Thursday, March 31, 2011

Brilliant Book Trailers

Book trailers that have made me want to buy the book or look forward to an upcoming book.


I've never heard of this book before watching the trailer, now I can't wait to read it.  :)


Wow, now I want to read this book even more then I did before.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Artful Angels


Probability Angels by Joseph Devon
*Book received from the author, after being requested, for review

This book is definitely a three tiara wearing bats out of 5 bats kind of story. It is a good read even if it does start out a little slow.

I like how the basic lessons of the world of this story are shown to us using the guise of following around the new guy. The more you can get into this book the more it starts to reward you for your effort. From the intro to what is happening, along with some of the more nice and juicy fight scenes, this book has a decent flow and a good story.

The concepts in this were good but I fully admit that it was the characters that kept me coming back for more. The character with the most irony would have to be Mary the ex-nun with the influence specialty of sex. I love it when people build contradictions into the characters themselves. Now most people will probably love Epp the most and I do admit that he is cool being the man with all the tricks and pretty much in charge but he is not my favorite. Mine would be a tie between Kyo the one of a kind man from feudal japan and Bartleby who learned that Mercury can give quite the attitude adjustment and teach a few new tricks.

Overall this was a good book and with how this one ends I think the next one holds a lot of promise.

A Tiny Reverse Vampire Review

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Fickle Future

Future Imperfect by K. Ryer Breese
* I received this book via Star Book Tours
* Release date - April 26, 2011

This book gets a good 3 gnomes out of 5 gnomes.  I liked the premise of the book and the characters were interesting in their own ways but also kind of hard to like.  First of all, their names are really weird.  The main character's name is Ade Patience and the girl he's in love/obsessed with is Vauxhall Rodolfo.  Let's just say those names don't really roll off the tongue and I'm pretty sure that I was mispronouncing them.

Ade is not exactly what you would call a reliable narrator.  He's not reliable because in order to see the future he has to give himself a concussion.  Doing this means he's been in more then one car accident and does things like jump off of buildings on purpose.  Having this many concussions of course is not good for you but Ade is addicted to the feeling that he gets after a vision.  This has led to him blacking out and having a horrible memory.  At points in the story you might find yourself wondering if any of it is true.

Ade's character is also pushed by his religious obsessed mother.  She believes his visions are a sign from God and Ade encourages her by always adding something that he thinks that she'll find important.  His Mom is pretty darn creepy with worrying more about writing Ade's visions down than whether he's irreparably damaging himself by getting the visions.

Vauxhall strikes me as the mysterious girl who is way more needy then she needs to be.  She's not exactly a reliable character either, at times you have to wonder what Ade sees in her.  Their secrets are what seems to bring them together and the fact that she currently has a boyfriend.


Psychic phenomenon abound and there is enough weirdness for even the most weird loving soul.   Ade may not be the only person with powers around town.  These characters are strong but if you're looking for cute or cuddly, you're in the wrong place.

The ending is what really brings the book to a solid 3 gnomes, because it leaves this character changed but with the reader also questioning what's going to happen next.  A good read but be warned the story can be a tad hard to follow at times and if you don't like unreliable narrators this may not be the book for you.  Definitely worth a read though to see how the ending which is hinted at in the beginning comes about.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Sentence Sneak Peek - Future Imperfect

Future Imperfect by K. Ryer Breese

The first sentence from each chapter of Future Imperfect, it's a mini summary of what you can expect to read.


*All first sentences are from an ARC I read via Star Book Tours.

* Release date - April 26, 2011
Prologue: "Jimi Ministry didn't have this many tattoos two weeks ago."

"Thanks for the letter,  Heinz."

"Dad
You remember that time we went to the sand dunes?"

"Dear Dr. Gore, 

Thank you for your short note."

"Professor Graham, 

A family friend of mine, Dr. Reginald Borgo, suggested I get in touch with you about a certain school project I'm working on."

"To Whom It May Concern: 

So, I've been getting these calls."

"Dr. David Gore

I don't know why you're insisting on doubting what I'm telling you."

"Dark Lord von Ravengate,

Cool spell."

"Dear Professor Susan Graham
Thank you again for your replies to my letters."

"Dr. David Gore

Fuck you."

"Dear Dad
No one ever gets letters anymore, so I'm kind of proud of the fact that I don't really use e-mail."

"Dr. Borgo
Funny getting a letter from me, right?"

"Dear Mom
Why I put this behind the crucifix on the back porch is because I knew you'd find it when you were gathering for your Sunday Midnight Bible Class."

"Heinz
I appreciated your card and I've been meaning to write you for a few months now, but things have been nuts."

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Sunday Funday

Was very excited with what I got in the mail this week.

I was surprised that the pack I bought from Bookperk had already arrived.  I received the book and the lipstick for only $8.99, so a pretty great deal all the way around.
Plus check out the cute bag that the lipstick came in :)

I did my happy dance when I opened up the envelope that held this:
I had no idea that I won one of the signed posters so it was an awesome surprise.  :)
A closer look at the pretty book covers and the signatures.

I've either read or own all of these books so this is just the icing on the proverbial cake.  :)

Saturday, March 26, 2011

In Memory of Diana Wynne Jones - author of some of my favorite books

Was very sad to hear about the passing of Diana Wynne Jones, she was one of my favorite authors and wrote books that I find myself rereading over and over.

So in her honor I want to talk about my favorite book that she wrote, Howl's Moving Castle

This book has one of the best heroines and a quite interesting fairy tale world.  New takes on fairy tale worlds are always fun to read especially when they are so well written.  I love the story between Sophie and the wizard Howl.  Their relationship develops naturally and you can see why they inevitably fall for each other.  Sophie is an old woman for much of the book and the wizard Howl may not be as bad as he seems at first (they both have secrets that they hide).  All the characters in this story are very engaging and make you want to know more about them.  This book is a great character study on not judging people on how they look but by the actions they take.  Overall a story full of humor, magic, witches, and even a fire demon.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Charming Clarity

Clarity by Kim Harrington
*I received this book via Different Area Codes tours

This book gets a clear 4 gnomes out of 5 gnomes for having an intriguing main character and a complex mystery to solve.

Clare or Clarity Fern has a very unusual family.  They all have some kind of psychic powers.  Her brother is a medium, her mom is a telepath (which makes it really hard to keep secrets from her) and Clarity has the power of psychometry.  I was familiar with psychometry already because of the Simon Canderous books by Anton Strout and so was curious to see how a teenage girl with this power would be portrayed.  Clare's way of looking at the world and humor really make the story great.  You'll find yourself rooting for her against the bullies and anticipating what she's going to do next.

This story was a lot of fun to read and it's engaging from the very first chapter.  Clare and her family may be thought of as freaks by most of the town but being an outcast has made her a stronger person.  She's not close to a lot of people and has no girls as friends.  Perry her brother is the person she's closest to and her only other friend is her brother's best friend.

Even though Clare has this abnormal ability, her character is easy to relate to.  She's a teenager who's stuck in the family business of giving psychic readings to tourists and trying to figure out the world.  Being seen as a freak is never easy but then something happens that might just change the way that people approach her.

There are a couple of love interests, Justin the ex-boyfriend and Gabriel the new love interest.  These two are quite the pair.  The reader can see easily why Clare could fall for either one of these guys.  For most of the book though it's more about Clare then them and you're not sure which way she'll go.

Among all the teenage angst, a tourist ends up murdered.  A murder in a tourist town is not exactly good for business so it's important to solve the case as soon as possible.  After the murder the tension really ratchets up.  It seems that everyone could have been the murderer.  

The mystery is well done and will leave you questioning everyone right up until the end.  This story is full of paranormal goodness but it's also a great look at what lengths characters will go through to protect themselves and their family.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Sentence Sneak Peek - Clarity

Clarity by Kim Harrington

The first sentence from each chapter of Clarity, it's a mini summary of what you can expect to read.   

*All quotes/lines taken from an ARC I read via
Different Area Codes tours
*A major spoiler is highlighted, so be warned and only look at it if you don't care about knowing who the bad guy is. :)
"YOU DON'T WANT TO KILL ME," I SAID."

"SHE'S A SUPER FREAK!"

"AROUND THE AGE WHEN MOST MOTHERS SIT WITH their kids to talk about how babies are made, my mom sat my brother and me down and warned us about our impending freakdom."

"THE BEST THING ABOUT SUMMER WAS BEING OUT of school, mostly away from Tiffany's reign of terror and my daily dose of persecution."

"I NEVER EXPECTED TO FALL IN LOVE AT SIXTEEN."

"PERRY WAS LOUNGING ON THE COUCH WITH A novel open on his chest."

"I BOLTED UPRIGHT."

"KING'S COURTYARD WAS A SINGLE BUILDING OF connected rooms that arched in an L-shape around an out-door pool."

"MY SLEEP WAS PLAGUED WITH NIGHTMARES."

"THE FIRST THING I DID AS I WALKED INTO YUMMY'S was scan the place for evil waitresses, but thankfully Skanky McSkankbag wasn't working."

"I CLAWED AT THE HAIRY ARM AROUND MY NECK and dug my heels into the sand, but he was stronger than me and was still able to pull me into the darkness."

"THAT WENT WELL."

"I REALLY THOUGHT HE WAS GUILTY," I SAID, POUT-ing as we climbed the stairs and walked in the front door of the house."

" 'I SAW YOU,' " I READ OUT LOUD."

"OF COURSE THE STORM CLOUDS CHOSE THE moment I left the house to open up and start spitting."

"MY LACK OF GIRLFRIENDS WAS NOT BREAKING NEWS."

"I PUT MASLOV'S DIRE WARNING AND HER CORRECT guess about my keys out of my mind and walked to the store."

"I STEPPED IN FRONT OF MY BROTHER AND PUT MY hand on Detective Toscano's chest, pushing him back a bit."

"MY TIRE WAS FINE THIS MORNING," MOM SAID."

"BEFORE I COULD SCREAM, SOMEONE ELSE DID."

"MY NERVES PREVENTED ME FROM STANDING STILL for even a single moment, so I paced back and forth in the mayor's office."

"THE FERN FAMILY CALENDAR WAS BLANK THE NEXT day."

"STEPHEN SHOWED UP AT MY DOOR WEARING A BLUE button-down shirt and dress pants."

"IN THE WOODS, CRACKLING TWIGS, INCESSANT insect chirping, and other night noises were freaking me out."

"STAND NEXT TO HER," STEPHEN CLAYWORTH yelled at Justin, waving the gun around."

"I REALLY THINK YOU SHOULD GO HOME," MOM said."

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Mesmerizing Memory

Memento Nora by Angie Smibert
* I received this book via Star Book Tours
* Release date - April 2011

This book receives a memorable 4 gnomes and a gnome hat out of 5 gnomes for having a great mix of characters and a plot that is just feasible enough to make you twitchy and start to contemplate whether the future of Memento Nora could actually occur.

The reader gets to hear the story from three separate points of view.  There's Nora, the very normal girl who doesn't seem to have a worry in the world.  Micah is seen as a slacker/skateboarder type of guy but he's a really good artist.  Winter is a tad bit eccentric but she's strong willed and makes fantastical sculptures.  These three very different people think up a way that may help them beat the system and start people remembering again.  The way the story is told also leaves the reader wondering if their can be a happy ending for everyone.

The setting seems pretty normal at first and then Nora witnesses a bombing and a body pretty much lands right in front of her.  In this future there is a giant terrorism organization that sets up attacks all the time, usually involving bombings.  Terrorism is seen as common place but also common place now are the TFC or Therapeutic Forgetting Clinics.  To deal with all the stress and to make sure there are no long term effects, anytime something bad happens you just go to a clinic.  While at the clinic you describe the memory and then you swallow a little white pill and forget all about what happened.  People even save up points from all their forgetting for prizes or trips.

Nora is introduced to a different way of looking at the world when she meets Micah.  Micah is not the usual kind of guy that she would even think about liking.   Through Micah she starts to see that her life is not as glossy as she though it was.  What starts off as them making up a comic just may turn into a social movement.

There are a plethora of bad guys in this story.  With terrorism being common and people wanting to forget anything bad, it's hard to know which way to turn to find a solution.  Nora and her friends don't know who to trust and their options seem to be very limited.  

Overall this story was a very fast read with engaging characters that will make you very curious to see what happens next.  The ending was great because it showed that everything may not have been in vain and that the future should indeed by interesting.  I can't wait to read the sequel and see what Angie Smibert does next with this world.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

BLOOMING BOOKS GIVEAWAY - $100 Gift Card :)


Welcome to the Blooming Books Giveaway! A multi-blog giveaway hosted by Enna Isilee of Squeaky Books.

March 20th marked the first day of spring for those of us in the northern hemisphere, and we want to celebrate. I, along with nine other blogs, have joined in to give you the chance to win $100 to Borders, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon.com!

Here's how it works, each of the participating blogs will hold a "Blooming Books Giveaway" post, and you enter however that blog wants you to.  Some blogs may offer a prize, but what you're really entering for is the chance to win a nomination spot.  Each blog will choose a 1st place nominee, and a 2nd place nominee.  The ten 1st place nominees will be entered to win the $100 gift card, and the ten 2nd place nominees will be entered to win a $30 gift card. And since this is just an e-mailed gift card, it is open internationally!

Scroll down to see the list of other blogs and enter at their sites too! If you win more than one nomination, then you have an even GREATER chance of winning that $100!

RULES:
- Must be 13 years old or older
- Open internationally

Rules to enter here at Bibliognome:You must write a haiku that is about your favorite paranormal creature or book genre.
 Example 1:               Zombies love spring time               
                                    Brains out about everywhere            
                                    A heady bouquet                                    

 Example 2:              Science Fiction rocks
                                   New worlds and people abound
                                   High above the ground

1.) Haikus must be in 5-7-5 form.
2.) Write your haiku along with your name email address in the comments.  If you don't want to leave your email address leave your Twitter, or Facebook details.  Just make sure I'm able to contact you to let you know that you've been nominated and have a chance to win a $100 or $30 gift card.
3.) You don't have to follow the blog to win, but feel free to follow if you like what you see and leave any comments on reviews or posts that you find interesting.  :)
4.) The haiku I like the best will be given my #1 nomination to be entered for a chance at the $100 gift card, the 2nd best haiku will be nominated for the chance to win the $30 gift card.


Additional Details:
  • Giveaway runs March 22nd-April 1st
  • Nominees announced April 2nd
  • Winner announced April 4th on Squeaky Books

Take a look at and be sure to enter at all the participating blogs!





The Elliot Review



Squeaky Books



That Hapa Chick



Bibliognome



Pensive Bookeaters



The Mod Podge Bookshelf



Lisa’s World of Books



Fade Into Fantasy



See Scoot Read



Awesomesauce Bookclub

Monday, March 21, 2011

Sentence Sneak Peek - Memento Nora

Memento Nora by Angie Smibert

The first sentence from each chapter of Memento Nora, it's a mini summary of what you can expect to read.

* All first sentences are from an ARC I read via Star Book Tours. 
* Release date - April 2011

"I'm about to forget everything I'm going to tell you."

"That night I had the dream."

"It all started with a girl."

"As we walked past the old Starbucks, I stumbled over a piece of broken concrete."

"The next day I was showing off my new bracelet to my girls at my locker when I saw the kid with the cast lurking around the windows."

"The hummingbirds had been slumbering peacefully in my brain until that day."

"That evening Dad's car service took the girls and me to the football game and the lacrosse team party after it."

"Micah sat in the same spot near the art section, hunched over his sketch pad, a stack of books blocking what he was drawing."

"One of the hands, the one with the silver watch painted on the wrist, flopped to the ground like a dead fish."

"From the downtown library Micah and I walked to the corner of Eighth and Day."

"Mom and I finally fit in our post-closing shopping trip on Saturday."

"I was in this room."

"Winter sent a message that she had a surprise for Micah and me after school."

"Homeroom was quiet—except for the drone of Homeland Teen News in the background."

"Dreams suck."

"The bones rattled like a sack of chicken legs in a Brooks Brothers suit."

"Step."

"The next morning, with a couple hundred freshly inked cop-ies of Memento hidden in hollowed-out library books, we approached the bag search at the security checkpoint into school."

"At first I didn't realize it was him."

"The step-whir in my head beat out a rhythm like the wings of rabid hummingbirds as I watched Micah and Nora get into Officer Bell's car."

"She kissed me."

"Sliding into the backseat of the car, I was still feeling pretty glossy from that kiss—until I bumped right into Dad."

"She totally blew me off."

"Gears."

"I'm glad Nora didn't come, I told myself as I rolled down the alley behind the Nomuras' place."

"I successfully avoided Micah for a whole seventy-two hours, not counting the weekend."

"Winter Nomura slammed my locker shut, just barely missing my fingers."

"Dinner that night was agony."

"I borrowed some money from Mom's purse and took the bus to Winter's house."

"Homeland High," Mr. Yamada told the cabbie as we settled into the backseat."

"And that brings us to the here and now."

"I felt like I'd been in a coma for days, weeks maybe."

"A cab let us off at the corner of Eighth and Day."

"Mom and I walked for blocks without saying a word."

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Sunday Smile

Some fun pictures and a video that will hopefully bring a smile to you on this Sunday.  :)
Pictures and video taken by Tiny Reverse Vampire.


Tapirs = so very cute

I don't remember what this animal is called I just know that it's adorable.

Burrowing Owl, I always think of Hoot whenever I see these owls.

A great shot of a monkey family. 

A crazy duck that decided to come fly up and sit on the railing.
A video of the crazy duck :)

Upcoming for the Week

Sentence Sneak Peek and review of Clarity by Kim Harrington

Sentence Sneak Peek and review of Memento Nora by Angie Smibert

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Alien Adventure

On Thursday I took an arc of Alien in the Family by Gini Koch to the Lady Gaga concert, then on Friday I decided to take the whole series to the zoo.  It was a fun time and a lot of pictures were taken.

Touched by an Alien by Gini Koch: Pictures taken in the Desert Dome







Alien Tango by Gini Koch: Pictures taken at the aquarium




The arc of Alien in the Family by Gini Koch that I'm reading thanks to the arc blog tour put together by Marnie at Absorbed in a Book.  Pictures taken at the butterfly pavilion and the jungle.






 

Friday, March 18, 2011

Great Gaga

Celebrated St. Patrick's Day at the Lady Gaga concert it was so awesome.  :)






Check out those costumes :)

Reactions to the awesomeness and yes we are wearing dinosaur/crocodile hats.




The arc of Alien in the Family that I'm reading thanks to the arc blog tour put together by Marnie at Absorbed in a Book 

Alien in the Family takes a field trip to see Lady Gaga :)