2013 Sequel Challenge

 

This challenge is being hosted by Jessi at Auntie Spinelli Reads!

Here are the details copied from Jessi's blog:

 

Guidelines

✰The challenge runs from January 1st to December 31st

✰Any books started before Jan. 1 will not count.

✰Any book after the first book in a series counts. Books in the same series also count.

✰Novellas also count, as long as it is after book #1. (ex: #1.5, #2.5, etc)

✰Sign ups will be open until December 1st, 2013.

✰Add the URL of your challenge post to the linky widget. (If you'd like to wait, it's ok to use your blog URL and send me your link when you get the post up)

✰At the end of each month I will post a linky for you to add your sequel reviews to.

✰I will try to do some giveaways throughout the year for participants (as long as I can afford it)

✰There will be a giveaway at the end of the year for all participants who completed the challenge

 

I'm aiming to read at least 40 sequels for this challenge but I may change and increase that goal depending on my other challenges.

 

Are you signed up for this challenge? How many sequels are you planning to read?

 

2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge

 

The 2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge is hosted by Megan Likes Books and Auntie Spinelli Reads!

 

The goal is to read at least one book featuring each of the following paranormal creatures: 

 

✰Vampires

✰Werewolves/Shifters

✰Fey

✰Angels/Nephilim

✰Mermaids

✰Dragons

✰Zombies

✰Demons

✰Witches/Wizards

✰Ghosts

✰Aliens

✰Other (ie: sirens, unicorns, centaurs, timetravel etc.)

 

I'm hoping to read one book a month to tick off each of the criteria listed above. I'll be using the lable 2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge for all my posts to be found quickly and easily.

 

For more information check out the 2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge.

So what are you waiting for?! Go sign up!

 

RCC Challenge - Mysterious Meetup

In the Mysterious Meetup you can have that conversation with your favourite book character of all times. Who would you want to meet? What questions would you ask him or her? Share your Mysterious Meetup with us!

This challenge is actually a lot harder than I expected it to be. I've read so many books I think I shall give my top 3 favourite characters.

From J.K. Rowlings Harry Potter series I'd pick Harry Potter of course! I got the box set of the first 3 just after they released the set in the 90s for Christmas from my Uncle Pat and Harry quickly became one of my closest companions through childhood and even now when I re-read the series I am overcome with the same feelings of closeness.

For me, I think I would ask him if he misses Remus, and what he misses most about him.

My second favourite (right now) is Jamie Fraser from Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. I'm re-reading the first novel right now so I can read the rest this year (hopefully). There's just something about Jamie that I love and adore and I think it's because in a lot of ways he reminds me of Mr. Turning The Pages. Both are really sweet, caring and loving but still have fiery tempers when something ticks them off.

I'd ask him what it's like being in love with a woman from the future who already has a husband. I would think that even though he loves her completely that it would bother him more.

My third favourite character is Cimorene from Paticia C. Wrede's Enchanted Forest Chronicles. I own the omnibus of this series and it has been read at least 20 times since I first read it when I was 11 years old. Cimorene, like Harry was another of my childhood companions. I love her spirit, she's smart, funny and spunky!

I would ask her weather she ever misses anything about her life before she went to live with the dragons, does she miss reading? Or does Kazul have a large library for her to read?

Who are YOUR favourite characters, and what would YOU ask them?

Tangi's Teardrops by Liz Davis Review + Interview + E-book Giveaway

Summary:

When Tangi's father dies, he leaves her nothing but three empty bottles. A kind uncle takes the poverty-stricken girl and her stepsisters in, and for a time life gets better on his farm. But Tangi remains a lonely outsider; her stepsisters tease her for her crippled leg, and the housekeepers use her like a servant.

Just before her thirteenth birthday, Tangi learns the truth about her father's strange legacy: the three bottles aren't empty any more. They're filled with all the tears she's cried since her father died, and her tears are enchanted. She must use them to travel to Rosevine, the world of her dead mother. Tangi not only belongs there but is necessary to keep Rosevine alive.

Tangi's tears will save Rosevine, and Rosevine will save Tangi from a cruelty-filled life, except for one thing: Tangi's lost the bottles.Summary taken from  Goodreads.com
Length: N/A
Source: Review Copy from Author
Publication Date: January 2012


The Review:

Tangi's Teardrops is a unique retelling of the classic Cinderella story with some interesting twists. It's author Liz Davis's first YA novel and her first novel period. For the purpose of not wanting to spoil this darling little book for other readers I'm going to refrain from posting any spoilers and just talk about my overall thoughts on the book.

First off, I really liked Tangi. Though she started off as a young girl I found her character easy to connect to. As a child with a limp Tangi is made fun of constantly by her classmates and has no friends but the teasing does not stop off school grounds. Instead she has to face more ridicule at home from her older half sisters. I personally hate any form of bullying so my heart broke with her because she was such a good, kind soul I could hardly bare to see her suffering at the hands of those who should care for her.

I really enjoyed the story because it was a quick, easy read that made me feel different emotions. Liz Davis is a very talented author. She gave Tangi heart, something that is getting a little harder to find in YA novels. I highly recommend this light hearted read to everyone! The writing is lovely and you can tell the author has a passion for her work.

To purchase the book from Amazon CLICK HERE

To visit Liz's blog CLICK HERE

To read the story behind Tangi's Teardrops CLICK HERE

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my free and honest review.

★ ★ ★ ★

Interview:

Liz's Bio:

Liz Grace Davis was born in a refugee camp in Angola, to Namibian parents. She grew up in Angola, Namibia, South Africa and Germany. She now lives with her husband in Vienna, Austria. Growing up, Liz spent most her days in school libraries, diving into the world of books. In her spare time she loves to travel, create jewelry and digital scrapbooks. She's in her element when she does anything that requires creativity. Liz recently published her Young Adult fantasy novel, Tangi's Teardrops.

1.What prompted you to write Tangi's Teardrops? What was the main inspiration behind it?

My life inspired the story. Tangi’s Teardrops is based on my childhood. In fact, my third first name is Tangi. A couple of weeks ago I posted the story behind Tangi’s Teardrops on my blog. You can read it here: http://novel-moments.blogspot.com/2012/02/true-story-behind-tangis-teardrops.html

2. Did you always want to be a writer? Or, was it something that you just discovered you had a talent for?

[Soft Break] I never really thought about wanting to be a writer. I simply started writing from a young age. I wrote poems, short stories and novels that I never showed anyone. Whenever I finished writing a novel, I printed out the manuscript and hid it out of sight. Then I started on another story. I never reread them. The fun part was writing them. Years later, my best friend and my husband stumbled upon some of my work and convinced me to get published. It does feel great to be able to share my stories with the world. Even if it was very frightening at first, I don’t regret a thing.

3. Tangi's Teardrops is a unique twist on the classic Cinderella fairy tale, was it always your plan to write it that way?

Not at all. I started writing the story and when I reread the first draft, I discovered it was a kind of African fairytale. Because I never plan before writing a novel, I’m often surprised about the directions my stories take in the end.

4. What is your favourite part of Tangi's Teardrops?

There are two. The first has to be writing the novel, going on this amazing journey with my characters was incredible. Unfortunately I can’t tell you the second part because I would be giving away the best part of the book.

5. Your next book Chocolate Aftertaste is an adult contemporary romance novel, what motivated the change in genre from YA Fantasy to that?

I never wanted to pin myself down as an author who writes in only a specific type of genre. My bookshelves (and drawers and boxes) are filled with books of many different types of genres and I write what I love to read. And actually, I started writing romance novels before I wrote Tangi’s Teardrops. I enjoy writing in both genres and who knows, I might just try others.

6. If you had to pick your top 3 favourite book genre's and your top 2 books from each of those genres what would they be?

Yes, of course. Here they are:

• Chick lit— The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella and Sushi for beginners by Marian Keyes
• Romance— Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks and Jewels of the sun by Nora Roberts
• Thriller— Nothing Lasts Forever by Sidney Sheldon and Now you see her by James Patterson

Right now I’m reading The woman he loved before by Dorothy Koomson. I’m enjoying it so much, it’s hard to do anything else.

7. What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?

For me, the best part of being a writer is the actual act of writing. The second best thing is hearing someone say they enjoyed my book.

8. Who are your biggest supporters?

I have to say it’s my husband. He has been with me every step of the way and on those days when I felt I was writing rubbish, he convinced me I wasn’t. I know my mother would be a great fan too, but she doesn’t know yet that I’m published. I’m planning to give her a copy of Tangi’s Teardrops (which is dedicated to her) on her birthday in April. The readers of my novels are also great supporters. They encourage me to write that next novel.

9. If you had could interview any author, who would it be and why?

I would love to interview Lesley Pearse. I read so many of her books and I have the feeling that she pours a lot of herself and experiences into them. She must have experienced so much to be able to write with such emotion. I love how her novels swallow me up and don’t spit me out until the last page. 

10. Do you have any advice for people wanting to be authors?

Don’t write what others are writing, write what you love to read. Only then can you really pour all of you into the story. When you enjoy writing something, many others will enjoy reading it. When you don’t, they will know.

11. Can we expect more books from you in the future? Do you have any ideas for a new novel?

Most definitely. I have a lot of ideas (I jot them down all the time) but they would have to wait because I have so many other already written manuscripts that need to see the light of day. Chocolate Aftertaste will be released in two weeks and I’m already in the process of editing another novel, which will be released sometime in June. I’ll keep you updated. Keep checking my blog to learn more about my books: www.novel-moments.blogspot.com

Kimberly, thank you so much for interviewing me and for taking the time to read Tangi’s Teardrops. You’re very kind. And thanks to my readers for making me an author.

Thank you Liz! I really appreciated you giving me the opportunity to read your book and review it and thanks ever so much for agreeing to do a an interview with me and taking time out of your busy schedule!

Now Here's the tailer for Liz's upcoming novel Chocolate Aftertaste! I can't wait to read it. What about you?

Giveaway:

The giveaway is INTERNATIONAL

You MUST be 13 years or older to enter.

You MUST respond to the e-mail notifying you of your win within 48 hours or the prize will go to someone else.

The giveaway runs from March 19th to March 27th 2012.

RCC Challenge — Don’t Be Such a Tease!

The Don't Be Such a Tease challenge is all about being the biggest tease possible. We are all reading books that aren't published yet, and what is more fun than showing other readers how awesome your current read is! The challenge is to share a few sentences from the RCC book you are reading right now, so we can all get a little taste.

Publication Date: June 5th 2012

The Teaser:

Your mother hollers that you're going to miss the bus. She can see it coming down the street. You don't stop and hug her and tell her you lover her. You don't thank her for being a good, kind, patient mother. Of course not — you hurdle down the stairs and make a run for the corner.

Only, if it's the last time you'll ever see your mother, you sort of stat to wish you'd stopped and did those things. Maybe even missed the bus.

But the bus was barreling down our street, so I ran.

I'm loving this book though I'm only about 4 percent in. I think it'st a great start. The teaser is from the first page of the book.

Leave a link below sharing your teaser!

Holding On To Zoe by George Ella Lyon

(Apologies for the horrible picture it's the best one I could find)

Summary:

After sixteen-year-old Jules has her baby, Zoe, it doesn’t matter anymore that her mother thinks she’s a drama queen, or that her father left them years ago, or even that Zoe’s father is gone, too. She and her baby make a family now; she doesn’t need anyone else in the world except Zoe.Though it's tough being a new mom, balancing Zoe’s needs with working at the Toyota factory and thinking about how to finish school, Jules is sure she’ll figure it out. Still, she wonders, why can’t anyone be happy for her and Zoe? And why does her mom refuse to believe that Zoe's real?
Summary taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 176 pages
Source: NetGalley ARC
Publication Date: July 27th 2012

This book was such a disappointment for me. I had been hoping that my streak of "bad" books was over for the year. Apparently that's not the case at all.  I really hate writing negative reviews, because I don't want to hurt the author's feelings but they are necessary.

When I first saw this book listed on NetGalley I was so excited to read it because it reminded me a lot of the book Go Ask Alice by Beatrice Sparks which I've read at least a dozen times since I first discovered it when I was 10 years old.

Unfortunately for me, the book fell way short of my expectations. For me the story was bland, fragmented and over all very poorly written. I did not care for Jules at all. She was very one dimesnsional and though the sexual abuse she suffered was bad, it did not even come to light until the later 15 pages of the book. If it was he authors intention to truly write a powerful work of fiction for teens than it would have been better if that part had been worked into the story sooner than later.

The way the story was told was so fragmented it drove me nuts! I truly disliked it. The plot was promising, but it was poorly executed. To me it's as if it were a jig-saw puzzle that was put together by a teenager with no concept of how a story is supposed to be written. Basically, the book was a complete failure for me and while I don't feel comfortable recommending it to anyone, as always I urge you to think for yourselves and give it a try if you want.

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my free and honest review.

★

No Name Baby by Nancy Bo Flood

Summary:

Sophie remembered last night's dream and the gray stones-a whole row of them like the ones under the trees. Each stone was etched with letters that she couldn't quite read. When her pregnant mother falls, Sophie blames herself for the accident. Premature labor begins, and everyone worries the infant might join the others under the gray stones. Aunt Rae has come to help care for the baby and mother, but her presence only increases the tension in the family. Then Aunt Rae finds her niece talking with the young man from a neighboring farm and confronts her, revealing something that shakes Sophie's world.No-Name Baby is an intimate portrait of a young girl as she discovers the truth about herself and her family.

Summary taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 106 pages

Source: NetGalley Arc

Publication Date: March 1st 2012

This book was surprising, I really didn't expect it to be as good as it was. Maybe it's because while I like the cover, I feel that it just doesn't work for the book itself. If you're a cover snob like I am you may be put off by it too but let that pass because inside is a darling little book about hope, family and learning who you are and how to forgive.

Sophie is an italian immigrant who lives in Illinois just after the Great War. Through a series of events Sophie deals with guilt because she thinks that she is the cause of her mother going into premature labour. She is dreading the news that her mother has lost another baby, and struggling with the fact that though she sees herself as mature her family and most importantly her Aunt Rae still sees her as a child. 

The tension between Sophie and Rae is palpable. It's so thick you could cut it with a knife, but as the book goes on family secrets come out and all is understood. This is a nice read for middle graders, I think girls especially will be drawn to it but, that is not to say that it won't be good read for boys too. It's short, easy and to the point and well written.

I do have a few complaints though, I think that the book should have been longer. The plot was a little too simple, and I wish the book was less rushed. Sophie was a likable character but I wish we knew more about her. This to me seemed more like a 100 page summary of a longer novel. However it was still an okay read.

To purchase the book on Amazon CLICK HERE

To visit the author's website CLICK HERE

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my free and honest review.

★ ★ ★

Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel García Márquez

Summary:
On the eve of his ninetieth birthday a bachelor decides to give himself a wild night of love with a virgin. As is his habit–he has purchased hundreds of women–he asks a madam for her assistance. The fourteen-year-old girl who is procured for him is enchanting, but exhausted as she is from caring for siblings and her job sewing buttons, she can do little but sleep. Yet with this sleeping beauty at his side, it is he who awakens to a romance he has never known.

Tender, knowing, and slyly comic, Memories of My Melancholy Whores is an exquisite addition to the master’s work.
Summary taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 115 pages (hardcover edition)
Source: Toronto Public Library
Publication Date: November 14th 2006

My main motivations for reading this book were very simple. I needed to read a book by a Colombian author for my Around the World challenge,  and I've been meaning to give this author a try ever since I saw his book Love in the Time of Cholera in the  2001 movie Serendipity starring Kate Beckinsale and John Cusak. Plus lets be completely candid here, I'm 21 and am allowed to be immature at times so I also wanted to read the book because of the title. Sue me. So when I saw this short little book sitting high on the bookshelf at the library I thought...that now was as good a time as any to finally see what all the hype about him was about.

I knew right off the bat that this was going to fall in the more poetic side of novels and I was fine with that, despite my misgivings about novels like that I was more than willing to go into this one with an open mind. Now it may surprise some that I actually liked a lot of the story. I found the character of our unnamed protagonist to be fascinating, at 90 years old he calls a madame requesting a virgin for the night to help him celebrate.

Now I request that you get your heads out of the gutter because while the book is sensual there's no other words for it, it is not sexually explicit. In fact if you read it you'll know what I'm talking about.  Most of the book actually focuses on the man reminiscing about what he has missed out in in life as well as his recollections with whores.

Despite the fact that I liked this book more than I thought I would I feel as though I didn't get what I expected out of reading it. I thought that it would be better and more...captivating. Perhaps it's because that it's a novella and that to fully experience this writers obvious talents I will have to read one of his longer works, of which I have every intention. However, I'm thinking that it will be a long while before I pick up anything written by him. I appreciate the book for what it was and his writing style is beautifully poetic and I adore it. For me it was the story that was slow and lacking.

I would recommend this to people who enjoy novellas, poetic novels, fans of the author or other people who want to give this author a try but are not sure where to start. Like always, I encourage you to try the book for yourself and see if you like it. If you do. Leave me a link to your review.

★ ★ ★

I'm Participating in the Review Copy Cleanup!

Since I've been falling behind and getting swamped with review requests for books I thought I would join  Vicky @ Books, Biscuits and Tea and Celine @ Nyx Book Reviews for their Review Copy Cleanup :)  Why don't you sign up and join us? There will be tons of challenges and giveaways so how can that not entice you to read more :)

Challenge guidelines:

✦ This challenge runs from 1 to 31 March, 2012
✦ Sign-ups are open until 15 March 2012. After that the linky list will be closed and participation in the challenges and giveaways won't be possible for anyone who hasn't previously signed up.
✦ To sign up, just fill in the Mister Linky form below. Link to your sign up post directly, please! The Linky is the same for both our blogs, so you only have to sign up once.
✦ When you post your sign up post on your blog, either include the challenge button with your post or link it back to this article so that people know where to sign up. Thank you!
✦ Every book you received for review counts towards the challenge, both ebooks and hard copies, including all genres and lengths.
✦ You don't need to follow the two hosts in order to be able to sign up for the event (although it's appreciated), but you do have to follow us in order to be able to enter our giveaways. In order to be entered in the giveaway, simply complete the given challenge and add the link to your post in the linky list.
✦ Challenges will be posted every week on Fridays and will last throughout the week until Thursday the next week. Every challenge ends with a giveaway. To enter in the challenges and giveaways, simply add the link to your challenge post in the Linky list in the main challenge post. It will be posted on both blogs.
✦ At the end of the event we will host our Massive Giveaway. This contains tons of prizes donated by awesome authors. All you'll need to do in order to enter this giveaway is to fill in a Rafflecopter form - as simple as that. :)
✦ Most of our giveaways will be open INTERNATIONALLY but you'll find all the relevant info about each giveaway when we post the challenges.
✦ Feel free to use the #RCCleanup hashtag on Twitter for your RCC related tweets or join in the Twitter party at http://tweetchat.com/room/RCCleanup and meet lots of lovely bloggers :)

✦ March 2 - Show Off Your Pile

✦ March 9 - Cuddle Up With a Book

✦ March 16 - Don't Be Such a Tease!

✦ March 23 - Mysterious Meet-up

✦ March 30 - Love Will Find a Way

The Bride and The Beast (Fairy Tales, #2) by Teresa Medeiros

Click here to see other books I'm reading for this challenge.

Summary:

Dear Reader,
I'd been prowling the crumbling ruins of Castle Weyrcraig for so long that I could no longer remember if I was man or beast. Then one stormy night the superstitious Highlanders of Ballybliss decided to leave a helpless virgin bound to a stake in the castle courtyard to satisfy my insatiable appetites. My demands might strike terror in the hearts of men, but this bold beauty dared to defy me. After she informed me that she didn't believe in dragons, I had no choice but to make her my prisoner—or risk being exposed to those I had sought to deceive with my dangerous masquerade. Soon I found myself stealing into the moonlit tower just to watch her sleep. Little does she know that beneath this beast's gruff exterior beats the passionate heart of a man. Gwendolyn Wilder may not believe in dragons, but I intend to use all my sensual wiles to teach her to believe in something even more magical—true love.
Eternally yours,Teresa Medeiros

Summary taken from Goodreads.com

So in The Bride and The Beast I went to the Scottish Highlands for my Around the World Challenge. This was my first time reading a book by this author and since I love me a story with a scottish highlander it was a no brainer that I should give this one ago. Especially when (THANK GOODNESS) the author didn't create a size 2 heroine that bared a resemblence to a Barbie Doll which is something that is seen all to often in romance novels.

I know the cover can be decieving because it looks just like any historical romance novel published in the 1990s but I like it. I mean I grew up reading romance novels that had the general 90's cover look. I actually enjoyed my time in Scotland though I didn't enjoy the story as much as I thought I would.

I did like the book but I thought that it wasn't as well thought it would be but then again it was a light bit of fluffy romance. What I thought was weird was that the author tried to make this into a retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast story but it didn't seem like she put a lot of effort into writing that part as well as she could have and I wish she did a better job on that.

Overall I did enjoy the story but I thought that the male lead was an ass and a bit of an idiot but I was pleased to find that not only was Gwendolyn plus sized but she was smart too and had an ample dose of wit. I wish more authors would write heroines that are like this. However,  the writing was to blase to really emerse me in the writing and giving it the rating that I am because I have read better. Though I am glad that I gave this one a chance and will be reading other books by this author in the

Though I do recommend it because it's such a light read which is sometimes needed for all of us because we all just need to let our minds float away and read something easy and honestly it's a cute love story.

★ ★ ★ 1/2