Review of Carving Angels by Diane Tolley

 Oh how do I put this.... Beautiful.. Georgous... A Christmas Novel for all ages and for anytime of the year.

Diane you always know how to get me caught in your stories. This one is not an exception. You already know you are one of my favorite authors, along with Cindy C Bennett, Tess Oliver, Brian Malloy.. Is it not funny all of my favorite authors I have interviewed.

  This quick short story will have your family smiling especially during Christmas and a big thing of Hot Chocolate and a warm cozy fire. You know how to write, Diane You really do. One of my favorite Christmas Stories and the Babysitter and now Melissa are one of my all time favorites. Don't you know Diane that you made me break a school rule ?
  I had this on my Nook and they are not allowed at my school so I snuck it in in my back pack and read it on the bus. I must say I have never stooped that low for anyone. Then got picked on for reading too much.

Wattpad Novels

 Well who doesnt love a good story sometimes. Here are some of my favorite wattpad novels for each different novel and yes I love these :

  Fan Fiction:   Tuck Everlasting, The Continues Story  

       Url :  http://www.wattpad.com/843747-tuck-everlasting-the-continued-story

 It goes forward in time and Winnie drank the water. She waits and waits for Jesse but he never comes. Fianlly when Winnie gives up she hears a story from a wounded soldier about a man who got shot in the heart and several other places but went on like nothing was a miss. She soon figures out it was Miles Tuck. She is soon reunited with Jesse but is a stalker going to ruin her relation ship with him?

 Okay so I loved Tuck Everlasting as kid and always wished Winnie would have neded up with Jesse so I liked this one .

                                      Short Story : Late Summer Rain 

                                      URL: http://www.wattpad.com/1220540-late-summer-rain

 

                                   It was pity that first made Dannie talk to him. She had known Ryan since she  was a kid, but he had always been the popular golden boy and she had always been the tomboy who didnt mind not having any friends.It was odd, she thought, that all the kids who had once worshipped the ground he walked on , didn't so much as spare him a glance anymore, and it was this that made her sit with him, that one fateful day and began something that would only end up giving her pain.

  Okay this one sounds a little cliche' but thrust me it is not. Just read it is all I can say, I cried my eyes out at the end. This is one that deserves to be published if any short story does on Wattpad.

                                   Modern Day Romance: Forces of Nature

                                   Url:  http://www.wattpad.com/929006-forces-of-nature

               While in the E.R. at Mercy Hospital, Noah meets a strange boy by the name of Tyson, who seems to be a walking contradiction. On the outside he seems cold and distant, yet when he sees Noah in the waiting room with her hand bleeding, he comes over to help her and stays by her side the whole time. When they part that night, both think they'll never see each other again. But, when Noah goes back to school after summer break she finds out that Tyson is the new student. And more surprising still, he acts like he's never seen her before and treats her coldy. Confused, Noah tries to figure out what his deal is, and it does't help that they've been paired together for a class assignment that will take the whole year to complete. 

   I really like this one I guess cause I do. Just try it if you want a modern day free read that is good. You get many teen writers that are talented and this is one of them.

                             Historical: To Become a Knight

                              Url: http://www.wattpad.com/1075140-to-become-a-knight 

                          Nate desires to be a knight and protect the king yet there is one problem -she is a girl.  She has the determination and also the strength yet she is not the right gender. Then one night as she is practicing she meets a stranger and he offers her a position on the Black Knights if she can defeat him. Soon she is able to stand her ground against the mysterious man and keep her gender a secret but soon she is kicked out of her household and meets the mysterious stranger outside of her fields.

  This one is still being written and I have loved every bit of it so far and I believe most will too although this is more toward fairytale lines than the real Historical

              

Interview with Brian Malloy

  Okay so this is one of my favorite authors. ( Don't I always drag out my favorite authors for an interview?) Brian Malloy is one of my favorites.


Here is my interviewing him, along with my complementary on some of the questions. (You all know me... trying to get my 2 bits  in )

Question I asked: 
 Me commenting 
Brians answer to my questions.



1)      If you had to meet one of your characters in real life which one would it be? Also which one was your favorite character from Twelve-Long Months?

I would like to meet Kevin Doyle from The Year of Ice, and let him know it gets better.

My favorite character from Twelve Long Months is Molly.  She is smarter, more savvy, and more attractive than she realizes.

 ( I love Molly too. She is so like able and also so realistic . What I would do to meet her.. *sigh* )

2) If you had to jump out of a window when your house is burning, what one thing would you grab?

I would grab three things: my partner and my two dogs.

3) If you did nothing but write, how long would it take you to write a book?

 

It takes about a year.

4) One book that you can just read and read and read over and over again?

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer.

( Hmmm I dont even think I can answer that but the book I have re-read and re-read is a middle school one, Fairest by Gail Carson Levine . I loved the Heroine, Aza. )

5) If you were stranded on a desert island and you had to choose between television or 500 books which one would you choose?

500 books.  No contest.

(Me too. I dont watch TV at all )

6) What made you write in Molly's point of View other than Mark's?

I felt like I already knew a character like Mark from my previous books.  Molly was more of a mystery.

7) Do you ever wish you could change something in any of your books?

Yes.  I got two facts wrong about 1978 Minneapolis in my first novel, and those mistakes were highlighted in a major review of the novel.

8) Are you a big reader or more of a writer?

I am much more of a reader.

9) Highschool. Did you want to leave or linger a few more years?

I wanted to get the hell out of Dodge.

10) Did you get many rejection letters before Twelve Long Months got accepted?

Actually, the book sold on proposal, meaning that I had not written the manuscript, just a synopsis.  I received over 100 rejections for my first novel.

(Did not know they did that.) 

11)  What age did you start writing?

12

( Just a year before me, I started to write at age 11 but just ideas, nothing super big. I have different ideas but I get discouraged) 

12) What is your advice for the writers of the world?

Write because you love to write.  If you hope to have your work published, get honest and constructive feedback on your drafts from people you trust to be candid.

Thank you so much Brian for answering my questions and there is one thing I love about your writing, it is realistic. I have a special spot on my shelf for Twelve-Long Months. I am so glad you answered my questions  I really did love your book and I am going to buy your other books in the later time. 

Almost our 2 month bloggoversy ....

For my almost 2 month bloggoversery I want to get 20 followers. I f I do that good with followers I will do a big giveaway with multipul winners instead of one winner. PLease just tell your friends to check it out.

Review for My Love Lies Bleeding

Title(titles) - My Love Lies Bleeding / Hearts at Stake

       Author:   Alyxandra  Harvey

      Publisher:Walker Books for Young Readers

                                                            Rating :  3of 5 ereaders                                                     

 Quick thought:okay, not-my-favorite,I guess I am stuck in the 1700s and 1800s vampires,

                                                                      

    Okay so I am not a modern day fiction person. It is rather sad but that is me. I love historical but when I get bored and buy random books on my nook I sometimes grab a modern day one every now and then. This happened to be one of them and I hate to admit it but It was only okay. Not as good as I was expecting, I was expecting more of I dont know effort put into it. That is just my thought on it so please don't yell at me because of the harshness but it wan't the book for me.

  I guess it is just me but she didnt really get in and tell alot about each of the Drake boys which is something I really wanted in there. She only went to describe a few of them but I must say the ones that she did tell me about I fell in love with. No Comment on which one because they were all hot.

   I give it a 3 ereaders. It is not my favorite but it was decent so if you happen to see it at the library just try it. All together it was just plain, old okay.

 Quick Summary:
      
  The Blakes are rather different to your usual neighbours. They are vampires and some of the members of the family date back to the twelfth century. One of the children, Solange, is the only born female vampire known and, as such, she poses a direct threat to the vampire queen. Her best friend Lucy is human, and when Solange is kidnapped Lucy and Solange's brother, Nicholas, set out to save her. Lucy soon discovers that she would like to be more than just friends with Nicholas. But how does one go about dating a vampire? Meanwhile, Solange finds an unlikely ally in Kieran, a vampire slayer on the hunt for his father's killer

Current Giveaway

The Copy you will be getting

 Current Giveaway: A Girl Like Moi
Extra Entry if you are  a follower
6 extra entry if you spread the word one way or another just tell me how.

A girl. A dream job.
A city full of possibilities...
Imogene is obsessed with fashion. Combine that with her talent for trouble (aka maxing out her "emergencies only" AmEx) and suddenly she's not going to chere Paris with her best friend for the summer. No, she must do the unthinkable for a stylish Greenwich girl such as herself — get a job.
Resourceful as always, Imogene works her connections and lands a dream internship at a fashion forecasting agency in New York. Now she's lunching at Serendipity, first on line at the Barney's warehouse sale, and skoshing seats at fashion week.
But when Imogene's dream is threatened by a cute Italian boy and one very evil intern, she questions what she really wants. And she learns that even in fashion, being true to yourself and following your dreams can go hand in hand.


Just leave a comment with your email address and I will contact you if you win. US and Canada ONLY. I am so sorry about only limiting it to those too but shipping is expensive for me.

Christmas in August

Well I am reviewing Carving Angels by Diane Tolley and I am liking it so far. I cant wait to finish this book it is an ebook ARC. So this should be fun to read because who doesnt love Christmas in July?

The Winner of Au Pairs: Skinny Dipping

Diana V is the winner. Congrats :)

Review for His Eyes by Renee Carter

  Review for His Eyes by Renee Carter

 Synopsis : 
    Amy Turner's about to graduate and all she wants is a job. Actually, all she wants is a way to pay for college. Amy certainly isn't looking for love when she answers an ad to baby-sit a boy- she just needs the money. The job has a catch. The boys blind- and her age. 
  Tristan  Edmund may be hot, but he doesn't want Amy's help. Or so he thinks.  After being blinded in a horse-show jumping accident competition, Tristan spends his days in the dark, refusing to accept his disability. Much to his annoyance , Amy bursts into his life and drags him into the light. But only when the two of them start to see something in each other, Tristan's gorgeous ex-girlfriend shows up. Will temptation be too much , or will Tristian choose the girl that really understands him?  

  Well to be honest this one has been on my to read list since December 2010 when I first got my nook and saw this one but I didnt have to money to buy it so I just put it on my to-read shelf on goodreads for a good 6, almost 7 months to read and then I stumbled across it on GoodReads and thought I have the money and I have an interview with the author coming up so I might as well read it. So I did and here is what I though : 

   Well the character started off at a good start. I love Tristan's little brother who had me laughing like crazy at points. He was very well developed  and a very funny brother. 
    Tristan himself was rather developed well. He was well as I like to put it the typical Golden Boy at his private school . He is handsome, popular, and  rich. He changes and matures alot in the book which is a good thing.
   Next is Amy. Plain Jane Amy who fell in love Tristan while bringing him out of his 3 year old stubbornness. She was also well developed and I believed better than Tristan who was developed well. She was funny at times and got along with his little siblings while hanging around Tristan.
  Next is the creature. Well aka Alexis or  the clique it girl who works for modeling.  She is selfish, money hogging, couldn't-care-less-about-kids, and a liar. The insults could go on for well lets say as long as there are mean insults about her. 

  Well I like it. I really did, but if it would have been a little bit longer it would have been great for me and I would give it 5 stars but I really did like it and the plot was interesting and it kept me interested yet not engrossed in the book.  It is one if you see by your library grab it or if you see it on your nook buy it but don't go pay 16 dollars for a copy unless you really loved it yourself after reading it once. Now I am not saying just don't even try this book but I will say at least try to give it a shot. It may be the perfect book for you  and you will want your own copy for your bookshelf but as my opinion it got my attention and didn't let me slack off but only a little bit but other than than she kept me entertained with is a great thing all together although I do not regret my decision of buying it  and I doubt you will either. SO just go out and try the book. 

   

Interview with Blair Burden.

1) Who is your favorite author? 
Since I was younger Stephan King has always been a huge inspiration of mine. I don't know, there is just something so amazing about his twisted stories...in a good way of course. But, I just don't like to stick to one author, if a book sounds good I just read it.

2) If you had to be a character from one of  your books who would you want to be? 

Hmm...that is a hard one since none of my characters are really sane. But, if I had to choose I would pick Cassie fromReasons for Recovery. Mainly just to know what it's like in her shoes and how to deal with life like that. I wouldn't want to hear voices in my head like her though. I would like to keep my sanity. But, her life gets better later on. 

3) I really like no scratch that ,love your covers for Reasons for Recovery and Simon Death High. Did you make them?? 

Thank you. I'm such a dork when it comes to graphic design. I used adobe photoshop CS4. I took a multimedia class in high school and learned most of my skills there. I'm never satisfied with my covers and tend to change them a lot. You're not supposed to judge a book by their covers, but most people do. So, I like mine to catch your eye.

4) How long did it take you to write Reasons for Recovery? 

Ooh wow. Back in last April I believe is when I began writing this in my multimedia class when I was done with my projects. Back then, it was known as Reasons on My Wrist and I had no idea how powerful it would have turned out. I can't tell you exactly how long, but darn it took a while. It still isn't even 100% how I want it. Stories usually don't take me long to write, it's the editing that's a monster.

5) Could you tell us why you did your books for free  instead of charging money?

Honestly, I'm not sure. Some think you should get paid for what you love, but  writing is a hobby and passion. I'm not willing to charge because I want as many people to read my work now. Someday I might charge for a novel, but as of now I won't. Your name gets out there more when you build a fan base off of free books.

6) Do you have a favorite fan?or a most dedicated fan? 

I don't have a specific person. However, I get so many emails giving me feedback on Reasons for Recovery. Some have asked to do book reports on it, or a comic strip. I think it's cute. I don't have much work out yet, so I don't think I have a outrageous fan yet. I like to keep a good relationship with my fans. At the end of each story, I always ask for feedback. It may take a while, but I email them back.

7) If you had to stay immortal for the rest of eternity what age would you like to be? 

Believe it or not but death scares me. Ironically, many people die in my stories. However, I would want to be immortal. I would want to be like twenty-five even though I haven't reached that age quite yet. At that age, your life is pretty much at your own hands. You either have everything you want, or you're getting what you want out of life.

8) If there was one person from the past you wish was alive during your lifetime, who would that be?

I would choose Rod Sterling. He was the creator of the old thriller show Twilight Zone. I just love his work. I also would like to mesmerize Freddie Mercury on my TV. There is something just so intriguing about him.

9) Do you write with Pencil/pen and paper or type on your computer/laptop, when writing ?

I wrote my first novel (which hasn't been released) in three spiral notebooks and I would never recommend that to anyone. I transferred it to my laptop and it took forever. Ugh, never again. So, now I type my work and make various copies. If I get a random plot idea, I either jot it down or type it on my Blackberry.

10) What is your writing Tip for the writers of the world? (This is for my archive I am making... I ask every author this in their interview :)  

Do NOT plan your story. I tend to plan my stories and then they turn out horrible. It's okay to know your ending and how the story will end up, but planning is a big no-no for me. The best writing comes when you surprise yourself.

11) Are you currently working on any book at the moment 

Yes!! I just finished Simon Death High. Now, I'm working on kind of like a sequel to Reasons for Recovery. It will be titledTeenage Dream. It's two years later in Cassie's life. Once she thinks everything is perfect, she realizes that her life is in a terrible place when Jordan (her man) enlists in the army. So, while leading to his departure date, Cassie learns that maybe Jordan isn't really the one for her when she meets his cousin Dylan, and them two take a road trip throughout the west coast. It's very sketchy right now as you can see. I have a good 10,000 words down. I'm just going with the flow. It will be a little different, because this book will feature images of Facebook statuses. It sounds odd, but I will photoshop Cassie's Facebook status at the end of each chapter. It will be interesting.

12 ) If you only had time to grab one book when your house is on fire, which would you grab and hop out the window with?

That's a hard one because I don't own many books, I usually go to the library. But, it would have to be "A Child Called It" by Dave Pelzer. Ironically, I can't even find that book in my house. I cried reading that story but it had such a strong impact on me. I would probably grab my laptop instead though. You can read many great books online. 

13) What inspired you to write? 

I believe films inspired me to write more than books in general. I love how some books come to life like in films and that is how I imagine my books--as movies. Someday I wouldn't mind having one of my stories on TV. That would be awesome. As a child, I just loved writing. I honestly don't know what inspired me to write back then. Maybe because I was lonely and wanted to escape my life. Now, that just sounds sad.

14) If you had to write a book with any author of your choice, Who would it be? 

Stephen King!! Both me and him would create haunting terror in words.

You can purchase Blair's book Reasons for Recovery at Smashwords , Barnes and Nobles , Itunes , Diesel , or Her website. 

You can also purchase Simon Death High at Smashwords and Feedbooks. 

Check out her website which I must say is GREAT . http://wisforwriting.blogspot.com/  ...

Please support this author by purchasing her books for free on the websites listed above and reviewing them for her :) .... I know she would appreciate it 

Interviews soon to come..

 Author Renee Carter is going to answer 15 of my questions.... She is the author of the book His Eyes  which is available in paperback for 10.95 on Amazon and 5.99 for the ebook. (Which I just bought and wll be reviewing soon)

Also I am about to post interview with Blair Burden whose indie books are free. I will be posting that shortly.

Review for Camille by Tess Oliver

  Okay well my review for camille may be a little long so bare with me.... Lets start with basics.

#1  THE COVER : 

               If I had to pick a favorite cover I think this would be one I would debate with over this one and Nightshade  by Andrea Cremer.. And with a closer inspection then before I noticed the model posing as Camille has flowers in her hands just like Nightshade.  The picture of the Camille girl was good and it had to do with the plot including the flowers. If only it would have included something with Nathaniel. I think it would have been my favorite book cover although the problem with putting pictures of people in the front of a book is it leaves you thinking that is nothing like i pictured them in my mind.... Trust me I know what that is like.
    I know people say dont judge a book by its cover but most of us do most of the time or atleast I do. A book called Lily's Ghosts sat on my shelf for 3 years and I never picked it up because I thought the cover was just plain weird. Then I picked it up one day because it is one of those rare weeks wear I didn't buy a new book and I only have 3 or 4 books I hadn't read, so I picked it up and read. Boy did I get a shocker from reading it. One of my favorite middle-grade fictions.

   Got a little sidetracked there for a moment so back to Camille. On Nooks for the cover I give it 5/5.  Her Daughter Nikki did a fantastic job. Iam happy and sad to say it was the cover that drew me in, in the first place. It looked nice so I grabbed it and bought it on my Nook.










#2 WORDING : 
    Tess has a way with words that had me captivated the whole time. All the way from the beginning.  I love Nathaniels and Camille's personaily with the witty , funny and sarcastic moments.  Here are my favorite quotes in the story. :
         
"This may well come as a puncture to your bloated head but I we were not following you at all" - Camille (Tess Oliver) 

" 'Whats your name,Lass?' 
'My name is Camille'
'Camille, I don't believe I have kissed a Camille." 
   I stared down at the ground to conceal the color heating my face.
"Some how I find that hard to believe " 
              - Tess Oliver


"Not much keeps Nathaniel Strider off his feet," he said confidently. I smiled up at him,"With the exception of every girl in Buck's Row" 
                                    -Tess Oliver

  And he made love with every girl we passed with his smile and brown eyes.
                                       - Tess Oliver

"Mine you I have no intentions of entering otherwise. A visit to the morgue would be more inriting." 
          - Camille (Tess Oliver) 

"Bloody hell," I cursed and throw the rest of it to the ground, scoop and all,"This is entirely the Queen's fault" 
    Dr. Bennet lifted a brow," Cami, we can hardly blame her majesty for your clumsiness." -Tess Oliver

"A kiss from Nathaniel Strider? I hardly think something givenaway that freely is anything worth wanting." 
    - Camille (Tess Oliver) 

"Tis' the wanting that makes a kiss worth while" -Nathaniel Strider (Tess Oliver) 

"You may be the first person in England to injure them self with a microscope" 
                                    - Camille( Tess Oliver )

"Do I still 'ave an eye?" 
 I laugh,"Still there" 
He straightened with a sigh ,"Too bad. I hear girls take a liking to a man with an eye patch." 
"Yes when the eye was lost in some wildly romantic fashion like a sword fight or pistol duel. Not from smacking it on the eyepiece of a microscope." 

"When I was seven, my Mum sent me to a school run by Nuns . Sister Collins was as wide as she was tall. She was so sour, I was convinced she drank acid from a rusty, iron cup at tea time" 
"Your point?" I asked
"I'd rather be here with 'er , right now" 

"Hell won't be all that bad ,you know. After all,  I am going to be there" 
                     -Nathaniel Strider

  
                                                                                    ^                                                       
 I even made an image with quotes from Camille.... feel free to copy it and add it to your website or blog.


#3 PLOT : 
   Okay the plot is original.. Its nice to have a book that portrays werewolves as horrible beasts instead of the good guys.... No vampires in this one so that is great also. Sometimes you get tired of reading both of them together. I really did enjoy the plot. I can't wait to see what Tess has for us in the sequel.
#4 Characters : 


   Tess really did develop her characters really well. Here is what  I got : 

Camille : The girl who has an intrest in science and does't give a snicker doodle what other people think..... other than Nathaniel Strider. She has a sense of humor along with sarcasm. 



Nathaniel Strider: The all aroung rouge. He is the boy who flirts with a girl and forgets her the next day.. He never really fell in love other than Camille... 


#5 All together 


 A great read.... I recommend it to anyone interested in a different werewolf book with Historical Fiction mixed along with it.I recommend it for those who just need something to read. I doubt you will regret it, while many gave it 4 stars I give it the sacred 5 Nooks. :) 

New Giveaway

  My new giveaway that will last until August 14 at 11:59 central US time is the au pairs : Skinny-dipping by Melissa De La Cruz. I have never read this book but it looked good enough when I grabbed it of the bookshelf at a local bookstore. Here is the back of the book blurb:
      Not-so-poor-anymore Eliza has traded babysitting for the velvet-rope-sitting. Jacqui,in an odd twist, is doing all the babysitting because Mara's up every night doing her second-rate party impression at the hot club where Eliza works. At first it's annoying , but the new au pair , Philippe, is sexy and french- but off limits to Jacqui, who cliams she's sworn off guys.

   Sounds like a good enough beach read? Well all you have to do is leave a comment with you name and email address and you get an extra entry if you are a GFC follower.

* WARNING.... there is slight scuffing on the spine of the book but it is brand new... I have not touched it... other than getting it out of the bag and putting it on the shelf next to my own copy. I am just warning about the scuffing... and its just very slight nothing major. Just wanted to let you know *


US Only please.....