Book Talk and Signed Book Giveaway: Exit The Actress by Priya Parmar.

Title: Exit The Actress
Author:Priya Parmer                                      
Publisher: Touchstone/Simon and Schuster
Format: Paperback Original
ISBN: 978-1439171172
Price: 16.99 Pages: 440 
Release Date: February 1, 2011

I met Priya through the world of blogging. She's a fellow blogger at The Plum Bean Project and Exit the Actress is her first novel. We began to communicate via our blogs and by email and when she learned I was going to England, she proved to be a great resource. She spends a great deal of her time between London and Hawaii. Naturally I was interested in what her book was about and anxious to get my hands on it. I simply loved the cover and couldn't wait to dig into it when she requested her publicist send me a copy. It's a historical novel that's based on real people and Priya did extensive research in England before writing the book. Let's check out the blurb on the back of the book...

While selling oranges in the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, sweet and sprightly Ellen "Nell" Gwyn impresses the theater’s proprietors with a wit and sparkle that belie her youth and poverty. She quickly earns a place in the company, narrowly avoiding the life of prostitution to which her sister has already succumbed. As her roles evolve from supporting to starring, the scope of her life broadens as well. Soon Ellen is dressed in the finest fashions, charming the theatrical, literary, and royal luminaries of Restoration England. 

Priya reading and signing at Borders, Park Ave, New York

Ellen grows up on the stage, experiencing first love and heartbreak and eventually becoming the mistress of Charles II. Despite his reputation as a libertine, Ellen wholly captures his heart—and he hers—but even the most powerful love isn’t enough to stave off the gossip and bitter court politics that accompany a royal romance. 
Telling the story through a collection of vibrant seventeenth-century voices ranging from Ellen’s diary to playbills, letters, gossip columns, and home remedies, Priya Parmar brings to life the story of an endearing and delightful heroine. 

Movie Talk: INSIDIOUS. I see a connection with my novel...kind of...

I've always been a fan of horror movies, but I haven't bothered to watch them as much anymore. One of my students saw INSIDIOUS and insisted that I had to see it. She loved it so much, I decided to check it out. I went after work on Friday. This movie seems to be getting mixed reviews, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I don't know how to discuss the movie without giving away spoilers. Suffice to say, I thought it was one of the scariest movies I've seen. It was dark and creepy. It reminds me a bit of the novel I'm working on. I'm not writing a horror book, but it is inspired by the genre. I didn't take my story there, but INSIDIOUS has some of the same elements that I've thought about and utilized to a less scary degree--dark spirits, evil and creepy--at least I think its less scary!

Even in the opening credits, the music and the gray, colorless shots of the house tells you to get ready. The story focuses on a young family that move into a beautiful new home. It may seem like the typical haunted house story, but it has a different spin on it, I think. Astral projection factors in; the ability to leave your body. I know a couple of people who have done this. One was the mother of a former boyfriend. The description, as it was told to me, of what can happen when a person does this is pretty frightening and I don't recommend anyone trying it. You can get more than you bargained for. This was on my mind as I watched the movie. I don't want to say too much because it's important to let the story unfold as you watch; a major component is discovering what exactly is happening.

If you like scary, you won't be disappointed. If this kind of stuff keeps you from sleeping at night, you may want to skip it...hee hee hee...

Toodles!

My Selection for Waiting on Wednesday: The Space Between by Brenna Yavonoff

Waiting on Wednesday gives us a chance to learn about the new books that are coming out. It's one of my favorite blog activities. It was started by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. I'm going back to paranormal romance this week. I learned about this author in January of 2010, when I attended a writers conference. The publisher was so excited about her first book: The Replacement. It looks like he had a right to be. It debuted on the New York Times bestsellers list. Now her second book, The Space Between has caught my eye. She spoke about it during an author tour and the cover and description is finally available. I know I'll be reading it. I like a dark, edgy read. Check out the description...

 Everything is made of steel, even the flowers. How can you love anything in a place like this?

Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. Life for her is an endless expanse of time, until her brother Obie is kidnapped-and Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible. Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to the vast streets of Earth, where everything is colder and more terrifying. With the help of the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne glimpses into his dreams, discovering clues to Obie's whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in her way. But she also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be.

This second novel by rising star Brenna Yovanoff is a story of identity, discovery, and a troubled love between two people struggling to find their place both in our world and theirs.

If The Replacement is any indication, Brenna Yavonoff does "dark" well. I can't wait to read this, but I'll have to be patient. It doesn't release until the Fall *sigh*. So, who else out there will be joining me in plumbing the depths of this story?

The Space Between releases November 15, 2011 by Razorbill (Penguin)

Toodles!

Addicted to books, especially those of the YA variety....Is this a little crazy or what?

Is it possible to be addicted to reading books? I've always been a lover of books. I don't even remember learning how to read. I can recall being a little kid, riding along in the car and my parents and brother were so impressed as I read all the street signs, billboards, names of stores etc. I hadn't started school yet. I even read the cereal boxes over and over again as I ate breakfast. I couldn't eat a meal without some kind of reading material in front of me. This didn't bother my mother, but if my father was at the table--forget it. He was a lot more formal and the table was for eating only. I didn't even enjoy my meal as much because I couldn't read at the same time. It seemed to make the food taste better...lol...

Maybe it's my imagination or my perception is off, but it feels like people are obsessed with reading YA books. When I see all the reading challenges and the list of books people are reading, it makes my head spin. I'd have to quit my job to read all the books I hear about, or at the very least, make reading them a part-time job. Working full time, keeping my blog current, tweeting, chatting, emailing, skirting around through the social media and living life...whew! There is only 24 hours in the day. I don't know how people get the time to read so many books and yet, I feel like I have to keep up. I have to read the most current, most hottest book too. I have books spilling out of every corner. My bookshelfs are full and the books are now piling up on tables, chairs...the floor...

There are so many good books and I hate missing out, but I've got to strike a balance. Besides the ARC's I receive for review, I'm writing my own book and that takes quite a bit of time. Then I have a stack of books I've bought that are waiting to be read. I tell myself I'm going to cut back on the number of ARC's for review, so I can concentrate on my own reading pile, but then another "hot, must read, of the moment" book comes along and I. Must. Read. It. Ugh....all my good intentions are out the window.

I'm going to keep trying...keep trying to be "okay" about not reading so many books and not having to know about the latest, greatest hit...it's harder than I thought, but I'm going to work at it...*sigh*.

Toodles...ahhh...

And the Three Winners of the Fool for Books giveaway are...

Wow. Thanks to all of you for dropping by and entering the giveaway. A special thanks to those who became followers. I always appreciate that and try to keep it interesting around here. I was surprised by the number of people who haven't read any contemporary, realistic YA. A few folks even seemed confused by what that means. Let me clarify. It's simply your basic, old school teen novel that doesn't have any supernatural or fantastical elements in the story. Paranormal still seems to be getting the lion's share of readers based on this very unscientific survey...lol...well, on to the winners.

The Grand Prize: hardcover editions of the first two books in the Chronicle of Nick series,  Infinity and Invincible, goes to Carole!! (carolejm at gmail dot com).

Second prize: paperback edition of Infinity, Chronicles of Nick goes to Louisa!! (lpcoolgirl at xplornet dot com)

Third prize: hardcopy edition of the new release, Okay For Now is Sandra (baby_blackroze at yahoo dot com)

Please send me your address ladies, so I can get the books out to you. If the winners don't respond in 72 hours, new ones will be selected.

Until the next time...

Toodles!

Fool For Books Giveaway Hop! Three Chances to Win Cool YA Books!!

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. 4/3/11

Hi guys. These giveaway is only for two days, Friday, April 1 through Saturday, April 2. There are over two hundred blogs for you to hop to and enter to win numerous books and other book related prizes--some may not even be book related. You'll have to hop around and see! We can thank the blogs, I Am A Reader, Not a Writer as well as The Bookish Snob for hosting this fine event.

I'm going to have three winners; a grand prize, a second prize and a third prize. Let's see what they are.

Just this week, the publisher St Martin's Griffin,  sent me the hardcover edition of the new release of Sherrilyn Kenyon's Invincible: Chronicles of Nick, the second book in her first young adult series. They also were generous enough to send the paperback edition of the first book in the series that released last Spring: Infinity: Chronicles of Nick. They sent me the hardcover of Infinity last spring as well, so I'll be giving that away too.

Grand Prize: Book Two. Hardcover.

Grand prize:Book One. Hardcover edition.

To learn what the stories are about, you can check out my review of Infinity by reading my March 25, 2010 post, from last year. Put the name of the book in the search engine on my side bar to find it quickly. I just posted the review of Invincible last week, on March 22, 2011. Scroll down to read that if you like.

                                                                         

Second Prize: Paperback Edition

My Selection for Waiting on Wednesday: The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch

Ah...how time flies. We're back to Wednesday again and you know what that means: the day to learn what folks are anxiously awaiting to read. Waiting on Wednesday is the terrific meme started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. I just love it. This week I'm going for the dystopian tome. The world-really-sucks-and-the-US-is-a-wasteland is a big trend these days. I've only read The Hunger Games so far and I'm about to sink my teeth into Divergent. A debut novel that has caught my eye is The Eleventh Plague. It's written by Jeff Hircsh, a fellow native of Queens, New York. Lets' check out the blurb...

In an America devastated by war and plague, the only way to survive is to keep moving.
 
In the aftermath of a war, America’s landscape has been ravaged and two thirds of the population left dead from a vicious strain of influenza. Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his family were among the few that survived and became salvagers, roaming the country in search of material to trade for food and other items essential for survival.
But when Stephen’s grandfather dies and his father falls into a coma after an accident, Stephen finds his way to Settler’s Landing, a community that seems too good to be true, where there are real houses, barbecues, a school, and even baseball games. Then Stephen meets strong, defiant, mischievous Jenny, who refuses to accept things as they are. And when they play a prank that goes horribly wrong, chaos erupts, and they find themselves in the midst of a battle that will change Settler’s Landing forever.

This big "hunger" (get it?!) for disaster in our reading must mean something. What do you think that is? Hirsch has jumped on the bandwagon and written a new version of the United States, self-destructing. I'm got my own views about that. I think I should write a book about it too; see what you all think about my version of disaster, American style. Well, until that day comes, we'll have to satisfy ourselves with the stories of others that have beaten me to the publishing punch! LOL...Until the next time, my lovelies....


The Eleventh Plague releases September 1, 2011 by Scholastic.

Toodles!

In MY Mailbox...and beyond...I'm drowning in a Sea of Books!!

YA ARCs

This is the first time I'm joining the official IMM meme started by Kristi at The Story Siren. I tell you. I have never had so many books come my way in such a short space of time, ever. I plan to read all of them...eventually. Not everything came in the mail though. There's a Borders not too far from my job that's closing and I was able to pick up some great books at an even better price. I had two gift cards worth $100.00. Some of you may recall that I got one of them when I won second place in a writer's contest last Spring. The other, I won from an author and fellow blogger. I'm glad I waited to use them. I certainly got more bang for the buck with the Borders closing, though I hate to make out like a bandit this way *sigh*.

I've been happily inundated with ARCs. Some are YA and some adult. I'm going to read the YA's first and then make my way through the adult ones...at least I'm going to try to. I may just have to give up and have some giveaways, but my loss will certainly be your gain. Stay tuned. I'll be giving away a few books in a two day giveaway starting April 1.

Adult books(except "between shades of gray"-YA)

Borders Stash!

And More Borders Stash!

 

 

And even More Borders Stash. Can't go wrong with Libba Bray!

                                                

And the Winner of Invincible: Chronicles of Nick is....

Thanks for dropping in girls! I'm surprised by how many of you haven't read a Sherrilyn Kenyon book. Looks like I'm in good company, having discovered her fairly recently, myself. Well to move on to why we're here...the winner of Invincible is...

My Selection for Waiting on Wednesday: Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe

It's that time again! Time to find out what our fellow book lovers are looking forward to digging into. Waiting on Wednesday is a meme started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. I'm still on a contemporary YA trend and I've just discovered what looks like an intriguing little tale just a couple of days ago. Check out what it says about Audition...

Once you've been chosen,
what step should you take?
Seventeen-year-old Sara's dream of becoming a star ballerina is challenged when she falls for Remington, an older choreographer.  Instead of success onstage, she becomes Rem's muse, which is a future she never considered--and one that threatens to break her heart.

Hmm...Just how old is he? Sounds like he's trying to keep her in a box all for himself--a dance career be damned! The cover caught my attention right away. I was like, "Hey. What's this about?!" Looks like a lot of drama to me...at least I hope so! Lol...I've never heard of this author before, have you? Who's gonna join me in digging into this one? But we'll have a bit of a wait I'm afraid *sigh*. It doesn't come out until the Fall. See you there!

Audition releases October 13, 2011.

Toodles!

Release Day! Book Review and Giveaway: Invincible: Chronicles of Nick by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Book Two

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED: 3/26/11

Invincible is the second installment in Kenyon’s first foray into the young adult market. It follows the first book in the series, Infinity. This series follows Nick Gautier, a fourteen year-old boy. Kenyon has written this saga with a focus on one of her adult characters as he was as a youngster. It shows how he became the entity that he is in her adult books.

In the first book, Nick found himself the target of a number of supernatural creatures, zombies being foremost among them. This time, the story isn’t zombie intensive, but unnatural creatures like shapeshifters and demons still have Nick in their sights. He harbors a dark all-encompassing power, a power that will define him as an adult, but while he is still young and immature, powerful forces are anxious to capture him and suck up that dark energy for themselves.

Invincible takes up directly where Infinity left off, on the same day as a matter of fact. As Nick tries to understand and grasp the intentions of the supernatural guardians now placed in his life, he still has to negotiate school and a single, often overprotective mom. Let’s not leave out the new principal who thinks he’s a low-down hoodlum and the coach who threatens to have him put behind bars if he doesn’t go along with his unsavory plans.

Once again, Kenyon has done a great job of capturing the voice of a teen boy. Nick’s inner monologue and dialogue exemplify a well fleshed out character with a distinctive point of view. There were a number of laugh-out-loud moments as this teenager confronts all manner of supernatural episodes as only a teen boy could— a truckload of attitude and a take-no-prisoners bravado.

She weaved in enough pertinent information and backstory from book one to give the reader a good sense of the trajectory of the story, but without impeding the tale’s forward momentum with needless detail.

Kenyon utilizes a forthright style that is brash and to the point. You won’t find any flowery writing here. Her characters don’t hold back or indulge in self-analysis. They’re not angst-ridden, but are often blunt, handling their problems by taking immediate action—very likely of the physical kind, as in a good and vigorous fight.

As in the first installment, Invincible ends on an eye-opening note that leaves the reader with a big clue and scrambling to understand what it means. That can only be solved by continuing on with book number three, which if the first two books are an indication, will be sure to please.

I'm giving away my ARC of the story. If you'd like the chance to receive it, tell me if you've read any other Kenyon book and what it's called. Of course, if you haven't read any, that's fine too, just say so. Can't get easier than that. Please don't forget your email so I can contact you if you win. If you don't leave it, you'll disqualify yourself. I don't always have the time to hunt you down! Winner will be selected randomly. That is all.

Giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada only and ends Friday, March 25th.

Toodles!

And the Winner of a signed copy of LETTERS FROM HOME is....

First, let me thank the author for making this lovely giveaway possible. Thanks so much guys for stopping in and checking out LETTERS FROM HOME by Krisina McMorris! Kristina was so happy to share her words of wisdom with you all and really appreciated the great response. What surprised me most of all, was how few of you are writers! I thought I'd be hearing more about the next great novel you're trying to pen...lol...But, more importantly, you're awesome readers and that's what every writer wants and needs. Thanks again for your comments. Let's get to the good part. The winner of  LETTERS FROM HOME is...

My Selection for Waiting on Wednesday: A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

I'm happy to be a part of one of most fun and informative memes. Waiting on Wednesday, started by Jill at Breaking the Spine is the weekly event in which we share what books we're anxiously awaiting! This week, I'm back in the paranormal camp...tee hee hee...I can't wait to check out A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies. It's her first novel and it looks quite intriguing. Let's see what it's about...

Skye never questioned the story of her life. Her Aunt Jo adopted her after the death of her parents when she was just a child, and together they flip through memories the way some people flip through photo albums.

She never questioned if the stories were true. 

Until the night of her 17th birthday, when the arrival of two strangers intrudes on her cozy life. Polar opposites, like fire and ice, Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair, cold, and aloof. Skye has no idea what they want—only that their presence coincides with the beginning of some shockingly strange events. Events that Skye, if she dares to think it, might be responsible for causing. 

High up in the mountains of Boulder, Colorado, Skye finds herself caught in the middle of an ancient battle, one that began untold millennia ago. Torn between unpredictable Asher, whom she loves, and the infuriating Devin, who she can’t stay away from, her fate is murky as a starless night. And as the secrets of her true identity are revealed, Skye realizes that her destiny may reside in the Heavens—or somewhere darker.

The first thing that caught my eye was the gorgeous cover. It begs the question: what is this about?! The main character also shares the same name as the protagonist in the novel I'm working on: Skye. So, I have somewhat of a personal interest here...lol...It sounds deep and lush and amazing...If you all visit me enough, you know I'm a romance/love junkie...lol...A Beautiful Dark seems to fit the bill. I just love a deeply conflicted romance. Yum! I just wish I didn't have to wait so long for it to come out *sigh*.

What about you? Will you be joining me in digging into a romance that's dark and edgy?

A Beautiful Dark releases September 27, 2011

Guest Post and Signed Book Giveaway: Kristina McMorris, author of LETTERS FROM HOME.

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.  3/19/11

I'm excited to introduce a most talented writer, Kristina McMorris. She's the author of the newly released novel,  Letters From Home. She's going to be talking with you today about the road to getting published and is graciously giving away a signed copy of her novel that released February 22, 2011 by Kensington. It's already getting five stars on Amazon! Let's check out what the book is about...

 In the midst of World War II, a Midwestern infantryman falls deeply in love through a yearlong letter exchange, unaware that the girl he's been writing to is not the one replying.

Chicago, 1944. Liz Stephens has little interest in attending a USO club dance with her friends Betty and Julia. She doesn't need a flirtation with a lonely serviceman when she's set to marry her childhood sweetheart. Yet something happens the moment Liz glimpses Morgan McClain.
They share only a brief conversation—cut short by the soldier's evident interest in Betty—but Liz can't forget him. Thus, when Betty asks her to ghostwrite a letter to Morgan, stationed overseas, Liz reluctantly agrees.

Thousands of miles away, Morgan struggles to adjust to the brutality of war. His letters from "Betty" are a comfort, their soul-baring correspondence a revelation to them both. While Liz is torn by her feelings for a man who doesn't know her true identity, Betty and Julia each become immersed in their own romantic entanglements. And as the war draws to a close, all three will face heart-wrenching choices, painful losses, and the bittersweet joy of new beginnings.

Beautifully rendered and deeply touching, LETTERS FROM HOME is a story of hope and connection, of sacrifices made in love and war—and the chance encounters that change us forever.

It's an intricate, romantic and dare I say, dramatic read. I'm not going to delay her any further. Here's Kristina in her own words, discussing her journey in finally getting that elusive book deal...

Red Riding Hood...My thoughts...

I went to check out Red Riding Hood last night. It's directed by Catherine Hardwick, director of the first Twilight movie and I was curious about what she would do with this fairy tale-turned-cinematic-event. The book has been updated in a new form, called Red Riding Hood (eliminating the word "little") by 22-year-old Sarah Blakely-Cartwright. She's a family friend of Hardwick and Hardwick suggested she write a book to tie into the movie, thus Blakely-Cartwright wrote the book based on the screenplay. If that's not a case of "it's who you know", I don't know what is. We should all have that kind of a hookup!

The first thing I noticed was the Twilightesque feel of the opening and in the landscape. By this I mean the sweeping camera shots filmed high above a forest landscape and misty mountains. There was even a scene of "Red"( named Valerie in the film), with one of two love interests, laying in a meadow-like environment. I quite liked the scenery. I thought it was very pretty, and mystical; it was the ideal fairytale look.

Red kissing Henry. He's cuter than this picture indicates...lol...

I'm sticking with calling the main character Red, though I know she's called Valerie in the movie.  Valerie just seems so wrong...I'm not sure why I feel like that, but I would have preferred a softer name, I don't know, maybe a Julie, Julia, Juliet...lol..even Mary! Valerie just sounds too modern or something! Anyway, Red is torn between two boys, one a childhood friend, Henry, who's essentially penniless and the wealthy boy she's betrothed to, Henry. Both guys were sweet so it was a total toss-up as to who should get her to me, but I guess I was leaning toward the childhood buddy; after all, a guy shouldn't be excluded from love just because he's broke! Lol...It is here that I felt the movie missed it's moment.

And the Winner of Suspect is...

Thanks guys for stopping in and entering. The winner of Suspect is...

Brenda!

Please email me with your address so I can get the book out to you. If the winner doesn't respond in 24 hours, another one will be selected.

Toodles!