2011 August | Pages of Forbidden Love

Of course you can click the button at the top of this post to go to Book Soulmates to sign up for next month. It is a great feature and if you haven’t joined yet then I have no clue what you are waiting for!

Thank you to all of the awesome people who sent me books/money for books this month!

If you would like to send me something just check out my wish list tab, I usually try my hardest to return the favor!

Filed Under: Random Acts of Kindness (RAK)

Interview and Giveaway with Author Robert J. Duperre

August 30, 2011 By Alexa 1 Comment

Today I am pleased to have author Robert J. Duperre here to talk about his latest book Silas.
If you would like to check out the review the link is located HERE

About Silas:
Ken Lowery is a man at odds with his life. He hates his job, is disappointed in his marriage, and feels resigned to leading a mundane existence.

That all changes when his wife brings home a rambunctious Black Labrador puppy named Silas, who forges a remarkable connection with Ken and begins to heal his inner turmoil. When some neighborhood children start to go missing, he takes it upon himself to protect those around him and is thrust into a surreal world where monsters roam. Not everything is what it seems to be, he soon discovers, including his new best friend.
About the Author:
Robert J. Duperre is a lover of literature in all its forms. Be it horror, fantasy, science fiction, literary fiction, or even romance, he delves into it all and relishes every minute of it. It is his desire to show this love of all genres by creating wide-reaching stories that defy classification, that can reach the widest possible audience.
Robert lives in northern Connecticut with his wife, the artist Jessica Torrant, his three wonderful children, and Leonardo the one-eyed wonder yellow Lab. You can read more about Robert and his views and ideas by visiting robertduperre.com.

Interview:

 1. What inspires you to write and how long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing for most my life, though I had a seven-year hiatus in my early-to-mid twenties when I thought the road to success was simply too tall a mountain to climb. As for what inspires me…life. Events. Other writing. The desire to present scenarios where light can overcome darkness, even if that outcome is bittersweet.

2. Do you have a certain ritual you go about in order to get into the ‘writing mode’ or does it just come to you?

I need to put on pants (very important facet), head into my basement, and have near-complete silence. I’m extremely easily distracted. But if that falls into place, everything just flows.

3. Who are some of your literary influences?

Could be a long list, but I’ll give you the shorter highlights: Clive Barker, Douglas Adams, Stephen King, John Skipp, Toni Morrison, Ben Duiverman, Tom Robbins, Anne Rice, Kurt Vonnegut…and the list could go on and on.

4. Do you have a favorite character from the story? And if so, why?

Other than Ken (who’s based pretty strongly on certain aspects of myself), I’d have to say Ben, who you meet later on in the novel. I just find him to be really quirky, intelligent, and fun…as well as being sort of a tragic figure.

5. Are you currently working on any stories that might be coming soon to a bookstore or as an E-Read?

As a matter of fact, I’m working on the third book of The Rift, which is my four-book, pseudo mythological/zombie apocalypse series. This installment is titled Death Springs Eternal, which is due out this coming January.The first two books are called The Fall and Dead of Winter.

Thank you for joining us today!

Thank you for having me!

Contest Information:

Answer the question of the day in the form provided and you are entered in the Kindle3 Giveaway. Questions provide contestants the chance to choose one of two answers (questions center around a playlist of songs Rob put together for Silas). Contestants are awarded three points for the correct answer (one point for the wrong) with the chance to gather up to 45 entries by answering each question. Open US/Canada

Be Sure to Check Out the Rest of the Tour Dates:
Monday, August 29th – April, My Shelf Confessions
Tuesday, August 30th – Johnny, Pages of Forbidden Love
Wednesday, August 31st – Greta, Paranormal Wastelands
Thursday, September 1st – Lisa, A Casual Reader’s Blog
Friday, September 2nd – Karen, The Slowest Bookworm

Monday, September 5th – Melissa, Books and Things
Tuesday, September 6th – Heather and Pushy, Bewitched Bookworms
Wednesday, September 7th – Cindy, Oodles of Books
Thursday, September 8th – Theresa, Just One More Paragraph
Friday, September 9th – Gef, Wagging The Fox

Monday, September 12th – Mandy, The Well-Read Wife
Tuesday, September 13th – aobibliophile™
Wednesday, September 14th – Aparajita, Le’ Grande Codex
Thursday, September 15th – Farrah, The Book Faery Reviews
Friday, September 16th – Nevey, Le Vanity Victorienne

Tuesday, September 20th: Announcement of the big prize winner on Rob’s Site!

Filed Under: Blog Tour

Tour Review: Silas

August 30, 2011 By Alexa 4 Comments

Title: Silas

Author: Robert J Duperre

Publisher: CreateSpace

Publication Date: June 2011

Classification: Adult Fiction

Summary from Goodreads:

Ken Lowery is a man at odds with his life. He hates his job, is disappointed in his marriage, and feels resigned to leading a mundane existence.

That all changes when his wife brings home a rambunctious Black Labrador puppy named Silas, who forges a remarkable connection with Ken and begins to heal his inner turmoil. When some neighborhood children start to go missing, he takes it upon himself to protect those around him and is thrust into a surreal world where monsters roam. Not everything is what it seems to be, he soon discovers, including his new best friend.

My Thoughts:

This happened to be my first review book for a certain book tour and I was pleasantly excited to be a part of this. Alexa was always being invited to read and review many different books for certain authors or for tours and once I was asked to do this, I thought of it as my way of being fully accepted into the blogging community.

Now that I got my little story out of the way, I suppose I should get to the part that everyone is dying to read; my review. This book was interesting to say the least, and not in the way one would expect. There exists a few types of interesting books. Some of these interesting books might be considered interesting because they have such a unique premise about them that they captivate the readers attention. Other times it might be the format of the writing (essentially, how the book is constructed) that makes the book seem so interesting. However, this books falls into a different category altogether. It was interesting in the sense that it left me somewhat amused but also slightly irritated. This book started out somewhat slow and plodding. Even when I got about halfway through with it, the story did not seem to go anywhere. Ok, there was a guy and his dog. I have read countless stories about that. Does Marley and Me ring a bell to anyone? Then all of a sudden to book took a sharp turn to the weird and unknown. I was left scratching my head once Ken and Silas were transported to a far away land. The plot did not come together until the very tail end of the book and even then, it did not leave me satisfied. As a matter of fact, I was quite upset. I spent the entire time reading this book and there was no significant point in which I was compelled to continue. I never, at any time, found myself anticipating the next page or next chapter. Alas, I finished the book and here I am,writing a not so flattering review of a book that went nowhere.

There was one thing that stuck out in my mind from this book; the man with the split penis. The character is a high chief of some tribe in the far away land which Ken and Silas have been transported to. The author goes to great length to describe the man’s penis in graphic detail. It was quite…..unpleasant, for lack of a better word.

All in all, the book was just there; not so good and not so bad. It just was. I would not really recommend it to anyone else, but I would not go out of my way to bash the book.

If you are a fan of the weird and out of place, then perhaps this is the book for you.

Filed Under: Adult Review, Blog Tour

The Unwanteds

August 29, 2011 By Alexa 3 Comments

Title: The Unwanteds

Author: Lisa McMann

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Publication Date: Aug 30, 2011

Classification: YA Novel

Challenge: Outdo Yourself

Summary from Barnes and Noble:

Every year in Quill, thirteen-year-olds are sorted into categories: the strong, intelligent Wanteds go to university, and the artistic Unwanteds are sent to their deaths.

Thirteen-year-old Alex tries his hardest to be stoic when his fate is announced as Unwanted, even while leaving behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted. Upon arrival at the destination where he expected to be eliminated, however, Alex discovers a stunning secret–behind the mirage of the “death farm” there is instead a place called Artime.

In Artime, each child is taught to cultivate their creative abilities and learn how to use them magically, weaving spells through paintbrushes and musical instruments. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it’s a wondrous transformation.

But it’s a rare, unique occurence for twins to be separated between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron’s bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artime that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate, magical battle.

My Thoughts:

I have wanted to read this book ever since I heard Lisa McMann read the first pages of the book. Long before the book was even finished she read the first few pages at a signing she was doing in AZ. I fell in love just with those first few pages and knew I had to get my hands on a copy of this book. Luckily for me I wasn’t at all disappointed with my first middle grade read.

This story starts off in a dystopian world where kids are sorted at age 13, some are Wanted, Necessary and Unwanted. It just so happens that Alex is an Unwanted for several infractions he made while living in Quill, most of which have to do with his use of art. You see in the Quill creativity is not a valued skill, they only are looking for the smart people to go into government, the strong to be an army and the ones who are neither but haven’t had an infraction get to stay and do the dirt work jobs in the city. If you have had two or more infractions you have to be sent out of Quill to the death farm to await your death. However, the death farm doesn’t exsist, in it’s place is a wonderful world called Artime, here children get to express their feelings and creativity away from the single minded minions in the Quill who only want order.

The story’s focus is mostly on Artime and how it is so vastly different than the Quill. Each child gets to learn their own art specialty, whether it be music, painting, or acting. Along the way the children also learn how to use magic, they can use their special abilities in art to help them with their magical powers and in a way they are learning defense. They need to know how to defend themselves just incase the high priestess of Quill were ever to find out that her Unwanteds are not dead, but very much alive and enjoying life in Artime. While Alex is happy to be in Artime with all of his friends he can never stop thinking about his brother, which can lead to very serious trouble not only for himself but for the fate of Artime.

Overall I really enjoyed this story. I know people hate it when books get compared with other books but in this case I feel that this story was a mix of Harry Potter and a dystopian world. There are many ways in which Artime is like Hogwarts and the children are about the same age as those in Hogwarts would be. At many times this middle grade novel read more like a young adult novel because of the strong themes of war, violence and death. Other than the small similarities with Hogwarts I did enjoy the story and now I can’t wait to read Lisa’s other books. I suggest you give this middle grade tale a chance because Lisa really has created not only a great world but she sends out a strong message to her readers. Overall this story gets 4.5 hearts from me.

Filed Under: Middle Grade Review

IMM (40): Vlog

August 27, 2011 By Alexa 11 Comments

Big thanks to Kristi The Story Siren for this great theme.

Thanks to these people
Stephanie @ Once Upon a Chapter
Angela @ Reading Angel

What did you get in your mailbox?

Filed Under: In My Mailbox (IMM)

Black Bird Volume 6

August 25, 2011 By Alexa 2 Comments

Title: Black Bird Volume 6

Author: Kanoko Sakurakoji

Publisher: Shojo Beat

Publication Date: October 2010

Classification: 18+ Manga

Challenge: Outdo Yourself

Summary from Barnes and Noble:

Misao and Kyo have traveled to the Tengu Village to end Sho’s claim on the leadership of the clan once and for all. Misao knows there will be bloodshed, and things will only get worse if the battle is drawn out.But her attempt to help is thwarted by a cunning trap. Locked in with Sho with little hope of rescue, Misao has a terrible choice to make—betray Kyo or die a horrible, painful death!

My Thoughts:

Volume 5 ended on a cliffhanger since Misao was going to confront Kyo’s older brother, Sho. When she actually gets there, even though Sho is imprisoned, he finds a way to trap her so that Kyo can not gain access to the building they are in for some time. During this time with Misao he basically lets her know that he plans to hand her off to a clan of demons that will eat her flesh so that they will become more powerful. She has but one other option, Sho tells her that if she leaves Kyo and sleeps with him then she need not die. Basically this is sibling rivalry at it finest.

During this time that Sho has Misao locked in the building with him he decides to go back over the past with her. The reader gets to experience flash backs from when Sho and Kyo were only about 6ish years old, this is the time when they first met Misao. Misao’s memories about that time have always been locked up and since Sho and Kyo looked so much alike when they were little Misao soon discovers that she doesn’t have a clue if it was Kyo of Sho who really made the biggest lasting impression on her. It might be possible that she has fallen for the wrong brother….

(Just a quick note here, I noticed that when I review manga novels it sounds more like a summary but I feel that what happens is a big part of manga novels. I do still try to give my opinion but it is normally at the end and I’m sorry if I give too much summary of the volume each time.)

Overall, I had my ups and downs with this volume. The beginning really started off strong but the flash backs had me a little confused. It reminded me of the first volume of this series where the scenes are choppy and don’t really fit together nicely, this is basically what happened while in the flash back stages. There were moments were Sho was an adult again then a second later he was a kid then the next second back when he was a kid there are adult chatting about how his rule might go. It is just a jumble of a lot of things that left me wanting a better smoother transtioning between the parts. I did enjoy learning more background information about Sho and Kyo and how that pertains to mating Misao. As far as mating her Kyo has still decided against that at this point and the reader is still in the dark about exactly what would happen if they did mate. In the mix of confusion and action, the ending left me really quite confused and upset because a higher demon (a prince) comes to demand something of Kyo that seems way out of bounds. I hope this will be cleared up in the 7th volume, so overall for the bumpy ride in this volume and the confusing parts it only sadly gets 3.5 hearts.

Filed Under: Manga

Waiting on Wednesday (20)

August 24, 2011 By Alexa 3 Comments

This is a great weekly theme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine to show off the books that we are looking forward to that haven’t been released yet.

Summary:

It’s about a servant girl named Tess in 1912, who wants to escape from the house where she works, and most particularly the lecherous young lord of the manor. But that’s not her biggest problem. While on a voyage to America, where she plans to escape and start a new life, she meets Alec, who’s ruggedly handsome, fabulously wealthy, intelligent and yet so clearly troubled that she’d rather not fall for him, but she does. That also is not her biggest problem. Alec, it turns out, is a werewolf … one cursed to change every night, unless and until he surrenders his independence and joins the Brotherhood, a pack of violently misogynistic werewolves who have been tracking him for months. You’d think that would be their biggest problem, wouldn’t you?But no. Their biggest problem — though they don’t know it yet — is that they’re aboard the RMS Titanic.

Release Date:

September 13th, 2011.

Why I’m Excited:

I really liked Claudia’s Evernight series so I’m looking forward to this new series of hers. I’m not sure that I’m 100% behind the storyline for this one but I do enjoy her writing. So I figure I’ll give this one a shot when it comes out because the idea is unique, I hope that I enjoy it.

What are you waiting on?

Filed Under: Waiting on Wednesday (WOW)

Prom and Prejudice

August 22, 2011 By Alexa 3 Comments

Title: Prom and Prejudice
Author: Elizabeth Eulberg

Publisher: Point

Publication Date: Jan 2011

Classification: YA Novel

Challenge: Outdo Yourself

Summary from Goodreads:

After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious Longbourn Academy become obsessed with the prom. Lizzie Bennet, who attends Longbourn on a scholarship, isn’t 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 Charles’s friend, Will Darcy, who’s snobby and pretentious. Darcy doesn’t seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it’s because her family doesn’t have money. Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk — so why does Lizzie find herself drawn to him anyway?

My Thoughts:
I know it is probably a crime that I have never read Pride and Prejudice! I have never really been into classics but I should possibly start since so many books are coming out within the theme of Pride and Prejudice and other classics. Even without having read the classic version I do know a bit about the characters original roles. It was fun to see those roles changed to be updated to modern times.

Instantly in this story the reader feels for Lizzie since she is the poor girl in a school for the elite and rich. She hates going to the parties because all of the rich girls will tease her and pick on her the whole time. She only ever goes because her extremely nice room mate Jane makes her go so she can flirt with Charles. Lizzie of course meets Will Darcy at one of these parties and instantly dislikes him no matter what Jane and Charles say about him, she knows he is no good with his attitude and dislike of people with little money. However, it is possible that there is more to Darcy than meets the eye. Just like there is more to Lizzie’s new townie friend Wick.

Overall, what really comes to mind during this novel is that it was a quick cute read. I did like Lizzie’s character and I liked Darcy once more was known about him and his life choices. I’m sorry the review is short but as I just said it really was just a quick cute contemporary read. It helped me to take a break from all of the heavy paranormal stories out in the YA world right now. This story gets 4 hearts from me.