Monday's -Late- Novel Talk (2)

I apologize for not posting this up yesterday. I know it's Tuesday but yea. And again I apologize for not putting this up earlier today. I was cleaning my bookcase and novels and it was a lot of work.

Anyway, today's novel talk will be about Lodestone Book One: The Sea of Storms. It's written my debut author, Mark Whiteway.

Now I first found out of this book on bookblogs.ning.com I think the site is. The author was searching for people to review his novel. I immediately signed up. And I'm so glad I did. It's the first novel I have ever received for review and I'm so glad it was this one.

The story is set in a strange land, yet the characters and the way it is written, the way they talk and act makes everything comfortable. This strange land is no longer strange to me. I mean, I'm towards the middle of the book but it's still amazing. From the very beginning I snapped into the novel. We meet one teen boy. He gets rejected by his crush and soon finds something that will make us want to read on. All of a sudden we meet a female character. And with her we meet two other males.

So here I am thinking, oh great, 4 characters. (I'm hoping the first one comes in again, I have yet to figure out his part in the novel.) And by the way, there was no sarcasm with the "oh great" up there. So we meet the three new characters and all of a sudden we're thrown into the lives of a new character. But that's not all for she soon meets a sixth character. And here I am thinking "how are all these lives going to come together."

We got one guy who found something and we're left at that.

One girl and two guys who are on a mission that may cost their lives.

One girl and one male creature who have to meet up with the other three to stop them from dying.

And yesterday, the last five have finally met. Kind of. And I can not wait to read more of it.

At first I was a bit confused with the names and such but I came to be comfortable with them and learned them so that now I can tell you anything about them. Well anything that has been mentioned in the book.

The only con for me, is the cover. It's not that I don't like the cover, because I do. It's just that the way it is and the way the colors mesh together and it looks like it's on canvas it makes me feel sick. Not like "Ugh that's sickening" more like I feel like I will throw up and it's giving me a headache. Not to be bad or anything but literally. It's not the only thing that does that. Certain colors make me feel nauseous and get headaches. So I kind of have to not look at the cover.

But anyway, I can't wait to finish it and give out my review on it! And then wait for the second novel which has to be as good as the first.

Grand Selection Giveaway!!

Over at http://www.cryhavocreviews.com/2010/06/giveaway-time.html is a giveaway where the selection of books is anything but small.

All you have to do is follow, fill out the form and hope that you are of of the two winners. The novels are;

Cat #1

1. The Light of Asteria by Elizabeth Isaacs
2. Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
3. Seers of Light by Jennifer Delucy
4. Forgive my Fins by Terra Lynn Childs
5. 13 to Life by Shannon Delany
6. Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
7. Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
8. Passing Strange by Daniel Walters

Cat #2

1. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
2. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
4. The Host by Stephenie Meyer
5. Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
6. Rampant (Killer Unicorns #1) by Diana Peterfreund
7. My Soul to Keep (Soul Screamers #4) by Rachel Vincent
8. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
9. Infinity (Chronicles of Nick #1) by Sherrilyn Kenyo

Winner 1 will get a choice of two books. One from Cat 1 and another from Cat 2. Winner two will get a choice from Cat 2. If the blog gets 175 followers, a third winner will be added with a choice from Cat 2. If it gets 250 followers, a fourth winner will be added with a choice from Cat 2.

The Contest is International and like I said, you have to be a follower. So go ahead, click the link up top and ENTER!

Remember the cookies!

(Cat's (not the meowing kind, I hope) and rules were taken from Cry Havoc! Reviews. The blog itself.)

In My Mailbox/Book Haul (1)

So since I didn't post before I'm posting now! This week I got a couple of things in the mail and luckily I'm doing it today because I got new things just now.

Anyway, as I went to the post office, I passed by Blockbuster because I saw this book and had to buy it. It was like $3 so that's pretty cheap. I'm really excited to read this book! =D

Synospis is: Ernie Banks, named for the legendary Chicago Cubs shortstop, is a troubled, thirteen-year-old juvenile delinquent. Abandoned on the doorstep of the Lakeside Home for Boys when he was three years old, his only proof that he once belonged to somebody is a vintage Ernie Banks baseball card, a crystal acorn he wears on a string around his neck, and a strange spiral birthmark on the bottom of his right foot.

As a last reprieve before being sent to a juvenile detention facility, Ernie is allowed to spend three weeks on a working farm. When Ernie arrives at the home of Russ Frazier, he learns that the widower’s baby was kidnapped years before. Ernie is determined to solve the case. He teams up with Joey, a local tomboy, to investigate clues that lead them on a dangerous journey into a forbidden world of dark secrets, magic puddles, and the cavernous underground kingdom of the Puddlejumpers–eleven-inch-tall water creatures with whom Ernie has a mysterious connection.

At the post office, I went to get this book that I won in a contest over at, http://booksandmoviesreviews.blogspot.com/

I would have gotten it Saturday but I was sleeping and I swear that they never ring the doorbell! It happens all the time.

This book to me seems like one of those that you have to lay back and just read in one sitting.

Synopsis is: While digging up a withering wax myrtle tree beside his waterfront home on the Gulf coast, author Andy Andrews unearths a rusted metal container filled with Nazi artifacts and begins an intriguing investigation that unlocks an unspoken past that took place in his backyard . . . literally.

In 1942, as the country gears up for a full-scale commitment to WWII, German subs are dispatched to the Gulf of Mexico to sink U.S. vessels carrying goods and fuel. While taking a late-night walk, Helen Mason-widowed by war-discovers the near-lifeless body of a German sailor. Enraged at the site of Josef Landermann's uniform, Helen is prepared to leave him to die when an unusual phrase, faintly uttered, changes her mind.

Set in a period simmering with anger and suspicion The Heart Menderoffers the very real chronicle of a small town preparing itself for the worst the world has to offer. As cargo from torpedoed ships begins to wash up on the beach, Josef and Helen must reconcile their pasts to create a future.

Now for Spirit, I've been waiting a while to receive it. It was sent for review so I really want to read it of course. It seems different and interesting. Something I've never read before.

Synopsis is: Randall Lender was a Wanted Man. He was wanted by the Clergy of the Major Organized Religions, the Governments and the New World Order, but that was the least of his problems. After going out of body (astral projection) Randall Lender suddenly found himself in such a paradox where the surrealism meets dilemma. Within this phenomenon of Looking Through the Hour Glass he unfortunately after leaving his physical body ended up into another's. This was his paradox. This was his dilemma. This was his surrealism. And regrettably for Lender this was the real quantum problem. Randall Lender found himself on an unexpected journey with its twists and turns until he realizes that he must die to live for his return to his former body. And now the elixir of questions remains: What? How? And Why? Then you'll ask why me? Why him? And What If?

(Synopsis were taken from Barnesandnoble.com and the last one from Amazon.com)

Well, aside from books I also got a shirt from, http://idsoratherbereading.blogspot.com/

It says I'd So Rather Be Reading on it
and cleverly has their link by including blogspot on it =O

I don't have a picture of it right now but I will be taking a picture of it. I'll be wearing it =D

Anyway that's what I got this week. It's not much but it's enough xD

Bookcase Giveaway

Hey guys! So I haven't posted this weekend, I was busy with races and weddings and stuff O.o

But I will post stuff today =D

Anyway a fellow blogger over at Sophistikatied Reviews is holding a giveaway of a corner bookcase!

http://sophistikatied.blogspot.com/2010/06/bookshelf-giveaway.html

It's as easy as filling out the form and bam! You're in the giveaway!

It says you don't have to be a follower but still follow her! Because her blog is awesomeness!

Check out the link for the contest and what the bookcase/shelf looks like!

If you guys check it out, I'll give you any cookies you guys want =D

Book Review: The Lovely Bones

These next two reviews, including next week, are books that I heard because of the movies. They both deal with death in some way and I really liked them a lot.

I apologize that it's short but they were one of my first reviews I wrote "professionally". But here we go. Oh, and the cover on the side is not the one I have. I actually have the movie cover. =D

Title: The Lovely Bones

Author: Alice Sebold

Pages: 372

Rating: E for Exceeds Expectations

Review: Death. We all think about it. We all experience it second hand at one point. And we will all go through it. We all hope that it will come when we are old and wrinkly and to the point that we accept it. We do not wish that it would be taken from us, brutally, when we are young. Susie Salmon had that same wish.

Susie was only fourteen when she was raped and murdered by a neighbor, Mr. Harvey. But this book is not all about her death and who did it and how it happened. We find out right in the beginning. This novel is about how Susie’s death was just a pebble in the pond.

Alice Sebold takes on the lives of everyone around Susie Salmon. From family, to crushes, to her friends she had and the friends she never knew she had. The way Sebold writes out what happens to each of them, makes us feel as if we are living with them. As if, like Susie, we are looking down upon them from heaven. The heaven that is the most perfect place. Not hers, but also, our perfect world.

We see a family that was as close as any can be, break up into separate paths. Friendships formed that would have otherwise been left untouched. They all share her death. But, Susie shows us that death is not something to be feared. It is something that should be welcomed when the time comes.

I could go on and on about this novel, but it is one of those books that when someone reads it, everyone see’s something different. And I could go on and on for hours. But, I’d rather have you read it and experience the pain and joy for yourselves. Because as we all know; Death, is but another great adventure.

Now some people might be wondering why I haven't actually talked about the book go deep into it. But my reviews tell about the book and what I think in a witty subtle way. The way I write it you see what I think and I don't always tell you off the bat. But I will go deep into books on Tuesday's during Novel Spotlight.

And another thing before I go, I tried writing a review for Incarceron, couldn't, went to bed yesterday, thought of one while falling asleep and now I forgot it. So I'll just wait until it comes back or I feel like writing one.

But if you guys have read the book or even seen the movie (which I love) please comment with your thoughts and opinions. Spoiler-free. I want to hear what you guys think.

Author Spotlight (1) Top 5 Favorites - #5

Author Spotlight. What exactly is it? This is where I bring up an author in my post. Talk about the author, share some knowledge on them. I may have read their work, have heard about it, never heard of them. Whoever they are I'll be talking about an author. And to start off, the first five weeks I'll be sharing my Top 5 favorite authors.

And I'll be starting with number 5.

Cinda Williams Chima! Her famous writing career started off in 2006 when her first novel in The Warrior Heir was published. And from then on it's been what she would say amazing. She currently has 4 books published and a 5th being published in September I believe.

What do I think of her? She is an AMAZING writer. I love her novels from what I have read so far. I love the way she writes, you can tell it's her when read a book. I love the way she plays out her events and the characters, everything is just so rich and full. The way I'm talking about her probably makes it seem that she should be higher than 5th but who knows? Maybe when her other novels come out she'll move up.

But going back to her novels, I first started with her when a friend of mine (Hey Brian!) came back from Barnes and Noble talking about how he had a new book, The Wizard Heir. And I think he also said that he bought it because the cover looked cool, ("Never judge a book by its cover" but I'll make a different post about this by the way). He told me the title, I saw the cover and was immediately interested. I did some research and found out that there were other books and I right away wanted to buy them. So around my birthday I finally did!

I started with The Warrior Heir and just read through it and loved the whole story. I remember staying up late at night with my book-light and just reading. I finished it and was grateful that I bought the whole Trilogy at once. I started off with The Wizard Heir and started getting a feeling that I did when reading Harry Potter. (I'll talk about this feeling in another post). I thought to myself, "For another author to do this, she has to be my favorite!" After I finished it, I started with The Dragon Heir and from then on I was in love with her.

I recently bought her other work The Demon King but still haven't read it even though The Exiled Queen is right around the corner.

Now fantastic news is, The Heir Trilogy and Seven Realms Trilogy recently got upgraded to series. As she was writing the third novel to Seven Realms Trilogy, she was fearing that she couldn't fit everything in it. So she talked to her publisher and he gave her a three book deal! Three more books by Cinda Williams Chima?! YAY! But WAIT!

Seven Realms Trilogy will turn into, you can say a Saga with a fourth novel. And The Heir Trilogy will turn into The Heir Series with 2 more novels currently titled, The Sorceress Heir and The Enchantress Heir. I am mostly excited for the new Heir novels only because I haven't read the other. But when I do, I'll be anxious for the new ones as well.

So, all in all, I really have to thank my friend Brian for introducing me to the author. And I know I have much more to say, but I can't think of it right now. But, it is my job to tell you guys to buy her novels.

• The Warrior Heir (2006)
• The Wizard Heir (2007)
• The Dragon Heir (2008)
• The Demon King (2009)
• The Exiled Queen (September 28, 2010) (Pre-Order)

Oh yea, before I forget, Cinda Williams Chima said that we could expect the new four novels, including the newly contracted three, to be released in the next few years. She also said that she plans to write/publish one book per year. And that she will publish Seven Realms first. If all goes to plan, the schedule could be.

Seven Realms 3 (2011)

Seven Realms 4 (2012)

Heir 4 (2013)

Heir 5 (2014)

That means that we can enjoy Chima's work until 2014. Well, that is until she gets more books and we can love her all over again!

Oh and to Cinda Williams Chima, I know there's a very, very low chance of you reading this, but in case you do;

I want to congratulate you and hope you keep writing for as long as you can. You are inspiration and just a wonderful person all-in-all. May your muse never quit on you!

Update: Her website is here. http://www.cindachima.com/

A Tad Lazy

So today is Author Spotlight but I'm so lazy right now and don't feel like doing it. So maybe I'll put it up later or tomorrow with a review.

But something's wrong. I want to read but feel lazy. I want to write a review for Incarceron but nothing comes up. I want to write my novel and I feel lazy too.

The laziness needs to go AWAY!

So yea, just a random, quick little note. And oh Hi guys!