Wednesday, May 29, 2013

What's On My Hold List (50)



My Librarian friend Jess from I Read to Relax came up with a great idea.  It's to highlight the books on hold 

Not Your Typical Dragon by Dan Bar-el I've always had a thing for dragons

Pheme the Gossip: Really enjoy this MG series! 

Delicious Low Carb Desserts - I need to make something for my Dad, hoping this might give me some ideas.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Top Ten Tuesdays


This week's topic is a freebie - so I'm going to showcase the top 10 books I desperately want to get my hands on at BEA this week! There's a few that I have already at my library that I can't wait to read - so I'm not counting those. This week it's a mix of MG, YA, and adult novels. Plus I'm cheating and adding 5 extra, because there's no way I can limit myself to just 10. The first 5 are in order and after that, it's not. 


  1. Crown of Midnight - Loved Throne of Glass and can't wait for the sequel!
  2. Divergent Book 3 (Is this a rumor? I hope Allegiant will be there)
  3. Never Fade by Alex Bracken (sequel to Darkest Minds) 
  4. Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich
  5. Maria V. Snyder new MG - Storm Watcher
    The Hypnotists by Gordon Korman
    Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead
    Lockwood & Co.: The Screaming Staircase by Johnathon Stroud
    New Bridget Jones novel by Helen Fielding
    Rebootby 
    Scorched by Mari Mancusi 
    Brokenhearted by Amelia Kahaney
    Wolf Princess by Cathryn Constable
    Wells Bequest by Polly Shulman
    Seven Wonders, Book 2: Lost in Babylon by Peter Legangis

    Fast and Furious Reads


    Over at the HUB, I'm celebrating the release of the movie (which I can't wait to see) and talking about MG and YA books that kept me on the edge of my seat. I'm constantly handing these books out at the library and have volunteered them for the middle school summer reading lists.

    Monday, May 27, 2013

    Never Forgetting : A poem about my Grandfathers


    One fought on the beaches of Normandy 
    He came in the first wave at Omaha
    I'll never know what he saw that day,
    because he died before I was old enough
    to ask.

    One fought in Northern Africa and in Sicily.
    I have a few stories about his time 
    overseas.
    How he saw a friend on the field once,
    but couldn't talk.

    Both died years later
    after seeing the horrors of war
    after losing comrades
    afterwards, but never
    Forgetting 

    Sunday, May 26, 2013

    Bookmarks for Guys

    I confess that I'm a bookmark addict.

    But lately, I've had a question. Where are the bookmarks for guys???

    I'm not talking about the bookmarks you can buy at Upstart or somewhere else, but rather the bookmarks from authors and publishers.

    I follow a lot of authors of twitter and I see them posting pictures of their bookmarks. Sometimes, I'm lucky and I get a bunch for the library. Mostly of the time, the bookmarks are targeting female readers. They're gorgeous and don't get me wrong, I Love them. I love handing them out to readers and readers love taking them. It sparks up a conversation about books, which is great.

    Which got me thinking:
    Could it be because I'm following mostly female authors?
    Could it be because authors of books geared towards guys purchase other swag?
    Could it be that there just aren't many bookmarks targeting male readers?

    I'm going to keep my eyes open while at BEA this week to see what I can discover! If you have thoughts, let me know. I'd like to put more bookmarks into the hands of guy readers. 

    Friday, May 24, 2013

    Skyping with Erin Berlin

    Over on my librarian blog, I'm sharing our 4th and 5th grade book club finale - reading The Potato Chip Puzzle and skyping with the author. Check it out! 

    Christmas in the Summer: YA Hot Chocolate Romance

    Inspired by Ginger at GReads, I'm sharing my work in progress...here's the first page. I have a few more detail to work out before it's complete...but what do you think?



    Chapter One: 21 days until Christmas (Saturday)

    The two boys run past Kate, almost knocking her over. Instead of telling them to slow down, she watches their mother run off after them.  Turning away from the family, Kate notices a car pulling into the lot.  She grimaces as she recognizes Lila’s car.  She has no desire to get into a tussle with her arch enemy, especially in front of her mother. Neither does she wish to act as if Lila hadn’t just tried, unsuccessfully of course, to seal her boyfriend. 
    Plus under her mother’s eye, she’ll have to behave perfectly.  Kate looks around and spies a family coming off the farm with their chosen tree.  Kate hurries forward eager to help them.  As she moves, her foot catches a piece of ice.  Kate tries to balance herself, but before she can, her feet slide out from under her.  She lands hard on her butt, dazed for a moment. She glances up to see Lila smirking down at her.
    “Do you think you can help me, if you’re not too busy attempting to ice skate?”
    Kate grits her teeth and smiles, “Of course.” She hauls herself up, taking care to brush off her butt, wincing at a tender spot.  “What sort of tree are you looking for?”
                    “The perfect one, of course.”
                    “Of course you are. Now, what shape are you looking for?”                        
                    “Did I not just say the perfect tree? Maybe I need someone else to help me.” Lila looks around.
                    Kate catches her mother’s eye who looks at her questionly.  Kate can’t afford another customer mishap.  She holds in a sigh and recovers, “I meant, how tall and how wide of a tree are you looking for?”
                    Lila nods and thinks for a moment.  “Well it has to be the focal point of the room.”  Kate nods in understanding.  “I’m having a party, you see, and everything must be perfect.”  Kate nods again.
                    “What room will you be placing the tree?”
                    “The parlor of course.” Lila looks at Kate as if she’s stupid.
                    Kate fights the urge to roll her eyes. Only Lila would call their living room a parlor. “What about needles, do you want short or long?”
                    Lila shrugs, “Whatever’s best really.”
                    “Do you want to look in our lot or would you like to see our selection of pre-cut trees?”
                    Lila gives me a look, “I don’t think you really understand. I want you to find me the perfect tree. God is that so hard?  I’ll be in my car. Don’t take too long either.”
                    Dumbfounded, I watch as she flounces towards her car.  Rooted to the spot, my mom startles me, “What was that about?”
                    “That was Lila, I’m supposed to find her the perfect tree while she waits in the car.”

                    Not surprisingly, my mother doesn’t comment on the rudeness of Lila’s behavior or commiserate that picking out trees is not in my job description.  Instead, she mutters, “We get all kinds.  Your Dad just brought down some fresh cut trees and put them in barn. Why don’t you start there?”


    Thursday, May 23, 2013

    Adult Review: Ashford Affair

    Addie and Bea grew up together, although they were cousins, they were as close as sisters. Addie knew that she would never have a debutante ball like Bea.  Then the war came and it changed everything.

    After the war, they hit a rough patch. They didn't speak for several years, until Bea invites her to Kenya.

    In present day, Clemmie's learning just how little she knows about her grandmother's life. As a high profile lawyer, she's put her entire life on hold to work for promotion. But the more she learns about her family, the more she begins to question her life choices.

    As the stories weave together, the reader learns what happened to cause the rift between Bea and Addie and how they grew apart and why Addie went to Kenya to try to salvage their relationship.

    My Thoughts: I loved the weaving perspectives and the shift in time periods. I loved reading the about the cousins' life. There was so much emotion: wary, anger, rage, sadness, and happiness. I couldn't put this book down! I wanted to uncover the truth about the relationship of Addie's and Bea. I wanted to find out what destroyed them. I wanted to understand why they did the things they did. Their whole world crumbled after the war as did their lives through the choices they made. I felt sorry for Addie for most of the book and I strongly disliked Bea.  I found Bea to be spoiled and expecting everything to go her way. While they were as close as sisters, it's clear that Bea was always the leader, always the important one while Addie was in the background. I enjoyed Clemmie's story -both her personal story and her quest for understanding and uncovering the truth about her grandmother's life. I love how bits and pieces unraveled. Such a wonderfully written tale that swept me away. 

    Cover Thoughts: Not a huge fan
    Source: My Library

    Getting Ready for BEA: part 4

    Now that BEA is officially here, the excitement is starting to grow! I'm so excited to talk with everyone about books and to meet new and old friends! I'll be sharing my tips each week until the big event! 



    The last few things to talk about:

    Phone: The wireless in the building is terrible - it will eat your battery. Double check that you have your charger because you WILL need it! Also think about taking the wireless capabilities off of your phone for the day. It will save your battery - somewhat. 

    Manners: Don't forget these at home. It's hard when there are so many people, but we're all book people and we all just want to talk about books. Treat everyone with respect and don't push your way through. 

    Fun: Have a blast there! It's meant to be fun. Yes it can be exhausting, but it's also like Christmas - getting to meet so many awesome people and talk about so many books!

    Get your face out there: It's a week away! A lot of peoples' names I might not recognize, but I know your blog name. Add your blog name to your name tag. Add a photo of yourself to your blog:


    This is me, say Hi if you see me, and I'll promise to do the same!

    Wednesday, May 22, 2013

    What's On My Hold List (49)



    My Librarian friend Jess from I Read to Relax came up with a great idea.  It's to highlight the books on hold at the library. I usually have 20-40 items checked out 
    Five Summers: Sounds like the perfect summer book and I Love the cover!

    Dad is Fat: Love Jim Gaffigan! Excited that he has a book. He talks a lot about food!
    Tea Rex: Looks SUPER Cute!

    Bones Never Lie: Sounds intriguing. 

    Tuesday, May 21, 2013

    Tween Tuesday Review: Wig in the Window

     * Comes out June 18th *
    Sophie and Grace host midnight spy missions to improve their spy skills. Grace has wanted to spy on Sophie's school counselor Dr. Agford for ages. Grace has always found her suspicious, but Sophie never wanted to get too close. Dr. A has a reputation at school and Sophie doesn't need her attention.

    They decide to peek in her windows, a one time exception. They see blood everywhere - and immediately call emergency services claiming to have witnessed a murder.

    The next day at school, Sophie's called to the principal's office where her parents, Dr. A, and a police officer gather to talk about the incident the night before and the proper punishment. Now more than ever Sophie distrusts Dr. A. Could she be hiding something significant? If so, can Sophie figure it out without getting into more trouble?
    My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book: spies, potential murder, and the investigation made it hard to put down. I wanted to uncover the truth about Dr. A. The many twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. The relationship between Sophie and Grace added tension. With Sophie being a public school and Grace being home-schooled, they had various view points of both school and social interactions. They also had different groups of friends. I found Trista entertaining, especially her prank. I hope there are more Young and Yang myseries planned as this was fantastic!

    Cover Thoughts: Great
    Source: Sent for review

    Top Ten Tuesday



    This week's topic is Top Ten Favorite Book Covers. I'm going to talk about my top ten summer romance covers. It's hard not to judge a cover, but I love the covers that make me wish I was there. - enjoying the sun, the waves, and the magic.



    Picture Perfect

    Sleepaway Girls
    Boys Next Door
    Drive Me Crazy
    Along for the Ride
    Five Summers
    We'll Always Have Summer
    My Life Next Door
    All I Need
    This is What Happy Looks Like

    Monday, May 20, 2013

    Review: Our Song

    Olive died for a little less than three minutes following a car accident. When she awakes in a hospital - her world has drastically changed. Three weeks later, she's beginning to understand.

    Her mother no longer trusts her. Her boyfriend never came to the hospital to check up on her. The only people standing by her are her best friend and her younger brother. People talk about her at school. She can't sleep.

    Her mother believes she needs to talk to a professional. She decides to travel outside her area to attend a Near Death Society support group. It's weirder than she ever imagined, but that's where she meets Nick.

    Nick makes her feel things. The more time she spends with him, the better she feels. She might be neglecting her best friend and making her parents unhappy, but she's trying to find herself. Should she try to fall back in line or make her own path?
    My Thoughts: I loved this book - I loved unraveling Olive's story and the layers of relationships. I liked the relationship between Olive and Annie. I like how Annie supported Olive, but wasn't afraid to tell her the truth. I enjoyed the side story of Annie's photography and Olive learning to like taking pictures.  Nick and Olive's relationship is adventurous, soul-searching, and sweet. I like how Olive's parents and her understanding of them changed throughout her journey. 

    Cover Thoughts: Cute, but doesn't match the book, which is darker.
    Source: My Library

    Similar Read: Forget You by Jennifer Echols


    Saturday, May 18, 2013

    Mini Adult Review: Happily Ever After

    At BEA two years ago, someone told me I should read the Bridgerton series. They were RIGHT, I devoured this series. I loved every book. Here's a new book of short stories sharing what happened after the books ended.

    The Good: I love this family for their loyalty to each other, their quick wit, their banter, the strong female characters, and the humor. These stories made me laugh and made me sigh with happiness. If I had to pick, I think the pall mall story made me laugh the most. I love their competitive streak. All in all, it was perfection!

    The Bad: There's nothing bad about this book, except it makes me want more!

    If you haven't read this series, START THEM! The Duke and I is the first one.

    * Even the puppy liked, he licked the book as it smells good! *

    Friday, May 17, 2013

    Tweets of the Week

    Today on the HUB, is a round of tweets you might have missed this week.

    Review: How Zoe Made her Dreams (Mostly) Come True

    Zoe and her cousin become interns at Fairyland Kingdom.  Jess has her heart set on being a Princess, but Zoe's just amazed that she was accepted in the first place. It's been a rough couple of years, following the death of her mother. Jess has been with her every step of the way. Together, they imagine a summer filled with fun. 

    Jess doesn't win the coveted Princess role, leaving her a very small chance of winning the $25,00 scholarship. Zoe isn't given a cast role, instead she's a Lady-in-Waiting for the Queen. She's the Queen's minion. 

    She learns very early in the summer tips and tricks to make the Queen happy. She tries to obey at all times, even though she doesn't agree with the policies. It hardly makes her popular with the other interns. Still she tries hard to make everything run smoothly. If only she could figure out the identity of the boy who rescued her as he could be her Prince Charming. 

    My Thoughts: Full Confession - I read this one day when I needed something happy and cheerful. It was just what I needed! I loved this book; I devoured it. I loved the "insiders" tips on the casts. I liked how the accommodations were different for the various cast levels. I like how the princes have access to an exclusive perfume. I liked learning all the rules the cast members have to obey. I liked watching Zoe try to figure out ways to thwart the rules while making sure the park runs smoothly. I also enjoyed her try to figure out the identity of her prince charming. I loved her interactions with Jess. All in all, a great fun read that made my heart happy. 

    Cover Thoughts: Cute
    Source: My Library

    Thursday, May 16, 2013

    Getting Ready for BEA: Part 3



    Now that BEA is officially here, the excitement is starting to grow! I'm so excited to talk with everyone about books and to meet new and old friends! I'll be sharing my tips each week until the big event! 



    Food: While the convention center has a cafeteria and there are usually food trucks outside, be sure to plan a time for meals. I'm usually terrible about lunch because there are so many authors that I want to meet that it's hard to take the time to just sit down and relax. Plus the lines are long and it's hard to grab a seat. 

    * bring snacks or a quick lunch you can eat in line I keep some food in my suitcase - just in case.
    * if you're a librarian, there's a librarian lounge sponsored by SLJ/LJ. They have snacks. I duck in there for a pick bite to eat.

    Bags: While rolling bags are NOT permitted within the exhibit hall, check your bag at the coat check. Trust me, this will save your back! Carry a small bag with you and when it gets full, empty it into your suitcase. 

    Other book signings* take place around the city during this time.
    This is from Richelle Mead's website:

    Thursday, May 30 - New York City - 7pmBarnes and Noble - Union Square
    33 E 17th St.
    New York, NY 10003
    *Event includes a panel of bestselling authors answering questions: Marie Lu, Richelle Mead, Rick Yancey, Andrea Cremer, Sarah Dessen
    *A normal signing will follow the panel. I will sign up to four books per person--one personalized and the others just autographed. We'll do pictures if time permits.
    *This is a public event. No tickets required.

    *I'm sure there are more - but this is the one that I know about. If anyone knows of more, I'm happy to post them.

    Outside BEA: If you've made a list of all the things you want to do within BEA, it's time to start making a list of things to do in New York. Are there tourist places you want to go? Make a list of them. I'm hoping to hit Crumbs. 

    Wednesday, May 15, 2013

    Books I'm Dying to Read: July Edition

    Here's a list of books I can't wait to get my hands on come July!


    Awaken: Can't wait to finish the trilogy!
    Midnight Frost: Love this series -can't wait to read what happens next between Logan and Gwen.

    Famous Last Words: Summer interning at a newspaper with a possible romance on the horizon.
    This is W.A.R.: Love the Roecker sisters - a murder brings four girls seeking revenge on one boy.

    Home to Whiskey Creek: Love this series - small town - great romances.
    Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop and Cafe: Debut of a woman trying to fulfill her grandmother's dying wish and finds herself in the process

    Final Sentence: First in a new series where Jenna and her aunt open a cookbook bookstore and cafe. Their opening author ends up...dead.
    Grace Takes Off: The 4th book in the Manor House mystery series

    Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library: Lots of puzzles to solve at an overnight party at a library.
    Flying Solo:  How Ruth Elder Soared into America's Heart. I confess I've never heard of Ruth Elder...but I'm interested.

    Dirty Little Secret: Love Jennifer Echols - plus a country music twist!
    Dangerous Girls: pen name for Abby McDonald - this one's a bit different. A thriller - one girl ends up murdered while on vacation and her best friend attempts to uncover the truth.

    Since You Asked: Debut novel about a girl who gets a job for the school newspaper where she writes (rants) about her life and high school.
    Corner of Bitter and Sweet: Annabelle must learn to deal with her uber-famous mother - especially as her career sinks.

    Boy Nobody: Read this - Enjoyed it! Check out my review...

    Tuesday, May 14, 2013

    Tween Tuesday Review: Destiny Rewritten

    Emily's mother often retells the story of her naming, how she was named after Emily Dickinson while looking in at a book in a bookstore, and how she knew her daughter would write poetry- just like her namesake.  Emily's kept that book close to her. Her mother wrote down all her life's progress besides fitting poems.

    Emily doesn't like to write poetry. She's not interested in it. She's more interested in happy endings. When an accident causes her to misplace her book, she worries about finding it. Mostly Emily worries about her destiny. Is she in control of her own destiny?

    What will happen to her future? After talking with her best friend, her cousin, and her mother, Emily decides to attempt to change the way she makes decisions. If she changes, will the book come back to her? And  can she change her future?

    My Thoughts: I loved this book. I really liked the concept behind it - can we change our Destiny. I like how Emily searches for her lost book -even though she wants to change her Destiny. I like how much the book means to her and what it could mean for her future. I love how Emily wishes and requires happy endings. I love that she write Danielle Steel letters. I love that she gets a response from these letters. I loved the ending of the book - powerful and obviously happy.

    Cover Thoughts: Brilliant.
    Source: My Library

    Monday, May 13, 2013

    Maid of Secrets Blog Tour: Interview with Maid of Stealth



    Today at YA Book Nerd we have Jane, one of the five spies we meet in the new YA historical adventure Maid of Secrets. I just started the book and so far, it's fabulous! Jane is usually a woman of few words, but she graciously agreed to speak with us today.

    Welcome, Jane! Can you tell us a little about yourself?
    My name is Jane Morgan, and I work for the Queen.  I see you refer to me as “Maid of Stealth”, and that sounds right enough. As a spy for the Queen, I make short work of anyone the Crown prefers to see dead. So you definitely need stealth for what I do. That, and a sharpened blade.

    What's your weapon of choice?
    If I were smart, I would say a bow and arrow. It’s silent and you can sight your opponent from a far distance, then kill him quickly and cleanly.  But I do not often have the luxury of distance for my tasks. As a result, I find that I work best with the dagger. Or, in my case, several daggers hidden at various points on my person. A dagger is a quick, effective and silent weapon, and if managed correctly achieves my goals before my prey knows I am even there.

    Where in Wales did you live? (This interests me as I'm 25% Welsh and my family was from Northern Wales)
    Because you are a countrywoman, I will share the story of my home with you. But I do not talk often of this place; there are now only memories there for me. Memories and pain.
    My family lived in a small village near the town of Newborough, on Anglesey Island. It was not an easy life, but it was simple, and it was ours. We were fisherman in the main, though some of us also wove nets out of the long grasses in the area for the fishing trade, and we kept to ourselves. The trouble with living so close to the sea, however, is what it might wash up on your doorstep. Marauders were a constant threat to us. Now there are a few less of them.

    How did you train to become stealthy?
    It happened quite by accident. I said we were fishermen. I am terrible at fishing. To make myself useful and avoid getting assigned the chores only fit for women to do, I learned to hunt. I found I had an affinity for sneaking up on animals without them being fully aware. This skill helped a great deal in the pursuit of small game (and larger game), when my only concern was helping my family and neighbors put food on the table. It became much more useful when I turned my focus to hunting men. To keep sharp, however, I must constantly hone my wits and my speed. If I am not quick, in body and mind… I’ll no longer be the hunter, but the prey.

    What's your favorite part of court?
    Leaving it.
    In truth, I cannot say that I enjoy the Queen’s court and her endless rounds of entertainment, dancing and feasts. I have no quarrel with the woman—you might say we understand each other. But she is surrounded by so much revelry that it is all I can do not to flee the court outright every day, just for a few hours alone in the forest surrounding the castle. I’ve done it, often enough. I escape more than anyone realizes, and slip back inside just as quietly. And given what Meg and I have found within the walls of Windsor Castle, which you’ll know once you read Maid of Secrets, coming and going is about to get a lot easier.

    Can you describe your favorite dress?
    If I have to wear a dress at all, my favorite dress involves a split walking skirt.
    I would much rather dress like a guard or, better yet, a servant. Someone who has only to wear loose breeches and a tunic, with a belt for carrying a sword and an extra blade, and boots sturdy enough to walk miles in--but soft enough to not leave your fleet a bleeding mess. That’s been the biggest benefit of being at court, I’ll tell you plain: the quality of the footwear. That and you always know where your next meal is coming from. Of course, you also know the price of the food. You just have to be willing to pay it.

    Thanks! Excited to be part of the tour.
    And good day to you, m’lady.

    Author Bio via Goodreads: Jennifer McGowan writes Young Adult romance full of swash and buckle. Her first novel, MAID OF SECRETS, debuts in Spring, 2013 from Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers.
    Royal Secret: Came from a small town in northern Ohio
    Became a Maid of Honor: After bringing her tale of spygirls to the noble city, and winning the favor of the great house of Simon and Schuster
    Special Skill: Matrix-like reflexes, superior strength, fabulous wit… okay, ah – we’ll get back to you on that.

    Website: http://www.jennifermcgowan.com/
    Twitter:  

    Contest: a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Saturday, May 11, 2013

    Mysterious Saturday Review: Killer Honeymoon


    *Savannah Reid Series #18*
    Savannah and Dirk finally have a moment of peace and quiet to themselves after a crazy time getting married. Now they're spending their honeymoon on an island. Savannah gets a note from Ryan and John. They've book Savannah and Dirk a cottage and lighthouse for their romantic vacation.

    On the first trip up to the lighthouse, Savannah notices a woman racing down the beach. Immediately her curiosity kicks in.

    She convinces Dirk to go investigate with her. They hear her scream followed by bullet shots. Savannah goes towards the woman while her husband heads towards the trees where the gun was fired. The woman dies in Savannah's arms, bringing back painful memories for her.

    Neither Savannah nor Dirk are impressed with police procedure following the death. When Savannah recognizes the woman as a TV anchor, who's death is deemed an accidental drowning, she vows to uncover the truth behind her murder.
    My Thoughts: I really adore this mystery series. I love the characters and the banter between them. I love reading about Savannah's family. Even though their past wasn't pleasant, they found love with their grandmother. I was happy to learn more about Dirk's family life, even though, he too had a rough childhood. I can't wait to learn more about his family. Even though the two were on their honeymoon, they seem to have a hard time relaxing. The island seemed charming, ideal for a honeymoon or a vacation. I liked reading about the politics of the island. I'm interested to see how the series will change now that Dirk and Savannah are married.

    Cover Thoughts: Fun
    Source: My Library

    Friday, May 10, 2013

    Review: Dualed

    West lives in a society that only wants the best and brightest to survive. So when couples want children, they're forced to pair up with two other parents. Two children are created with DNA from all four parents. Each parent takes home a child to raise.  Somewhere between the 10th and 20th birthday, the pair becomes activated. They then have one month to locate and kill their Alternate. If they both fail, they are simultaneously destroyed.

    West's world goes into a downward spiral when she accidentally gets her brother killed. Now she's the last one left of her family. Her brother's best friend has promised to protect her, but since his Alt killer her brother, she can't look at him without feeling guilt and pain.

    West does something crazy in order to survive - in order to feel something. She thinks that it will help with her training, for when she becomes activated. When the time comes, she wrestles with that question. Is she the best version?
    My Thoughts: I love the concept of this book - it's definitely dark. West was strong, insecure, and sometimes made the wrong choices. In a way, she reminded me of Katniss. There were times when I wanted to ask what was going through her head - except that I knew and while I understood her thought process, I didn't agree with all her decisions. The opening sequence broke my heart, but it sets the tone for the book. I really liked Chord and how he tries to pull West our of her grief. I loved the moments between West and Dess. A great character driven novel with action, death, and a terrifying ending. Dualed is an engrossing debut novel that makes me want the sequel Divided

    Cover Thoughts: LOVE
    Source: My Library

    Thursday, May 9, 2013

    Getting Ready for BEA part 2


    Now that BEA is officially here, the excitement is starting to grow! I'm so excited to talk with everyone about books and to meet new and old friends! I'll be sharing my tips each week until the big event! 


    In case you missed it, over the weekend the list of Galleys came out. Last week I talked about making this list. I find Excel sheets are great. Write a list of books you're interested in reading, the publisher, and if you have a contact with that publisher. This will help you in the long run when talking with publishers about their books.

    While it's nice to grab ARCs from the booths, it's great to network and talk with publishers. Come up with a few sentences about yourself:

    Hi I'm Jennifer Rummel, a YA Librarian, and I write the blog YA Book Nerd. What books should I be aware of that's coming out this year?

    It's short, sweet, and to the point. They might not recognize my blog or my name, but I've stated that I'm both a librarian and a blogger. Yes, they can find out that information by looking at my name tag, but it's more personable and I come across as confident. Also, it starts up the conversation. If you have a contact for the publisher, see if she/he is around and talk with them. 

    Try not to be shy; I know this part is SUPER hard. I'm really shy, but these are book people - they like talking about books. This one or two liner also works when chatting with people in line. Last year, I exchanged cards with tons of people in line, which I loved so I could find them online after I got home. Start keeping track of people you meet: publishers, bloggers, and librarians. Strike up a conversation with them after the Expo.

    See you next week for more tips!

    Wednesday, May 8, 2013

    Iron Man 3

    So over the weekend, I saw the movie and LOVED it! Today at the HUB I wrote a book list for the character of Harley Keener. Check it out



    What's On My Hold List (48)



    My Librarian friend Jess from I Read to Relax came up with a great idea.  It's to highlight the books on hold at the library. I usually have 20-40 items checked out at the library and another 20 items on hold.

    Rose Harbor in Bloom: LOVED the first Rose Harbor book! I can't wait to read more about the Inn and see favorite characters again.

    You Cannoli Die Once: First in a new cozy series which looks great!

    Maid of Secrets: I'm so looking forward to this book: Spies in Queen Elizabeth's Court!