Author: Cindy

(Review) The Ghost and the Goth

Posted on by Cindy


TITLE: The Ghost and the Goth
AUTHOR: Stacey Kade
PUB DATE: July 2010
PUBLISHER: Hyperion Books for Children
PAGES: 288

SOURCE: I received this from Tynga at Tynga’s Reviews that she had donated to an ARC tour that I am a part of. Thanks Tynga for donating this book to the arc tour.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
After a close encounter with the front end of a school bus, Alona Dare goes from Homecoming Queen to Queen of the Dead. Now she’s stuck here in spirit form with no sign of the big, bright light coming to take her away. To make matters worse, the only person who might be able to help her is Will Killian, a total loser/outcast type who hates the social elite. He alone can see and hear her, but he wants nothing to do with the former mean girl of Groundsboro High.

Can they get over their mutual distrust—and this weird attraction between them—to work together before Alona vanishes for good and Will is locked up for seeing things that don’t exist?

MY THOUGHTS:
I believe that this is Stacey’s debut novel, please let me know if this is wrong. She is also a author from the Chicago area. (Another favorite city of mine)

When I first heard about The Ghost and The Goth I was very curious about it because it sounded like a good book so when I saw this on the arc tour site I quickly jumped at the chance to sign up for it. I am so happy that I got to read this because I really enjoyed it. I also thought that the cover suited the book very well. I thought that the cover represented Alona and Will very well.

The book is told in alternating points of view from Alona and Will. Which worked really well for the book because we were able to find out more about Will and Alona.

Alona is your typical high school girl, popular but she is also the mean girl. Sneaking out of gym class to make a call on her cell, she doesn’t watch where she is going and accidentally gets hit my a school bus. She dies instantly although she really doesn’t go away where. She is stuck between two worlds.

Will is your typical high school guy the out cast goth guy. The only thing that sets Will apart is that he is diagnosed with schizophrenia (but he really isn’t) and he is the only one who can see Alona along with the rest of the ghosts he is surrounded by.

Alona quickly realizes that she really isn’t that well liked among her classmates and she is quickly forgotten. Being a ghost she quickly discovers that her so called best friend and boyfriend have been hooking up and she never knew about it. There is even talk about Alona actually killing herself, which isn’t true.

When Alona realizes that Will can see her, she quickly realizes that she has to use Will to get to go where she needs to go, heaven. She has never liked Will but over the course of the book you see that she has changed her opinion of him. I loved the chemistry between the two and I laughed at a few incidents between them such as the bed breaking.

Can these two work together before its too late?

I really enjoyed the book even though its paranormal and I have to say its not your usual paranormal book there is no vampires, werewolves etc just a ghost trying to find her way to where she is suppose to be.

There is going to be a sequel called The Queen of the Dead coming out on June 7, 2011. I can’t wait for this one to come out.

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) Fledgling: Jason Steed

Posted on by Cindy


TITLE: Fledgling: Jason Steed
AUTHOR: Mark A. Cooper
PUB DATE: September 2010
PAGES: 240
PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

SOURCE: I received an Advance Readers Copy from Paul at Sourcebooks when I met up with him this summer.

COVER: I just noticed that the finished copy of the cover is different from the ARC edition and the difference is the shadow of the guy isn’t on the ARC copy. Still the same I like the cover.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Tormented by his mother’s death…
Taken for granted by his father…
Trained in deadly martial arts…

Jason Steed is looking for a place to call home. He finds what he’s looking for in the Sea Cadets—an elite group of British youngsters being groomed for lifelong service in the military. But when a routine training exercise goes awry, Jason finds himself in the middle of a secret mission. The future of the world hangs in the balance…and Jason might be the only one who can save it.

MY THOUGHTS:
I never heard about this book until Paul handed it to me when I meet up with him this summer and he raved about it so I was curious about it so I read a bit of the first chapter and I have been dying to read it every since then but with it only coming out in September I decided to wait.

Well I picked up this weekend to read and I have to say I really really enjoyed it and had a hard time to put it down.

The book takes place in 1963 and I have to say honestly that most books like this doesn’t appeal to me but I have to admit that very quickly it didn’t feel like I was reading the book in that time period and at times I was like What? One example of this is when Jason is in Catherine’s bedroom and there is a picture of Jimmy Osmond and the Osmond’s hanging on her wall.

Jason is an eleven year old boy who is fearless (saves the Queen’s daughter and stands up to bullies), independent (this is due to the fact that his mother died when Jason was born and his father is always away because he is a naval officer in Her Majesty’s Navy) and a learner (learned how to speak Chinese and karate, he is the youngest to hold a black belt plus several other belts as well).

Jason has grown up in Hong Kong which lead him to wanting to learn to speak Chinese and to learn karate. In Hong Kong he developed his skill to the much surprise of many people who said he would never get his black belt because he was too young but he proved them all wrong.

When his father comes home from the Navy he informs Jason that they will be moving to London. This is something Jason isn’t all the keen on but quickly makes the most of it and wants to join the Sea Cadets even if it means lying about his age. In sea cadets he impresses his instructors with his skill and knowledge.

For summer vacation Jason will be spending it with Sea Cadets and doing some training with his regiment and several others from the UK although what seems like a harmless training quickly turns into a life and death situation. Will Jason be able to get out alive? Will what he’s learned be able to help him and others survive? Curious to know what its all about? Then go and pick up the book.

I think this would be a great book for a reluctant male reader because there is enough going in action to hold there attention plus its a quick read and not alot of pages.

What you might not know is that Fledgling, Jason Steel was actually self published in 2008 and it developed a huge following that Sourcebooks decided to take over and reprint the book.

Book two is called Boudica, Jason Steed and there is no release date as of yet and a book three is in the works.

Here is what Boudica, Jason Steed is about:
Triad Oath: If any of my sworn brothers are killed or arrested, I shall seek revenge.

If I do not do so I will be killed by myriads of swords.

Boudica; the Dragon Leader of the shadowy criminal organization known as

the Triads, has her evil plan exposed by Scotland Yard Undercover Intelligence

Unit. When she finds out it was with the help of Jason Steed who she had

once trusted. Jason finds himself in the cross hairs of an unforgiving blood

thirsty predator with harrowing consequences.

You can check out Mark A Cooper‘s website by clicking on his name. There is alot of great info to go along with the book on there.

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) Running Around (and such)

Posted on by Cindy


TITLE: Running Around (and such) Lizzie Searches for Love Book 1
AUTHOR: Linda Byler
PUB DATE: May 2010
PUBLISHER: Good Books
PAGES: 324

SOURCE: I received this book from FSB. Thanks for sending me this book.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
CAN LIZZIE FIND HAPPINESS IN HER AMISH COMMUNITY OR WILL SHE HAVE TO SETTLE FOR SOMETHING LESS THAN HER DREAMS?

Lizzie Glick longs to fit into her quiet Amish community. Her sisters, Emma and Mandy, are ready to get married and settle into the traditional rhythm of having children and keeping house. But Lizzie isn’t sure that’s what she wants for her future. It isn’t that Lizzie doesn’t want to stay Amish. It’s just that there’s so much to figure out!

Stephen, her quiet, gentle friend, hints that he might be interested in a relationship deeper than friendship, but Lizzie is also drawn to the charming Amos who seems to have eyes for everyone but her.

She has certainly attracted the attention of the egg-truck driver. A thrill runs through her every time the worldly man comes to pick up an order, each time extending his stay a little longer. How long will she keep this a secret from Emma — and Mam and Datt? (mom and dad)

What will become of Lizzie? She has too hot a temper. She hates housework and dislikes babies. She loves driving fast horses but is petrified of going away from home for a week to work as a maud (maid). Is she too spirited, too innocent, and almost too uninhibited for a young Amish woman?

MY THOUGHTS
I am a fan of Amish fiction and have been since I started blogging. I am not quite sure what it is that I truly enjoy about them, perhaps its the way they live and how they can maintain a life without the modern convinces of the world. I know I take for granted all that have and wonder what it would be like to live a simply life, although I know I could never do it.

One thing I have discovered from reading Amish fiction is that no matter what we are all the same and deal with the same problems and issues but it seems like the Amish have a better way with dealing with it and handling the situations.

I really enjoyed reading Running Around. This is the first book in the Lizzie Searches for Love series with book two called When Strawberries Bloom scheduled to be released in October 2010 and book three Big Decisions scheduled to be released in March 2011. All of which I am excited to read.

Running Around (and such) is about Lizzie Glick and she is your typical fifteen year old teenager who is trying to fit in and feel loved by her family. She has two sisters, Emma and Mandy who seems to be the favorite children (in Lizzie’s eyes) that seem to do no wrong.

Emma is sixteen and looking to get married and start a family which Lizzie doesn’t want. Lizzie is unsure about her future and what she wants to do which is like all teenagers today. I don’t think I would want to be married at such a young age but I guess if that is what you know then its okay.

When Lizzie is told that she must go out to work (we quickly find out that Lizzie is just like your typical teenager who doesn’t want to go out to work or do anything). Her first job is working on a egg farm where she will check the eggs and stamp them for sale. Its on this job that she catches the attention of an older guy who is English who comes to pick up his order. Lizzie knows this is wrong but yet it thrills her. Will she be able to keep this secret from her family and what will they do when they find out?

I managed to read this over several days and really enjoyed it. I am curious about Lizzie and what she will get into in the next book.

There was only two little things that bothered me about the book and that was the mention of shoofly pie that her mother was making, there was no recipe for this (in the back of the book there is eight of Lizzie’s favorite recipes) but I did get the recipe from Donna at Books Bound who found it online and sent it too me. The other thing that bothered me was the weight issue. From looking at the cover you wouldn’t think that Lizzie had a problem but in the book there is several references to it and if it really was an issue I wonder why the mother would continue to make such sweet treats?

Over all I enjoyed the book and in the back of the book along with a glossary of Amish terms that were used in the book was like I said above eight of Lizzie’s Favorite Recipes which included: baked macaroni and cheese, molasses cookies (which I love), chicken stew, creamsticks, apple pie with crumb topping, red beet eggs, homemade baked beans and whoopie pies.

I actually made the Whoopie Pies and they were delicious. I have been craving whoopie Pies for a while so when I started this book and saw the recipe I decided to make some. Don’t they look good?

Thanks again FSB for sending me this book. Looking forward to reading the next two books in the series.

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.

Magazine Monday

Posted on by Cindy

Its that time of the week again where I highlight the magazines I got this past week. Did you get any? This week’s post is all bought magazines.

BOUGHT:
Parents October 2010
Family Fun October 2010
Womans World October 4th
People October 4th
Us Weekly October 4th

PICKED UP FOR FREE:
Montreal Families

Montreal Families is a local magazine that is filled with great articles and activities happening in the city in October. With school back in there is always a head lice note that is sent home so knowing what to do is important. I know some cities in the US has this type of magazine out. I love reading this because I am able to find out what is happening in the city (I live in the burbs and this info is not always known to us) for family activities and can plan outings this way.

This week in US Weekly they mentioned the new show starting on TLC called Sister Wives. Is anyone going to watch it?

One article that I enjoyed reading was Homeless to Harvard author ” I can finally give back?” Liz Murray’s new book Breaking Night just came out and its already hit the New York Times Best Seller List. In 2003 there was actually a lifetime movie made about her. She was born in NYC to drug addicted parents with HIV. Growing up when her and her sister had no food they took to eating chapstick and toothpaste. They went to school disoriented from hunger and made fun of because of their dirty clothes and lice. Liz’s mother died from aids and when she was 15 her life spiraled out of control she was dating a druggie and living in sleazy motel rooms. It took a woman down the hall to be murdered to make Liz snap out of it and make a change. I loved the message behind her story and that is to “take responsibility over your own life and don’t blame others for your misfortune.”

I didn’t notice this click here to see it until I got home in this past weeks issue of People magazine. I enjoyed the article on Marlo Thomas, did you know she has a book coming out September 28th called Growing Up Laughing: My Story and the Story of Funny? I also enjoyed the article on Jennifer Grey. Wonder how far she will get on Dancing With The Stars?

I always pick up Family Fun because its a great monthly magazine. Always filled with a ton of crafts and things to do that we love doing on ped days. This issue was the Halloween issue so there was custom ideas and some great crafts. I will include some pictures next month.

Parents magazine is something I don’t always pick up unless there is something on the cover that peaks my interest. This month there was several headlines that caught my attention such as the Halloween section (costumes, games and treats), bully proof your child (although this really isn’t an issue at Michael’s school), bake sale treats (always nice to read for ideas) and finlly a grocery list make over.

Once I started to flip through the magazine I realized that the grocery list make over wasn’t what I thought it was going to be. I actually thought a make over instead it was an alphabet of different foods to add to your list such as egg plant, fava beans, hummus etc. I ended up enjoying the article Remedies for the Witching Hour, surefire strategies for preventing evening meltdowns. Having kids you know how stressfull dinner time can be and making it through that hour is critical without someone loosing their cool. Some of the tips were before beginning your evening routine get outside for a bit to unwind, have a kiddie cocktail hour, get kids involved in meal prep, and a few others.

This is what I read and enjoyed, 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.

Local Book Blogger Meet Up September Edition

Posted on by Cindy

One of the best things I love since starting my blog two years ago is getting to meet up monthly with fellow book lovers/bloggers Avis, Donna, Linda and Tina. Since the last meet up in August I was contacted by another local blogger wanting to take part in our meet ups, so on Sunday (today) we all got to meet Amanda from the blogTales and Treats. If you haven’t checked out this new blogger be sure to hop on over and say hi.

By the way if you happen to be in the Montreal area and would love to join us please contact me or any of the other bloggers for info.

We met at our regular tea shop for some great drinks and food. I love their spicy hot apple drink because its a great fall drink and of course the hot chocolate was really good. Although towards the end I was thinking of ordering a cold drink because the tea shop was very warm but in the end changed my mind.

We exchanged books and I was able to pass on a few titles to the group and I came home with only two borrowed books that are Linda’s and they were:

I love reading manga’s since discovering them earlier this year. I find them to be a great read in between books and also because they are pretty much a quick and easy read. I still have a bunch that I picked up earlier this year at a library book sale that I am slowly starting to dig into.

During our meet ups we always talk about out blogs, books (such as what we are reading, getting in the mail, waiting for etc), our lives (what we are doing outside of reading and blogging) and really pretty much of anything that comes to mind. Of course there was talk about BEA again and so far Donna and Linda will probably be going. The rest of us aren’t sure yet. I have mentioned that I am really hoping that BEA and ALA will join forces for 2012 and have BEA in Chicago because I know I can and will be able to pull that trip off.

This meeting there was a bit of excitement happening in the neighborhood, actually at the next corner. We were sitting and talking when we were seeing all kinds of firetrucks going by we discovered there was a fire in one of the triplex’s. Thankfully no one was seriously hurt. So in case you read Donna’s post about the meet up and was wondering what she meant by firemen you will now why. I admit I like a man in a uniform as this was an on going joke at the table.

So this was our meet up looking forward to the October one.

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) Late, Late at Night (cd)

Posted on by Cindy

Tonight Rick Springfield is in town doing his intimate concert (the venue he is playing at isn’t very big). I sadly didn’t get to go and that was because of the price of the tickets that held me back especially with back to school essentials, going to BEA and then Chicago this summer took away a good chuck of money.

As you can see in the photo below I got to meet Rick Springfield this past May when he was at BEA promoting his up coming memoir called Late, Late at Night. If you are a fan you realize the title of his book comes from the song Jessie’s Girl.

When I was planning my BEA schedule and stumbled upon the fact Rick was going to be there I got excited and I have to admit I made it my mission that I was going to meet him and get his book signed. As you can see I did get to meet him but there wasn’t any books being signed instead he was signing this:

This is actually like a folder. The inside flaps are covered with photos of Rick, album covers, tshirts, buttons, magazines and notes. Then behind those flaps is a two page sample of the book, a note from Rick and info about his book plus a CD of his top 40 hits such as Jessie’s Girl, Don’t Talk to Strangers, Affair of the Heart, Human Touch, Love Somebody and many more.

I was excited to get this cd because I have to admit I do have a bunch of Rick Springfield cassettes, yes you read that right cassettes, so its nice to finally have my favorite songs on cd now.

I love the cd and I have played it way too many times according to Michael. Hey I am a Springfield fan what can I say?

I am anxiously awaiting October 12th for the release of his memoir Late, Late at Night.

About the book:
In a searingly candid memoir which he authored himself, Grammy Award-winning pop icon Rick Springfield pulls back the curtain on his image as a bright, shiny, happy performer to share the startling story of his rise and fall and rise in music, film, and television and his lifelong battle with depression.

In the 1980s, singer-songwriter and actor Rick Springfield seemed to have it all: a megahit single in “Jessie’s Girl,” sold-out concert tours, follow-up hits that sold more than 17 million albums and became the pop soundtrack for an entire generation, and 12 million daily viewers who avidly tuned in to General Hospital to swoon over his portrayal of the handsome Dr. Noah Drake. Yet lurking behind his success as a pop star and soap opera heartthrob and his unstoppable drive was a moody, somber, and dark soul, one filled with depression and insecurity.

In Late, Late at Night, the memoir his millions of fans have been waiting for, Rick takes readers inside the highs and lows of his extraordinary life. By turns winningly funny and heartbreakingly sad, every page resonates with Rick’s witty, wry, self-deprecating, brutally honest voice. On one level, he reveals the inside story of his ride to the top of the entertainment world. On a second, deeper level, he recounts with unsparing candor the forces that have driven his life, including his longtime battle with depression and thoughts of suicide, the shattering death of his father, and his decision to drop out at the absolute peak of fame. Having finally found a more stable equilibrium, Rick’s story is ultimately a positive one, deeply informed by his passion for creative expression through his music, a deep love of his wife of twenty-six years and their two sons, and his life-long quest for spiritual peace.

Can you believe that he is actually 61 years old?

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) The Aristobrats

Posted on by Cindy

ABOUT THE BOOK
It’s all about the Attitude

Parker Bell knows the secret to beauty is pretty simple–wearing the right clothes isn’t as important as how you feel in them. Popularity is like that too. It’s all about attitude. You have to picture who you want to be and then just imagine that’s who you already are.

This year Parker and her three best friends have made their way to the top of the populadder at Wallingford Academy. And they’re ready to use their Aristobrat status to help spread positive vibes throughout the school. But when the girls are assigned to produce the seriously lame school webcast, their popularity plummets! Will this tragedy destroy the girls’ status? Or their friendship? Or both?

TITLE: The Aristobrats
AUTHOR: Jennifer Solow
PUB DATE: September 2010
PAGES: 224
PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
SOURCE: ARC was picked up when I went on a tour of Sourcebooks. Thanks Kay.

MY THOUGHTS:
One of the best things about blogging in my opinion is getting the chance to read an author that you might not normally read or heard about. This is the case with Jennifer Solow, I have never heard of this author before getting the chance to read The Aristobrats. She actually has another book out called THE BOOSTER and it came out in 2006 in hardcover and then 2007 in paperback.

THE ARISTOBRATS is her first middle grade book. All I have to say is that this is a fantastic middle grade book and a must read.

I am no where near being a middle grader but that didn’t stop me from enjoying this book because Parker and her three best friends (Kiki, Plum, and Ikea) are going through what I went through and that was to be accepted. Although in their case they are aiming to be popular.

Parker is entering the 8th grade and she says this will be the best year ever because she will get her dream guy (Tribb), she will climb to the top of the populadder, and in what I call ruling the school. Do you remember saying that? I sadly do remember saying that when I was in elementary school but that changed once I hit junior high school.

Things start out okay but we all know that even though it looks great it will quickly turn for the worse and thats what happened in a blink of an eye its gone and the girls are fighting to gain in back. The girls are forced to produced the school’s lame webcast show and for Parker she might be forced to leave the private school, Wallingford Academy because her mother might not be able to afford the tuition.

Will the girls be able to turn the lame school webcast (with no viewers) into something special that will leave the school talking or will it ruin the girls friendships?

I love it when I can relate to something in the book and there was one part that I could relate to and that was when Tribb is talking to Parker near the end of the book about them being friends only. You can tell Parker is a little hurt (heart broken) by this and who wouldn’t be and if I could tell Parker one thing from my perspective is that he might have hurt you but 20 some years later you could end up with a great friend.

I love the cover of the book because its a cover that actually goes with the book (something we rarely see) such as the school crest, the friendship rings and the picture of the girls.

I am curious if this will become a series. I hope it does as I would love to see what happens to Parker.

If you are curious about Jennifer Solow then check out her blog.

Thanks again to Kay at Sourcebooks for providing me with this book to read and review.

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.