Author: Cindy

School of Possibilites Review

Posted on by Cindy


TITLE: School of Possibilities
AUTHOR: Seth Parkkola
PUB DATE: June 2010
PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
PAGES: 368
GENRE: Juvenile Fiction/Middle Grade

ABOUT THE BOOK
Storm Steele is an impossible child.

Or so his parents believe thanks to the influence of his evil “step-monster.” Now Storm is being forced to attend the School of Possibilities for troubled youth. But Storm notices that something strange is going on at his new school. The students are not…normal.

Soon he’s being spied on, followed by classmates—and worst of all, forced to accept the headmaster’s perfectly behaved daughter as his girlfriend. He can feel himself becoming more obedient, more like his classmates. Storm tries to resist, but he doesn’t understand how or why the school is controlling him.

Can Storm escape—or will he be turned into a zombie of “good” behavior like everyone else around him?

MY THOUGHTS
I want to send out a huge thank you to Kay at Sourcebooks Jabberwocky for sending me an advance readers copy of the School of Possibilities.

I have to let you know that I did enjoy reading this book and really got into it near the end where I was having a hard time to put it down because I had to know what happened.

The book is told in the first person, Storm and he is your typical 12 year old boy. What gets him into trouble is the fact that he hopped on a train going no where really and gets caught. He has done this a few times.

His parents aren’t together anymore and his dad is with his new girlfriend Verity. She has a daughter, Mona. Verity works at the School of Possibilities and offers to get Storm into the school as his last chance to change his life around because in her words he is labelled as an impossible child.

As I was reading this I kept thinking that this is like the movie The Stepford Wives. How everything has to be perfect and everyone is like zombies and you basically sell your soul to the devil and obey every rule and be like everyone except yourself.

When Storm enters the school he is told that he must give up his favorite past time which is skate boarding and find a new hobby and get new friends because basically what he has now just is working for him as the headmaster says.

He quickly realizes that this isn’t an ordinary school. The adults are in charge and all the students are like zombies with no real thoughts of their own. They are told how to behave and if you don’t you have consequences and are disciplined with some rather odd methods such as they use the model of the hangman game for every wrong behavior you get a mark.

Of course it seems like the odds are stacked against Storm and it makes you feel as though they are setting him up to fail instead of helping him. He receives his first punishment and that is a girlfriend and she just happens to be the headmaster’s daughter, Bridgette.

As you are reading this you can’t help but want to root for Storm and see him succeed. The only question is can Storm escape before its too late?

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.

BEA 2010 Top 10 Books I Missed Out On

Posted on by Cindy

As you know I was lucky enough to go to BEA 2010 this year and get some of the books that I had really wanted but with that being said I also had a little wish list of books that I would have loved to get but couldn’t because

  • I was some where else on the exhibit floor when they were being handed out
  • there was a long line of people to get the book
  • when I got to the front of the line there was nothing left (this was either do to them handing out more the one book, the lines were longer then expected and groups of people cutting the lines ie a friend or two waiting in line and then coming back to jump in. I really don’t mind one or two but when its more then that its just not right or fair to the others standing in line before you who have been waiting longer then you.)

Anyways my good friend Avis from She Reads and Reads who always was at BEA with me posted her list of books that she missed out on. So I thought I would share my wish list of books that I missed out on:

  1. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
  2. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
  3. I am number four by Pittacus Lore
  4. Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen
  5. Witch & Wizard: The Gift by James Patterson
  6. Girl Parts by John M. Cusick
  7. Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales
  8. Wildthorne by Jane Eagland
  9. Virals by Kathy Reichs
  10. Firelight by Sophie Jordan

    This is my list of books. Do any of these tickle your fancy? If you went to BEA were there any books you missed out on?

    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.

The Truth About Delilah Blue TLC Tour & Review

Posted on by Cindy



TITLE: The Truth About Delilah Blue
AUTHOR: Tish Cohen
PUD DATE: June 2010
PUBLISHER: Harper Perennial
PAGES: 409

ABOUT THE BOOK

Delilah Blue has always been a bit of an outsider, ever since she moved from Toronto to Los Angeles when she was eight. Twenty now, and desperate to become an artist like her long-lost mother but unable to pay for classes, she takes a job as an art model so she can learn from the professors as the students draw parts of her she’d much rather keep under wraps.

Her only real companion in life is her father, a dapper, single salesman. But as he’s entered his mid-fifties, he has begun to forget simple tasks and is often disoriented—telltale signs of early-onset Alzheimer’s. The disease presents itself just as Delilah’s long-estranged mother, who Delilah always believed selfishly abandoned the family, reenters the scene and reveals a secret about the past that will permanently change their lives.

MY THOUGHTS
I have to send out a huge thank you to Trish from TLC Book Tours for allowing me to be a part of this tour and to Harper Perennial for sending me the book.

I have to say that The Truth about Delilah Blue started out very slow for me and then at about chapter seven it started picking up for me to the point that I was having a hard time to put it down.

The reader knows Lila Mack as a 20 year old struggling artist in California. But what we soon realize is that she previously was Delilah Blue Lovett, a youngster living in Toronto with her mother, Elisabeth and visiting her father, Victor when it was his turn to have his daughter. On one of the planned visits when she is eight, Victor actually kidnaps Delilah because he doesn’t like the lifestyle his ex is leading. He tells her they are going to Disney World in Florida but in reality he is taking her to California. Once in California he dyes her hair, gives her a new name and a new place to live.

Lila has always been interested in the art world and always wondered about her mother who is also an artist. Lila has no money to afford going to college so in order to get her art education she decides she will pose nude for the art class at the college and listen to the professor and take away what she learns and when she goes home she will put what she learned to work.

Victor is a successful medical supplies salesman and things are going good but quickly his world is about to change. As is Delilah’s world is about to be rocked. She is not only having to deal with her father’s problems but also that of her mothers who happens to reenter Delilah’s world.

Elisabeth manages to track down Delilah. She has alot to tell Delilah not only about her new life but also a family secret that is going to rock Delilah’s world. How is she going to handle this news bomb?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tish Cohen is the author of Town House, a 2008 finalist for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize Best First Book Award (Canada and Caribbean region), and in development as a feature film with Fox 2000. The film is being produced by Ridley Scott’s Scott Free and will be directed by John Carney, the award-winning, critically acclaimed director of Once. Production is set to begin in New England in 2008. Town House was released to massive media interest in Canada, has been published in Italy, and will be released in Germany in April 2009.

Cohen has also written the preteen novel The Invisible Rules of Zoe Lama, a bestseller in Canada, which was published in 2007. The sequel, The One and Only Zoe Lama, will be published in summer 2008.The Zoe Lama series is in development as a live action TV series with 9Story Entertainment.

Cohen has contributed articles to some of Canada’s largest newspapers, including The Globe and Mail and The National Post. Having grown up in Los Angeles and Orange County in California, and Montreal, Cohen now calls Toronto home. Inside Out Girl is Cohen’s second novel for adults.

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.

The Pony Whisperer: The Word On The Yard Review

Posted on by Cindy


TITLE: The Pony Whisperer Book 1 The Word On The Yard
AUTHOR: Janet Rising
PUB DATE: June 2010
PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
PAGES: 199

ABOUT THE BOOK
Pia has always told her pony everything…but now he’s talking back!

It’s hard being the new girl in town—new school, new stable, new rivalries. It seems Pia’s only friend is her pony, Drummer. But horses can’t talk…can they?

Suddenly, all the horses are talking—to Pia! Now she can understand Drummer, and does he have a lot to say! Who knew this sweet-looking horse would have such an attitude. When news of Pia’s pony-whispering power spreads, her popularity grows and she finally feels like she belongs…that’s when everything starts to go wrong.

*Please note that book cover and about the book were taken from the Sourcebooks site.*

MY THOUGHTS
This was orginally published in 2009 in the UK but Sourcebooks has bought the US rights to the book. Its a smash hit in the UK.

I want to thank Heather from Sourcebooks for sending me The Pony Whisperer: The Word on the Yard to read and review. This is such a cute and fun book to read. The perfect book for middle grade girls and/or girls who love pony/horses.

Pia and her pony, Drummer have had to move because her parents got divorced. She moved with her mom. So everyone is starting new. Of course when you move somewhere new its always hard to fit in. Pia is having a hard time adjusting to a new place and before long it seems like Pia is quickly made an enemy out of Cat who thinks she is all that. Can Pia and Cat get along?

When Pia takes Drummer for a ride, he is excited to be out and about that it seems like he has thrown her off him. She lands to the ground. Getting up she notices this strange stone and picks it up. This little statue is going to change Pia’s life.

While holding it she hears a voice, she looks around but sees no one but Drummer. She quickly realizes its Drummer speaking. Is that even possible? Word gets out and before Pia realizes it she is popular and in demand.

With her new popularity and power “Pony Whisperer” she gets invited to do a tv show. With all the excitement she forgets her statue and wonders if her gig is up? Thankfully James comes to her rescue but will he spill the beans?

I was pleasantly surprised while I was reading this because Michael saw me reading it and he asked me about the book and I was telling him what it was about and he said he would like to read it. (have it read to him)

Anyways the next book in the series is called Pony Whisperer: Team Challenge and Sourcebooks will be publishing this book very soon. I am not sure when but as soon as I find out I will share it with you.

Thanks again Heather for sending this book to me.

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.

The Turning Book 1: What Curiosity Kills

Posted on by Cindy

TITLE: The Turning Book 1: What Curiosity Kills
AUTHOR: Helen Ellis
PUB DATE: May 2010
PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Fire
PAGES: 224

ABOUT THE BOOK
Mary Richards is a normal sixteen-year-old girl living in Manhattan. Well, almost normal. She goes to private school on the Upper East Side, having been saved from a life of squalor by an adoptive family. But she’s also slowly transforming into a cat.

Struggling to hide her physical metamorphosis, Mary discovers that she isn’t alone. A whole race of cat people prowls the streets of Manhattan at night, including Mary’s long-time crush, Nick.

Aside from heightened feline senses, hanging out with Nick is the best thing about discovering her inner kitty. But Mary’s transformation is special and could decide the outcome of a citywide turf war. She must decide whether to embrace her powerful feline side and become a pack leader or go back to being a normal teenage girl. Can she land on her feet or will curiosity be her downfall?

summary from Goodreads.com

MY THOUGHTS

I was really lucky to get to meet the lovely Helen Ellis in person when she stopped by the Sourcebooks booth at BEA. The Turning Book 1 What Curiosity Kills has been on my radar for a little while now and after meeting Helen I ended up tracking down her book in NYC and I ended up buying it.

This is Paul from Sourcebooks, myself and Helen.

It was a pleasure to talk to Helen at BEA. She spoke briefly about her book, which happens to be her first YA book and the first in a series of upcoming books. After listening to her speak I decided I would pick up the book. It was later that night when I checked my emails in the hotel and discovered a truly beautiful email from her. She is super sweet. If I could have found a bookstore open at 2:30 AM I would have rushed out to buy the book then and there. Hence it would have to wait.

On the Monday following my trip from NYC, I decided that once Michael was on the bus I would come home and curl up on the couch and start to read THE TURNING. All I have to say in my opinion is “Curiosity killed this cat!”. I absolutely loved the book and I am not just saying that because Helen will read this.

The Turning managed to suck me almost right away. So much so that I barely put the book down and was determined to read this all before Michael got off the bus at 3:50pm. I did manage to read this in one sitting and to finish it in plenty of time before Michael got off the bus.

Mary and Octavia are adopted sisters living with a loving family in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Mary is almost like your typical 16 year old although she is a little different while your normal typical 16 year old girls worry about how they look, boys and clothes, Mary is trying to figure out what is happening to her.

When she lets a cat into her bathroom, the cat brushes up against her causing Mary to start growing clumps of fur. She is freaked out and not sure what is happening.

When her crush, Nick suddenly starts talking to her, he begins to fill in the pieces of the puzzle and helps her to shape shift into a cat. Octavia witnesses this and is freaked out. Slowly she confides into Mary about why she is freaked out about cats. I know I was curious to find out why she was freaked out about cats.

Octavia is determined to help Mary out but will they be able to before its too late?

I am so excited and curious to read the next book although I can’t seem to find out when it will be happening. I am dying to know what will happen to Mary.

You can check outHelen Ellis’s Websiteto see what fun and exciting things she is up too.

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 Happenings In My Neck of Woods

Posted on by Cindy

ABOUT THE BOOK
Montrealers Carmen and Caitlin are finally ready for another vacation in Florida, but Miami may be even more dangerous than it was during their last trip. Caitlin’s fiance, Mike, is already there for work. While waiting for the duo at a posh new development, he makes a connection with one of the complex’s permanent residents – a Hispanic beauty whose family is well known to police. After Mike survives a harrowing experience of his own, he becomes convinced that the husband of his new female friend has a double operating within the high-security building. Is Mike imagining things? Or is a major crime happening right under their noses?

Who Sheila Kindellan-Sheehan
What Signing of the fifth novel in the Caitlin Donovan series, The Dead
Ringer.
When Saturday June 12, 2010, from 12 noon to 3:30 pm
Where Chapters Pointe Claire, 6321 Trans Canada Highway/Complexe
Pointe-Claire (across the street from Fairview Shopping Centre)

One of my favorite things to do is wonder around local bookstores looking at books with no particular title or author in mind and talking to the staff. Upon a recent visit and talking to a staffer I was recommended this book & author.

I was handed the book and proceeded to read that back and I was curious by the storyline so I picked it up. I have to say I haven’t read the book yet and probably won’t get to read in time of the book signing but I wanted to spot light this local author and her booksigning in case any local readers of this blog would be interested in it.

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.

Bloggiesta Summer Edition 2010 Starting Post

Posted on by Cindy

So its a little before 8am. I officially won’t be starting till 8:30am that is when I get back from taking Michael to his bus stop.

Don’t forget at anytime I think you can still sign up to take part all you have to do is go visit Maw Books to join. Its alot of fun.

So the first thing I plan on doing is tackling my labels/tags and bringing some kind of order to them and then perhaps condensing a few together. That will probably take awhile and then I plan on tackling my email and calendar.

Good luck everyone.

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.