Debut Author Challenge 2011 I am in

Well I decided to bite the bullet and take part Kristi from The Story Siren’s 2011 Debut Author Challenge. Which just happens to be the last day to do so.

When I first heard about it I was thinking about it and then for some reason I thought that the sign ups were closed until I saw on her blog today that this is acutally the last day to sign up. Hopefully I am not too late.

If you want to find out more about it you can click the Sign Up post.

This will tell you all about What is the Debut Author Challenge is all about.

For more info click here. There is actually a list of some of the debut books coming out this year.

I figured since I read alot of YA and MG books that I could do this challenge and I know there is a few debut authors in the pile that I have to read.

My goal is to read at least 12 debut authors. I just quickly looked at the list and I have already read at least two books (XVI and The Water Wars) from the list and I have quite a few sitting here waiting to be read.

Is anyone else taking part in this challenge? To see how I am doing with this challenge you can always check the progress by going into my labels and looking for Challenges-Debut Author 2011.

2011 Debut Author Books Read
The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
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(Meme) Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because they are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. They love sharing their lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week they post a new Top Ten subject. You can read their answers weekly. Everyone is welcome to join and all you have to do is link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND sign Mister Linky at the bottom to share with them and all those who are participating. If you don’t have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Don’t worry if you can’t come up with ten every time…just post what you can!

This weeks topic is Top Ten Books I Just HAD to Buy…But Are Still Sitting on My Bookshelf (You know you have those..:P )



This is my list (if you could only see the rest of them). I admit the reason I bought them was I had seen them on other peoples blogs and they sounded so good. Little did I realize a year later they would still be waiting to be read.

What about you?

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
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(February) Middle Grade Book Challenge


Are you reading middle grade books this month? If so, which titles and from which authors?

The rules again are really simply all you have to do is commit to reading 12+ Middle Grade books and posting your review and then come back and sharing your link in this post. You have from now until December 2011 to complete this challenge.

Just add your blog link/name to the Mr. Linky below. Your blog name and book titles will be fine.

Just to let everyone know I have given it some thought and I think I am going to go ahead and do a monthly giveaway. Please note it won’t be a big prize just because I will be mailing it and I live in Canada so shipping can get kinda of expensive so some ideas will be a gift card for coffee, a bookmark etc.

So the only rules are in order to qualify all you have to do is come back and link your reviews and for every one you add for the month of February will count for one entry into the bowl.

Have fun and happy reading.
Create your own banner at mybannermaker.com!

Julie from Booking Mama is January’s winner. Thanks Julie for taking part.

Please note that SPAM links will be deleted. i verfiy each link that is left.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

It’s Monday What are you reading? # 8

It’s Monday, What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila who blogs at Book Journey.

As I was getting ready to write up this post I realized that I have been doing this now for two months straight. I love taking part in this weekly meme because not only does it make me accountable for what I say I plan on reading this week but it also gives me the chance to see what you are all reading. This is a good and bad thing because after seeing what you guys are reading I am constantly adding books to my wish list.

This is also the last Monday in February and I am so happy its over and looking ahead I can see spring peeking out behind the snow clouds. Just one more month and things should be getting better.

Today was a mix bag of weather from snow, rain, freezing rain and now back to snow. Thankfully its not cold out yet so nothing is freezing but once it does it will be a mess out there with all the slush.

I had to brave the elements and go out. I was hoping that I could have got Michael into the spring break library activity today but it was filled and not one cancellation. It wasn’t a wasted trip because I had over due books (so much for my New Years resolution not to owe late fees) and Michael picked up a few graphic novels to read over the week.

Last week I kept my reading very simple and light. Okay I was basically reading a bunch of graphic novels to see if they were age appropriate for Michael to read. This is what I read:


I am actually looking forward to getting more of the Lunch Lady as I think Michael will really enjoy them. I am also looking forward to borrowing number 2 and 3 in the Max Finder mystery graphic novels when the come in from the library.

Now for this week I plan on reading:


Both books sound really good and I am excited to get into Jill Mansell’s book. I have read her previous five books and enjoyed them. Check back next week for my reviews as they are scheduled for then.

Anyways this is what I read last week and what I plan to read this week. What about you?

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Author(s) Meet Up and Books Bought/Give Away

Today I got the chance to see Catherine McKenzie author of Spin and Arranged. She was at my local Chapters signing Arranged (her newest novel) and Spin.

Its always nice to meet up with a local author and one I have worked with. I enjoy Catherine’s books and I love being able to show case her and her books.

It was great talking to Catherine. She informed me about the Harper Collins Canada March Madness contest. Every year they run this event and you are asked to vote on books in each category. I believe I am able to vote but I can’t enter the contest because you guessed it, its void here in Quebec and valid only in Canada.

Catherine told me that Spin (38%) is up against Water for Elephants (62%). Also included in that is The Day The Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan, Inside Out Girl by Tish Cohen, Alice I think by Susan Juby, Wonderous Strange by Lesley Livingston, Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O’Neill, The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill and Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. Some pretty great Canadians in that first round. If you get the chance why not head over and vote and show your support to some great authors. I know I just did.

The overall previous winners were: 2008 Mystic River by Dennis Lehane, 2009 The judas Strain by James Rollins and 2010 Getting the Girl by Susan Juby.

Catherine also mentioned how some US bloggers are inquiring about getting both her books and you can order them through Amazon.ca and chapters.indigo.ca To save on shipping you could order both books.

Spin
Spin Amazon
Spin Chapters

Arranged
Arranged Amazon
Arranged Chapters

Giveaway Time!!

Of course Catherine graciously signed my ARC of Arranged and I bought a copy of Arranged (the above pic) and its signed by Catherine and I am giving it away to one lucky winner.

All you have to do is fill in the form:

Rules:
-Open to Canadian and US mailing addresses only (Sorry about that but shipping can get expensive to mail elsewhere)
-Valid mailing address no PO Boxes.
-Contest is open until March 2nd Wednesday.
-One entry per person.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

(Review) Will Work For Prom Dress


Title: Will Work For Prom Dress
Author: Aimee Ferris
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Publication Date: February 2011
Pages:272

Source: I received this book as part of an ARC Tour group I am in.

Publisher Comments:
Quigley Johnson has, reluctantly, given up the rest of her last year of high school to take part in her best friend Ann’s Betterment Plan, which will turn them into the best-dressed, most sought-after, most admired girls at their senior formal. Because – hey – who doesn’t want the perfect prom, complete with a dream dress and a devastatingly handsome date?

But the prom costs money – lots of money – and even though the girls could easily have Ann’s mom design their dresses (she’s only Victoria Parisi, one of the most famous designers in the world), Ann insists that they pay their own way. And that’s how Quigley gets stuck making artistic topping masterpieces on frozen pizzas canvases, before becoming a live model for Ms. Parisi’s fashion design class, where she meets Zander.

He’s cute, and cool, and funny, with a killer design sensibility (even if he can’t sketch). But is he too good to be true? And what about David, the hot, talented artist at school, who’s also kind of a jerk, but won’t leave Quigley alone? And Ann – she started the Betterment Plan to improve Quigley and herself, but it seems like it’s ripping their friendship to shreds.

This road to the prom dream may just end in disaster.

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book. When I received this book I for some reason thought that this was a debut author but that’s not the case. Aimee is actually the author of S.A.S.S Girl Overboard which came out in 2007 and its a middle grade book. I will have to keep my eye out for that one.

The main characters are Quigley and her best friend Anne. Anne has come up with a BP (which means a betterment plan) and the goal is to get jobs so that they can get prom dress to go to their prom. I think Anne was sort of a great role model for Quigley because its evident that Anne has money, her mother is a famous fashion designer, (Victoria Parisi) and she could easily afford a prom dress or better yet have her mother design it for her but instead she decided it was better to work for the dresses.

All that is on Anne’s mind is getting the perfect dress and having the perfect boy on her arm for the event. Quigley reluctantly agrees and goes along with her best friend. Figuring they were working towards a goal what could possibly go wrong and how much trouble could they possibly get into?

Little does Quigley realize she is in for the ride of a life time (boy problems, feelings and someone going to jail). Anne manages to get them several jobs such as working an assembly line with frozen pizzas where the girls decide to get creative with the process (which you know, no good will come of this), then Anne gets them hired to work in a dinner theatre, but fails to tell Quigley what roll she will be playing and finally when Anne’s mother, Victoria, offers them a job to model clothes for upcoming designers. Anne jumps at the chance and drags Quigley with her. Little does Quigley realize that this will be the chance of a lifetime and will change their lives dramatically. Will it be the change that the girls want? Good or bad?

I loved the love interest that they girls had especially Quigley who had David (a boy her age and went to school with her) and Zander (who is a little older). You could see that David like her and at times I thought he was a bit of a jerk but realized he was doing it because he liked her. I loved Zander and I have to say that I loved that he was a designer who couldn’t sketch a design if his life depended on it and at one point I must admit that I thought he was a jerk but once I realized what then it all made sense. I liked how you didn’t know who would end up with Quigley in the end. Just as soon as you thought it would be David it flipped and you would think Zander and back and forth. I am really happy with the guy she ended up with.

Thanks to Holly for allowing me to be a part of the ARC Tour for this book.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

(Review) Save As Draft


Title: Save As Draft
Author: Cavanaugh Lee
Publisher:Simon & Schuster
Pages:336
Publication Date:2011/02/01

Source: I received this as a ARC (egalley) from Simon & Schuster’s egalley list.

SAVE AS DRAFT @Readers A love triangle evolving over e-mails, texts, and Facebook messages that makes you wonder if the things we leave unsaid—or rather unsent—could change the story of our lives.
6:59 PM Feb. 14th via twitterfeed

Sent: Monday, February 14, 2011

From: Izabell

To: Reader

Subject: Save as Draft

Are we Facebook friends yet? I’m the wactress (waitress/actress) turned lawyer who lives her life online. (Don’t we all these days?)

Anyway, I’ve got this problem. . . . There’s this guy. His name’s Peter. He’s my best friend and co-worker, and we just started dating, which is potentially a huge mistake. But, that’s not all. There’s this other guy, Marty. I met him on eHarm, and he ran with the bulls in Spain. I can’t get him off my mind. What a mess. I’d love your advice if you can take a second out of your crazy, high-tech life. Shoot me an e-mail. Or text me. Or BB messenger me.

And friend me if you haven’t already! You can find me on Facebook under Save as Draft.

Izabell

My Thoughts:
When I first heard about this book I was curious to read it because its done in the format of emails, texts and facebook messages. Which is a format I have enjoyed in the past with books such as Holly’s Inbox and Meg Cabot’s Boy Meets Girl. A reader is always skeptical because sometimes this format can work and sometimes it can’t but in this case it worked perfectly.

I have to admit at first it was a little rough getting into the book until you get into the swing of things because its goes between emails sent and emails saved to draft but once I got into the book I really enjoyed it and read it fairly quickly. It was a simple and fun read. It was a great way to pass a cold morning curled up on the couch.

Save As Draft is about a young lady named Izabelle (Izzy to her friends) who is lawyer in Atlanta (a city I want to visit one day). Izzy is lonely and dying to meet the guy of her dreams. Realizing that its hard she turns to eHarm (a online dating site) in hopes of perhaps finding the guy. She is curious about the whole online dating and figuring she has nothing to loose decides to register.

The first guy she meets is Marty. Marty sounds like a sweet guy and honestly would be the perfect match for Izzy because they both are huge movie/music buffs and you can see that through out their conversations when they recite lines from movies. Izzy likes Marty.

But IRL (in real life) Izzy has a best guy friend named Peter and he has been there for her and she has had a serious secret crush on him for a long time but little does Izzy know but Peter feels the same way. Could this possibly work?

Izzy is stuck between a rock and a hard place once Peter makes his move. Who does she chose Marty or Peter?

I have to say I was torn about both guys and loved them both and didn’t know who would be better for her. Both guys had pros and cons. Thankfully Izzy is the one who had to make the decision and not me.

I realized as I was reading this book just how much we communicate via emails, texts and facebook. Thankfully I can say I am not a huge texter but I know a lot of people who are and wonder how we would survive if we didn’t have these forms of communication? I personally can say that I am lost if I can’t check my emails or facebook on a daily bases. Am I the only like this?

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.