400 Hours to 400 Days Blog Party

In the coming weeks I will be participating in the 400 Hours to 400 Hundred Days Blog Party. This party is to celebrate the release of Book 2 in the Lor Mandela series by L. Carroll. I just read Book 1, Destruction From Twins, and it was a lot of fun so I am very excited about 400 Days. Below are links to contests you can participate in as well as the full tour schedule. I really hope you will join us!

Do you like to draw people? Check out the Character Drawing Contest for a chance to win an iTunes gift card and a signed copy of 400 Days, or a signed copy of Beautiful Darkness.

Do you like to draw strange beasties? Check out the Creature Drawing Contest for a chance to win an iTunes gift card and a signed copy of 400 Days, or a signed copy of Darkest Mercy.

Now, we want to spread the word and share this lovely fantasy series with as many people as we can, so head over to the Social Network Contest and tweet to earn entries to win a copy of Luminous.

Tour Schedule:

June 28: Launch Book Tour
Launch all Contests:

• Valerie (Stuck in Books)– Drawing/Digital art Creature contest.
• Hiba (Wovenstrands)– Drawing/Digital art Character contest.
• Reggie R (Characters Well Met) – 400 word Flash Fiction Contest.
• Social Network Contests hosted by:

1. Hiba from “Wovenstrands“
2. Megan McDade from “Reading Away The Days”
3. Reggie Ridgway from “Characters Well Met”
4. Annie Thompson from “Stuff Young People Read”
5. Natalie C. Markey from “Pen To Publish”

•  Lori A.C. (New and Good Reading) – Author Interview.
• Nicole Z (Nicole Zoltack) – Book Review

June 29

• Haley W. (Soldering Through the Writing World) – Author Interview + Giveaway
• Alba (Book Pics) – Guest Post: My Fantasy Obssession

June 30

• Louisa (Writing Crazy Me) – Book Review
• Valerie (Stuck in Books) - Guest Post: A Few of My Favorite Characters.
• Kerry-Ann M. (Reading a Little Bit of Everything) – Author Interview

July 1

• Patti L – (Wovenstrands) Guest Post: Blushing, about writing paranormal YA romance scenes
• Jennifer B. (A Book A Girl A Journey) – Author Interview

July 2

• Nerissa (In The Name of Books) – Book Review
• Subhakar (Ficfac) - Guest Post: What’s in a name? Fantasy writers have it easy
• E.J.Wesley (The Open Vein) – Author Interview

July 3

• Alba (Book Pics) - Book Review
• Tiffany (About to Read) – Author Interview

July 4

• Natalie R.(Songs and Stories) – Guest Post: Prophecies
• Reggie R. (Characters Well Met) – Author Interview

July 5

• Jacquline C. (Adventures in WriterLand) – Book Review
• Megan M (Reading Away The Days) – Author Interview

July 6

• Orlando R (O About That) – Author Guest Post
• Lisa F.(Authors Block) – Author Interview part 1

July 7: Book Cover Release

• Carole S (Wovenstrands)- Author Interview
• Nicole Z (Nicole Zoltack) - Guest Post: Why fantasy appeals to so many readers

July 8

• Jamie J (Fantasy Book Chick) – Author Interview
• Haley W. (Soldering Through the Writing World)  – Book review

July 9

• Natalie R (Songs and Stories) – Book Review
• William P. (William Potter) – Author Interview

July 10

• Anni T. (Stuff Young People Read) – Book Review
• Jacquline C. (Adventures in WriterLand)  – Author Interview

July 11

• Tiffany (About to Read) – Book Review
• Louisa (Writing Crazy Me) – Guest post: Taking YA out of Romance; Why It Can’t be Done
• Natalie C.M. (Pen To Publish) – Author Interview

July 12

• Orlando R. (O About That) - Book Review
• Jennifer B. (A Book A Girl A Journey) - Guest Post: YA fiction characters I love
• Julia C. (Julia Crane)– Author Interview

July 13

• Subhakar (Ficfac) - Book Review
• William P. (William Potter) – Guest Post: (to be announced)
• Natalie R. .(Songs and Stories) – Author Interview

July 14

• Valerie (Stuck in Books) – Book Review + Interview
• Kerry-Ann M (Reading a Little Bit of Everything) - Book Review
• Lisa F. (Lisa Flaus) – Author Interview part 2
• Narissa (In The Name of Books)  – Author Interview

July 15: Four Hundred Days Book Release
Announce all winners

• Hiba (Wovenstrands) - Book Review
• Patti L. (Patti Larsen) – Author Interview
• Thomas D. (Pinnacle Writing) - Author Interview

Make sure you join us, it is going to be fun!

                              Lieder Madchen

Massive Giveaway at Jagged Edge

Check out the huge giveaway at Jagged Edge! Click here to enter and please tell them that I sent you. :)                               

 Wow 5 Swag packs and 120 Books!!
 Here's the list of books


Here ya go:
If you get -

35 followers = 2 ebook of your choice
60 followers = 5 ebooks of your choice
75 followers = 7 ebooks of your choice
100 followers = 10 ebooks of your choice


There will be 5 winners for the prize packs. 
1st place- Swag + 5 Books of choice + one of Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy's paranormal romances (Wolfe's Lady, Love Tattoo, or Love Scars) + a copy of Heavenly and a T-shirt.
2nd place- Swag + 4 books of choice + one of Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy's contemporary romances(Love Never Fails or Kinfolk)
3rd place- Swag + 3 Books of choice
4th place- Swag + 2 Books of choice
5th place- Swag + 3 ebook of choice

Here ya go:
If you get -

35 followers = 2 ebook of your choice
60 followers = 5 ebooks of your choice
75 followers = 7 ebooks of your choice
100 followers = 10 ebooks of your choice


There will be 5 winners for the prize packs. 
1st place- Swag + 5 Books of choice + one of Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy's paranormal romances (Wolfe's Lady, Love Tattoo, or Love Scars) + a copy of Heavenly and a T-shirt.
2nd place- Swag + 4 books of choice + one of Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy's contemporary romances(Love Never Fails or Kinfolk)
3rd place- Swag + 3 Books of choice
4th place- Swag + 2 Books of choice
5th place- Swag + 3 ebook of choice

Book Review #82: Legacy by Cayla Kluver

Legacy
by Cayla Kluver

Genre: YA Fantasy / Romance

Ages: 15 and up

I received an e-book of this from NetGalley.

Description:

The first boy disappeared on the day of his birth, on a night when the pale yellow moon of the nighttime sky turned red and bathed the heavens in the ghastly color of blood, on the same night the Kingdom of Cokyri abruptly ceased its merciless attack.

 
Across the land of Hytanica, under the shadow of the crimson moon, infant boys continued to vanish. Not until the blood had faded from the sky did the disappearances stop and the bodies of the murdered infants were found outside the gates of the city, a final word from the greatest enemy Hytanica had ever known. For the next sixteen years, peace reigned, but one mystery remained unsolved. The Cokyrians had abducted forty-nine newborns, but returned only forty-eight bodies.

Now, as seventeen-year-old Princess Alera of Hytanica is besieged from all sides by suitors vying for the Throne, a teenage Cokyrian boy, Narian, is encountered within the walls of her Kingdom, a boy who will show Alera a world where women serve a purpose and not just a husband. As Narian helps Alera find her voice, she struggles against an arranged marriage that will shatter the life she has scarcely begun to live. And when Narian's shocking past is uncovered, and war with Cokyri looms once more, he must fight to defy a fate ordained at his birth.

My Review:

At first I thought thas this book was going to be a fairly typical young adult fantasy romance where the young princess falls in love with the wrong gentleman and struggles against all expectations. On one side, I was right. On the other, there are aspects of this story that do not even come close to being ordinary.

The first half was fairly predictable, princess doesn't want to marry an arrogant lord who is only after her throne and meets a mysterious, dangerous boy who may be an enemy of the kingdom. My sense of predictability was exacerbated by a scene where Alera goes to see Narian only to hear that he is out riding and it is suggested that she and her friends go for a walk by the river. I just had to roll my eyes because I knew that she was going to fall into that river and that Narian was going to pull her out. However, in the second half of the book it was impossible to predict anything and the ending was quite shocking. I am eagerly awaiting book 2 because I have no idea how it is going to work out.

The characters were interesting and likable. (Well, mostly. I really want to hit Steldor through most of the story.) Alera was well-written. She is aware of her responsibilities and does not behave like a child to avoid them, no matter how much she may wish to. However, she also acts like a giddy teenager at times, pulling pranks with her sister and giggling over boys. This struck me as being realistic. She was raised with the importance of her duties and how they would affect others and is so aware of them that she rarely acts selfishly.

Narian was very...interesting. On one hand, he is the handsome mysterious stranger with more weapons on his person than some people keep in their armory, but underneath his stony facade, he seems almost desperate. I am still not sure what side he will choose.

Of the minor characters, I really like Miranna and Temerson. They are so sweet and innocent compared to everyone else. The bodyguards, London, Destari and Tedark were all interesting and likable in their own ways, though in Tedark's case it was just fun to make fun of him. London was very complicated and at times confusing. He seems to have many secrets and I am sure that there are several yet to be revealed.

There are a few instances where the characters seem to contradict themselves and that irritated me. For example, the king killed his infant son as a sacrifice in the prologue, but that is never mentioned in the story and he does not seem like the sort of man who could do such a thing. Yes, he can be harsh, but nothing in his behavior hints that he murdered his son or even that he could. There were other, less noticeable instances, but that one bothered me the most.

There was a subtle undercurrent of darkness in the story. There were the obvious infanticides and battles, but there were also references to torture and hints of abusive behavior. When Steldor, Alera's suitor, grabs her arm too tightly she is unsurprised and most people do not care because the men are in charge and it is the woman's place to obey. A husband can do anything to his wife and no one will object. Also, a father has complete control over his children until they are married and out of his household. While no beatings or abuse actually occur in the story, there are enough small hints to worry me.

All-in-all, I enjoyed this book. Though my first impressions were not enthusiastic, the complicated world and puzzling characters drew me in. I have a feeling that the sequel will be darker, but hopefully not too much so. There are so many questions left unanswered at the end and I can only guess what will come of them.

Content Ratings: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence

1 (mild) through 10 (extreme).

Profanity:

There is no swearingin this book.

Sexuality:
I rate is a 2.10 for some hints and innuendos as well as an almost-wedding night.

Violence:
I rate it an 8.10 for the murder of many infants as well as mutiple battles and other scenes of violence.

                               Lieder Madchen

Book Review #81: The Twisted Tale of Stormy Gale by Christine Bell

The Twisted Tale of Stormy Gale

by Christine Gale

Genre: Fantasy / Romance / Time Travel / Novella

Ages: 16 and up

I received an e-book of this from NetGalley for review.

Amazon Description:

I'm a time pirate—born in 1810, now a 21st-century woman. I travel through time trying to right wrongs without disrupting the fragile balance between what is and what can never be.

 
That's why it's vital that I go to 1836 and find the man who conned my brother out of his Time Travel Mechanism as quickly as possible. If the technology falls into the wrong hands, it could change the world as we know it. The notorious Duke of Leister definitely qualifies as the wrong hands. An amateur scientist of the slightly mad variety, he's bound to figure out how to use the TTM sooner rather than later.

My Review:
I didn't realize when I started this that it was a novella (it was an e-book and I didn't look at the scroller) so at first I was expecting some sort of villain or something to show up. When none did and I discovered the length of the book, I began to treat it like a short story.

The world and technology was interesting enough as well as original. It was unusual to have a time traveler who was born in an older time, brought to the present and visits everywhen. The idea of time traveling to change little things and help the world along a bit was fun. I would like to see a full-length book set in this world with more "time pirates."
The plot left something to be desired, but because it was so short that was to be expected. I liked the Duke of Leister but Stormy was kind of annoying. However, I could admire her loyalty to the man who raised her. Bacon was just fun. It bothered me that certain main characters basically fell into bed with each other right after meeting, but other than that the romance was sweet and different.

I would recommend this story to lovers of light romance.
Content Ratings: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme).

Profanity:
I give it an 8.10 for multiple f-words.

Sexuality:
I rate is a 7.10 for one descriptive scene.

Violence:
There was no violence really other than a mild case of kidnapping so I give it a 1.10.

                                 Lieder Madchen

Book Review #80: Steam and Sorcery by Cindy Spencer Pape

Steam and Sorcery

by Cindy Spencer Pape

Genre: Fantasy / Steampunk / Paranormal / Romance

Ages: 16 and up

I received an e-book of this from NetGalley for review.

Amazon Description:
Sir Merrick Hadrian hunts monsters, both human and supernatural. A Knight of the Order of the Round Table, his use of magick and the technologies of steam power have made him both respected and feared. But his considerable skills are useless in the face of his greatest challenge, guardianship of five unusual children. At a loss, Merrick enlists the aid of a governess.
 
Miss Caroline Bristol is reluctant to work for a bachelor but she needs a position, and these former street children touch her heart. While she tends to break any mechanical device she touches, it never occurs to her that she might be something more than human. All she knows is that Merrick is the most dangerously attractive man she's ever met—and out of reach for a mere governess.

When conspiracy threatens to blur the distinction between humans and monsters, Caroline and Merrick must join forces, and the fate of humanity hinges upon their combined skills of steam and sorcery...

My Review:
This book was a huge amount of fun. I love steampunk and paranormal and this book blends them perfectly. With clockwork dogs and undead creatures roaming the streets of London, an interesting new world is created.

Caroline is a lovely lady who has had a very difficult time of it. Raised in a wealthy household (though she refuses to tell whose) and then working as a governess (sometimes to not very nice people) as well as her own sense of determination serve her very well in Merrick's adventurous home and make her a fun character to read. Mysterious, brave and good with children is a lovely combination in a heroine.

I love Merrick. First, he is a fierce sword-wielding monster slayer. Second, he loves his five adopted children dearly, even though he doesn't admit it for a while. Third, he is absolutely hopeless when it comes to stopping Caroline from doing what she wants, no matter how dangerous, and he is always ready to defend her honour. He is very much so a knight in shining armor.

The kids are great. Used to living on the streets and fighting for themselves, they have many unusual skills and hate being left behind. Each of them has different and fun personalities and abilities. I love how excited they are to have a weapon in hand.

The plot was well-paced; not too fast, not too slow and with plenty of action. The romance was for the most part lovely but I disliked that they did not wait for marriage. In that time period, Caroline could have been ruined and I am not altogether happy that Merrick risked it. However, for the most part it moved along nicely from the streets to upscale mansions and crowded dance floors. Sigh, I love stories set in London. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves romance, steampunk and paranormal. It is not one to be missed.

Content Ratings: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme).

Profanity:
I rate it a 4.10 for mid-level swearing.

Sexuality:
I give it an 8.10 for couple of explicit scenes.

Violence:
I give it a 7.10 for fights, injuries, some death and bloodiness.

                                Lieder Madchen

Follow Friday (6) and Book Blogger Hop (6)

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee.

This week's question is: In light of the summer solstice, also known as midsummer...let's talk about fairies. What is your favorite fairytale or story that revolves around the fae?

My favorite fairytale is the Wild Swans where six brothers are turned into swans and their sister stays mute for years while weaving them shirts out of nettles. Juliet Marillier wrote a beautiful retelling of it called Daughter of the Forest, which is my favorite fairytale book. I am willing to read and likely to enjoy anything featuring the fae. :)






Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Crazy For Books.

This week's question is: When did you realize that reading was your passion and a truly important part of your life?

I can't remember a time when reading wasn't important in my life. My mom taught me to read young and I have never stopped or even slowed down. It is the purest form of torture when I can't get my hands on a book.

YA Book Battles: Grimm Vs. Death

I joined the YA Blogger's Best Overlooked Book Battle, hosted by Alyssa at The Shady Glade as a Round 2 judge. For this wonderful event, it was my job to read two books and judge which one is better. I was supposed to have a partner for this, but due to a cancellation I am on my own. So, I figured that to make it more fun I would have an argument with myself to choose the winner.

To start, please read my reviews for both of the books I will be judging; The Grimm Legacy and Keturah and Lord Death. As you can see in the reviews, I loved both books but they are very different from each other and hard to compare, hence the argument.

So, here it goes. Be warned, there may be some spoilers below.

I will start with guys:

Death

Lord Death is quite swoonworthy with his melancholy, mysterious air. He wields great power and you can tell that he grieves at his job sometimes and is very lonely.

John Temsland, the other possible love interest, is handsome and kindhearted. Though the son of a lord, he is not stuck up or arrogant and he isn't insulted too easily.

Grimm

Marc Merritt is the high school star. All of the girls sigh over him and he is always the tallest, coolest person in the room. He is very nice but often careless and he doesn't always think things through.

Aaron Rosendorn is a sullen, jealous boy but there is more to him than immediately meets the eye. He is honest and brave and willing to admit himself to being in the wrong (eventually).

The girls:

Death

Keturah Reeve is caring and lovely but occasionally foolish. She has an inner wisdom and an ability to overcome and see through fear to the heart of the matter. She doesn't want too much out of life, just a cottage, a wee child to hold in her arms and her one true love as her husband.

Grimm

Elizabeth Rew is spunky and stouthearted. She gives her shoes to a freezing woman even though she has little money to buy new ones. She is loyal to her friends and, though she cares what people think of her, she does not let that influence her actions.

The writing:

Death

Poetic and and lush, this book was very well written. The words get you thinking and wondering about life and death and other important things, but sometimes it is hard to understand.

Grimm

The dialogue and descriptions in this story are lighthearted and fun. I love how Elizabeth attempts to describe what magic smells like and fails miserably. I spent most of the book smiling or laughing.

The romance:

Death

This book definitely has the better guys and the more romantic plot. Keturah has multiple suitors but she has trouble deciding between them. And who can blame her with Lord Death and John to choose between? (Though I personally would go for the dark and tormented Lord Death right away.)

Grimm

The romance in this book is fresh and innocent. Elizabeth had a small crush on Marc, who likes Anjali, whereas Aaron adores Anjali and hates Marc. All of them are teenagers who tend to take things either a little too seriously or a little too lightly. In the end, I thought the romance was quite cute.

The settings:

Death

This one is set in a lovely little medieval village that you can easily imagine an Arthurian knight galloping through on his way to rescue some fair damsel. In the forest I could easily see anything from a unicorn to a bear, not to mention a certain trouble-making hart, wandering through the foliage.

Grimm

I love, love, love the Repository. I am completely serious about wanting to work there. With its huge Stacks of historical, fictional and magical artifacts just waiting to be explored...heck, I could probably live there happily enough. It even has a Table-Be-Set so I wouldn't have to leave to eat.

So, dramatic or fun? Romantic or cute? Thought-provoking or silly? Haunting or sweet? I like the hero of Death best, the heroine of Grimm, the writing of Death is technically better but in Grimm it is more fun. The two styles of romance are really too different to compare. When it comes to the setting Grimm wins hands-down.

I loved both books, but I have to declare The Grimm Legacy to be the winner. Barely. I can see myself re-reading both of them in the distant future, though.

Just for fun, which one do you thing is better?

                      Lieder Madchen

Book Review #79: The Midnight Palace by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

The Midnight Palace
by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Genre: YA Paranormal / Fantasy / Near-Horror

Ages: 15 and up
I received an advance e-book of this from NetGalley for review.

Description:

In the heart of Calcutta lurks a dark mystery. . . .

Set in Calcutta in the 1930s, The Midnight Palace begins on a dark night when an English lieutenant fights to save newborn twins Ben and Sheere from an unthinkable threat. Despite monsoon-force rains and terrible danger lurking around every street corner, the young lieutenant manages to get them to safety, but not without losing his own life. . . .

Years later, on the eve of Ben and Sheere’s sixteenth birthday, the mysterious threat reenters their lives. This time, it may be impossible to escape. With the help of their brave friends, the twins will have to take a stand against the terror that watches them in the shadows of the night—and face the most frightening creature in the history of the City of Palaces.

My Review:
This book did have one or two good qualities, but all-in-all I really didn't like it. I liked the author's use of words, but his use of everything else left a lot to be desired.

The main characters, Ben, Sheere, Ian and the others, were all decent, but nothing more. There was nothing special in their personalities beyond the ordinary (and often stupid) behavior of basically good kids in a bad situation. They were supposed to all be 16, but half the time they seemed younger and the other half they seemed older and that irritated me. You should pick an age and stick to it.

My biggest issue was with the plot. The whole thing was contrived and confusing. The actions of the villain hardly ever made any sense at all and it was difficult to understand what was going on. Everybody behaved in a highly illogical fashion which was weird since they were supposed to be intelligent. The conclusion was confusing and unsatisfying. It would take too long to list all of the strange, puzzling or downright stupid things things all of the main characters as well as the villain did.

Content Ratings: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme).

Profanity:
There is no swearing in this book.

Sexuality:
There is no sexuality in this book.

Violence:
I give it a 7.10 for murder and torture.
    
                                Lieder Madchen

Book Review #78: The Dragon's Path by Daniel Abraham

The Dragon's Path
by Daniel Abraham

Genre: Fantasy

Ages: 15 and up

I received an e-book of this from NetGalley for review.

Amazon Description:

Summer is the season of war in the Free Cities.

Marcus wants to get out before the fighting starts. His hero days are behind him and simple caravan duty is better than getting pressed into service by the local gentry. Even a small war can get you killed. But a captain needs men to lead -- and his have been summarily arrested and recruited for their swords.

Cithrin has a job to do -- move the wealth of a nation across a war zone. An orphan raised by the bank, she is their last hope of keeping the bank's wealth out of the hands of the invaders. But she's just a girl and knows little of caravans, war, and danger. She knows money and she knows secrets, but will that be enough to save her in the coming months?

Geder, the only son of a noble house is more interested in philosophy than swordplay. He is a poor excuse for a soldier and little more than a pawn in these games of war. But not even he knows what he will become of the fires of battle. Hero or villain? Small men have achieved greater things and Geder is no small man.

Falling pebbles can start a landslide. What should have been a small summer spat between gentlemen is spiraling out of control. Dark forces are at work, fanning the flames that will sweep the entire region onto The Dragon's Path -- the path of war.

My Review:
This book had a lot of potential, but it just didn't live up to it. The plot was scattered and the characters were annoying. The story kept jumping around from person to person until I really didn't care anymore. Cithrin, who seemed like she is supposed to be the main character, starts out ok but then deteriorates from a naive and clever young girl into a power-hungry woman who ignores her friends and uses her body to help her business. Blech.

The only character I really liked was Marcus with his dry humor and firm sense of honor. There were a few other people who had potential, but they were never developed. Dawson was an odd one; I was never quite sure what to think of him but his wife was all right and his son was one of the few people I may have come to like if only he had actually spent much time in the story. Geder, the pathetic semi-villain, was completely disappointing.

At the beginning I thought this was going to be an interesting read, but oh well. When the sequel comes out, I may glance at it and give a thought to reading it, but I doubt it.
Content Ratings: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme).

Profanity:

I give it an 8.10 for a couple of f-words.

Sexuality:
I rate it a 6.10 for a vague scene, an almost scene and references.

Violence:
I give this a 7.10 for murder, battle, a massacre and fights.

                                      Lieder Madchen

Book Review #77: Petra: City of Stone by T.L. Higley

Petra: City of Stone
by T.L. Higley

Genre: Historical Fiction / Christian

Ages: 15 and up

I received an e-book of this from NetGalley for review.

Amazon Description:

Petra, the wondrous ancient city carved from the mountains of modern Jordan, is at the height of its glory in this gripping historical novel by T. L. Higley. A young widow, Cassia, and her son, Alexander, have arrived there seeking protection with her late husband's estranged family. But when Cassia discovers the man she married was heir to the throne, the power-hungry Queen Hagiru plots to murder Alexander so that her own child will someday rule. The queen, priestess of the sun-god, Dushrat, calls on demonic powers in her quest, but Cassia is prepared for the fierce spiritual battle to save her son, joining a Roman named Julian and his community of believers in the Jewish Messiah. Together they seek a mighty movement of God far stronger than any dark heart or city made of stone.

My Review:

The city of Petra has always fascinated me, so I was very excited to read this book. The idea of a city built into solid rock is just marvelous. This book is not strictly historically accurate, but I have read worse. The author did a good job keeping the flavor of the times.

Cassia was an interesting heroine. She has suffered much in her life, and all she wants is to keep her son safe and by her side. When he is stolen from her, who will she turn to? Will she ask God for aid or will she give in to despair? Her doubts and difficulties were understandable, but there were a few moments when I wanted to smack her.

Julian was equally interesting. After the death of his betrothed in the arena, he fled to Petra to begin a new life. God is calling on him to lead, but that could mean giving up what he wants most. Though he is a firm believer, he has trouble accepting God's plan for him.

I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to others interested in Christian historical fiction and exotic locales.

Content Ratings: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme).

Profanity:
There is no profanity in this book.

Sexuality:

I rate it a 3.10 for hints, references and an attempted rape.

Violence:
I give this book a 6.10 for murder, attempted murder and a scene of battle violence.

                                          Lieder Madchen

What Would Mrs. Darcy Ask? Winners!

Sorry it has taken me so long to post this, but one of the original winners I drew (using Random.org) never got back to me and so..well, anyway, the winners are:

Mystica won What Would Mr. Darcy Do? by Abigail Reynolds

and

mbreakfield won A Pemberley Medley by Abigail Reynolds

Congratulations winners!

I already have Mystica's information but I still need to hear back from mbreakfield.

Thank you everyone who entered and left such lovely comments. :)

If you haven't read Abigail's interview, click here.

Top Ten Tuesday (2)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's Top Ten is: Reasons Why We Love Book Blogging!

Only ten??? Okaay....

I love book blogging for the books! It is a great way to fuel my reading habit since I have all these wonderful books pouring their way onto my shelves from authors who want me to review them or giveaways on other blogs.

Followers. I love, love, love followers. I love all the comments they leave and the feeling of delight when I realize there is another person who pays attention to my ramblings and nonsense. :)

I love that my reading has changed since I started blogging. I have branched out into genres I never touched before and I notice things in books that I never saw before.

Other book bloggers. I have so much fun watching what other bloggers are doing and talking to them about basically anything. I love talking to other people who share my love of the written word.

Authors. Is there anything cooler than loving a book and then talking to the person who wrote it? Making friends with them? I don't think so. Well, maybe having authors approach you because they want you to read their books. :)

Book tours. I had so much fun on the Random Magic book tour it is not even funny!

ARCs. I still feel a fiendish delight every time I read a book that isn't out yet.

Events. I love joining fun blogging events like the Book Battles or YA Bachelor Month (see sidebar) where many bloggers participate just because they feel like it.

This may sound a little odd, but I love blogging for the responsibility of it. Whenever I join an event or tour or accept a book to review, I am making a promise and somebody, be it an author or another blogger, is counting on me to hold up my side of the bargain.

Discovery. When blogging, I am always discovering new things. New books, new authors, new ways to have fun. I have been blogging for just under 6 months and everything is still fresh.

Writing. I have always had stories running around in my head, but since I started blogging I have also started writing them down. I have finished two short stories and submitted them for anthologies. One was turned down and the other is still pending, but the point is that I finished them. Before, I had pages and pages of ideas but nothing that I had ever completed.


Okay, so that was technically 11, but close enough. The above list is not in any kind of order; my top tens never are.

                           Lieder Madchen

Book Review #76: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Delirium
by Lauren Oliver

Genre: YA Dystopian / Science Fiction / Romance

Ages: 14 and up

Description:

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

First Lines:

Ninety-five days, and then I'll be safe. I wonder whether the procedure will hurt. I want to get it over with. It's hard to be patient. It's hard not to be afraid while I'm still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn't touched me yet. Still, I worry. They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness. The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don't.

My Review:
This book was amazing. It was so beautiful and sad and different and...perfect. The idea of love as a disease infected me immediately. The world Lauren Oliver created is so like our own and yet frighteningly different. People go through their daily lives, talking and working and eating as if everything is normal, but they never laugh. They never dance. They never say "I love you." They claim to be happy but there is no joy. Love was declared a disease because love causes hate and hate causes wars, but if have lost the ability to love or hate, what is left?

I love Lena. She is shy, scared and very ordinary. She isn't a rebel, she doesn't want to break the rules, all she wants is to be happy and safe. There are so many rebellious, strong heroines out there that it was refreshing to meet one who is so very human. I can relate to her insecurities and anxieties so easily because I share many of them. I love that Lena is stronger than she thinks she is, strong enough to stand up for love when the world wants to take it from her, even when she has feared it all her life.

Alex is wonderful, but you don't get to know him as well as you do Lena. You see his bravery and sweetness through her eyes, as well as his uncommon understanding and support. And at the end...*sigh* Perfect. Absolutely perfect.

There were a few flaws in the story, but nothing that diminished my enjoyment. The fact that most of the secondary characters were nearly-emotionless adults was a little weird, but there were a few moments when I wondered if the "cure" was working quite as well as people believed. The romance was technically not very original, but the setting was totally new. Lauren Oliver's writing style was lovely. How long do I have to wait for Pandemonium???

I highly recommend Delirium to anyone who loves a tale of love and sacrifice.

***SPOILER ALERT***

This is the first book in years to make me cry. I hate tragedies and I hate cliffhangers, but the ending, though both of these things, was so beautiful. I read the last three pages five times to convince myself that a certain character may conceivably still be alive and then I had to get on the internet and reassure myself that there was going to be a sequel before I could finally relax. Even then, I was moping for a long time; practically wallowing in it. And yet, it was a marvelous kind of moping.

Content Ratings: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme).

Profanity:
I give this book an 8.10 for a few f-words.

Sexuality:
I rate this a 2.10 for some partial nudity, kissing, and innocent cuddling.

Violence:
I rate this a 6.10 for death, suicides, fights, and injuries.

                                     Lieder Madchen

Mailbox Monday (10)

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at A Girl and Her Books.

Here is what was in my mailbox this week!

Won:

I won this book from the wonderful Martha's Bookshelf blog.

I won this one from the lovely All-Consuming Books blog.

I won this from A Blog About Nothing, another great blog. Actually, i won a second copy from a different blog but it was against the rules so they drew a new winner. :)

I won this one from Goodreads and I am not quite sure what to think of it yet, but I read one of Carrie Vaughn's short stories before and it was hilarious so hopefully this will be fun. :)

For Review:

I received a copy of this through Blogging for Books.

P.S. The only image I could find of the cover is for the audiobook. :P

                                         Lieder Madchen

Oh! for the LOVE of BOOKS! Giveaway

Oh! For the LOVE of BOOKS! is giving away a copy of Clockwork Prince when they hit 100 followers! I am #99, so head on over and check it out!

Book Review #75: Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt

Keturah and Lord Death
by Martine Leavitt

Genre: YA Fantasy / Romance

Ages: 13 and up

Description:

"I will tell you . . . a story of magic and love, of daring and death, and one to comfort your heart. It will be the truest story I have ever told. Now listen, and tell me if it is not so."

After following a hart into the woods bordering her town, Keturah is faced with Death. Lost and hungry after following a stately hart through the forest, Keturah encounters Lord Death, who is ready to take her. Like Scheherazade, Keturah spins a story that she leaves unfinished and extracts from Lord Death a promise that if she finds her true love in a day, she can go free. Thus begins Keturah's search for her one true love and the salvation of her beloved town. But Lord Death is falling in love with her, and as the villagers begin to sense her alliance with this horrifying figure, her life twists and turns on itself.

My Review:

This book is beautiful and strange and sad. It reads like a fairytale with a young girl lost in the woods, meeting a handsome, dangerous stranger. She convinces him to let her go for a day so she can find her true love, but what if her true love is nowhere to be found?

Keturah is sweet and somewhat naive and occasionally downright foolish. She struggles for true love, not understanding that it is not something that can be won but has to be given. Through the story, she grows in wisdom and eventually learns things she thought she already knew and realizing things about the people around her that she never noticed before. Even as Keturah both prepares for and fights her death, she endeavors to protect those close to her. While looking for her own true love, she finds other's and helps them find each other. I love her selflessness.

As for the menfolk in the story, Lord Death is entirely attractive in a mildly creepy sort of way and the lord's son John is kind, caring and likable. While Lord Death offers, well, death, John offers a life as lady of the manor. Ben, the village boy who thinks he must marry the Best Cook, is simply not too bright, but friendly enough. Since Keturah is the bravest, loveliest, best cook around, all of them vying for her affections.

This story was beautifully written, dramatic and lyrical. I could see the dark forests and medieval villages as well as the multitude of diverse secondary characters who lived there. Though not a funny book, there were instances of dry wit and humor that made me smile.

There were some parts of the story that were a little weird to me. Would choosing to go with Lord Death be a form of suicide even if you didn't technically kill yourself? That is only one of the strange philosophical questions that came to mind while reading this book.

Keturah and Lord Death was an interesting read and I really enjoyed it, but I don't think it would be for everyone. It is frankly rather strange.

Content Ratings: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence

1 (mild) through 10 (extreme).

Profanity:

There is no profanity in this novel.

Sexuality:

I give it a 1.10 for a brief, harmless scene of nudity.

Violence:

I rate it a 4.10 for attempted murder, some perilous situations and, of course, quite a bit of death.

                             Lieder Madchen

Book Review #74: The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman

The Grimm Legacy
by Polly Shulman

Genre: YA Fantasy / Fairytales

Ages: 11 and up

Description:
Elizabeth has just started working as a page at the New York Circulating Material Repository - a lending library of objects, contemporary and historical, common and obscure. And secret, too - for in the repository's basement lies the Grimm Collection, a room of magical items straight from the Grimm Brother's fairy tales. But the magic mirrors and seven-league boots and other items are starting to disappear. And before she knows it, she and her fellow pages - handsome Marc, perfect Anjali, and brooding Aaron - are suddenly caught up in an exciting, and dangerous, magical adventure.

My Review:
I loved this book. It was a fun, original read from start to finish with a cute romance and delightful characters. Elizabeth is a strong, clever girl with a great attitude towards magic. I love how ready she is to believe in its existence and respects the dangers of meddling with such power even as she wants to try everything out.
The secondary characters were great. There is Marc, the handsome school jock who loves his little brother. There is the lovely Anjali who's little sister drives absolutely nuts. And then there is Aaron, who has an unrequited crush on Anjali, or does he? As for the siblings mentioned above, Polly Shulman portrays how irritating and lovable one's brothers and sisters can be.

I love the idea of the Repository. To think that tucked away in some corner of a vast library are things like the mirror from Snow White and the Time Machine as written by H.G. Wells is fantastic! I am a teenager starting to think about a first job, and after reading this I really want to work in the Repository.

The plot was good if a little confusing at times with twists and turns but nothing truly surprising, but mostly it was the characters and setting that made the book so much fun. I have handed this book off to both of my sisters and I am sure they will enjoy it as much as I did.

Content Ratings: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme).

Profanity:
There is no profanity in this book.

Sexuality:
I will give it a 2.10 for some mild hints.

Violence:
This book gets a 2.10 for some dangerous situations.

                        Lieder Madchen

Follow Friday (5) and Book Blogger Hop (5)

Follow Friday is a weekly meme created by Parajunkee.

This week's question is: Genre Wars! What is your favorite genre and what book in that genre made it your favorite?

Hmm. At the moment, I am loving the paranormal genre. I always avoided it in the past for some reason or another, but then I read Cassandra Clare's novels and I have been reading paranormal ever since. I am a new fan of Kelley Armstrong, Sherrilyn Kenyon (well, sometimes), and I introduced myself to Alyson Noel's Immortals series a few days ago.






Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme created by Crazy for Books.

This week's question is: How many books are currently in your To-Be-Read (TBR) pile?

Umm, which one? I have my library to-read list, my Goodreads to-read list, my notebook full of titles, my shelves with books I haven't read but have been meaning to, my kindle, my Adobe reader, all of the books sitting in my room that I borrowed from the library but haven't got around to reading yet...If you want to go for books that are physically available to me at this moment, it is probably about 100. If you want the lists of books I don't have but want it is probably upwards of 3,000. And that is just off the top of my head.

Mailbox Monday (9)

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at A Girl and Her Books.
OK, I missed a week or two again so I had a lot of catching up to do with my mailbox!

Purchased:

Morning Light by Abigail Reynolds, purchased as a Kindle e-book from Amazon.

The Mask of Night by Tracy Grant, also for Kindle.

For Review:

Imperial Hostage by Phil Cantrill through LibraryThing.

Quintspinner by Dianne Greenlay through Goddess Fish.

Three for Avadar by Stephen R. Drennon from the author.

Won:

A Young Wife by Pam Lewis, from Goodreads.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline from Goodreads.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore from the lovely vvb32 Reads blog.



Exile by Anne Osterlund from the wonderful Urban Fantasy Investigations blog.



Anathema by K.A. Tucker from twimom101's book blog.



Flash Gold by Lindsey Buroker from the marvelous Bawdy Book blog.

  

The Apocalypto series by L.K. Rigel from the delightful Ex Libris blog.