The last Saturday Link Salad of 2011- with bonus Giveaway winners!

Hellllllloooooo out there! Are you stuffed full of delicacies and starting to get bored with your new toys yet? Or are you like me and trying to eck every last drop of holiday goodness out of the year by sitting around in your robe as long as possible, reading and eating chocolate for breakfast? Either way I hope your ready for the news because I've sat on a couple of weeks worth (who wanted news on Christmas eve after all?) and there's a bundle!

-Stephen King announced, awhile back, that he was throwing another book into his completed Dark Tower series. Well it now has a release date, title and cover! The Wind Through the Keyhole comes out April 24th 2012 and is available for pre-order on Simon Schusters website.

-Lauren Oliver and her UK publisher have a gift for Delirium fans- a spin off short story about Lena's friend Hana. Head over to Lauren's site for details and the link to the short story and excerpt.

-If any of you are like me then you regularly supplement your cookbooks with online recipe searches that often lead me to Allrecipes and Epicurious. Then it might interest you to know that there is currently a bidding war on for Readers Digests Allrecipes site. Latest news is that Random House has put in an offer as well. The good news of course is that with all this interest the site will obviously not die! Thank goodness, where else will I go when I suddenly decide I need to make blackberry compote on Christmas Eve morning and have no idea what to put in it?!

-Scholastic has announced their next major series (now that 39 clues has wrapped up) and it involves some pretty big names. The Infinity Ring is going to be a 7 part series with a online component, written by James Dashner, Carrie Ryan, Lisa McMann, Matt de la Peña, Matthew Kirby and Jennifer A. Nielsen. The crazy part? The books will come out every two to four months starting in September. I'm still not sold on the book/online experience since I enjoy the reading on the couch/train/coffee break/outside thing, but I can see how the ereader is changing that for kids, and this series has a cool sounding premise.

-With 2012 just around the corner, have you started thinking about your holidays for the upcoming year? If so you might want to check out the Huffington Post's article on the 10 most beautiful libraries and bookstores in the world. Because, let me tell you, a bookish holiday rocks!

- Figment has an awesome Fracture writing contest up! There are three medical phenomena to pick from to write about, and the top ten most popular entries will be judged by author Megan Miranda herself! So if you're a writer make sure to head over and throw your talent into the ring, but if not make sure to stop by and read the cool entries popping up every day!

-Cassandra Clare has been all over the interwebs with teasers, spoilers and oodles of info about Clockwork Prince and City of Lost Souls. Here's a sampling:

*On why Tessa can't tell Will her feelings.

*On why Will doesn't notice Jem and Tessa's feelings.

*More about that blasted love triangle, man she's riled people up apparently.

*Clockwork Princess teasers (courtesy Mundie Mom's) from tourney wins.

*Second Clockwork Princess teaser from the second tourney win.

*The first of two City of Lost Souls teasers (courtesy of Mundie Mom's, cause there is only so much time I can spend on Twitter people!). Simon and Izzy, also from tourney wins (the YA sisterhood tourney).

*The second of two City of Lost Souls teasers, this one is Jace and Clary

*finally an unidentified snippet involving that evil Sebastian.

-And last but not least we have a winner for the Midwinters Eve Hop!! Congratulations to Holly L, you'll be receiving an email from author Kelly Green with your ebook soon! Congratulations!

Now go forth and party like it's the end of 2011! See you next year!!

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Late addition! This is why you do not ignore emails for weeks at a time!

-Amy Garvey has announced a sequel to Cold Kiss during an interview with Down the Rabbit Hole.

Interview with Hushed author Kelley York

Thanks so much to Kelley who answered a couple of my questions about writing Hushed while sick and over the holidays!

-Having a gay main character in a YA novel is, unfortunately, incredibly rare. What made you decide to give Archer a male love interest? And did you find it made getting published more difficult?

It wasn't a conscious decision for HUSHED to end up how it did. It never is with my characters. I never intended for Archer and Evan to be together, but after seeing how their personalities bounced off one another, I couldn't write it any other way. I just go where my characters lead me, and I like it that way. I get to explore a lot of different roads than the ones I originally planned on. I am partial to male/male romances in my books, though, and I don't really know why that is.

The LGBT aspect of HUSHED isn't what made it hard to get published. At least, no agent told me as much, anyway. What I was told would make HUSHED hard to sell was...well, the rest of it. How dark the story itself was. We have a manipulative, unhealthy relationship, rape, death, drugs, abuse, murder...by teenage characters. But I really don't think the story would have worked without all of those things. I had one agent tell me she loved the book, but all the things she loved most were the things that would make it hard to get it picked up by a publisher. Entangled Publishing was my last attempt before I shelved the book, and everything worked out. Liz and Heather from Entangled loved the story, and even better—they didn't ask me to tone anything down (which is what I was afraid of).

-As a woman, what made you decide to have a male protagonist? Did you find it challenging and/or worry about how you portrayed Archer and Evans relationship, especially since it's a relationship of discovery for Archer?

I love writing for male protagonists! My first book alternates from male to female, and my current WIP does the same. Again, it's not a conscious decision. My characters just are who they are. If I get an idea for one, and it happens to be a guy, or a girl, straight, gay, a murderer, a saint...whatever—if it sticks with me and I can't stop thinking about it, I'll take the idea and run with it.

When I'm writing and I'm in the groove and loving a story, I don't worry about how I'm portraying things too much. I leave that kind of stuff for the editing and revision. In the case of HUSHED, it wasn't a concern I had up until the first ARCs were released, and I saw guys on GoodReads had added it to their TBR lists. Then it made me think, "Oh, God, what if I screwed up completely?" I haven't heard a single complaint about Archer's voice or how I wrote for a male or a guy-guy relationship, so I'm guessing I didn't do too terribly

Check out my review of Hushed from yesterday!

'Kelley York delivers in this impressive debut. I was at the edge of my
seat waiting to see what would happen next! Bottom line, this was
unputdownable!!!' --- YA Fantasy Guide ---

'How exciting that we live in a time when gay teen protagonists can be
just as screwed up as straight ones -- and their stories just as creepy!'
--- Brent Hartinger, award-winning author of Geography Club and Shadow
Walkers ---

Author Bio:
Kelley was born and raised in central California, where she still resides
with her lovely wife, daughter, and an abundance of pets. (Although she
does fantasize about moving across the globe to Ireland.) She has a
fascination with bells, adores all things furry - be them squeaky, barky
or meow-y - is a lover of video games, manga and anime, and likes to
pretend she's a decent photographer. Her life goal is to find a real
unicorn. Or maybe a mermaid.

Within young adult, she enjoys writing and reading a variety of genres
from contemporary with a unique twist, psychological thrillers,
paranormal/urban fantasy and horror. She loves stories where character
development takes center stage.

Check out Kelley's website
Check out Hushed on Amazon
Check out Hushed at Barnes & Noble

Hushed Tour- Interview with Author Kelley York and Review

From Goodreads:
He’s saved her. He’s loved her. He’s killed for her. 

Eighteen-year-old Archer couldn’t protect his best friend, Vivian, from what happened when they were kids, so he’s never stopped trying to protect her from everything else. It doesn’t matter that Vivian only uses him when hopping from one toxic relationship to another—Archer is always there, waiting to be noticed. 

Then along comes Evan, the only person who’s ever cared about Archer without a single string attached. The harder he falls for Evan, the more Archer sees Vivian for the manipulative hot-mess she really is. 

But Viv has her hooks in deep, and when she finds out about the murders Archer’s committed and his relationship with Evan, she threatens to turn him in if she doesn’t get what she wants… And what she wants is Evan’s death, and for Archer to forfeit his last chance at redemption.

I can't begin to tell you how refreshing it is to read a YA story with a gay main character.   I have a house full to bursting with books, and not a single YA or middle school one has a gay main character.  The way Evan and Archers romance unfolds in the story is not the slightest bit sensational, nor does it detract from the slow build of tension in the plot of this thriller.  

My only quibble with the story was how easily Evan accepts that Archer is essentially a serial killer.  No matter how lovely their first real romance, I doubt many eighteen year olds would  stick around with someone they found out had killed multiple people, even if it was for a (theoretically) good reason. 

Other than that the story had a good premise, a solid build of tension and an excellent thriller plot.  Throw in the refreshing romance and Hushed was solid debut for author Kelley York. 

Hushed, by Kelley York

Published by Entangled Publishing, December 2011

My copy kindly provided by Entangled Publishing

Buy Hushed on Amazon

The Haunting at Cliff House, by Karleen Bradford- Review

From Goodreads:
From the moment she sets foot in the forbidding house high on the cliff, Alison senses a mysterious presence in one of its rooms. There she discovers an ancient diary belonging to a girl who lived in the same house, centuries before. What does this girl want...and why is she so sure only Alison can help her?


Growing up I loved three things, Cats, a good mystery, and history.  Well four things if you included reading.  The Haunting at Cliff House really hits on all of those things (though there's only one peripheral cat really, but he's there) and I can safely say I would have really loved it when I was 12.


Alison is on a great adventure, a trip to Wales for the summer (she's Canadian), a creepy house and an old diary filled with mystery.  But she's also dealing with life changes like her dad falling in love with someone after years of having him all to herself.  Since my parents were separated my whole childhood I also had the distinct displeasure of dealing with them dating and being less important than whoever the latest significant other was at some point or other.  So I can say with first hand knowledge that Karleen Bradford really hit the emotional mark with how Alison deals with it.


 A middle school book with a lot of meat on it's bones for how short it is, 93 pages, I would recommend The Haunting at Cliff House for the younger middle school reader.  The style is geared for a younger reader and I don't readers older than 12 or so would enjoy it as much.  Plus it nice and short (so very to the point) if your middle schooler is a reluctant reader.


The Haunting at Cliff House, By Karleen Bradford
Published by Starburst Digital Rights International, September 2011
My copy kindly provided by the publisher
Buy The Haunting at Cliff House on Amazon

Inheritance, by Christopher Paolini- Review

Inheritance was one of those books I'd been waiting for, what felt like ages.  First there was the false trail, when Brisinger came out but it wasn't the last book.  Trilogy turned quartets are very, very frustrating when you don't realize it's happened until 100 pages from the end when you start thinking, wait a minute....this isn't wrapping up.  Then there was the embargoed release of Inheritance, meaning I had to wait extra long to get my copy since it was being delivered. Torture.

But the long wait was worth it, I dug in right after arrival at my door and lost myself in the world and the story for a significant amount of time (1.1kgs shipping weight worth of time).

I have to start by saying that as far as all four of the books go, Inheritance isn't the strongest.  I enjoyed it, it wrapped up all the loose ends and got the job done, but it didn't feel as story driven as the previous three books.  Inheritance felt more as if Paolini was straining to get from point A to point B without stretching this baby into a fifth book.  Did I mention it was 1.1kgs, and 880 pages?  Obviously it was a close call.

However I did like how he wrapped the ultimate parts of the story.  The build up to the BIG FIGHT, the actual big fight and finally meeting Galbtorix were great moments.

Paolini was always very true to a Lord of the Rings style formula, and he definitely stayed true to that, all way to the 20 000 different endings.  There was easily 100 pages or more of wrapping up what all the varying characters go on to do.  It felt a little unnecessary to me, but will satisfy the die-hard readers who like it all neatly wrapped out.

If I'm going to take umbrage with any of Inheritance it's going to be the death toll.  I won't say if it's too many or not enough (don't want to spoil it for you!), but suffice it to say it wasn't what I was expecting.  I also didn't love the final answer to Araya, my impression all along was that the elves were not a people who easily changed and yet I feel like she made a big one that went against her personality.

Lets face it, very few endings are perfect when it comes to an epic series.  And if Inheritance wasn't perfect then it also wasn't a disappointment.  Nobody is going to be sold on this series by the final book but they were never supposed to be.  All in all the four books are an epic and impressive story told for a first time author, let alone one as young as Paolini.  If you haven't read any of it yet then what are you waiting for?  Go forth and steep yourself in his fantasy world!

Inheritance, book 4 of the Eragon series, by Christopher Paolini
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers, November 2011
My copy kindly provided by the publisher
Buy Inheritance on Amazon

Merry Christmas from me and the Gang-Feline Friday

Santa comes in many forms. 

Orange and sociable.

Fat and fluffy

White visitors who flatly refuse costumes with hisses and well aimed swats.

But who are deaf so don't mind a festive set of jingle bells. 

Pudgy and not fluffy

Ahhh and Christmas wouldn't be complete without the Grinch!

Happy Holidays from Me, The Hubby and all our Furry Kids!

May they bring you lots of books no matter what you Celebrate!!

(oh, and eat lots and lots of holiday goodies for me)

Chosen Ones, by Tiffany Truitt- Cover reveal

It's officially time to start anticipating exciting new SPRING books.  Can you believe it? I can't hardly either, I mean it hasn't even snowed here yet.  But with covers like this one, I'm going to be wishing away my winter.

The only thing that beats a good cover is a better blurb.

What if you were mankind’s last chance at survival?

            Sixteen-year-old Tess lives in a compound in what was once the Western United States, now decimated after a devastating fourth World War. But long before that, life as we knew it had been irrevocably changed, as women mysteriously lost the ability to bring forth life. Faced with the extinction of the human race, the government began the Council of Creators, meant to search out alternative methods of creating life. The resulting artificial human beings, or Chosen Ones, were extraordinarily beautiful, unbelievably strong, and unabashedly deadly.

            Life is bleak, but uncomplicated for Tess as she follows the rigid rules of her dystopian society, until the day she begins work at Templeton, the training facility for newly created Chosen Ones. There, she meets James, a Chosen One whose odd love of music and reading rivals only her own. The attraction between the two is immediate in its intensity—and overwhelming in its danger.

            But there is more to the goings-on at Templeton than Tess ever knew, and as the veil is lifted from her eyes, she uncovers a dark underground movement bent not on taking down the Chosen Ones, but the Council itself. Will Tess be able to stand up to those who would oppress her, even if it means giving up the only happiness in her life?

So keep you eye out for The Chosen Ones April release from Entangled Publishing!

Midwinters Eve Giveaway Hop

That's right folks, it's almost Christmas so a perfect time for a giveaway hop!  Just enter the form below between now and December 27th for your chance to win an ecopy of Borrowing Abby Grace

A high school mystery series with a Supernatural twist by Kelly Green.

Open to US residents.

Now make sure to hop along to the other blogs for your chances at more great books!  Good luck!

The Christmas Baking Extravaganza- The Cookiepedia and Donna Hay Celebrate 2011 Review

In the past 4 or 5 years I've started the annual Christmas Baking tradition.  And every year, despite my best intentions and careful planning, it turns into some epic thing.  The first year I baked these seemingly simple snowflake cookies.  A shortbread-ish cookie that you rolled quite thin then cut out with a snowflake cookie cutter and sprinkled with coloured sugar.  They looked gorgeous in the recipe photos and seemed relatively simple, until I discovered how dastardly delicate the bloody things were.  So after hours of frustration folks got lovely jars full of stubby broken circle cookies. 

Then there was the year I did the pistachio shortbread cookies, this one had a beautifully simple recipe, but unfortunately my purveyor of pistachios had a mealy worm problem.  This is when I discovered you had to pry each pistachio apart and inspect it carefully because the delightful mealy worms would squirm through the shell and burrow in without any external sign.

Yuck.

Needless to say I did not share my story of the 2 hrs of pistachio inspection with those I gave the cookies too, and I opted not to eat any too. 

So this year, like every year previous, I sat down with the fullest of intentions of making this years cookies no fuss, no muss.  My good friend Hasina opted to come over and be my co-cook for the day with the simple request of something lemony or coconutty on the menu for the afternoon. I, being a good little book reviewer, and generally fairly well organised (in general terms, because lets be frank, I don't do spreadsheets and I'm never on time for things), had requested The Cookiepedia from Random House back in September with the express desire to make it my Christmas baking standby.  I also get Donna Hay's Australian cooking magazine as a yearly subscription (awesome gift idea for the cook on your list by the way, just saying), and was anticipating her Celebrate edition with her yearly Christmas baking article.

I decided to try a mix this year, and sample a broader range of cookies then I would normally do, hell I had a co-cook, so obviously I would be swimming with extra help and time right?  Que Jaws music. 

I picked four recipes, two from Donna Hay- Chocolate Peppermint creams, and Spice Cookies (a slightly updated version of an older recipe of hers that I make every year as it tends to be the popular favorite, and crazy easy to make), and two from the Cookiepedia- Lemon Chews and Cardamon Cookies. 

Hasina, like me, has a timeliness issue and was running a bit behind for our bake date, so I started in on the Spice cookies while I waited.  An easy peasy recipe with ginger, all spice, nutmeg, cloves and then the usual suspects all mixed together then rolled and baked for 8 minutes or so, the longest part of this recipe is always the act of baking the enormous amount of cookies it makes (about 25-30 but I usually double it).  She arrived just in time to start rolling them and just like that we were off and well on our way.

Next up were the lemon chews.  I'd never made them before so I started of with a single batch.  They have honey in them, very little sugar, lemon rind and then the usual suspects (eggs, flour, butter, you know the drill).  Again, super easy to make with a nice short bake time (8 mins).  The minute they were out of the oven we were sampling and swooning.  Moist and chewy, as promised, with a hint of lemon, we immediately set out to make a second batch with a touch more lemon rind.
At this point it was starting to get late, I started the Cardamon cookies (super simple assembly), but they had to refrigerate before rolling and Hasina had to move on to an early evening staff Christmas party.  So the hubby stepped into the Co-cook apron and started helping with the chocolate peppermint creams. 

They were decidedly easy to throw together, the biggest step being chopping 200 grams of dark chocolate, but they called for refrigeration also (though to be honest, they really didn't need it, as I found out later).  So we set to rolling out the Cardamon Cookies.

This is where it got a bit fussy.  The Cardamon Cookies are a bit shortbread-ish, after chilling you had to flour everything well, roll the dough out and drag out the cookie cutters.  I had learned my lesson the hard way (see the above snowflake disaster) and now own a lovely set of varying sized circle cookie cutters.  Once they're cut out you splash them with a bit of milk or egg (white or yolk I don't remember, I used milk obviously) and then sprinkle with crushed almonds. 

The recipe photo used slivered blanched almonds but I thought the brown of the exteriors of the raw almonds made a nice counterpoint to the paleness of the cookies. And dude-no slivering, talk about fusty!

I found that their timing and temperature was less perfect than the Lemon Chews.  They cooked best for me at 8 minutes and 350 degrees (instead of 375 which made them too browned and crunchy).  However, once finished they were divine and lovely to look at. 

Finally it was time for the chocolate peppermint creams.  Now these caused heart ache (there has to be one bloody difficult cookie every year I tell you!).  Mixing and refrigeration were simple, but cooking was weird.  The cookies didn't crack on top like the recipe said they would, and I quickly discovered that they should still seem undercooked when I took them out, because they really hardened up fast.  Which led to the other mini-disaster.  Once you took them out of the oven you had to give them a minute or two before taking them off the pan (they were just mudgy at first), then you had to whip those little chocolaty buggers off as fast as you could before they hardened and glued down on the surface of the pan.  There was maybe 20 seconds of wiggle room.  I also had to use a thin metal spatula on my poor non-stick pan, since the silicon ones just made mess.

There was many a taste test as I freaked out over how hard and brittle the cookies were, and how unlike the picture they looked.  However, once I slathered on the mint cream they softened up to a chewy consistency and were delicious.  So although they were wildly frustrating they were likely worth it, I guess the final word will be if I can bring myself to make more of them (the hubby is lobbying).

The final steps were the finishes.  The spice cookies got a dusting in icing sugar with cinnamon mixed in (insanely easy, pretty and added an awesome finishing touch to the flavour), and the lemon chews got a sugar icing glaze (which I added a sprinkling of lemon rind to for flavour and look). 

In the end the cookies were all pretty and delicious, though some a bit fussier than I would have liked.  For future cookie bake-a-thons I would definitely rely on the Cookiepedia.  It was a great cook book, simplistic recipes with good results, lots of unusual cookies and a nice layout.  I also loved how it was divided up- fruity, chocolaty, spicy, buttery, fancy, nutty and seedy.

The Cookiepedia: Mixing, Baking and Reinventing the Classics, by Stacy Adimando

Published by Quirk Press, September 2011

My copy kindly provided by Random House

Buy The Cookiepedia on Amazon

Donna Hay Celebrate Issue 60

Buy back issues or subscribe to Donna Hay Magazine

Saturday Link Salad

Before bed last night I started the Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, and lets just say I've barely been able to do anything else- including this.

So I've dragged myself away to give you a few tidbits (of which I was hardly thorough this week but hey, I have reading to get back to!).

-First up, if you're like me, you recently tore through your copy of Clockwork Prince and are eager for all the extra tidbits Cassie's been sprinkling all over the interwebs since it's release.  Goodreads did an interview with her yesterday, you should be able to see the recorded version here, though I watched it live so I'm not entirely sure it works.  However, she gives many many little tidbits out on her tumbler feed. On Will/Jem/Tessa love triangle, on Tessa and Nate, on how Will feels about Tessa, on Wills sarcasm.  

- Once you've had your fill then head on over to Mundie Mom's who are sharing the first chapter of Clockwork Prince's audio book for free.  Perfect timing since I was just thinking I'd like to do the Clockwork Angel audio book and break my audio book virginity.

-Then, in the last bit of Cassie Clare news, Izzy won a round of the Heroine Tournament, so a small CoLS teaser has gone up.

-The most exciting piece of news for the week, for me anyhow, was that not only did Scott Westerfeld commission one last piece of art work for the Leviathan series (just for us die hard fans), but he also wrote a 3000 word piece of fan fiction to go with it!  Nothing says christmas like bonus material for beloved books!

- If you want to get something a little different for someone this year, why not consider the Authors against animal abuse auction happening over on Christine Johnsons Books site.  Lots of great stuff with money going to an even better cause.

- Finally, if you ever wanted to get you manuscript critiqued by the agent of one of your favourite authors then do I ever have the contest for you!
Head over to BookWish for full details, but you could have your manuscript critiqued by one of the following:
Laura Langlie, Meg Cabots agent, Nancy Gallt, Jeanne DuPrau's agent, Brenda Bowen Karen Hesse's agent, Ann M. Martin winner of the Newbery Honor for  A Corner of the Universe, Cynthia Voight (one of my favourites from my teen reading days! Izzy Willy Nilly anyone?) or Francisco X. Stork who wrote The Last Summer of the Death Warriors.

Now go forth and Saturday on Christmas style!
I have a book to read!

Howl, by Karen Hood-Caddy -Review for Feline Friday

I love me a good book about animal rescue, especially when it's an inspiring read about how someone ends up making a living at it.  Lets face it, if I could manage it I would totally be one of those people with a sanctuary.  So when Dundurn Press talked me up about Howl I knew I had to read it.

From the back of the book:

Robin will never get over her mother's death.  Nor will she forgive her father for moving the family to a small town in cottage country to live with her weird grandmother.  In order to cope she decides not to care about anyone or anything.  But when her dog falls through the ice and is about to drown, she realizes she cares hugely and becomes part of a dramatic rescue.


That caring leads her to rescue other animals - dogs, bears, skunks, baby raccoons, which she nurses in the barn.  Soon she's running an illegal animal shelter.  When her father forbids her to carry on, and the sheriff shows up to take the animals away, will she have the courage to stand up to them all and save the animals she loves?


I liked this book on a lot of levels.  It obviously talked a great deal about wild animal rescue, but it also delved into Eco-living, bullying and facing your fears.  And although that sounds like it covered a lot of ground for 244 pages it did it well.  Non of it was broached in moralizing or preachy ways and the way the kids enthusiastically jumped from one cause to another reminded me of my energy and love of causes when I was around 12.  I most certainly would have locked myself to an animal shelter to prevent needy animals from being euthanized, but since I didn't run across that issue I wrote moralizing letters to McDonald's and had my mom drive me over to the local franchise so I could drop them off with a cashier.  I was going to make a difference god #%$@ it!  They were ruining the rainforest!
I also raised money to buy acres of the rainforest and sold UNICEF buttons like a mad thing.  12 is a good age to start being a lobbyist, you have tonnes of energy.

I appreciated that Karen didn't dumb down the animal rescue aspect of the story.  She makes no bones about how little sleep Robin, her brother Squirm and their grandmother are getting while caring for all these injured animals, and the constant danger of having the injured baby bear is regularly brought up as well.  On the other hand I like that she represented it in a positive light, it's hard but rewarding work for these three as well as their friends who get involved later.  Often I think the benefits of animal rescue work, of any kind, are under appreciated.  The feeling of accomplishment when the animals do well under your care is what keeps people doing it, and Karen really illustrates well how fulfilled Robin and her friends and family are by their work at the Wild Place.

I came away from Howl feeling inspired to do more (can you hear the hubby groaning in the background?), so I can only imagine how inspiring it will be for middle school readers who are in the prime of their change the world years.  If you have an animal loving child on your list this season definitely consider Howl, then make sure you pick them up Wild Spirits by Rosa Jordan as a follow up.  You'll have a hardcore rescue enthusiast on you hands in no time.

Howl, by Karen Hood-Caddy
Published by Dundurn Press, November 2011
My copy kindly provided by Dundurn Press
Buy Howl on Amazon
Want more great animal rescue books for middle schoolers? Check out my review of Wild Spirits

Eve, by Anna Carey- Review

From Good reads:
The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her.


I love the idea of dystopians.  But it turns out I LOVE, very few of them in actuality.  Maybe it's because Hunger Games started me on my dystopian kick and that's one hell of a great book to live up to.  But it might also be because far to many of the heroines are wishy washy pansies.  If it's a tough world out there then shouldn't you be tough as nails to survive it?  Or, at least, have someone who you've always depended on and who has looked after you? 

Anna Carey's Eve fell into the category of ambivalence for me.  I didn't hate it, but I wasn't swept off my feet by it either.  Eve herself was an obnoxiously naive, wishy washy pansy, but she's been raised in ignorance and relative luxury so it's an understandable, though frequently annoying, personality trait.  When she doesn't have to survive or be clever (which she most certainly isn't) then Eve has a Wendy type quality (from Peter Pan), that I didn't mind, almost to the point of liking.  But I didn't feel that she grew as a character through her trials and tribulations on the run.  Instead it felt like she kept making the same bad judgement calls, and then relying on someone else to save her skin.

Bring in Caleb, IE- skin saver/romantic interest.  Caleb, and the rag tag band of escapee work camp boys were one of the more genuine and interesting parts of the story.  The best story elements, and the better characters and development were all to be found with the boys camp.  To be honest I think the story would have been more interesting if it had been CALEB, and had followed the group of boys and Caleb rather than use Eve as the main character.  Again, Caleb on his own was interesting, but as the romantic lead to Eve he fell flat.  Maybe it was just their entanglement held no interest for me? Regardless, once the story became Eve-centric again I began to loose interest.

All of these issues may have been less significant (hardly irrelevant, Eve was really annoying) if there had been a firmer ground work for this world.  Carey's leads you through this story, revealing bits and pieces of  both the new structure and what took it down, as you go; but by the end I still wasn't sure what was going on.  Why were girls being educated to the nines and then used as baby machines? Why were boys being used in work camps? What was going on in the cities? Why would Eve be of any unusual importance?

There were both too many questions, and way too little development to have me as spellbound as I was hoping for (Lauren Kate uses gripping right on the cover!).  Which also meant the cliffhanger ending was not nearly as cliffy as I'm guessing it was supposed to be.  Will I pick up part two? Possibly, but not at full purchase price and I certainly won't be in any hurry to get my hands on it.

Eve, by Anna Carey
Published by HarperCollins October 2011
My Copy obtained from the publisher at the BEA
Buy Eve on Amazon

Liesl and Po, by Lauren Oliver- Review

Much has been said about Lauren Oliver's first foray into middle grade books, most of it good, and I was really looking forward to getting my hands on it at the BEA.  To my great and undying excitement there was a bit of a bonus element to the ARC- rough sketches!  The finished book is filled with lovely pencil art by Kei Acedera, but because the ARC was printed well in advance of publication they used her rough sketches as place holders.  I was elated when I was thumbing through it later that day and realised, but of course now it means I need to buy a finished copy so that I can have both versions! 

Do you hear that? That's the sound of my bookshelves and the hubby groaning in protestation.

Liesl has been locked in the attic by her stepmother, she's recently orphaned and very lonely, until Po shows up.  Po and Bundle are ghosts, attracted from beyond by Liesl's drawings.  Meanwhile, alchemist's apprentice Will, is also drawn to Liesl.  Each night he sees her face high up in the attics window while he's out running errands for the Alchemist, and he fantasizes about being friends, because he to is lonely.  But when Will inadvertently switches two boxes, the two humans and two ghosts are launched on a great adventure filled with surprises.

I'm not sure if it's in the finished copy, but my ARC has a note from Lauren Oliver talking about how she wrote this story while dealing with the death of her best friend.  So it is hardly surprising that the story is very dark and sombre.  Will, Liesl and Po are all dealing with unhappiness of one kind or another before they come together, and even once they start their adventure together they're traveling through a grey sunless world filled with unhappiness.  I'm not sure if it was my state of mind while reading (I read it about a week after my grandmother died) or if it would resonate the same with a non-mourning reader, but it was a very heavy story for me.  I really enjoyed it, but it felt much darker than anything I've read in that genre before.  And I'm not sure I fully appreciated the "magical" element so many are raving about because it was so dark for me.

My favorite character is Mo, a security guard who worries about Will being cold because he doesn't have a hat, so he puts his cat in a sling over his shoulder and chases him across the country side with a hat just his size.  Mo probably sums up the charm of the story, of which there was oodles.

My only complaint about this story was it was very young in many ways.  It's a basic story arc, evil vs. good, orphans on the run etc., with not lots of meat on it's bones for older readers.  So the likely hood I'd ever re-read it is slim, except I really like the illustrations, so maybe I'll have a periodic flip through just for them. 

All in all it was a lovely read, very different from Olivers other books, and one I can picture reading to someone very little before bed.  Especially a little one who loves a good illustration.

Liesl & Po, by Lauren Oliver

Published by HarperCollins, October 2011

Buy Liesl & Po on Amazon

Once Every Never Video

I'm a huge Lesley Livingston fan.  I mean, what's not to like? She's Canadian, she's funny and genuine, she writes great books.  See? You already love her don't you?
Well she has a new video about Once Every Never, where she chats to Christopher Ward about what inspired her to write it, while standing in THE ROM! Which is amusing because it's where I work and yet somehow didn't know she was here and did this.  If you're paying close attention you'll see her good friend and fellow actress/author Adrienne Kress.



The even better news is that Once Every Never is now available in the states via Amazon.com.  It's the perfect size for a stocking, I'm just saying.

Buy Once Every Never on Amazon
Check out my review of Once Every Never

Sunday Link Salad

Well it's Sunday, and exactly two weeks until Christmas day. Yee Gads!  So obviously life everywhere is starting to ramp up with parties, decorating, gift buying, gift wrapping, baking and cleaning. I baked for 5 hours yesterday, and yes, I am eating some of it now. 
Don't judge, Christmas cookies make excellent breakfast.
But book news is moving along at full speed despite the craziness out there, so if you have 15 minutes then click away and let me get you in the know.

- The big news in releases this week was Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare (I'm halfway through my copy, and the only reason it isn't done yet is because I've been so busy, because it's awesomesauce).  Cassie had a huge party in NYC for the release, but she's also done a bunch of interviews for us lesser mortals who couldn't be in the big apple.
First up she gives out some writing advice over at Galley Cat, my favorite is the House answer (go HOUSE!).  Then Mundie Moms has a great little interview with Cassie, in which it's revealed what scene made Cassie Clare cry while writing it (with page number).  They also have a handful of short character interviews with Clockwork favorites.

-Julie Kagawa's Immortal Rules had it's cover reveal this week.  Julie was busy tweeting how excited she was that she finally gets a black cover.

- Scott Westerfeld appreciates that his Leviathan fans are feeling bereft from the lack of Alek, Deryn and Bovril in their lives now that Goliath has wrapped out the series.  So he's decided we get one more piece of art (besides the forthcoming Manual of Aeronautics companion guide).  The best part is, he's making it a vote, so make sure to stop by and have your say (Bovril in a dress or Alek in a dress is my vote).

-Shannon Whitney Messenger posted a great blog post on how not to write your first book.  Since she recently announced her first book deal she's likely a good source if you're hoping the book you're currently working on will be your fist published book. 

-Maggie Steifvater was full of little posts this week.  She linked up to a sampler of The Scorpio Races audiobook, reviewed the Night Circus, and best of all she re-posted humiliating writing from her teen years (originally posted in 2009 but hilarious still!).  Trust me, if you read anything this week- read that.

-Finally, remember when I mooned over Fracture earlier this week?  Well I've got more mooning to share.  If you head on over to the Fracture facebook page, you can link up to a new short story from Deckers point of view called 11 Minutes.  If you've read the excerpt already you'll really enjoy this piece.  If not, what are you waiting for?  You can also head over to Megan Miranda's blog where she talks about writing the short story and about some ARC giveaways for Fracture.

Now go forth and be productive already! Christmas is only two weeks from today!!

109 Cats in Sweaters, because baby it's cold outside- Feline Fridays

There is not much I can say about this that the pictures don't adequately illustrate.  It's winter time, doesn't your cat need a sweater?

Please, please check out the whole list.  Because what can make your day more than 109 cats in sweaters and one in a poncho?

Happy Feline Friday!

Now go put a sweater on your cat already.

Oh wait! I already have!!

Goliath, by Scott Westerfeld- Review

Oh Alek, Deryn, and of course Bovril how I love you. I love you so much I made the hubby get up at 6am during the BEA to get tickets to the Scott Westerfeld signing so that I could get Goliath early and signed.  But then I didn't want it to be over and I held out till almost two months after it was published before reading it!

For starters, all the things I want to say, I can't without mega spoilage. Sigh.  So share your spoilery views in the comments and make me happy people because I want to talk about it!

The last of the Leviathan trilogy, Goliath was a great ending.  It had plenty of intrigue, drama and tension, but it also made great work of tying up some pretty impossible seeming loose ends.  The hubby and I disagreed about how one of the *spoilery* bits was tied off (I was surprised but happy with where Scott took it, hubby was disappointed) but alas, I can't say more than that (unless you comment!! please, please comment!).  All the same the hubby and I were in agreement that this was an outstanding trilogy, and Goliath was a very satisfying conclusion to it.

In my reviews for both Levithan and Behemoth I gush about the art, the lingo, the characters and the world building, and it all remains truly fantastic in Goliath.  Scott Westerfeld has built an impressive world and populated it with everything it needed to be engrossing and simultaneously delightful.  I laughed out loud repeatedly, but was still totally caught up in the page turning tension.  I couldn't recommend this trilogy enough, it has something for everyone, the history buff, the steampunk lover, the fantasy fanatic or someone who's just looking for something different.  So if one of them are on your list this year make sure to consider gifting them at least part one of this trilogy (though be kind and give the whole thing, my mom doled out 1 Harry Potter book a year for a couple of years and it was torture).

Goliath, by Scott Westerfeld
Published by Simon Pulse, September 2011
Buy Goliath on Amazon

Fracture by Megan Miranda- Review

Turns out potential jury duty was good for one thing (other than lots of stress and exhaustion.  Spending all day sweating bullets and thinking *notmenotmenotme* in a never ending chant is the most exhausting thing I've done in awhile), it was really good for getting some reading done.  Two and a half books in 4 days, and only one of them was a full 8 hour day.  So during the rush out the door on day two I decided to grab from my January pile of BEA treats, as a reward for my quietly being tortured by my civic duty.  Fracture was a good size, it had to fit in my purse with Shatter Me, and it sounded intriguing, so it got stuffed into my purse without another thought.
Little did I know what a fabulously great treat I'd just chosen for myself.

From the back cover:
A lot can happen in eleven minutes.  Decker can run two miles easily in eleven minutes.  I once wrote an English essay in ten.  No lie.  And God knows Carson Levine can talk a girl out of her clothes in half that time.


Eleven minutes might as well be eternity under water.  It only takes three minutes without air for loss of consciousness.  Permanent brain damage begins at four minutes.  And then, when the oxygen runs out, full cardiac arrest occurs.  Death is possible at five minutes.  Probable at seven.  Definite at ten.


Decker pulled me out at eleven.


This was an absolutely stunning debut novel. By page three I was riveted, by page eleven I was trying not to sob on my very public subway ride home, by page 70 I was so completely in love with the characters I could hardly put the book down to go to sleep.  In the ARC's introduction, Publisher Emily Easton sagely advises clearing your schedule so you can make this a one-sitting kind of read, and I would seriously second that motion.  Foolish me, I did no such thing, and suffered for it.

This was such a perfectly constructed book, on so many levels, that it's hard to know where to begin rhapsodizing.  Megan Miranda has captured not just the teen voice, but the awkwardness of teen life in a smaller town where you've known everyone since kindergarten, and how every thing they do, or you do is always tinged by the history of knowing them since they were five.  The levels that adds to the relationships of Delaney, Decker and their friends is something rarely seen in YA, but it makes you understand everyone on such an intimate level, even the secondary characters.

Speaking of Delaney and Decker, they may be two of my favourite contemporary YA characters ever.  Their easy friendship, increasingly complicated by all the things left unsaid reminded me forcefully of moments from my teenage life.  How everything can be so complicated and yet so simple at the same time is the epitome of teenage relationships, and Megan really hit this dichotomy dead on.

Fracture is one of the best reads of the year for me, without a doubt.  I was so caught up in it that I immediately started it again after finishing it the first time, and read 40 pages before I could tear myself away.  More than that, it has been in the back of my thoughts ever since I put it down.  I insist you treat yourself to it pre-order style, and in fact, highly recommend you pre-order it as a slightly belated christmas present for all those on you book buying list.  I guarantee you'll love it.  But don't just take my word for it, head on over to Fractures Facebook page and read the first 32 pages, just be warned the wait until its January 17th release date might just kill you.

Fracture, by Megan Miranda
Published by Walkers Children, January 17th 2012
Pre-order Fracture from Amazon

Shatter Me, by Tahereh Mafi- Review

There has been much raving, and large scale anticipation for Shatter Me on the interwebs these many months.  It was a much sought after ARC at the BEA that I only ended up getting because of the speed dating with children and YA authors.  Tahereh was one of the many authors doing their 5 minute spiels about their books and she was one I notably remembered because she made sure to mention there was a "steamy shower scene" in her extremely brief time at our table.  I have to say that put me off a little, I mean you have 5 minutes to sell me on the merits of your story and the best you can do is that there's a "steamy shower" scene?  So despite it sitting on my shelf while oodles of reviewers clamoured about how they were dying to read it, I held off thinking it wasn't likely going to be my cup of tea.

Sadly I know my reading habits very well, and Shatter Me did not hold any exciting surprises for me.

From Goodreads:
Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.


The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

One of the primary things I disliked about this story was how it was written.  Riddled with a repeating structure, strike through sentences and a strange type of prose that seems to be trying for poetic but merely comes off as nonsense, Shatter Me was definitely aiming for a unique voice for it's broken main character Juliette.  In the end it all seemed as if it was trying to hard to  *BE* something instead of actually just telling a story.  Some of it was such nonsense that it actually completely lost me, I mean what does this mean??

"Someone picked up the sun and pinned it to the sky again, but every day it hangs a little lower than the day before.  It's like a negligent parent who only knows one half of who you are.  It never sees how its absence changes people.  How different we are in the dark."


"I catch the rose petals as they fall from my cheeks, as they float around the frame of my body, as they cover me in something that feels like the absence of courage."


"My eyes break open.  Two shattered windows filling my mouth with glass.
"What is it?"  His voice is a failed attempt at flatness, an anxious attempt at apathy.
Nothing
I focus on the transparent square wedged between me and my freedom.  I want to smash this concrete world into oblivion. I want to be bigger, better, stronger.
I want to be angry-angry-angry-.
I want to be the bird that flies away .
"What are you writing?" Cellmate speaks again.
These words are vomit.
This shaky pen is my esophagus.
This sheet of paper is my porcelain bowl."


My next biggest issue with the story was how the first three quarters of it just seemed like excuse making to arrange for Juliette and Adam to have random, steamy almost-sex scenes.  I didn't feel like I was learning anything much about the characters, the dystopian universe or the general direction of the story outside of how these two couldn't keep their hands off each other.  And I found Juliette's complete lack of shyness when it came to her grope-a-thons with Adam, at complete odds with her original broken, can barely speak or cope with someone else in her room with her persona.  What changed? Because whatever it was I didn't read it anywhere.

Then there was the whole drop dead gorgeous thing.  Seriously, what a tired old bit of direction for a story.  The shameless and blatant way every guy who sees her carries on about how smokin' sexy she is, isn't even used as a derogatory thing, instead it's used as some sort of perk to her personality.  As if I, as a reader, need her to be spectacularly good looking to like her.  As a girl, I have to say it would have been more interesting to me if she was plain or average and considered gorgeous by the evil character because of her dangerous abilities, and ugly by those who are scared of her.  That would have been story telling.

Overall the harshest bit of criticism I have for this story is for the actual story telling itself or lack thereof.  It goes NOWHERE until the very end.  Seriously, this was meandering conversations and vacant insight at best prior to page 220, and this book is only 342 pages long.  I can forgive build up, character building or development in the first 100-150 pages of a book if it's leading somewhere good and is well done (IE I'm interested in the development and characters) however 220 pages of it equals absolute boredom especially when after 220 pages of it I still don't care about these characters.  Perhaps all the almost-sex- scenes were supposed to distract me?  They didn't, and by the time Juliette, Adam, James and Kenji are at a rebellion camp and learning stuff that might have been interesting to the story if it had came 100 pages earlier, I was well and truly over this book.  Which is saying something because I was on potential jury duty and being held hostage in a big barren room for many hours a day, I was asking little of my entertainment to say the least.

This is Tahereh Mafi's debut novel, so it stands to reason that Shatter Me was her growing pains and book two of the series will be much better.  But I certainly won't be rushing out to buy it.  All the same, Shatter Me is getting rave reviews around the blogesphere, so if you were a lover of Hush Hush,  Angel Burn, or Starcrossed (all famously loathed by me) then make sure to take my review with a huge grain of salt and google the 500 000 other favourable reviews before you make up your mind!

Shatter Me, By Tahereh Mafi
Published by HarperTeen, November 15th 2011
Buy Shatter Me on Amazon

Saturday Link Salad

So I have had one day of sleeping in to recuperate from the LONGEST week ever.  And this morning I slept in a little bit before the neighbours started harassing us about things that had nothing to do with us, and coincidentally, were happening prior to 9:30am. Ugh.  But best of all I've drummed up a little bit of this weeks news!  I dug around on Twitter and such to catch up as best as I could and I've brought you treats.  So unlike me, I hope you have a nice warm coffee in your hands (see my sad eyes?? I have no coffee in the house, it's a CRISIS I tell you!) and you're ready to dig in.

-This week I read, and fell desperately in love with Megan Miranda's Fracture.  It doesn't come out until January but you can join me in my fandom by checking out the first 32 pages on her Facebook page!  Let me just say, I was in love with Decker and Delaney by page three and by page 11 I was trying not  sob on the subway, in public.  Go forth and enjoy thoroughly, I'll have my review up later this week.
Then, if you still need more, which you will (trust me), there's a note on the inspiration for Fracture by Megan up at Issuu.com.

-If you're anything like me then you're madly anticipating Clockwork Prince's release this Tuesday.  In the gear up towards release time Publishers Weekly had an interesting article about Cassandra Clare's online presence and what it does for her books.

-Speaking of Cassandra Clare, she's released a one line COLS teasers for Clary's win on the YA Heroine Tournament.

-Scholastic Canada is having a Facebook contest called the  “The Twelve Days of Scholastic Canada Christmas”, each day from Dec 5th-16th they are giving away fall titles.  The contest starts on Monday December 5th, so be sure to head over and "like" their facebook page early so you're ready!
-Deadline.com announced Thursday that Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone may be hitting the big screen.  Apparently Paramount is in talks to acquire it to the tune of 700,000$.  I have to say I'm always leery of fantasy films being turned into movies, but this one could be cool if it was done right.

-Speaking of movie news!  Cherie Priest has sold the rights to her first Clockwork Century book, Boneshaker!  I loved this story (see my review), and the folks attached to the sale are very, very promising.  In fact the hubby and I had just watched the trailer for The Woman in Black (with Daniel Radcliffe) that morning and been suitably impressed.

-This bit of news is from a couple of weeks ago, shame on me, I know! Anywho- The admirable illustrator behind Scott Westerfelds Leviathan books, Keith Thompson, turns out to be Canadian!  I know, cool right?  Steampunk Canada had a short little interview with him that was fun.

-Finally there's an amazing auction going on right now for author Terri Windling.  A whole variety of authors, agents and others are putting up some once in a lifetime things (awesome holiday gifts people!!) which include:  A one of a kind Short fiction about your favourite Cassandra Clare character, written for you by Cassie herself,  Holly Black has offered a character in Coldtown to be named by or after you,
Lunch or Dinner with the amazing Tamora Pierce, A signed Brian Froud watercolour, Lunch with Barry Goldblatt (he's a foodie and will pick up the bill!!), multiple Melissa Marr offerings, critiques by various editors, signed Alan Lee prints and books, a one of a kind illustration of your pet made fantastical by Theo Black and more! Check out the whole website, and make sure to have Kleenex handy for the drool.

Now go forth and Saturday on!

Awkward Family Pet Photos for Feline Fridays!

A couple of years ago I bought the hubby Awkward Family Photos for his birthday.  And let me just say, if you're ever stuck for a present for someone, and that someone could use a giggle, then make sure you buy them that book.  Some of the pictures still make me laugh so hard I cry.  So imagine how excited I was when I found out there was a new Awkward Family Photo book?  Lets just say nothing makes a family photo stranger than a pet.

Has your drink come out your nose yet?

The best part is, these aren't even the ones that made it into the book!!

I can't wait to give Awkward Family Pet Photos for Christmas this year,  I might even include one of my own just for fun!

Awkward Family Pet Photos, By Mike Bender and Doug Chernack

Published by Three Rivers Press, November 2011

Buy Awkward Family Photos on Amazon 

Need a laugh while your waiting for it to ship?

Check out the Awkward Family Pet Photos Site, and maybe add your own!