tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097264023992684082024-03-13T12:28:32.527-04:00Kaitlyn in Bookland"What is the use of a book, without pictures or conversations?"
'Alice in Wonderland' -Lewis Carroll.
We are here to go on a literary journey. There will be ups and downs in life, but there will always be books (they may all turn digital, but they will still be there). Join me as I head into Bookland--I may never surface again.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.comBlogger260125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-81290274247920695162012-09-23T19:58:00.000-04:002012-09-23T19:58:37.588-04:00My Bookish Life in iPhone Pictures (1)<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, I have noticed that my Instagram account contains a lot of bookish pictures. I figured I would start sharing them here as well... if that is something you think you would be interested in!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Without further ado...</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYy4amL0iTml5ZmIxfhJSv3orV-VUJoRIVKIiUFpjbUUgsYia7GSiae22_7UA31EfdPMeDW8w_hb5hOlyVHD9WCslSrQdQo0FCXhRtdr3N3O5WWZvSE8kn2B899PHVypkRE5k6vjZIEI/s1600/stacks.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYy4amL0iTml5ZmIxfhJSv3orV-VUJoRIVKIiUFpjbUUgsYia7GSiae22_7UA31EfdPMeDW8w_hb5hOlyVHD9WCslSrQdQo0FCXhRtdr3N3O5WWZvSE8kn2B899PHVypkRE5k6vjZIEI/s320/stacks.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Stacks on stacks on stacks</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1uXRnp6RdtoqviZ0NNZ_oD2Iqqwikf-0Cfm69ATIaaRqRcO_dtLq0XpbgzdHqmhDWVSCo6JAevy5UGuEypwT_0BgRZTGFmj7fWJU1GRqFqshvLqYYleRN-FGgIGVblg6uK0lz1atlQg/s1600/perks.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1uXRnp6RdtoqviZ0NNZ_oD2Iqqwikf-0Cfm69ATIaaRqRcO_dtLq0XpbgzdHqmhDWVSCo6JAevy5UGuEypwT_0BgRZTGFmj7fWJU1GRqFqshvLqYYleRN-FGgIGVblg6uK0lz1atlQg/s320/perks.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Preparing for the movie!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Dq0Ef4v8zhr9XZ3IKLftMm2HVnfi8bByirhUNwmM5wjljJGN0WCYSnb2lODIkLwsXTrHIATW7hFQRRV7RQPRWVk1N_RI6v0cc6xNlcmvGrJVWvppw1pVBCavJ8yps6P_zhBlI1KtIbM/s1600/mudbloods.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Dq0Ef4v8zhr9XZ3IKLftMm2HVnfi8bByirhUNwmM5wjljJGN0WCYSnb2lODIkLwsXTrHIATW7hFQRRV7RQPRWVk1N_RI6v0cc6xNlcmvGrJVWvppw1pVBCavJ8yps6P_zhBlI1KtIbM/s320/mudbloods.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A little light reading</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3h0stE-4Vvo34_3iqtWcOjN0NPbxgyO2ZsB9ZFsBU-pkAApXPhX9LzwpHbwmNyePQZuvvYsCDak-JXJK8IIAZzgA_2ZW9qhSyDSBmMjyvgWlCzSnxfQuAxRAXosy6T2uNZJnAbubnxw/s1600/HPBooks.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3h0stE-4Vvo34_3iqtWcOjN0NPbxgyO2ZsB9ZFsBU-pkAApXPhX9LzwpHbwmNyePQZuvvYsCDak-JXJK8IIAZzgA_2ZW9qhSyDSBmMjyvgWlCzSnxfQuAxRAXosy6T2uNZJnAbubnxw/s320/HPBooks.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My lovely UK Harry Potter books, accompanied by owl bookends :)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNN_-sVaNQdOpvmP9NZZP0DNwd7WZf3-9sEbAsbFlYZ7cBv1O-5i1fBxUYx4L8apJ7NZOmDnQ4hBbuQeT-4lboqwHLyR7YOAUtwg9iiDL6o5-mgrhTaxuq_qlr558vPPrLu8EvELtP4g/s1600/bookshelf.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNN_-sVaNQdOpvmP9NZZP0DNwd7WZf3-9sEbAsbFlYZ7cBv1O-5i1fBxUYx4L8apJ7NZOmDnQ4hBbuQeT-4lboqwHLyR7YOAUtwg9iiDL6o5-mgrhTaxuq_qlr558vPPrLu8EvELtP4g/s320/bookshelf.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our new color-coded bookshelf</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bcQ0Hyl-4v7wVQpz0wbx1-r_4rE5hhVFQaWmRTYxNcbZhdjOx6KXsG0A-bZku72yNypeZ6mGxMHRKDtpD68aq_XaHOptSBogmwgamw6G3Kq5aEmGochDPBLivdtAr59dU7qROibTO-Q/s1600/audio.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bcQ0Hyl-4v7wVQpz0wbx1-r_4rE5hhVFQaWmRTYxNcbZhdjOx6KXsG0A-bZku72yNypeZ6mGxMHRKDtpD68aq_XaHOptSBogmwgamw6G3Kq5aEmGochDPBLivdtAr59dU7qROibTO-Q/s320/audio.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Audios!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcSOKqtw8oRo2I9Es4JNHFZbipVHP2kLu86pk45K0v_NwLiy0zk0gw5jJB3mZOfrZp7psO3P3MTp5vStRV6aITVcxdKgg_jfzP3uqpzSw5TUkjhDwccCib8xQgAy0uehUlnPNezEDTgU/s1600/beer.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcSOKqtw8oRo2I9Es4JNHFZbipVHP2kLu86pk45K0v_NwLiy0zk0gw5jJB3mZOfrZp7psO3P3MTp5vStRV6aITVcxdKgg_jfzP3uqpzSw5TUkjhDwccCib8xQgAy0uehUlnPNezEDTgU/s320/beer.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Perfect combo</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-21637480746006096842012-09-21T19:58:00.000-04:002012-09-21T19:58:41.623-04:00Hogwarts, A History<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I just got back from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and... it's amazing! Absolutely 100% wonderful. I thought I would share the photobook I made with all of you. I'm so excited to get it!</span><br />
<br />
<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab" height="425" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-ui.swf"/><param name="flashvars" value="configXMLURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/config/config-share.xml&slideshowModuleURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-module.swf&projectGUID=0AcNG7Ju2buGmuLA&swfName=slideshowFlashContent&showReplay=true"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="quality" value="best"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><embed width="425" height="425" align="middle" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" name="wrapper" quality="best" menu="false" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="configXMLURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/config/config-share.xml&slideshowModuleURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-module.swf&projectGUID=0AcNG7Ju2buGmuLA&swfName=slideshowFlashContent&showReplay=true" src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-ui.swf"></embed></object><br />
<div style="margin-top: 0; text-align: center; width: 425px;">
<a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AcNG7Ju2buGjjY&eid=118">Click here to view this photo book larger</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0; text-align: center; width: 425px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 425px;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-45268872223598445012012-08-03T06:00:00.000-04:002012-08-03T08:19:49.315-04:00Authors Are Rockstars Tour: Gabrielle Zevin Guest Post and Giveaway<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7qPs7HrxtiYkdvo2pLXmMGxwVUAbdZ4k4Y1fF2Q81HCI3dgBSxdxEuh06w5bisozgRxXg85oLbzzeo6UhRVwBAhgYDN4bk-89S5Bp8ssMwNPklkLIrrqCgn6bDUS4D5rSwniUGDKpQ0/s1600/GabrielleZevin.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7qPs7HrxtiYkdvo2pLXmMGxwVUAbdZ4k4Y1fF2Q81HCI3dgBSxdxEuh06w5bisozgRxXg85oLbzzeo6UhRVwBAhgYDN4bk-89S5Bp8ssMwNPklkLIrrqCgn6bDUS4D5rSwniUGDKpQ0/s1600/GabrielleZevin.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As a part of the <a href="http://www.fiktshun.com/fiktshun/2012/07/19/authors-are-rockstars-on-tour/" target="_blank">Authors Are Rockstars Tour</a> (hosted by <a href="http://www.fiktshun.com/" target="_blank">Fiktshun</a> and <a href="http://www.twochicksonbooks.com/" target="_blank">Two Chicks On Books</a>), I get to host Gabrielle Zevin today in Bookland! Wooooo!</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why do I think Gabrielle Zevin is a rockstar? Well, it's obvious... isn't it? I absolutely adored her book, <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9858517-all-these-things-i-ve-done" target="_blank">All These Things I've Done</a> </i>and seriously cannot wait for <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13163011-because-it-is-my-blood" target="_blank">Because It Is My Blood</a></i>. The main character, Anya, is an incredibly real character. She is completely flawed, but that is what makes her so amazing. I truly appreciate when an author is able to create a flawed character that ends up being really likable... and Gabrielle Zevin does just that!</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also, whoever is able to imagine a world where chocolate and coffee are illegal is completely amazing to me. I would not even want to think about a world like that, let alone spend so much time crafting the world and writing about it. Seriously.. if you can get me to love a book where coffee (which may as well be my lifeline) is illegal, you're a rockstar! </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now you can read Gabrielle's awesome guest post. :) (And Gabrielle was super rockstar-like in that she is including a giveaway too (which is international)!</span><br />
_______________________________________________________<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>On Hair and Hair-oines!</u></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, full disclosure. I have Anya Balanchine’s hair as described in All These Things I’ve Done. It is long, voluminous, dark, curly, and in the absence of product and the presence of humidity, occasionally prone to frizz. (One of the things that truly scares me about the future world of ATTID is not the fact that chocolate is illegal, but that hair products are rationed.) My hair blows out and flatirons well, and I’d say I do that maybe twenty percent of the time. At this moment, I am a couple of days into a flatiron and it’s slightly wavy, like straight hair that’s been to the beach. I’m prettier than I can even stand. (I jest!) In general though, I like my hair au naturel, and I’ve never wanted to become one of those women who treated curls like they were a plague to be eradicated by any means necessary. The reason I like my hair is because it is the perfect combination of my mom’s hair and my dad’s hair. Mom is Korean; Dad is of Jewish/Russian descent. And my hair looks like hair that comes from those people, those backgrounds. I like those people. I like that background. I like my hair.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It annoys me in movies or books when the nerdy girl gets “pretty” and the way we know that she’s “pretty” is that her once curly hair has become super straight. Exhibit A: Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries. Exhibit B: When Hermione goes to the ball in Harry Potter. (Don’t even get me started on the evolution of Hermione’s hair in the movies…) You know what I’m talking about. The subtext of these moments is that a girl cannot have naturally curly hair and be attractive. Is the bravest thing about Brave the fact that Merida is unabashedly curly? </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In writing, the selection of a character’s hair is no small matter. (Dare I say it is a hairy matter?) Certainly, there is an extent to which hair determines character. Would Anne Shirley be Anne Shirley without the red hair? Perhaps it’s a cliché, but the red hair symbolizes her outsider-ness, her specialness, her very Anne-ness. The inciting incident for her relationship to Gilbert Blythe is the moment when he insults her hair, calling her “Carrots!” Consider Daisy Buchanan in Gatsby. We think of her as a blond, but her hair actually changes colors throughout Fitzgerald’s descriptions. These shifting descriptions are no accident.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But as a writer, why I really think hair is important is because it’s one of the few things in life that a person can easily change. For the most part, if you want to be a redhead, you will be a redhead. If you want to have pink hair or blue hair, you will. Hair is not destiny in the same way that, say, height is. Hair color and style speak to the place and time one lives in, one’s health, one’s religion, one’s style, the style of one’s mate or parents or friends, I could go on. Hair can have intent in it or discontent, too. This is to say, we learn a lot about a character from the way he or she wears (or is made to wear) their hair. </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After name, hair is one of the first decisions I make about a character. Elizabeth Hall in Elsewhere was blond and blue-eyed. It was my first novel, and in retrospect, I think I needed her to look as differently from me as possible so that I could be freer in my writing. With blond hair and blue eyes, there was no chance anyone would mistake her for me, which allowed me to be more emotionally open. In Margarettown, one of my novels for adults, the male narrator thinks Margaret Towne is red-haired but later in the book, it is revealed that she has been dyeing her hair the entire time. The hair becomes a symbol for all the things the male narrator doesn’t know about his beloved. On the various foreign jackets, sometimes Margaret is depicted as a blond, sometimes as a redhead. I find this very appropriate. In Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac, Naomi wakes up in an ambulance as a bottle blond whose roots are showing, and this ought to tell you pretty much everything you need to know about her character.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last year, my publisher decided to re-jacket All These Things I’ve Done. Despite the fact that covers with girls on them are as common as iPhones, I was not all that upset when the new concept included a photographic depiction of the main character. While I had liked the original hardcover concept very much, I had strongly objected to the copy on the front. The copy had spelled out the world (“Chocolate is contraband; caffeine is illegal,” etc.), which I felt emphasized the wrong thing for readers as they approached the book. All These Things I’ve Done is a book about a deeply flawed girl, Anya Balanchine, not a world, and I hoped (hope!) that the new jacket would let readers know that they would be reading a novel that emphasized character. Furthermore, I liked the girl on the jacket. She was strong looking, not too pretty or girly, a little bit Lisbeth Salander. Of course, I did have to point out to my publisher that the cover model’s hair did not match the description of Anya Balanchine’s hair in All These Things… but no one seemed to think it was a problem. And as I thought about it, it wasn’t a problem for me either. The girl they chose captures something of Anya’s spirit. Ultimately, I think this is more important than if the model had the right hair. Although I’ve spent the last thousand words or so telling you how important hair is, I also think book characters are MORE than just hairstyles. Hair is a fine place to start, but if it doesn’t speak to a character’s situation, I won’t write it into a book at all. Not to put to fine a point on it but women are more than just hairstyles, too. Judge me by the content of my character not the quality of my flatiron, you know?</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Incidentally, by the end of the series, Anya will have a hairstyle very much like the one on the jacket. Most women don’t have the same hairstyles their whole lives, after all. Anya is a sixteen-year-old high school girl in book one, but she will be in her twenties and in a very different place in her life by the end of the series. Not to mention, she has always been a retrospective narrator, telling the story from some future place and time, after all. In the future, Anya’s hair will look exactly like the girl on the jacket’s, I promise.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">___________________________________________________</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Giveaway Details:</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-International (thanks to Gabrielle!)</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-You must be 13 or older to enter</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Ends at 11:59pm EST on August 31, 2012</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Winner will be chosen through Rafflecopter</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Winner will be announced here and emailed</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Winner will have 48 hours after notification to respond with their details or prize will be forfeit and awarded to someone else</span><br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b9829c2/" id="rc-b9829c2" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js">
</script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com76tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-82232800422878910782012-07-31T21:21:00.000-04:002012-07-31T21:21:59.569-04:00Ashfall by Mike Mullin Review<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Title: </b><i>Ashfall (Ashfall #1)</i></span><br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Author: </b>Mike Mullin</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Genre: </b>Young Adult, Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Page Count: </b>466 pages</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Publish Date: </b>October 11, 2011</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Book Type: </b>Kindle galley from Netgalley </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: </b>Tanglewood Press</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>ISBN: </b>9781933718552</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoptoPPT1zzcAINiKWeXzC6IyG4XjuLTwXIRdMO2BYZHis-8gEzntPi0i1GTihw2uFMqSF3JoCHGpzphVwHG4sNiA7dn0_mYDtjfwl1Uk1yiiKjW_0KlVr-RAv7CtuSNPDOKJaQuSDwk/s1600/ashfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoptoPPT1zzcAINiKWeXzC6IyG4XjuLTwXIRdMO2BYZHis-8gEzntPi0i1GTihw2uFMqSF3JoCHGpzphVwHG4sNiA7dn0_mYDtjfwl1Uk1yiiKjW_0KlVr-RAv7CtuSNPDOKJaQuSDwk/s320/ashfall.jpg" width="208" /></a> </div>
</div>
<div class="p4">
<blockquote style="background-color: lightgrey; border: 2px solid #666; padding: 10px;">
<br />
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>From <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9644151-ashfall" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>: </i></b><i>Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don't know it's there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet.</i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives. When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new world in which disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people desperate for food, water, and warmth. With a combination of nonstop action, a little romance, and very real science, this is a story that is difficult to stop reading and even more difficult to forget.</i></span></div>
</blockquote>
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i></i></b></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My Review: </b>Oh I really enjoyed this book. One thing is for certain, if I was in Alex’s situation, I would totally be dead. What he went through was absolutely awful. I cannot imagine having to go through any of that. While this was a long book, the pacing was done very well, so it never felt like a long book--if that makes sense.</span><br />
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was amazed, but I guess not that surprised, at how quickly the society crumbled. In <i>Ashfall</i>, there were the people who completely fell apart, the people who thrived, and then everyone else who were sort of in between. It was very interesting to see how the people a greater distance away from the supervolcano were handling it. I don’t want to say too much, because I think this is one that you should read for yourself, but the character development was pretty exceptional. </span><br />
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of my favorite aspects of this book was that I felt like I was really learning some survival skills while reading. I could definitely tell that Mike Mullin did his research, so I can’t wait to see what new skills Alex and the gang learn throughout the rest of the series. [Does anyone know if this is a planned trilogy? More? Just two?]</span><br />
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m so glad I have <i>Ashen Winter</i> waiting for me on my Kindle - I’m not sure I could wait until fall to read it!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" /></a></div>
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-43982403320579552492012-06-26T19:26:00.000-04:002012-06-26T19:26:53.725-04:00Delirium by Lauren Oliver Review<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">Title: </b><i style="background-color: white;">Delirium (Delirium #1)</i></span><br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Author: </b>Lauren Oliver</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Genre: </b>Young Adult, Dystopian</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Page Count: </b>480 pages</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Publish Date: </b>January 1, 2011</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Book Type: </b>Kindle Special Edition</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: </b>HarperCollins Publishers</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>ISBN: </b>9780061726828</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>ASIN: </b>B00526ZKYS</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Sgo-BNNRcn5clbiKncWRO5IR7nNU-0We2UKWbBmUREF3tsgMrDwUfYnxmSHdoLP7cH47xODFfMSP9Aqz0yCCGNEUqEpDXleyJd4WrN5B02BL4a8KbfxtSiZqxQCzBoQ70PW1zycb2o4/s1600/delirium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Sgo-BNNRcn5clbiKncWRO5IR7nNU-0We2UKWbBmUREF3tsgMrDwUfYnxmSHdoLP7cH47xODFfMSP9Aqz0yCCGNEUqEpDXleyJd4WrN5B02BL4a8KbfxtSiZqxQCzBoQ70PW1zycb2o4/s320/delirium.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<blockquote style="background-color: lightgrey; border: 2px solid #666; padding: 10px;">
<br />
<div class="p3">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>From <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10232734-delirium" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>:</i></b></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p3">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.</i></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p2">
<i><span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></i></div>
<div class="p3">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.</i></span></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My Review: </b>I think I can pretty much say that I adore Lauren Oliver’s writing. First, <i><a href="http://kaitlyninbookland.blogspot.com/2010/08/before-i-fall-by-lauren-oliver-review.html" target="_blank">Before I Fall</a> </i>and now <i>Delirium. </i>I need to read the sequel like yesterday. To me, Oliver has a very poetic style of writing. I don’t know if that’s the right word, but it flows so well and it is somewhat elegant. Plus, both of her books that I have read were emotionally heavy. They sat with me for a very long time.</span><br />
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also enjoy that Oliver really tries to have all of her characters have flaws. It can get kind of tiring reading about perfect characters, but you won’t really find that in <i>Delirium</i>... and it’s awesome. I am really anxious to see what some of my favorite characters are up to in <i>Pandemonium</i>. I should say anxious/scared. You’ll understand what I’m saying once you finish it. </span><br />
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I feel like this review is super short, but I'm finding it really hard to say much without giving everything away. I'll leave it at awesome character development, fabulous world building, and beautiful writing.</span><br />
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I probably don’t need to tell you this, but you should read this book now. Warning: The ending is KILLER.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTUloagqKL9qSrILASAKPvdDPdG0mCO-RbAypbXIHt6I1AQBiifQQFt5AhbMH3h9rZVSNu7qsp2isWjXK2hgMTfAzuiX0QU6pssAsfVr7-2i1s5lBOOhNhOESaKpyyKdJbkkTjf_idas/s1600/signature+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTUloagqKL9qSrILASAKPvdDPdG0mCO-RbAypbXIHt6I1AQBiifQQFt5AhbMH3h9rZVSNu7qsp2isWjXK2hgMTfAzuiX0QU6pssAsfVr7-2i1s5lBOOhNhOESaKpyyKdJbkkTjf_idas/s1600/signature+2.png" /></a></div>
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-66233889162133255992012-06-19T19:58:00.000-04:002012-06-19T19:58:15.528-04:00'A'+ Fashion on Pretty Little Liars<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love how each Little Liar has their own distinct fashion sense. My favorite of all of them has to be Spencer! Whether she is wearing a preppy cardigan or a sweater with a horse on it, I always love it.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVivOVGXyJ0LMLhgOnmtQpZ152TaC_bC28Ce9f-iPJ10RBxy0NPhxh11zYqsjypLe_1Dst4vFYyZh9btnVkykw-BbVSPlZWPlAexfeLuTp-gIKLx6ceZUShj1qN7ysVgUO6izBv_X8gHE/s1600/spencer1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVivOVGXyJ0LMLhgOnmtQpZ152TaC_bC28Ce9f-iPJ10RBxy0NPhxh11zYqsjypLe_1Dst4vFYyZh9btnVkykw-BbVSPlZWPlAexfeLuTp-gIKLx6ceZUShj1qN7ysVgUO6izBv_X8gHE/s320/spencer1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the best. coat. ever. I want it! Plus, those boots are pretty awesome.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnMkQsYw6R6fUofXdgY8hxbWbsr9863DAZDkGPl5hyphenhyphenOiUSEqsE5LA_E5YKv5Y3ogFvPniEEYCGjw_0YDKALq9te3Yrl8SboLWyWtkwhIr4JvFBfmvWifRi1fSFdOMRlsqIYmlvt3zwTQ/s1600/spencer2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnMkQsYw6R6fUofXdgY8hxbWbsr9863DAZDkGPl5hyphenhyphenOiUSEqsE5LA_E5YKv5Y3ogFvPniEEYCGjw_0YDKALq9te3Yrl8SboLWyWtkwhIr4JvFBfmvWifRi1fSFdOMRlsqIYmlvt3zwTQ/s320/spencer2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This skirt and sweater combo. I die.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvWq3FKx3_UcyY3p9z-eG5L0-sT-6RXcsjfEdUbilKX4WtfMUPVjbMa9a8HtvpsSStXCDxIp6U6IsGQowSSPIJI-yo1W5zI12ImZYADZGAkVPKmwVJdlCfxLYJ5lHLnyhmNRf4-H-qUI/s1600/spencer3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvWq3FKx3_UcyY3p9z-eG5L0-sT-6RXcsjfEdUbilKX4WtfMUPVjbMa9a8HtvpsSStXCDxIp6U6IsGQowSSPIJI-yo1W5zI12ImZYADZGAkVPKmwVJdlCfxLYJ5lHLnyhmNRf4-H-qUI/s320/spencer3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This dress is super preppy, but I love it.</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can buy Season 2 on <a href="http://bit.ly/KOAkwO" target="_blank">DVD</a> and watch Season 3 on Tuesdays at 8/7c on ABC Family! Obsessed.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">I have been hired by Warner Bros WBWord division to raise awareness for Pretty Little Liars.</span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-58783114176653383482012-06-12T18:47:00.000-04:002012-06-12T18:47:47.244-04:00Got 'A' Secret...Can You Keep It?<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Got 'A' secret, can you keep it? There will be spoilers for Season 2 of Pretty Little Liars in this post. You have been warned!</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the Season 2 finale of Pretty Little Liars, we found out who ‘A’ was (at least one of them...). ‘A’ has tormented the Little Liars since the very beginning of Season 1. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s funny, I can remember the exact moment that I pegged Mona as being ‘A.’ It was in the very first episode of Season 1. As soon as I saw Mona in a flashback chasing after Aria and Alison on a scooter, I sent my friend a text message that said, “Scooter girl is A.” Go me!</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think it was just the way she was so desperately chasing after the Little Liars. There were also little hints dropped throughout the show - especially Season 2. You know, even though she was awful to the girls, I still feel bad for Mona. Especially because it’s pretty much guaranteed that she is not working alone. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did you guess who ‘A’ was before the big reveal? I have to admit... I was kind of hoping Ezra was ‘A’! Perhaps he will turn out to be part of the A-Team...</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can buy <a href="http://bit.ly/KOAkwO" target="_blank">Season 2 on DVD</a> and catch up now - the second episode of PLL airs tonight (Tuesday) at 8/7c on ABC Family! </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Pkx21VAg-lwxULsLDefVtQyxJqkcLcqs0a0XR81kAlXtIkbP-Qkm3DDy9c6aIoJM8-S0RXug47oCQ4nsMX6neK7DXZhaH77Bt200HIuh46EP8TmU31via9T2Iu8PMoH_EkmbJsyz_vc/s1600/PLL+Season+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Pkx21VAg-lwxULsLDefVtQyxJqkcLcqs0a0XR81kAlXtIkbP-Qkm3DDy9c6aIoJM8-S0RXug47oCQ4nsMX6neK7DXZhaH77Bt200HIuh46EP8TmU31via9T2Iu8PMoH_EkmbJsyz_vc/s320/PLL+Season+2.jpg" width="289" /></a></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today is also the last day for the <a href="http://findtheprettylittlelies.com/" target="_blank">Find the Pretty Little Lies</a> promotion! Woo go win some good stuff!</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">I have been hired by Warner Bros WBWord division to raise awareness for Pretty Little Liars.</span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-46272798384270845362012-06-11T00:00:00.000-04:002012-06-11T00:00:00.574-04:00June is Audiobook Month Blog Hop and Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvPqW93uR9txnCTS2-tg_SDF647j2lcH5KDBv5j-UorzWxMVMOEHoV9Mh9_BSUADMOCRWorNnH_gtzTZVQRrGJH6-t0IMptGtMm69LX0xiKsFuvFvd0KyJ_ru23ZPXkL9O7G1fVg8s9w/s1600/Audiobook+Blog+Hop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvPqW93uR9txnCTS2-tg_SDF647j2lcH5KDBv5j-UorzWxMVMOEHoV9Mh9_BSUADMOCRWorNnH_gtzTZVQRrGJH6-t0IMptGtMm69LX0xiKsFuvFvd0KyJ_ru23ZPXkL9O7G1fVg8s9w/s400/Audiobook+Blog+Hop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;">Hey there Audiobook fans! Welcome to the JIAM Giveaway Hop hosted by</span> <a href="http://readingteen.net/" target="_blank">ReadingTeen.net</a><span style="color: #660000;">. I'm really excited to be participating. Within the past year or so, I've become addicted to audiobooks. They're awesome to listen to in the car or right before bed.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To celebrate "June is Audiobook Month" I'm joining together with some awesome blogs to bring you this JIAM Giveaway Hop! Each blog will be giving away at least one amazing audiobook, so make sure you check them all out! This blog hop ends June 15th at midnight. You may be wondering what I'm giving away. Here in Bookland, you have the chance to win one <b><i>Hunted: A House of Night Novel </i>by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast audiobook</b>! I may throw in some other book swag too if I have any sitting around since we're supposed to announce the winners soon after the giveaway ends and I will have to wait until Sunday [because my best friend is getting married this weekend! SQUEE!] This giveaway is open to people from the US only - sorry!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<hr />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/" id="rc-b9829c1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a Rafflecopter giveaway</span></a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js">
</script>
<br />
<hr />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's a list of the blogs participating:
</span><script type="text/javascript">
document.write('<script type="text/javascript" src=http://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=157783&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>');
</script><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-66879077283724741052012-06-05T23:59:00.000-04:002012-06-05T23:59:00.961-04:00ArmchairBEA Day 3: Beer and YA Lit Chat?<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yeah. These things may not really go together usually, but I think it sounds like an amazing time. Today is the third day of <a href="http://www.armchairbea.com/" target="_blank">ArmchairBEA</a> and the suggested topic is to talk about a real life experience with books. Well, last year I discussed <a href="http://kaitlyninbookland.blogspot.com/2011/05/armchair-bea-book-blogging.html" target="_blank">meeting Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl</a> at ComicCon, so I couldn’t write about that again. Authors don’t really visit Pittsburgh much... so that is shot as well. Hm. Shot, you say?</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYvi08y-DySJ5Rx6IMDIveU6_X_m71RSDOni_75kYIS97r8bzd4eRm68r6fyIZFTlhMJRBMMo1_IsSIxq7Tu1BuIvUWPdH7TnNay-VEdQomh980Niwa9KzKOMd2OSHR9iAl8Mf1EoJys/s1600/50th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYvi08y-DySJ5Rx6IMDIveU6_X_m71RSDOni_75kYIS97r8bzd4eRm68r6fyIZFTlhMJRBMMo1_IsSIxq7Tu1BuIvUWPdH7TnNay-VEdQomh980Niwa9KzKOMd2OSHR9iAl8Mf1EoJys/s320/50th.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since my friends and I are more on the adult side of young adult, we have frequently discussed going to the bar, having a beer or two, and discussing YA lit. Clearly we would talk about the swoon-worthy boys in YA books. Am I right or am I right?</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibx1WCWjbjv0sUbj9P2jDZ8_raHX-JCuqSwOdfudRtpGWoUx_B7iW0Saf858xr81dkb9ecMpOgAiGPdXo_RfcLS1P5dAjXR93HlNgxK1T05WYY2v9rc2BQnGRrZkMB27xjI2ao_uc-7MA/s1600/197475_604764665260_65905242_33038718_380150_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibx1WCWjbjv0sUbj9P2jDZ8_raHX-JCuqSwOdfudRtpGWoUx_B7iW0Saf858xr81dkb9ecMpOgAiGPdXo_RfcLS1P5dAjXR93HlNgxK1T05WYY2v9rc2BQnGRrZkMB27xjI2ao_uc-7MA/s320/197475_604764665260_65905242_33038718_380150_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We often say that these boys give us unrealistic expectations for “real guys.” Whatevs. That’s why we’re going to the bar to discuss books. We’re cool like that. So, what I guess I’m trying to say is you should probably join in our YA lit chats at the bar. You can do it at your local bar with your friends... or come visit us if you’re in the area. Other popular topics include television (Veronica Mars, One Tree Hill, Pretty Little Liars), movies...and the boys in them. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Join us and make us not as lame as we actually are. You could also tell me all about your chats. I would probably love that.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-9999621048953115942012-06-04T23:59:00.000-04:002012-06-04T23:59:00.774-04:00ArmchairBEA Day 2: Giveaway Day!<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy ArmchairBEA giveaway day! Hopefully Rafflecopter works. It also took me 800 years to determine what the prize would be. I can always be persuaded to change it to something much cooler/something else if you already own the deliciousness that I’m offering. How about we get to what you actually came here for, yeah?</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I decided to let the winners choose which book they would like to win out of my favorite books I have read so far this year (that doesn't necessarily mean they were released this year). Each of the winners will have their choice of one of the following from The Book Depository: </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZ4VM7uNEeZnhYcR571sigw2aZ4Lw1DJRCPBp-cle7NZIP5d2i2A9mJCiMZ_dXtTm5o477-paQx2GQFHASgqyuAoHO64VPXyIwOpipsVbiaVwO4JpEIyFL9CqmRMGop4NUV8ZX-n5NsQ/s1600/the+immortal+rules.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZ4VM7uNEeZnhYcR571sigw2aZ4Lw1DJRCPBp-cle7NZIP5d2i2A9mJCiMZ_dXtTm5o477-paQx2GQFHASgqyuAoHO64VPXyIwOpipsVbiaVwO4JpEIyFL9CqmRMGop4NUV8ZX-n5NsQ/s200/the+immortal+rules.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUJCJHt-aZ3JCXKwFkFWgRGzW8a8L9cfjB53ugGmgZpDxFYMliQWBdqdNdASOPdQJ3LdMDz06828pvPhj9llbqkI6iyLC3uOiiT7_WRryyGM2VteLcYMp15uDHT8Z-23MYgp8W46YDsk/s1600/the+girl+in+the+clockwork+collar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUJCJHt-aZ3JCXKwFkFWgRGzW8a8L9cfjB53ugGmgZpDxFYMliQWBdqdNdASOPdQJ3LdMDz06828pvPhj9llbqkI6iyLC3uOiiT7_WRryyGM2VteLcYMp15uDHT8Z-23MYgp8W46YDsk/s200/the+girl+in+the+clockwork+collar.jpg" width="146" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDex-j2cIcm6kr-2uRi3N-40mcFf_up8WCcWDd1rWCMzuTFCWdG3ePqoZ_C5WKFJUctFmgd44xO10h__tL-p2cNIIkxF4KDjRSl6qrHwmHu4mPr1Bn9yo8aizCBB1kE1LWBvjuQBN2ZZk/s1600/goddess+interrupted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDex-j2cIcm6kr-2uRi3N-40mcFf_up8WCcWDd1rWCMzuTFCWdG3ePqoZ_C5WKFJUctFmgd44xO10h__tL-p2cNIIkxF4KDjRSl6qrHwmHu4mPr1Bn9yo8aizCBB1kE1LWBvjuQBN2ZZk/s200/goddess+interrupted.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5Rri1DJp6bZKgFnrEqFXBjFSpQtyQC8cI5KYarteM1C_Lo5aQmKJ-iC2-Sd-1NOTZD-G_Yz5CM74aoi8mjNVkqnV1uMjI2AR8FEWO_Vki8a1e-kI9bAFsfDoLvmFMIuSvFaaspGk4H4/s1600/city+of+fallen+angels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5Rri1DJp6bZKgFnrEqFXBjFSpQtyQC8cI5KYarteM1C_Lo5aQmKJ-iC2-Sd-1NOTZD-G_Yz5CM74aoi8mjNVkqnV1uMjI2AR8FEWO_Vki8a1e-kI9bAFsfDoLvmFMIuSvFaaspGk4H4/s200/city+of+fallen+angels.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://kaitlyninbookland.blogspot.com/2012/05/immortal-rules-by-julie-kagawa-review.html" target="_blank">The Immortal Rules</a> </i>by Julie Kagawa</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://kaitlyninbookland.blogspot.com/2012/05/girl-in-clockwork-collar-by-kady-cross.html" target="_blank">The Girl in the Clockwork Collar</a> </i>by Kady Cross</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://kaitlyninbookland.blogspot.com/2012/04/city-of-fallen-angels-by-cassandra.html" target="_blank">City of Fallen Angels</a> </i>by Cassandra Clare</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://kaitlyninbookland.blogspot.com/2012/05/goddess-interrupted-by-aimee-carter.html" target="_blank">Goddess Interrupted</a> </i>by Aimee Carter</span></div>
<blockquote style="background-color: lightgrey; border: 2px solid #666; padding: 10px;">
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The rules:</b><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span>This giveaway is open to people 13 years old or older from anywhere The Book Depository ships.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The giveaway will be open from Midnight EST June 5, 2012 to 12:01am EST June 11, 2012.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Only one entry (not counting the multiple that are on the form) per person.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There will be TWO winners - chosen by Rafflecopter.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Winners will be announced here and contacted by email.</span> </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Winners will have 48 hours to respond or someone new will be chosen. Wah.</span></b></span></li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/" id="rc-b9829c0">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js">
</script>
<br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Good luck my dear friends!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com154tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-45740029501429082512012-06-04T21:31:00.000-04:002012-06-04T21:31:57.336-04:00Pretty Little Liars is Back Tomorrow!<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had always heard about the Pretty Little Liars books, but never read them until the show came out. About three minutes into the first episode, I made a guess as to who “A” was. Me being me, I had to check the books out from the library to see if I was right. I totally was. What I did not guess was the “A” that comes around in the second story arc. That took me completely by surprise and I’m really excited to see if they keep that storyline for the television show. I'm almost all caught up with the books--I think I just have the most recent one and the one full of short stories. I must check them out from the library this summer. They're perfect summer reads!</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you think you’re the ultimate Pretty Little Liars fan then make sure to participate in the online promotion ‘<a href="http://www.findtheprettylittlelies.com/" target="_blank">Find the Pretty Little Lies</a>.’ The winner of this online promotion that was created exclusively for fans of PLL will not only get ultimate bragging rights, but will walk away with a Heather Belle purse. Plus some other super awesome goodies. This is the last week of the promotion and what you have to do is watch the video below, find the four-word mystery phrase, and then enter it on the Find the Pretty Little Lies site! Do you think you've got what it takes?</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can also check out Season 2 on <a href="http://bit.ly/KOAkwO" target="_blank">DVD</a> to prepare for the premiere of Season 3 tomorrow night! YAY!</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="250" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JDXcob1wjXM?fs=1" width="350"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Good luck! I hope one of us wins. Let me know if you do and I will be forever jealous. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTUloagqKL9qSrILASAKPvdDPdG0mCO-RbAypbXIHt6I1AQBiifQQFt5AhbMH3h9rZVSNu7qsp2isWjXK2hgMTfAzuiX0QU6pssAsfVr7-2i1s5lBOOhNhOESaKpyyKdJbkkTjf_idas/s1600/signature+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTUloagqKL9qSrILASAKPvdDPdG0mCO-RbAypbXIHt6I1AQBiifQQFt5AhbMH3h9rZVSNu7qsp2isWjXK2hgMTfAzuiX0QU6pssAsfVr7-2i1s5lBOOhNhOESaKpyyKdJbkkTjf_idas/s1600/signature+2.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">I have been hired by Warner Bros WBWord division to raise awareness for Pretty Little Liars.</span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-75537409071560177572012-06-04T08:00:00.000-04:002012-06-04T08:00:00.879-04:00Armchair BEA Day 1: Introductions/Interviews<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Welcome to the first day of <a href="http://www.armchairbea.com/" target="_blank">Armchair BEA</a>! I had so much fun last year and I'm excited to participate again this year. The first day is for interviews and this year our task was to interview ourselves and then visit as many other interviews as possible. I'll be visiting everyone else's later in the day! Here is me... interviewing me...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-Grw5QY5GBJxzrGqM53JLnkQeCYBvE2bmy4La7edlzKlMP7zcIWZSxfSwzzEbHwAImJ8duumFOWGnlgp-cthxbLAvXLD4MnnIDPgMYZmx3ab_KzTc1OAKJbT9FlHtzt2w514hDy0E4Y/s1600/kaitlyn.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-Grw5QY5GBJxzrGqM53JLnkQeCYBvE2bmy4La7edlzKlMP7zcIWZSxfSwzzEbHwAImJ8duumFOWGnlgp-cthxbLAvXLD4MnnIDPgMYZmx3ab_KzTc1OAKJbT9FlHtzt2w514hDy0E4Y/s200/kaitlyn.png" width="199" /></a></div>
<blockquote style="background-color: lightgrey; border: 2px solid #666; padding: 10px;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?</b></span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hi all! My name is Kaitlyn [obviously]. I’ve been blogging since July 2010--my two year is approaching! I started blogging because I’m obsessed with reading and was kind of bored waiting for grad school to start. Grad school has also been the reason behind my many blog hiatuses, but I’m graduating in August. Holla. No one can quite understand how excited I am. Well, maybe you can.. who am I to judge? But how about we just leave it at I’m really excited. </span><br />
<blockquote style="background-color: lightgrey; border: 2px solid #666; padding: 10px;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Hey Kaitlyn, what literary location would you most like to visit? Why?</b></span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, you know I would like to visit Hogwarts/Hogsmeade/Diagon Alley. I obviously want to eat a chocolate frog, get a wand, and say what’s up to Harry, Ron and Hermione. Mayhaps I’ll get to do a few of these things when I visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter this fall. Join me! </span><br />
<blockquote style="background-color: lightgrey; border: 2px solid #666; padding: 10px;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>So, Kaitlyn, even though everyone probably knows the answer to this question, if you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why?</b></span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why, Kaitlyn... that is a good question. I know it might be obvious, but I would love to have dinner with J.K. Rowling. Why? Because she is the Queen. She is honestly one of the most interesting people ever to walk the Earth. The details in her stories are amazing. All hail J.K. Rowling.<i> [I swear I’m going to try to make these not all about Harry Potter, but I fail so hard.]</i> </span><br />
<blockquote style="background-color: lightgrey; border: 2px solid #666; padding: 10px;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>What is your favorite part about the book blogging community? Is there anything that you would like to see change in the coming years?</b></span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That’s a really great question, Kaitlyn. Even better than the last. My favorite part of the book blogging community is how amazing everyone seems to be. Other book bloggers are really nice, authors are so cool [especially on Twitter], and people from the publishing companies are really welcoming as well. If there is anything that I would like to see change, it would be for people to say smell ya to the drama. I haven’t been a part of any of it, but I’ve seen plenty of it happening. How about we just hang out and chat books? Yeah? </span><br />
<blockquote style="background-color: lightgrey; border: 2px solid #666; padding: 10px;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Finally, what are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2012?</b></span></blockquote>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, well. I’m reading <i>Hourglass</i> by Myra McEntire on my Kindle right now, <i>My Soul to Lose </i>by Rachel Vincent on audiobook, and some school books that no one really cares about in print. I’m enjoying them all [yes, even the school books]. My favorite book of the year so far was probably <i><a href="http://kaitlyninbookland.blogspot.com/2012/05/immortal-rules-by-julie-kagawa-review.html" target="_blank">The Immortal Rules</a> </i>by Julie Kagawa. Excellent world building.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for interviewing me, Kaitlyn! No problem, Kaitlyn. Any questions for me? Leave them in the comments! You are all my favorites. I hope you stick around for the rest of the week. Or forever. That's cool too.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-71673933717687338472012-05-28T21:16:00.000-04:002012-05-28T21:16:07.961-04:00The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa Review<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Title: </b><i>The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1)</i></span><br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Author: </b>Julie Kagawa <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jkagawa" target="_blank">@Jkagawa</a></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Genre: </b>Young Adult, Vampire, Dystopian, Post Apocalyptic</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Page Count: </b>480 pages</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Publish Date: </b>April 24, 2012</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Book Type: </b>Kindle galley from Netgalley, Signed Hardcover</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: </b>Harlequin Teen <a href="http://www.twitter.com/harlequinteen" target="_blank">@HarlequinTeen</a></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>ISBN: </b>9780373210510</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZ4VM7uNEeZnhYcR571sigw2aZ4Lw1DJRCPBp-cle7NZIP5d2i2A9mJCiMZ_dXtTm5o477-paQx2GQFHASgqyuAoHO64VPXyIwOpipsVbiaVwO4JpEIyFL9CqmRMGop4NUV8ZX-n5NsQ/s1600/the+immortal+rules.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZ4VM7uNEeZnhYcR571sigw2aZ4Lw1DJRCPBp-cle7NZIP5d2i2A9mJCiMZ_dXtTm5o477-paQx2GQFHASgqyuAoHO64VPXyIwOpipsVbiaVwO4JpEIyFL9CqmRMGop4NUV8ZX-n5NsQ/s320/the+immortal+rules.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
</div>
<blockquote style="background-color: lightgrey; border: 2px solid #666; padding: 10px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>From <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10215349-the-immortal-rules" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>:</b> In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.
Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die or become one of the monsters.
Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.
Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.
But it isn’t easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.</span></i></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My Review: </b>The cover model isn’t exactly how I pictured Allison Sekemoto to look, but I like how it’s essentially black and white with only the red accent. Plus, I read this book in two days--which for a 480 page book is pretty good for me. It was a pretty hard book to put down!</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Julie Kagawa did something really smart here. She combined two of the most popular Young Adult genres: dystopian and vampires. This may seem like overkill, but it actually worked really well. I was starting to get sick of vampire books because they all seem to have a very similar Twilight-esque formula. This is why I absolutely adored the addition of the dystopian society.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The registered and unregistered humans in <i>The Immortal Rules</i> reminded me a lot of my favorite Young Adult vampire series, <i>The Morganville Vampires,</i> by Rachel Caine. This made me really excited and added an extra element of danger to the world Kagawa created. Kagawa is an amazing world builder and a master of character development. In all of her books, I can picture everything vividly. It makes the reading experience that much more enjoyable.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really enjoyed the characters in <i>The Immortal Rules. </i>Allie was an excellent protagonist and pretty badass. Zeke was a complex character who made some very interesting choices. I want to get to know Kanin more because of his extremely rich history. I have a feeling we will get to know more about him in future books and that makes me so excited. The rabids in the book were pretty genuinely terrifying. I definitely wouldn’t want to face them. </span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Overall, this is one of the best Young Adult vampire novels I have read in a long time. I’m impatiently waiting for the sequel!</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><b></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Side note: The excerpt from the next Iron Fey novel was kind of awesome! </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks to Harlequin Teen, NetGalley, and Julie Kagawa for this review copy. Also, a special thanks to Harlequin Teen and Julie Kagawa for the signed copy and Immortal Rules hoodie I won on Twitter! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-40833677667138186322012-05-23T20:51:00.001-04:002012-05-23T20:51:36.238-04:00Can you ‘Find the Pretty Little Lies?’<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Leading up to the release of Pretty Little Liars: The Complete Second Season on DVD, “<a href="http://www.findtheprettylittlelies.com/" target="_blank">Find the Pretty Little Lies</a>” is is a fun game where you can guess who said specific lines from “Pretty Little Liars” or find hidden objects within scenes from the show. The promotion is currently in Week 3, but you can go back and play Weeks 1 and 2 as well! You have the chance to win Heather Belle bags and accessories, as well as DVDs signed by the cast. [I would die!]</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So far I have found hidden words in a video, looked for hidden clues in pictures, and identified quotes from the show. It has been really fun! Plus, anything for a chance to win some goodies, am I right? These accessories are pretty awesome looking. The Pretty Little Liars rings and cuffs look super cool. Also, I need that signed DVD. Ah!</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1jiU6Bh1057keeCWCWYU9ZC2AXeAmsq9Fr97z7LnVH43Vbf284s17v3lliDFJWLg9hwa5pmpoENyWBi9P_lbyrZeOIKBwB2jH-FZYKStuKhFKphIrPvX96rJbpd5DhM8k3DCo9Qk_Ko/s1600/PLL+Season+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1jiU6Bh1057keeCWCWYU9ZC2AXeAmsq9Fr97z7LnVH43Vbf284s17v3lliDFJWLg9hwa5pmpoENyWBi9P_lbyrZeOIKBwB2jH-FZYKStuKhFKphIrPvX96rJbpd5DhM8k3DCo9Qk_Ko/s320/PLL+Season+2.jpg" width="289" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://bit.ly/KOAkwO" target="_blank">Season 2 DVD</a> releases on 6/5/12. That’s also when the new season starts on ABC Family. Get back into my life, Pretty Little Liars.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">I have been hired by Warner Bros WBWord division to raise awareness for Pretty Little Liars.</span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-12116610519854035532012-05-23T20:09:00.000-04:002012-05-23T20:09:02.236-04:00Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter Review<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Title: </b><i>Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test #2)</i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span class="s2"><b>Author: </b></span><span class="s3">Aimee Carter</span></span><span class="s4"> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/aimee_carter" target="_blank"><span class="s5">@aimee_carter</span></a></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s2"><b>Genre: </b></span><span class="s1">Young Adult, Fantasy, Mythology, Paranormal</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Page Count: </b>296 pages</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Publish Date: </b>March 27, 2012</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Book Type: </b>Kindle Galley</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: </b>Harlequin Teen</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>ISBN: </b>9780373210459</span></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><b></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p5">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><b></b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDex-j2cIcm6kr-2uRi3N-40mcFf_up8WCcWDd1rWCMzuTFCWdG3ePqoZ_C5WKFJUctFmgd44xO10h__tL-p2cNIIkxF4KDjRSl6qrHwmHu4mPr1Bn9yo8aizCBB1kE1LWBvjuQBN2ZZk/s1600/goddess+interrupted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDex-j2cIcm6kr-2uRi3N-40mcFf_up8WCcWDd1rWCMzuTFCWdG3ePqoZ_C5WKFJUctFmgd44xO10h__tL-p2cNIIkxF4KDjRSl6qrHwmHu4mPr1Bn9yo8aizCBB1kE1LWBvjuQBN2ZZk/s320/goddess+interrupted.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<div class="p6" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>From <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12637490-goddess-interrupted" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>: </b><i>KATE WINTERS HAS WON IMMORTALITY.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="p5" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><i></i></span></span></div>
<div class="p6" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BUT IF SHE WANTS A LIFE WITH HENRY IN THE UNDERWORLD, SHE'LL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR IT.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="p5" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><i></i></span></span></div>
<div class="p6" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans. </span></i></span></div>
<div class="p5" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><i></i></span></span></div>
<div class="p6" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future. </span></i></span></div>
<div class="p5" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><i></i></span></span></div>
<div class="p6" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Henry's first wife, Persephone.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="p6" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="p5">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><b></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My Review: </b>I am not quite as fond of this cover as I was of the first, but it is still fun. The tagline, “What if immortality isn’t forever?” is pretty intriguing. The tagline on <i><a href="http://kaitlyninbookland.blogspot.com/2011/04/goddess-test-by-aimee-carter-review.html" target="_blank">The Goddess Test</a> </i>was “Become immortal or die trying,” so the contrast between Book 1 and Book 2 is pretty strong. In Book 1, everything was about becoming immortal and the journey there, while Book 2 seems to suggest that immortality might not be everything Kate had expected.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I loved how we got to know more of the characters throughout <i>Goddess Interrupted</i>. Persephone actually played a fairly large role which created some delicious tension between Henry and Kate. It was nice to be able to see the familial interactions between Kate, Persephone, and their mother as well.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p4">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Henry and Kate drove me nuts throughout much of the book, however, it didn’t detract from the story. There was tension between the two of them, but it was a good kind of tension. I’m telling you... sometimes I just wanted to shake them. If they would just talk about the issues they are having, half of the problems wouldn’t exist! </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The ending will leave you yearning for the next book in the series. Talk about an epic cliffhanger. Jeeze. Actually, there were a few moments throughout the book where I found my jaw dropping. Aimee Carter really stepped it up with the plot twists. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Books based on Greek mythology get a big thumbs up from me!</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks to Aimee Carter, NetGalley, and Harlequin Teen for this e-galley!</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-4907196625748794972012-05-18T19:14:00.000-04:002012-05-18T19:14:30.349-04:00The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross Review<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Title: </b><i>The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (Steampunk Chronicles #2)</i></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Author: </b>Kady Cross</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Genre: </b>Young Adult, Steampunk</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Page Count: </b>416 pages</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Publish Date: </b>May 22, 2012</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Book Type: </b>Kindle Galley</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: </b>Harlequin Teen</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>ISBN: </b>978-0373210534</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><b></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><b></b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUJCJHt-aZ3JCXKwFkFWgRGzW8a8L9cfjB53ugGmgZpDxFYMliQWBdqdNdASOPdQJ3LdMDz06828pvPhj9llbqkI6iyLC3uOiiT7_WRryyGM2VteLcYMp15uDHT8Z-23MYgp8W46YDsk/s1600/the+girl+in+the+clockwork+collar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUJCJHt-aZ3JCXKwFkFWgRGzW8a8L9cfjB53ugGmgZpDxFYMliQWBdqdNdASOPdQJ3LdMDz06828pvPhj9llbqkI6iyLC3uOiiT7_WRryyGM2VteLcYMp15uDHT8Z-23MYgp8W46YDsk/s320/the+girl+in+the+clockwork+collar.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
<div class="p4" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>From <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13060608-the-girl-in-the-clockwork-collar" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>: </b><i>In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling - or dangerous. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><i></i></span></span></div>
<div class="p4" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade-the dangerous device Jasper stole from him...for the life of the girl Jasper loves. </span></i></span></div>
<div class="p3" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><i></i></span></span></div>
<div class="p4" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens. And tightens.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="p4" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><b></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My Review: </b>Love this cover! That necklace/collar is crazy looking. Imagine having that thing strapped to you. The colors are also amazing.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><b></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really enjoyed <i><a href="http://kaitlyninbookland.blogspot.com/2011/05/girl-in-steel-corset-by-kady-cross.html" target="_blank">The Girl in the Steel Corset</a> </i>last year and was excited to enter the wonderful steampunk world again in <i>The Girl in the Clockwork Collar</i>. This time, the gang traveled to New York City to try to save their friend Jasper after he was arrested at the end of Book 1. Naturally, nothing goes as planned and Finley, Griffin, Jasper, Sam, and Emily find themselves in the middle of trouble.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of my complaints from Book 1 was that I felt the characters weren’t developed enough. This all changed in this book and I got to know them much more. Finley and Jasper were the two characters that the readers will really get to know. Some new characters were also introduced and I hope we get to see a few of them again. Although mentioned quite a few times, Jack Dandy wasn’t in the book. Maybe he will be in the next one.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The relationships were fleshed out some--although Finley and Griffin still drive me crazy. Just make it work, you two crazy kids. I had wished there was more Sam and Emily, but the moments that were there were completely precious. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While I was able to predict the answers to some of the mysteries, the very end was actually pretty surprising. I didn’t see that one coming--you’ll have to let me know if you do. Hopefully some of the consequences will play out in the next book.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Girl in the Clockwork Collar </i>was packed with action and adventure. It was really exciting and I had a hard time putting the book down. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This sequel really solidified my love for steampunk and I cannot wait for the next book to come out! I’ll be glad for the trip back to London, even though I enjoyed them crossing the pond for a bit.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><b></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks to NetGalley, Kady Cross and Harlequin Teen for this review copy!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacE7eyFEOaibmEMD_80lfLIXtKwgTGrumk2WQle8DRZF9_w-n57eKD7wMD_1NE-_SH09L5v2OeLpeRgIpAKK6Pr0kTlOdcnyOUNIgEj_f6UPOxE7CSnI420MAp2PyUtphe9-4Oj5x7ww/s1600/signature+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacE7eyFEOaibmEMD_80lfLIXtKwgTGrumk2WQle8DRZF9_w-n57eKD7wMD_1NE-_SH09L5v2OeLpeRgIpAKK6Pr0kTlOdcnyOUNIgEj_f6UPOxE7CSnI420MAp2PyUtphe9-4Oj5x7ww/s1600/signature+2.png" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-26073995787364000582012-05-08T20:26:00.000-04:002012-05-08T20:26:41.837-04:00The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore Review<br />
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Title: </b><i>The Power of Six (Lorien Legacies #2)</i></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Author: </b>Pittacus Lore, James Frey, Jobie Hughes</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Genre: </b>Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Page Count: </b>406 pages</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Publish Date: </b>August 23, 2011</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Book Type: </b>Library Hardback</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: </b>HarperCollins</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>ISBN: </b>9780061974557</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><b></b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzFWaBLN3WFQfHtT8rhxfHvN29ElbdYhZxGNGolBw0I0v0nMX3m3W9ysPpxxo8yZBDcG9sL_KU33wd5QGuu2gu1UqH_o1bQWS8wDkDEiUwx4vwPopQWbA5ua4TqxaLZv7KoKjkeJPPYI/s1600/the+power+of+six.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzFWaBLN3WFQfHtT8rhxfHvN29ElbdYhZxGNGolBw0I0v0nMX3m3W9ysPpxxo8yZBDcG9sL_KU33wd5QGuu2gu1UqH_o1bQWS8wDkDEiUwx4vwPopQWbA5ua4TqxaLZv7KoKjkeJPPYI/s320/the+power+of+six.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<div class="p3" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p3" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>From <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8659601-the-power-of-six" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>: </b><i>I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened in Ohio. John Smith, out there, on the run. To the world, he's a mystery. But to me . . . he's one of us.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="p4" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><i></i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us—if we all still believe in our mission. How can I know? There are six of us left. We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another . . . but our Legacies are developing, and soon we'll be equipped to fight. Is John Number Four, and is his appearance the sign I've been waiting for? And what about Number Five and Six? Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams? The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine? The girl who may be strong enough to bring the six of us together?</span></i></span></div>
<div class="p4" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><i></i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They caught Number One in Malaysia.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="p3" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Number Two in England.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="p3" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And Number Three in Kenya.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="p3" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio—and failed.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="p4" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><i></i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am Number Seven. One of six still alive.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="p4" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><i></i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I'm ready to fight.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="p3" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="p4" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><b></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My Review: </b>Like <i><a href="http://kaitlyninbookland.blogspot.com/2011/04/i-am-number-four-by-pittacus-lore.html" target="_blank">I Am Number Four</a></i>, this one has a pretty cool cover. Very sci-fi. However, it did throw me because I assumed this book would be mainly about Six. I guess I didn’t read the description. Hah. Good one.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ll start by saying that I actually enjoyed this a lot more than the first in the series. I didn’t <i>not</i> enjoy the first one... I was just middling on it. This one I was actually pleasantly pleased with. Some of the aspects in the first that were a bit confusing made much more sense in this one and I found that I remembered many more details than I thought I would. I loved how this one had a lot more action and mystery. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also loved how the characters were fleshed out more, while we were still introduced to some new ones. I really like Six and I’m glad she was heavily featured. Sam will always be one of my favorite characters. He’s human and basically amazing. Four is such a flawed character, which is nice to see in a main character. He makes some really dumb decisions, but they are decisions I can kind of understand. Four, Six, and Sam make a pretty amazing trio. I’m kind of glad Sarah wasn’t around. Her relationship with Four is kind of mediocre to me. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Power of Six </i>is told in alternating points of view--John (Number Four) and Marina (Number Seven). The writing style was very effective for this book. Just when something major would happen, the points of view would shift so the reader is left wondering what is going on with the other character. It kept me reading late into the night!</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Overall, this is a pretty action packed book. There are numerous battles, adventures, and even deaths. Now I’m looking forward to the next one!</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">P.S. Bernie Kosar is still awesome. :)</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What do you think of this series?</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTUloagqKL9qSrILASAKPvdDPdG0mCO-RbAypbXIHt6I1AQBiifQQFt5AhbMH3h9rZVSNu7qsp2isWjXK2hgMTfAzuiX0QU6pssAsfVr7-2i1s5lBOOhNhOESaKpyyKdJbkkTjf_idas/s1600/signature+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTUloagqKL9qSrILASAKPvdDPdG0mCO-RbAypbXIHt6I1AQBiifQQFt5AhbMH3h9rZVSNu7qsp2isWjXK2hgMTfAzuiX0QU6pssAsfVr7-2i1s5lBOOhNhOESaKpyyKdJbkkTjf_idas/s1600/signature+2.png" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-27717519283332056032012-04-25T21:16:00.000-04:002012-04-25T21:16:17.123-04:00The Big Book of Social Media by Robert Fine Review<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Title: </b><i>The Big Book of Social Media: Case Studies, Stories, Perspectives</i></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Author: </b>[Edited by] Robert Fine</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Genre: </b>Social Media, Marketing</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Page Count: </b>312 pages</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Publish Date: </b>November 1, 2010</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Book Type: </b>Owned Paperback</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: </b>Yorkshire Publishing</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>ISBN: </b>9780881441598</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><b></b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkOQuHzlXqx6TK1ka_rA6U1q7VuehsqNRnp6GPCOArhq0Nwm4yfqcWnb-U_3k3z55KWAdVBvkE94nhHFJzLcYbI_HyEz66jwFY6TmgtnmM87g1rbAjs5hkZaXc_gwnE0hiIeIl3pMwHE/s1600/the+big+book+of+social+media.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkOQuHzlXqx6TK1ka_rA6U1q7VuehsqNRnp6GPCOArhq0Nwm4yfqcWnb-U_3k3z55KWAdVBvkE94nhHFJzLcYbI_HyEz66jwFY6TmgtnmM87g1rbAjs5hkZaXc_gwnE0hiIeIl3pMwHE/s320/the+big+book+of+social+media.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
<div class="p3" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Picture from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9716242-the-big-book-of-social-media" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></span></b></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><b></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My Review: </b>“The Big Book of Social Media” is divided into topic-based sections, with each section containing a few case studies, stories, or essays. A theme that was weaved throughout “The Big Book of Social Media” was the emphasis on companies developing a plan before jumping into social media. While some case studies were better than others, the overall book would be a good addition for anyone looking for real-world stories about people using social media for businesses as different as government to publishing. It was nice to be able to read about social media usage in different fields of work. However, at times, some of the chapters could seem as if they were a little bit of a sales promotion. Sometimes the authors seemed to be touting their business capabilities instead of showcasing how they are using social media and explaining why those methods were successful.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sections in “The Big Book of Social Media” were organized in a way that was very easy to understand. The writing was not too technical, so any audience should be able to appreciate it. This book would be especially beneficial for people who are novices with social media and have had a hard time understanding other guides. Throughout the book, URLs are provided so the reader can easily reference the things that are being talked about online. Even non-novices should be able to appreciate “The Big Book of Social Media,” especially when the book delves into the analytics. Reading this book should allow companies and individuals to really think about what they want to do with social media. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p5">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;">Readers of “The Big Book of Social Media” are asked to visit</span> <a href="http://www.thebestofsocial.com/" target="_blank"><span class="s2">www.TheBestofSocial.com</span></a><span style="color: #660000;"> to continue the conversation about the book and share their own social stories. On the website, readers can ask the authors questions, interact in live webinars, and find resources for learning. Social media links are also provided after each chapter so the reader knows how to get in contact with each individual author, which was a nice touch.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-6112804199386201152012-04-22T16:57:00.000-04:002012-04-22T16:58:17.667-04:00Engage! by Brian Solis Review<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Title: </b><i>Engage!: The Complete Guide for Brands and Businesses to Build, Cultivate, and Measure Success in the New Web </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Author: </b>Brian Solis</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Genre: </b>Social Media, Marketing</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Page Count: </b>316 pages</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Publish Date: </b>March 15, 2011</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Book Type: </b>Owned Paperback</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: </b>John Wiley & Sons</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>ISBN: </b>9781118003763</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><b></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><b></b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoKcD-y0gbXAuH23x_h3kvmzscKR8rILobNEd3jzQFo1Pibmob7woH8cSwmHc2YB2bmAoVWIFjEM4DamQN_bSbW0TgXEAOdEPwdnESWt8fgh8r9brcp_qx4SFY84-v1zx5aSlDdocP3AU/s1600/engage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoKcD-y0gbXAuH23x_h3kvmzscKR8rILobNEd3jzQFo1Pibmob7woH8cSwmHc2YB2bmAoVWIFjEM4DamQN_bSbW0TgXEAOdEPwdnESWt8fgh8r9brcp_qx4SFY84-v1zx5aSlDdocP3AU/s320/engage.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="p4" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Picture from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10132234-engage" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></span></b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><b></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My Review: </b>Solis really emphasizes the idea of companies acting like human beings and having a solid plan. This is a huge aspect of social media marketing. If companies can use social media to interact with and learn about their customers, they can learn so much. The best way to do this is by having conversations with them. Solis explained all of this, throughout the book, in a well written way that was easy to understand. Solis not only tells the reader how to do something, but why they should be doing it. “Engage!” would be a great asset for any company looking to increase their involvement in social media and improve their customer relations. “Engage!” is set up almost like a textbook, albeit an interesting textbook, that is jam-packed with valuable information.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Solis set up about half of “Engage!” as if it were a college course, which was extremely effective. These sections, titled “The New Media University,” detailed the steps a company can take in order to use social media to their advantage. For those people who have some experience in social media, this section can act as a refresher, but for those people who are relatively new, this section can act as a detailed introduction.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;">This book is best suited for people with some background knowledge of social media. While the beginning of the book does a nice job outlining how and why a company should use social media, the latter part of “Engage!” delves into slightly more advanced metrics and programs. Therefore, some knowledge of social media analytics would be beneficial before reading. The glossary at the back of the book is helpful for a refresher on some terms that may be a bit unfamiliar and the companion website,</span> <a href="http://www.engagingbook.com/">www.engagingbook.com</a><span style="color: #660000;">, helps to bridge the gap between publish date and any updates to social media.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTUloagqKL9qSrILASAKPvdDPdG0mCO-RbAypbXIHt6I1AQBiifQQFt5AhbMH3h9rZVSNu7qsp2isWjXK2hgMTfAzuiX0QU6pssAsfVr7-2i1s5lBOOhNhOESaKpyyKdJbkkTjf_idas/s1600/signature+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTUloagqKL9qSrILASAKPvdDPdG0mCO-RbAypbXIHt6I1AQBiifQQFt5AhbMH3h9rZVSNu7qsp2isWjXK2hgMTfAzuiX0QU6pssAsfVr7-2i1s5lBOOhNhOESaKpyyKdJbkkTjf_idas/s1600/signature+2.png" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-45574212563515796622012-04-20T22:39:00.000-04:002012-04-20T22:39:45.417-04:00The Past Catches Up: One Tree Hill<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In Season 9 of One Tree Hill, many of the characters have a past that catches up with them. Clay finds out something from his time with his wife, Brooke has to deal with X, and Dan tries to reconnect with his family. All of these scenarios have different outcomes and it was interesting to watch the characters try to handle them.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While I haven’t had the past catch up with me quite like the characters on OTH have, many of our favorite book characters have experienced similar things. Katniss makes one decision in <i>The Hunger Games</i> that changes her whole future. Events in previous Harry Potter books catch up with Peter Pettigrew and ultimately lead to his death. </span><br />
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even though my life isn’t quite so interesting (luckily?), I can still relate to the characters on One Tree Hill and in these amazing books. It’s always fascinating to see how a character will react when something from their past is brought back into the present.</span><br />
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One Tree Hill Season 9 is now available on <a href="http://bit.ly/GCYbxt" target="_blank">DVD and Ultraviolet</a>! Let the rejoicing begin. I cry a little every time I remember that I don’t own this yet. </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="250" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5krfCpJJu8E" width="350"></iframe>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" /></a></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote One Tree Hill Season Nine on DVD.</span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-41579175300119349102012-04-18T10:58:00.000-04:002012-04-18T10:58:08.887-04:00The Minefields by Steven C. Eisner Review<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Title: </b><i>The Minefields</i></span><br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Author: </b>Steven C. Eisner</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Genre: </b>Fiction, Mad Med-esque</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Page Count: </b>320 pages</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Publish Date: </b>January 25, 2012</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Book Type: </b>Provided for review</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: </b>When Words Count Publishing</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>ISBN: </b>9781937836023</span><br />
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5om0OyJdlarR5PBJHsLeOO0TIP0_YE_Di11rOZMiguXWX5t9X_bvXWqkrV9zDfiovYrHQCla1k2dBGf7W2hkLrCVLUNrPmeXtiJLOfK9uSapsxIE0RhG1RJwdqWZVLYnP53bTpSdMjiE/s1600/the+minefields.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5om0OyJdlarR5PBJHsLeOO0TIP0_YE_Di11rOZMiguXWX5t9X_bvXWqkrV9zDfiovYrHQCla1k2dBGf7W2hkLrCVLUNrPmeXtiJLOfK9uSapsxIE0RhG1RJwdqWZVLYnP53bTpSdMjiE/s1600/the+minefields.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>From <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13555324-the-minefields" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>: </b><i>From an early age, Sam Spiegel single-mindedly pursued an entrepreneurial path that prepared him to transform a small-time ad agency into a regional powerhouse with national ambitions. A couple decades later, Sam had achieved almost everything he ever dreamed possible as the ad agency's rainmaker, fountainhead, and unflappable pursuer of success. One final goal remained: To consolidate his gains by attracting an international advertising conglomerate and cash out. That's when the nation is hit with the most unthinkable tragedy, and Sam begins to take stock of his own life, finding that he is growing weary of the relentless hunt. Unsatisfied in his marriage and embroiled in a mind-boggling professional crisis, everything Sam had achieved is put at risk.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My Review: </b>This is such a cool cover. Very appropriate for a book depicting the advertising business. The pop of color is nice, but it is really the man in a business suit on the tightrope that draws me in.</span><br />
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The narrator of this book has a very conversational tone, which works for the story, since it is essentially the story of his life. The language can get a bit business-y at times, but overall it was a pretty enjoyable reading experience.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s not too often when you can read a book that follows the main character’s life from teens throughout adulthood. It was nice to be able to watch Sam grow and go through the ups and downs in his life.</span><br />
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think fans of “Mad Men” will really enjoy this one!</span><br />
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1">Here is an excerpt!</span></span></div>
</div>
<blockquote style="background-color: lightgrey; border: 2px solid #666; padding: 10px;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My real goal was to find the overseeing emergency room doctor to get a report on Dad’s condition and to figure out a plan. As I suspected, many of Harry’s vitals had shut down. His lungs were filling with water.</span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks to Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc. and Media Muscle for this review copy! </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can check out the rest of the book tour <a href="http://booktrib.com/blog-tour-the-minefields/" target="_blank">here</a>!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-39452454460066052702012-04-15T10:40:00.000-04:002012-04-15T10:40:30.339-04:00New Challenges on One Tree Hill<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While I haven’t had any challenges in my life quite like the characters on One Tree Hill (kidnapping, sleepwalking, parenthood), I think everyone can relate to how scary it is to face new challenges.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Season 9 has the characters facing some pretty new challenges and also some that are familiar, but twisted in a different way--it’s not Jamie that gets kidnapped, but Nathan! That family... they go through some rough things.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My life isn’t quite so intense, but one of my biggest challenges was going back to grad school after taking a year off after undergrad. That first semester was rough. However, I’m happy to tell you that in less than four months, I will be finished! I made it. Wooo.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’d still prefer watching that crazy challenges the characters experience on One Tree Hill than actually facing them myself. I don’t really want to go into fugue states and forget parts of my life. Mmmkay? Thanks.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://bit.ly/GCYbxt" target="_blank">DVD</a> is now available for purchase (with Ultra Violet too!). I seriously need to get my hands on one of these so I can relive the crazy moments over and over again.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDfMMVTHb7TvAr8RLVtGeSeeHrKIiZPD-krUPyt0m8QdWIxWx73IqQlzGhVjCJupWzXINkcwdHk4xxiu2jQO8V5mxq1BSxrwkZL6OS58xT8RQhBma8s49TBF05jp9Asl65eEq-vDDzlqw/s1600/OneTreeHill+Season9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDfMMVTHb7TvAr8RLVtGeSeeHrKIiZPD-krUPyt0m8QdWIxWx73IqQlzGhVjCJupWzXINkcwdHk4xxiu2jQO8V5mxq1BSxrwkZL6OS58xT8RQhBma8s49TBF05jp9Asl65eEq-vDDzlqw/s320/OneTreeHill+Season9.jpg" width="289" /></a></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote One Tree Hill Season Nine on DVD.</span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-25560184104587513622012-04-11T23:29:00.000-04:002012-04-11T23:29:44.166-04:00Fiction and the Happiness/Creativity Loop<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is the last guest post by the fabulous <a href="http://wantedhero.com/" target="_blank">Jaime Buckley</a>! Enjoy. :)</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">____________________________________________</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">When Kaitlyn was kind enough to let me do these guest posts, something specific came to my mind.</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" /><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" /><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">Do powerful, engaging fictional stories help us create happiness?</i><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);"> </span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" /><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">You might think this is a strange question. Maybe it is. I was, after all, thinking about it while in the bathroom, reading a Terry Pratchett book in the middle of the night (great toilet books BTW—but expect your legs to go numb). This book, recommended by some dear friends of mine, was given to me while I was in a serious depression. I’m writing my next novel, and it's so challenging to keep going...because I’m also homeless at present. Add to that being married, with 10 children and a father in law that we care for and might…just might, be able to imagine my stress levels. </span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" /><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">This book, in one night, had me laughing to tears. It was beyond brilliant. I instantly found myself not only relating to the child protagonist of the story, but also to a tribe of 6” men in kilts who love to drink and fight (no I won’t explain that one). Within 24 hours my stress had vanished, my smile returned and my writing output went through the roof. </span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" /><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">What I wanted to know was: </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">WHY?</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">My life is the </span><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">same</i><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">. The same pressures I had at the beginning of the book remain in my life by the end of the book. Or was it? Why would reading create such a surge of energy and positive outlook, which not only helped me, but helped my children—who now had a happy father hopeful for the future?</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" /><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">It has a great deal to do with physiological changes that take place. Don’t run on me here, I’m completely serious. Every time you read, your body changes. Specifically, there is an increase in the levels of dopamine in our brains, from reading—created by intense mental and emotional moments in the story we experience. </span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" /><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">This powerful chemical affects us in dramatic ways, the most important being a sensation of </span><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">well being,</i><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);"> while opening all the nerve centers of the brain! The presence of this chemical increases our ability to learn, create and perform. In many cases, such as my own, it heightens your awareness levels which can alter your perspectives.</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" /><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">That's why we enjoy the 'rush' of a good book: we're all drug addicts.</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" /><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">Just kidding. </span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" /><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">So to close this article, I have a treat. It’s not one of Kaitlyn’s great YouTube posts, but it is a video. I’m a fan of TED videos and this one caught my attention, because it indirectly explains why the books we love could actually create a happiness/creativity loop in our lives. The video doesn't directly talk about books, but it talks about the results. </span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" /><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">I believe great stories are a powerful spark to start the process and to gain access to what Shawn Achor calls the “Happiness Advantage”. This video is very funny and enlightening.</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" /><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">Enjoy.</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="250" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/r9KCvMBNUBs" width="450"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_____________________________________</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks so much for these guest posts, Jaime! You're the best. :) I totally believe a good book can change our whole outlook on our lives, our moods, etc.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-24704461314365509362012-04-09T20:46:00.000-04:002012-04-09T20:46:49.993-04:00Happy Birthday to Me by Brian Rowe Review<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Title: </b><i>Happy Birthday to Me (Birthday Trilogy #1)</i></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Author: </b>Brian Rowe</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Genre: </b>Young Adult, Fantasy, Humor</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Page Count: </b>322 pages</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Publish Date: </b>April 11, 2011</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Book Type: </b>Kindle book provided for review</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: </b>CreateSpace</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>ISBN: </b>9781461071792</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>ASIN: </b>B004VF69C8</span></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><b></b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwttJobBW3N9NitJLZPXtIUJA_UhcueCpq7OMngUNc7dqjF7TmddRIYXCOZyobMP8MtlhBVQoDrK2UUSkgISjkW3tzAXWRbQag-BfLDSfH-_227w__E5ucW5kJhLbw2xBXTK-Jgi4Ozo/s1600/happy+birthday+to+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwttJobBW3N9NitJLZPXtIUJA_UhcueCpq7OMngUNc7dqjF7TmddRIYXCOZyobMP8MtlhBVQoDrK2UUSkgISjkW3tzAXWRbQag-BfLDSfH-_227w__E5ucW5kJhLbw2xBXTK-Jgi4Ozo/s320/happy+birthday+to+me.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
<div class="p3" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>From <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11035224-happy-birthday-to-me" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>: </b><i>Seventeen-year-old Cameron Martin has a huge problem: he’s aging a whole year of his life with each passing day! </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p4" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s1"></span></i></span></div>
<div class="p3" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">High school is hard enough; imagine rapidly aging from seventeen to seventy in a matter of weeks, with no logical explanation, and with prom, graduation, and the state championship basketball game all on the horizon. That’s what happens to Cameron, a popular pretty boy who's never had to face a day looking anything but perfect. </span></i></span></div>
<div class="p4" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s1"></span></i></span></div>
<div class="p3" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All Cameron wants to do is go back to normal, but no one, not even the best doctors, can diagnose his condition. When he finds love with a mysterious young woman, however, he realizes his only hope for survival might be with the one person who started his condition in the first place...</span></i></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><b></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My Review: </b>This cover just really makes me want cake. Mmm.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really liked the main character, Cameron. He was, by no means, perfect, which is what made him so likable to me. It’s always fun to read books with a male protagonist--especially ones written by a male author. Different perspectives! </span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wish some of the supporting characters had been developed a bit more, but they were fun too! Sometimes it’s hard to really get to know secondary characters when a book is in first person. I found myself becoming attached to quite a few of the characters. I’m excited to revisit them in the next book, <i>Happy Birthday to Me Again.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Happy Birthday to Me </i>is really a classic story, but told in a fresh way. Aging was a new tool to bring about change in the main character, which was entertaining to read. Throughout the book, the story reminded me of <i><a href="http://kaitlyninbookland.blogspot.com/2011/04/beastly-by-alex-flinn-review.html" target="_blank">Beastly</a></i> quite a bit and I enjoyed that. I wasn’t sure if it was going to be the same kind of deal, but I liked the similarities. </span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What would you do if you started aging a year each day? It would surely be terrifying.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks to Brian Rowe for this review copy!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3IGrAG3xhWXjPDr8808qjkoQWZXlUyKUlO6V9M3mttiKxpVng3ZZJBWrBEDsF4kxo0LYejIQa8qFRNnAmamNcVra629nBkQuKk0B8MfeuVn1wWhTjQ4t98BtH3D2ElHF74VSg-Bdhqc/s1600/signature+2.png" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409726402399268408.post-91437798606920925362012-04-07T18:29:00.003-04:002012-04-07T18:29:31.924-04:00City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare Review<br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Title: </b><i>The Mortal Instruments Book 4: City of Fallen Angels</i></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Author: </b>Cassandra Clare</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Genre: </b>Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Page Count: </b>424 pages</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Publish Date: </b>April 5, 2011</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Book Type: </b>Library Hardcover</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Publisher: </b>Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>ISBN: </b>9781442403543</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b></b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5Rri1DJp6bZKgFnrEqFXBjFSpQtyQC8cI5KYarteM1C_Lo5aQmKJ-iC2-Sd-1NOTZD-G_Yz5CM74aoi8mjNVkqnV1uMjI2AR8FEWO_Vki8a1e-kI9bAFsfDoLvmFMIuSvFaaspGk4H4/s1600/city+of+fallen+angels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5Rri1DJp6bZKgFnrEqFXBjFSpQtyQC8cI5KYarteM1C_Lo5aQmKJ-iC2-Sd-1NOTZD-G_Yz5CM74aoi8mjNVkqnV1uMjI2AR8FEWO_Vki8a1e-kI9bAFsfDoLvmFMIuSvFaaspGk4H4/s320/city+of+fallen+angels.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Picture from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/City-Fallen-Angels-Mortal-Instruments/dp/B006W3Y9HY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333837665&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></b></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b></b></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>From <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6752378-city-of-fallen-angels" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>: </b><i>The Mortal War is over, and Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And—most important of all—Clary can finally call Jace her boyfriend. </i></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i></i></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">But nothing comes without a price. </span></i></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i></i></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Someone is murdering the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second bloody war. Clary’s best friend, Simon, can’t help her. His mother just found out he’s a vampire and now he’s homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side—along with the power of the curse wrecking his life. And they’re willing to do anything to get what they want. At the same time he’s dating two beautiful, dangerous girls—neither of whom knows about the other. </span></i></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i></i></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">When Jace begins to pull away from Clary without explaining why, she is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: She herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace. </span></i></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i></i></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. The stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.</span></i></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b></b></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>My Review: </b>I love how all of the covers in this series have the same look and feel. It always bothers me if a series doesn’t go together.</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I started this book last year when it first came out, but I just couldn’t get into it. Back to the library it went. When I was at the library a couple weeks ago, it caught my eye again. I enjoyed it much more this time and it was a pleasant break from reading school books (if you can’t tell from my previous reviews--womp womp). </span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I really grew to love Simon in this one. I feel like we got to be in his head a bit more than the previous books and that was nice. It was also fun to see the evolution of his relationships. I also loved the interactions between Simon and Jace. They’re an unlikely pairing, but it is nice to see. I have a feeling Simon will be helping Jace through his problems that were hinted to at the end of the book. Would be totally fun to read.</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Poor Jace and Clary. They can’t seem to catch a break, can they? Cassie always seems to throw a wrench in their relationship, huh? I suppose it wouldn’t be The Mortal Instruments series without that, but I just want it to work out for those two crazy kids.</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I always love Cassie’s world building. The moment I start reading one of her books, I can picture the world with no problem. I love that because sometimes it had be hard to imagine a fantasy world. Thanks, Cassie! </span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b></b></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">You can check out my reviews of <i><a href="http://kaitlyninbookland.blogspot.com/2010/07/city-of-bones-by-cassandra-clare-review.html" target="_blank">City of Bones</a> </i>and <i><a href="http://kaitlyninbookland.blogspot.com/2010/08/city-of-ashes-by-cassandra-clare-review.html" target="_blank">City of Ashes</a></i>. (I still need to review <i>City of Glass</i>. Hm. I’m not sure why I haven’t). </span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Which Mortal Instruments book has been your favorite so far? Or do you prefer The Infernal Devices? I can never decide!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTUloagqKL9qSrILASAKPvdDPdG0mCO-RbAypbXIHt6I1AQBiifQQFt5AhbMH3h9rZVSNu7qsp2isWjXK2hgMTfAzuiX0QU6pssAsfVr7-2i1s5lBOOhNhOESaKpyyKdJbkkTjf_idas/s1600/signature+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTUloagqKL9qSrILASAKPvdDPdG0mCO-RbAypbXIHt6I1AQBiifQQFt5AhbMH3h9rZVSNu7qsp2isWjXK2hgMTfAzuiX0QU6pssAsfVr7-2i1s5lBOOhNhOESaKpyyKdJbkkTjf_idas/s1600/signature+2.png" /></a></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221139516852061205noreply@blogger.com2