Contest Reminder!

If you wish to be in the drawing to win a signed copy of Sing Me To Sleep by Angela Morrison the days are running out! I'll be drawing a winner at midnight on March 4 so be sure and enter before that time. :)





This is just a quick reminder guys that if you haven't put in your entry you should go here and do so!

Also, if you would like to see my review for Sing Me to Sleep click here. :)

Author Interviews: Jenny Moss Edition

*Today we have with us Jenny Moss the author of the upcoming release Shadow (!) which is full of castly intrigue, adventure, dark secrets, and a smackling of love. :)

C: What gave you the idea for Shadow?

J: I'd read the book THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL by Philippa Gregory and loved all the castle intrigue. So I wanted to have fun with my own story.

C: Why did you choose the setting?

J: Creating my own kingdom appealed to me. I got to draw maps. :)

C: What is your writing process like?

J: It changes. For SHADOW, I wrote a skeleton draft and then revised many times.

C: Favorite Music?

J: I'm in awe of Bob Dylan, but enjoy different artists. The last CD I bought was one of Austin musician Ginger Leigh's.

C: Movies?

J: I love movies. The ones I rewatch the most: PERSUASION, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, NOTTING HILL

C: When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

J: I can't remember a time when I didn't want to be a writer.

C: How long did it take you to write Shadow?

J: I was working on two books at the same time. It took me about 2.5 years to finish both of them.

C: What is your favorite book?

J: The book I most admire is BELOVED by Toni Morrison.

C: What is one of your most embarrasing moments?

J: I came home from work one day with a huge split in the back of my pants, which I didn't realize until I changed out of my work clothes.

C: If you could have any guest over for dinner, dead or alive, who would it be?

J: I'd be very nervous, but Bob Dylan.

C: What would you consider to be the hardest thing about writing?

J: Deadlines. Because I have an April 1st deadline for a manuscript right now. :)

C: The easiest?

J: Finding the characters.

C: Which of your characters do you feel is most like you?

J: My daughter tells me she sees similarities between me and Winnie in WINNIE'S WAR, my first book. I don't see it as much.

C: What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?

J: To go beyond that first draft - and to really have fun with the process.

*Thank you so much Jenny for the awesome interview and everyone be sure to check out my review for Shadow!

http://books-are-life-reviews.blogspot.com/2010/03/shadow-by-jenny-moss_09.html

A Spy in the House by: Y.S. Lee

A Spy in The House

by: Y.S. Lee

It is May 1858, the beginning of London’s “Great Stink” — a blend of river pollution and heat wave that paralyzes the city. Tucked in the attic of a nondescript girls’ boarding school is the Agency, an intelligence service with a difference: it’s an elite, all-female group of private investigators with a reputation for getting things done. And it’s just hired a hotheaded, 17-year-old ex-thief whose on-the-job training goes completely wrong…
New agent Mary Quinn’s task is to pose as a lady’s companion and observe a merchant suspected of smuggling. But this straightforward assignment goes awry when Mary gets impatient and exceeds her mandate. Almost immediately, she finds competition in the shape of James Easton, an arrogant young man who’s doing some snooping of his own. They first tangle — literally — in a closet.
When pressed, Mary reluctantly joins forces with James. But as useful as the partnership may be, it’s also dangerous: their mutual attraction threatens to distract them from the real secrets of the merchant’s household. Eventually, they reveal a plot that threatens James’s life, as well as Mary’s own dark secrets…

Review:

As soon as I saw this book and read the summary I knew I would love it. I love the Victorian era and just historical fiction in general, but this idea for a Victorian mystery involving a young woman during the time of the Great Stink just instantly made me smile.

I loved this book, and can't express enough how excited I am there's still more and it is a series.

From the very beginning the book is addicting, it skips over the "boring parts" and goes straight for the fun scenes involving the actual problem solving and her fun banter with James. Each character brings something else to the table, some of them are relatively stereotypical but then they surprise you, but they each bring something else to the dynamic of the story and in true mystery form little things a character does or says shows their character and forms whatever secrets they may be hiding.

My favorite part of this book was any scene with James - I love the classic leading men such as Mr. Darcy, Gilbert Blythe, and Rhett Butler, and James is definitely one of my new literary crushes. He reminded me of each of my favorite leading men in some way, which of course just made me love him more.

I loved how well Mary and James played off each other, the dialogue was amazing and felt natural. I have read many books where the dialogue just fell flat and would leave me saying,"They would never have said that," but A Spy in the House never made me feel like this.

I felt like by reading it I was really spying them from around a corner somewhere, like they were really arguing or laughing for whatever reason and I wanted to be a part of it - I love that feeling.

I was hooked on this book from the moment I opened it and I feel like it could be a book for anyone who just wants to smile and get away for awhile and solve a nice mystery along the way, but you won't figure out the ending... believe me... I tried.

I give it a 10/10.

-Christina

*Also, sorry this review is so late, we've had some family difficulties lately but hopefully it will be settled soon. :)

Lack of Posts...

Sorry guys for the lack of posts recently, my father has been in the hospital and I haven't been home hardly at all, but hopefully this upcoming week I will be able to post all the reviews I've been meaning to, plus I finished quite a few books while in the hospital as well.

So look forward to that and I hope to speak with you soon. :D

Thanks guys!

Sing Me To Sleep by: Angela Morrison

Sing Me To Sleep

by: Angela Morrison

THE TRANSFORMATION
Beth has always been “The Beast”—that’s what everyone at school calls her because of her awkward height, facial scars, and thick glasses. Beth’s only friend is geeky, golden-haired Scott. That is, until she’s selected to be her choir’s soprano soloist, and receives the makeover that will change her life forever.
THE LOVE AFFAIR
When Beth’s choir travels to Switzerland, she meets Derek: pale, brooding, totally dreamy. Derek’s untethered passion—for music, and for Beth—leaves her breathless. Because in Derek’s eyes? She’s not The Beast, she’s The Beauty.
THE IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE
When Beth comes home, Scott, her best friend in the world, makes a confession that leaves her completely torn. Should she stand by sweet, steady Scott or follow the dangerous, intense new feelings she has for Derek?
THE HEARTBREAK
The closer Beth gets to Derek, the further away he seems. Then Beth discovers that Derek’s been hiding a dark secret from her …one that could shatter everything.

Review:

So this is the review where my heart breaks just a little. I've been thinking about this book constantly since I read it, I've been gushing to my friends, gushing to my father, and just going crazy gushing to everyone about how amazing it was, but since reading it I have been unable to get it off my mind.

I read it in about 7 hours, it was in one complete sitting and I stayed up until 5 in the morning finishing it which wasn't good for my school schedule, but was completely worth it. I just loved it.

I think the main thing I've been thinking and telling people is just these three words over and over again, It felt real. That's what really got me while reading it, and which caused me to bawl my eyes out for fifteen minutes when it was over. It just felt real.

The relationship between Derek and Beth starts really before they even meet each other. I felt the intensity along with them and it was amazing. It kept me reading through everything, never did I even consider stopping.

I really liked Scott, and I understood him as 'the best friend' everything he did was in his character and it just worked for him.

I've never had such an emotional tie to a book before, when Derek's secret comes out I felt like it was happening to me. I've never just full out cried because of a book before, and even now I'm constantly telling myself,"It's just a book, this didn't really happen" but it's not working really.

I have a feeling this story and this book will stay with me for a very long while.

I would recommend it to everyone, just read it.

10/10

-Christina

P.S. I forgot to my mention my horrifying most embarrassing moment EVER. Well, I was in a very serious competitive Girls Choir (we rocked... or choraled?) we were quite good.

So we were at this amazing event with over 500 people in the audience and we were dressed up and it came to the final number, now anyone who has ever been in a choir knows, or should know to NEVER lock your knees - I knew this, but the girl next to me apparently did not.

We were singing our big finale, Edelweiss which can be emotional and that's what we were going for, when the girl beside me throws up right at our feet. It was quite similar to the Exorcist really and I was horrified. She collapsed after throwing up and I had to stand there, in my brand new pretty shoes with throw up all over everything, finish the song and wait for the curtain call.

Our director obviously saw what happened (as did half the audience) but there was nothing we could do. We had three more separate numbers after this incident and I had to go clean up as much as I could and then go back out there. Horrible, horrible experience - it even tops the time I fell during a Christmas show (it was at a local mall so it was less horrifyingly embarrassing.)

But, the moral of this story is - NEVER lock your knees during a performance, just think of the poor unsuspecting girl beside you.

:)

Author Interview: Angela Morrison Edition.

Today I was lucky enough to have an interview with Angela Morrison, the author of Taken By Storm, and the newly released Sing Me To Sleep (which is amazing!) Here it is, enjoy!

What inspired you to write Sing Me to Sleep?
My daughter sang with a competitive girls' choir when we lived in London, Ontario--the Junior Amabile Singers. I always wanted to write a novel set in that unique environment, but I never had a strong story to go with it. When Razorbill decided to hold off on publishing TAKEN BY STORM's sequel, I had the opportunity to go back to that idea. And something heartbreaking had happened to one of my daughter's best friends in Amabile's world-famous Young Men's Ensemble--that gave me a story that would be important to me, my daughter, that young man's family, and so, so many other people. SING ME TO SLEEP took hold of me and didn't let go.

What is your writing process like?
When I write a novel, it feels like a giant wave has hit my life. It takes all the bits and pieces of life and books, curiosities and imaginings, movies and music stored up in my brain, and breaks it into tiny shards. As the wave retreats, those pieces are strewn haphazard all over the beach. It's my job to pick up the pieces and fashion a story mosaic. I ask my self, "what if" and "what will happen next" a lot. When I find the voice of my characters, I hide away and scribble as fast as I can.

What are your perfect writing conditions?
I'm drowsy, just waking up. My brain is still in dream mode. The house is silent. I pick up my lap desk, a sheaf of blank pink pages, and a fresh black Zebra gel pen and scribble away for hours. Ahhh. Dream come true. Those days are lovely, but so rare.

What is your favorite book?
WAR AND PEACE--it is the most beautiful love story I've ever read.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
I've been a writer since first grade. Haven't you? Seriously, that is when I decided I wanted to tell stories and write books. I've been in love with writing all my life.

If you could invite anyone to dinner, dead or alive, who would it be?
Derek--from Sing me to Sleep. You have to read the book to find out why.

What music would you consider to be your favorite?
I love so many types of music. Right now I'm overflowing with excitement from getting to hear the Amabile Choirs sing again. Their festival was AMAZING. And they even sang, "Beth's Song," for me. Well, me and the 1300 fans packed in the concert hall. "Beth's Song" will be available on iTunes ANY DAY NOW!! I'll let you know when it finally happens.

What about movies?
I'm a Jane Austen freak--so anything based on one of her novels.

What do you find the hardest thing about writing?
first drafts

The easiest?
Revising!

What authors have inspired you and your writing?
Louisa Mae Alcott was my childhood hero. When I worked on my MFA, I studied Katherine Paterson. The wisdom just rolls off her pen. I'm so excited to see she's the National Children's Book Ambassador--or something like that. Ron Koertge, my first advisor at Vermont College, taught me to write poetry and YA novels. Somehow I mixed the two. He's got a new poetry novel out, SHAKESPEARE MAKES THE PLAYOFFS that's getting great reviews. The man is a genius. Most recently, Markus Zusak had a huge impact on me. Another genius. And the quiet graciousness of Susan Fletcher's prose and advice still inspires me.

What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?
I spent all last week speaking at high schools in and around London, Ontario--where SING ME TO SLEEP is set. Young people, like writers, need to know that it is okay to fail. All first drafts are horrible. Revise, revise, revise. Send it out. Get rejected. Work with trusted critiquers. Send it out again. Get rejected lots more. Go back to school. Qualify yourself. (I HIGHLY recommend Vermont College of the Fine Art's!) You only ever really fail if you give up and put it in a drawer.

I have finished Sing Me To Sleep and OHMYGOODNESSS!
I was in a girls choir VERY similar to the one portrayed in the book, I found myself laughing at the things I could relate to, but... you will find out about exactly what I think in my review - I may even tell you about my most embarrassing moment EVER which happened on stage with 500 people to see. True story, stay tuned, and thank you Angela for the amazing interview. :)

Here's the trailer for Sing Me To Sleep!




Oh and be sure to check out my contest that is running to win a signed copy of Sing Me To Sleep!

Shadow by: Jenny Moss

Shadow

by: Jenny Moss

In a time of kings, queens, and conspiracy, it's impossible to know whom one can trust. . . .

In a kingdom far away and long ago, it was prophesied at her birth that the queen would die before her sixteenth birthday. So Shadow, an orphan girl the same age as the young queen, was given the duty to watch her every move. And as prophesies do tend to come true, the queen is poisoned days before her birthday. When the castle is thrown into chaos, Shadow escapes with a young knight, whom she believes was betrothed to the queen.
Unsure of why she is following Sir Kenway, but determined to escape as far as possible from the castle, her long-time prison, Shadow sets off on an adventure with the handsome knight who has been charged with protecting her. As mystery builds, and romantic tension does, too, Shadow begins to wonder what her role in the kingdom truly is. Soon, she learns, it is up to her to save her land.

Review:

I am a fantasy fan, I can't explain it but it has something to do with my childhood dreams of secretly being a princess, but since those days stories like this one have made me unbelievably happy.

I love the character of Shadow and the plot and all of the subplots. I never knew what to expect and it constantly took me by surprise.

I found Sir Kenway to be quite amazing really, some of the conversations between him and Shadow made me laugh and I felt emotion which is always the most important thing when I read a book.

I felt all of it made sense as well which sometimes fantasy does take imaginative leaps that are hard for me to accept, sometimes things just happen that leave me saying, "Really now? How convenient..." but with Shadow I never got that feeling. Everything had a purpose and everything was believable.

Moss did an awesome job at creating this world, and this story. It reminds me of Graceling actually which is a huge compliment as I adore Graceling. That's the feeling I got while reading it, just with the way she created the world. The plot was completely different and the characters as well, but they were both obviously very well thought out.

I would recommend this books to fantasy fans, or those who are looking for a nice sweet romance.

It will be available April 1!

-Christina