...in my mailbox #8...

....in my mailbox... is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren

The idea is to show and tell what book or book goodies we've gotten... whether by purchase, gift, contest,

borrowed, for review, etc.

**Also, I am looking for Dystopian Fiction with Romance recommendations from around

the blogosphere. 

Dystopian Fiction---Recommend Me

After reading The Hunger Games and Girl in The Arena I am looking into the genre more so and hoping I can find some with Romance since I am such a love sap!=)  Plus, there is a Dystopian Book Reading Challenge I really want to join but I have no clue as to what particular titles to read.

Okie Dokie....

Up for Review this week:

How to Be an American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway

I am half way through and really enjoying this story. 

 

Disclaimer:

Please note that this ARC copy was given to me by the author at no 

cost in exchange for an honest review.

Bought:

 Body Surfing: A Novel by Dale Peck

Unknown (Outcast Season, #2) by Rachel Caine 

My daughters library borrows: 

I Like Your Buttons! by Sarah Marwil Lamstein

Where is Kahele? by Kimo Armitage  *reborrow, they love this one=)

This book is a bilingual book.  English and 'Olelo Hawai'i.

We enjoy bilingual books and treasure the ones we own- I will have to post those soon.

Also, please feel free to leave a link to your review or a review you like to a book that I mention here.

I enjoy reviews and would love to see them.

Soon I am going to start adding Mr.Linky to some of my postings so bloggers

can link their reviews.

 

Win: First Drop of Crimson

To win a Copy of First Drop of Crimson go over to my friend Beth's blog @ Maybe Tomorrow?

It ends Feb 28th so you still have time to enter!

Alpha (Shifters, #6) by Rachel Vincent

 Alpha (Shifters, #6) by Rachel Vincent

  October 1, 2010

 

October 1, 2010
according to her blog.

Information from Rachel's Newsletter:

Coming Fall 2010: Shifters Book 6

It's all been leading up to this...

Alpha

 YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE FAYTHE...

The unscrupulous new Council chair has charged Jace, Marc, and me with trespassing, kidnapping, murder, and treason. Yeah, we've been busy. But now it's time to take justice into our own hands. We must avenge my brother's death and carve out the rot at the heart of the Council.

It's not going to be easy, and loss seems unavoidable, but I have promised to protect my Pride, no matter what. With a target on my back and Marc at my side, I'm heading for a final showdown that can--that will--change everything forever. A showdown I'm not sure I'm ready for.

But life never waits until you're ready.

However, take a look at her Blog Posts as well:

http://urbanfantasy.blogspot.com/

My thoughts on the cover:

I LOVE IT.

Rachel's covers are very consistent.  IMO, that is a great thing.

I am in the beginning of SHIFT right now but by looking at this cover I can see MAJOR change is in the works.  Faythe looks as though she will be in a position of authority.

I can't wait to see how SHIFT unfolds.

Review: Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines

Last sentence:

"Blood and money and lots of publicity"

Girl in the Arena's cover is sensational and a great entrance to an amazing novel.

The world that Lise Haines created both fascinates me and annoys me.  I find myself getting mad at all the stupid By-Laws..... who? what? when? where? how? Everything is depicted for these Gladiators and their families. When I say annoyed... it is a good thing because it shows that Lise has done her job well.  She has told a story that began as words on a page but then quickly altered to this real world in my head.

 

I agree with Tom Robbins on the back of the cover: "What Lise Haines has wrought is a kind of comic book without pictures....."  I must admit that I was able to form vivid images in my head.  I love when authors are able to tell fascinating stories so well that I become the director of my own mini-movie.  Food for my imagination.

I could feel Lyn as she cried in the arms of her Father's murderer.  I felt Uber's pain when he realized he killed his hero.  

Page 69: "It's tough when you take out your hero."

The history and origin of the Glad Culture or GSA (Gladiator Sports Associations) is very interesting.  The Glad sport was formed in order to end violence.  End the stupid and senseless killing in wars.  However, 

greed has taken root and now the sport has deviated from its purpose.  The greed for money, violence, power, and fame has changed the face of the sport.  People mark their calendars to watch men and women hack at one another.  Ceaser Inc. manipulates these warriors so they have to fight more and do more and give more.  

Girl in the Arena, feeds my interest in the complexity of the human nature. Humans are complex and I love that. 

The characters in this book are easy to love and they are multi-dimensional.... Uber- who, at first, I thought I would hate.  However, he is surprisingly sensitive and more complex then I had expected.  Lyn is amazing.  She is a nurturer and a fighter (in the arena and out).

Girl in the Arena was filled with ample examples of social satire but that comes to no shock if you read the blurb:   "a dark satire for our time,is a mesmerizing look at a modern world addicted to violence, fame, and greed- a world eerily close to our own."

Page 197:

"And I have this realization that all of us has too much power where life and death are concerned."

Who is to say what life is worth keeping or saving?  

Page 251: "Survival can sharpen the mind if it doesn't obliterate it."

A double-edged sword.  Lyn is a phenomenal character.  I admire her character and respect her for 

making the hard choices.

Hmmm, my thoughts are still all over the place.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book- not just for the entertainment value but also because I am left with many thoughts to ponder and an unexpected romance to indulge in.

Will there be an installment?  I don't know but there are a few things I am dying to read more on.  I want to understand Uber more.  He seems like a simple man who swings a sword and calls it a day but there is more to him.  Joe Byers, the creator of the Glad Sport, I am intrigued to hear his interview with Lyn.  I have a good indication of Joe's feeling towards what Ceasers Inc has done to his creation- and I am sure he knows Lyn is the best person to speak with.

To learn more about this novel visit the author:
Website / Blog / FaceBook / Twitter 

Buy the Book:
B&N.com / IndieBound.org / Amazon.com  

Have you reviewed this title as well? I would love to read your thoughts.

Dystopian Fiction---Recommend Me

I really really want to do this challenge over @ Parajunkee's View... ever since reading The Hunger Games books and Girl in the Arena I enjoy the genre immensely.

However, I really enjoy reading books when there is the element of romance.

Can anyone recommend Dystopian Fiction Novels with Romance?

I would greatly appreciate it.

If I can come up with a list then I will sign up for the challenge!

...in my mailbox #7...

....in my mailbox... is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren

The idea is to show and tell what book or book goodies we've gotten... whether by purchase, gift, contest,

borrowed, etc.

Purchased:

 

 Shift (Shifters, #5)
by Rachel Vincent

Steamed (Steampunk Romance, #1)
by Katie MacAlister 

  

  On the Edge (The Edge, #1)
by Ilona Andrews

Borrowed from the library- this one is on my TBR but I borrowed

it for my MIL to read

  The Girl Who Could Fly
by Victoria Forester

Check out my TwiGoodies that were on sale at Borders:

 

Can you believe it was priced $4.99.... OMG!!!

Sorry.... but I don't buy at full price.... sheesh!

This week was spent reading at the beach while my girls played and swam=)

Amazon Queen by Lori Devoti

The newest addition to my TBR pile.

Amazon Queen (Mass Market Paperback) by Lori Devoti

published: April 27th 2010 by Pocket

details: Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages

isbn: 1439167729    (isbn13: 9781439167724)

description: Amazon queen Zery Kostovska has never questioned tribe traditions. After all, these rules have kept the tribe strong for millennia and enabled them to live undetected, even in modern-day America. Zery is tough, fair, commanding–the perfect Amazon leader.

At least, she was. A new high priestess with a penchant for secrecy and technology is threatening Zery’s rule. Plus, with the discovery of the Amazon sons, males with the same skills as their female counterparts, even Zery can’t deny that the tribe must change. But how? Some want to cooperate with the sons. Others believe brutal new leadership is needed–and are willing to kill to make it happen.
Once, Zery’s word was law. Now, she had no idea who to trust, especially with one powerful Amazon son making her question all her instincts. For Zery, tribe comes first, but the battle drawing near is unlike any she’s faced before…and losing might cost her both the tribe and her life.

 

 

Also, Amazon Ink
by Lori Devoti

  

 

In my TBR pile as well.

I am intrigued with the blurb and would love to read these books.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event started by Breaking the Spine

The purpose is to highlight the books we are most eagerly awaiting....  what we do with that

time- I have no clue (read more....hehehehe)!

I am choosing to showcase Mockingjay... why? 

The cover just came out and I CAN NOT stop thinking about this series!!!=)

 It is THAT good!!=)
I think that a Royal Blue cover would be better suited since the other books are red and black.
I can see it now.... all 3 on my shelf. Black, red and preferably royal blue.

The Hunger Games trilogy

Mockingjay (Hunger Games, #3)
by Suzanne Collins


Goodreads:

published: August 24th 2010 by Scholastic Press (first published 2010)

details: Hardcover, 400 pages

characters

Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, Gale Hawthorne …more Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, Gale Hawthorne, Haymitch Abernathy …less

isbn: 0439023513    (isbn13: 9780439023511)

Description: Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins’s groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year.

KatieCon 2010

Wow.... I just received this email.

KatieCon 2010

 

WHAT: KatieCon is a gathering for fans of Katie MacAlister's books. The first-ever KatieCon will take place June 25th-26, 2010, in Arlington, Washington.

WHO: Attendance for KatieCon 2010 will be limited to just 50 people. Why only 50? Katie wants to make sure she has time to spend chatting, signing books, etc. with each participant. Registration will be available online shortly.

COST: The fee for KatieCon 2010 is $80 per person. Travel and accomodation is not included in the registration fee, although the conference hotel is offering a discounted room rate for participants.

WHERE: KatieCon 2010 will be held at the Medallion Hotel in Arlington, Washington, which is located about 40 miles north of Seattle. The Medallion is offering room rates of $104 per night for KatieCon attendees (you must mention the conference when making your reservation). If you are looking for a roommate, visit the KatieCon section in the Katie Mac Community for a sign-up sheet.

VIPs: Katie's agent, Michelle Grajkowski of the Three Seas Literary Agency will be present, although she will not be taking appointments with folks looking for an agent. Information about other VIPs is pending.

Further information will be coming soon regarding the final registration fee, events, etc.

Katie MacAlister, also,  writes YA under the pseudonym of Katie Maxwell.

If you are interested in attending sign up asap because seats are limited.

CLICK HERE 

...in my mailbox #6...

...in my maibox... is hosted by the fabulous Kristi @ The Story Siren.
The idea of this is to show case our weekly hauls... I will be doing anything from books to movies to little trinkets.


Let's see what I've got:

Bought New:

The Iron King (Iron Fey, #1) by Julie Kagawa 

First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, #1) by Jeaniene Frost

Bought Used:

Bitter Night: A Horngate Witches Book by Diana Pharaoh Francis 

Glass Houses (The Morganville Vampires, #1) by Rachel Caine  

Midnight Alley (The Morganville Vampires, #3) by Rachel Caine 

Fallen Rogue by Amy Rench  

Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand (Kitty Norville, # 5) by Carrie Vaughn

Three Days to Dead (Dreg City, #1) by Kelly Meding

 

Books Borrowed from the Library for me: 

Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines

Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1) by Maggie Stiefvater 

I loaned my owned copy out and I wanted to reread it so I borrowed it.

 

Hearts at Stake (The Drake Chronicles, #1)  by Alyxandra Harvey

Anale'a & 'Olena: Borrowed From Library:

Girls' Day / Boys' Day by Minako Ishii 

*reborrow

Bears in the Night (Bright & Early Books(R) by Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain 

*reborrow

The Sky Is Falling Ready To Read (Paperback)  by Betty Miles 

Super Puffy by Laurie Shimizu Ide



Kdramas:
I finished Spring Waltz and L.O.V.E.D. it=)
This week is the week is when both my home jobs overlap so it'll be smart to not start a new
one just yet=) But I want to!!!

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks... Book & Movie

        

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Come March 2010 The Last Song the movie will be on the big screen:

Director: Julie Anne Robinson

Screenplay: Nicholas Sparks & Jeff Van Wie
Starring: Miley Cyrus, Greg Kinnear, Kelly Preston, and Liam Helmsworth

Tagline: Do you ever really forget your first heartbreak?

 

Book description from Nicholas's website:

Seventeen year-old Veronica “Ronnie” Miller’s life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alienated from her parents, especially her father… until her mother decides it would be in everyone’s best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie’s father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church. The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story about love in its myriad forms – first love, the love between parents and children – that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that deeply felt relationships can break our hearts… and heal them.

After seeing the trailer I know that if you are not a fan of Nicholas's you will still want 

to see this movie:

I am a confessed Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana fan..... I realized this over a year or so ago- I dropped my 3 and 5 yo off at Grandma's house and instead of changing the CD I was bumpin' and groovin' to some 

Hannah/Miley mix tunes.  I was singing at the tops of my lungs with the windows rolled

down in my mommy SUV... the car next to me gave me a glance and it dawned on me that

- I.AM.SINGING. along to this tween music and I have no kids in the car to blame it on.

 

Oh Well, 2 second later I recovered from my embarrassment and turned it

louder. Singing loud and proud because for all I know they glanced at me
because I.CANT.SING. and not from what song I was attempting to sing.

Raven by Allison van Diepen Review

Raven by Allison van Diepen

Goodreads:

published: February 10th 2009 by Simon Pulse 

Description: "The door that was always closed is opening, and I am consumed. I don’t know if a full minute goes by that I don’t think of him, that I don’t replay how it felt to have his hand brush mine, his eyes look my way.

Click to read more.....

My thoughts:  The characters were very interesting.... Zin especially. 

However, I had two big problems

1. HUGE lack of parental supervision.  It all seemed quite easy with parents didn't seem to care about where their daughter was working (serving alcohol on a club) or when she would come home (she finished work at 4am and usually hung out with Zin at his place after). 

It's not like they were in a drug-induced stupor.

They were having a difficult time with their eldest son but you would think that would translate to tighter reins on their current line-in teen child.

The parents behavior didnt seems to match what an average parent would really do. 

I can see if the father hade died and the mom was working 2 jobs... day and night.... then yeah! there would be plenty of free time.

2.  Lack of Action and Climax.  There didn't seem to be a definitive climax.  I could easily pick out the minor problems and complications but where was the BIG BANG. 

For instance, I am reading Hearts at Stake right now.... the beginning is BANG... the problem is Solange is prophesied to be the Queen,  Now the current Queen has a bounty on her and all the Vamps want to be her King.

All in all... the book was entertaining enough and I look forward to the next installment- mainly because I want more on Zin. 



Did you review this one.  Place a link via linky tools:

Steampunk Genre Goals

Mahalo to vvB32 Reads I have a few titles to add to my goal list.  I am a HUGE romance fan so my reads must (preferably) have a love interest.

Steamed (Steampunk Romance, #1) by Katie MacAlister

Crimson & Steam (Crimson City, #8) by Liz Maverick   

*This is the most recent book and 8th in the series.  I don't think I will be able to play catch up but I want to list it here just in case I get the chance to read the series.

Clockwork Heart by Dru Pagliassotti

The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook  

October 2010

Cherry Adair & Jane Porter

Back in December I got to meet Jane Porter and Cherry Adair when they were here in Hawaii.

 

Pictured is the lovely bunch of Ladies that attended.

    

Jane and Cherry are the sweetest ever and Cherry is hilarious.

They were so wonderful and signed all over our books=)

    

     

Cherry will be having new titles hit the shelves this year and I can't wait.  She write suspense but also has dipped into the Paranormal-  I have read the paranormal in the TFLAC series and I had no problem understand the world she has created w/o reading the other ones.

Jane Porter has a new title coming soon. August.

 

 I adore this cover.

Wings and Spells by Aprilynne Pike

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event started by Breaking the Spine.
The purpose is to highlight the books we are most eagerly awaiting.... 

 Here it is:

Wings was such a refreshing novel.  I CANT wait for the release of book 2.

              Spells (Wings, #2) by Aprilynne Pike

published: May 4th 2010 by Harper Teen

Description: Six months have passed since Laurel saved the gateway to the faerie realm of Avalon. Now she must spend her summer there, honing her skills as a Fall faerie. But her human family and friends are still in mortal danger--and the gateway to Avalon is more compromised than ever.

When it comes time to protect those she loves, will she depend on David, her human boyfriend, for help? Or will she turn to Tamani, the electrifying faerie with whom her connection is undeniable?

Other books in series:

Wings (Wings, #1) by Aprilynne Pike

published: May 1st 2009 by HarperTeen

Coming in 2011

Enchantments (Wings, #3) by Aprilynne Pike  

Spring Waltz

 

Along with all the reading I do I am becoming more and more a K Drama fan!!

(Yikes, as if this WAHM of 2 keiki need any more addictions.)

The storyline is fabulous and I am finding myself revited.  I am caught up in the throws of the ups and downs. 

I am a HUGE HUGE music fan.  With that said, the K Dramas I have seen the Soundtracks are phenomenal.

Spring Waltz has only reinforced my love of music.

I adore this title: One love - Loveholic

Check out this Youtube video by brokendream2..... *air kisses* mahalo for a great vid.

This song is so fitting with this drama and I love when it's played.

Currently, I am on Episode 14 and I am tense to my seat.  If I could vegg out in front of the tube......

I WOULD. 

Of course, I would have to take breaks to feed my other addiction.... several chapters

between each epi should balance things out.

My favorite quotes so far are:

"You must be made of Sunshine.  Because I feel so warm."
"It's not a sin to be born poor."