Picture Book Review: Bad Moods

I've recently read two books about bad moods.

Ed's in a bad mood. At first it starts out small, but it soon grows out of control. He needs to figure out how to change his mood - and fast. 

I like how this one talked about changing emotions, festering emotions, and controlling emotions. I love how it mentioned there's beauty in everything and sometimes the smallest thing can change a person's mood.

A little mouse finds a badger lost and in need of help. The little mouse, although unhappy about having his day interrupted, decides to help. Each animal they encounter seems to know about the grumpy mouse. He insists that he's not grumpy.

I love how the mouse helped out the poor little badger. I loved the twist at the end. A cute story with great illustrations about friendship and bad moods.

Review: Spies and Prejudice

** Comes out in June - put this one on your list!!!**

Strawberry Fields (Berry) works for her father - who's a private investigator. She and her BFF Mary Chris Moss (they bonded in elementary school over weird names) are at a stakeout when they meet the boys.

While Mary ogles Ryan, Berry overhears Tanner make a snide remark about her. When the boys come over to talk to the girls, Berry isn't friendly. She just wants to get the job done. She leaves when she snaps the photo she needs.

Out in the parking lot, she spies Mare's father meeting a woman. The stranger hands him papers along with a warning. Berry's confused and snaps pictures, just in case. At home, she enlarges the photographs and discovers her mother's name on the papers. Her mom's been dead for eight years.

Berry can't let it go. She wants to know what happened to her mother. Was her death an accident? Was she murdered? Was it suicide? How far will she go to uncover the truth and why does Tanner and the new  boy at school Drew keep meeting her at every turn?

My Thoughts: I'm addicted to anything Pride and Prejudice related. The tagline for this book is Pride and Prejudice meets Veronica Mars. But honestly, the title sold me already!

I loved this book - both for the both the Pride and Prejudice angle and the private investigator angle.  I felt bad for Berry as her discovery reopens wounds from her mother's death. The death made her grow up quickly as her father went into a shell. Now they have a strange relationship as Berry's been making her own decisions for years. During the most important time of her life, Berry isn't sure who to trust with her dangerous secrets. 

Her father warns her to stop digging into the past. Berry doesn't listen. The choices she makes puts everyone she cares about into danger. The suspense, danger, action,  and romance makes this book hard to put down.

I hope this is the start of a new series!

Cover Thoughts: I like it, the ARC has red instead of purple. I think both colors are good - they make the cover pop.
Source: ARC received for review

Review: Every Other Day

Kali is your average 16 year old girl - every other day. She goes to school, deals with a father she doesn't know how to talk to, and tries to stay invisible.

At a pep rally, she's befriended by Skyler. Her entire life changes because of that one meeting. She joins Skyler at lunch, meeting her brother and his girlfriend Bethany. Bethany's a cheerleader and scoffs at Kali. Kali gives her plenty of snark and attitude in return.

Things change when Kali spies a mark on Bethany. She knows the mark means that Bethany will soon die. She knows because on the days when she's not human, Kali hunts demon creatures.

So she does what any normal demon-hunting person would do. She coaxes the chupacabra to transfer itself into her body, hoping to live until dawn when she's not quite human again and her body can kill it.

However, things don't go exactly to plan. Both Bethany and Skyler become involved. The plan becomes more than just trying to stay alive. It becomes trying to figure out how Bethany became infected. It becomes a plan to bring justice, thwart rogue scientists, and maybe make a friend or two in the process.

My Thoughts: This book was so addictive, I was grumpy every time I had to put it down and do something else. I loved the danger, the snark, the three girls butting into each other's lives, the voice in Kali's head, Skyler and her brothers, and the toughness of Kali. I loved the Darwin twist.I was a bit squeamish reading the demon hunting scenes. The ending killed me. I wish this wasn't a stand alone novel.

I adore Jennifer Lynn Barnes: she's sweet, funny, and writes amazing books. I love how all her books have a tough feisty female lead. I love how the main character always battles something supernatural and something internal.

Cover Thoughts: It's pretty cool

Source: My Library.
GoodReads

Cover Reveal: Timepiece

This was up on Goodreads last night!!!!!

It goes so well with the first cover and it's incredibly gorgeous again!
The waiting time: June 12th
SO far away :(

Chatting with Myra McEntire

Myra McEntire's here to chat with us. Her debut novel Hourglass comes out June 14th and it's amazing. I really enjoyed it. Everyone was buzzing about it and the buzz isn't wrong.

Welcome Myra and thanks for chatting with us!!!
What made you choose to write YA? I love the freshness of it – everything is new!

Where do you write best? In my office on rainy days.

How do you get your ideas? Do you use real events in your novels and if so, can you describe one? My mind is full of ideas! A real event, no, but a real town, yes. Ivy Springs is based on Franklin, Tennessee.

I've actually been there :)

How did you come up with your title? For a long time it was called THE ESTABLISHMENT. My agent and I knew it was wrong, but we couldn’t think of what was right. And then one day … poof.

Can you tell us a little bit about Hourglass?

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.

If you had your way, how many books will there be in the series? I think four. But I have spinoffs in mind.

Oh -that's EXCITING!!! I really Loved the book - if you missed it, read my review

What’s your favorite R&B song? Oldie: Try a Little Tenderness by Otis Redding. Modern: I really like Usher!

How did you come up with Friday in the Fort – your awesome blog meme. Another writer suggested it!

What will you/did you do on your release day? I’m not sure yet. I didn’t think I was having a release party but I might be now!

What was the last book you’ve read that you’ve been recommending to everyone? There are lots of books coming up, but for books that are already out, Rachel Hawkins HEX HALL series.

Oh I LOVED these books! So looking forward to #3

Do you have a book crush?
Mr. Darcy. Oh, Mr. Darcy.
*swoons* YES

Do you have a favorite library experience? Sitting in the stacks choosing which Nancy Drew book I was going to re-read!

Love!

Are there any authors you’d love to meet? Definitely J.K. Rowling. I’d love to sit down and have a conversation with Holly Black. She’s so amazing when it comes to world building; I’d like to pick her brain!

Do you have a favorite literary quote? I can’t think of one!

Listing of your favorites:

Candy: Hot Tamales
Cake/Cupcake Flavor: Red Velvet Cake
Ice Cream: Cookie Dough
Pizza topping: Black olives and mushrooms
Genre of books: Young Adult! Paranormal and Sci-fi!
Singer and/or Song: I love Miles Davis everything.
Restaurant: A local place called Joey’s.
TV show /Movie: Doctor Who!
Color: Green
Shoe: Converse
Video Game: Mirror’s Edge

Thank you so much for having me!!!!!!!!

Review: Hourglass

* Comes out June 14th*

Em (Emerson) can see the past. She sees people that normal people can't see. And yet they are not ghosts. However, most people think she's crazy. In fact, she herself was convinced she was crazy.

Then she met Micheal.

Her brother hired him (along with countless others) to help her understand herself better. He made her feel normal. He made her feel safe. He explained the world to her.

It's mind-boggling and nothing like she ever expected. Could he really be telling the truth or are her feelings for him clouding her judgement?

My Thoughts: I loved it! I loved the meeting between Em and Michael. I love her sass and how she challenges people. I loved Michael's loyalty and his goodness. I loved his explanation of the world. I loved their playfulness between each other - the sass, the frustration, and the romance. I'm so interested in what comes next.

Cover Thoughts: I don't understand it - at all. Ever after reading it.

Source: review copy provided by Egmont

Stay Tuned later in the week for an interview with Myra McEntire

Trailer Thursday: Raised By Wolves series

I LOVE this series, check out the new book trailer and keep your eyes peeled for Trail By Fire coming out June 14th!

Have you read this series yet?

Review: Never Sit Down in a Hoop Skirt

Jane's been kicked out of more boarding schools than she can count. She's come home to Bienville, Alabama to live with her grandmother. Suddenly everyone's talking about her. Hoping to fly under the radar, she's unhappy when her grandmother guilts her into participating in the local pageant. To Jane's horror, she actually makes the court.

Now she must complete a year of appearances, fund raising, and attending balls with her fellow maids. For the first time ever, the court displays the diversity of the town.

Jane can't help but make waves on the court when her arch nemesis Ashley starts putting girls down. Although she has no desire to participate in the events, when the pageant advisor asks her to step down, she's more determined than ever to becomes the perfect Magnolia Maid. She changes from goth to southern belle in a heartbeat and reigns in her sarcasm and snark.

My Thoughts: I really loved this book. I loved Jane's snark and wit. I loved how she takes control of the Magnolia Maids and changes the group dynamic. I love the group of girls who make up the Maids - they're so different. While Jane presents a tough exterior, her family past left deep wounds on her heart. She's determined, stubborn, and stands up for people and her beliefs. Most of the time, her heart's in the right place even if the situation goes awry - which is does often. I LOVE the humor, the friendship, and the touch of romance.

Cover Thoughts: I like it, but it doesn't match the book. It's too cartoonish for the nature of the book and for Jane. I do however LOVE the title!

Source: Egmont - Out in June

GoodReads

Book of the Month: March

As always, I loved many of the books I read this month, but Trial by Fire blew me away. You can read my review here. It doesn't come out to June - but put this on your radar.

Review: Trial by Fire

***Contains SPOILERS if you haven't read Raised By Wolves***

Bryn loves her new life with her pack until a wolf enters her territory. He's badly hurt and he's asking for protection. With Shay as his Alpha, he's been used as a punching bag, until Shay gave him to a group of psychics.

Bryn doesn't know what to do. She doesn't want to turn him away, but she neither can she help him within the rules of the werewolves. She desperately tries to find a loophole in the rules.

Before she can figure out a solution, the psychics show up in town. A new girl starts school. Bryn knows she's a threat. Caroline isn't normal. She's a hunter. She can't be tracked and she never misses a target. She had the ability to take out Bryn's entire pack.

The psychics hate werewolves. Each time Bryn meets them, she learns more about them. With the psychics and Shay looking for a fight, Bryn needs to watch her back very carefully. She's knows what's at stake and she's not about to give in or give up her pack for anything.

My Thoughts: I couldn't WAIT to read this book as I LOVED Raised By Wolves. Trial by Fire was simply amazing. I love the power of Bryn. I love how her pack's different and how she as a human is different from the other Alphas. I love how she tries to see the loop holes in dangerous situations. I love how she doesn't ever want to play by the rules. I love her sense of justice. Mostly there isn't anything I don't love about Bryn. I love Lake, Chase, and Dev too. I laughed, I cried, I had to re-read the ending twice to understand it. The ending blew me away. A very different werewolf series that makes me anxious for the next one. (And there is a next one I checked!)

Cover Thoughts: I like how it ties into the first cover - and into the story.

Source: Publisher - Egmont (Who has amazing books)

GoodReads

Up next: Every Other Day: a teenage girl who's only human every other day, and who spends her non-human days as a super-powered demon hunter (whose achilles heel is, of course, the fact that every other day, she has no powers at all).

Cover Reveal: Trial by Fire

I LOVED the cover for Raised by Wolves
Here's the cover for the sequel Trial by Fire coming out this June (I can't Wait!!!!)

It looks very similar and ties in nicely to the first book - which I LOVED. It was one of my favorite reads last year.

Thoughts?

Review: Will Work for Prom Dress

Quigley and her BFF Anne have a plan for the prom. They will work any jobs they can find in order to pay for amazing prom dresses. They will eat better and work out to tone up their bodies to show off at the prom. They will find the perfect dates for the prom.

Quigley isn't sure what she's going to do with her life. She's been rejected at her top college choice because her art portfolio lacks focus. She needs to find something to inspire her.

Anne signs them up to be live models for a fashion design course. Everyone except one boy chooses Anne as their model. Only Zander wants to work with Quigley. At first, she's humiliated, but then she gets to know Zander. He could be the perfect date to prom. Could he be interested in her?


My Thoughts: A really cute novel! I'm addicted to prom stories. I loved how these two friends tried to create the perfect prom experience. Anne and Quigley had their friendship issues and parental issues. I really liked Quigley's art incorporated into the story. Art and fashion are becoming more popular in novels and I really like it. Ferris blended these beautifully.

Cover Thoughts: Love it! I love the dress and how it ties into the book. I love the working sign as Anne gets the worst jobs for Quigley.

Source: Goodman Media

Release Date: In February

Contest: Catherine Clark

Earlier this week, I reviewed her new book, Meanicures and then chatted with Catherine Clark.

Now, she's graciously hosting an awesome contest win her latest book:

Plus - one of her YA titles of your choosing
Maine Squeeze
So Inn Love
Icing on the Lake
Picture Perfect
Wish You Were Here
Banana Splitsville
Rocky Road Trip
Better Latte Than Never
What's Hot
Alison Rules

Check out her site to find out more about these awesome books

Rules:
1. Leave a comment
2. add your email address
3.contest ends Midnight November 5th
4. EDITED TO ADD: ***Open to US and Canada only ***

Review: Meanicures

Madison, Taylor, and Olivia are best friends - but they used to be friends with three other girls - Cassidy, Alexis, and Kayley. Now those girls have joined forces and they're taking over the school leaving Madison and her friends far behind. It wouldn't have mattered so much to Madison and her friends if Cassidy and company didn't try to humiliate them every chance they got.

After a disaster hair day, on a whim, Madison runs into a hair salon to change her look and hopefully her luck. There, she hears her stylist talking about how to get rid of negative people.

Madison takes her advice to heart. She, Taylor, and Olivia gather together to purge the mean girls from their lives. They take items of the past friendship and pack them away.

On Monday, things have changed, but it's not what the trio expected. Instead, they've turned into mean girls. They're mean to Cassidy, Alexis, and Kayley and worst of all, they're mean to each other. Can the reverse the spell and return things to normal?

My Thoughts: Meanicures is a great book for tween girls and understanding friendships. It's a cute tale all about relationships- straying apart from your friends, but still treating them with respect - eventually. The girls go through rocky times as they dread dealing with these girls, morph into these girls, and then find a way to co-exist together.

The Cover: Cute and it really captures a significant portion of the book

Source: My Library

Fun Fact: Stay tuned tomorrow for an interview with Catherine Clark!

Review: Middleworld

Max can't believe it when his parents bail on him and their vacation to Italy to go back to Central America for their work. He's furious. He doesn't say goodbye when his parents leave. When the housekeeper gives him a plane ticket and instructions to follow his parents, he doesn't question her orders.

Now after a horrific journey, he's in Central America with his uncle whom he's never met. He learns that his parents have vanished into thin air. His uncle maybe smuggling genuine Mayan artifacts to other dealers. There's a dangerous man who wants one of the most precious Mayan artifacts - a Jaguar stone.

There are five stones and they are very powerful and very dangerous in the wrong hands. Max doesn't want them to fall in the wrong hands. He spies two monkeys carrying out the case with the stone inside. He tries to warn his uncle, but discovers he's locked inside his room. Furious, Max decides to follow the monkeys and attempt to recover the stones.

It doesn't take him long to become lost, hungry, and realizing the jungle is a dangerous place. When he meets a girl in the jungle, will he trust her enough to let her lead him out of the jungle? Will Max disappear like his parents, before he can return the stones without anyone using their power?

My Thoughts: I loved the blend of history with fantasy with action. It's a great story - perfect for book clubs. I have no doubt tweens/teens will gobble up this cross over tale.

The Cover: I LOVE this cover - it speaks volumes about the action and it's very eye-catching

Source: sent for review by Goodman Media

Fun Fact: There are amazing illustrations in the book by Jon Voelkel

Chatting with Kay Cassidy

Welcome Kay!

Q&A:
How did you think up such an awesome twist on Cinderella?
LOL. I'm so glad you think it's awesome! :-) It actually came from an article I read several years ago on high school sororities. I'd never heard of that before. I started thinking about what I would've wanted it to be like and decided a girl power society dedicated to defeating the mean girls of the world (on a global scale!) would've been seriously cool.

It's one of my favorite reads!

What's up next for Jess (and how many books do you envision in the series)?
The series is open-ended. Right now I'm working on the sequel to The Cinderella Society, titled Cindy on a Mission. It follows the further adventures of Jess and the Sisters as the Wickeds launch an offensive that threatens everything the Cindys hold dear. Cindy on a Mission will be on shelves in Spring 2011.

I seriously can't wait for more!

What is it like being a debut author and did you do something special to celebrate?
It is completely amazing. I celebrated on release day by having lunch with a friend (cupcakes for dessert, of course!) and enjoying the gorgeous day we had. We also popped into a local bookstore and I got to see the book on the shelves. Really and truly on the shelves! This just blew my mind. The gal was super sweet about having me sign them, so it was fun all around. And then I settled in for a 7-hour Twitter launch party that Team Cindy planned for me! It was completely exhausting in the most wonderful way possible.

Cupcakes! Of course :) and the Twitter party was great fun


Do you have a favorite inspirational quote?
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." by Mahatma Gandhi. It inspires me every day and is the reason I founded Living Your FiveTM in 2009.

Awesome quote - I love it!


What's the last book you read that you've been recommending to everyone?
There are so many! I love Christina Diaz Gonzalez's The Red Umbrella (on shelves next month) and I'm rereading Graceling by Kristin Cashore right now. I almost never read books twice, so that's a big deal for me. :-) I'm also counting the days (like everyone else is) until Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins hits shelves.
I can't WAIT for MockingJay and Red Umbrella is going in my TBR pile once it hits. I LOVED Graceling.

I had the extreme good fortune to read this book early.

Here's my Review:
Jess hates her school and desperately needs to find friends to keep her off of the mean girls' radar. On the final day of the school year (after two humiliating events), she finds an envelope in her bag inviting her to a secret society. At first, she thinks it's just another prank, but then she realizes that it's for real. Jess has no idea why they want her, but she's willing to find out why.

The Cindys recruit girls with special powers of kindness, leadership, and generosity, and the group includes some of the most popular girls in school. There's a long-standing tradition of The Cindys nationwide - battling the Wickeds, their evil counterpart. This year, the Wickeds have doubled in size, proving that something's afoot. It's a lot of information for Jess to take in, but she's super-excited about the makeover given to all of The Cindys upon their initiation. Soon, she's picking out her own signature style and having her hair and makeup professionally done. So far, everything about the group has been great, but there's a lot of work ahead of her.

In the midst of the battle for good and evil, Jess snagged the boy she's been crushing on since she moved to town. The Cindys have given Jess a mission to uncover information, but once Jess has it, she can't let go. Will she go against The Cindys and their ways to battle her nemesis?

THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY is the first book in a new series. I LOVED this book for several reasons, including the title (love stories about Princesses), the cover (which is awesome), and the story just rocks. There are makeovers, secret societies, romance, and snarky showdowns

And the book trailer I created:

Here's a little bit of info about Kay:
Kay Cassidy is the author of teen fiction she wishes was based on her real life. She is the founder of the national Great Scavenger Hunt ContestTM reading program for kids and teens and the host of the inspirational Living Your FiveTM web project. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, movies, music, and reading. Lots and lots of reading. She hopes her debut YA novel, THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY (April 13, 2010 - Egmont), will help girls embrace their inner Cindy.

OFFICIAL BOOK BLURB:
What a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn't want to wear it anymore?
Sixteen year old Jess Parker has always been an outsider. So when she receives an invitation to join The Cinderella Society, a secret society of the most popular girls in school, it's like something out of a fairy tale. Swept up by the Cindys' magical world of makeovers, and catching the eye of her Prince Charming, Jess feels like she's finally found her chance to fit in.
Then the Wickeds--led by Jess's arch-enemy--begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers there's more to being a Cindy than reinventing yourself on the outside. She has unknowingly become part of a centuries-old battle of good vs. evil, and now the Cindys in charge need Jess for a mission that could change everything.
Overwhelmed, Jess wonders if The Cinderella Society made a mistake in choosing her. Is it a coincidence her new boyfriend doesn't want to be seen with her in public? And is this glamorous, secret life even what she wants, or will she risk her own happy ending to live up to the expectations of her new sisters?

Curious? Here's a sneak peek!

BOOK TEASER:
I opened the card, my hands trembling in dread and the faint remnants of what I used to call hope, as a tiny silver high-heel pin bounced into my hand.
I juggled the pin for a second, barely managing to keep it from falling, and flipped open the note with my other hand. The words inside were not a message but an invitation that sent shivers down my spine:

Your presence is requested at The Grind.
Tonight, 7 p.m.
Wear the pin.
Discretion MANDATORY.

Awesome right?

Thanks for chatting with us Kay. I ran out the minute I could to purchase a copy (but there's always the library too). It's a fabulous read, DON’T miss it!!

Review: Brightley Woven

One moment Sydelle and her friend Henry are hanging out on the rocks and then next, it's raining. Their village hasn't seen rain in ten years. Shortly after, they spot a wizard. Together they all head into the village not knowing just how much their future is about to change. Wayland North, the wizard, takes the credit of bringing the rain. The chief, Sydelle's father offers him a reward. He's stunned when he finds out the wizard wants his daughter.

> Wayland believes he can stop the upcoming war with Sydelle's help. Together they set out cross the country to deliver their information. Sydelle can't help hating the wizard who took her away from her friends and family. In time, she grows to understand him more and appreciates him. They must overcome obstacles: rogue wizard attacks, a new queen trying to find her place, and two country leaders determined to go to war for all the wrong reasons. Sydelle wants to help stop the war so they can get on with their lives, but then she overhears Wayland talking about her and she can't believe her ears. Suddenly her world's turned upside down and she doesn't know who to trust or what to do next.

My Thoughts: An awesome debut - way to explode onto the scene. Love the fantasy/war story with a little bit of romance mixed in. I'm a sucker for wizard tales and I loved it. I do hope there's more coming.

The Cover: I have mixed feelings.

Source: My library.

Fun Fact: A debut novel written as a birthday present for a friend = awesome!

Fun Fact #2: There's a funny story when the author buys a copy of the book

Spotted: Raised By Wolves cover

Isn't it beautiful?
I really can't wait to read it for a number of reasons

1. The Cover
2. Werewolves
3. The author, she's wicked cool and her books are clever and fun plus she likes monkeys

how can you not read her books?