Book Trailer! - Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg
The book trailer for Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg was released sometime last week and while it's not too long, I still like it!
Publisher: Point
Summary (from Goodreads):
After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious, very wealthy, girls-only Longbourn Academy are suddenly obsessed with the prom, which they share with the nearby, equally elitist, all-boys Pemberly School. Lizzie Bennett, who attends Longbourn on scholarship, isn't exactly interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be-especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London.
Lizzie is happy about her friend's burgeoning romance, but less than impressed by Will Darcy, Charles's friend, who's as snobby and pretentious as his friend is nice. He doesn't seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it's because her family doesn't have money. It doesn't help that Charles doesn't seem to be asking Jane to be his prom date, or that Lizzie meets George Wickham, who tells her that Will Darcy sabotaged his scholarship at Pemberly. Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk who looks down on the middle class-so imagine Lizzie's surprise when he asks her to the prom!
Will Lizzie's prejudice and Will's pride keep them apart? Or are they a prom couple in the making? From Elizabeth Eulberg comes a very funny, completely stylish prom season delight of Jane Austen proportions.
I really enjoyed Elizabeth Eulberg's first novel The Lonely Hearts Club, which was a really cute and fun read. I'm expecting more or less the same for Prom and Prejudice this time around which is absolutely just fine for me because I need something with some laughs once my stressful exams are over. So yes, a modern, high school retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice? Definitely count me in!
Suzanne Collins Signing in Toronto!
Last Saturday (Nov 20) afternoon, I had the opportunity to meet Suzanne Collins, author of the The Hunger Games trilogy, when she came to Toronto for the final stop on her Mockingjay book tour! It was a relatively quick event and due to a wrist injury, Suzanne could only stamp one book per ticket, but I'm so glad I got to go anyways!
I had meant to originally arrive at Indigo Yorkdale at least an hour before the event but I ended up getting there with only a half hour to spare! My mother and I left our house late, plus it was nuts trying to find parking at Yorkdale since everyone was beginning to shop for Christmas already. Anyways, the staff were organizing the line where some people were below, closer to the stage, while the rest were upstairs, a line wrapping around the railing on the upper level, so we just took a place above and got ready to wait for 1:00 p.m when Suzanne would appear! I plugged in my iPod while my Mom continued reading Catching Fire since she was almost done. (And I totally had to stop her from reading the end because she tried to skip forward! I used to do that more often but I've been better lately...)
When 1:00 p.m. arrived, Suzanne was warmly greeted and all of us above leaned forward to try to catch a glimpse of her. She was really nice and even read to us... reading a bit of Catching Fire and the first chapter of Mockingjay to everyone. I couldn't see her from my vantage point up above nor could I hear her all too well, so I headed downstairs while my Mom waited in line for us so I could listen more clearly. There wasn't a Q&A afterwords sadly, so once she finished, the signing began and I hurried back to my spot, eager for my turn to meet her!
It didn't seem like much of a wait before it was my turn!
It wasn't a very long event but I still had a lot of fun! Thank you so much Suzanne for coming to Toronto to meet some of your Canadian readers!
Waiting on Wednesday (21) - Die for Me by Amy Plum
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.
Publisher: HarperTeen
When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life—and memories—behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.
Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant—an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.
In this incandescent debut, newcomer Amy Plum has created a powerful paranormal mythology with immortal revenants. The Paris setting comes enchantingly alive as a relentless struggle between good and evil takes place in its streets. Rich with romance, atmosphere, and thrills, Die for Me will leave readers breathlessly awaiting its sequel.
Die for Me is the first novel in the Revenants trilogy by debut author Amy Plum. Not only does this novel have an awesome sounding plot filled with paranormal beings I've never heard of before, but also topped with some romance in Paris and it sounds like it will surely be a hit! I can't wait to find out more about who the revenants are exactly and their abilities. Plus, how can you not admire the cover? I love the dark theme and it already looks so suspenseful!
Alexandra Monir
Book Trailer! - Timeless by Alexandra Monir
I just happened to see an update that author Alexandra Monir had left a link on Goodreads for the book trailer of Timeless, her debut novel which I'm really looking forward to reading!
Summary (from Random House Canada):
When tragedy strikes Michele Windsor's world, she is forced to uproot her life and move across the country to New York City, to live with the wealthy, aristocratic grandparents she's never met. In their old Fifth Avenue mansion filled with a century's worth of family secrets, Michele discovers a diary that hurtles her back in time to the year 1910. There, in the midst of the glamorous Gilded Age, Michele meets the young man with striking blue eyes who has haunted her dreams all her life – a man she always wished was real, but never imagined could actually exist. And she finds herself falling for him, into an otherworldly, time-crossed romance.
Michele is soon leading a double life, struggling to balance her contemporary high school world with her escapes into the past. But when she stumbles upon a terrible discovery, she is propelled on a race through history to save the boy she loves – a quest that will determine the fate of both of their lives.
What do you guys think? There are some great images included in the trailer but it's the music that I absolutely love. I keep repeating the trailer just to listen to it. The violins just sound so nice!!
In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share any new books or goodies we bought, received, borrowed, etc. during the week.
This week I got...
Angels' Blood (Guild Hunter #1) by Nalini Singh (Note: not YA)
Archangel's Kiss (Guild Hunter #2) by Nalini Singh (Note: not YA)
Nightshade (Nightshade #1) by Andrea Cremer
Received for Review:
Light the Beginning by Marcia M. Lange (thanks Marcia!)
So that's what I got this week! What about you guys?
Some Good News... and Bad News...
The title is pretty self-explanatory but I have some good news and bad news to share with you...
Let's get the bad news out of the way, shall we? My exams are once again approaching, kicking off next week on Monday and not finishing until December 14, which is my very last one for the fall semester. This means I'm not going to have as much time to post anything except maybe my WoW pick and any book-related news that I simply can't wait to share (ie. if I spot any new covers or book trailers!).
The good news though? Once I'm finally done exams, I can focus on the blog and read more books during my break since I don't begin a new semester until January 10. During this time, I hope to post some long overdue reviews (I'm so behind!), visit and comment on blogs that I follow more often (always nice to share the comment love!), finally have my very first giveaway... and I hope to give the blog a new and hopefully improved look!
Well, that's it. I'm seeing Suzanne Collins Saturday afternoon at Indigo Yorkdale and later that night, watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1! It's going to be a busy day so Sunday I'll be studying like mad and hoping I'm ready (yeah, right *sarcastic*) for my Chemistry Test on Monday.
Anyways, that's all. I hope everyone enjoys their weekend and happy reading! ^_^
Simone Elkeles
Spotted! Cover of Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles
The cover of Chain Reaction, the third and final novel in the Perfect Chemistry trilogy by Simone Elkeles was revealed yesterday on the Perfect Chemistry Facebook page.
Release Date: May 24, 2011 August 16, 2011
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Luis Fuentes is a good boy who doesn't live with the angst that his big brothers, Alex and Carlos, have always lived with. Luis is smart, funny, and has big dreams of becoming an astronaut. But when he falls for the wrong girl, Luis enters a dark world he's never known, and just when he... thinks he's got life all figured out, learns some disturbing news about his family that destroys his positive outlook on life. Will that Fuentes bad boy streak come out with a vengeance and lure Luis to live on the edge like his new girlfriend and his own father?
Continuing all the steamy romance of the first two books, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Simone Elkeles gives fans one more satisfying taste of the irresistible Fuentes boys.
Admittedly, I still haven't read the second novel, Rules of Attraction, yet because I'm waiting for the paperback but I've read (and loved!) Perfect Chemistry. So while I'm not exactly jumping up and down excited for this novel just yet, there was NO WAY I could resist sharing such a smoldering hot cover!!!
Lisa McMann
Waiting on Wednesday (20) - Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann
Publisher: Simon Pulse
The small town of Cryer's Cross is rocked by tragedy when an unassuming freshman disappears without a trace. Kendall Fletcher wasn't that friendly with the missing girl, but the angst wreaks havoc on her OCD-addled brain.
When a second student goes missing-someone close to Kendall's heart-the community is in an uproar. Caught in a downward spiral of fear and anxiety, Kendall's not sure she can hold it together. When she starts hearing the voices of the missing, calling out to her and pleading for help, she fears she's losing her grip on reality. But when she finds messages scratched in a desk at school-messages that could only be from the missing student who used to sit there-Kendall decides that crazy or not, she'd never forgive herself if she didn't act on her suspicions.
Something's not right in Cryer's Cross-and Kendall's about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.
I really enjoyed reading Lisa McMann's Wake trilogy so it should come as no surprise that I'm looking forward to her latest upcoming release Cryer's Cross. The cover is simple yet creepy at the same time, and with a plot description that sounds as good as this one, it sounds like readers will be constantly kept on their toes about what's truly going on in the small town of Cryer's Cross. I also can't wait to see if Lisa McMann will be bringing back her oh-so distinctive style of writing that is found in the Wake books!
Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers
Title: Some Girls Are
Author: Courtney Summers
Release Date: January 5, 2010 (paperback)
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard--falling from it is even harder. Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all-girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High... until vicious rumors about her and her best friend's boyfriend start going around. Now Regina's been "frozen out" and her ex-best friends are out for revenge. If Regina was guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumors are far from the terrifying truth and the bullying is getting more intense by the day. She takes solace in the company of Michael Hayden, a misfit with a tragic past who she herself used to bully. Friendship doesn't come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Michael could be more than just a friend... if threats from the Fearsome Foursome don't break them both first.
Tensions grow and the abuse worsens as the final days of senior year march toward an explosive conclusion in this dark new tale from the author of Cracked Up To Be.
Why oh why did I not read this novel sooner? *smacks self in the forehead* I enjoyed Courtney Summer's novel Cracked Up To Be when I read it as a 2010 White Pine nominee, but after seeing Some Girls Are nominated for the 2011 White Pine Award... well, it gave me a push to get a move on! And wow... I'm so glad I didn't put it off any longer because as soon as I began reading, I was immediately pulled right into the story!
Summer's has written an amazing contemporary novel filled with some of the meanest and most vicious girls that I have ever read in the YA genre. Forget a few moments of name-calling and pulling a girl's hair... the Fearsome Fivesome took things to a whole new level. It's a sad but true fact that you can probably walk into any school and find a bully, but I'm glad my own high school didn't have girls as terrible as them. You could tell from the start that someone was bound to get hurt and it only left me on edge to keep reading to see just what would happen next.
With that in mind, I wanted to hate the main character Regina because she was a part of that group and took part in destroying some of her classmate's lives at school, but... I couldn't. She's tight with the 'in' crowd but then in one horrible moment, she finds herself a complete outsider and the latest target of her former so-called friends. So you would think I would be happy that Regina was going to get a taste of her own medicine, right? Well, no. Regina may have done horrible things but no one deserves to go through the awful things she does in the novel and it was with hope as I read that she would try to right some of the wrongs she had committed. Like any person, Regina certainly has her faults but I'm glad she took up the attitude of not going down without a fight... because if she didn't, who else would dare go up against those girls?
The romance in this story provided a nice break from the cattiness, but even so, the relationship was tenuous and fragile... and I couldn't believe how good of a person Michael was to give Regina a chance because he had every right to hate her. It was just another aspect that left me on edge because I kept wondering if they would really find a way to work things out and attempt to forget the past.
I'm so glad I didn't put off reading this book any longer because it was just so good! I won't be hesitating when December arrives and Summer's upcoming novel, Fall For Anything, is released.
Some Girls Are was an intense read and I must definitely give credit to Courtney Summer's powerful, honest writing that tells things for exactly what they are. In real life, some girls are nice and some girls just really aren't.
Suzanne Collins is Coming to TO - Details on Event and How to Get a Ticket!
Sorry for the late notice on this one guys! Suzanne Collins will be coming to Toronto next Saturday, November 20, in an exclusive Chapters/Indigo event but in order to go you'll need to have a ticket!
250 free tickets will be given away TOMORROW (SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13) at Indigo Yorkdale on a first come first serve basis beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Suzanne Collins will be in town for the following Saturday, November 20 and the event will begin at Indigo Yorkdale at 1:00 p.m. If you get your hands on a ticket, these are the details regarding the event you will need to know:
• Because of an injury to her wrist, Ms. Collins will stamp books with a Mockingjay stamp specially designed for this 2010 tour rather than signing.
• Ms. Collins will only be able to stamp one book per person, and will be unable to personalize books.
• We will have staff members available to take your photograph with your camera as you are getting your book stamped. There will be no posed photography.
You can also read this info on the Chapters/Indigo events page- just scroll down a little bit to read it.
I was lucky enough to win a ticket already from @indigogreenroom on Twitter, but I might still be lining up again tomorrow morning in case my Mom decides she also wants to go that day since she's reading the trilogy now!
Are any of you guys planning to try and get a ticket tomorrow?
Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen
Title: Bright Young Things
Author: Anna Godbersen
Release Date: October 12, 2010 (hardcover)
The year is 1929. New York is ruled by the Bright Young Things: flappers and socialites seeking thrills and chasing dreams in the anything-goes era of the Roaring Twenties.
Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey escaped their small Midwestern town for New York's glittering metropolis. All Letty wants is to see her name in lights, but she quickly discovers Manhattan is filled with pretty girls who will do anything to be a star. . . .
Cordelia is searching for the father she's never known, a man as infamous for his wild parties as he is for his shadowy schemes. Overnight, she enters a world more thrilling and glamorous than she ever could have imagined-and more dangerous. It's a life anyone would kill for . . . and someone will.
The only person Cordelia can trust is ­Astrid Donal, a flapper who seems to have it all: money, looks, and the love of Cordelia's brother, Charlie. But Astrid's perfect veneer hides a score of family secrets.
Across the vast lawns of Long Island, in the ­illicit speakeasies of Manhattan, and on the blindingly lit stages of Broadway, the three girls' fortunes will rise and fall-together and apart. From the New York Times bestselling author of The Luxe comes an epic new series set in the dizzying last summer of the Jazz Age.
Reading Bright Young Things was me giving Anna Godbersen another chance because her Luxe series simply broke my heart to the point where I still haven't read the final book after hearing how it ended. It was a series that went downhill for me since I disliked several of the characters, so I guess you could say I was a little wary of trying Godbersen's latest release. But really, how could I resist the pull of the Roaring Twenties?
Bright Young Things takes you back in time to an era so unlike our own, with wonderful descriptions and details to match the time period. The novel is centered around three beautiful teenage girls in New York City: Cordelia- fearless and always in control, she's in New York to find the father she's never known; Letty- has always been satisfied to live in Cordelia's shadow but she'll have to come out of the dark if she wants to accomplish her dream of performing on the stage; and Astrid- the wealthy socialite who seems to have everything except a true friend.
These are three very different girls from the ones in the Luxe series, for which I am grateful. I took a liking to each of them... even Astrid, who I initially thought would only be a spoiled brat, which she isn't! These are three young ladies with their own dreams and their own troubles, so it made for quite an interesting read. I wasn't exactly fond of the way Cordelia and Letty split from each other after one argument over something that really shouldn't have come between their friendship, nor how hard Cordelia quickly fell for Thom (cue the forbidden love as their families' are rivals!)... but other than that, I didn't really have any major complaints with the novel.
It was a fast-paced, solid start to the series and the ending was just so excitingly good! It was well-built up and definitely kept me guessing what was going to happen next! Flappers, scandals, organized crime (along the lines of Prohibition and bootlegging) and some forbidden romance thrown in for good measure, Bright Young Things should certainly appeal to those who normally wouldn't like historical YA fiction.
So yes, after a successful start, I am cautiously optimistic about this series and will certainly be looking forward to read book two, Beautiful Days, when it's released in September 2011! I have my fingers crossed it will be just as good as Bright Young Things!
Spotted! Cover of Something Deadly This Way Comes by Kim Harrison
I am tentatively saying this is the cover of Something Deadly This Way Comes, the third novel in the Madison Avery series, by Kim Harrison. I have only seen it on Goodreads so far and not through the publisher, Amazon, nor Kim Harrison's blog yet.
Publisher: HarperCollins Canada
There's no description to be found yet but I'm already looking forward to seeing what troublesome situation Madison finds herself in this time!
If this is really the cover, then they've changed up a lot of the styling- from the font presentation to how we're seeing the model in colour this time instead of black and white. Don't get me wrong, I really like the cover and the dark eyeshadow around the model's eyes help give it just a little bit of a dark edge to make it stand out... but I'm just kind of sad it won't really match the first two books on my shelf.
If you've never read this series before, the first novel is Once Dead, Twice Shy and the second is called Early to Death, Early to Rise.
What do you guys think? Are you looking forward to Something Deadly This Way Comes too?
Rosemary Clement-Moore
Waiting on Wednesday (19) - Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore
Amy Goodnight's family is far from normal. She comes from a line of witches, but tries her best to stay far outside the family business. Her summer gig? Ranch-sitting for her aunt with her wacky but beautiful sister. Only the Goodnight Ranch is even less normal than it normally is. Bodies are being discovered, a ghost is on the prowl, and everywhere she turns, the hot neighbor cowboy is in her face.
I enjoyed reading Rosemary Clement-Moore's Hell trilogy and while I haven't had a chance to read The Splendor Falls yet, my sister has it and she really liked it! After reading the plot description for Rosemary's latest upcoming novel, Texas Gothic, I knew once again that I'd be reading another novel by the author because this one sounds good too! I don't read too many novels with witches in them, let alone ones that work on a ranch, so it will be interesting to see how good this novel will be! Plus, I can't count out the fact that there's a hot neighbour cowboy too!
As for the cover, I think it's a vast improvement over her previous novel The Splendor Falls, which is rather bland but I like this one! The white swirls give it a ghostly feel, and the girl's red hair and green eyes really stand out against her pale skin.
I know this one doesn't come out for quite awhile, but you can add it on your Goodreads shelf here and Chapters/Indigo also has it up on their site here too! (Which is rather surprising because it usually takes them a longer time...)
Book Trailer! - Vixen by Jillian Larkin
I stumbled across this book trailer for Vixen by debut author Jillian Larkin and just had to share it with everyone because I just love it!
Summary (from Chapters/Indigo):
Jazz . . . Booze . . . Boys . . . It's a dangerous combination.
Every girl wants what she can't have. Seventeen-year-old Gloria Carmody wants the flapper lifestyle-and the bobbed hair, cigarettes, and music-filled nights that go with it. Now that she's engaged to Sebastian Grey, scion of one of Chicago's most powerful families, Gloria's party days are over before they've even begun . . . or are they?
Clara Knowles, Gloria's goody-two-shoes cousin, has arrived to make sure the high-society wedding comes off without a hitch-but Clara isn't as lily-white as she appears. Seems she has some dirty little secrets of her own that she'll do anything to keep hidden. . . .
Lorraine Dyer, Gloria's social-climbing best friend, is tired of living in Gloria's shadow. When Lorraine's envy spills over into desperate spite, no one is safe. And someone's going to be very sorry. . . .
From debut author Jillian Larkin, VIXEN is the first novel in the sexy, dangerous, and ridiculously romantic new series set in the Roaring Twenties . . . when anything goes.
So what did you think about the trailer? Doesn't it feel like you've been taken straight back in time to another era? Vixen is the first in the new Flappers series and I can't help but draw comparisons to Anna Godbersen's Bright Young Things series, the first of which was also just released a short time ago and also takes place in the 1920's. No matter though, I'll still be looking forward to checking out this novel when December comes!
Cassandra Clare and Holly Black Signing!
This past Friday night (Nov 5), I had the opportunity to attend the Cassandra Clare and Holly Black signing in Toronto, and it was such an awesome event with so many people coming out to meet the dynamic pair!
I arrived at Chapters Queensway at around 5:00 p.m and quickly grabbed a seat because even though I managed to make it there two hours early, there were already many people waiting as well! I ended up striking a conversation with two other girls, and we talked most of time about our love for Jace and The Mortal Instrument series, plus how much we loved reading YA in general. It was a total bookworm moment! As time passed, more and more people arrived, and soon a line was zigzagging though the aisles.
I met The Paperback Princesses and it marked the first time meeting some of my fellow bloggers! I also had a chance to talk with them about books and I have been convinced that I must try listening to an audiobook some day! It was really funny because they overheard me chattering away with the other girls and handed me their card, and I was like, "Wait a second... I think I follow you!" lol.
When Cassandra and Holly appeared shortly after 7:00 p.m., they were greeted with loud applause and even some screaming! They came out all smiles and you could tell just how happy they were to meet some of their Canadian fans!
They began by telling us about the hands-on research they've done for their novels, which included Holly being locked in the trunk of a fellow author's car (which is actually more comfortable than you would think!) and Cassie accidentally taking a picture of a naked man while she was England, doing some research for Clockwork Angel. Then, they proceeded to teach us all a con which somehow involved a stuffed toy octopus being a dog and how they could some cheat some poor store-owner out of some money. Aren't they such a good influence on the younger generation, lol? There were lots of laughs and I loved how they kept the audience so engaged.
Next, Holly read a bit from White Cat which was released earlier in May and is the first in the Curse Workers series (the second novel, Red Glove, will be released April 5, 2011). I haven't read it yet because I'm probably going to wait for the paperback, but it sounded good! Next, Cassie made sure everyone turned their cameras off because she had a special treat for us- she was going to read from City of Fallen Angels! This cued many excited squeals and the scene was over way too soon, but it was basically a short scene between Simon and Isabelle. I absolutely can't wait for CoFA, which will also be released on April 5, 2011.
After that, Holly and Cassie answered questions from the audience which had been written down and submitted before they appeared on stage! One of the weirdest questions was probably, "Is Magnus Bane fully gay?" with the answer, of course, being that he is bisexual. We also learned that Church is based on Holly's cat Fizgig because she wrote much of City of Bones in her home, and that she never knew just how popular he would be! Team Jace fans were also told that they had a bumpy road ahead of them. *cue nervous gulps* Cassie also said that for those who thought Jace and Will were too similar, they're supposed to complement each other that way since they are distantly related. She also said that if she were to write another Shadowhunter novel after The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices were over, she'd probably center it in Los Angeles.
Holly also answered questions, including the inspiration behind White Cat which she said is actually loosely based on the fairytale The White Cat. Since many of us had never heard of it before, she quickly launched into a retelling of it! Everyone was enthralled and smiling as she spoke of a prince who somehow falls in love with a cat while trying to complete a few seemingly impossible tasks for his father. It was pretty funny to hear and involved nuts, and when I later asked her where I could read it, she told me to simply Google it and I would easily find it (and she was right!).
After the questions were finished, it was time for the actual signing! Since I was in the seated section, I was part of the first group to go up and meet the authors! At this point, there were over 500 people in line waiting to meet them, so it was with great credit to the store employees and Simon and Schuster Canada reps that they made sure the line moved along so efficiently and quickly while everyone patiently waited for their turn. You can't tell in the pic, but the line stretched through the aisles as well as to the very back of the store.
It seemed in no time at all, I was at the front and having my fan-girl moment. I was so nervous and excited at the same time! A guy was taking people's cameras from them to pics, so I had to hand my camera off... but the guy who took these next two pics for me had some resemblance to Jace! (I kind of giggled about it with those two girls I earlier mentioned, tehehe.) So thank you blonde stranger!
Cassie is signing the stack of books I brought along with me. Can you see Cassie's Teen Read Award for Best Hottie on the table? She joked earlier how she liked to take it everywhere to protect herself from muggers since it's so heavy.
What a trooper both them were though! I had heard there might be restrictions but nope! Holly and Cassie were signing every book of theirs which a person brought along!
That just goes to show how awesome both of them are! I only had to wait in line for maybe an hour before I met them, but I heard on Twitter that both Holly and Cassie continued to sign novels and meet their readers until well past midnight, which is well past when the store even closes! They met everyone that turned out for the event and I'm sure they made all their readers very happy people!
It was such a fun evening and I hope to one day attend another signing featuring the pair of them! Thank you so much Holly and Cassie for coming to Toronto and meeting with all of us!
YA Love Triangle Week
YA Love Triangle Week - My Team Jace Post!
YA Love Triangle Week, hosted by Amber at Down the Rabbit Hole, is now over but you have until November 14 to cast your vote for your favourite pair of arguers and the chance to win a prize!
This was my argument in favour of Team Jace!
I'm here to plead my case for you all to support Team Jace!! He is one of favourite guys in YA lit, and if you don't already love him as much as I do, all I can say is, "Well, then… more for me!" *cue girly laughter* I'm not kidding about the 'girly' part either- Jace has the ability to turn me into a complete fan-girl. Before talking about him melts me into a complete puddle after talking about him so much, I'm going to share a bit about why I LOVE him and why YOU should too!
Name: Jace Lightwood (most preferable last name)
Age: 16/17
Species: Nephilim
Status: In a Relationship (with Clary Fray)
Occupation: Kick-A** Shadowhunter
Appearance: So Gorgeous It Should Be Illegal
Everything about Jace sparks a reaction- whether I'm laughing at his wicked witty sarcasm, growing teary-eyed at the level of protectiveness he feels to those he loves, his loyalty, his fearlessness in the face of danger, his intelligence in knowing so many facts, and well… I could go on and on. Sure, he could also infuriate you at times like any other boy, but that never stops you from loving him and it is certainly an aspect of his charm.
The first time Jace made me swoon was almost in the very beginning of the first novel, City of Bones, when he rescued Clary from her apartment, literally sweeping her off her feet when she was losing consciousness and then later taking her to the safety of the Institute. Jace can be my knight in shining armour any day, just saying. By the time I first read about his tragic past and his father who taught him that "to love is to destroy," I was already a goner. How could anyone resist a bad boy with a mysterious past?
Because of Jace's past, he has a tendency to keep people at a distance… even his closest loved ones. However, he would never, ever abandon them in times of need and would do anything he could to help- to the point of self-sacrificing himself. He gives his whole heart to those he loves with a passion that just leaves you breathless and wishing the pages would come alive so he would feel that way about you too.
Indeed this was certainly the case as the series continued. Whenever there was a scene involving Jace (and thank goodness there's a lot!), my eyes were constantly glued to the page. There are times when Jace feels so tormented about the way events have come about, certainly in the case of City of Ashes and in City of Glass, which make your heart totally go out to him and make you wish that you could do something to make the pain fade away.
How many characters make you respond this way? Sure, there are some pretty great guys in YA that I love, but Jace is a rarity who shall always have a special place. I know there's still plenty more I can say and that this summary doesn't probably come close to serving him justice, but he has this magnetic pull on readers that refuses to let you get away.
Famous Last Words (ie. Just a few of my fave lines by Jace because there are too many otherwise!):
"If you wanted me to rip my clothes off, you could have just asked." (City of Bones)
"It means 'Shadowhunters: Looking Better in Black than the Widows of our Enemies Since 1234.'" (City of Bones)
"Usually I'm remarkably good-natured. Try me on any day that doesn't end in y." (City of Ashes)
"Every time you almost die, I almost die myself." (City of Ashes)
"I love you, and I will love you until I die, and if there is life after that, I'll love you then." (City of Glass)
The thought of supporting anyone else never crossed my mind while reading The Mortal Instruments novels because seriously, I had already given my heart to Jace. For me, it has always been and will always be TEAM JACE all the way, and I really do hope you guys feel that way too!
So please, please, PLEASE support Team Jace this week!
Have I done enough to convince you to side with Team Jace? If yes, please support Ava (who's supporting Team Simon) and myself, and vote for Team Jace vs. Team Simon as we're being judged as pairs. The voting form can be found on Amber's blog post here and there are many ways to gain extra entries. I'll still like you even if you don't end up voting for us, lol! ^.~
And don't forget to also check out the awesome Cassandra Clare interview on her blog too! I even learned a few new things about the characters in The Mortal Instruments that I didn't know before!
I'm a little late in posting my IMM, but this is what I got last week!
Zombies vs. Unicorns edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier
So this is what I got this week! I've already read Some Girls Are and can't believe I didn't read it sooner! Plus, I bought Zombies vs. Unicorns for the Holly Black and Cassandra Clare signing which I'll be posting about soon. I was going to buy The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney too but it wasn't in any of the bookstores in my area sadly.
How about YOU guys? Any new reads/finds you'd like to share?
Aprilynne Pike
Spotted! Cover of Illusions by Aprilynne Pike
Aprilynne Pike just revealed the cover of Illusions, the third novel in the Wings series, earlier this evening on her blog!
Summary (jacket copy version also taken from author's blog):
** This summary contains spoilers if you have NOT read the previous novels, Wings and Spells, (especially if you haven't read the second one) in the series!!**
"I don't do patrols, I don't go hunting, I just stick close to you. You live your life, I'll keep you safe," Tamani said, sweeping a lock of hair from her face. "Or die trying."
Laurel hasn't seen Tamani since she begged him to let her go last year. Though her heart still aches, Laurel is confident that David was the right choice.
But just as life returns to normal, Laurel realizes that a hidden enemy lies in wait. Once again, Laurel must turn to Tamani to protect and guide her, for the danger that now threatens Avalon is one that no faerie thought would ever be possible. And for the first time, Laurel cannot be sure that her side will prevail.
What do you guys think about this cover? The font for the title has been changed from the rather cursive one before which I kind of preferred over this one, but I think the flower is so pretty! The droplet effect is also cool too!
If you think this cover seems a bit out of tune compared to the other ones, the publisher is also slightly redesigning the covers of Wings and Spells which will come out when the paperback version of Spells (also on May 3, 2011) is released.
Do you also enjoy reading this faerie series?
Release Picks
November Release Picks
Wow! So I can't believe it's the month of November already! There aren't too many books that I really really want this month compared to previous months but these are my November Release Picks!
** All links lead to Goodreads.**
The Oracle Rebounds (The Oracle of Dating #2) by Allison van Diepen
Ghost Town (Morganville Vampires #11) by Rachel Caine
The Mockingbirds (The Mockingbirds #1) by Daisy Whitney
The Other Side of Dark by Sarah Smith
Matched (Matched #1) by Ally Condie
I certainly know there are more books released this month than that, but these are the ones that either caught my eye or I can't wait to read! What book(s) are you looking forward to this month?
Cover Reveal! Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker
I got the okay today to help reveal the cover of Melissa Walker's upcoming contemporary novel, Small Town Sinners! She was going to reveal the cover later, but seeing as it was released on Amazon and someone else's blog, she decided to reveal the cover earlier than planned on her own blog!
Release Date: July 19, 2011.
Lacey Anne Byer is a perennial good girl and lifelong member of the House of Enlightenment, the Evangelical church in her small town. With her driver's license in hand and the chance to try out for a lead role in Hell House, her church's annual haunted house of sin, Lacey's junior year is looking promising. But when a cute new stranger comes to town, something begins to stir inside her. Ty Davis doesn't know the sweet, shy Lacey Anne Byer everyone else does. With Ty, Lacey could reinvent herself. As her feelings for him make Lacey test her boundaries, events surrounding Hell House make her question her religion. Does falling in love mean falling out of faith?
I love love LOVE this cover! Isn't it just so gorgeous? It's got this dark, haunting feel to it with the soft, grey colours and the girl in the background, wearing an innocent white dress but hiding her face. And then the bright red apple just stands out, sort of brightening the image with the heart. I am even loving the font too! This is my favourite cover out of Melissa Walker's novels and it's also so different from her previous ones too!
How can I ever wait until next summer to read this novel?
Jana Oliver
Waiting on Wednesday (18) - The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver
Riley Blackthorne just needs a chance to prove herself – and that's exactly what the demons are counting on…
Seventeen-year-old Riley, the only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper, Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father's footsteps. The good news is, with human society seriously disrupted by economic upheaval and Lucifer increasing the number of demons in all major cities, Atlanta's local Trappers' Guild needs all the help they can get – even from a girl. When she's not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing crush on fellow apprentice, Simon, Riley's out saving distressed citizens from foul-mouthed little devils – Grade One Hellspawn only, of course, per the strict rules of the Guild. Life's about as normal as can be for the average demon-trapping teen.
But then a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley's routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood. And, as if that wasn't bad enough, sudden tragedy strikes the Trappers' Guild, spinning Riley down a more dangerous path than she ever could have imagined. As her whole world crashes down around her, who can Riley trust with her heart – and her life?
Doesn't this sound like an intriguing beginning to a new series? On the author's website, it describes the novel as being filled with "marauding demons and scheming necromancers," which just sounds SO cool! The description on Goodreads for the novel is different than the one above and focuses on "the boys" so that is just another aspect I already can't wait for! Hot guys, being torn between Heaven and Hell, capturing demons... please, count me in!
Cassandra Clare and Holly Black Signing in TO this Friday!
I am so excited for this Friday!! Why? Because authors Cassandra Clare and Holly Black will be in town, reading and then signing their novels in Toronto at Chapters Queensway!
When: Friday, November 5, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Chapters Queensway
1950 The Queensway
As far as I know, they will be signing however many novels you have as long as it's theirs! I've never been to that Chapters/Indigo location, so I'm hoping I don't get lost along the way there!
Oh, did I mention I was excited? The name Midnight Bloom was partially inspired by a certain chapter in City of Bones, so I don't think it's too difficult to figure out which author I'm especially excited to meet! Who else is going to be there that night!? ^_^
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