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City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date: May 8, 2012
Author Links: website / twitter
Source: purchased hardback with my own $$!

From Goodreads: The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?

Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

My take – This book was a great follow up to the cliffhanger that was City of Fallen Angels (see review here).  Major geek out on several levels here!  Let’s see if I can break it down for ya’ll without spoilers:

Plot- for me, the action took a back seat in this book as it really focuses on relationships.  A little slow to get rolling, but definitely got up to steam at the end and kept me hooked.  Major progress on all the relationships, and some interesting developments that surprised me … yes, definitely the climax was a shocker.

Characters – Jace is once again not himself, and Clary is a little freaked out because she still loves him, and it’s his body and hotness and all, but the guy she loves is not in there … at least, the good part.  Clary gets to be reckless and play double agent to save her true love; Jace has a moment where he breaks free (and that right there was worth all the other angst).

Sebastian was also a little surprising because he was showed Clary his softer side.  We thought he was pure evil, but is he really? Mwaa haa haa…

Simon got a lot to do in this story (yay!) and his still-forming relationship with Izzy was so cute.  Of course, Izzy needs to stop acting so tough and tell him how she feels, just sayin’.

The Magnus and Alec story line was the hardest one for me – seriously, I wanted to thump Alec in the head for major stupidity.

Infernal Devices tie-in – Oh my gosh, hints that one of the Silent Brothers (Brother Zachariah) may be Will or Jem – I guess we will find out when Clockwork Princess comes out!!

See you in the STACKS!
Nancy

Y’all we are super thrilled and ecstatic to have one of our friends with us today talking about her newest YA book, What a Boy Wants! Nyrae Dawn is made of pure writer awesomeness, we love her work and we hope that you will too!!

Check out her blog / twitter and our review of WABW!

Describe What a Boy Wants in five words.
Funny, Hottie, Friendship, Love, Lessons.

This is a truly fun book, was there any particular scene that had you rolling with laughter while writing?
A couple. Sebastian has the ability to make me laugh, which I guess it strange since he comes from my head. LOL. One of my favorites is when he and Jaden are escaping Alexandra’s dad. I was laughing at they tumbled down the tree together, “running for their lives” before being forced to dive into Aspen’s trunk. Another is when he starts to realize he’s in love and the girl is being “friend” with him and he’s thinking all sorts of thoughts he isn’t used to.

We love the cover! Can you tell us a little about the cover design process?
I know a cover artist and contacted her to make it. I filled out a form about the book and what I’d like. She made a couple mocks and while they were good, they weren’t “right”. They didn’t feel like Sebastian. It was really important to me to find something that totally felt like him and fit the book. I talked the ears off of a couple of my friends and we ended up finding the image. I KNEW it was exactly right. It is exactly how I pictured Sebastian right down to the eyebrow ring. I sent it to the designer and there you have it!

We heard you’re busy writing a companion novel, What a Boy Needs, with Jaden as lead. Can you give us any spoilers, fun tidbit, release date…we’ll take anything!!
I don’t have an exact release date, but it’s tentatively scheduled for mid-June. For a teaser can I say… Jaden + Sebastian + graduation + LMFAO’s Sexy and I know it = Trouble? lol.

As a book lover and writer, what one book do you recommend the most? Why?
Oh wow. That is a tough question. I’m a HUGE boy point of view fan so those are always my favorites. I’m also very picky about the ones I like though. Though she hasn’t released a boy POV book yet, one of my heroes is Sarah Ockler. She writes so beautifully. I’m always telling people who much I love her work.

LIGHTING ROUND!!!

a book that made you cry – Drangonfly in Amber by Diana Galbaldon (adult) and Take Me There by Carolee Dean (YA).
do you act out the scenes you write – Sigh. Totally. It’s embarrassing when I write at Starbucks.
the best thing about The Hunger Games – The depth of human love, loyalty and sacrifice in some of the characters, particularly Katniss and Peeta. What they would do or sacrifice for those they love. It’s incredible.
worst job you ever had – working at a video store!
cartoon character you most identify with – Pepe Lepu (no I don’t stink, lol). I’m a huge romantic and obsessed with love

Thanks so much for letting me crash your blog today!

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We love you and you’re welcome anytime!!!

A new week and some new books!  Be on the lookout for our discussion/review of Megan Miranda’s Fracture, an interview with Megan, and questions answered by our guest bloggers!

Note:  You may have noticed that Nancy’s book on here changed, sorry about that!  That’s what I get for not asking questions about the title!!

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
(Blood Eden #1)
publisher: Harlequin Teen
release date: April 24, 2012
book links: goodreads / amazon
author links: website / twitter
source: bought book with my own $$!!

from goodreads - Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad….

my take – Let me just say that, I love me some Kagawa!!! This book is stellar, from the writing to the plot to the characters to the world building – everything! Here’s what I really liked:

*World building. Oh. My. The world created is fantastic, so very dire and survival of the fittest that the addition of vampires and ZOMBIES seems reasonable and acceptable. Did I mention also, believable? There’s no poetic snoring on landscape descriptions or soliloquys on the injustice of the Fringers – just the facts with the right amount of emotion and verve.

*Plot. AHHH!!! It’s so simple, yet filled with enough intrigue and mystery to keep you on your toes. I liked the twits thrown at us, and how nothing came easy for Allie and I liked the ending.

*Allie/Kanin. Allie is one tough girl.  She’s not perfect, but in a world of eating roaches and spiders to stave off starvation, this girls has the street smarts needed to survive. She also has a heart, though she may hide that at times.

Kanin. I love that he is a vampire and I love the mystery that surrounds him. He’s a dangerous monster with a soft side lurking under his scary demeanor.

What I didn’t like – Yep, there was one thing I did not like:

*ZEKE. This guy (Allie’s main squeeze) was just a little too perfect. A little too good. A little too giving and nice. One could argue that there is a certain scene that makes him less than admirable, but I see his action as selflessness. Zeke needs some character flaws!! People, only Peeta can be THAT good.

This is a must read for vampire/apocalyptic lovers!!

Stacy

Today we’re talking The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting, the third installment in The Body Finder series. If you haven’t read these books then you’re missing out. This series has a lot going for it – creepy mystery, Violet who has an odd ability and one of the best boyfriends ever, Jay.

Get your drink ready and prepare for laughs, for we’re on a roll today and the fun doesn’t stop.

* SPOILERS abound and as always you can find us on itunes*

We are thrilled to be hosting YA superstar Amy Plum today!! She is the author of Die for Me, and the recently released sequel, Until I Die. We asked her the burning question that all inquiring minds want to know… American food vs French food.

American Food vs. French Food

I have to say, I miss good old southern breakfasts: grits, buttermilk biscuits, eggs, sausages, gravy, the works! You can get most American foods in France, but one thing I’ve never found here is grits.

When I moved from Paris to New York City, the things I missed most were cornichons (these little pickles that you eat with pâté), runny cheese, and saucisson sec (a cured sausage that has whole peppercorns in it). Now that I’m back in France, I eat all of those on a regular basis!

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Today’s scavenger hunt word is: this

For more information on the super awesome grand prize Amy is giving away, please visit her blog here.

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**GIVEAWAY!!!** **GIVEAWAY** **GIVEAWAY**

Want to win a signed paperback of Die for Me? Just read the rules and fill out the form. It’s that simple!

The Rules
*Open Internationally
*Must fill out the form correctly
*Open to those 15 years of age or older
*Winner will be notified via email, and will not be announced on the blog
*Winner chosen by Random Number Generator
*Giveaway ends May 15, 2012 at 11:59PM CEN

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED

Black Heart by Holly Black
Publisher:  Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release date:  April 3, 2012
Author links: website / twitter /curseworkers website
Other reviews:  White Cat /Red Glove

From Goodreads.com:  Love is dangerous and trust is priceless in Holly Black’s “powerful, edgy dark” fantasy series (Publishers Weekly).

We really hope you are reading Fracture by Megan Miranda right along with us, but here’s what else we’re reading this week!

 
This Girl in the Stacks is a BIG superhero fan and after seeing The Avengers this past Friday, I HAD to get the Joss Whedon Companion.  Trust me, if you are a fan of his work, you will want to read this; it’s one of the best critical pieces on Whedon’s vision and you get some sneak peeks into The Avengers.  (Please tell me I’m not the only superhero fan here!)

Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris
(Sookie Stackhouse #12)
publisher: Victor Gollancz Limited
release date: May 1, 2012

As I read the last word in this book I had two successive reactions:  1.) no, she didn’t and 2.) um, excuse me, where was Eric in this book?

That’s right, mama wasn’t happy.

Technically speaking, the writing was great. It’s typical Sookie standard.  There was some laughs, some banter, some action – it’s just the plot was boring, it didn’t light my fire.  I also wasn’t pleased with the direction Harris took the story. More specifically, who Sookie will end up with. While this may seem trite, you know this is one of the only reasons we read this series. It’s all about the ‘teams’ and whose side you’re on.

Now I know Harris has been preparing us fans for years, saying things like Sookie will do what’s best for Sookie, she will live a nice long normal life and she will not be turned   – y’all, it’s one thing to be told this, but it’s quite different to read them in action.

I basically view this book (and Dead Reckoning) as filler books. Harris is tying up storylines and, unfortunately closing off much loved relationships. I’m not just talking Eric, I see her separating from all her supe friends sans Jason and Sam, and maybe Bill.

To wrap up my thoughts I will leave you with a few possible outcomes for book 13:

1. Using the cluviel dor has consequences, therefore causing someone Sookie loves to die. Eric. Sookie is distraught and falls into the arms of Barry the Bellboy, I mean Quinn. And they have beautiful, bald-headed babies together.

2. Eric will man up and kick the Oklahoma Queen to the curb; it will be fraught with actions and blood spillage. The body count will be high. The only down fall is the cluviel dor consequence will be Eric becomes mortal and Sookie will have to protect him with her killer survival skills the rest of their lives.

3. Eric marries the Queen of Oklahoma, Bill continues to pine for Sookie, Pam refuses to move to Oklahoma and opens up a women’s pant suite store all while Sookie and Sam hook-up. Eventually, they get married.  Sadly, the consequence of using the cluviel dor is that Jason is no longer handsome and Michele leaves him.

4. The consequence of using the cluviel dor is that one by one each of Sookie’s former lovers and friends die in a freak accident (Eric while racking leaves, Bill explodes while pumping gas while talking on his cell phone, Tara asphyxiates putting on spanx etc). However, a la Dallas and Bobby Ewing she wakes up one morning and hears the shower running, she quickly pads to the bathroom to find Gran lathering up. Everything was a dream.

If you’ve read this book, please let me know what you think! Did you like it? Am I in the minority?

XOXO, Stacy

Somebody to Love by Kristan Higgins
publisher: HQN Books
release date: April 24, 2012
book links: goodreads / amazon / barnes & noble
author links: website /  facebook

goodreads description – After her father loses the family fortune in an insider-trading scheme, single mom Parker Welles is faced with some hard decisions. First order of business: go to Gideon’s Cove, Maine, to sell the only thing she now owns—a decrepit house in need of some serious flipping. When her father’s wingman, James Cahill, asks to go with her, she’s not thrilled even if he is fairly gorgeous and knows his way around a toolbox. Having to fend for herself financially for the first time in her life, Parker signs on as a florist’s assistant and starts to find out who she really is. Maybe James isn’t the glib lawyer she always thought he was. And maybe the house isn’t the only thing that needs a little TLC.

my take – This is a great book for the beach or one to have in your car that you can pick up when you’re unexpectedly delayed and jump right in – it’s easy and breezy.

I instantly connected with Parker Welles; I have a thing for the emotionally neglected. While she may be a successful author and a trust fund baby, her life is far from perfect. Her dad treats her with indifference and her extended family our downright mean (spiteful) to her. Besides, her only friends are Ethan (her son’s father) and his wife Lucy. She is the epitome of loneliness.
James, the love interest, is one of those good American guys. He’s from a blue collar family, and worked hard for his education – he is handy with the tools, smart and successful. While he’s not squeaky clean, he is honorable and respectable. Plus, he has emotional baggage too. What’s not to like?

The relationship between Parker and James is a slow burn and eventually their chemistry is undeniable. Parker is pretty tough on James and a little judgmental (matter of fact I wanted to have a sit down with her a few time, but then I remembered her family and gave her a pass), but James handled her well.

The secondary characters and the small town setting were fun. Aunt Lavinia was a hoot, and we seriously need a Chantal book, and possibly a Malone one too.

However, I did find a few things unrealistic:
1. Her book about the Holly Rollers (which was A+ with me!) was made into a movie; however she didn’t go to the premier, or remember its opening weekend? Umm, is there really an author out there like that?
2. Her flower arrangements skills. Does a summer camp class really make you a better florist than your aunt who has been doing it for 30 years?
3. Again, with the flowers – this time her new business. As a small business owner I know how hard it is to open a small business, how was she able to open one so quickly after that summer in Gideon’s Cove?
4. After her and her son’s trust funds were lost, she had to move was left a small cottage with $11,000 to her name she never once had an emotional breakdown – you know, the kind with lots of tears and snot.

Overall, this is a good choice for a lazy summer day!

XOXO, Stacy