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Review: Siren by Tricia Rayburn

[ 7 ] August 24, 2010

Reviewed by Cal C.

Siren, Tricia Rayburn’s first novel aimed at Young Adults, falls pretty squarely into a familiar genre for its audience: supernatural romance. Vanessa Sands has always played second fiddle to her gorgeous, fearless, outgoing older sister, Justine, but they were still remarkably close. One night, however, after a fight at home that reveals Justine’s relationship with Caleb Carmichael to her whole family, Justine runs away… and washes up on the beach the next morning, dead, leaving Vanessa and the rest of her family bereft and confused. While Vanessa’s family returns home, she opts instead to return to Winter Harbor for the remainder of the holiday season to try and piece together any explanation she can for why her sister might have killed herself.

The romantic aspect is pleasantly underplayed for the first two-thirds of the book as Vanessa investigates Justine’s death and Caleb’s subsequent disappearance with Caleb’s older brother, Simon. The investigation keeps the plot moving along at a healthy clip, but Rayburn smartly keeps the pacing extremely measured, more concerned with introducing and building up all the important characters and locations than with revealing and combating the titular monsters. Vanessa and Simon have an easy chemistry, but it’s the scenes where Vanessa is alone, facing her fears without her big sister for the first time, that really sell the character.

Unfortunately, however, the final third feels extraordinarily rushed. Relationships that had been building slowly are suddenly laid bare, while conflicts we had only just begun to understand consume the whole story. The climax seems rushed and a bit cluttered, and the villains are given extremely short shrift. Finally, a late-game twist doesn’t entirely mesh with what we’ve seen before, and casts some characters in an entirely different light.

Ultimately, Siren is an enjoyable mystery/romance that falters as it approaches the finish line, but remains a satisfying read. Rayburn displays confidence and skill when approaching the book’s quieter moments, which makes her handling of an underused and potentially fascinating mythology all the more disappointing. Despite its flaws, however, Siren is a quick, engaging book you won’t want to put down.

Check out Tricia’s blog, Maggie Musings & More.

Cal is a young, underemployed librarian and a frequent contributor to Read/RANT comic book reviews. He’s currently living in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio, with his family and using the post-grad-school grace period to read and write as much as he can.

This book was provided free of any obligation by EgmontUSA. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Blog Tour & Giveaway: Rae by Chelsea Rae Swiggett

[ 173 ] August 17, 2010

Please join us for the TLC Book Tour of teen authored memoir series Louder Than Words! Know a teen who is interested in writing for the Louder Than Words series? Have them submit their story here.

Reviewed by Vera (Luxury Reading)

Rae: My True Story of Fear, Anxiety, and Social Phobia, part of the Louder Than Words series, is the story of Chelsea Rae Swiggett as told in her own words. As far back as Chelsea could remember, she felt different. The sounds of airplanes kept her up at night, worried that one might crash into her house at any minute. Family road trips were a source of constant anxiety as Chelsea imagined dozens of different ways to die in a car. High school was its own ordeal. Transferring to a new school for freshman year, Chelsea hoped to make a fresh start, but her fear of social interactions led her classmates to believe that she was at best extremely socially awkward and at worst mute.

As Chelsea struggled to step outside her perceived comfort zone and be more social, the result was just more uncomfortable silences and missed opportunities to form bonds with her peers. Her admissions to her mother that she was different were met with “you’re just shy”; Chelsea finally met with a psychiatrist when she blurted out that she was depressed, and was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

Constant anxiety was a new concept for me, and reading Rae gave me a better understanding of what it’s like to live with this disorder. Chelsea was very honest in describing her feelings and experiences, and I think her story is an important read for anyone. Those who don’t know much about the disorder will hopefully learn to be more sensitive towards individuals suffering with anxiety. For those who deal with anxiety on a daily basis or who have family members that do, Rae will show them that they are not alone and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Giveaway:
Here’s the big giveaway you’ve been waiting for! One grand prize winner will receive copies of all 3 Louder Than Words books we’ve reviewed here – Alexis, Hannah and Rae! (click on the names for our reviews)

Another winner will receive a copy of Rae, courtesy of the publisher!

Mandatory entry: Please comment on this post with your e-mail address.

Extra entries (please post each entry separately, i.e. 2 posts for subscribing):
- Subscribe via e-mail, follow or subscribe to the feed. You must verify the subscriptions. (1 entry each)
- Enter another current giveaway and tell me which one you entered (1 entry each)
- Share this giveaway on a social network of your choice. Click the “Share/Save” button at the bottom of this post (1 entry each)
- Become a fan on Facebook (2 entries)

This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only. Deadline to enter is midnight on September 3rd.

Review and giveaway copies were provided free of any obligation by HCI Teens. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Blog Tour & Giveaway: Hannah by Hannah Westberg

[ 116 ] August 10, 2010

Please join us for the TLC Book Tour of teen authored memoir series Louder Than Words! Know a teen who is interested in writing for the Louder Than Words series? Have them submit their story here.

Reviewed by Jenna A.

“At least this chaos filled the emptiness. I longed to be void of emotions again.” – Hannah

Hannah Westberg is a 19-year-old living with boderline personality disorder. In her self named memoir, Hannah discusses growing up with and around mental illness, and brings her trials and tribulations to light.

Hannah’s story starts the readers at the very beginning, indulging us in the assorted stories of her mother, father, sisters, brother and friends. Hannah grew up not knowing normal from abstract, black from white. Her mother suffered from schizoaffective disorder, abandoning Hannah and her siblings, forcing them to live with a depressed father, and an unwanted stepmother.

Such chaos only worsened things for Hannah, and she continuously battled with drug use, suicidal thoughts and difficult relationships. In her memoir, she lets the readers in on her roller coaster of a life leading up to her rape, stints in mental wards and bouts of self mutilation.

Well written and emotionally charged, Hannah shows us the power of truth, pain, and strength with a maturity beyond her years. The story is serious, yet the knowledge that the author has lived through this pain and has written this story for others like her to share in is extremely refreshing. I would reccommend this book to anyone who has ever loved someone with a mental illness or experience it themselves.

Jenna lives in a small town in Ohio with her fiance and cat Osiris. Along with her passion for reading and the literary world, she is also a painter, poet, fiction writer, and amateur photographer.

Giveaway:
1 winner will receive a copy of Hannah, courtesy of the publisher!

Mandatory entry: Please comment on this post with your e-mail address.

Extra entries (please post each entry separately, i.e. 2 posts for subscribing):
- Subscribe via e-mail, follow or subscribe to the feed. You must verify the subscriptions. (1 entry each)
- Enter another current giveaway and tell me which one you entered (1 entry each)
- Share this giveaway on a social network of your choice. Click the “Share/Save” button at the bottom of this post (1 entry each)
- Become a fan on Facebook (2 entries)

This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only. Deadline to enter is midnight on August 30th.

Look for our review of Rae: My True Story of Fear, Anxiety, and Social Phobia on August 17th for a chance to win all 3 books in the series!

Review and giveaway copies were provided free of any obligation by HCI Teens. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Blog Tour & Giveaway: Alexis by Alexis Singer

[ 184 ] August 9, 2010

Please join us for the TLC Book Tour of teen authored memoir series Louder Than Words! Know a teen who is interested in writing for the Louder Than Words series? Have them submit their story here.

Reviewed by Jennifer J.

In her senior year in high school, Alexis felt disconnected from her friends and her parents. The previous year in school left her feeling friendless and without anyone to talk her through her rough moments. She turned to the one place where she felt she belonged and was accepted by others, an online forum she referred to as The Board. Most of her time outside of school was spent on The Board talking about everything from music to politics to life in general. There was always one person on those forums that intimidated Alexis; at the same time, she was fascinated by this older man.

Then there was the instant message from that member that would change the course of her life. She knew she should ignore it and log off, but her curiosity got the best of her. Soon Alexis became dependent on the 37-year-old married man whom she knew only as “Phil”. She relished in the attention he gave her, and grew depressed when he ignored her for days on end. Alexis learned how to manipulate the situation, providing revealing and obscene photographs of herself in order to gain more of his attention. Though she knew her behavior was destructive, Alex did not know how to stop herself. She became careless in erasing the evidence of her illegal activities, and was eventually caught by her concerned and angry mother. Even as she received the help she needed, Alexis still longed for Phil. Alexis: My True Story of Being Seduced By an Online Predator is the story of these events in her own words.

I have always felt that writing is a great outlet for any type of pain. It allows the writer to put down all of his or her thoughts and feelings to paper and release it from the inside. In writing this gripping teen memoir, Alexis was able to finally let go of some of that pain and give other teens the opportunity to learn from her mistakes. Online predators are more common than we think, and as a parent it’s important to know the signs that might indicate something isn’t right in our children’s lives.

I absolutely love the concept of the Louder Than Words series because it is about teens speaking to teens about their real life events. Programs such as Dateline appeal to parents, but I don’t think it’s a show I took seriously when I was the same age as Alexis. I would recommend this book to any parent of teenagers who spend a great deal of time online and interacting with perfect strangers. While there are some really wonderful people out there online, not every single one of them has the best of intentions, and it’s important to be able to tell the difference between those types.

Jennifer graduated from the University of Utah with a BA in English. She occasionally dabbles with her own fiction writing, particularly with the Young Adult and Paranormal genres. She currently resides in Utah with her husband and daughter.

Giveaway:
1 winner will receive a copy of Alexis, courtesy of the publisher!

Mandatory entry: Please comment on this post with your e-mail address.

Extra entries (please post each entry separately, i.e. 2 posts for subscribing):
- Subscribe via e-mail, follow or subscribe to the feed. You must verify the subscriptions. (1 entry each)
- Enter another current giveaway and tell me which one you entered (1 entry each)
- Share this giveaway on a social network of your choice. Click the “Share/Save” button at the bottom of this post (1 entry each)
- Become a fan on Facebook (2 entries)

This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only. Deadline to enter is midnight on August 30th.

Look for our review of Rae: My True Story of Fear, Anxiety, and Social Phobia on August 17th for a chance to win all 3 books in the series!

Review and giveaway copies were provided free of any obligation by HCI Teens. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Giveaway: “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins

[ 249 ] July 9, 2010

To celebrate the paperback release of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, 3 readers will have a chance to win a copy of this amazing book!

About the series:

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capital surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capital is harsh and cruel and keeps the other districts in line by forcing them to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight-to-the death on live TV. One boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and sixteen are selected by lottery to play. The winner brings riches and favor to his or her district. But that is nothing compared to what the Capital wins: one more year of fearful compliance with its rules.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her impoverished district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to death before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love. Bestselling writer Suzanne Collins delivers equal parts suspense and philosophy, adventure and romance, in this stunning novel set in a future with unsettling parallels to our present.

Read the first chapter of Hunger Games online!

Mandatory entry: Please comment on this post with your e-mail address.

Extra entries (please post each entry separately, i.e. 2 posts for subscribing):
- Subscribe via e-mail, follow or subscribe to the feed. You must verify the subscriptions. (1 entry each)
- Enter another giveaway on this blog (1 entry each)
- Share this giveaway on a social network of your choice. Click the “Share/Save” button at the bottom of this post (1 entry each)
- Become a fan on Facebook (2 entries)

This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only. Deadline to enter is midnight on July 26th.

Giveaway copies are provided free of any obligation by Big Honcho Media. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Summer Reading List

[ 9 ] June 29, 2010

Perfectly mowed backyard – $25
Handmade hammock, bought in Mexico – $40
Pina Colada – $5
A perfect book to spend a summer afternoon with – PRICELESS!

In the spirit of lazy summer afternoons (and morning and evenings), I’d like to share a list of books I loved reading or look forward to indulging in this summer!

What’s on your reading list this summer?

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Hidden Wives, by Claire Avery

What to expect: 15-year-old sisters, Sara and Rachel, live in a Fundamentalist Mormon compound, and are about to be married off to much older men who received “testimonies” from God for the girls’ hand in marriage. Sara is promised to her uncle, while sixteen men clamor to add beautiful Rachel to their hordes’ of wives.  Sara is determined to escape from the years of abuse, but Rachel’s religious beliefs may be too strong to break through…

What’s the fuss? Hidden Wives was hands down my favorite book this year! Full of suspense, romance and characters that you can’t help but sympathize with, it’s a gem that will make you forget the summer heat.
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The One That I Want, by Allison Winn Scotch

What to expect: Not only did Tilly Farmer marry her high school sweetheart Tyler, but she also works at a guidance counselor at the high school both she and Tyler attended. Following a reunion with a childhood friend, Tilly begins having futuristic visions through contact with photographs from the past. Soon, the visions begin coming true, leaving Tilly to re-evaluate the meaning of “happiness”. (read our full review)

What’s the fuss? Allison Winn Scotch has a knack for exploring people’s wishful thinking – going back and choosing a different path in Time of My Life, and being able to see the future  in The One That I Want. Either way, it’s a perfect opportunity to indulge your what-ifs fantasies!
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Bonobo Handshake, by Vanessa Woods

What to expect: In 2005, Vanessa Woods accepted a marriage proposal from a man she barely knew and joined him on research trip to the bonobo sanctuary in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo. A fascinating memoir of hope and adventure, Bonobo Handshake traces Vanessa’s self-discovery as she finds herself falling deeply in love with her husband, the apes, and her new surroundings (adapted from the publisher’s synopsis).

What’s the fuss? Vanessa Woods writes with the polished prose of a seasoned fiction writer, affectionately sharing her intimate encounters with bonobo in the Congo. This is memoir writing at its finest, and a strong new voice from which I’m eager to hear more. (written by Jennifer J.)
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Red Hook Road, by Ayelet Waldman

What to expect: A marriage collapses under the strain of a daughter’s death; two bereaved siblings find comfort in one another; and an adopted young girl breathes new life into her family with her prodigious talent for the violin. (from the publisher’s synopsis)

What’s the fuss? Khaled Hosseini (The Kite Runner) wrote that Red Hook Road was “a thoroughly gripping and elegantly written story about love, grief, friendship, and the unexpected ways in which disaster brings families together”.  Such praise from one of my favorite authors is reason enough to give this book another look!
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The Luxe, by Anna Godbersen

What to expect: The beautiful young Holland sisters, Elizabeth and Diana, rule Manhattan society. Or so it appears. When they discover their status is far from secure, everyone—from the ambitious socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor, Henry Schoonmaker, to the Holland’s dour maid, Lina Broud—threatens the girls’ golden future. (from www.theluxebooks.com)

What’s the fuss? I’ve had my eye on the Luxe series for a while (other books include Rumors, Envy and Splendor) and plan to finally dive into the drama and pretty dresses of 1800′s Manhattan this summer. Every now and then, I need some light hearted reading in between more serious literature, and I think The Luxe fits the bill perfectly! Best of all, the paperback is available on Amazon for $4.00.
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The Leisure Seeker, by Michael Zadoorian

What to expect: Well in their eighties, Ella Robina suffers from cancer and has chosen to stop treatment, and her husband John has Alzheimer’s. Yearning for one last adventure, the self-proclaimed “down-on-their-luck geezers” steal away from their home in suburban Detroit on a forbidden vacation of rediscovery. (adapted from the publisher’s synopsis)

What’s the fuss? If you’re looking for a book that combines, wit, humor, tenderness, love and a unique perspective on aging, eternal love and the fragility of the human body, then this little gem of a book is a must read. A brilliantly written tale of marriage, life and aging and choices. Think Romeo & Juliet meet Archie & Edith Bunker. Priceless & life changing. (written by Claudia R.)
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Where’s My Wand?: One Boy’s Magical Triumph over Alienation and Shag Carpeting by Eric Poole

What to expect: From the age of eight through early adolescence, Poole sought refuge from his obsessive-compulsive mother, sadistic teachers, and sneering schoolyard thugs in the Scotchgarded basement of his family’s suburban St. Louis tract house. When a series of tragic events tested Eric’s longstanding belief that magic can vanquish evil, he began to question the efficacy of his incantations, embarking on a spiritual journey that led him to discover the magic that comes only from within. (from the publisher’s synopsis)

What’s the fuss? Where’s My Wand? has been compared to Augusten Burroughs’ and David Sedaris’ memoirs, and sounds at once humorous and entertaining, as well as sad and touching.
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The Rembrandt Affair by Daniel Silva

What to expect: A man is killed. A Rembrant is stolen. Again. Gabriel Allon is asked by a friend to try to find it. Gabriel finds a lot more than he bargained for: the history of this painting is soaked in blood and it’s future is not looking to bright either.

What’s the fuss? The Rembrandt Affair is a story of international intrigue, and a history lesson on the Dutch participation in the Holocaust. Most importantly, it’s a great read that’s keeping me on the edge of my seat. (written by Caleb S.)
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“Shiver” by Maggie Stiefvater

[ 6 ] June 17, 2010

Reviewed by Vera (Luxury Reading)

Attacked by wolves and dragged from her swing into the woods, young Grace is rescued by a mysterious wolf with penetrating yellow eyes. Years later, Grace remains devoted to this wolf who watches her from the edge of the woods that lines her parents’ property. While her parents are absorbed in their own lives and largely absent from hers, the wolf is a strange source of comfort that Grace relies on. She dreads his disappearance during the warm months, and knows that he’ll always be there at Christmas time.

When Grace’s classmate Jack is attacked by the local wolves, the community fears for their safety and forms a hunting party to drive the animals out. Arriving home after an aborted attempt at saving the wolves, Grace is shocked to find a boy on her deck – naked and bleeding from a gun shot. It defies all logic, but Grace knows without a shadow of a doubt that this boy, Sam, is her wolf. She has suspected that there was something human about the pack of wolves, and Sam’s yellow eyes are the confirmation she needs.

His unexpected switch is as much a surprise to Sam as it is to Grace, and he struggles to stay human and to stay with a girl he’s loved from afar for so long. Their connection is undeniable and although they’ve really only been together for days, both feel that their feelings are rooted in the years they’ve spent watching each other while in different forms. As their bond grows stronger, Sam fears that his human days may be numbered while Grace refuses to give up on finding a way to keep Sam with her. Will their love conquer all or will they be forever doomed to watching each other from afar?

Many YA books fall short in the development of the parental figures, and unfortunately Shiver is no exception. Grace’s parents were very conveniently too occupied to notice that their teenage daughter was harboring a teenage boy in her room for weeks – something that I feel even the most absentee parents would notice at one point or another. Their continuous absence also felt too contrived, as if the author just did not want to deal with the challenges that more attentive parents would present for the story line.

Shiver is another take on the human-supernatural relationship made popular by the Twilight series, and while it has its flaws, it’s certainly entertaining and definitely better written. Some secondary characters provide the necessary conflict and drama, but it’s Sam’s and Grace’s trials that really drive the plot. It was easy to become engrossed in their forbidden/impossible love and root for them to find a cure for Sam’s “handicap”. I, for one, am eagerly awaiting the sequel, Linger.

Watch for Linger book trailer and the Shiver giveaway next week!

This book was provided free of any obligation by Big Honcho Media. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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"White Cat" by Holly Black

[ 3 ] May 14, 2010

Reviewed by Elizabeth T.

Cassel Sharpe comes from a family of curse workers. These people can manipulate other individuals or things, such as luck, emotion, death, transformation, among others. Using their powers is illegal, so most of these workers are either con artists or in the mafia. This includes all of Cassel’s immediately family, except for him. He has no special abilities and is the odd one out in his family.

Despite having no powers, Cassel is still involved in crime, including killing his best friend (and mafia princess) Lila three years ago. While his mother is in jail, he tries to lead a relatively normal life and create an identity for himself separate from his family. Everything changes when he has a dream that a white cat ate his tongue and he chases it down, only to wake up on the roof of his dorm with no way of getting down. He is temporarily kicked out of school only to be plunged into the craziness that is his family once more. He knows that his brothers are keeping things from him. How can he figure out anything when he doesn’t even know if his own memories are real?

I have never before read a book by Holly Black because they did not appeal to me for one reason or another. Now, I’m kicking myself because White Cat was easily one of my favorite young adult books. Cassel Sharpe is a great protagonist. He’s smart, clever, and cynical, but at his core, he’s a good person. Although the reader knows at the outset that he has committed a horrible crime, Holly Black manages to make him a sympathetic and relatable character.

The alternate universe in White Cat is utterly unique and detailed. The reader is just thrown into a world almost like the one we live in, but slightly different, without any initial explanations. Then things begin to unfold and make sense as you go along. This device is very similar to many adult science fiction books, but if you’re looking for a paranormal romance story, you won’t find it here. This world is flawed and gritty. It’s a place where the endings aren’t happy and the people are far from perfect. The story is suspenseful, breathtaking, and infuriating at points. Some plot twists were predictable, but others seemed to slap me across the face and I really enjoyed trying to sort out the truth alongside Cassel.

I highly recommend White Cat to just about everyone and I am going to be one of the first to buy the next book in the series. And before that, I need to go out and read the rest of her books as soon as possible.

Elizabeth is a student at Cal State Long Beach. She laughs a lot, loves cats, and lives for music and books. You can read her blog here.

This book was provided free of any obligation by Margaret K. McElderry Books. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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