The first big change is a MOVE! The Book Heroine blog is moving to join forces with the Book Savvy Babes! It’s been a long time coming and I am so very excited! Currently, there are three reviewers and they are in need of a Young Adult reviewer. That’s where I come in! I will keep this site up until I move a few top reviews over and get the traffic moving there. Check us out by clicking on the button below! There is also a follower giveaway in honor of me and LaurieLu joining the ranks!
The second big change is in my name. I will no longer be the Book Heroine. I never connected to it, so if you are interested in the name, domain, etc., email me! thebookheroine@gmail.com
Now I am: the Book Pirate! Much more my style. If you know me at all, you would have to agree that this fits. I am a pirate addict! I even celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19th!
Saturday Snapshot is hosted by At Home With Books. To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky (at At Home With Books). Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.
I just happened to take this picture today of the biggest seat stealer! This is my Border Collie/Australian Shepherd (aka Bossie), named Stoli. She is a hyper rambunctious one year old, but when she gets tired, she crashes! Here she is in my favorite recliner. It is one surrounded by windows that let in the perfect amount of sunlight during the day. We have a window bench right next to it that we taught her to lay on. Well, as soon as you get up, she jumps into the recliner. My favorite is when she jumps on my legs when I am snuggled up under blankets. Stoli is the biggest cuddler.
Btw, it’s got a watermark from my photography business! :]
Can you believe that we are back again with another amazing novel by Maria V. Snyder?! The first of the series left me breathless and craving for more action, magic, and, of course, KERRICK! Touch of Power (the first contest and info here) dove straight into the life of Avry, Healer and outlaw. We learned the history of the land, of Prince Tohon and his horrible plans to take over every Realm with the use of atrocious methods such as reanimating the dead. You cried for their losses, feared the worst, and fell in love as Avry did.
Now they are back with an even greater adventure that seemed to have started faster than any Snyder has written before. Here is the synopsis:
As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle. Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.
War is coming and Avry is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible… again.
Are you already ordering the book? You should! Snyder does it again with her incredible talent at keeping pace, bringing a completely different world to life, and delivering characters that will stick with you well beyond finishing the book. You will have a difficult time putting this one down and, like me, will be begging for the next one.
The previous characters bleed into this second installment, bringing new friends and foes along with them. In ToM, you get to know Avry, Kerrick, the Monkeys, and Tohon. In SoM, Snyder pulls out the lives of the other royalty, Avry’s sister, and the military leaders she meets along the way while still diving deeper into our favorites.
This time around Avry and Kerrick have separated to help on opposite ends of their world. As per usual, the author has kept a quick pace, jumping between their individual, but connected, adventures. I love that about Snyder’s writing. Just as Avry is trying to save Prince Ryne from assassination, Kerrick is finding out his brother made a deal with Tohon to use their army! AH! The suspense and intrigue never end!
Any fan of Snyder’s work, fantasy, love in action, or reading, will coddle this book until it is finished. Maria V. Snyder has yet to disappoint.
If that isn’t enough to get you reading this series, maybe this will persuade you…
Oh yes, did I mention that there is a contest? Of course! Maria and her team at Harlequin are giving away one copy of Scent of Magic to one of my followers! Yahoo! The contest will run as long as the rest of this blog tour to give you all enough time to enter. That means you have until the 21st to enter. Here are the rules:
US/Canada Only
Up to 5 entries!
There is also a Harlequin TEEN Prize Pack!!! Click on the image and enter for a chance to win:
This book is genius. If there is a get-to-the-point book for getting your students through school, this is it! I hardly ever branch out from reading and reviewing Young Adult literature, but this struck me as an incredible find. As some of you know, I work at a retail store where I get to train customers in computers. Kip was asking about how to get word out about his new book. “Well, you have come to the right trainer!” I exclaimed with glee. After explaining that I review books and had connections to other reviewers, he ran to his car to grab a copy. I was hesitant to read it, as it isn’t my normal read, but I am so happy I did. I’m not a parent, but I am a teacher and this is a great resource. Someday I would also like to be a parent and this will be wonderful to have around.
Grimm has sectioned this book off into two parts: one for parents and one for students. Parents are recommended to read both, but students will get a clear explanation in their language. Parents get great tips from meeting teachers and keeping kids organized to staying the leaders of the house and learning how to give praises. Students learn about the importance of body language, exercise and nutrition, and avoiding procrastination.
My copy will be floating among reviewers, but I would highly recommend this read, this parenting manual!
Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance.
Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in.
It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.
This is another first in categories for me. A Robin Hood tale with a feminine twist…literally! I love when the legends of the Hood include more than the normal pack of thieves: Little John, Friar Tuck, Maid Marian, Prince John. Then of course, what does every novel need, a struggle of hearts!
I loved every character, especially Robin! When do you not fall for Robin Hood? I didn’t quite see the connection between her and John Little other than as an older brother. The fact that there was a competition at all was awkward to me. I think it was because in so many other versions, John is this big, side-kick who’s there during a fight or to help toss Robin over a wall. Out of all the men, I do wish Gaughen gave a little more depth to Much. I am hoping for a sequel that will give more explanation to his character and a backstory.
It was hard to put this book down! The entire story was fast-paced and filled with adventure at every page-turn (or kindle click). If you like tales from Sherwood Forest, pick this one up!
(This is our wedding picture from almost three years ago!)
It’s been a whirlwind past couple of months away from here and I have lots to share! First, the reason for my absence was three-fold. The first, my husband quit his job to go back to school full time and participate in two internships, leaving me to work more hours at both of my jobs. That has hardly left me any time to read, let alone sleep, eat, and exercise. It was a huge decision for us, but one that I don’t regret and I cannot be any prouder of him.
The second reason, we got a puppy for my parents. She is a sweet border collie/australian cattle dog mix. That means she is full of energy and is incredibly smart. As a whole family, we took on the role of training. So, I am there multiple times a week trying to help out. I’ve never had a dog, so this has been such a fun experience.
And lastly, we manage a rental house and are preparing and searching for more roommates. It’s a harder task than you would think! So, we have been remodeling the decor, advertising everywhere, and interviewing lots of people.
Coming Soon!
The Book Heroine is moving to WordPress! Many of my book blogger friends have already made the jump and I had just been waiting for a reason. Well, Blogger served that reason on a silver platter when they removed friend connect. I am working on my new site and will have a Grand Opening with lots of book reviews, author interviews, and give aways! Until then, keep reading!
☆☆.5 Author: Deva Fagan Publisher: Harcourt Released: November 15, 2011 Pages: 304 Genre: YA-middle school, Science Fiction, Fantasy Source: NetGalley
Trix can deal with being an orphan charity case at a snotty boarding school. She can hold her own when everyone else tells her not to dream big dreams. She can even fight back against the mysterious stranger in a silver mask who tries to steal the meteorite her parents trusted her to protect.
But her life is about to change forever. The Circus Galacticus has come to town, bringing acts to amaze, delight, and terrify. And now the dazzling but enigmatic young Ringmaster has offered Trix the chance to be a part of it.
Soon Trix discovers an entire universe full of deadly enemies and potential friends, not to mention space leeches, ancient artifacts, and exploding chocolate desserts. And she just might unravel secrets of her own past–if she can survive long enough.
What a ride! The blurb above gives a great description of the plot, so I won’t waste your time repeating that. It is an adventure of one young girl who doesn’t want to waste her life and talents in the shadows of others. Honestly, the blurb was more exciting than the book ever got. I was sorely disappointed in every outcome.
Let’s talk about Trix. Life at the boarding school stunk. She didn’t fit in, the students teased her, and the staff made her life unbearable. Did she fight? Cause trouble? Stand up for herself? No. She ran away to the circus. I had hoped for some sort of exciting battle of wits between her and the headmistress at least. Later, as she takes the plunge to join the gang, one hoped that she would discover her special talent that would separate her from the rest. Nope. Nothing special, just pink hair. Of course, I loved that she found a place to belong and share her life with.
The other characters seemed intriguing at first. With the different possibilities of talents in a space circus, I thought the author would get more involved in their development. I was disappointed to find most of them flat. I did find a couple characters cute, but nothing special. The Ringmaster was just strange. It seemed like the author alluded to Trix falling for him, but then he seemed more like a mentor. When romance is even slightly hinted, as a reader, I crave to find out the end result. This seemed like a tease.
Altogether, I just wasn’t thrilled with the overall book. My expectations must have been too high with all the positive hype it had been given. I hope you all found it much more pleasing!
Hopefully, everyone is having an eventful and pleasant holiday. I have been very blessed to spend the last few days with my amazing in-laws in Northern California. Surprisingly, there is no snow this Christmas. The upside is not having to bundle up in five layers to take the trash out.
Alright, I will get to the good part! The winner of the contest is:
Make sure you check out and follow her blog! It seems to be a pleasant mix of reviews, opinions, and other such tidbits. One post was a wishlist of books and Touch of Power was number one. Glad to help Santa out on that one. ;]
Congrats, DeAnn!
Since I am still on vacation until Tuesday, I will not be posting my review of Maria’s novel until then (along with many others throughout the week). I am so excited for the next two weeks that entail me working only one job. That means, book review catch up! I have about five or so to post and lots more reading to do!
Until then, Happy Holidays to everyone and no matter what you celebrate, enjoy family and friends. That is the most important part!
Today, I am lucky enough to have Maria V. Snyder visiting the blog! She is the author of the Study series, the Glass series, and the Insider series. As always when reading Maria’s books, I fell for her latest characters and quickly got on board with a whole new story. When I first asked Maria for an interview, Outside In (book 2 of the Insider series) had just released and Touch of Power was finishing up.
BH: Thank you, Maria, for taking the time to answer a few questions. Since you are one of my favorite authors, I must say that it was difficult keeping the list to a minimum! MVS: Thank you for inviting me to your blog. I am honored to be one of your favorite authors.
BH: After two wonderful series, both set in the lands of Ixia and Sitia, what made you break away and begin a whole new world of adventure in the Insider series? MVS: Even though I thoroughly enjoyed writing the Study and Glass books, I was ready for a new creative challenge. It’s fun to create a new world and meet a number of new characters. It also helps to keep my writing fresh and interesting…at least I hope it does!
BH: You have chosen incredibly strong females as your protagonists in all four of your series. Were they a reflection of yourself or inspired by someone you know? MVS: As a reader, I’ve always been drawn to strong female protagonists. Growing up, my mother and father always encouraged both me and my sister to be very independent and be able to take care of ourselves, and I think that translated into all my lead characters.
BH: What made you lean toward a more dystopian genre and pick a science fiction setting for the Insider series? MVS: Actually, I didn’t pick the genre or the setting – the story came to me in a dream. I dreamt about Trella, Cog and Broken Man, the Pop Cops, the twists, the setting all in one dream! I haven’t done it before or since (wish I knew what I had for dinner the night before). In fact, I didn’t really consider it a dystopian until my editor mentioned how it was similar to the “Hunger Games”.
BH: Have these stories been building for many years now or did their inspirations come together quickly and unexpectedly? MVS: Both. The Study and Glass books started with an idea for a food taster to be the main character of a fantasy novel. I thought it would be a stand alone book, but it turned into three books and spun off the Glass series. “Inside Out” was one dream in one night! A gift from the sandman ;>
BH: You’ve done a lot of research for your books, like glass blowing, horseback riding, and even studied poisons. What was that like? MVS: I love doing hands-on research for my books. It’s the best way for me to be able to translate an experience into words. All my classes and lessons have been loads of fun and sometimes scary (horses are big and kilns are hot!) and I learn so much more than what goes into a book. I would love to do more with glass, but I don’t have the time or resources right now. What I like best is exploring new subjects and skills – I don’t need to become an expert at anything, but I learn enough to be dangerous ;> I have a legitimate reason to be a dabbler.
BH: If you could be any one of your countless characters, whom would you be and why? MVS: Avry who is the main protagonist in “Touch of Power”. She’s a healer and I’ve seen so many friends and family members suffer with various problems, that I wish I could just…heal them. All the money in the world is nothing compared to good health. Also as a mother – healing would be wonderful. I hate to see my kids sick or hurt. My second choice would be Valek – ’cause, well…he’s Valek ;>
BH: You have a new book coming out December 20, Touch of Power. Will you give us a little synopsis of what we can expect out of the first book in the new series? MVS: “Touch of Power” is a fantasy novel about a healer set in a world that is recovering from a deadly plague. Avry’s world has blamed the plague on the healers and has hunted them down. She is finally caught only to be rescued by a group who wants her to heal their Prince. The group’s leader, Kerrick, knows the healers aren’t to blame for the plague and that she could do some good for a change instead of hiding. Unfortunately, she believes this Prince is the one who started blaming the plague on the healers so she isn’t risking her life for some pampered Prince. As they travel to the Prince’s hidden location, they’re pursued by others who have realized having a healer around might just be a good thing for them, but not necessarily for her.
BH: If you could choose your theme song, what would it be and why? MVS: This isn’t quite a song…but I would choose the little ditty Dory sings in the movie “Nemo”. She sings, “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming…” when it looks like all is lost. I really love that attitude and it’s so true with writing. Just keep writing and submitting and eventually things will happen. That’s exactly what happened for me.
BH: What was, is, or would be your favorite toy to play with in the bathtub? MVS: I used to take in my Fisher Price toys – those little plastic people with the cars and various furniture. I’d set up an underwater city for them and they’d have to fight off sea dragons and other denizens of the deep. LOL – I haven’t thought about that in years!
BH: What’s quirky and unusual about yourself that one wouldn’t read about in a typical biography? MVS: I love office supplies. My office lacks for nothing and my kids refer to my well-stocked supply closet as “little Staples”.
Want to get more info about Maria V. Snyder and her books? You can learn about her and even read the first chapter of all her books as well as a number of free short stories!
☆☆☆ Author: Douglas Rees Publisher: Harlequin Teen Released: September 27, 2011 Pages: 304 Genre: YA, Romance, Realistic Fiction Source: NetGalley
I wanted the role of Juliet more than anything. I studied hard. I gave a great reading for it–even with Bobby checking me out the whole time. I deserved the part. I didn’t get it. So I decided to level the playing field, though I actually might have leveled the whole play. You see, since there aren’t any Success in Getting to Be Juliet in Your High School Play spells, I thought I’d cast the next best–a Fame spell. Good idea, right? Yeah. Instead of bringing me a little fame, it brought me someone a little famous. Shakespeare. Well, Edmund Shakespeare. William’s younger brother. Good thing he’s sweet and enthusiastic about helping me with the play…and–ahem–maybe a little bit hot. But he’s from the past. WAYpast. Cars amaze him–CARS! And cell phones? Ugh. Still, there’s something about him that’s making my eyes go star–crossed…
As I read this book, I kept thinking, ‘Yes! This is going to make four or five stars! I am loving this idea, the characters, the flow!’ Then, the book dove…hard. Let me explain.
What a great plot! Girl wants the role of Juliet (what actress doesn’t?). Girl casts a spell to get role after bum audition (what girl wouldn’t?). Girl gets hot Shakespeare from the past instead (what girl couldn’t live with that?). It’s a sweet idea!
Miranda was not my favorite female lead character. Her character seemed flat and it was difficult to get a connection. In other reviews, bloggers have suggested that it was the fact that the author is male, so writing this from a female’s perspective was awkward. I kind of agree to that. He seemed to put his effort into the male characters more than Miranda’s. He did a great job with Edmund! I really enjoyed his persona, his passion, and his spark! My favorite was definitely Drew, though. Such a sweet, head-over-heels in love boy. The best friend that was always there. I think these two saved the book for me.
The biggest downfall was towards the end. I was happy with the explanation of Edmund’s time travel to be magic. Bringing into the factor science experiments, battery-water….blah blah blah. It lost me. Then I actually laughed at the whole phone app thing. Really? Magic was more believable. It got way too confusing and too quickly. It was quite the let down.
On the romance-side of things, I did not like the battle of relationships. Edmund was a player. Period. It’s the time-period he came from. For Miranda to just take him later on seemed implausible. He’s dirty in more ways that just needing a good bath. It was obvious from the beginning that Drew had been in love with her. The way it all played out did not make me happy. Miranda was seconds for Edmund and Drew for MIranda. Ick.
In all, I gave three stars just because this story has such good promise. It didn’t make even a fraction more because it just faltered in the end. I would love to get your opinions on this story.
Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.
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