Rainy Day Ramblings

Tell Me Something Tuesday #29

Happy Tuesday! Here it is the last day of July. Where is the summer going?  On Tuesdays I always participate in a weekly meme hosted by Cambria Hebert. Every week a new question to answer.  Head on over to her blog, link up and grab next week's question! 

This week's question:

How do you feel about negative book reviews? Writing them and reading them…

And the hot topics keep on coming.....The ongoing controversy between authors and bloggers/reviewers has at times gotten very ugly.  If you are on Goodreads or Twitter I  imagine you have witnessed a few of these ugly incidents.  Someone writes a scathing review and the author gets irate and bad blood ensues.  At first, I followed some of these controversies, but as time goes on, I have learned that it is best to stay far, far away from these extremely volatile situations.  Sure, I have an opinion and often it depends on the current situation as to whom I tend to sympathize with.  Needless to say, many of these outbreaks have gotten so ugly that people are going so far as to personally attack reviewers by posting negative things about them, exposing their identities, families, employment and where they live.  This I feel is taking it too far!  Everyone is entitled to their opinion and this country was founded on the right to free speech.  Of course, we all can't and don't get along and it is okay to disagree, until the disagreements become vicious.  

How do I feel personally about negative reviews?  It all depends on how the review is written.  We all know that we aren't going to love every single book we read.  Some are going to be books that just don't appeal to the reader.  For me, negative reviews are sometimes the most difficult to write.  I personally adopt a constructive criticism approach.  Those of you who read my reviews regularly know that I provide in each and every review a section dedicated to the parts of the book that I feel need some improvement.  When I write this portion of a review, I do it constructively, I frame out what I didn't like, explain why, and at times offer how it could improve.  Never in my reviews do I rant and rave, curse and degrade the book.  I don't use funny pictures to illustrate my point, either.  I know there are plenty of reviewers who post some rather nasty reviews, and these are always the ones that end up stirring the pot and causing the dramatic flare ups.  Many of these reviewers have taken a lot of heat.  I have to hand it to them, you have to have a strong back bone and be prepared to be attacked when you put one of those reviews out there.  Do I agree with these reviews?  Most of the time I tend to ignore them.  If the reviewer is just spewing out nasty remarks, why waste my time.  Now on the other hand, I know several reviewers who have written some negative reviews and validated their arguments and still come under heavy fire.  I do not agree with authors attacking these type of reviews.  If your negative review is well written and backed up with valid reasons, who am I to argue?  Sure I realize it hurts to see someone criticize and belittle your baby, the book you sweat blood and tears over, but it is best to just hold your head up high and walk away.  Stooping to flinging mud will only hurt your sales.  I know many reviewers have black listed authors for bad behavior.  The bottom line and the motto that I follow when writing each and every review, is be honest, constructive and treat others as you wish to be treated in return.  I personally try and show respect to each and every book.  Even when I don't like a book, I can always highlight one or two things that were good about the book.  If you constantly write scathing and controversial reviews then you better be prepared to feel the fire.  As for me, life is too short to waste time flinging mud.  I would rather focus on doing what I love and that is reading books!  

Weigh in, how do you all feel about negative reviews?  

 

 

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard Tour Stop, Guest Post, Review and Giveaway!

I am excited to be a part of The Something Strange and Deadly Tour.  For my post I was scheduled to do an author spotlight but once I read Susan's bio, I had a better idea.  First, let me introduce you to Susan Dennard.  Debut author of the exciting, steampunk book, Something Strange and Deadly.  Here is a bit about Susan:

Susan Dennard is a reader, writer, lover of animals, and eater of cookies.

She is a writer turned marine biologist turned writer again. Among the traits she shares with her heroine Eleanor are a weakness for Shakespeare quotes, a healthy appetite for baked goods, and an insatiable curiosity. Sadly, Susan does not get to wear a corset or wave a parasol on a daily basis.

She lives in Germany with her French husband and Irish setter, and you can learn more about her crazy thoughts and crippling cookie-addiction on her blog, twitter, facebook, or Goodreads. Something Strange and Deadly is her debut novel.

When I read that she is an avid cookie connoisseur, I knew I had to do something about cookies.  Susan loves cookies, her blog title says "Will Write For Cookies".  I contacted Susan and we came up with this great post.  Here is Susan on her love for cookies, her favorite types of cookies and her own recipe.  I have scoured the internet and found some additional recipes to accompany all the picks on Susan's list.  Just click on the links for the recipes.  I promise you will be craving cookies by the end.  Oh and stick around...there might just be a giveaway.....

Here is Susan on cookies:

Why do I love cookies? Let me count the ways:

1) They are so very munchable. I'm a fan of 2-bite cookies that allow me chomp through an entire sheet in ~10 minutes. You feel like you've accomplished something when you pile back 20 cookies. ;)

2) The flavor--or flavors! I love how you can toss anything sweet into the batter and it's pretty much guaranteed to still taste delicious. You want a peanut butter cup, pecan, pistachio, chocolate chip, caramel swirl cookie? You can totally have it.

3) Because cookies are so delicious, you can actually make them a little less "unhealthy" (i.e. by adding whole wheat flour or honey) without ruining the cookie's delicious taste!

For example, here's how I make my Snickerdoodle cookies just a wee bit healthier (and more filling!):

Ingredients:

1 cup butter

1 1/2 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 1/2 cup flour

1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour

2 tsp. cream of tartar

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

3 tbsp. sugar (for coating cookie)

2 tsp. cinnamon (for coating cookie)

Preheat oven to 350. Put your ungreased cookie sheet in the fridge to chill.

Mix butter, 1 1/2 cup sugar, and eggs in a large bowl.

Combine flours, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl.

Blend the dry ingredients into the butter mixture.

Chill the dough in the fridge! You need to do this to make the dough firm and workable. Just let it sit for ~10-15 min.

While you wait, make your cookie coating. Just mix the 3 tbsp. sugar with the cinnamon in a small bowl.

Once your 10 minutes are up, pull out the dough, roll it in a ball, drop it in the cinnamon/sugar mixture, and coat it thoroughly.

Now drop the ball on your chilled (still ungreased) cookie sheet and make another!

Bake the cookies for ~10 minutes or until they start to "crack". The tops will kind of break apart like a crackled, desert surface. Now your cookies are baked to perfection!

Remove the cookies from the sheet immediately and enjoy!

If you have leftover dough, save it in the fridge and use it for a few more days! I like to make a big batch of dough and then cook a few fresh cookies every afternoon to deal with that midafternoon slump. ;)

Here is Susan's top favorite cookies with recipes:

1) Ginger molasses! Anything with ginger, and I'm THERE. Add in some gooey sweet molasses, and mmmmmm...I

won't stop eating these until they are all gone.

Ginger Molasses Cookie Recipe

2) Snickerdoodles! They're so easy to make...and even easier to eat. I'll make a giant batch of this dough, and then

make a few each day. The dough is best when it's refrigerated, so it's really a win-win situation for fulfilling my daily cookie needs. ;)

Snicker Doodle Cookie Recipe

3) Chocolate chip. You can't go wrong with good old chocolate chip. Fresh out of the oven is best, but if I can't

have 'em fresh, I'll pop them in the microwave for a few seconds. Wow, I'm salivating just imagining the melted chocolate...

Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

4) Amerikaners. These are a German cookie (that mean Americans!) that are almost cakey in their consistency. I'm

pretty terrible at making them myself--the chocolate and vanilla glaze is a little too labor intensive for me--but fortunately, the Konditerei down the street serves them everyday!

Black and White Cookie Recipe

Okay now that you all are salivating for cookies...how about a giveaway! As part of her Something Strange and Deadly Tour, Susan is giving away a signed finished copy of her book Something Strange and Deadly.  Fill out the rafflecopter to enter.  Good luck! Now go get some cookies!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For fun here are the main characters from the novel:

My review:

Something Strange and Deadly (Something Strange and Deadly #1) by Susan Dennard

The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia… Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.
Hardcover, ebook, 400 pages
Published July 24th 2012 by HarperTeen

 

Four Stars: A fun debut that blends mystery, steampunk and zombies!

Eleanor waits at the telegram office desperately waiting for word from her brother, Elijah who is due home.  Ringing bells sets off a panic....The dead are coming.  Eleanor huddles terrified, but unwilling to leave the depot.  A putrid smell assaults her senses right before she hears the sound of bone grinding upon bone, one of the corpses is outside the window.  A decayed fist thrusts through the glass dropping a crumpled, foul smelling piece of paper.  Then they are gone....Eleanor frantically searches through the piles of messages looking for a telegram from her brother.  Nothing.  She grabs the balled up bit of paper that the dead dropped.  It is a note from Elijah!  Her spirit buoyed with the contact, soon falter as she reads that he is not coming home.  Eleanor dashes home, dismayed by the news.  Her brother has been away for three years.  Things are becoming dire for Eleanor and her mother.  Their money is running out, and The Dead are invading Philadelphia, and now her brother is not coming home to save them.  Desperate, Eleanor turns to the mysterious spirit hunters who have recently arrived in town to hopefully rid the city of these foul and unnatural creatures.  Can Eleanor recover her brother?

What I Liked:

• Something Strange and Deadly was a surprisingly fun read.  This debut book blends steampunk with zombies and spirits, and a mystery for an entertaining book. I especially loved the historical setting of Philadelphia in 1876.  The steam punk elements are a bit subtle but still lots of fun.  I also liked the inclusion of the shambling dead and the spirits.  
•  Eleanor is a character that ended up surprising me.  She is a young lady caught in the constricting bindings of the upper class society.  In the beginning, she comes off as a privileged young lady, but as the book progresses the reader learns there is more to Eleanor than meets the eye.  She is far from the polished and perfect lady of the era (she longs to eat to her heart's content and even occasionally curses).  She is adventurous, brave, inquisitive and determined.  I loved how she was constantly defying her mother and shaking off the demands of society. I laughed at the numerous references to her being a little plump.  By the end, she evolves and grows and becomes a capable young woman.  I absolutely loved the way she shakes free of all the expectations, follows her heart and makes some painful decisions.  At the end, the Eleanor we are left with is far different than the one we met early on. 
•  This book does not feature a heavy romance.  Instead there is a small attraction that blooms into a relationship full of antagonism and then into something a bit more.  Yet, the romance doesn't completely unfurl.  I liked that the romance wasn't the main focus.  It is subtle and just right.  I especially liked that the romance was on slow burn, once I learned all the expectations for a young woman's conduct with men during this era.  Eleanor at sixteen had never even witnessed a kiss.  In the end, there are some tiny tendrils laid down for what will hopefully bloom into a full fledged romance; one that flourishes despite class and societal expectations.  
•  I thoroughly loved the historical setting.  Ms. Dennard definitely did her research and she brings us the Philadelphia of the late nineteenth century.  I really enjoyed this aspect of the book.  
• Aside from Eleanor, there are some great secondary characters as well.  My favorite was Jie, the Chinese girl.  She broke free of her cultural demands and lives a free life.  She is a stealthy fighter and just as capable as a man.  It is refreshing to see a Chinese girl be something different.

And The Not So Much:

• The Dead play a prominent role in this book, but they aren't clearly defined.  The Dead have been plaguing and terrorizing for some years, but the reader never receives a thorough explanation on how they all came to be.  Were there numerous Necromancers throughout the world raising the corpses?  Was there any means to protect the city? How did a corpse become one of The Hungry? Why weren't they cremating bodies to prevent them from rising?  I needed more information on The Dead.
• The book presents a mystery, but unfortunately it is very clear early on who is behind the recent outbreaks of The Dead in Philadelphia.  Even though it was obvious, I still enjoyed seeing all the pieces snap into place.
• Don't go into this one expecting to find brain munching zombies.  The Dead just make random appearances and they aren't very frightening.  If you are expecting this to be a  scary, zombie book, it is not.  I actually wished that The Dead played a bigger role.
• The pacing of this one was a bit slow in the beginning, but then once it gets going it moves at a quick pace, sometimes too quick, as details get glossed over a bit.  In the end, it reaches a satisfying conclusion without a cliffhanger, but certainly leaves story lines to develop in the next book. 

Something Strange and Deadly is a well written and entertaining debut novel.  It marries steampunk with mysteries and zombies.  It is a fast, fun race to discover the mind behind the strange and deadly occurrences that plague Philadelphia.  This one is receiving a lot of buzz, and I can say that it is well worth the read.

Favorite Quotations:

"I'd prefer if eligible young men learned my faults after meeting me."

"For once my legs and skirts worked in concert, and I didn't trip over hems or lace.  I just ran."

"Mama tugged the laces of my corset as tight as they would go.  She grunted and I groaned, and we sounded like the giant hogs I'd seen at the zoo---except that, rather than play in the mud and eat to my heart's content, I was forced to sit daintily in the parlor without lunch."

"Why is it that no matter how realistic or rehearsed a lie is, it always rings false in the teller's ears?"

"Life still needed living even if there was something strange and deadly going on in Philadelphia."

"She poked at my bodice.  "Why would I ever want to put this on?  Squeeze my guts and deform my ribs?  It's not natural."

"For all that Daniel hated me, maybe he liked me a little too."

"Women in pastel gowns shimmered under streetlamps, and their dragging skirts whispered like a symphony of moth's wings."

"I saw his soul.  It sparkled like the sun on the river, and warmth washed over me.  It was the smile after the storm."

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions expressed are my own and I did not receive any compensation for this review.  All quotations are taken from the ARC and they may differ from the final copy. 

A big thank you to Shane at Itching for Books and Susan for allowing me to be a part of the tour. 

 

The Sunday Post 6th Edition

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba over at The Caffeinated Reviewer.  It is a weekly news post to recap the past week on your blog and highlight upcoming posts for next week. 

Can you believe it is the end of July already?  Seriously, where is this summer going?  I know that most of the United States is suffering through sweltering temperatures, but here in the Pacific Northwest it is just right! Perfect for spending an afternoon quietly reading outdoors.  

It was another busy week on Rainy Day Ramblings.  

Monday: Was my tour review stop for Jolene Perry's Knee Deep. This is a compelling read about an abusive teenage relationship.  A book that all teenagers should read.  I also was lucky enough to be able to host a giveaway.  There is still time to enter.

Tuesday: I hosted the second stop on Amanda Hocking's Wake Tour.  I have another giveaway listed for a signed copy of Wake. 

I also had a wild and wacky Tell Me Something Tuesday with some zany questions.

Wednesday: I reviewed The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova.

Thursday: I hosted the lovely Nora Weston with a terrific guest post featuring Jake from her novel The Twelfth Paladin.  Nora has a wonderful giveaway for all cake lovers!  This is an awesome giveaway. You need to check it out.

Friday: My weekly feature: Friday Forecast.  What book do you want from this list?

This week for review I received:

Thank you to the publishers for these great reads.

I won:

 

Thanks to Felicia over at the Geeky Blogger and author Jennifer Kathleen Gibbons. 

I picked up a Kindle title for $.99

And who can resist freebies: 

Next week on Rainy Day Ramblings: 

Monday: Is my stop on The Strange and Deadly Tour. I put together a fun guest post along with author Susan Dennard on cookies.  I will have some great recipes and a giveaway. 

Tuesday: On Tell Me Something Tuesday I will be answering another controversial topic regarding negative reviews.  How do you feel about them? I will also be participating in the read along for the smoking hot book that is getting so much buzz: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Wednesday: I will be featuring a review on Courtney Cole's Dante's Girl. This is a cute, fun summer read.

Thursday: Is the kick off of the First Grave on the Right Read Along.  There is still time to join in.  Author Darynda Jones is offering some fantastic prizes, including a highly coveted copy of Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet.  I will also be posting a review of The Farewell Season on a blog devoted to promoting Northwest authors that I contribute to. Stop by and check it out. There are always plenty of giveaways.

Friday: I will have another Friday Forecast. Check out all the hot titles coming out. 

That's a wrap everyone. I can't wait to see what news you all have to share! Have a great week!

 

Friday Forecast July 29-August 4

Wow! Here we are the last week of July already.  Can you believe how fast the summer is slipping by?  Hope you are enjoying it! I have the upcoming attractions for next week along with the weather forecast for Portland, Oregon.  Tell me what title you are interested in and how the weather is for you.  (Click on the covers for details)

July 29-August 4th

I have a feeling a lot of you will be telling me you are getting Pushing the Limits since it is catching fire on the blogosphere! 

Portland, Oregon Weather:

Saturday H73  L59                                                                                  Sunday H73  L 54 

Have a great weekend! 

Guest Post and Giveaway with Nora Weston

Today I have another guest post from an absolutely lovely lady, Nora Weston.  If you haven't met Nora, you are missing out, she is a sweetheart! Here is a little bit more about Nora:

Bio: Nora Weston’s fiction and poetry slips in-between and all around science fiction, fantasy, and horror. The most terrifying things Nora has encountered are teenagers...with driving permits, and she’s taught five of these frightening creatures to drive. Her publishing credits include anthologies, magazines, and e-zines. Melange Books released her science fiction adventure, Guardian 2632 in January 2011. Melange Books released Nora’s supernatural thriller, The Twelfth Paladin in June 2011, and her work has just been published by Crack the Spine and Bête Noire. Themes found in Nora’s work relate to good against evil, Internet safety, the powerful consequences for one’s actions, and the ability we all possess to improve the world. She’s had the pleasure of reaching people through the airwaves on radio stations throughout the US. Feel free to download previous interviews and segments from Desmond Haas/Romance Radio Network and Blog Talk Radio’s Not Picture Perfect, plus B.K. Walker has interviewed Nora at Blog Talk Radio as well. 

Wow! Quite an impressive resume! Nora is here today to share with you all a guest post about her latest book The Twelfth Paladin.  Stick around for the giveaway. It is a good one! Here is Nora with a post on Jake and Cake:

Cake with Jake: Sinfully Good Delights

Are you ready to satisfy your craving to read a Heaven/Hell adventure…full of danger, lost souls, and a reluctant hero who finds it hard to believe he deserves a second chance at life? Then enter this giveaway to win my supernatural/thriller, The Twelfth Paladin, plus The Cake Book!

This novel takes Jake Cottrell (a hottie who simply cannot resist temptations of the wicked kind) on the ride of his life as he succumbs to decadence—dipped in sin and dressed to kill in the form of Rachel Darnell. She’s eye candy, beautiful for sure, but lethal in every way, and yes…Jake desires her above everything, even more than keeping his soul.

So, Nora, why cake with Jake? There’s nothing frightening about cake!

Ah, but cake is a temptation. A scrumptious one, hard to resist, and it’s a sinfully good snack to enjoy while reading The Twelfth Paladin. It’s up to you to decide if you’re more of a Devil’s Food Cake lover or an Angel Food Cake lover. Me? I’m more of a donut girl; I would kill for them, and have lived on them, but Donuts with Jake doesn’t work for a giveaway!

While reading this book, keep in mind it was inspired by an actual email I received inviting me to play with danger. It was the strangest email I’d ever received, absolutely made my eyes pop and my stomach flip. Now, I’m a bit on the mischievous side, so I’d choose the Devil’s Food Cake, but I deleted that message about as fast as I can devour a freshly glazed donut. (Okay, maybe as fast as two glazed donuts! Like I’d ever eat just one…)

Temptations get us all in different ways, and I find it fascinating that what tempts one person—may not interest another at all. Adrenaline rushes, shopping escapades, financial endeavors that go awry, and romantic fantasies that become nightmares have all been explored in books and movies. One of the worst shopping experiences I ever had was when my hubby and I decided to buy our sixth child, Aaron, a pet. We were so “into” the moment, because our child was beyond excited, that we were tempted to buy every animal we saw. 

Aaron rejected rabbits, mice, puppies, kittens, ferrets, birds, and fish. What did we end up with? Lizards! Liz and Zard. BIG mistake! Those two lizards would only eat live crickets, and I could never find them anywhere to purchase. Apparently, crickets either do not exist in Wisconsin, or they are super good at hiding. Oh! You would not believe how two tiny lizards could be so difficult to care for. Tempted to go pet shopping? Be careful.

So, join in on the fun, and enter the Cake with Jake Giveaway! You’ll win The Cake Book and The Twelfth Paladin (e-book, Kindle, or print) to indulge in a feast of the literary kind. This is an international giveaway. Feel free to comment on what tempts you and how you handle that temptation. Is it stockpiling shoes, eating sweets, shopping for clothes, spending too many hours surfing the net, or is participating in something dangerous what gets you? (Click on the cover for details on the cake book).

Thanks for stopping by Rainy Day Ramblings!

Find Nora Weston:

Website, Facebook, Twitter, Blog/Noracast, Goodreads. 

Her books are available to purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords. 

A huge thanks to Nora for being here today.  Please be sure to enter her giveaway.  This is an incredibly generous giveaway.... I know that many of you out there adore cooking and baking, so you should enter to win! See Contest Policies for details. Fill out the Rafflecopter and Good Luck! 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Vicious Deep (Vicious Deep #1) by Zoraida Córdova

For Tristan Hart, everything changes with one crashing wave.He was gone for three days. Sucked out to sea in a tidal wave and spit back ashore at Coney Island with no memory of what happened. Now his dreams are haunted by a terrifying silver mermaid with razor-sharp teeth.His best friend Layla is convinced something is wrong. But how can he explain he can sense emotion like never before? How can he explain he’s heir to a kingdom he never knew existed? That he’s suddenly a pawn in a battle as ancient as the gods.Something happened to him in those three days. He was claimed by the sea…and now it wants him back.
Hardcover, 384 pages
Published May 1st 2012 by Sourcebooks Fire

 

Three Stars: A fun book with mermen and more! 

Tristan is enjoying another lifeguard shift at the Coney Island Beach.  He watches the sun kissed girls in skimpy bikinis and sunglasses parading up and down the beach, a catwalk for the lifeguards.  His eyes dart over them, but in reality he only has eyes for one girl, Layla, who just happens to be his best friend and has no idea of his feelings.  The lazy afternoon is interrupted without warning when screams pierce the air.  A giant wave is headed toward shore and in its wake are hundreds of screaming beach goers.  Tristan looks out at the dark water and sees a pair of arms struggling in the water.  Without thinking, he runs toward the water despite Layla's frantic screams.  He plunges in, only to find the current is too strong and the victim yards away.  The behemoth wave crashes over him, and he fades into blackness.  Three days later, he awakens on the beach to the joyful squeals of Layla.  His return is miraculous! Yet, where was he for those three days?  Why does he remember nothing except a woman with white hair and vicious teeth, and a shark?  It seems that Tristan's mother has been keeping some secrets from him.  Secrets that will change everything, including his future and those secrets lie in the Vicious Deep....

What I Liked:

• I appreciated reading this one from a male's perspective.  There are not enough male point of view books in the YA genre, so I am always pleased to find a male narrator.  Tristan is funny and courageous as well as a typical male, in that he doesn't always make the best decisions when it comes to dating and he is overly concerned with his male parts.  I also enjoyed that he is a merman, which again is not something you find in the sea of books.
• I liked that this book presents a complex story line.  It has numerous storylines: Tristan discovering his true identity and battling for his chance as a ruler, Tristan's unrequited feelings for his best friend Layla, the challenging quest in order to become the sea king, avoiding the dangerous sea witch and Merrows....these storylines blend into an action filled story line.
• I enjoyed the romance in this one.  It consists of two lifelong best friends who obviously have feelings for each other, but neither party has expressed or acknowledged their feelings toward the other.  Thus, you get a romance with smoldering tension that leaves the reader anxiously waiting for that pivotal moment that changes everything and for the sparks to start flying.  No insta love or love triangles in this one!
• This book has may memorable characters that are just as fun and entertaining as the protagonists.  I especially enjoyed Marty, the mysterious boy who is not completely human.  This book is full of great memorable characters.  The Sea King is also fascinating. 
• I loved how the incorporated the sense of smell into the book.  She cleverly uses it to describe feelings, I liked the additional sensory experience in her writing. It was certainly unique and refreshing. 

And The Not So Much:

• My biggest complaint for this book might seem petty to some of you, but to me it was like nails across the chalkboard every time I encountered this flaw.  What was the offender?  This book on countless occasions uses the phrases "I go" or "he goes" or "she goes" instead of saying I said or he/she said.  It is not grammatically correct to use this slang and I was absolutely shocked to find it in this book. I cannot believe a professional editor let that slide.  I also found the phrase "and he/she was all" annoying along with the constant use of "bro".
• I was a bit disappointed that Tristan's  mother and her history did not play a bigger role.  This seemed like such an important piece of the story.  How does a mermaid fall for a land dweller and what are all the repercussions?   Too much of this was left out and glossed over.  I truly wanted to know all these details. 
• This book has a complex story line with many conflicts and plots playing out, the problem is that almost none of them are resolved by the end of the book and the reader is left with another big fat, dreadful cliffhanger.  A big let down! 

The Vicious Deep is an entertaining and action packed read that follows a young man as he discovers the shocking truth of his heritage and the subsequent consequences of being a Merman who is in love with his best friend.  If you are looking for a mermaid book that is a bit different give this a try.  Tristan is a likeable hero who will make you laugh with his antics.  Look for the follow up: The Savage Blue, January 2013.

Favorite Quotations:

"Her lips are warm, like leaning your face up at the sky and wishing the sun would kiss you, and it does.  It really does."

"Sometimes I'd tell her she and Dad should've tried for a daughter, and then realized I was telling my parents to keep having sex."

"The smell of disappointment that's coming from her---crushed flowers and dew and the fog before it rains."

"I don't need a sixth sense to describe the way she smells today, like sunshine in this terribly cloudy day."

"My heart feels like a Hacky Sack in use when she says Layla's name."

"I can sense her near me---lavender and salt and crushed flowers, sticky between her fingertips.  She loves me not."

"The ground beneath us glitters.  The river ends in a waterfall that falls like silk against the boulders."

"I can smell Layla's wonder, her own blend of blooming flowers."

"When you grow up without grandparents, it's like you're missing a link to a past you didn't even care you had until you have to sort through it to understand who you are."

"I'm half human.  Not half stupid." Most of the time."

"I don't like my girls with a side of crazy, thank you."

This review and quotes are from an ARC copy I received in exchange for an honest review.  I received no compensation and all opinions expressed are my own.

Wake (Watersong #1) by Amanda Hocking Tour Stop, Guest Post Review and Giveaway

I am excited to be one of the first stops on Amanda Hocking's Wake Tour.  As part of the tour I get to share with a special guest post by Amanda as well as a giveaway for a copy of her newest book: Wake the first book in her newest triology called Watersong.  

Here is Amanda with her playlist for Wake:

Playlist Florence + the Machine - "Never Let Me Go" 

I finished writing Wake in mid-2011, and this song didn't come out until October 2011. But as soon as I heard this song, I felt like it was written specifically for the book. Really, all of "Ceremonials" fits with Watersong, and everyone should go listen to it immediately.


Amos the Transparent - "Greater than Consequence" 
I really love this song. I thought of it as Gemma's song in the book, especially in the chapter called "Peace." I listened to it on repeat while writing that chapter.

Katy Perry ft. Kanye West - "E. T." 
For reasons I don't completely understand, I was obsessed with this song last summer. Like obnoxiously can't-get-enough-of-it obsessed, and I wrote Wake last summer. So I can't listen to this song now without thinking of Wake.

Danny Elfman - "The Truth" 
When I write, I listen to film scores sometimes. With Wake, it was a lot of the score for the film The Next Three Days. This was my favorite song from that album, and there are several places in the book that I feel like this would really fit.

Oceanship - "Hotblack" 
Remember that part in the book where Gemma is swimming away from the cove, and then she runs to Alex's house, and she asks him to remember her? This is the song that would be playing.


Imogen Heap - "Little Bird" 
Imogen Heap has such a lovely voice, and this is sorta how I imagined Lexi's voice sounding.


La Roux - "In for the Kill"
This is kinda Penn and Lexi's theme song.


Silverchair - "Mind Reader"
I love Silvchair so much, and Young Modern is an immensely underrated album. "Mind Reader" is my favorite song from the album, and it also serves as Harper's ringtone for Gemma. But the song says something about their relationship, too.

Cute Is What We Aim For - "Time" 
Don't have much to say about this song. It just seems to fit. <---

Thank you Amanda for sharing! I am looking forward to going back through the book and listening to the songs you picked to accompany it! 

For those of you who haven't met Amanda before....Where have you been??? Here is a brief bio:

Amanda Hocking : I live in Minnesota with my dog, two cats, two fish, and my roommate/assistant/platonic lifemate, Eric. I actually live in Austin, a.k.a. SPAMTown, USA. They invented SPAM here, and the town is quite proud of it. (Here’s a vlog with a fun tour of the SPAM museum: here.)

I do many things, most of them lame and boring, but the thing I get paid to do is write young adult books.

All three books in my Trylle Trilogy - Switched,Torn, and Ascend - were originally self-published, but were re-released with St. Martin’s and Pan Macmillan internationally with new bonus content in early 2012. The trilogy has also made the USA Today Bestseller list, the New York Times Bestseller list, and was recently optioned for a film by Media Rights Capital with District 9 screenwriter Terri Tatchell adapting the books for screen.

St. Martin’s and Pan Macmillan recently acquired my new young adult four-book series Watersong, with the first book Wake coming out in August 2012. My zombie series, The Hollows, is being adapted into a graphic novel by Dynamite.

I also enjoy Red Bull, Jim Henson, Batman, Jane Austen, Star Wars legos, and I absolutely hate long walks on the beach out of my intense fear/hatred of wet sand.

Now for the giveaway! Amanda is offering a paperback copy of her latest book, Wake to one lucky winner.  This contest is open to U.S. residents only.  To enter fill out the Rafflecopter.  See Contest Policies for all details.  Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now for my review:

Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door. He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back. Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever. She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove. They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price. And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.
Hardcover, 320 pages
Expected publication: August 7th 2012 by St. Martin's Press

1/2

Three and a half Stars: A dark spin on an old mythological creature.

Gemma floats in the calm sea, gazing at the blanket of stars above her head.  She is at home in the water and loves to swim in the bay at night more than anything.  At sixteen, 

Gemma is an exceptional swimmer with high hopes for her swimming career.  A light flashes from the shore. Gemma looks over to see the three strange and beautiful girls who recently came to town dancing in the flickering shadows of a fire.  Where did they come from?  For reasons she cannot explain, those girls give her the creeps!  Gemma hurries home and puts them in the back of her mind.  She has more important things to think about these days: swimming and her unexpected feelings for the geeky boy next door, Alex, who also happens to be her sister's best friend.  Gemma continues to swim 

as often as she can by the moonlight enjoying the tranquility, but one night the three girls beckon to her and she is compelled to go to them.  Beside the fire, they insist she drink from a canteen.  Gemma refuses, but a look from Penn the leader, and Gemma seemingly hypnotized sloshes back the terrible drink.  The next morning when Harper discovers Gemma is missing, she flees to the beach, to find Gemma bruised and battered on the shore.  Relieved, she proceeds to chew her sister out.  Gemma isn't able to clearly explain what happened on the beach.  Once Gemma returns home, she begins to feel like something is off.  Meanwhile, boys are missing in the town and there is an air of distrust surrounding the three beautiful girls.  What happened to Gemma on the beach? 

What I Liked:

• I appreciated the depth in the characters that Ms. Hocking creates.  At the center of the story is a pair of sisters, Gemma and Harper.  Harper is responsible, protective and a control freak who sacrifices fun in order to maintain her grades and take care of her sister and father.  Gemma is a free spirit, at home in the water, swimming morning noon and night.  The secondary characters are just as entertaining from the geeky boy next door, Alex, who is a techie and still has Transformer bed sheets on his bed at eighteen.  He is sweet, shy and a total nerd.  Daniel the seemingly bad boy with no ambition lives in a boat at the dock.  This scruffy guy is a diamond in the rough. Brian, the girls' dad is also enjoyable.  I laughed at his protective gestures and some of his lines to the prospective beaus made me laugh.  They reminded me of my dad in my teenage days.  I loved getting to know all of these wonderful characters. 
• My favorite aspect of this book was the sister bond between Gemma and Harper.  The two sisters look after each other and their dad since their mother was injured in an accident seven years earlier.  I completely identified with Harper and understood her need to protect and mother Gemma.  I am the big sister and I feel the same about my sister, no matter how old we get.  Ms. Hocking nails perfectly the intricate and conflicts that come from that unique sisterly relationship.  
• I liked that this book presents two romances: one for each sister.  Both relationships are in the beginning stages full of the awkward hesitancies and magnetic pulls that come with a budding romance.  These romances take there time in building.  I especially loved the way Harper starts off disliking Daniel since he appears to be a bad boy with no ambition.  The attraction starts off as antagonistic and slowly moves toward sparks.  These are always my favorite types of romances.
• The three girls are mysterious, dark and you just know they are bad news from the first page. I liked the way Ms. Hocking keeps you guessing as to exactly what these girls are.  They appear to be some type of paranormal beings, but you don't learn their secrets until the second half.  Once they reveal themselves, I was pleased to find they were something a bit different. I also appreciated that Ms. Hocking crafted her characters from mythological lore.  

And The Not So Much:  

• My biggest complaint for this book was just as the story was moving and beginning to crescendo it chops off with a cliffhanger leaving the reader feeling a bit cheated.  I would like to have seen the book extend out instead of ending so abruptly.  Luckily, the next installment is due out in Winter 2013.
• Even though I loved the budding romances, I wanted more, especially when it comes to Harper and Daniel.  The relationship was just beginning to flame and then the book ends.  I love slow builders, but this didn't have quite enough development for my taste.  I hope that in book two there is more movement between the two. 
• I would have liked just a touch more information on the three girls.  Their abilities were fully coming to light at the end of the book, but again the book ends abruptly before the reader can learn all their secrets.

Wake is a fast and entertaining read with wonderful characters and an old, dark danger.  Ms. Hocking again surprises us with her own unique paranormal creations.  She definitely has a knack for giving the reader something different.  This is the first book in what is sure to be a thrilling series.  Look for book two Lullaby in November 2013.

Favorite Quoatations:

“Out there, under the stars, the water seemed like it went on forever.  The bay met the sea, which in turn met the sky, and it all blended together like she was floating in an eternal loop.”

“The trip to the bay seemed to go quicker than normal.  Pedaling seemed easier.  Gemma felt like she was floating on a cloud.  One simple kiss from Alex had somehow made the whole world lighter.”

“Being out with a boy was a much more favorable alternative than being hurt or dead.”

“Sometimes Harper got so wrapped up in taking care of everything, her father and the house and making sure that Gemma was in line and safe, she forgot that she actually loved her sister.  The truth was that Harper would be lost without her.”

“It’s like I always say---you can tell a lot about a person by the books they check out.”

“I guess what I’m trying to say is that you can’t live somebody’s life for them.  They have to make their own choices, and sometimes all we can do is learn to live with them.”

I received a copy of this book courtesy of the author as part of a tour.  I received no compensation for my review and all opinions are my own. The quotes are taken from an ARC copy. 

A big thanks to Ashley over at Bookish Brunette for having me on the tour. 

 

Tell Me Something Tuesday #29

It is Tuesday! Time for another edition of Tell Me Something Tuesday! A meme hosted by Cambria Hebert.  Every week a new question. Click over to Cambria's blog, link up and grab next week's question! This week's wild and wacky questions:

Would you rather be go about your normal day naked or fall asleep for a year?

Would you rather be gossipped about or never talked about at all?

Would you rather be born with an elephant trunk or a giraffe neck?

Well this is a fun week!  Ok, first up would I rather be naked for a day or fall asleep for a year?  The whole naked thing is frightening for sure...but it would depend. If I had to run around naked on a hot day in my own house then it wouldn't be so terrible, but if it were the middle of winter and I had to be out and about while naked, not so good. I have heard, though, that being extremely cold helps you lose weight....nope sorry being exposed to the elements, wind, rain, snow would be terrible, in fact the whole nudie thing is not for me.  Guess I won't be joining any nudist colonies either!  I would take sleep for a year. Granted, I would miss out on a lot but at least I would be well rested when I woke up!

 

Gossiping or never talked about. This is a little easier...I would prefer anonymity vs. gossiping. Look at all the celebrities plastered all over the gossip magazines every week and photographed all the time even when at their worst. I do not envy them one bit. I will take my privacy! Besides, we all know how detrimental gossip can be! I would prefer a simple, quiet life vs. having every detail of my life splashed all over for everyone to read and judge!  I will take faceless person in a crowd any day!

 

 

Elephant trunk or giraffe neck... well this isn't an easy one, either. An elephant trunk would be handy for picking things up, less bending over and also nice for watering the plants and washing the car, but it certainly wouldn't be attractive.  A giraffe's neck would be weird, and I wonder how I would ride in a car...yet it would come in handy. I would never have to worry about somebody sitting in front of me and blocking my view. I could easily pick fruit from high trees and see what is up on top of my fridge. That would be convenient.  While neither choice is attractive, I would pick long neck over trunk just because it is a little less weird looking! 

Some wild questions...what do you all think?

 

Knee Deep by Jolene B Perry Tour Stop and Giveaway

Shawn is the guy Ronnie Bird promised her life to at the age of fourteen. He's her soul mate. He's more uptight every day, but it's not his fault. His family life is stressful, and she's adding to it. She just needs to be more understanding, and he'll start to be the boy she fell in love with. She won’t give up on someone she’s loved for so long.Luke is her best friend, and the guy she hangs with to watch girlie movies in her large blanketopias. He's the guy she can confide in before she even goes to her girlfriends, and the guy who she's playing opposite in Romeo and Juliet. Now her chest flutters every time he gets too close. This is new. Is Ronnie falling for him? Or is Juliet? The lines are getting blurry, but leaving one guy for another is not something that a girl like Ronnie does.Shawn’s outbursts are starting to give her bruises, and Luke’s heart breaks as Ronnie remains torn. While her thoughts and feelings swirl around the lines between friendship and forever, she’s about to lose them both.
ebook, 176 pages
Published May 1st 2012 by Tribute Books

Four Stars: A compelling read that focuses on a difficult topic! 

Ronnie is excited to start her senior year.  She has two wonderful best friends, Mindy and Luke, and best of all the boy she has been in love with she was twelve moved back last winter and they are so in love and happy.  At least, that is what she tells herself.  Yet, things haven't been perfect lately with Shawn.  He has been moody, distant and they have been fighting more.  She blames the situation on the added pressure he is experiencing at his job and at home.  If she is just a bit more patient and understanding things will surely iron out, after all this is the boy with whom she is meant to be with forever.  The problem is no matter how hard she tries things don't smooth out.  She is constantly walking on eggshells not knowing what will aggravate Shawn.  It could be something simple like wearing high heeled shoes that sets him off.  One day his anger escalates into physical aggression when he grabs her wrist and bruises it.  Despite this incident, Ronnie is still convinced that Shawn is the only boy for her, but why is she suddenly experiencing these fluttery new feelings for her best friend Luke?

What I Liked:

• I absolutely applaud Ms. Perry for addressing this difficult topic.  So many women out there suffer horrible abuse inflicted on them by the person they love.  I was so glad to read this book and I am grateful that Knee Deep will help spread awareness.  Granted this book focuses on a teenager caught in the beginning stages of a relationship that unexpectedly turns abusive, but it is still a compelling novel, one I think any teenage girl should read.
• I appreciated that the violence was minimal.  I think this was important because first, it shows that aggression even small acts, like grabbing an arm, are a form of abuse.  Using little incidents and finally building to a more violent scene show how it can quickly start and escalate.  Young girls need to be aware that even a slight infraction like a harmful grab is a form of abuse! 
• I also loved the way that Ronnie's character was portrayed.  She is young, innocent and naive.  A girl who feel in love at twelve with the first boy who made her heart flutter.  She is convinced that Shawn is her fairy tale happy ending and that they are going to be together; no matter what.  She reminds me of a little girl stubbornly clinging to her first fairy princess dress, despite the fact that it doesn't fit like it should anymore and it is worn and tattered.  Her relationship with Shawn is much like that ill fitting dress.  The relationship has turned into an abusive and controlling situation that will only fester and grow worse over time.  She spends most of the book second guessing and trying to convince herself it is somehow her fault.  I know many readers may struggle with her naïveté, but Ms. Perry gets it right in her depiction.  Ronnie is the perfect example of how it is so easy for a girl to slip into one of these bad relationships. So many women are stuck in these cycles of violence.  Time and time again, coming back when he apologizes and declares his love and utters his false promises that it won't happen again.  If you know any young lady caught in this type of situation share this book and get her help!
• I liked that Ronnie has such a strong support system.  She has her father, Luke and Mindy.  Unfortunately, she, like most women in her situation, fails to take advantage of her support.  

And The Not So Much:

• This is one book that I fervently wished that I could get inside Shawn's head to have a better understanding of what was motivating him and why he reacted the way he did.  However, I realize that knowing why Shawn behaved the way he did would ruin the realism.  Meaning, no one knows for sure what drives a man to beat the woman he loves.  Seeing things through Shawn's eyes would ruin the book.  It is best to keep it via Ronnie's view only, that way the reader is in the dark and clueless as well.
• I was a bit discouraged that there was not a more thorough discussion on the consequences that Shawn faced at the end.  I think it is important for girls out there to know what the punitive results are for abusers.  Hopefully, with this knowledge they will be more inclined to act.  I also felt that at the end of the book it would be beneficial to include a list of resources for girls stuck in this situation.  If including this information helps only one girl, it will make a difference.
• I was put off by Ronnie's mother.  Her character is flat, and a non participant for the most part.  Her father however plays a vital role in the book.  I just wished the mother was better developed.  
• Yes, this book presents a love triangle but I was willing to overlook it because I really liked Luke's character for one, and second it was a nice diversion from the heavy topic.  Unfortunately, most abused girls don't have a Luke waiting in the wings. 
• This of course is a book I would recommend for an older YA audience due to the weighty issue and the references to drinking and some sexual situations.  However, that being said, this is an important book that any girl, even as young as thirteen or  fourteen if they are in an abusive relationship, they should read this.
• This is a small personal issue, but for me there was too much repetition with phrases with the word melt and melting...it was a little much for my taste.

Knee Deep ended up being a moving and compelling read for me.  I appreciated Ronnie's young, innocent and naive voice.  Watching her struggle and blame herself for the bruises was an eye opening experience, yet so real.  Too many girls are caught in these violent cycles of abuse and forgiveness because they fervently believe they are meant to be with this man they love, despite his shortcomings.  No one deserves to be hit, slapped, controlled, mentally or verbally abused.  No excuses, no blame.  Get out! Get Help.  I am glad that I read this book!   

Favorite Quotations: 

"I'd never admit to loving being back in school, but I love being back in school.  It smells like new ink from unopened text books, and everyone's in their favorite new clothes.  It all just adds up to a fresh start."

"I watch my toes peek out from under my dress, something I never tire of seeing."

"I hate never mind.  It's like---oh yeah, that thing I wanted to say?  You're just not important enough for me to say it."

"I'm like a leaf battered about in the wind."

"Did I just admit to what I think I did?  I'm half freed/ half chained more tightly.  Someone knows, but he's not someone who will understand."

"My heart is starting to swirl as much ad my head and my emotions are as lost as my thoughts."

"I'd known him too long to think of him as anything less than a forever thing."

"Shivers run through me as his fingers slide through mine.  Our fingertips touch, our palms slide together and I'm helpless to do anything but watch."

"I'm starting to understand the difference between embarrassment and humiliation.  Embarrassment is toilet paper stuck to shoe, or your zipper sliding down.  Humiliation is feeling stupid, knowing things should have been different instead of landing us all in this surreal situation."

"Mom tries to hug me, but I don't want it.  I want to fold my arms and legs, fold myself in until I'm a tidy, crisp white envelope.  Perfect.  Clean.  Untouched." 

I received this book courtesy of Tribute Books  in exchange for an honest review.

Now for the best part! The giveaway! The fabulous Nicole over at Tribute books is allowing me to give out an ebook copy of this wonderful book.  Please fill out the Rafflecopter to enter. See Contest Policies for all details. Be sure to visit Tribute Books for more great titles.  You can find Jolene on her blog, website,twitter, Facebook and Goodreads.  Her books are available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords.  Good Luck! For more stops on the Knee Deep Tour click the banner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Sunday Post Fifth Edition

Welcome to another edition of the Sunday Post.  This is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba, The Caffeinated Reviewer.  It is a chance to share news and events for the past week and a look ahead at the upcoming week.  

Can you believe how quickly the summer seems to be flying by?  Here in the Pacific Northwest we had kind of a strange week with lots of overcast skies, humidity but not much rain.  Hopefully the skies will clear and we will be back to sunshine.  At least the temperatures are comfortable!

This past week on the blog was a bit different! 

Monday: I reviewed the summer thriller Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.  This is definitely one of my favorite reads of the summer. It is a dark book with lots of twists and turns! If you are a fan of thrillers you should read this one.

Tuesday: On Tell Me Something Tuesday I posted my thoughts on big house publishers vs. indie and self publishing.  This is a touchy topic, but I was pleased to see the responses by all you bloggers, and it seems we are all on the same page. Check it out and add your two cents.

Wednesday: I shared an excerpt from Courtney Cole's Dante's Girl. 

Thursday: I featured a guest post and guest reviewer.  I had Joan Holub author of The Goddess Girls Series and Katertot from A Belle's Tales.  It made for a fun post and I also have a giveaway see it here! 

Friday: Another fantastic book forecast and the announcement for the Darynda Jones Read Along. I would love to have you join in the fun! There are some fantastic prizes as well.

This week I received these awesome books for review:

A huge thanks to all the publishers, authors and bloggers for these books.

I grabbed some freebies, who can resist free ebooks?

Finally I purchased for $.99

Don't you love the interesting cover?

Coming up on the blog this week I have another exciting week planned! 

Monday: I have a review and giveaway of Knee Deep by Jolene Perry. This was a great read that all teenage girls should check out.

Tuesday: I will have a zany question for Tell Me Something Tuesday along with a guest post, review and giveaway from Amanda Hocking's Wake Tour.

Wednesday: I will be reviewing The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova.

Thursday: I have another guest post and giveaway scheduled with Nora Weston author of The Twelfth Paladin. 

Friday: The weeks wraps with Friday Forecast. 

I have three giveaways going on right now. Feel free to enter. 

It should be a fun and busy week with lots of giveaways! Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week!