Blog Tour: In the Forests of the Night - Kersten Hamilton - Author Book Picks & Giveaway

Kersten Hamilton is here today with an Author Book Picks post courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her newest release, In the Forests of the Night. Thank you for being here today, Kersten! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy! 

Hi, Corrine! Thank you for having me on your blog today. It is hard to write about my favorite books because there are so many of them. I would say that there are more old books than new books in my library—and I have lots and lots of books. When I was a teenager, I decided to read all of Western literature starting with Beowulf. I am failing gloriously—there are just too many books and not enough hours in a life to read them all. I have worked my way forward through most of the classics, though.

I have found many, many authors to love, but my all–time favorite would be George MacDonald. He wrote mythopoeia, my favorite obscure genre. His writing, in both his novels and short stories, dealt with metaphysical questions. MacDonald was fearless in questioning his characters’ (and his readers’) assumptions about themselves and reality. I adore books that make me both feel and think. His books inspired my Goblin Wars series.

I like Charles Williams, who wrote unsettling paranormals such as All Hallow’s Eve long, long before Paranormal was a genre. I enjoy the books of Charles De Lint, who was writing in the dawn of the Urban Fantasy and is writing still. I love the mythic elements in his books.

I liked Zenna Henderson’s The People stories. I love Neil Gaiman’s writing especially his short stories and novels such as Neverwhere or The Anansi Boys.

I enjoy an occasional Regency Romance such as Grand Sophie, by Georgette Heyer, mysteries like the Amelia Peabody books by Elizabeth Peters, and the science fiction of Robert Heinlein, and Isaac Asimov, who influenced me greatly. Asimov believed that writing should be like a pane of glass—the reader should not even be aware of the writer, just of the story they are entering. I believe that, too. The less my readers are aware of me, and the more they are aware of my characters, the better! I gobble up the books of modern MG and YA writers such as Rick Riordan and Francisco X. Stork. I adore Harry Potter.

My writing/inspiration shelf has books like Save the Cat!, a book about screen writing by Blake Snyder, The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, and The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.

I also read books that are very difficult for me to even touch, such as Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler. I read it because want to understand that he was a human—and how a human could accept such evil, even convincing himself that it was good. It feels strange and sad, touching his mind through a book.

I could go on forever—I have left out centuries worth of great books. If I had three wishes, at least two of them would be for more time to read!

Kersten

Thank you for being here today, Kersten, and thank you for sharing this book list with us!

Kersten Hamilton can be found on her website.

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The battle against goblinkind continues . . . but which side will Teagan be on?

Teagan, Finn, and Aiden have made it out of Mag Mell alive, but the Dark Man’s forces are hot on their heels. Back in Chicago, Tea’s goblin cousins show up at her school, sure she will come back to Mag Mell, as goblin blood is never passive once awoken. Soon she will belong to Fear Doirich and join them. In the meantime, they are happy to entertain themselves by trying to seduce, kidnap, or kill Tea’s family and friends. Tea knows she doesn’t have much time left, and she refuses to leave Finn or her family to be tortured and killed. A wild Stormrider, born to rule and reign, is growing stronger inside her. But as long as she can hold on, she’s still Teagan Wylltson, who plans to be a veterinarian and who heals the sick and hurting. The disease that’s destroying her—that’s destroying them all—has a name: Fear Doirich. And Teagan Wylltson is not going to let him win.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Giveaway

Kersten Hamilton has graciously provided Lost For Words with a copy of In the Forests of the Night for giveaway. 

Thank you, Kersten! 

The giveaway is International.

Giveaway will end December 10, 2011.

Please fill out this FORM to enter. Comments, while appreciated, will not be counted as entries.

Thank you!

Blog Tour: Of Light and Darkness - Shayne Leighton - Character This or That & Giveaway

Shayne Leighton is here today with a character this or that list courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her new release, Of Light and Darkness. Thank you for being here today, Shayne! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

Thank you for being here today, Valek!

Light or Darkness? Darkness. I do not have a choice. You can say it was something I was…born…into. Plus, the light is more corrupt than you can imagine.

Comedy or Tragedy? I would like to say comedy, because I feel like I could use more of it in my existence. It’s good to find the laughter in all situations, however sometimes, it’s a tad difficult.

Music or Solitude? Everyone’s thoughts are loud enough…bring me the silence so I can be alone with myself for once…please!

Type A or B? Type A. Without a plan, you have nothing.

Love or Lust? You need to have a nice mix of both. You know…to keep things interesting.

Urban or Suburban? Urban. The more life and energy collected in one spot, the better.

Casual or Dressy? I never do anything casually…

Long hair or short? I’m inclined to loving my eternally long hair. Even if I wanted to cut it, it would only instantly replenish itself.

Witches or Elves? Why even ask such a silly question? Everyone knows Elves are the Earth’s most vile creatures. I don’t particularly care for Witches either, but I’ll go with the lesser of the two evils.

Science or Magic? They are both one in the same…

Thank you for sharing your preferences with us, Valek! 

Thank you for being here today Shayne! 

Shayne Leighton can be found on her website, her blog, and on twitter. 

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When one human stands before an army of impossible obstacles, the likelihood of overcoming them in this coming-of-age modern fairytale may result in war between light and darkness.

Abandoned as an infant in Prague, naive and strong-willed Charlotte Ruzikova was raised by one of the last Vampires left alive. As a human, she knows no other home than the one nestled deep in the woods of Eastern Europe, where Witches drew spells of enchantment, Phasers threw tea parties, and Elves are the closest in kin. Charlotte has lived her life in the dark with her Guardian, content to having him to herself and reveling in his attention, until she's realizes she wants more...

Resident medical doctor and Vampire, Valek Ruzik fears the day his ward would come of age and blossom into a fine woman, and he is forced to confront his own motives as time is of the essence once his past catches up to him, and their lives become endangered...

As genocide and war threatens their secret society, the dictator in power is ready to wipe out Valek's race, but Charlotte will not allow that to happen. Fighting for the only one she's ever loved and truly believed in, she will do whatever it takes to save their love...before the sun comes up and light takes over.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Giveaway

Shayne Leighton has graciously provided Lost For Words with a signed copy of Of Light and Darkness for giveaway.

Thank you, Shayne! 

Giveaway is open to US/Canada only. (Sorry to those of you who are international!)

Giveaway will end December 1, 2011. 

Please fill out this FORM to enter. Comments, while appreciated, will not be counted as entries. 

Thank you!! =D

Never Eighteen - Megan Bostic - Blog Tour Review

Austin Parker is on a journey to bring truth, beauty, and meaning to his life.

Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. The doctors say his chances of surviving are slim to none even with treatment, so he’s decided it’s time to let go.

But before he goes, Austin wants to mend the broken fences in his life. So with the help of his best friend, Kaylee, Austin visits every person in his life who touched him in a special way. He journeys to places he’s loved and those he’s never seen. And what starts as a way to say goodbye turns into a personal journey that brings love, acceptance, and meaning to Austin’s life.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Title: Never Eighteen

Author: Megan Bostic

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Publisher: Graphia

Publication Date: January 17, 2012

Format: ARC

Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Thomas Allen & Son Ltd for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. 

Blog Tour: Teen Book Scene blog tour. You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner located below the review. 

Look for it: Amazon, Chapters, Book Depository

My rating: 3/5

Austin knows that he is nearing the end of his life. He is resigned to his fate, and wants to mend fences with those around him and he also wants to talk to those who have touched his life in various ways. His best friend, Kaylee, helps him out on his mission, and they also visit some places that have meaning for Austin. What starts out as a mission to mend fences and saying goodbye to those Austin loves, turns into a road trip of bittersweet memories which brings resolution and meaning to the remaining days of Austin's life. 
Many readers can relate to Austin as he reminisces over the past and his role in peoples lives. He doesn't have much time left due to being in the end stages of leukemia. He knows he won't live too much longer, so he decides to pay his respects to those around him, specifically everyone who has touched his life. His story has great bones, and would have been all the more bittersweet had I formed more of an emotional attachment to him. I ached for his situation, but didn't feel that his story was as fully developed and realized as it could have been. I commiserated with him as he made the rounds through his friends and acquaintances; however some of the interactions between the characters could have been fleshed out a little more. It would have been all the more poignant. 
Kaylee was a great sidekick and friend to Austin. She was there for him throughout and I enjoyed reading about her, and how she handled all of the requests Austin sent her way. She was unflappable and helped him meet everyone on his list, as well as helped him with some of his more unusual requests; such as eating the hottest chicken wings around, and conquering some rides at the fair. She was strong, especially knowing that this may have been one of the last times that Austin could walk around freely without being bedridden. She stood resolutely by Austin and I admired her for being so strong for him. It must not have been easy for her to stand by and watch as the leukemia stole her best friend's life from him. 
All in all, this is a bittersweet read. It would have been all the more poignant had it been fleshed out a little more. It does have amazing bones, and many unique individuals grace the pages of Never Eighteen. Austin's story is a sad one, but is also uplifting in the sense that he was able to touch all of those lives and leave behind so many fond memories. 

The Space Between - Brenna Yovanoff

Everything is made of steel, even the flowers. How can you love anything in a place like this?

Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. Life for her is an endless expanse of time, until her brother Obie is kidnapped - and Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible. Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to the vast streets of Earth, where everything is colder and more terrifying. With the help of the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne glimpses into his dreams, discovering clues to Obie's whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in her way. But she also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be.

This second novel by rising star Brenna Yovanoff is a story of identity, discovery, and a troubled love between two people struggling to find their place both in our world and theirs.

Synopsis taken from goodreads. 

Title: The Space Between

Author: Brenna Yovanoff

Genre: Young adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: November 15, 2011

Format: ARC

Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Vimala from Penguin Canada for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Look for it: Amazon, Chapters, Book Depository

My rating: 4.5/5

Daphne has never left Pandemonium. She has never had a reason to, until her brother Obie disappears. Something sinister is afoot and it is up to Daphne to find Obie. She tracks down the one person she knows may have seen Obie last, and with him at her side she will try to track down her kidnapped brother. Her demonic powers manifest in the earthly realm, and she will need to learn how to defend herself from the deadly archangels who protect earth from her kind. 

Daphne is a half-demon, the spawn of Lucifer and Lilith. Pandemonium is a brilliantly realized world, brought to life with a metallic sheen. Yovanoff has this beautifully descriptive writing style that just grabs hold of you and thrusts you in with her creations. 

Daphne is completely alone in Pandemonium. She is certainly not like her sisters, and does not want to have anything to do with the lifestyle that they have chosen for themselves. She believes she is above that and does not care if she ever steps foot outside of Pandemonium. Everything changes for her though when she realizes that the one person that means the most to her has gone missing. She will have to step out of her comfort zone and befriend the boy who visited and left Pandemonium with her brother, Obie. I enjoyed her character, especially as she made realizations about herself that had never crossed her mind before. 

Her male counterpart and link to Obie is Truman. He is a richly drawn character as well, and he shows so many different sides. He complements Daphne. Daphne is steel, strength, and determination, and she doesn't have any qualms about defending herself. Truman on the other hand is aware of his faults, and the darkness around him. He knows that his thoughts may not be based on reality, but once he meets Daphne, he realizes that there might be more to life than drinking himself to death. 

They carry the story so completely, and I loved reading about them. The secondary characters round out the story more, and they add humour when needed, as well as the right amount of tension.

This read is so atmospheric, I felt like I was at the party with Truman as he was drinking himself to oblivion, and I was right there with Daphne as she questioned the people and things around her. I can't decide which novel I liked more. The Replacement, or The Space Between. They are both so atmospheric and so fleshed out. The attention given to detail and to the respective worlds from both books is easy to see. They are both so richly realized and they both completely hooked me.

Yovanoff is an author to watch out for. If The Replacement showed us her talent, then The Space Between solidified it. Her world-building, heartwarming characters, and lyrical writing will have me coming back for more. I cannot wait to read the next book she writes, or any of the subsequent titles she releases thereafter. She's a must-read author for me now and I hope you enjoy her writing style and world-building as much as I do.

Blog Tour: Metamorphosis - Devon Ashley - This or That & Giveaway Details

Devon Ashley is here today with a this or that list courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her newest release, Metamorphosis. Thank you for being here, Ashley! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy! 

Mongoose or Meerkat – LOL…are they not the same thing? Wait, let me look it up while I put you on hold…elevator music…pretty close, but the meerkats are definitely cuter!

Music or Solitude - Music

Policemen or Firemen – What?! FIREMEN!!!

Board games or puzzles – Wow…they still make those in non-electronic versions? Hmm….gonna go with board games.

Hobgoblins or Leprechauns – both nasty little buggars, but I’ll go with the one with the loot!

Buffy or Faith – BU-FFY! BU-FFY! BU-FFY! (come on, you know you wanna chant along with me)

Musicals on DVD or on Broadway – Broadway

Victorian or Gothic : Victorian

Angel or Spike – AN-GEL! AN-GEL! BOOTH! (whoops!)

Cheese or Peanut Butter – Cheese

Pop Rocks or Nerds – Actually, I’m thinking both at the same time would be totally awesome!

Country or Rock – Rock

City or Country – Country

Heroine or Hero – Bring on the booty-kickin’ women!

Comic Books or Superhero Movies – I’ve honestly never read a comic book in my life.

Thanks to Corrine for picking up my series for another blog tour! Don’t forget to stop by my Crazy Dream Blog for a chance to win a copy of Metamorphosis signed with a personalized doodle-graph. Giveaway ends November 30th.

Thank you so much for being here and giving us your preferences, Devon! 

Devon Ashley can be found on her blog,. 

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Change is not always a good thing...

Some survived the battle – but not without a price. As one heart starts up again, another dies down. The pure vampires learn their immortality isn't as strong as they'd thought – the status of their hearts determines their vulnerability. And when the truth gets out, a betrayal by one of their own will cost more lives.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Blog Tour: The Sharp Time - Mary O'Connell - Into the Past

Mary O'Connell is here today with an Into the Past post courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her new release, The Sharp Time. Thank you for being here today, Mary! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

I’ve always loved books—like you, I’m guessing!—so it’s a treat to take the time to remember the books that were special to me.

Age 5: Are You My Mother? My own mother read this book to me, a long, long time ago, in a room with red shag carpeting and curtains with interlocking black and white squares and triangles. Yes, it was the seventies.

Age 11: Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret. I still remember sitting in my pink bedroom and closing this book, thinking: My God, there’s a writer who understands what the world is like. The genius of Judy Blume cannot be overstated.

Age 16: Catcher in the Rye—The 16-year-old me can’t believe how brilliant Holden Caulfield is! I read this book on a snow day, and still remember the feeling of looking out at the winter world and feeling so understood.

Age 20: The World According to Garp. I read this novel in my freshman dorm room—probably in lieu of doing my biology homework--and loved it so dearly. But I would come to love John Irving’s later book, A Prayer for Owen Meany, even more.

Thank you! It has been great to remember my favorite books, and the rooms where I read them…

Thank you for supplying us with this fantastic book list from your past, Mary, and thank you for being here today! 

Mary O'Connell can be found on her website, and on twitter. 

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Sandinista Jones is a high school senior with a punk rock name and a broken heart. The death of her single mother has left Sandinista alone in the world, subject to the random vulnerability of everyday life. When the school system lets her down, her grief and instability intensify, and she ponders a violent act of revenge.

Still, in the midst of her crisis, she gets a job at The Pale Circus, a funky vintage clothing shop, and finds friendship and camaraderie with her coworker, a boy struggling with his own secrets.

Even as Sandinista sees the failures of those with power and authority, she's offered the chance to survive through the redemptive power of friendship. Now she must choose between faith and forgiveness or violence and vengeance.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Blog Tour: Saving June - Hannah Harrington - When I'm Not Writing

Hannah Harrington is here today with a When I'm Not Writing guest post courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her new release, Saving June. Thank you for being here today, Hannah! You can follow along with the blog tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

When I’m not writing, I spend a lot of time reading—whether it’s various online blogs or books. I also watch an extremely ridiculous amount of television: everything from Community to Glee to Hoarders to The Daily Show to Law & Order: SVU to Friday Night Lights. My DVR is my best friend. I’m something of a film buff, too, and I will watch pretty much any documentary I can get my hands on.

Last year I bought an acoustic guitar and started taking lessons. I never played any instruments growing up, I am completely tone deaf with no sense of rhythm, and my musical instincts are less than zero, but after a lot of practice, I am now able to fumble through a handful of songs. I have no high aspirations, but I really enjoy messing around and playing for myself. It’s a nice distraction and a way to unwind.

I love music— whether it’s listening to old songs I love or discovering new artists. I’ve been slowly building up my vinyl record collection, and I can spend a lot of time hunting through our local record store if you’ll let me.

I’m also an animal lover who has too many pets! I have three cats (Marley, Ziggy, and Yoko) and a black Labrador (Ozzy), and my sister owns a beautiful horse named Sheriff, who I like to visit from time to time even though I don’t ride myself anymore. I love them the way I imagine parents love their children. Which seems appropriate since the cats, especially, tend to behave like toddlers with the way they demand my attention, and keeping them in line can feel like a job in and of itself. I am sure they would be happier if I spent less time behind the computer and more of it pampering them!

I agree, Hannah. Boy, do our pets demand attention! =) 

Thank you for being here today, Hannah! 

Hannah Harrington can be found on twitter.

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‘If she’d waited less than two weeks, she’d be June who died in June. But I guess my sister didn’t consider that.’

Harper Scott’s older sister has always been the perfect one so when June takes her own life a week before her high school graduation, sixteen-year-old Harper is devastated. Everyone’s sorry, but no one can explain why.

When her divorcing parents decide to split her sister’s ashes into his-and-her urns, Harper takes matters into her own hands. She’ll steal the ashes and drive cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going California.

Enter Jake Tolan. He’s a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession and nothing in common with Harper’s sister. But Jake had a connection with June, and when he insists on joining them, Harper’s just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanour and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what she needs.

Except June wasn’t the only one hiding something. Jake’s keeping a secret that has the power to turn Harper’s life upside down again.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Blog Tour: Finding Somewhere - Joseph Monninger - This or That List

Joseph Monninger is here today with an author this or that list courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for his new release, Finding Somewhere. Thank you for being here today, Joseph! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

The Black Stallion or Fury? Black Stallion.

Male or Female POV (to write or to read)? Can’t pick one, really. Refuse!

Fantasy or Contemporary? Contemporary

Goblins or Witches? Witches. (I was frightened by witches as a kid.)

Victorian or Gothic? Victorian.

Puzzles or Board Games? Board Games. I love Monopoly.

Hiking or Sailing? Hiking. I live in New Hampshire’s White Mountains.

Beach or Mountain? Mountain.

Pop or Rock? Rock

TV shows or movies? Movies

Music or solitude? Solitude.

Thank you for being here today and for sharing your preferences with us, Joseph.

Joseph Monninger can be found on his website. 

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Two girls: Best friends Hattie and Delores feel that life in their small New Hampshire town is a dead end.

One horse: Old and about to be put down, Speed gets a reprieve when Hattie and Delores decide to save him.

A road trip: Determined to set Speed free, Hattie and Delores drive him west in search of rangeland. But the road takes some unexpected turns as the girls get their own taste of freedom—and as they confront the reasons they left home.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Blog Tour: Always A Witch - Carolyn MacCullough - Gabriel Character Interview & Giveaway

Carolyn MacCullough is here today with a character interview courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her new release, Always a Witch. Thank you for being here today, Carolyn! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

Hi Gabriel! Thank you for being here today! 

You've known Tamsin for a long time. What did you think of her not having any "talents" like everyone else? 

 I think Tamsin is Tamsin, Talent or no Talent. She’ll always be the girl who went on a hunger strike with me the day my mom decided we were moving to California.

What is your idea of the perfect date? 

A walk through the Village in a snowstorm and then when it gets too cold, we can head into some hole in the wall dive bar where there’s always live music. I’ll stop there…

If you could have any talent other than time travel, what would you hope to have? 

Why? My Talent is actually to find things. Anything you’ve lost I can find. Even if it’s lost back in time. That’s how I figured out I can also Travel. I happen to like my Talent a lot. But…if I could choose another one, I think morphing into any animal shape would be amazing.

If Murphy's Law applied to you, which law would you most likely encounter? 

 I just want to know who Murphy really was? He must have been a miserable guy to curse us all with Murphy’s Law…

What first attracted you to Tamsin? 

And you’re asking a guy that question???

If you could do anything over, would you? 

 Sure. Lots of things. But since I can’t, I try not to even think about them.

Thank you for being here today, Gabriel and Carolyn! 

Carolyn MacCullough can be found on her website.

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The adventures of Tam and Gabriel continue with more time travel, Talents, spy work, and of course, the evil Knights.

Since the gripping conclusion of Once A Witch, Tamsin Greene has been haunted by her grandmother's prophecy that she will soon be forced to make a crucial decision—one so terrible that it could harm her family forever. When she discovers that her enemy, Alistair Knight, went back in time to Victorian-era New York in order to destroy her family, Tamsin is forced to follow him into the past. Stranded all alone in the nineteenth century, Tamsin soon finds herself disguised as a lady's maid in the terrifying mansion of the evil Knight family, avoiding the watchful eye of the vicious matron, La Spider, and fending off the advances of Liam Knight. As time runs out, both families square off in a thrilling display of magic. And to her horror, Tamsin finally understands the nature of her fateful choice.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

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Giveaway

Carolyn MacCullough has graciously provided Lost For Words with a copy of Always a Witch to giveaway. 

Thank you, Carolyn! 

Giveaway is US only. 

Giveaway will end November 9, 2011. 

Please fill out this FORM to enter. Comments, while appreciated, won't be counted as entries. 

Thank you! =)

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB from Should Be Reading, and anyone can play along!

• grab your current read
• flip to a random page
• select two teaser sentences from somewhere on that page
• try not to include spoilers!
• please let us know the author and book so we can add them to our TBR pile!

I've been ridiculously lax of late in posting the memes that I used to post each week. I'm hoping to rectify that and get back into posting them routinely. As such, here is today's teaser for you. It comes from an adult urban fantasy novel called Eyes to See by Joseph Nassise. If you are a fan of ghost stories, or the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, you will want to pick this book up. It is an excellent read. You can find out more about the book here. Now here is a teaser for your reading pleasure. =) 

"From that first glance you understand that we regularly interact with creatures far stranger and deadlier than you ever previously imagined. It's not that they weren't there before, it's just that humans rarely recognize them for what they are. Ghosts don't have that problem." pg. 50

Doesn't that make you want to dive right in? 

Feel free to post the links to your teasers in the comments and I will follow up and check them out! 

Thank you for stopping by today! =)