to scream at her parents, "I'm still HERE!" Cantor doesn't hold back and I kept wondering if Abby's parents were ever going to wake up and realize that their other daughter desperately needed them too.

The first love element was a much needed bright spot in Abby's life and had all the awkwardness of adolescence. It never felt false or forced to me. I did keep picturing Abby to be more of a sixteen year old in my mind though. On the other hand, I'm sure that going through what she did would definitely make a person grow up pretty fast. I do think it was smart of Cantor to work Abby’s relationship with Tommy into the novel. In those little moments you could feel some sunshine coming back into Abby's life and it helped keep the novel from becoming too dark.

The September Sisters is a novel that stays with you long after you have turned the last page. Jillian Cantor has an amazing writing style. She knows how to paint a vivid picture of what is going on and it really grabs the reader’s full attention. The plot moved very quickly and it didn't take numerous chapters to get into the real "meat" of the story either. This was a family that tried to pick up the pieces after a devastating loss but never fully recovered. I told myself that I was not going to get emotional, and I did well until the very last paragraph. It was so masterfully written that it touched a nerve within me and I couldn't help wipe away a tear or two!

After reading The September Sisters, I can't wait to read Jillian Cantor's future novels, including The Life of Glass!

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 368 Pages
Publisher: HarperTeen (February 24, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061686484
ISBN-13: 978-0061686481
Buy at Amazon, Borders, Books-a-Million, Indiebound, Barnes & Noble

Jillian Cantor has a BA in English from Penn State University. She received her MFA from The University of Arizona and was the recipient of the national Jacob K. Javits fellowship. Her first novel, THE SEPTEMBER SISTERS, was called "memorable" and "startlingly real" by Publishers Weekly and was nominated as a YALSA Best Book For Young Adults. Her second novel, THE LIFE OF GLASS, will be available from Harperteen in February 2010, and her debut novel for adults, THE TRANSFORMATION OF THINGS, will be available from Avon/HarperCollins in Fall 2010. She currently lives in Arizona with her husband and two sons.

Visit Jillian at her Official Website & Blog

In My Mailbox: September 21st - 26th

The following books made their way to my house this week-

FOR REVIEW

TIME OF MY LIFE: A NOVEL BY ALLISON WINN SCOTT
Publication Date: October 7th 2008

Jillian Westfield has the perfect suburban life straight out of the upscale women's magazines that she obsessively reads. She’s got the modern-print rugs of Metropolitan Home, the elegant meals from Gourmet, the clutter-free closets out of Real Simple, and the elaborate Easter egg hunts seen in Parents. With her successful investment banker husband behind the wheel and her cherubic eighteen-month-old in the backseat, hers could be the family in the magazines’ glossy Range Rover ads.

Yet somehow all of the how-to magazine stories in the world can’t seem to fix her faltering marriage, banish the tedium of days spent changing diapers, or stop her from asking, “What if?”

Then one morning Jillian wakes up seven years in the past. Before her daughter was born. Before she married Henry. Suddenly she’s back in her post–grad school Ikea-furnished Manhattan apartment. She’s back in her fast-paced job with the advertising agency. And she’s still with Jackson, the ex-boyfriend and star of her what-if fantasies.

Armed with twenty-twenty hindsight, she’s free to choose all over again. She can use the zippy ad campaigns from her future to wow the clients and bosses in her present. She can reconnect with the mother who abandoned her so many years before. She can fix the fights at every juncture that doomed her relationship with Jackson. Or can she?

THE CUPCAKE QUEEN BY HEATHER HEPLER
Publication Date: September 17th 2009

When her mother moves them from the city to a small town to open up a cupcake bakery, Penny’s life isn’t what she expected. Her father has stayed behind, and Mom isn’t talking about what the future holds for their family. And then there’s Charity, the girl who plays mean pranks almost daily.

There are also bright spots in Hog’s Hollow—like Tally, an expert in Rock Paper Scissors, and Marcus, the boy who is always running on the beach. But just when it looks as though Penny is settling in, her parents ask her to make a choice that will turn everything upside down again. A sweet novel about love, creativity, and accepting life’s unexpected turns.

SHRINKING VIOLET BY DANIELLE JOSEPH
Publication Date: May 5th 2009 (Mtv)

High school senior Teresa Adams is so painfully shy that she dreads speaking to anyone in the hallways or getting called on in class. But in the privacy of her bedroom with her iPod in hand, she rocks out -- doing mock broadcasts for Miami's hottest FM radio station, which happens to be owned by her stepfather. When a slot opens up at The SLAM, Tere surprises herself by blossoming behind the mike into confident, sexy Sweet T -- and to everyone's shock, she's a hit! Even Gavin, the only guy in school who she dares to talk to, raves about the mysterious DJ's awesome taste in music. But when The SLAM announces a songwriting contest -- and a prom date with Sweet T is the grand prize -- Sweet T's dream could turn into Tere's worst nightmare...

ICE BY SARAH BETH DURST
Publication Date: October 6th 2009

When Cassie was a little girl, her grandmother told her a fairytale about her mother, who made a deal with the Polar Bear King and was swept away to the ends of the earth to become a prisoner of the trolls. Now that Cassie is older, she knows that this was a nice way of saying her mother had died. Cassie lives with her father at an Arctic research station, she is determined to become a scientist, and she has no time for make believe.

Then, on her eighteenth birthday, Cassie comes face to face with a polar bear who speaks to her. He tells her that her mother is alive, imprisoned in the troll castle. And that he can bring her back--if Cassie will agree to be his bride.

That is the beginning of Cassie's own real-life fairytale, one that sends her on an unbelievable journey across the brutal Arctic, through the Canadian boreal forest, and on the back of the North Wind to the land east of the sun and west of the moon. Before it is over, the world she knew will be swept away, and everything she holds dear will be taken from her--until she discovers the true meaning of love and family in the magical realm of Ice.

BALLAD: A GATHERING OF FAERIE BY MAGGIE STIEFVATER
Publication Date: October 1st 2009 (Flux)

In this mesmerizing sequel to Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception, music prodigy James Morgan and his best friend, Deirdre, join a private conservatory for musicians. James' musical talent attracts Nuala, a soul-snatching faerie muse who fosters and feeds on the creative energies of exceptional humans until they die. Composing beautiful music together unexpectedly leads to mutual admiration and love. Haunted by fiery visions of death, James realizes that Deirdre and Nuala are being hunted by the Fey and plunges into a soul-scorching battle with the Queen of the Fey to save their lives.

CONTEST WIN - THANKS TINA @FANTASTIC BOOK REVIEW

SLEEPLESS BY THOMAS FAHY
Publication Date: August 20th 2009

Emma Montgomery has been experiencing nightmares of gruesome murders. In fact, all of the students in Dr. Beecher's secret society have been having terrible dreams and sleepwalking. Now, as their classmates start turning up dead, Emma and her friends race against the clock to find out what's causing them to kill in their sleep.

CONTEST WIN: THANKS MISTY @THE BOOK RAT

ATONEMENT BY IAN MCEWAN
Publication Date: February 25th 2003
Ian McEwan’s symphonic novel of love and war, childhood and class, guilt and forgiveness provides all the satisfaction of a brilliant narrative and the provocation we have come to expect from this master of English prose.

On a hot summer day in 1935, thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis witnesses a moment’s flirtation between her older sister, Cecilia, and Robbie Turner, the son of a servant and Cecilia’s childhood friend. But Briony’s incomplete grasp of adult motives–together with her precocious literary gifts–brings about a crime that will change all their lives. As it follows that crime’s repercussions through the chaos and carnage of World War II and into the close of the twentieth century, Atonement engages the reader on every conceivable level, with an ease and authority that mark it as a genuine masterpiece.

BOUGHT!

REIGN OR SHINE (Demon Princess, Book 1) BY MICHELLE ROWEN
Publication Date: September 29th 2009 (Walker Books)

As if trying to fit in at a new school isn't stressful enough, sixteen-year-old Nikki Donovan just found out that her long-lost father is, in fact, the demon king of the Shadowlands—the world that separates and protects us from the Underworld. When she is brought there by the mysterious—and surprisingly cute—messenger Michael, she learns that her father is dying, and he wants her to assume the throne. To complicate matters, a war is brewing between the Shadowlands and the Underworld, her half-demon qualities are manifesting, and her gowing feelings for Michael are completely forbidden. Ruling a kingdom, navigating a secret crush, and still making it home by curfew—what's a teenage demon princess to do?

In My Mailbox is a weekly event hosted by The Story Siren, where we talk about what books we got over the past week (store purchases/mailbox deliveries/library, etc)

Book Review: The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH BY CARRIE RYAN

Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers; First Edition edition (March 10, 2009)
Language: English
Buy at Amazon, Borders, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Indiebound

In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

But, slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future--between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

The Forest of Hands and Teeth is an extremely complex and well written novel that will haunt you long after you have finished it. It begins seven years after the Return- a plague resulting in the Unconsecrated (undead) who have ended civilization as we know it. Mary is a young girl living within the constraints of an archaic, close knit village community. The shambling, ravenous Unconsecrated are kept at bay outside her village by a chain link fence. Desperate to get in, the Unconsecrated incessantly wail and throw their bodies at it, making the threat of death a constant, oppressive reminder for the people of the village.

Carrie Ryan has beautifully woven issues of love, sacrifice, faith and survival into her narrative, creating a book that is both heartbreaking yet painfully beautiful. One thing that resonated with me in particular were the choices (or lack thereof) for women within the village. Mary’s village is enforced by the laws of The Sisterhood, a mysterious religious order. As a young woman, you have two options when you come of age. Either you are spoken for a by a man, whom you will marry and bear his children or you are resigned to the stark existence within the confines of the Sisterhood. Unlike most of the people within the village, Mary dreams of what lies beyond the Forest of The Hands and Teeth. Fueled by stories of vast oceans and tall skyscrapers that have been passed down in her family for generations, her insatiable curiosity propels her to long for more than she can attain in the closely controlled existence of the village. The fences may protect her, but her spirit and thirst for knowledge is painfully constricted within them. How would you feel if you lived in a world such as this, where your own hopes and dreams did not matter?

The Forest of Hands and Teeth, is a dark and utterly captivating novel. I wanted to slow down and savor each moment of this book, but I found that impossible to do. I ended up racing on in an adrenaline rush, determined to find out what was going to happen to Mary, the brave determined heroine with big dreams and conflicting loyalties. I am anxiously awaiting The Dead Tossed Waves and can't wait to immerse myself back into the world Carrie Ryan has created.
Check out these new covers for The Forest of Hands and Teeth and Dead Tossed Waves-aren't they beautiful?

Born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina, Carrie Ryan is a graduate of Williams College and Duke University School of Law. A former litigator, she now writes full time. She lives with her writer/lawyer fiancé, two fat cats and one large puppy in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are not at all prepared for the zombie apocalypse.

Friday Finds: Friday September 25th 2009

Friday Finds was formed over at Should Be Reading -
"The idea is to share, every Friday, about books that you’ve recently discovered (never heard of before) that sound really good!"

Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines
Publication Date: October 13th 2009 (Bloomsbury)

It’s a fight to the death—on live TV—when a gladiator’s daughter steps into the arena.

Lyn is a neo-gladiator’s daughter, through and through. Her mother has made a career out of marrying into the high-profile world of televised blood sport, and the rules of the Gladiator Sports Association are second nature to their family. Always lend ineffable confidence to the gladiator. Remind him constantly of his victories. And most importantly: Never leave the stadium when your father is dying. The rules help the family survive, but rules—and the GSA—can also turn against you. When a gifted young fighter kills Lyn’s seventh father, he also captures Lyn’s dowry bracelet, which means she must marry him... For fans of The Hunger Games and Fight Club, Lise Haines’ debut novel is a mesmerizing look at a world addicted to violence—a modern world that’s disturbingly easy to imagine.



Forget You by Jennifer Echols
Publication Date: July 2010

Zoey’s life in her Florida beach resort town is happy and organized. She’s the captain of her high school swim team, and she works for her dad at his popular water park. Then her dad has an affair with one of his employees, and her mother has a breakdown. But Zoey begins a committed relationship with a hot lifeguard, which makes her feel stable, even if things aren’t perfect at home. Everything is still under control. Until she has a car accident that she can’t remember. She should have been with her boyfriend that night, but he doesn’t seem to know anything about the accident—and he doesn’t seem to care. The person who does care, and knows more than he’s telling, is Doug, Zoey’s darkly handsome arch-enemy who saved her from the wreckage. As Zoey begins to piece together what happened that night, she finds her sense of control over her life was only an illusion. And she inches closer to discovering the darkest secret of all: why Doug has fallen in love with her.

The Other Side of the Island by Allegra Goodman
Publication Date: September 4th 2008 (Razorbill)

From New York Times bestselling author Allegra Goodman comes a post apocalyptic novel about love, loss, and the power of human choice.

Honor and her parents have been reassigned to live on Island 365 in the Tranquil Sea. Life is peaceful there-the color of the sky is regulated by Earth Mother, a corporation that controls New Weather, and it almost never rains. Everyone fits into their rightful and predictable place. . . .

Except Honor. She doesn't fit in, but then she meets Helix, a boy with a big heart and a keen sense for the world around them. Slowly, Honor and Helix begin to uncover a terrible truth about life on the Island: Sooner or later, those who are unpredictable disappear . . . and they don't ever come back.

The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist, Marlaine Delargy (translator)
Publication Date: June 9th 2009

One day in early spring, Dorrit Weger is checked into the Second Reserve Bank Unit for biological material. She is promised a nicely furnished apartment inside the Unit, where she will make new friends, enjoy the state-of-the art recreation facilities, and live the few remaining days of her life in comfort with people who are just like her. Here, women over the age of fifty and men over sixty--single, childless, and without jobs in progressive industries--are sequestered for their final few years; they are considered outsiders. In the Unit they are expected to contribute themselves for drug and psychological testing, and ultimately donate their organs, little by little, until the final donation. Despite the ruthless nature of this practice, the ethos of this near-future society and the Unit is to take care of others, and Dorrit finds herself living under very pleasant conditions: well-housed, well-fed, and well-attended. She is resigned to her fate and discovers her days there to be rather consoling and peaceful. But when she meets a man inside the Unit and falls in love, the extraordinary becomes a reality and life suddenly turns unbearable. Dorrit is faced with compliance or escape, and...well, then what?

The Unit is a gripping exploration of a society in the throes of a system geared toward eliminating those who don't contribute by conventional means, in which the "dispensable" ones are convinced under gentle coercion of the importance of sacrificing for the "necessary" ones. It also looks deeply into the nature of the female psyche, at its resilience and creativity under dire conditions. Ninni Holmqvist has created a debut novel of humor, sorrow, and rage, that explores love, the close bonds of friendship, and a cynical, utilitarian way of thinking disguised as care.

Play Me by Laura Ruby
Publication Date: September 1st 2008 (Harper Teen)

Eddy knows how to play the game. Not only has he got a hit online TV show, but in the game of love Eddy knows all the tricks, and who will play with him. The girls who know he doesn’t make any promises. The girls who are cool with it. But as graduation looms, everything starts deviating from Eddy’s master script. Never in a million years did he expect to be facing off with unapproachable Lucinda Dulko. For once, he’s not in control—but to be with Lucinda, he’s willing to get swept up by the game. What happens to a player when the rules change? Laura Ruby, author of the highly acclaimed Good Girls, has crafted another beautifully written, utterly honest teen novel—this one showing love and heartbreak from a guy’s perspective.

Bewitching Season (Leland Sisters, Book 1) by Marissa Doyle
Publication Date: April 29th 2009

In 1837 England, young daughters of viscounts pined for handsome, titled husbands, not careers. And certainly not careers in magic.

Twins Persephone (Persy) and Penelope (Pen) Leland are anticipating their first London season with mixed feelings. Pen can't wait for the balls and parties and crowds of handsome young men to flirt with, but Persy would far rather stay home with their governess, Ally, and continue her magic studies. The only thing drawing her to London is the prospect of seeing Princess Victoria, her and Pen's idol.

But then Ally disappears from a busy London street and the twins are drawn into searching for her...and find that her disappearance is linked to a dastardly plot to enchant the soon-to-be Queen. Persy also discovers that a good lady's maid is hard to find, that one should never cast a love spell on anyone after drinking too much brandy punch at a party, that pesky little brothers can sometimes come in handy, and that even boys who were terrible teases when they were twelve can mysteriously turn into the most perfect young men.

Betraying Season (Leland Sisters, Book 2) releases September 29th 2009