From The Bookshelf of T.B.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

2012-03-03T09:56:00.001-08:00

The Secret Life of Bees

Author: Sue Monk Kidd

Publisher: Penguin

5 out of 5 stars

An insistent humming fills the air. As she gets nearer, it’s as if she can feel the vibrations in the air. She can’t believe how all those tiny, delicate wings can come together to create a noise that demands her attention in such a way. Everywhere she looks there are bees, and more bees. They swirl in the air, lazily cutting through the thick, summer heat. They appear to be so free, doing whatever they please. Sometimes Lily wishes she could sprout wings and fly through the air just like them. Maybe she can, just without the wings.

Lily Owens has lived her entire life as a question. It’s the summer of 1964, and Lily is now fourteen years old. She’s had to go through more than any fourteen-year-old should. All Lily has ever wanted is to have a mother who could help her navigate the treacherous waters of growing up. Instead all she has is her abusive father T. Ray, who she isn’t even comfortable with calling Daddy. Her father constantly puts her down, and her regular punishment is being forced to kneel on uncooked grits for hours at a time. It’s time for Lily to find some answers, and she knows she won’t be getting any here.

After being attacked while with her African American nanny, Rosaleen, Lily decides that she has had enough. She sneaks Rosaleen out of the hospital, and the two set off to Tiburon, South Carolina. They go in search of answers, but what they find is much more. Will Lily ever be able to escape her past and find out where she truly belongs? All is revealed in Sue Monk Kidd’s empowering novel about the power of mothers and just how strong a bond of love can be in, The Secret Life of Bees!

The Secret Life of Bees follows the journey of one girl searching for what she thinks she needs most in her life, only to find what she never knew she was even missing. With a historical, Southern setting, and told from Lily’s unique perspective, The Secret Life of Bees feels entirely real. A story with true heart, this book is a great read for any teen out there who is trying to find themself. I suggest this book for older teens, as it deals with extreme racism, and language not suitable for younger readers.

Reading The Secret Life of Bees from Lily’s perspective truly made the journey feel all the more relatable. I could connect with Lily on an emotional level, and it was easy to feel her frustrations and her sorrow. At times it may have felt that Lily was whining and wallowing in self-pity, but when I really saw the big picture, I probably would have handled myself in the same way Lily did. Lily also looked at life in such a unique way, that there was never a dull moment. At the start of the book, Lily has already been through so much, that she has a very mature outlook on life. It’s almost as if there is an old soul inside of her, and it was a pleasure to get to watch her find that within herself.

The everlasting bonds of love were truly shown throughout the book, and it helped me see how anyone can change their lives if they wish to do so. You can do anything as long as you have that web of support that your family and loved ones provide. The people that Lily encounters along the way are amazingly kind and caring, such as the beekeeping sisters that Lily stays with. Though they might not have all welcomed Lily at first, they soon grew on each other, and showed what love is all about. It doesn’t matter what race you are, your sexuality, or what your past is, love is love.

Hence the name of the book, in The Secret Life of Bees bees played a large role. At first, they were merely a means for Lily to dream of escaping her father’s clutches. They were something she dreamed of becoming. However, later on they came to mean so much more than that. Not only were bees a meaningful symbol for Lily, but at the beginning of each chapter, there was also an excerpt that explains a certain aspect of the life of bees. These little excerpts foreshadowed what was to come, and always related to what took place in the chapter. Who knew bees and humans were so much alike?

The Secret Life of Bees takes a look at life in the 60’s and how one young girl is surviving through the intense racism of the time. Full of love, this is a book that shows both the good and the bad of Lily Owens’ journey to find herself. Join Lily, as she flits from flower to flower to find her own hive in, The Secret Life of Bees!

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf…

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

Check out Sue Monk Kidd's website at www.suemonkkidd.com.

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

2012-02-13T21:16:00.001-08:00

The Future of Us

Author: Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

Publisher: Razorbill

3½ out of 5 stars

Welcome! You are now on the internet. It’s your first time, and the year is 1996. You can hear the soft, insistent whirring of the America Online CD-ROM as it spins in your CD tray. A new message appears on your computer screen, and you can’t hide your excitement, as you hear, “You’ve got mail.” The internet is the latest innovation, and you get to be one of the first to use it. Your computer hums and crackles, and the vast possibilities of being online are just a click away. But with one click of the mouse, what if your future were to change along with it? Click…

Emma and Josh have been next-door neighbors and best friends their entire lives. They’ve grown up alongside one another, but that all changed when Josh read things the wrong way. Now Emma and Josh barely see each other, let alone speak to one another. But if anything can bring the two together, it’s the internet.

When Josh brings over an America Online CD-ROM with 100 free hours for Emma’s new computer, more than what they expected comes along with it. Emma is shocked and bewildered to discover a little website called Facebook when she logs on. The only thing is, Facebook hasn’t even been invented yet, and what she’s seeing is definitely not taking place anytime soon, but fifteen years into the future. All Emma and Josh can do is watch their lives play out before their eyes, but they don’t necessarily like what they see on the screen.

As Emma and Josh learn more about their future selves, they also realize that they have a certain amount of control over their futures. It is their lives after all. But as Emma and Josh tinker with the mysterious workings of Facebook, not all the changes are for the better, some of them are worse, far worse. Facebook is showing them things that they never could have imagined and don’t quite know how to fix. Is Facebook here for good? Will Emma and Josh be able to take control of their futures before they get out of hand? All is revealed in Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler’s futuristic story of two teens’ trying to navigate their own lives in, The Future of Us!

The Future of Us mixes old and new to open up a window into a world of possibilities. Things were constantly changing as Emma and Josh updated their statuses in the future, and struggled to cope with the changes in the present. Set in 1996, it’s difficult to envision a time when the internet consisted mainly of sending emails and instant messages. I suggest The Future of Us for older teens, as it does deal with some mature topics.

The Future of Us dealt with changes in both the future and the present, all the while opening up seams in the fabric of Emma and Josh’s lives. Emma and Josh slowly realized that they had a certain amount of control over their own futures, and that they could dictate their own lives. However, the more and more they obsessed over the future through Facebook, the less they lived in the here and now. In a way I felt that The Future of Us spoke to our current generation as well, and that its time to step away from the computer before we miss out on what truly matters in the world around us.

Facebook played a large role in the story of The Future of Us, but Emma and Josh’s relationship with one another was an underlying storyline as well. Everything Emma and Josh did stemmed from what they saw on Facebook, but their actions also came from their feelings for one another. It was nice to have more to look forward to than just the time Emma and Josh spent on Facebook. Emma and Josh’s complicated relationship with one another, and their playful banter made The Future of Us a light, fluffy read compared to Jay Asher’s previous novel, Thirteen Reasons Why.

It was interesting to see how decisions that Emma and Josh deliberately or accidently made in their present affected their futures in such a minute or drastic manner. They could go from changing what they ate for dinner, to creating entire new lives for themselves. The two of them were playing with fire, and they had to be careful not to get themselves burned.

Being born in 1997, it was hard for me to imagine what it was like living in 1996, even though it wasn’t too different from our own lives today. It would have been nice to see even more instances of that time period throughout the book to make it feel more authentic, but it helped me relate to Emma and Josh’s situation even more, as I could identify with their surroundings.

The Future of Us is a light, romance that also deals with living in the here and now. With seamlessly blended writing and a combination of old and new, this is a story that will get them thinking about what really matters in life. Join Emma and Josh as they navigate the World Wide Web and click through their futures in, The Future of Us!

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf…

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

Check out Jay Asher's website at www.jayasher.blogspot.com.

Check out Carolyn Mackler's website at www.carolynmackler.com.

Dust City by Robert Paul Weston

2012-01-25T20:56:00.000-08:00

Dust City

Author: Robert Paul Weston

Publisher: Razorbill

5 out of 5 stars

The effects can be deadly. Even worse than death. Everyone’s hooked on it, despite what it can do to you. Humans, wolves, ravens, foxes, pixies, and more can’t seem to get enough of it. Some will kill just to experience the delicious fantasies that the dust holds just beyond their reach. But what the dust gives never lasts. All it does is takes, and takes, and takes… until there is nothing left. Henry knows how that feels, and he’s about to take back what the dust stole from him his entire life. So start running, because the son of the Big Bad Wolf is coming.

Fairydust, or dust as it is more commonly known, has hurt Henry more than it has helped him. Dust is what took his mother’s life and sent him to the St. Remus Home for Wayward Youth in the first place. Now Henry is stuck here with nowhere to go. Being in a home for animal delinquents isn’t exactly helping Henry’s image either. Being the son of the Big Bad Wolf, everyone expects him to follow in his father’s paw prints. But Henry isn’t about to live up to that fairytale any time soon.

When Henry gets the chance to escape from St. Remus, he’s thrown into the corrupt world of Dust City, where under-the-table deals and black market trades are an everyday thing. Once Henry starts to realize that everything is not as it seems, he starts to question his father’s crime. Could it have all been a set up?

With the help of his new friend, the daring she-wolf, Fiona, Henry begins to dig deeper into the many folds of Dust City. He immerses himself into the world of crime, lies, and deadly dust that his father came from. Will Henry ever be able to prove his father’s innocence? It’s no longer fun and games, but the real deal. Is Henry getting himself into more than he can handle? All is revealed in Robert Paul Weston’s grim look at the truth behind the fairytales in, Dust City!

Dust City combines the innocent fairytales of our childhood with a harsh slap of reality and weaves them into a story that blends into our modern times. Weston’s illustrative and vivid writing sets the scene for a unique look at what really goes on behind the curtain of seemingly flawless fairytales. In the Dust City that Henry knows, there is no “happily ever after.” I recommend Dust City for older teens as it deals with the much darker side behind the fairytales that we know and love.

Weston’s dark and haunting writing couldn’t have been better for the tone of Dust City. He knew just how to show off the dark alleys and murky crevices that made up Dust City. Weston told it as it was, and didn’t sugarcoat things by presenting the reader with a false reality, like the fairydust does to its users. I was able to get an incredibly clear image of not only what Dust City looked like, but what really goes on underneath the surface.

I also noticed that the title of every chapter seems to have a double meaning. Many times the title can be found within the chapter, but after finishing the chapter, the title can suddenly mean so much more than at first glance. To me this was reminiscent of how the fairydust and the entire dust industry in Dust City is much more than it seems. Everything always needs to be examined further, and not looked at what it is said to be, but what it really is.

The world of Dust City felt part fantasy, yet also very realistic. Dust City felt like it could be any large, metropolitan city in America, yet it had fairytale substitutes to take the places of many everyday things instead. The landscape and structure of how things were run in the city felt very familiar. You had the humans who lived in Eden, above the city in luxury, similar to the rich and influential living in the towering skyscrapers of New York City, out of touch with the harsh realities those below them face. On the other hand there were the fantasy creatures and animals that were struggling to make it by, resorting to dust to delude themselves of their own realities, in the same way that there are those living on the streets with barely anything to call their own. Dust City felt very real and within reach compared to our own modern day society.

I loved getting the chance to see the fairytales that I have read so many times before play out in Dust City. There were many little side stories that were reminiscent of the classic fairytales, and I couldn’t help but be fascinated as they took off in different directions than I would have ever had thought. Dust City reminded me of an older version of the Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley, which I enjoyed very much when I was younger as well. Hopefully I’ll get to see Henry’s story and that of his friends continue in a sequel!

Dust City transported me into a world that paralleled our own, and had me question everything I thought I once knew about the fairytales. Filled with action and mystery, Robert Paul Weston will take you on a wild ride that you never saw coming. Join Henry as he travels the perilous streets of Dust City and huffs and puffs his way to exposing the truth in, Dust City!

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf…

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

Check out Robert Paul Weston's website at www.robertpaulweston.com.

Destiny's Fire by Trisha Wolfe

2012-01-17T18:00:00.000-08:00

Destiny's Fire

Author: Trisha Wolfe

Publisher: Omnific Publishing

3½ out of 5 stars

An electric blue charge spills out of your fingertips, crackling and twisting its way across the room. Tendrils of it spiral up your arms, spreading a cooling sensation across your body. The intense blue throws a glow of light around you, making you seem as if you are some powerful god. You pull your arm back and carefully take aim. You forcefully hurl the bolt of energy towards the target and as it flies through the air you know you’ve made it. You don’t miss, you never miss. But suddenly you lose control and you begin to shift. You know you’re not ready for this, but as the panic builds, there’s nothing you can do to stop what has already begun. Ready or not… the time is now.

Dez has grown up knowing she is nothing like the other Shythe. No matter how much she tries to blend in, she knows she will never be fully accepted by any of them. They just don’t know it yet. The measures that Dez and her mother have taken have held so far, but they won’t for long. Dez’s seventeenth birthday is almost here, and that means that she will have to go through the change… whether she likes it or not.

Being Shythe, Dez is expected to receive the power Charge, once she goes through her change. All Shythe do, and it is then that they can send bolts of electric blue power through the air, and shift into their true Kythan form. There were once more, but now there are only two races of Kythans, the Shythe and the Narcolym. The Kythans are shape-shifters, the descendants of ancient guardians who used to watch over Egyptian pharaohs. Now the Kythans’ main goal is to assist humans with their powers. However, the Narcolyms are out to do just the opposite.

With the Narcolyms moving into town permanently, tensions are rising and the peace between the two races is wearing thin. The Shythe and Narcolym have harbored feelings of contempt and hatred for too long to put it all aside because of one peace treaty. Not all of the Shythe agree with the two races becoming one, including Dez and her friends. Why are the Shythe and the Narcolym being forced to get along? Will this reveal Dez’s secret sooner than she would have ever thought? Trisha Wolfe reveals all in her electrifying tale of one girl’s journey to do what’s right not only for her people, but herself as well in, Destiny’s Fire!

Destiny’s Fire mixes steampunk inventions with supernatural powers that creates a thrilling combination in a world that is full of old and new. I got the chance to get a glimpse into Dez’s extraordinary life. There was never a dull moment and I never knew when something would come along to change the game. With a healthy dose of romance and a side of action, Destiny’s Fire is sure to immerse any older teen into the world of Haven Falls.

The ability that the Kythan’s possess was both intriguing and mysterious. I found myself wishing I could shoot out bolts of Charge or sparks of Flame as I read along. The fact that the Narcolyms were moving into Haven Falls gave me the opportunity to witness both the Shythe and Narcolym powers. I’m curious to see where the Kythans acquired their powers from originally, and hopefully more of their history will be revealed in book two!

The world in which Destiny’s Fire is set in is both familiar and alien. I was constantly amazed at how the Kythans blended in with the humans and even ran inventions on their own powers. The Kythans had a world of their own that the humans weren’t even aware of. The mix of steampunk and fantasy worked well together as Haven Falls had a futuristic, yet vintage feel to it. Girls wore corsets, yet motorbikes ran on steam. It was interesting to see how the Kythans lived in this world that I hadn’t quite seen before.

The tension between the Narcolyms and Shythe played a big role in how things were handled between the two races. Dez and her friends despised the Narolyms, yet Dez came to know one of them, Reese, very closely. She was never quite sure if he could be trusted, even though there was a peace act in place. The distrust between the two races kept things interesting as the story progressed, and I was never quite sure if things could really get better between the two of them.

At times I wondered quite how the Kythans lived alongside the humans, and how they still helped the humans in this modern era. I felt as if I was given a glimpse into the Kythan’s world, but was never really fully in it. There were details that I would have like to have seen worked out or have learned more about. I look forward to learning more in the sequel.

Destiny’s Fire presents a unique mix of old and new with a dash of fantasy that makes it unique. With the Narcolyms here to stay, Dez and her friends are no longer safe in their own homes, but they never realize just how much danger they’re in. Join Dez, as she searches for answers to her past and what is yet to come in, Destiny’s Fire!

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf…

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

*I received Destiny's Fire from Julie of A Tale of Many Reviews and the author, Trisha Wolfe, in exchange for my honest review as part of the Destiny's Fire Blog Tour. Thank you so much Trisha, Julie, and Omnific Publishing!

Can't wait to read more about Dez and her friends? Check out my Destiny's Fire Blog Tour post, Interviews With Authors: A Talk With Trisha Wolfe to enter to win an e-book copy of Destiny's Fire and a bookmark! The giveaway ends January 22, and you can enter here.

Check out Trisha Wolfe's website at www.trishawolfe.com.

(Destiny's Fire Blog Tour) Interviews With Authors: A Talk With Trisha Wolfe + Giveaway!

2012-01-10T17:51:00.000-08:00

The new year has begun! And to start the new year off today we have Trisha Wolfe, author of Destiny's Fire, stopping by as part of the Destiny's Fire Blog Tour! Trisha took the time to talk to us about what it is like being an author and where she got the inspiration for her novel. Destiny's Fire follows the story of Dez, a shape-shifter who lives in the futuristic, steampunk world of Haven Falls. Dez has a secret about her powers, and with tensions running high it will be harder than ever for her to keep her secret hidden. Dex must not only do what’s right for her people, but herself as well in, Destiny’s Fire! Look for my full review of Destiny's Fire coming soon!

I now give you, Interviews With Authors: A Talk With Trisha Wolfe!

Don't forget to keep reading to win an e-book copy of Destiny's Fire and a bookmark as well!

A Talk With Trisha Wolfe

Author of Destiny's Fire

By T.B.

1) What prompted you to start writing your debut novel Destiny's Fire?

What prompted me? Hmm, two failed novels LOL After book two got shelved, I sat down with pen and paper and started hammering away at new ideas. I figured one of these days, agents and publishers would have to stop telling me "no" if I just kept bugging them.

2) Why did you decide to go the steampunk route in your book, and feature Victorian-style clothing and machines set in a futuristic world?

I read a lot of short stories online, as I’m a short story author, too, and I love the fantasy e-zines. They issue a lot of Steampunk. So…I said, what the heck. I’ll give it a shot. But, there were certain aspects of the traditional Steampunk genre that I didn’t relate to personally. And I felt girls and young women wouldn’t either. I thought long and hard about things that interested me, and then I started developing the world around my characters that I already had established. The reason why I went for a futuristic setting rather than the Victorian era, was because I wanted to really make it different than the traditional, and with that, be able to make the paranormal aspect more believable. And honestly, it just felt right. When I started writing, the characters spoke modern. So, there ya go lol.

3) Did you have to do any research to shape the Kythans, descendants of the ancient guardians who watched over the pharaohs, and the steampunk setting of Destiny's Fire?

Oh, yeah. But believe it or not, most of what I have in my notes for the Egyptian ancestry won’t be revealed until book two. Book one was about establishing the world, characters, and letting Dez’s power be known. Most of my research will be used to take the characters and world to a new level as the characters discover more about themselves.

As for most of the guardian stuff and setting, I made it up. It’s all fiction. Well, obviously, or else I’d be moving to a city where I can ride around on a hover-bike. For the devices, I researched a lot of Steampunk inventions. YouTube is great for that! Then I just turned them into devices that could operate on the Kythan’s power rather than steam.

4) Dez and her friends felt like real teens that I could meet today. Did you do anything special to make your characters feel so realistic?

Aw, thank you! I’m so glad that you feel they’re relatable. That’s important to me. I wish I was some intellectual writer that could talk about channeling their characters and making charts, and whatever else awesome authors do. But really, I just write. I start at the top and work my way down. The characters talk to me in my head (Yes, I could be considered crazy) and I just have fun with them. They are very much three dimensional people to me. Sometimes I feel I don’t do them justice.

5) While writing Destiny's Fire was it difficult to keep a balance of both romance and action to keep the story interesting?

Great question. And yes. Very much so. I get really carried away in the romance department. It’s not even a joke. I have to rein myself in all the time. There were actually scenes that got deleted even before DF went out to my critique partners. I really wanted the romance to be the subplot, but I felt like maybe Dez had to deal with some things before she could move on to the bigger stuff in book two. I don’t argue with my characters. They know better than me.

6) Being a mother, business owner, and an author, when do you find time for your writing?

Just you saying that makes me squirm LOL Hmm. I don’t clean. When I go into writer mode, everything else just doesn’t matter. The dishes stack up, the laundry goes unfolded, and yes, I do feel bad about that. But something has to give and it can’t be the business. I don’t think I could write from my car or where I’d have to live if I couldn’t pay my mortgage. So the cleaning is what has to go while writing. And honestly, living with two guys (teen son and hubby) it’s never clean no matter how much I do. They don’t notice either way.

7) When did you realize you wanted to be an author and write for a living?

I know the exact moment. I was fourteen, and I’d just finished reading INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE by Anne Rice. I closed the book, stared up into space, and said, “I want to be an author.” And then I ran to my local Indie bookstore and bought a copy of EB White’s Elements of Style. I wrote a lot of poetry and short stories in HS. Then I took a long break in my twenties. I got busy with college, getting married, and having a kid. When the dreaded 30 marker started creeping up, I panicked, and decided it was time to get busy trying to fulfill the dream or hate myself on my death bed. Yeah, I’m a drama queen.

8) Are you working on any other projects at the moment?

I just completed book number four, which is a Dystopia/Historical, and ties in to my short story UNVEILED. It’s tentatively titled FIREBLOOD, and my agent takes it on submission the third week of January. And, I’ve started the sequel to DESTINY’S FIRE. I’m looking to complete the rough draft in the next three months. But there’s no release date at this point. I promise to post that info as soon as I get it..

I’m also tossing around a Sci-Fi idea for a novel I want to complete before the year’s end.

9) Do you believe that the Kythans could be living among us and blending in with humans today, or possibly in the future?

I believe, with all honesty, that there are things we don’t see in this world. Whether we’re not able, not connected enough to the strange, or because we’re not ready as a species. So yes, they or something very similar, could be hanging out tossing fireballs and electrocuting people now, or very soon. I hope this will all my heart.

10) Lastly, what advice would you give to any young readers who someday wish to become recognized authors?

Don’t take no for an answer. Never. Keep writing, and read, read, read! Read until your eyes bleed, then read some more. Write a book. Read another 200 books, and then write another book. Keep doing that until you write the book that’s “IT”. And then, when you sell that bitch, shake your butt and run around your house naked screaming. Run outside and tell your neighbors that think you’re a creepy hermit to suck it. This is absolutely what I did.

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf...

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions Trisha! I really love how you re-worked what you knew about the steampunk genre to make it fit for your story and be more relatable to readers. I definitely think it worked! I can't wait to see how all of your research comes into play in book two. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel and your upcoming books as well! Thanks again for being kind enough to stop by as part of the Destiny's Fire Blog Tour. I hope you enjoyed reading the interview and this is, Interviews With Authors: A Talk With Trisha Wolfe!

Look for my full review of Destiny's Fire coming soon!

Interested in more Interviews With Authors? Check out my Interviews With Authors page here, to find more exciting interviews!

Don't click away just yet! Keep reading to find out how you could win an e-book copy of Destiny's Fire and a bookmark as well!

Can't wait to get your hands on Destiny's Fire now? Well thanks to Julie from A Tale of Many Reviews, who set up the tour, Trisha, and Omnific Publishing you can win an e-book copy of Destiny's Fire along with a bookmark!

Now here are the rules:

-You must be 13 years of age or older
-E-book giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY!
-Destiny's Fire Bookmark is open to US ONLY!
-You DO NOT have to be a follower to enter, but following is always appreciated!
-Giveaway ends January 22, 2012
-Winner must respond within 48 hours, or a new winner will be chosen
To enter all you have to do is simply fill out the Rafflecopter from below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to stop by the final stop over at A Tale of Many Reviews on January 18 for your chance to win the grand prize giveaway!

You could win:

-An Egyptian/Steampunk Necklace

-A Print Copy of Destiny's Fire

-A Destiny's Fire Bookmark

-A Signed Bookplate

Don't forget to check out the other stops in the Destiny's Fire Blog Tour, where you can read reviews, excerpts, interviews, and enter giveaways!

You can find the Destiny's Fire Blog Tour schedule here.

Check out Trisha Wolfe's fan page on Facebook to see what's coming next for Dez, Reese, and Jace, and keep up with the latest news! You can find her Facebook page here.

On A Dark Wing by Jordan Dane

2012-01-03T23:32:00.000-08:00

On A Dark Wing

Author: Jordan Dane

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

4 out of 5 stars

At first there was just one. Then, suddenly more appear. They fill the sky, blocking out the setting sun and, cloaking the landscape in shadow. Swarms of them beat their wings in a horde of majestic beauty that you can’t tear your gaze away from. The squawking fills the air, fixing the din of their caws inside the crevices of your brain. As they come closer, you can make out their beady, black eyes that follow your every move and their matted wings that cut through the air. They surround you in a constantly moving cage of feathers, trapping you in. The ravens are here, and he has come with them.

Abbey Chandler wishes for nothing more than to get the chance to rewind time and get her mother back. If only Abbey hadn't stopped for some Cheetos, if only she hadn't missed the bus, if only she had thought about someone else for once. Abbey’s nightmares are filled with “if only’s” that she wishes she could take back. After all, if Abbey hadn't done any of those things, her mother would still be alive. In Abbey’s eyes the car accident should have never happened. Little does Abbey know that on that fateful day, she met Death.

But that was five years ago. Now Abbey focuses on surviving high school and monitoring her secret crush, Nate Holden. However, life gets a great deal more complicated when Abbey takes her yearly trip with her father to their cabin in Alaska. Every year Abbey and her father take a trip to their old cabin where they all used to spend vacation together as a family, before Abbey’s mother died. Now the trip symbolizes a time to reminisce and mourn the loss of Abbey’s mother. However this year is different.

Abbey is shocked when her long-time crush, Nate Holden, arrives, surprising Abbey on her trip. The only problem with this dream come true, is that Nate is supposed to be on an expedition, scaling the face of Mt. Denali. How can he be in two places at once? Death is visiting Abbey once again, but will it cost the lives of those she loves? Will Abbey choose to live in her fantasy, or reality? All is revealed in Jordan Dane’s deadly tale of one girl’s journey to let go of the past, before it’s too late in, On A Dark Wing!

Dealing with the trials and hardships of coming to terms with a loved one’s death, On A Dark Wing takes a look at the concept of death from a whole new perspective. There was a healthy dose of both romance and the supernatural, creating a balance between the two that seemed fitting. I recommend On A Dark Wing for older teens looking for a read that holds much more than just your typical romance story.

The way in which On A Dark Wing dealt with what “death” is and how it can consume a person really got me thinking. This book definitely had a deep message to convey, and did so in a way that got the reader to rethink their own ideas of the concept of “death” and what exactly that word means. It was interesting to see Death as a character, and how he strived to “feel,” just like all of the souls that he carried away once could. Death became much more than just what happens to someone once their life ends, and turned into an entity of its own.

Every single one of the characters in On A Dark Wing were fully formed, and while reading, I felt that I could run into any of them in my lifetime. Jordan Dane does an amazing job of building up her characters, and giving every one of them a backstory. Her characters are more than just a name, but plausible people as well. I got to not only see their outside façade, but peel back the layers and take a look inside of them as well. Tanner, Abbey’s best friend, had his own unique personality and there was much more to him than meets the eye. I even got to read in-depth about characters such as Death and Abbey’s father, which helped make the story feel all the more real.

Told from multiple perspectives, it was interesting to get a chance to read about not only Abbey’s, but also Tanner, Nate, and Death’s journeys, as they each struggled to overcome their own hurdles. I loved getting the chance to read about Nate climbing Mt. Denali and the beauty that he got to witness, but also the harsh challenges of the elements that he faced. Also, the different points of view helped me get a better grasp about what was going on in the story and seeing the big picture come together.

At times things felt drawn out, and it was taking longer than necessary for things to move on in the story. However, it tends to go by quickly when descriptive scenes of the Alaskan landscape come up. It was hard not to lose myself in the beautiful snow-capped mountains and frost covered forests.

On A Dark Wing digs deeper to reveal the hidden secrets of Death and what it can all set into motion. Taking on challenging topics, that many teens can relate to, this is a book that knows how to work its way into you. Join Abbey as she conquers her past and realizes what she has in the present in, On A Dark Wing!

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf…

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

*I received On A Dark Wing from Trisha of YA Bound and the author, Jordan Dane, in exchange for my honest review as part of the On A Dark Wing Blog Tour. Thank you so much Trisha, Jordan, and Harlequin Teen!

Want to read even more about Abbey and her experiences with Death? Check out my On A Dark Wing Blog Tour post, Interviews with Characters: A Talk With Abbey Chandler from On A Dark Wing here.

Check out Jordan Dane's website at www.jordandane.com.

(Keegan's Chronicles Blog Tour) Interviews With Authors: A Talk With Julia Crane + Giveaway!

2011-12-30T10:22:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season, and Happy (almost) New Year! Today we have Julia Crane, author of Coexist, book one in the Keegan's Chronicles series with us today as part of the Keegan's Chronicles Blog Tour! Julia was kind enough to answer my questions about her experiences as an author and many magical elements in her book. Coexist takes place in the modern world, but really it is inhabited with magical creatures. Keegan, is just one of them, as she is an elf. However, little does Keegan know that she is about to meet the love of her life and be the center of a war between the creatures of the light and the dark. Look for my full review of Coexist coming soon!

Now without further ado, as part of the Keegan's Chronicles Blog Tour here is, Interviews With Authors: A Talk With Julia Crane!

Don't forget to scroll down to win an e-book copy of Coexist as well!

A Talk With Julia Crane

Author of Coexist

By T.B.

1) Where did you get the idea to write your debut novel, Coexist?

I think the idea has always been in the back of my mind. Years ago, my husband told me he had a dream about a big elf battle. Which was strange because he never recalls his dreams. When I was halfway finished with Coexist, I remembered that. I figured it was always in my subconscious. Also, growing up I was always teased about having elf ears and coming from an Irish family. We heard many stories about sprites.

2) I've read that you used to write frequently as a child. Did you always know that writing is what you wanted to do?

Not really. I was one of those kids that changed my mind on a regular basis. However, I always got my ideas from books. I wanted to be a detective like Nancy Drew, a spy, geologist, anthropologist etc... I've always loved reading and getting sucked into the stories.

3) Is it difficult to put into words what you envision in your head as you describe characters and scenes?

Yes, it can be. I don't usually have trouble with the big picture, but the smaller details I really have to be conscious to show and not tell.

4) Out of the wide range of supernatural creatures to choose from, why did you decide to make Keegan's family elves?

I tried to think of a creature that had not saturated the market.

5) In Coexist, the elves have various powers such as invisibility, healing, and teleportation. If you were an elf, what power would you like to have the most, and why?

Hmm, I have always wanted to be able to read minds.

6) Coexist is told in multiple perspectives, alternating between characters. Was it difficult at times to not give too much away, yet still give the reader enough to keep them interested?

For me, it was the only way I could tell the story and get out as much information as needed. I've heard most people find it easier to write in first person - that is not the case for me at all. I really struggle with first person for some reason.

7) What has been the most difficult challenge being a self-published author?

Finding a good editor.

8) Can you tell us a bit about what you are currently working on?

I'm working on a spin-off to Keegan's Chronicles which will be called "Anna"; I'm also co-writing a novel with Nolia McCarty; and in 2012, I plan to work on a witch series.

9) Do you believe that there is a possibility that mythical creatures exist in our day-to-day lives, as they do in Coexist?

Of course, anything is possible.

10) Lastly, what advice would you give to any young readers who someday wish to become recognized authors?

I LOVE hearing from readers who hope to someday become authors. My advice would be to write and don't stop. Life likes to get in the way, but don't allow it. Even if it just means keeping your own personal journal. Read tons, and watch people pay attention to the little details.

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf...

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

Thank you so much for stopping by as part of the Keegan's Chronicles Blog Tour, Julia! Great reasoning on your part for why you chose elves to be the main fantasy creature in your story. It was definitely very interesting to read about them! If I could choose a power to have, I would have to go with super speed if that's even a power. That way I could sprint to the front of the lunch line! I can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series! Thanks again for taking the time to answer my questions and for stopping by as part of the Keegan's Chronicles Blog Tour! That's all for this Interviews With Authors: A Talk With Julia Crane!

Look for my full review of Coexist coming soon!

Interested in more Interviews With Authors? Check out my Interviews With Authors page here, to find more exciting interviews!

Don't click away just yet! Keep reading for a chance to win an e-book copy of Coexist!

Itching to read Coexist after that interview? Well, thanks to Julia and Julie from A Tale Of Many Reviews for providing a copy, you can win an e-book copy of Coexist!

Now here are the rules:

-You must be 13 years of age or older
-Open Internationally!
-You DO NOT have to be a follower to enter, but following is always appreciated!
-Giveaway ends January 2, 2012
-Winner must respond within 48 hours, or a new winner will be chosen

To enter all you have to do is simply fill out the Rafflecopter from below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to check out the other stops in the Keegan's Chronicles Blog Tour, where you can read reviews, excerpts, interviews, and enter giveaways!

You can find the Keegan's Chronicles Blog Tour schedule here.

(On A Dark Wing Blog Tour) Interviews with Characters: A Talk with Abbey Chandler

2011-12-21T12:19:00.000-08:00

The holidays are almost upon us! Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Abbey Chandler, from On A Dark Wing by Jordan Dane, as part of the On A Dark Wing Blog Tour. Abbey was kind enough to answer some questions about her experience with Death and how she copes without her mother. On A Dark Wing follows Abbey as she tries to escape Death's clutches once again. Five years ago Abbey cheated Death, but now he's back to take her secret crush, Nate Holden, as well. On A Dark Wing takes a look at the complexities of the concept of death, and spins them into a beautiful tale full of love, letting go, and new beginnings. Look for my review of On A Dark Wing coming soon!

Now in honor of the On A Dark Wing Blog Tour, I give to you Interviews With Characters: A Talk With Abbey Chandler!

And don't forget to find out how you could win a Kindle Fire at the bottom of the page!

A Talk With Abbey Chandler

From On A Dark Wing by Jordan Dane

By T.B.

1) If you could change one thing about the day your mother died, what would it be?

Only one? The easy answer is—I would never have missed that damned school bus. If I had a groundhog day and could do something different, I would’ve faked being sick and stayed home from school. Or I could have resisted the urge for a Pepsi and Cheetos and quit being such a junk food addict, but wishing for a do-over has been pure torture and it never changed anything. I like to think that I eventually would have been smart enough to realize that, but after years of nightmares where nothing ever changed and my mom died over and over—I only felt worse about what I did.

Death had been the smart one, not me. I love you, mom…always.

2) Do you ever think you will be able to see ravens in the same way again?

Ravens look scary. Have you ever stared at one, for real? They got those beady black eyes that look dead. It’s like they know something you don’t. I mean, there’s got to be a reason that Poe wrote about them to scare people, right? That’s how I felt about ravens before. Now when I see one, I think about my first kiss. Gawh! Guess that’s another reason I’m weird.

3) Before meeting Death, would you have ever believed that beings such as spirits were possible?

I don’t think of Death as a spirit. Not really. Whatever it means to have a soul, I believe he has one, like all of us do. He just doesn’t have a body, unless he borrows one and takes it for a spin. How amazing is that? And if what he showed me is real, what else is out there that we can’t see?

The first time I saw the boy made of clouds and sky, he felt more like a powerful energy force. I should have been afraid of him, but I wasn’t. He made the pain and my shivering go away. I thought I’d dreamed him. It’s hard to explain, but the instant I took his hand he made me feel connected to…everything, like I was important and really mattered. I felt…loved. I tried to explain this to Tanner. He said he totally got it, but I’m not sure I can ever find the words to describe how at peace I felt. I didn’t feel alone either. The day of the accident, I really wanted to go with that boy—stay with him—but my mother’s voice shook me. She made me afraid again—for her. I used to be scared of dying, but now, not so much. I just got things I wanna do before that happens, you know?

4) When your secret crush, Nate Holden, showed up on your mountain and kissed you—in the back of your mind, did you have a feeling that his sudden interest in you seemed too good to be true?

Guess I was delusional to think some great perfect guy could actually have an interest in me, huh? But if Robert Pattinson, Liam Hemsworth or Alex Pettyfer came up to you and kissed you, I bet you’d let him do it without asking ‘why me,’ wouldn’t you? I had to know what it felt like to be a regular girl with a guy who actually wanted to kiss her. Is having a crush with a movie actor so different from the fantasy I had over a guy in my school? I guess I have to say that I never thought anything real would happen with Nate. Yeah, when he kissed me, I probably should have freaked more or questioned what happened, but I just…couldn’t. I held onto that moment—just for me—until I had to let it go. Was that wrong?

5) Are there days where you wish you could see your mother one more time and get a chance to say goodbye? If so, how do you deal with those days?

Death gave me something very special. It’s too personal to talk about online, but I feel closer to my mom than I ever did before. I can’t explain what happened. All I know is that a mother’s love is a powerful thing and not even Death can stop it. I actually feel my mom sometimes, when I least expect her. Maybe she’s always with me. (Gawd, I hope she doesn’t come with me in the bathroom or see me naked in the shower.)

But on days when I need to feel her with me, sometimes I look through our family photo albums or wear some of her old clothes. And I can’t eat a roasted marshmallow without feeling her with me. Is that crazy? I hope not.

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf...

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

Thank you so much for stopping by as part of the On A Dark Wing Blog Tour, Abbey! If any one of those stars that you mentioned threw himself at me, I definitely wouldn't protest! Death really helped you become at peace with your mother's passing, and that's something that is so nice to see. I agree, I have so many things I want to do before my time comes! I'll definitely keep an eye out next time I see a raven, so I can let you know what I think! Again, thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions, Abbey! Don't forget to stop by the other stops on the tour for some fun prizes! That wraps up this interview. This was Interviews with Characters: A Talk With Abbey Chandler!

Look for my full review of On A Dark Wing soon!

Interested in more interviews? Check out my Interviews with Authors page here to find more exciting interviews!

Don't click away just yet! Keep scrolling down to find out how you could win a Kindle Fire!

As part of the On A Dark Wing Blog Tour Jordan is giving away a Kindle Fire to one lucky winner! All you have to do is go to the On A Dark Wing Tour Page here and enter the Rafflecopter form on the page.

Also, ten blogs will be giving away SIGNED hardcover copies of On A Dark Wing by Jordan Dane, as part of the tour, along with a secret gift from yours truly, Abbey Chandler! To enter visit the participating blogs and fill out their Rafflecopter entry form.

Winners will be announced at the LIVE chat with Jordan Dane on January 5, so keep your eyes open for that and make sure to mark your calenders! More info on the chat will be coming soon.

Don't forget to check out the other stops of the On A Dark Wing Blog Tour where you can read reviews, excerpts, interviews, and enter giveaways as well!

Musingsfromatoz.blogspot.com : Dec. 19 – Review

Adiaryofabookaddict.blogspot.com : Dec. 19 – Review

Chapter-by-chapter.com : Dec. 19 –Quote Battle (Tanner VS Death)

Everafteresther.blogspot.com : Dec. 19 – Character Interview (Tanner)

Redhousebooks.blogspot.com : Dec. 19 – Review

Cubicleblindness.blogspot.com : Dec. 20 – Review

Avidreadermusings.com/ : Dec. 20 – Review

Abeautifulmadness.blogspot.com : Dec. 20 – Review

Behindamillionandonepages.blogspot.com : Dec. 20 – Author Interview

Theawesomemagicattic.blogspot.com : Dec. 20 – Review

Living-fictitiously.blogspot.com : Dec. 21 – Review

Fictitiousmusings.com/ : Dec. 21 – Review

Ftbotbblog.blogspot.com : Dec. 21 – Character Interview (Abbey)

Stuckinbooks.com/ : Dec. 21 – Review

Basiasbookshelf.com : Dec. 22 – Review

Rhireading.blogspot.com : Dec. 22 – Review

Bookbriefs.blogspot.com/ : Dec. 22 – Review & Dream Cast

Jlwylie.wordpress.com/ : Dec. 22 – Parody Questions (Jordan Dane)

Booktwirps.com : Dec. 23 – Review

Fantasysink.blogspot.com/ : Dec. 23 – Review

Frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com : Dec. 23 – Review

Bookish-Delights.blogspot.com : Dec. 24 – Review

Roroisreading.blogspot.com : Dec. 24 – Review

Onceuponatwilight.com : Dec. 26 – Review

Fiktshun.com : Dec. 26--Review

Mochalattereads.blogspot.com : Dec. 26 – Author Interview

Bookstothesky.com : Dec. 26 – Guest Post (Character Tweets)

Thefictionfairy.com : Dec. 26 – Review

Sarahsbookslife.blogspot.com : Dec. 27 – Guest Post Death Becomes You - The Concept of Afterlife in “On a Dark Wing”

Twochicksonbooks1.blogspot.com : Dec. 27 – Review

Tamarasbookramblings.blogspot.com : Dec. 27 – Review

Safaripoet.blogspot.com : Dec. 28 – Review

Sarahliveslovesreads.blogspot.com/ : Dec. 28 – Review

Thetravelingreader.wordpress.com : Dec. 28 – Review

Whatsyourthoughtonthat.blogspot.com : Dec. 28 – Review

Thefairytalenerd.com/ : Dec. 29 – Character Interview (Death)(Death may make an appearance. Fingers crossed)

Zoeysuncreativelytitledblog.blogspot.com : Dec. 29 – Review

http://kfwwriters.blogspot.com : Dec. 29 – Review

Lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com : Dec. 29 – Review

Handsandhome.ca : Dec. 30 – Review

Bookyurt.com : Dec. 30 – Review

Speedyreader-allthingsbooks.blogspot.com : Dec. 30 – Guest Post(My Alternate Universe. IT COULD HAPPEN!) Includes book excerpt.

Bookswithbite.net : Dec. 31 – Review

Ficbookreviews.blogspot.com/ : Dec. 31 – Review

Thebookcellarx.com : Dec. 31 – Guest Post(Music for ON A DARK WING) Includes book Excerpt & Special Surprise for Comments

Ashleysuzanne.com/ : Jan 2 – Author Interview

Ataleofmanyreviews.com : Jan. 2 – Review

Xpressoreads.blogspot.com : Jan. 2 – Review

The Things a Brother Knows by Dana Reinhardt

2011-12-03T00:03:00.001-08:00

The Things a Brother Knows

Author: Dana Reinhardt

Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books

5 out of 5 stars

Boaz is back. After all this time, he has finally returned. Boaz can put the war behind him once and for all, and just go back to how things were before he left. He was gone for three years. Three years full of worrying, hardship, and adjustment. Those three years don’t matter anymore. They can be tossed out the window, because Boaz would never leave them again. Never put them through that unnecessary strain on their emotions ever again. He’s home for good. But is he really?

Levi has spent the last three years growing up and getting older, all without his big brother Boaz. Boaz has always been the star of the family. Everyone loves him, everyone thinks he can do no wrong, and no one really knows Boaz like Levi does. The thing is, Levi isn’t even sure if he still knows his older brother. He’s been gone for three years now, and he’s about to come home. But will it be Boaz who comes home, or someone else?

When Boaz comes home Levi expects everything to go back to normal, to how it was before. Before he left them to fight in the war. Before he made a decision that would do more harm than good. Before he changed. But Levi is in for a surprise. When Boaz comes back home Levi realizes that he has changed. While everyone else refuses to believe it, Levi knows that things are not the same. Boaz now wants to be called Bo. All he ever does is lock himself in his room and listen to the static on the radio while looking at maps, and to top it all off he won’t even get into a car.

Levi isn’t sure what Boaz is up to, or if there will ever be a “normal” to go back to. All he knows for sure is that he needs to find out what happened in the war. When Boaz announces that he is going to hike the Appalachian Trail, Levi suspects that something more is going on. With the help of his two best friends, Pearl and Zim, Levi sets off on a journey to follow his brother into the unexpected. This time he won’t let his brother get away. Where is Boaz headed? Will Levi ever know the same Boaz as before? All is revealed in Dana Reinhardt’s stunning story of one boy’s attempt to not lose his brother a second time in, The Things a Brother Knows!

The Things a Brother Knows is a provocative, genuine story that was both tender and witty all at once. Slowly the puzzle pieces started to come together as I followed along Levi’s journey of finally learning Boaz’s touching story. The Things a Brother Knows truly illustrates that family will always be there to catch you when you fall and pick you right back up again. I could insert myself right into the story, as I could really relate to how much Levi loved his brother, even if he didn’t always know the entire truth.

Dana Reinhardt’s writing is reminiscent of Andrew Smith’s, in the way that both of their writing never holds anything back. Reinhardt’s writing felt so real and I felt as if I could grasp her words and flip through all of the layers in my mind. The witty humor mixed in with the sincere truth made for not only an incredible story, but an incredible journey as well. Levi’s voice was one that embodied any teen today, but also looked deeper into the things around him. He didn’t just see things as they are said to be, but as they are. I feel that Reinhardt’s writing and Levi’s voice were a perfect complement to each other and worked well together to make a very enjoyable story.

The Things a Brother Knows also reminded me of Andrew Smith’s novel, Stick. In both books a brother follows his older brother in an effort to get him back and bring him home for good. Boaz’s journey was not only for him to sort through his own haunting images of the war, but it was also a time for Levi to sift through his thoughts on his own life, his brother, and how he felt about the war. Both brothers changed, but Levi especially. Though Boaz may not have always been the best brother, it was evident that he loved Levi with all his heart just by letting him tag along on such a personal voyage. Instead of going through it all alone, Levi was there to witness his brother slowly return to “normal.”

Pearl and Zim, Levi’s two best friends, are just as unique as Levi. Both constantly cracked me up, and the way in which they rebounded off each other with their witty banter and mocking jokes is something that only true friends can do. Levi has known both Pearl and Zim for his entire life, so it was interesting to get to see how they dealt with what Levi was going through. They had Levi’s back the entire time and always nudged him in the right direction.

At times, The Things a Brother Knows led me in different directions than I thought the story would go, and I felt that these sections were a little too drawn-out. Ultimately, it all led up to why Boaz was going on this trek, but it would have been nice to get right to his reasons for taking this trip. I was held in suspense until the very end, and it was only then that I truly found what Boaz had been looking for. However, the journey wouldn’t have been the same without all the moments that brought Levi a little closer to knowing Boaz once again.

The Things a Brother Knows is a book that I surely won’t forget any time soon. With Levi’s witty humor, and Boaz’s thoughtful manner, the two come together to create a beautiful tale that slowly unravels the closer they come to reaching their goal. Join Levi, as he follows his brother into the unknown only using what he knows as a guide in, The Things a Brother Knows!

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf…

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

*I received this novel from The Why Chromosome: Why Boys Do Love Books event by Bridge To Books. I received The Things a Brother Knows in exchange for my honest review. Thank you so much to Wendy Lamb Books and everyone at The Why Chromosome: Why Boys Do Love Books event for providing me with a copy!

Check out Dana Reinhardt's website at www.danareinhardt.net.

The Phantom Limb by William Sleator and Ann Monticone

2011-11-20T20:32:00.001-08:00

The Phantom Limb

Author: William Sleator and Ann Monticone

Publisher: Amulet Books

3½ out of 5 stars

It is just a box. It’s called a mirror box. If I stick my right hand in one side I can see my left hand on the other, even when it’s not in the box. It’s weird to see your hand in one place, but feel it in another. The hand in the box is a copycat. Everything I do, it does as well. If I wave, it waves. If I snap my fingers twice, it snaps its fingers twice. If I pull my hand out of the box, it… stays in the box. This is more than just a box.

Isaac’s life isn’t going so great at the moment. Things were better a year ago when Isaac still lived in their grand, old house, his father was still alive, his mother wasn’t sick, his grandpa was his old, lively self, and Isaac wasn’t teased and taunted at school. Ever since then things have gone in a downward spiral, and all Isaac has for comfort is his collection of optical illusions. But the mirror box is about to change all of that.

The mirror box is just that, a box with mirrors. After much Googling, Isaac discovers that the mirror box was invented for amputees to use to relieve pain. In many cases after a person has a limb severed off they still feel excruciating pain as if that limb was still intact. The “phantom limb” was often times bent into uncomfortable positions, and by using the mirror box the amputee could fix that. The amputee would stick their limb that was still intact into the mirror box and in the reflection they would see their severed limb. They could then move it into a comfortable position and therefore “fix” the issue. But Isaac’s mirror box does more than just that.

When Isaac tries out the mirror box for the first time the phantom limb inside acts on its own accord. At first, Isaac is terrified and isn’t sure what the phantom limb wants. But Isaac soon realizes that the phantom limb is trying to tell him something. The phantom limb communicates with Isaac, and soon Isaac is on a mission to stop someone who is out to kill his mother. Will Isaac and the phantom limb be able to stop the killer before it is too late? Who does the phantom limb belong to? William Sleator and Ann Monticone reveal all in their tale of one boy’s journey to rise up and prove who he really is in, The Phantom Limb!

Filled with mystery and suspense, The Phantom Limb kept me on a rapid chase to find the killer. New elements were always added to the mix and I could never be sure who to trust. Isaac struggles with what to really believe and must search within himself to find the audacity to challenge those above him. I suggest this book for teens thirteen and up who are looking for a thriller that will keep them guessing.

I was really excited to get the chance to read another one of William Sleator’s books. After reading his book Test (which I learned Ann Monticone also collaborated with him on) I was looking forward to see how The Phantom Limb fared. They were two very different books, but both had a recurring theme of finding out who was responsible. In both books I was led on a wild chase that kept me guessing and had sinister villains as well. I’m sorry to say that William Sleator passed away in August, two months before the book was released.

The use of optical illusions and the mirror box was rather out of the ordinary, and it was interesting to get to see Isaac’s hobby turn into a valuable source of information against his foes. It was hard to tell at times what was reality and what was really figments of Isaac’s imagination. At times I questioned if Isaac was actually communicating with the phantom limb or if it was just his subconscious. As the story progressed it became evident that there was more at work here than I could have ever imagined.

Isaac developed immensely throughout The Phantom Limb as did many other characters. Isaac started out as a sullen boy, who accepted whatever came his way. By the end of the book Isaac had transformed into a confident, young boy who was out to set things right. Even Isaac’s grandpa and the kids who used to taunt him went through some changes of their own.

The Phantom Limb reminded me of a classic mystery novel. Isaac followed a trail of clues with the help of the phantom limb, and later on his newfound friends as well. They encountered some dead ends and had to backtrack at times, but ultimately they accomplished what they set out to do. The Phantom Limb had a very interesting, unexpected plot line that I won’t be forgetting any time soon.

The Phantom Limb delves into the weird and wacky and entertains the reader with its dry humor. With characters that won’t take no for an answer, this book is one that will keep you reading until the very end. Join Isaac, as he journeys to save his mother and himself in, The Phantom Limb!

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf…

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

*I received this book from NetGalley, a website on which you can request free advanced reader copies of books. I received The Phantom Limb by William Sleator and Ann Monticone in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley!

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

2011-11-13T20:36:00.001-08:00

Glow

Author: Amy Kathleen Ryan

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

5 out of 5 stars

The mission: Travel across space to reach New Earth.

The goal: Populate New Earth in order to start the human race anew.

You have been given everything you need in order to survive. Everything should go as planned. Nothing should go wrong.

What you didn’t see coming: You are not alone.

Waverly Marshall and Kieran Alden have grown up aboard the spaceship Empyrean their entire lives. The two have heard the stories of Earth, but it’s hard for them to imagine seeing a rainbow against the clear, blue sky, swimming in the ocean, or feeling the wind against their cheek. Although they do not know the beauty of these simple, everyday experiences, they do know how to pilot a shuttle and use a grav bag. Life on board the Empyrean is all that Waverly and Kieran have ever known.

Waverly and Kieran’s ultimate goal is to complete the mission. The mission is the reason why they were sent into space in the first place. The Empyrean would travel across the galaxy on its way to New Earth, where the human race could finally start anew. The ship was designed to provide everything that those aboard could possibly need to survive. The humans would live a life of comfort knowing that they would be the saviors of the human race. They were making this journey for the good of society. The mission would not fail. Could not fail. But Waverly and Kieran are about to learn that everything they have ever known is a lie.

There are others out there. The New Horizon is a ship just like the Empyrean, except for the fact that it left Earth a year ahead of the Empyrean. In theory, the New Horizon should be miles and miles ahead of the Empyrean. So why is it that those aboard the Empyrean can see the New Horizon just by looking out of one of the many portholes? The New Horizon’s sudden appearance throws everyone on board the Empyrean into a state of uneasiness, as a blanket of worry settles over the ship. What the new Horizon wants may be more than anyone aboard the Empyrean is willing to give up. How will this affect the mission? How far are those aboard the New Horizon willing to go to get what they need? All is revealed in Amy Kathleen Ryan’s intergalactic tale of distrust, survival, family, and most importantly, the will to go on in, Glow!

As soon as I started reading Glow I was captivated and couldn’t pull away until the very last page. Glow hit the ground running and picked up speed from there. I found myself anxious and on edge as I constantly worried about Waverly and Kieran’s safety. No one was safe, and it became evident that no one could be trusted either. Glow is an action-packed book that I think older teens looking for an edgy read will definitely enjoy.

This book knew how to tug on my emotions and leave me feeling certain, yet at the same time unsure. I was never quite sure who to put my trust in, as more and more was revealed about each side. I was presented with both the good and the bad of each side, and then left to make my own decision. I’m still not sure with whom my loyalties lie, as I don’t know if either side is truly “right.” Amy Kathleen Ryan has an amazing ability to keep the reader on their toes and let them decide who they want to believe. This was refreshing to see as I was able to decide for myself who to side with, or to not agree with anyone at all.

Glow is told from the alternating perspectives of both Waverly and Kieran. It was fascinating to get to read about their experiences on both the New Horizon and the Empyrean. It was interesting to see how Waverly and Kieran acted as individuals when they didn’t have each other to rely on. Their true personalities and values were revealed throughout various situations. Would they ever be able to see eye to eye ever again? Or has each changed so much that they are now different people?

Being the two oldest kids on the Empyrean, Waverly and Kieran have always been expected to be a couple and eventually marry one another. At first, I felt that they were perfect for each other in every way. However, Seth changed that. When Seth was introduced as a possible love interest for Waverly I was suddenly torn between who to choose. As the story progressed, I got a chance to learn more about both Seth and Kieran as people, but what I saw wasn’t the most appealing. Kieran, Seth, and even Waverly definitely change as they try to make it back to one another. The worst is brought out at times, but it was nice to see that each of the teens was exactly that, a teen. They were only human and were just doing their best to survive.

At times the writing was dry, but Amy Kathleen Ryan’s ability to twist your emotions definitely made up for it. I would have liked to have seen the sci-fi element of the book developed more as well. For example, I didn’t have a clear understanding of why the humans had to leave Earth, or what Earth is currently like. Also, I wasn’t quite sure what New Earth is supposed to be exactly, or how it came about. Hopefully I will get to learn more about the specifics of their mission in the sequel.

Glow is a gripping read that will suck you in from the first page, and you won’t be able to let go until the very last. Dealing with issues that plague our society today, Glow takes a look at what they might look like in the future. Join Waverly and Kieran as they travel across space to make it back to one another, in order to set things right in, Glow!

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf…

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

*I received this novel from St. Martin's Griffin. I received Glow as an advanced reader's edition in exchange for my honest review. Thank you so much St. Martin's Griffin!

My signed ARC of Glow! Thank you so much Amy and St. Martin's Griffin!

Check out Amy Kathleen's website at www.amykathleenryan.com.

The Why Chromosome: Why Boys Do Love Books Recap!

2011-11-06T09:30:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of attending The Why Chromosome: Why Boys Do Love Books! The event was put on by Bridge To Books, an amazing non-profit organization who's goals are to connect kids with books and promote literacy and reading. The Why Chromosome event was all about why boys DO love to read. Six male authors were featured at the event, and all of their books feature male protagonists as well. The event took place at Mrs. Nelson's Toy and Book Shop. I had a spectacular time! There were parents, teachers, educators, authors, and bloggers there, and of course boys of all ages! Young or old, boys came to celebrate their love of reading. Here's a look at the event:

The Why Chromosome Authors

Andrew Smith- author of Ghost Medicine, In The Path of Falling Objects, The Marbury Lens, and Stick

Greg van Eekhout- author of The Boy at the End of the World and Kid vs. Squid

G. Neri- author of Ghetto Cowboy, Chess Rumble,
Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty, and Surf Mules

Jonathan Auxier- author of Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes

John Stephens- author of The Emerald Atlas

Allen Zadoff- author of Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can’t Have and

My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies

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After eating a delicious lunch of hamburgers, hot dogs, chili, and an array of mouth-watering desserts, the event was ready to begin! First, we had a very fun icebreaker to start off the event. We paired up with a partner and had to come up with a list of books that had male protagonists. Each book counted as a point and if you had read the book that counted as another point as well. Next, the authors were asked questions about how the book industry has changed, boys and reading, and what got them started as authors. I took some video of the panel answering questions, and you can watch them below. You'll have to excuse my loud laughter, but I hope you enjoy!

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Some quotes from the authors at the event:

"That was the first time that I realized that the author could have different viewpoints than the character." -Jonathan Auxier

"I was fascinated by the duality that you could be a man, and still feel deeply." -Allen Zadoff

"You read those books because for awhile you want to live in that fantasy world." -John Stephens

"I do notice today that boys read a lot more than they did twenty years ago." -Andrew Smith

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The audience got a chance to ask some questions as well. Then the authors mingled with the crowd, and got a chance to talk to the attendees. After that, the signing began! I got a chance to chat with the authors and get my books signed. Here's a look at all of the swag and books I picked up from the event:

This is the awesome drawing that Jonathan Auxier drew for me when he signed my copy of Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes! He asked what my favorite animal was, I said a tiger (if you couldn't tell), and this is what appeared on the page!

I also picked up a signed copy of Stick by Andrew Smith for an upcoming giveaway! So look out for that, and for my reviews of The Why Chromosome books!

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I had an amazing time at The Why Chromosome, and I also got to meet some great bloggers and authors as well!

-Alethea, Read Now Sleep Later: One of the founders of Bridge To Books, and she reviews YA and MG books as well!

-Alyson, Kid Lit Frenzy: One of the founders of Bridge To Books, and she reviews picture books all the way to YA!

-Kristen, Kristen Pelfrey Writes: A teacher who is amazingly supportive of reading, literacy, and getting good books in the hands of teens!

-Jessica, Read Schmead: Check out Jessica's blog to read some fun recaps on other book events and reviews of YA and MG books as well!

-Non, Subject + Verb: Another avid reader of YA books!

-Kathy McCullough: A YA author, who's debut novel, Don't Expect Magic, comes out this month!

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Check out my photo album for The Why Chromosome here.

Check out my YouTube Channel where you can watch my videos of The Why Chromosome here.

Check out the Bridge To Books website at www.bridgetobooks.org.

Check out Bridge To Books The Why Chromosome photo album here.

Twitter Hashtag: #yboysread #whychromosome

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I had such a great time at The Why Chromosome: Why Boys Do Love Books, and I can't wait to attend Bridge To Books' next event! I hope you enjoyed my recap, and hopefully I'll see you at a Bridge To Books event soon!

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf...

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

Interviews With Authors: Amy Plum

2011-10-26T20:47:00.000-07:00

Hiya everyone! Fall is in the air, and with the weather getting chillier I have another great Interviews With Authors for you! Today we have Amy Plum, author of the the popular book Die For Me. Amy was kind enough to answer my questions about her book and what it is like being an author. Die For Me is a paranormal tale of one girl's journey as she walks a fine line between a century-old rivalry. Set in Paris, Kate has attracted the attention of Vincent, but there's more to him than meets the eye. You can find my full review of Die For Me here.

Now I present to you, Interviews With Authors: A Talk With Amy Plum!

A Talk With Amy Plum

Author of Die For Me

By T.B.

1) What inspired you to write your debut novel Die For Me?

I had written a memoir (about living in the French countryside), which had gotten great feedback from publishers, but which hadn’t sold. So I wanted to try something in a different genre. I had just read TWILIGHT, and thought it would be fun to do a paranormal romance. And then one night when I was considering what to write, this sentence popped into my mind: “Ten days after I got my driver’s license, my parents died in a car wreck.” And all of a sudden, I had Kate’s character. After that, I just had to figure out what kind of paranormal creature she would fall for.

2) Die For Me is set in Paris, and the main character, Kate, loves to find little cafes and visit the museums in this historic city. Did the fact that you live quite close to Paris, effect your decision to set the book there as well?

I actually lived in Paris for five years during my twenties. And it was such a life-changing experience for me, I felt it would be interesting to place another young American girl into the same setting and see what happened. I now live three hours away from Paris, and go as often as I can, but based the book on the memories of the city that I had from when I lived there.

View The Paris of DIE FOR ME in a larger map

3) I’ve read that you used to work in the world of art, and that you used to be an English professor. How are your previous jobs different from now being a full-time writer?

I have had so many different jobs during my lifetime! But constant factors of job-appreciation have been that I: 1. don’t like to work in a group office; 2. prefer to work for myself; and 3. appreciate jobs that are mentally challenging.

When I bought and sold paintings, I had to discover the paintings, identify who had painted them, and then find a buyer for them. So that was a fun challenge. Teaching was not as fun, since my class was required and most students didn’t want to be there. I was still somewhat in control of my situation, having to come up with my own lesson plans and doing all of my busy work from home.

But I have to say that writing is everything I ever wanted. I work out of my own office on my own time, and am endlessly mining my creativity for ideas. I don’t mind the solitude of writing. I’ve always been very hard on myself as far as productivity, and this is a job in which, for once, there is a direct link between how hard I work and the visible result of my labors. I never imagined I would actually get the opportunity to be a full-time writer, but now that I am, I can’t imagine going back to another career.

4) The idea of revenants in your book are a mix of zombies and angels in a way. Can you tell us how you came up with these supernatural beings?

When I was trying to think of a supernatural creature to write about, I actually made a list of everything I could think of: vampires, ghosts, werewolves, and all of the rest. But though none really piqued my interest, gods and zombies were the only left when I crossed everything else off. So I tried to think of how I could combine the two, and the result was my revenants!

6) The title of Die For Me can be interpreted in different ways, and has a significant meaning in the book. Did the title just come to you, or did it take a little more to come up with the name of Die For Me?

It was actually my editor who came up with the title. My original title was SLEEPWALKING, and I was very attached to it. It was very hard for me to let it go, because it spoke both of Kate’s state of mind after her parents died and the behavior of the revenants. However, once I got used to the new title, I really loved it and now I think it’s perfect.

7) Die For Me has become instantly popular, and has already been published in the US, Australia, and the UK, and will be published in numerous more countries. Has the reality of it all sunk in yet?

The reality has sunk in, but it has taken a while. I was pretty much floating on air for the first few months after the book deal. And afterward I still felt like I was living in a dream world as the language rights sales came through. But now that the entire process for Book 1 has been completed (editing, release, and tour) and I know what to expect, I feel more in control of my situation rather than like a (happy) pawn of Fate.

8) I’ve seen that you have a pair of Converse that say “I ♥ Revenants.” How did those come about?

I was so excited after I got my book deal that I went to the Converse website and used their “Design your own shoe” function to make them. That was my celebration present to myself.

9) Can you tell us about book two in the Revenants series?

Book two (UNTIL I DIE) begins six weeks after the end of Book 1 – on New Year’s Eve. As you discover at the end of DIE FOR ME, two of the characters have to leave, and others will be taking their place. Kate and Vincent have to face their quandary: how to keep their love alive despite the problems faced by a revenant involved with a human. And...let’s see...lots of swordfights and even more magic than in Book 1!

10) Lastly, what advice would you give to any young readers who someday wish to become recognized authors?

My advice is to write every day. You always hear the saying that “your brain is a muscle”, but I think your creativity can be compared to a muscle as well. If you don’t exercise it regularly, it becomes lax. Also, find a diverse group of friends to give you feedback, not people who are just like you. That way the overall response you get will be much richer and more valuable for your development.

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf...

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

Thank you so much Amy for taking the time to answer my questions and for being a part of Interviews With Authors! I find it really heartening that you are able to do what you love and have a passion for. I hope I'll be able to do the same when I'm older as well. The initial title for Die For Me, Sleepwalking, sounds like it could have suited the book as well, especially in the sense of the revenants. I think both titles really relate to the story though. I can't wait to continue Kate and Vincent's journey in Until I Die! Thanks again for taking part in Interviews With Authors! I hope you all enjoyed this Interviews With Authors: A Talk With Amy Plum!

You can find my full review of Die For Me here.

Interested in more Interviews With Authors? Check out my new Interviews With Authors page here, to find more exciting interviews!

Deviant by Adrian McKinty

2011-10-21T18:39:00.000-07:00

Deviant

Author: Adrian McKinty

Publisher: Amulet Books

3½ out of 5 stars

A guttural scream sliced through the frigid evening air, waking you with a start. What could that have been? Who would be up in the middle of the night? You tiptoe quietly to your bedroom window and peek through the blinds. Scanning the forest behind your house you think you see a glimpse of someone, but you can’t be sure. Setting your worries aside you decide to just go back to sleep and forget about it. But you won’t be able to forget it anytime soon, because in the morning you find out just what made that scream last night. It was a cat. The second in a row that was brutally murdered. This has to stop, and soon…

Danny Lopez is the new kid in town. After moving from Las Vegas to Colorado because of his mother’s job, he has to try and fit into this sleepy little town. But Danny doesn’t know if that’s possible with all of the strange things that set Colorado Springs apart. For one, his new neighbor, Tony, thinks that it’s okay for her to just barge into his bedroom unannounced. Second, his new school doesn’t allow any of the students to talk, and they must read from scripts. Oh, and don’t forget the cat murders.

Local cats in the neighborhood have been brutally murdered and left for the public to behold. The attacks have been steadily increasing and have become more and more horrific. The killer is getting bold, and Danny takes it into to his own hands to find out who the serial killer is, before his own cat, Jeff, falls victim to the murderer. Along with Danny’s new group of friends, the teens set off on a search for the killer.

But capturing the culprit, let alone finding him, is going to be much harder than any of them had thought. The few clues that are left behind are sparse and misleading. Are Danny and his friends pursuing the wrong villain? Will they be able to stop the murderer before greater things start to take place in this quiet town? All is revealed in Adrian McKinty’s eerie tale of one boy’s journey to unlock a town’s secrets in, Deviant!

Deviant is a read that had me guessing and pointing fingers in an effort to stop the killer. I was constantly led on a trial of false clues as I tried to piece together the evidence with Danny and his friends. Filled with the nostalgic feel of that of a small town, and mixed with some strange and out-of-place occurrences, Deviant is one unique read. I received Deviant from NetGalley*, and I recommend it for older teens as some of the descriptions can be a bit gruesome and intense.

There was such an obscure mix of elements that were thrown into Deviant that really made it stand out. Things such as Danny’s school, which required conformity, the grisly murders, and overall oddness that seemed to blanket the town made for some interesting incidents. However, all of these gave me a not-so-average reading experience and kept me hooked on Deviant. I just had to keep reading to see what Adrian McKinty would throw in next. Nothing was ever as it seemed, and one had to always watch their back.

This book can get slightly gruesome at times when the murders are described. Overall though, Deviant had a constant fear-factor that was always there in the back of my mind. The oddness of Danny’s situation freaked me out, especially when I got a chance to read the anonymous letters. Throughout the book there were periodic letters that were written to Danny’s neighbor, Tony. However, the letters focus on quite bizarre topics, and it was hard to decipher who the writer was. The letters did a thorough job of creeping me out, as did the chapters that were told from the viewpoint of the killer.

While the jumble of strange and quirky characters and settings made Deviant an enjoyable read, I would have liked to have seen things just be explained a bit more in-depth. The storyline seemed to be all over the place at times, deeply confusing me with where the story was going. Hopefully if there’s a sequel to Deviant then things will be explained more and I’ll be able to learn more about what’s really going on.

Deviant is a chilling read with twists and turns that I never saw coming. With a strange mix of everything, this book will surely keep you on your toes. Join Danny as he journeys to reveal the killer, before it’s too late in, Deviant!

-This is T.B. with Another Book back on the Shelf…

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

*I received this book from NetGalley, a website on which you can request free advanced reader copies of books. I received Deviant by Adrian McKinty in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley!

Check out Adrian McKinty's blog at www.adrianmckinty.blogspot.com.

Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

2011-10-17T19:41:00.000-07:00

Virtuosity

Author: Jessica Martinez

Publisher: Simon Pulse

4½ out of 5 stars

I closed my eyes and let all of the tension drain out of my body. My fingers were poised on my violin, ready to start strumming the bow across the strings. Tonight would be the night. But I couldn’t think about that right now. I couldn’t think about the audience, the lights, or the judges staring me down. I definitely couldn’t think about what would happen if I failed. That was not a possibility. I had to feel the music and let that show, because I didn’t get another shot after this. It was now or never.

Carmen Bianchi is a world-renowned violinist. Anyone and everyone in the classical music industry has heard of her. A child prodigy, Carmen has won an Emmy, produced numerous albums, and is on her way to stardom. And the Guarneri Competition is going to be the launch of her everlasting legacy. That is, if she can win…

The Guarneri Competition is the most esteemed competition in the classical music industry. The brightest and the best violinists come together to compete for the ultimate prize: fifty thousand dollars, a four-year loan of the 1742 Guarneri del Gesu violin, and performances all across the world with the best symphonies. It’s kind of a big deal.

Carmen is the favorite going into the competition, but she’s not the only one. Her biggest competitor is the British equivalent of Carmen, Jeremy King. He’s got everything she has and maybe even more. After meeting him for the first time, things start to spiral out of control. For one, he’s really good. Maybe better than Carmen ever thought she could be. Not only that, but Carmen might just be falling for Jeremy. Could it be possible? Or is this all part of his plan to win? Will Carmen be able to rise above him? Jessica Martinez reveals all in her debut where if just the right notes are played, then the most beautiful music will be created in, Virtousity!

Virtousity is a stunning story filled with impossible expectations, unbearable truths, and most of all, the grain of hope that comes with it all. I was given a glimpse of what the life of someone in the classical music business is like, and it wasn’t pretty for one so young. I received Virtousity from Simon & Schuster’s Galley Grab* and I recommend it for teens looking for a profound story with a sweet romance to soften the edges.

I really enjoyed getting to see what Carmen’s life was like as a professional musician. Ever since she was a child this is what she has done. Going to a “real” school was unheard of with all of the work she does, and actually socializing with teens her own age was impossible. Her life was so different from that of a typical teenager, but she couldn’t do anything about it. It was all she had ever known and that was that. The classical music industry seemed like a harsh and brutal environment for anyone to have to try and survive in, especially a teenager playing a grown-up game. The only way to survive was to be the absolute best.

Throughout the course of Virtousity, Carmen grew into a strong, independent young woman. She knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life. There would be no more of the mindless choices where she just went along with the decisions that were being made for her. She was going to dictate her own life from now on. In the beginning everything was done for her, to keep her safe, happy, and basically to keep her making her music. It didn’t matter how she felt about things. It wasn’t her choice to make, but really, it was. It was wonderful to witness Carmen start out as a bud, and then fully blossom.

Jessica Martinez’s writing is fluid and beautiful. The book starts off with a bang in the prologue, where I was able to feel right away the pressure that Carmen has to deal with and how it was slowly eating away at her. It was so easy to relate with Carmen, even though I’m not professional violinist. Martinez made Carmen feel like any teen, even though she really wasn’t. The tone in Virtousity could go from dark and heavy to light and humorous in a second. I definitely can’t wait to see what Matinez tries her hand at next.

Carmen and Jeremy’s relationship was definitely a complicated one, filled with an unrelenting cascade of emotions. Do they hate each other? Do they try to get along? It was interesting to see how they interacted with each other. They were the only two who could actually relate with one another. They both knew what if felt like to do what they do, but in ways that couldn’t be more different. There were times where I would have enjoyed to have seen more of the music incorporated in Jeremy and Carmen’s relationship, but overall it was a nice balance of the two.

Virtousity is a stunningly beautiful read that will have you sagging under the weight of everything that Carmen has to deal with and how she copes with it all. Join Carmen as she searches through the discordant harmonies that make up her life, and learns what she really wants in, Virtousity!

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf…

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

*I received this book from Simon & Schuster's Galley Grab, a website on which you can read free advanced reader copies of books. I received Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez in exchange for my honest review. This book will be released on October 18, 2011. Thank you Simon & Schuster's Galley Grab!

Check out Jessica Martinez's website at www.jessicamartinez.com.

Giveaway Winner!

2011-10-16T13:40:00.000-07:00

Our winner for the Crossroads E-Book Giveaway is...

Yto

Congratulations Yto! I have already sent an email to the winner. Thank you to everyone who entered! Keep checking back for more reviews, interviews, and giveaways!

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf...

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

Variant by Robison Wells

2011-10-13T20:45:00.000-07:00

Variant

Author: Robison Wells

Publisher: HarperTeen

4½ out of 5 stars

They’re watching. They’re always watching. Every single move you make, everything you say, everything you do, is being recorded. If you blink, they’ll know. They have cameras everywhere. Even if you can’t see them, they’re there. Someone is always watching you, and taking note of everything you do. You can never escape their watchful eyes. There’s no real explanation why, but there are consequences. One wrong step and you’re out… for good.

Benson Fischer thought it was too good to be true. After receiving a scholarship to the prestigious Maxfield Academy in New Mexico, Benson thought that finally his life would get back on track. Being a foster kid, Benson never got to stay at any place for long. His life was a road trip of stops across the country. He has never really had anywhere he could call home.

That all changes when he arrives at Maxfield Academy. From the first moment he knows that something is up. When he’s dropped off at the entrance a boy and a girl come sprinting out of the doors in hopes to, well, Benson doesn’t really know what they’re trying to do. Things just aren’t adding up, and Benson quickly realizes that what he signed up for may not be at all what it had seemed.

At Maxfield Academy there are no teachers, no adults of any kind. There are just students. The students rule the school, and they have split into three different groups, or “gangs,” to survive. There is Society, the do-gooders and rule-enforcers, Havoc, the intimidating troublemakers, and the Variants, those who don’t really fit into the other two gangs and are hoping to escape. Each gang has different jobs, or “contracts,” and has gone through their daily routines for as long as anyone can remember.

The students are given instructions from unknown superiors who decide everything, but nothing is ever set in stone. Some days classes will start at seven, and other days noon. Punishments are given out sporadically and randomly for different offenses, and the students never know when someone will get detention and will never be seen again. But Benson does know that he has to get out. There is no way he is going to stay in this place and wait around for orders, or worse… wait to be killed. Will Benson be able to escape this prison? Or will he die trying? Robison Wells reveals all in his thriller novel about one boy’s journey to find answers and come out alive in, Variant!

Variant took me on an adrenaline filled ride, full of astonishing twists and turns that I would have never seen coming. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to have to endure life in Maxfield Academy. The things that happen there are enough to give anyone nightmares. I received Variant from NetGalley* and I recommend it for fans of The Maze Runner, Ashes, and Lord of The Flies, as it will definitely have you on the edge of your seat the entire time.

The setting in which Variant took place and the unimaginable things that these teens have to go through is something that I won’t be forgetting any time soon. The way in which the teens of Maxfield Academy had to live their lives, with security cameras, a razor wire fence enclosing the school, and no possible way of escape was deeply disturbing and frightening. Robison Well’s ability to constantly change the direction of the story in ways I could have never imagined kept me on my toes, and was reminiscent of the way in which James Dashner did so in his Maze Runner trilogy.

Variant was downright scary at times. There were instances where the anticipation was more than I could handle and I could barely make myself turn the next page. Well’s did a splendid job of keeping the tension and fear high, so that I would never lose interest. There are still so many questions left unanswered, but I definitely can’t wait to learn more in the sequel to Variant, Feedback.

Despite the peculiar situation that these teens were in, they still tried their best to just be regular teens. Escape was constantly on their minds, and they definitely never forgot about the cameras and the lies, but at times it was nice to see them allowed to just be teens. To live the lives that they didn’t get the chance to. Times like when they had a dance, or when couples would be in a relationship reminded me that even though they were handling this situation to the best of their ability, you had to give them a break after all.

I only wish that things were taken a bit slower in the beginning of the book. As soon as Benson arrived at Maxfield, he already wanted to leave. I felt it was a bit premature for Benson to feel that he already had to escape, especially when most of the other teens did not. I feel that it would have made a bit more sense if Benson took some time to try and adjust to life at Maxfield first. But, then again, how do you adjust to somewhere like Maxfield Academy?

The ending to Variant absolutely blew my mind! I am thoroughly confused now, but I’m loving it. There’s no way I’m going to be able to guess what happens next, but when I read the last page my jaw literally dropped open, and I had to remind myself to close it before a fly or two went in. I won’t say anything more, so you can go read it and hopefully feel just as mind-blown as I did.

Variant is an electrifying read that will have you constantly pointing fingers, only to discover that you’re way off track. Brace yourself for a wild ride that you won’t want to end. Join Benson, as he attempts to break out of the confines that are slowly killing him and his friends in, Variant!

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf…

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

*I received this book from NetGalley, a website on which you can request free advanced reader copies of books. I received Variant by Robison Wells in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley!

Check out Robison Wells' website at www.robisonwells.com.

Charlie Woodchuck is a Minor Niner by Dalya Moon

2011-10-10T22:06:00.000-07:00

Charlie Woodchuck is a Minor Niner

Author: Dalya Moon

Publisher: Dalya Moon (Smashwords)

4½ out of 5 stars

My pen hovers over my elective sheet for my first year of high school. I have two choices. I can either fill in one of the boxes for the girl’s electives, like Sewing and Cooking, or I can take a dive into the unknown and sign up for the boys-only shop classes. I mean why not? If a boy can do it why can’t I? All I have to do is fill in that little box. That’s it. That’s all it takes for me to be known as the girl who took the forbidden shop class. That girl is me, Charlie Woodchuck.

It’s 1988, and in the midst of the chaos and confusion of high school, Charlie is just trying to survive. To make it out alive, and do so without drawing any attention to herself would be Charlie’s ideal plan. But it’s hard to stick to the plan when you go out and deliberately cause a stir. In Charlie’s defense, she just didn't want to take Sewing.

Charlie takes a risk by signing up for one of the forbidden, boys-only, shop classes. She figures why not, if a boy can do it, so can she. But being the only girl in Woodworking is a lot harder than Charlie had thought it was going to be. Not only do the boys love to play pranks on her, but the teacher’s got it out for her as well. Charlie has no idea how she’ll ever pass the class, let alone finish the year. But she has to, in order to bring justice to the boys and girls of Snowy Cove High. If she doesn’t, who will?

But as parents and the school board start to take notice, Charlie’s impulsive decision to take Woodworking is disturbing the natural order of things. Now Charlie has to prove that a girl can do anything a boy can do, otherwise they’ll never let a girl take a shop class again. But how is Charlie supposed to do that while dealing with her best friend, her crush, and the fact that she might be adopted? Does Charlie have what it takes to change Snowy Cove history? Could she be the start of a revolution, or is she just a meager minor niner? All is revealed in Dalya Moon’s heart-warming story of one girl who just wants what’s right in, Charlie Woodchuck is a Minor Niner!

Charlie Woodchuck is a Minor Niner is a delightful read that had me smiling the entire time. Whether it was Charlie’s crazy antics or her embarrassing moments, there was always something to look forward to. Filled with humor, Charlie Woodchuck is a Minor Niner is definitely entertaining, and bittersweet as well. Charlie Woodchuck is a Minor Niner was given to me by the author, Dalya Moon, for review.* Thank you so much Dalya! I suggest this book for younger teens, as they will be able to relate to Charlie’s uneasiness as she tries to navigate the strange waters of being a teen and starting high school. Adults who would like to revisit the 1980’s will also enjoy this blast to the past.

Charlie is one of those characters that I couldn’t help but adore with her geeky awkwardness, and the way in which she never took no for an answer. Charlie truly felt like a teen, and I would love to travel back in time just to meet her. Over the course of Charlie Woodchuck is a Minor Niner Charlie truly did grow into such a strong, independent young lady. In the beginning of the book we are introduced to a girl who isn’t quite sure what she wants in life, but she does want to have a voice and be heard. By the end, Charlie knows how to use her voice and has found where she fits in.

There is a sprinkling of humor throughout the entire book, and I really enjoyed how this gave a much lighter feel to the story, even throughout the heavier scenes. The banter between Charlie and her friends and family shows what a strong relationship they have with one another, and I loved reading about their interactions. Charlie’s supportive family and endearing friends were wonderful additions to the storyline, and it wouldn’t have been the same without them.

It would have been nice to have seen this book be a bit longer, so I could have seen both sides of the story played out more. Charlie Woodchuck is a Minor Niner seemed to be split between Charlie finding her voice and standing up for what is right, and discovering whether she was adopted or not. If the book had been longer I would have loved to read even more about both. However, I felt that this book was a nice length for a fun, entertaining read with well-developed characters that I won’t soon forget.

Charlie Woodchuck is a Minor Niner is a lovely little book that will light up your day. Filled with humor, and touching on important issues, this is a fantastic read for any teen trying to find themself. Join Charlie, as she struggles to find her voice when everyone seems to be against letting her speak in, Charlie Woodchuck is a Minor Niner!

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf…

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

*I received Charlie Woodchuck is a Minor Niner from the author, Dalya Moon, in exchange for my honest review. Thank you so much Dalya!

Check out Dalya's website at www.dalyamoon.com.

For a limited time Dalya is offering FREE e-book copies of Charlie Woodchuck is a Minor Niner. Go to Dalya's website here to learn more!

OC Children's Book Festival Recap!

2011-10-08T17:55:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday I was at the Orange County Children's Book Festival, and I had a blast! There was a ton of great authors there, and the day was filled with signings, giveaways, panels, and readings. This was my first time attending the festival, and I was a part of the YA/Teen Stage Press Corp. I was mostly at the stage all day, as it was packed with panels and authors throughout the day! Here's a recap of what went on at the Teen Stage:

"In-Be-Tween" Panel

Gitty Daneshvari (Moderator)- School of Fear series
Greg Taylor- Killer Pizza series
Helen Stringer- SpellBinder and Midnight Gate
Greg van Eekhout- Kid vs Squid and The Boy At The End Of The World
Mark Jeffrey- Max Quick

This was the first panel of the day, and it was made up of Middle Grade/Tween authors. Each of them talked a bit about their books and read a chapter or two as well. Gitty was a hilarious moderator, and she and the authors talked about their favorite memory as an author, and what their greatest fears as an author are as well (the most common answer was that no one would read their books and that they would have to go back to their day job).

PJ Haarsma and Frank Beddor

PJ Haarsma- The Softwire

Frank Beddor- The Looking Glass Wars series

After the first panel, authors PJ Haarsma and Frank Beddor came up to talk about their books. Both of their books have amazing artwork, and they shared some of it with us! PJ Haarsma talked about what his book is about, and Frank Beddor gave an animated retelling of how he was inspired to write The Looking Glass Wars series. There are also online interactive games to go with both of their series as well. You can find The Looking Glass Wars game here and The Softwire game here.

Lisi Harrison and Garret Sander

Lisi Harrison- Monster High series, The Clique series, and The Alphas series

Garret Sander- Monster High Dolls Lead Designer, Mattel

Next up author Lisi Harrison and lead designer Garret Sander came up to talk to fans about their Monster High series. Lisi talked about how she had been approached to write the books for the series, and how it has turned into a huge interactive platform with dolls, books, and a website. Garret added that they were trying to look at what girls these days are into and enjoy when coming up with the Monster High dolls. There was even an extremely dedicated fan who showed up dressed in Monster High attire!

Holly Goldberg Sloan

Holly Goldberg Sloan-
I’ll Be There

Then Holly Goldberg Sloan came up to talk about her debut novel, I'll Be There. She talked about how she started writing her novel at a resort in Mexico while there for a friend's birthday! She was originally a screenwriter and worked on films such as Steve Irwin's The Crocodile Hunter Movie. She was very funny, and it was a lot of fun listening to her! Holly also has a new novel that is going to be published called, Counting By Sevens and she is writing a companion novel to I'll Be There.

"Keeping It Real" Panel

Lindsey Leavitt (Moderator)- Sean Griswold’s Head and Princess For Hire Series

Jessi Kirby- Moonglass

Kirsten Hubbard- Like Mandarin

Andrew Smith- The Marbury Lens and Stick

The second panel of the day was the "Keeping It Real" panel, which featured authors who write realistic fiction for teens. Some great authors were on this one, including my favorite, Andrew Smith! The authors each talked about their books and read from them a little. Then they went on to talk about what it was like getting published, what it means to write "real"-istic fiction, and what they've noticed about their writing over the years. Author Lindsey Leavitt was a last-minute moderator, as sadly author Heidi Kling who was originally going to moderate couldn't make it.

After the panel a few more authors such as Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, authors of Spoiled, DJ MacHale author of the Pendragon series and his new Morpheus Road series, and Kailin Gow author of her new series The Fire Wars came up. They read from their books, and took questions from the audience as well. Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan were especially funny as they talked about their popular website. Sorry I didn't get any pictures of Heather Cocks, Jessica Morgan, or DJ MacHale to share with you!

Kami Garcia

Kami Garcia- Beautiful Creatures series

Next up was Kami Garcia, co-author of the popular Beautiful Creatures series. She read from the latest book in the series, Beautiful Chaos, which isn't even out in stores yet! After the reading Kami answered questions about the series, and talked about what it is like writing with her best friend, Margaret Stohl.

"Paranormal Tendencies" Panel

Emma Michaels (Moderator)- The Thirteenth Crime and Anasazi

Inara Scott- Delacroix Academy

Cindy Pon- Kingdom of Xia series

Jeff Mariotte- Dark Vengeance

Gretchen McNeil- Possess

The last panel of the day was the "Paranormal Tendencies" panel, which featured authors who write in the paranormal and supernatural genre. Each of the authors read from their book, and then talked about whether they would actually live in the worlds of their books if they got the chance. Cindy Pon said, "I would love to visit, but not live there!" Gretchen McNeil said,"Too scary!!" There was also a very eerie and sinister scene from Possess that Gretchen read from that takes place in a doll shop. Creepy!

Lisa Desrochers
Lisa Desrochers- Personal Demons and Original Sin

After the last panel, Hope Larson author of her graphic novel, Mercury, came up and showed some of her earlier sketches and drawings. Sorry I didn't get any pictures of her either! But right after Hope was Lisa Desrochers! Lisa read from Last Rite, which is the newest novel in her YA series. Last Rite hasn't been released yet, and Lisa gave us a peek at the cover for Last Rite! I have to say, I'm digging the red.

Katie Alender

Katie Alender- Bad Girls Don’t Die series

The next author to take the stage was Katie Alender! Katie's second book in her Bad Girls Don't Die trilogy, From Bad to Cursed, recently came out as well. Katie read from her first book, and gave away packs of cards to those who asked questions. I can't wait to start reading my copy of Bad Girls Don't Die!

Heather Brewer

Heather Brewer- The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod and The Slayer Chronicles

Next Heather Brewer came up to talk about her popular The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series and her brand new series The Slayer Chronicles. She took questions from her fans (or as she calls them "her minions"), and talked about what it was like when she was in high school. She used many of her own experiences, such as being bullied, and put that emotion into her writing. Now she's a rock star author!

Nancy Holder

Nancy Holder- Wicked series, Crusade series and NEW Wolf Springs Chronicles

Nancy Holder was next, and she read from her book. Nancy also answered questions about what it is like co-writing with fellow author Debbie Viguié, and about her work on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series. Nancy also has a new YA book coming out soon, that is co-written with Debbie Viguié. The book is called Unleased, and it definitely sounds mysterious and spooky!

Amber Benson

Amber Benson- Calliope Reaper Jones series and Among The Ghosts

Last but not least was Amber Benson! Amber read from her latest revision of Book 4 of her Calliope Reaper Jones series. The writing was full of humor, and it sounds like a very fun read! Amber answered questions about her work as an actress and also her work on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She was the last author of the day, but I was extremely content that I got to see so many!

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There was also a huge Box of Books that was being given away. Almost all of the books in the box were signed too! I'm so jealous of whoever won! Here's what it looked like at the start and finish of the festival:

Before

AFTER

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Here's a look at all the great swag and books I picked up from the festival as well! I was so excited that I got to get so many of my books signed!

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I had an absolutely amazing day at the OC Children's Book Festival, and I definitely can't wait to go again next year! It was so much fun getting to listen to all of the authors speak, and I met a lot of great bloggers as well!

Bloggers I got to see:

-Lauren, 365 Days of Reading (Check out her Recap Part 1 and Recap Part 2 of the festival!)

-Alethea, Read Now Sleep Later (Check out her blog to read reviews of the books that were at the festival!)

-Alyson, Kid Lit Frenzy (Check out Alyson and Alethea's organization Bridge To Books!)

-Ashlyn, Teenage Reader (Check out her Recap and make sure to enter her giveaway as well!)

-Mary, Bookhounds YA (Make sure to stop by her blog, because she's got a TON of fantastic giveaways from the festival!)

-Jessica, Read Schmead (Check out her Recap!)

-Ishita, The Reading Fish (Check out her Recap!)

-Darla, DforDarla's Definite Reads (Check out her Recap!)

-Zareen, Reach For The Stars And The Books (Check out her Recap!)

And a HUGE thank you to Robyn Hawk, the Teen/YA Stage Coordinator! Robyn made Press Passes for all of the bloggers, set everything up, and made the stage absolutely awesome!!! Thank you Robyn for making the day so special!

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Check out my photo album for the festival here.

Check out the OC Children's Book Festival website at www.kidsbookfestival.com.

Check out the Teen/YA Stage blog at www.teensread.posterous.com.

Check out the Festival's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/OCCBF.

Twitter Hashtag: #OCCBF

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I hope you enjoyed my recap, and if you'll be in the SoCal area next year, definitely make sure to come to the festival! I can't wait for next year, and I'll see you there!

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf...

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

Stick by Andrew Smith

2011-10-01T22:04:00.000-07:00

Stick

Author: Andrew Smith

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

5 out of 5 stars

My name is Stark McClellan. You can call me Stick if you’d like, because that’s what I am. A stick of a boy.

…and I’m ugly.

I have only one ear. I was born that way.

If you look closely you’ll notice, and then you won’t be able to look away.

But I’m not going to let this stop me. It never has before. I drive at night. I blow things up. I steal cars. I am going to get my brother back. He’s always been by my side and I’m not about to let him leave me alone now.

I’m as unremarkable as canned green beans.

I’m Stick, and this is my story.

Fourteen-year-old Stark McClellan, also known as “Stick,” has never really fit in. Labeled as “deformed,” Stick has had to deal with the bullying and teasing of being born with only one ear his entire life. Not to mention that his parents smoke, drink, beat Stick and his brother, Bosten, and lock them up for days at a time. Definitely not what you would call “normal.”

This is all that Stick has ever known. He’s used to it by now. However, things are about to change, for better, or for worse. When Stick’s father finds out that Bosten is gay, his reaction isn’t pretty. Bosten leaves home to go find a place where he can truly be accepted and escape from their boring town and oppressive parents. He’s gone without a trace, and Stick knows that he has to find him… before it’s too late.

And so Stick sets off on a journey filled with hope, adventure, and many different kinds of people along the way. Driven by love, Stick will do everything he can to get Bosten back. Stick doesn’t know how he will ever be whole again otherwise. Will Stick be able to find his brother? Can a mere fourteen-year-old take on so much? All is revealed in Andrew Smith’s striking book about one boy’s journey to get back what he loves in, Stick!

Stick is on a level all its own. Subtly beautiful and courageously bold this book is sure to leave any reader in awe. I couldn’t get Stick’s story out of my mind, and it still hits me in waves. I tore through Stick in one day, and I’m itching to re-read it. I received Stick as an advanced reader’s copy from the author, Andrew Smith. Thank you so much Andrew!* This book is a must-read for both teens and adults as it will haunt you with its stark writing long after you reach the end.

Andrew Smith’s writing is something I don’t think I will ever be able to get over. Every time I read one of his books I am shocked by how unique it is. His writing is blunt and straightforward, yet it also has many hidden folds to it. Throughout Stick the writing was spaced in a way that I have never seen before. Since Stick has only one ear, the book was told in a way that showed how Stick hears things. How things sound to him with only one ear. Words would be spaced apart or a sentence would end in the middle of a line and continue on the left side of the page. This mostly took place in areas where there was dialogue, such as when someone would be talking to Stick. By the end of the book I was absolutely used to reading Andrew Smith’s writing in this fashion, and it made my reading experience so much richer. Every word and every pause had so much more weight behind it than a string of words jumbled together.

I also really enjoyed how Stick could be labeled as an “issue” book, but I don’t think it really fits into that category. Stick touched on issues that teens face, and definitely had them dispersed throughout the book, but the story never focused only on the “issues.” It included them, but it wasn’t only about them. I feel like Stick was less about homosexuality, abuse, neglect, or deformity, than about living life and surrounding yourself with those who you love and who love you.

I’ve noticed that Andrew Smith tends to use certain phrases in his books that regularly appear throughout the story. For example, in The Marbury Lens the lines “Freddie Horvath did something to my brain,” and “You haven’t gotten away from anything, Jack,” show up periodically throughout the story. In Stick phrases such as “I did the math,” and Sitck’s ever-changing motto/catch phrase is interspersed throughout the book as well. All of these phrases are always presented at just the right moment, to make you feel the greatest amount of impact the line could possibly give. And it really helps shape the story into what it is. Whenever I think of Stick, I’ll think of those phrases.

Stick was more than I could have hoped for, and it is a story that I will definitely not forget. If you enjoyed Andrew Smith’s The Marbury Lens, then you should definitely try out Stick. Even though the two are different, there’s a consistency in both that ties them together. Join Stick, as he journeys to find Bosten, all the while finding himself along the way in, Stick!

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf…

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

*I received Stick from the author, Andrew Smith. Stick comes out on October 11, 2011. Thank you so much to Andrew Smith for providing me with one of his personal ARCs and for signing it as well!

My signed ARC of Stick! Thanks so much Andrew!

Check out Andrew Smith's website at www.ghostmedicine.com.

Check out Andrew Smith's blog at www.ghostmedicine.blogspot.com.

OC Children's Book Festival!

2011-09-29T23:00:00.000-07:00

Hi again! I wanted to let you all know that the Orange County Children's Book Festival will be taking place this weekend on Sunday, October 2 at the Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa from 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM. It's free for all those who wish to attend. I'll be there as part of the festival's Press Corp for the Teen/YA Stage. I'll make sure to provide updates throughout the day with my new Twitter account as well. You can reach me at @ftbotbblog. Hopefully, I'll see you there!

An amazing group of authors will be there as well, participating in panels, signings, readings, and giveaways throughout the day. Here's a look at some of the authors who will be there:

Here's the schedule for the Teen/YA stage:

I can't wait for this Sunday, and hopefully you can come and see some great authors, meet fellow book lovers, and have a great time!

Check out the OC Children's Book Festival website at www.kidsbookfestival.com.

Check out the Teen/YA Stage blog at www.teensread.posterous.com.

Check out the Festival's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/OCCBF.

Tweet along during the festival at @kidsbookfest.

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf...

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

I'm Now (officially) A Twit!

2011-09-27T21:42:00.000-07:00

Hi guys! I just joined the world of Twitter! I know I've been one of the last to jump on the Twitter train, but I'm excited to be a part of it all! I thought'd it'd be easier to connect with other bloggers and be more involved in the YA book community as well. I've added my Twitter feed to my sidebar, so check it out! I'll be going through the blogs I follow to follow them on Twitter, and if any of you want to follow me you can tweet me @ftbotbblog! I can't wait to see you guys on Twitter, and I'm new, so no making fun of me :)

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf...

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

After Obsession by Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel

2011-09-26T16:32:00.000-07:00

After Obsession

Author: Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel

Publisher: Bloomsbury

4 out of 5 stars

Your bedroom door slams shut with such force that it rattles the doorframe. You jump, wondering how it could have closed when you’re all the way across the room at your desk. The lock clicks, and suddenly, you know that he’s here. An ominous shadow starts to form in the corner of your room. It takes the shape of a towering man, and as he grows, it seems to suck all of the light out of your room. You try to get out of your chair, but it feels as if a ton of bricks is pressing down on you. You can’t move, and your eyes dart around the room in search of anything you could use as a weapon. But it’s too late. He’s reaching towards you, and that’s when the cold fear sets in. You’re his now.

Aimee’s life is going good at the moment. She has a sweet boyfriend, great friends, and a loving family. Life has never been better, and the only thing she wishes that she could change would be her best friend Courtney’s father dying. Courtney hasn’t been the same since, but she’s pulling through it somehow. Oh, and the dreams. Aimee would give anything to get rid of the dreams that plague her sleep and sometimes come true. Alan is about to change all of that.

Alan is Courtney’s half-Navajo cousin from Oklahoma. He was a football star there, and he had a good life back home. But since Courtney’s father passed away, Alan and his mother had to move to Maine to help Courtney and her mom keep the house. Maine is nothing like Alan’s beloved Oklahoma. They don’t even have football, for goodness sake! But Alan is about to find out just how strange Maine can get.

Courtney is being controlled by a demon known as the River Man who is trying to possess her. He constantly haunts her, and even dares to inhabit her body, draining her of her own energy and strength. Alan and Aimee know that they have to do something, and soon. There are four stages to possession: Invitation, Infestation, Obsession, and Possession. Courtney is almost at the stage of Possession, and if it gets that far, not only her life, but everyone else’s, will be lost as well. Will Alan and Aimee be able to save Courtney before it’s too late? Or will they be drawn into the River man’s consuming clutches as well? All is revealed in Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel’s demonic story of two teen’s struggle to save all that they love in, After Obsession!

After Obsession was a gripping adventure full of demons, Navajo rituals, prophetic dreams, and Marilyn Monroe shaped Cheetoes. There was the perfect balance of humor and somberness in this novel that really tied it all together. Aimee and Alan felt like real teens and they fit each other perfectly. I received After Obsession as an advanced reader’s copy from YA in Bloom.* Thank you so much to Bloomsbury and everyone at the YA in Bloom event for providing me with a copy! I suggest this book for teens thirteen and up, as it may prove to be a bit too sinister for younger readers.

After Obsession was told from both Aimee and Alan’s perspective, and I really enjoyed getting to read about both of their experiences and how they felt about one another. Their love for one another was almost instantaneous, but it wasn’t so much love at first sight, but more-so that they felt like they had finally found someone they could put their absolute trust in. They were each of their missing halves. Alan and Aimee’s chemistry with one another was so sweet, and it really moved the story along nicely.

Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel did a fantastic job of making the characters in their story feel like actual teens. There was always a healthy dose of humor mixed in with the gravity of the situation, giving this book a light feel to it. Things such as Aimee’s little brother Benji’s Marilyn Monroe shaped Cheeto for sale on eBay, and jokes thrown in balanced out the equally frightening and creepy scenes filled with menacing warnings and intense dreams. I couldn’t tell where Jones writing ended and Wedel’s began. Their writing flowed seamlessly with one another, and it was beautiful and tender at just the right moments.

It was also very interesting to read about demonic possession and how both Alan and Aimee dealt with it. Both teens took the situation in stride, and didn’t miss a beat. They were both on it immediately, and set about ways to purge Courtney of the River Man. It was intriguing to get to see how both Aimee and Alan’s unique backgrounds played a role in their fight against the River Man, and how it gave them an edge that helped assist them in their quest.

I would have liked to have seen more of a focus on certain aspects of the book, such as Aimee’s dreams, demonic possession, Alan’s mysterious past, and how Courtney came to be troubled by the demon in the first place. I felt like each of these subjects was only touched on slightly, and could have been elaborated on to have given the reader more of an all-around immersive experience. I felt that everything that was going on in After Obsession was also trying to share the stage with Alan and Aimee’s relationship, which is a large chunk of the book. Being a stand-alone novel, I’ll just have to wonder at what could have been.

After Obsession is sure to send chills up your spine as you dive into the world of possession, demons, and spirits. Join Alan and Aimee, as they fight with everything they’ve got in order to survive in, After Obsession!

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf…

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

*I received this novel from the YA in Bloom event. I received After Obsession as an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review. Thank you so much to Bloomsbury and everyone at the YA in Bloom event for providing me with a copy!

Check out Carrie Jones' website at www.carriejonesbooks.com.

Check out Steven E. Wedel's website at www.stevenewedel.com.

(The Crossroads Experience) Interviews With Authors: Mary Ting + TWO Giveaways

2011-09-22T12:00:00.000-07:00

Hi there! Today we have another wonderful Interviews With Authors! In honor of The Crossroads Experience Blog Tour, I have Mary Ting, author of Crossroads, here with us today! Mary Ting was kind enough to answer my questions on where she got her inspiration for her book and what it is like being an author. Crossroads is a paranormal romance that takes place on both Earth, and a place between life and death: Crossroads. Claudia travels to Crossroads in her dreams, only to discover that it is home to alkins, half-human, half-angel beings. Suddenly Claudia is thrown into an intense battle between good and evil, and she's at the center of it all. You can read my full review of Crossroads here.

Now in honor of The Crossroads Experience Blog Tour I would like to present, Interviews With Authors: A Talk With Mary Ting!

And don't forget to check out the TWO giveaways at the bottom of the page!

A Talk With Mary Ting

Author of Crossroads

By T.B.

1) How did you get the idea to write Crossroads?

Crossroads was inspired by a dream I had in high school-chapters one and two. I also have to thank Stephenie Meyer for inspiring me. I knew that Twilight was based on her dream so I thought why not do the same with my book.

2) I’ve read that you based many of the characters and incidents in Crossroads on real people and experiences in your own life. What was it like incorporating your personal life into the book, yet still staying true to the characters and the story? Was it hard to find a balance?

Yes, this is true. I incorporate my personal life into the book, but it wasn’t hard to find a balance. I created Claudia’s world around my experiences because these experiences happened during my senior year in high school.

3) The alkins and angels have a complex history that intertwines with the fates of the humans. Was it difficult to express on paper everything that was so clear in your head?

Yes, it was difficult because I didn’t know how the readers would feel. At times, not everything was clear in my head. It wasn’t like I could research and find something that was a part of history. I had to create a world, yet it had to be realistic.

4) Crossroads was a way to help you grieve for your grandmother. Did writing Crossroads help you channel the emotion that you were feeling after your grandmother’s death into the story?

I started writing because it was a way for me to heal the loss of my grandmother. After the story ended, I cried so much. It was like all these emotions were bottle up into this story. Then it ended and I felt lost. Though I know she is with me through memories, having her part of Crossroads is a way for me to keep her alive.

5) Not only are you an author, but you are also a full time mom and wife. Is it hard to fit writing into your already busy schedule?

Also, I am a teacher. I teach kindergarten. Yes, it is so difficult to find time to write, especially when I’m trying to promote at the same time. I try to find any spare time. I even sometimes type when I’m brushing my teeth or cooking…lol!!!

6) Is there a particular reason that you chose to write a book for young adults, rather than a story for adults?

I didn’t read many books growing up. I read a lot of pictures books to my students and my own children. One day, I decided to read a book that none of my friends heard of, a black background with two hands holding an apple…sounds familiar…lol!!! Anyway, after that, I found myself drawn to young adult novels. I read as often as I could because not only where they interesting, but books also helped me relieve the everyday stress in life.

7) Are you currently working on any other books?

I am currently working on a sequel to Crossroads.

8) Angels are a large part of Crossroads. Do you think that a place such as Crossroads and beings such as angels truly exist?

I would like to say that I hope such place does exist because I dreamt it. Though I turned back and I will never know what exist there, I can only imagine. Do I believe angels truly exist? I’m not sure, but I hope they do ☺

9) Lastly, what advice would you give to any young readers who someday wish to become recognized authors?

Get all your thoughts down before you forget. Ask friends to read your draft and get feedbacks. But most importantly, believe that you can!

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf...

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

Thank you so much Mary for stopping by for the Crossroads Experience Blog Tour! Wow, that's so interesting how so much of your book was based on your dream and experiences in your personal life. I really think that makes it easier to get your story across in a way. I love your reasons for writing YA as well! I feel the exact same way, and YA books really are my escape. I'm looking forward to the sequel of Crossroads! Again, thank you so much for being a part of Interviews With Authors, and taking the time to answer my questions. Don't forget to visit the other stops on the blog tour. This was Interviews With Authors: A Talk With Mary Ting!

You can find my full review of Crossroads here.

Interested in more Interviews With Authors? Check out my Interviews With Authors page here to find more exciting interviews!

But don't click away just yet! I have TWO giveaways for you today!

Can't wait to read Crossroads now? Thanks to Mary and The Experience Tours you have a chance to win one e-book copy of Crossroads!

Now here are the rules:

-You must be 13 years of age or older
-Open Internationally!
-You DO NOT have to be a follower to enter, but following is always appreciated!
-Comments do not count as entries, but feel free to leave any if you'd like!
-Winner will be chosen by Random.org
-Giveaway ends October 15, 2011 at 11:59 PM (PST)
-Winner will be announced on October 16, 2011
-Winner must respond within 48 hours, or a new winner will be chosen

To enter all you have to do is simply fill out the form below. Good luck! But, don't leave just yet! Keep scrolling down for a chance to win a signed paperback copy of Crossroads and a Swarovski crystal heart necklace and a Crossroads bracelet!

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Mary is hosting a giveaway of her own!

You could win:

-A signed paperback copy of Crossroads

-A Swarovski crystal heart necklace

-A Crossroads bracelet

The giveaway will go on for the duration of the tour, so you have until September 28 to enter. All you have to do is fill out the form below. Good luck!

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;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Don't forget to check out the other stops of The Crossroads Experience Blog Tour, where you can read reviews, interviews, and enter giveaways!

Sept.15 : Books Ahoy (Giveaway) www.books-ahoy.blogspot.com

Sept.16 : Keeping Up with the Rheinlander's (Guest Post) http://mnmrheinlander.blogspot.com

Sept.17 : StephLikesBooks (Review & Author Interview) http://stephlikesbooks.blogspot.com

Sept.18 : Books Like Breathing (Review & Guest Post) http://bookslikebreathing.blogspot.com

Sept.19 : Jen @ A Books and A Latte (Giveaway & Guest Post) http://bookandlatte.blogspot.com

Sept.20 : Le'Grande Codex (Review, Author Interview, & Giveaway) http://le-grande-codex.blogspot.com

Sept.21 : Cup of Tea Reviews (Review & Guest Post) http://cupofteareviews.blogspot.com

Sept.22 : From the Bookshelf of T.B. (Review, Author Interview, & Giveaway) http://www.ftbotbblog.blogspot.com

Sept.23 : SeeitORreadit (Character Interview & Giveaway) http://seeitorreadit.blogspot.com

Sept.24 : After the Book (Author Interview & Giveaway) http://afterthebook.blogspot.com

Sept.25 : A Casual Reader's Blog (Review & Guest Post) www.ellsey.blogspot.com

Sept.26 : Mom Reads My Books! (Review & Giveaway) momreadsmybooks.blogspot.com

Sept.27 : YA Books: Beyond the Cover (Guest Post) http://yabooksbeyondthecover.blogspot.com

Sept.28 : The Magic Attic (Review, Character Interview, & Giveaway) www.theawesomemagicattic.blogspot.com

(The Crossroads Experience) Crossroads by Mary Ting

2011-09-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

Crossroads

Author: Mary Ting

Publisher: World Castle Publishing

4 out of 5 stars

A breeze ruffles your shirt as it sweeps by you, teasing you to follow. The air is sweet, and the sun is shining down casting a golden glow over everything it touches. You can feel the dirt and pebbles under your feet as you make your way to the fields of tall, brown grass that seem to go on endlessly for miles. You push through the grass, aimlessly walking to and fro. You aren’t quite sure where you are, but you wouldn’t mind staying here for a while. As you push aside a curtain of grass, that’s when you see him… and you know, you’ve been here before.

Claudia Emerson has no idea what her strange dreams mean, but she does know that they’re just dreams. Whatever happens in them isn’t real, and she knows that nothing in them can hurt her. Then how come her last dream felt so real? How come she feels as if it actually happened, and it wasn’t just some figment of her imagination?

Claudia’s dream took her to Crossroads, a place between heaven and earth, and life and death. Claudia isn’t quite sure how she was able to cross over, but she knows one thing for sure, she isn’t supposed to be here. After multiple dreams, and meeting two mysterious boys who insist they aren’t human, Claudia doesn’t know how much of her dreams are fantasy, or reality.

It turns out that Claudia’s dreams are much more real than she could have ever imagined. She meets Michael and his fellow alkins, who live in Halo City. Michael and his friends, aren’t human, but they aren’t angels either. They are alkins: half-human, half-angel beings that don’t fit into either world. It’s a mystery to the alkins how Claudia was able to cross over into Crossroads, but they know that the fallen will now be after her.

Michael is assigned as Claudia’s guardian angel, and the two feel drawn towards each other instantly. Michaels is supposed to protect her though, not fall in love with her. Will Michael be able to resist Claudia, and stick to his duty? Or is their love meant to be? And why do the fallen want Claudia so badly? She’s just human, isn’t she? All is revealed in Mary Ting’s debut of one girl’s struggle to exist in two worlds and protect what she loves in, Crossroads!

Crossroads is a fast-paced story that constantly had me on my toes and marveling at the endless wonders that are the alkins. Mary Ting created an intricate world, laced with deceit, lies, and everlasting rules. Crossroads was given to me by The Experience Tours as part of the Crossroads Experience Blog Tour.* Thank you so much Mary Ting and The Experience Tours for providing me with a copy of Crossroads! I recommend this book for older teens and adults who will appreciate the romance and mythology that makes this book what it is.

I really enjoyed how Crossroads had a history behind it that really helped me follow along with the story. The alkins are half-human, half-angel offspring of humans and angels. They were never meant to exist, and therefore are confined to Halo City, where they learn to develop their angel qualities. Above the alkins are the Earth angels, who roam the earth and do their best to lead humans in the right direction and guide them to the right path. The Earth angels are guided by the Twelve, a group of twelve angels who are their superiors. Above the Twelve is the Royal Council. The Royal Council is made up of the first angels, and they are the governing body that makes the rules and doles out punishments in the world of the angels. There are also some angels who rebelled and thought that angels should live alongside the humans, and these are the fallen. Things such as this class system, and the history that many of the angels and alkins had with one another truly made the story of Crossroads feel all the more real and believable.

Claudia and Michael’s romance takes up a large chunk of the book, and it was interesting to see how their love for one another conflicted with what was right and what needed to be done. Nothing could be done though, as both Michael and Claudia knew that they were meant for one another. Their love was strong and true, and it was fun to see how the alkin and the human taught one another about each of their worlds. Michael’s friend and fellow alkin, Davin, would have to be my favorite out of all of them though, with his boyish charm and witty banter.

Mary Ting did a wonderful job at making the characters in Crossroads feel like teens, in the ways that they connected and interacted so easily with one another. Sometimes the language that they used was a bit awkward, and I feel like they were very formal with one another at times. What can you expect from an angel though?

I really wished I could have gotten to have seen more of Halo City, and gotten to read about the hands-on experiences Claudia had in the world of Crossroads. There was a great deal of history behind the alkins, but I didn’t get to see very much of how they lived, or meet very many alkins outside of the ring of alkins that protected Claudia. I did get to read about how conflicted the alkins felt about being half-human and half-angel, and what it was like to be torn between two worlds. This helped me connect much better to the book, and I can’t wait to learn more about the mysterious alkins in book two!

Crossroads is an action-packed read that will have you searching for clues as to why Claudia is so special. Nothing is as it seems in this world full of deception, and the battle between good and evil. Join Claudia and Michael, as they fight to protect one another, and their love in, Crossroads!

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf…

Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

*I received Crossroads from The Experience Tours and the author, Mary Ting, in exchange for my honest review as part of The Crossroads Experience Blog Tour. Thank you so much The Experience Tours and Mary!

Stay tuned, because later today I'll have an interview with the author, Mary Ting, and TWO giveaways!
Don't forget to check out the other stops of The Crossroads Experience Blog Tour, where you can read reviews, interviews, and enter giveaways!

Sept.15 : Books Ahoy (Giveaway) www.books-ahoy.blogspot.com

Sept.16 : Keeping Up with the Rheinlander's (Guest Post) http://mnmrheinlander.blogspot.com

Sept.17 : StephLikesBooks (Review & Author Interview) http://stephlikesbooks.blogspot.com

Sept.18 : Books Like Breathing (Review & Guest Post) http://bookslikebreathing.blogspot.com

Sept.19 : Jen @ A Books and A Latte (Giveaway & Guest Post) http://bookandlatte.blogspot.com

Sept.20 : Le'Grande Codex (Review, Author Interview, & Giveaway) http://le-grande-codex.blogspot.com

Sept.21 : Cup of Tea Reviews (Review & Guest Post) http://cupofteareviews.blogspot.com

Sept.22 : From the Bookshelf of T.B. (Review, Author Interview, & Giveaway) http://www.ftbotbblog.blogspot.com

Sept.23 : SeeitORreadit (Character Interview & Giveaway) http://seeitorreadit.blogspot.com

Sept.24 : After the Book (Author Interview & Giveaway) http://afterthebook.blogspot.com

Sept.25 : A Casual Reader's Blog (Review & Guest Post) www.ellsey.blogspot.com

Sept.26 : Mom Reads My Books! (Review & Giveaway) momreadsmybooks.blogspot.com

Sept.27 : YA Books: Beyond the Cover (Guest Post) http://yabooksbeyondthecover.blogspot.com

Sept.28 : The Magic Attic (Review, Character Interview, & Giveaway) www.theawesomemagicattic.blogspot.com

Check out Mary Ting's website at www.marytingcrossroads.com.