2014 RITA Award Winners

I haven’t read the first three, but I can never get enough of Susanna Kearsley. She has such a beautiful, evocative way of writing. I especially loved Firebird.

Five Book Characters I hate with all of my heart

There are so many!

Diary of an Introverted Schmuck

Aren’t there some book characters who you wish die a gruesome death? Or maybe just get kicked in their balls? Or get their eyebrows plucked (That is painful).

I wish such terrible fates on these 5 characters-

5) Keith from ‘Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes’ and ‘The Last Little Blue Envelope’ by Maureen Johnson- Read ‘The Last Little Blue Envelope’ and you’ll understand what an arse he is. I actually liked him in Book 1 but I really hated him in Book 2. He was absolutely despicable. And mean.

Unfortunately, I don’t have an image for Keith but ‘Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes’ and ‘The Last Little Blue Envelope’ have such pretty covers!

The one with the good Keith

Keith is a jerk in this one!
But Oliver is awesome! ❤

4) Octavian from ‘Heroes of Olympus’ series by Rick Riordan- He is a teddy bear slaughtering maniac. Do I need to…

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How Adorable!

Here’s my cute little girl Lacey! And she’s a big Harry Potter fan. She has very good taste in books!

Book Quote For The Day

How true is this?

“Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home.” ~ Anna Quindlan “How Reading Changed My Life.”

Of Monsters and Madness, by Jessica Verday

Tags

Historical, Horror, Mystery, Paranormal, Romance, YA

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Annabel Lee has recently lost her mother and has now left her beloved Siam where they lived with a missionary group, to go stay with her grandfather and father. Her grandfather welcomes her with open arms. Her father unfortunately treats her with nothing but scorn. Annabel’s grandfather tries to reassure her that his behavior has nothing to do with her, but rather the painful afflictions he suffers from as a result of Typhus he picked up abroad. Yet when Annabel researches the disease, she discovers her father’s symptoms do not match. There’s also the rumor that as a once respected Dr. he has been disgraced. Then there’s all the other mysteries surrounding the family. The horrific murders taking place in the nearby village. The men who guard the perimeter of their house, and bring her father strangely shaped bags of who knows what late at night. Why are the servants so frightened, and what about his two assistants? Sweet, good looking Allen Poe who is very interested and concerned about Annabel. He also writes incredible, albeit macabre poetry. And Edgar, a physically and psychologically nastier, rougher version of Allen. And of course Annabel has a few secrets herself.  I was quite excited when I received this ARC from NetGalley. First, because I’m a huge Poe enthusiast. Second, because I loved Jessica Verday’s Hollow trilogy. I have to say though I was disappointed in this latest. First, at under 300 pages, it’s quite short and although from the ending it’s clear there will be a sequel, it was very abrupt. The combination gave me a sense of unfulfillment. I also felt that Annabel was a likeable but rather bland character. None of the others really stood out either. Not even Edgar or Allen. I thought the premise held so much promise with it’s combining Edgar Allen Poe and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but that promise was never truly realized. I hate to say this, but I don’t think I’ll be picking up the sequel.

Preview of Atlantia, by Ally Condie

Tags

Fantasy, Romance, YA

Thanks to NetGalley I read the preview last night and I just have to say Atlantia is on my top ten Fall books I can’t wait to come out! The premise is there are two worlds: Below which is an underwater world protected from the water so humans can breath. It’s sort of described as this exotic hub which has tentacles that reach out. There are temples, houses, markets, roads, everything. Then there is Above, where people volunteer to go to make sure that Below gets supplies and everything it needs to survive. This is a big sacrifice because supposedly Above is filled with pollution and life expectancy is much shorter. The main gist of the story looks like it will be centered around two twin sisters, Rio and Bay. Their father died awhile ago and their mother just died under strange circumstances on the doorstep of their mysterious aunt. Once a year, there is the ceremony where you allowed to choose to remain Below, or sacrifice yourself and go Above. Rio has always wanted the latter, but now that they’re alone, Bay makes her promise they’ll stay together Below. Then Bay mysteriously sacrifices herself leaving Rio alone Below, that is except for their aunt who is a siren like Rio which in this world is not a desirable thing to be. This preview has so many teasers! Why was the twins’ mother rushing to see her sister before she died when they hadn’t spoken for years? Why has Bay betrayed her sister when they have such a close relationship? Why does the aunt now want to mentor Rio and help her escape up to Above?  Ahhh!!! I can’t believe this isn’t coming out until the end of October!  Based on this preview I would definitely recommend you place a hold at your local library, or you pre-order your book or ebook online now.

Book Quote For The Day

I had to pick this one by one of my favorite authors because I can totally relate!

“Books were this wonderful escape for me because I could open a book and disappear into it, and that was the only way out of that house.” ~ Dean Koontz

Those Who Wish Me Dead, by Michael Koryta

Tags

Adventure, Suspense, Thriller

Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Thirteen year old Jace witnesses a murder all while following a dare. Now he’s on the run from the two perpetrators who have the uncanny ability of killing anyone they get their sights on. Because a policeman is involved Jace, who is now Connor, is signed up for a wilderness survival camp for troubled teens in Montana run by Ethan and Allison Serbin. The idea being that the killers will be trying to find him at a safe house, not something like this. Of course things do not go according to plan and the two killers who call themselves the Blackwell brothers are soon drawing close and annihilating anyone in their path. Can the Serbins and a fire tower spotter named Hannah Faber save Connor or will he wind up another victim on these maniacs kill list? First the bad news. Those Who Wish Me Dead is not one of of Michael Koryta’s best. It’s too predictable. I basically had the entire plot mapped out by the second chapter, including the “twist” near the ending. The good news is that Michael Koryta couldn’t write a bad book if he tried. I loved the characters of Jace, Ethan, Allison, and Hannah. The Blackwell brothers are two of the weirdest, creepiest villains I’ve read in a long time. Even though I knew what was going to happen, the book still managed to be interesting and I wound up finishing it in one day. If I were to rate it I’d give it three stars. 

Top Ten Tips for New Book Bloggers

FANTASTIC BLOGGING TIPS IF YOU’RE A NEWBIE LIKE ME!

Book Quote For the Day

“Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no batteries, hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent. What I wonder is why everybody doesn’t carry a book around for those inevitable dead spots in life.” ~ Stephen King