Author: Cindy

New Release Day in Books #2

Posted on by Cindy

Its New Release Tuesday. This is what is being released today and I was lucky enough to get advance readers copy. This is a brand new series for middle grade readers that Sourcebooks/Jabberwacky has gotten the US rights too.

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.

UPCOMING BOOK:
Book 2 is called Team Challenge and its supposed to be released December 1st, 2010.

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?

All the info contained in this post is from the Sourcebooks website.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
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On This Day Last Week (Tuesday)

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I meant to add this to yesterday’s post but didn’t get the chance so I will start off saying that I really enjoyed my stay at the Hampton Inns Madison Square Garden. The staff was super friendly from the time of check in (even with the slight credit card problem) to the time of check out.

This is our room. I am in the far bed close to the window. When they say NY hotel rooms are small they are not lying. The room was super comfortable and honestly it felt like I was staying in someone’s bedroom and not a hotel.

It was an early morning for me on Tuesday. I was woke up by the construction going out on the street or the building across the way from the hotel. I was surprised at how early it happens though.

One of the perks was the hot/cold breakfast that was served daily. The selection was amazing. They always had fresh fruit, yogurt and eggs out.

As we were walking down Broadway we stumbled upon the Snapple people and they were giving away FREE bottles of Snapple juice and of course I was super excited to see what it was and practically did a happy dance right there in front of the Snapple people.

This is the Bret Michael’s drink “Trop-A-Rocka” He was the winner of Celebrity Apprentice. The drink was delicious. Fingers crossed that it will make its way to Canada very soon. If not I will be hitting up the stores when I go to Chicago. [There is where I admit I have a crush on Bret :)]

I met up with the Montreal bloggers early that morning and we made our way to:

This was my first time visiting the Strand and wow what a bookstore. They had several floors of books. I looked around the first floor, the second floor at the YA and children’s books and then made my way to the basement to check out their review books.

Of course no trip to the Strand wouldnt’ be complete with buying: (totebags and books)


I bought:

  • This is New York by M. Sasek (Michael and I were talking about this one before I went and he said he would like to have it so I was happy to pick up this for him.)

  • Dream Life by Lauren Mechling

  • Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev

  • I Now Promounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan

  • 5 postcards (not pictured)

I also managed to pick up a few Strand bookmarks as well that they had on the counter.

We also decided to check out the hidden gem of Housing Works . What a cute looking used bookstore they have. I meant to take some pictures but I was too busy looking around. I ended up buying 6 books at $3 each.

This is where we parted ways with Donna and her husband and the rest of us went to Wendy’s for lunch after much searching for a place to eat. After lunch Tina and Avis went off and Linda and I went back to the hotel room to drop off our books and pick up the papers so we could get our badges and be ready for the next morning because I was also taking part in the Children’s Book & Author Breakfast.


Upon arriving at the BEA convention you can’t help but be overwhelmed. The Javits building is huge. I couldn’t get onto the convention floor but looking in was amazing seeing all those booths and people setting up.

For dinner we went and ate at what I think was a hidden little gem called Franchia. The food was delicious. We all had something different, I had the Pumpkin Noodles Salad. It was to die for. This is a cute little place with the cutest bathroom by far of what I saw in NYC. I would definetly go back there to eat again.

With a quick trip to JC Penney after dinner in a hunt for sneakers (for me and more poor blister. No Luck!)we went back to the room to plan for the next day.

Check back tomorrow to see what happens at BEA.

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.

On This Day Last Week (Monday)

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As many of you know last week I made the treck from Montreal to New York City for Book Expo America last Monday.

I didn’t get much sleep on Sunday so when the alarm went off at 6am I was really tired, excited and nervous. This would be the first time I have travelled alone since before 1998 went I went to Detroit to visit a friend.

On the way to the downtown Montreal train station I picked up Donna from Books Bound and her husband as we were traveling together.

Once at the train station we met up with Avis from She Reads and Reads, Tina from Bookshipper and Linda from Better With Books. We decided to grab a Red Cap to bring our bags down to the train as there was no checked baggage and the guy we had was super because he got us pre boarding. That meant no waiting in line.

The train ride was pretty uneventful except that it was long and we got into NYC late. We were delayed at the US border which I guess should be expected. I think we were on the train for almost 13 hours give or take a few.

Needless to say we all were a little antsy and dying to get to the big apple. Once in NYC we parted ways. I was sharing a room with Linda, Avis and Tina went to their hotel and Donna and her husband went to theirs. We all planned to meet up in the morning.

I stayed at the Hampton Inns Madison Square Garden. Which is two blocks from Penn Station.

Check back to hear about about our Tuesday in NYC tomorrow.

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.

Wicked Lovely Review

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TITLE: Wicked Lovely Desert Tales Sanctuary Vol 1
AUTHOR: Melissa Marr
PUB DATE: April 2009
PUBLISHE: Harper Collins
PAGES: 176
SOURCE: Library Books

ABOUT THE BOOK
This first volume in a manga trilogy features characters from the novel Wicked Lovely (HarperTeen, 2007).

Discover Melissa Marr’s mesmerizing world of Faerie . . .

The desert is far away from the schemes of the Faerie Courts—and that’s how Rika likes it. Once a mortal and now a faery, Rika seeks isolation and revels in her ability to appear invisible to humans. Then, she meets him. Artistic and kind, Jayce is the last person Rika wants to hide from.

But change is coming, challenging Rika’s freedom and her new romance, as her past pursues her, even into the heart of the desert. . . . (HarperCollins website)

MY THOUGHTS
I have heard of Melissa Marr but have never read any of her books. She is the author of the Wicked Lovely series.

I thought that this would be a great introduction to reading her work but I quickly realized that I really should read the Wicked Lovely series because for some reason I felt lost. Perhaps its knowing that the mangas are based on the books.

I loved the illustrations in the book. They were very well done thanks to Xian Nu Studio.

If you have read the Wicked Lovely series then I am sure you will love this book.

Wicked Lovely: Desert Tales, Volume 2: Challenge is already out and in the stores.

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.

Rumor Has It Review

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TITLE: Rumor Has It
AUTHOR: Jill Mansell
PUB DATE: May 2010
PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks
PAGES: 404

ABOUT THE BOOK
Would you be tempted?

Newly single, Tilly Cole impulsively accepts a job offer in a small town as a “Girl Friday.” Fun job, country house, fresh start, why not? But soon she finds herself in a hotbed of gossip, intrigue, and rampant rivalry for the town’s most desirable bachelor—Jack Lucas.

Rumors of Jack’s “love ’em and leave ’em” escapes abound, and Tilly decides to do the mature, sensible thing… avoid Jack at all cost. But the more time Tilly spends with Jack, the more the rumors just don’t make sense. Tilly doesn’t know what to believe… and Jack’s not telling.

PLEASE NOTE that cover image and about the book is from the Sourcebooks website.

MY THOUGHTS
I have to send out a huge THANK YOU to Danielle at Sourcebooks for sending me this advance readers copy of Rumor Has It. Danielle is the person who got me hooked on Jill Mansell’s books. They are fantastic chick lit books in my opinion.

This is the fifth book from Jill Mansell that Sourcebooks got the US rights too. The sixth book called Take A Chance On Me is scheduled to be out in October.

For me personally I am devouring Jill’s books. I love them. I am yet to be disappointed in them. I find the books to be a fun and easy read with some funny aspects thrown in.

Rumor has it is based on Tilly. She comes home to find out that her boyfriend Gavin has moved out.

You would think that this would make anyone sad and upset but really it doesn’t bother Tilly a whole lot. She decides to head down to visit her friend Erin who is in Roxborough.

While visiting Erin, Tilly decides that she needs a new outlook on life so she decides to stay in Roxborough. She manages to get a job as a “Girl Friday” working for an interior designer named Max.

She quickly releases that no matter the size of the town everyone one has a secret and rumors can spread.

Tilly meets Jack, who is known to basically sleep with all the women he meets. Everyone warns Tilly to stay away from him because of what he is known for so she decides that she will pursues a friendship with him even though she wants more. He is like that bad boy we were warned about. Will she be able to just remain friends with Jack?

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.

Dokebi Bride Review

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TITLE: Dokebi Bride Vol 1
AUTHOR: Marley
PUB DATE: March 2006
PUBLISHER: Diamond Comic Distributors, Incorporated
PAGES: 184
SOURCE: Library Book

ABOUT THE BOOK
Korea”s most talked-about series in 2005! Born into a shaman family, Sunbi has inherited the power to see and communicate with spirits just like her grandmother, a notable shaman and savior of their little fishing village in the South Sea. Early on, she sees things like an imposter shaman being thrashed by a dragon of the deep, and doesn”t understand that none of her schoolmates can see such things. Her powers make her the amorous target of hedonistic demons even as a child. Long shielded from the reality of her power, she finally learns the secret of her mother”s death, and why her grandmother was never able to leave their village. Enter Sunbi”s world in this mind-boggling psychological chiller!

MY THOUGHTS
Right now there is seven books in this series that are out. I didn’t get to borrow all of them because my library doesn’t have them yet. I will probably wait until they get them or if I happen to find them at a second hand bookstore.

I have to say that this wasn’t a favorite manga to read. Not sure why but it just didn’t grab me like the previous ones I read. The illustrations in the book are very well done and loved looking at them.

Sunbi is borned into a shaman family and she has the power to see and to communicate with the spirit world. She takes after her grandmother in that regards because her grandmother has that power as well. Her grandmother is very well respected in the community. Sunbi discovers what really happened to her mother.

I really love the covers of 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.

The Dreaming Reviews

Posted on by Cindy


TITLE: The Dreaming Vol 1
AUTHOR: Queenie Chan
PUB DATE: December 2005
PAGES: 192
PUBLISHER:TokyoPop
SOURCE: Library Book

ABOUT THE BOOK
When twin sisters Amber and Jeanie are accepted into an exclusive Australian boarding school, their future looks bright. But the school’s halls harbor a terrible secret: students have been known to wander into the surrounding bushlands and vanish…without a trace! No one knows where they went–or why. But as Amber and Jeanie are about to learn, the key to the school’s dark past may lie in the world of their dreams.

MY THOUGHTS
I have to say I am not really sure how manga’s are suppose to be reviewed as this is the first time I am reviewing one. So if anyone can tell me that would be great.

I always heard about mangas but never bought or read them until I borrowed one for Michael and ever since then I have been reading them. They are great quick reads in between regular books.

This is the first volume of a three-book manga series that came out in 2005. I am really happy that I was able to borrow all three from the library because once I read the first one I had to find out what happened in the second manga.

We are introduce to identical twin sisters named Jeanie and Amber. We find out that there parents sent then to a boarding school on the edge of the Australian bush, called Greenwich Private College. The school has a deep dark secret. Students go missing and are never to be found, teachers are tight lipped about what goes on, rooms are sealed off and there is weird paintings on display at the school.

What was really enjoyable about the story was that they mystery was built up and you couldn’t put the book down because you had to find out what was going on or what would happen next.


TITLE: The Dreaming Vol 2
AUTHOR: Queenie Chan
PUB DATE: October 2006
PAGES: 192
PUBLISHER:TokyoPop
SOURCE: Library Book

ABOUT THE BOOK
Greenwich Private College grinds to a complete halt after the discovery of Millie’s body. As gloom and despair sets in, most of the students leave the school. But Jeanie’s curiosity keeps her on campus, and when she’s led down the path of the Greenwich’s dark history, has she awakened a ghostly curse?

MY THOUGHTS
I am so happy that I was able to get this book when I picked up the first one because the first one ended and I had to read what happened.

Amber appears to be getting worse and Jeannie is worried about her. A fellow student, Millie, has gone missing and there is no sign of her. They form a seach party to look for Millie, will they find her?

The second volume starts to dig deeper into what is going on and makes you want to read and not put the book down and that was me. You can see there is more the story then what is being told. Will Jeannie be able to find out what is happening at this school before its too late?

TITLE: The Dreaming Vol 3
AUTHOR: Queenie Chan
PUB DATE: December 2007
PAGES: 192
PUBLISHER:TokyoPop
SOURCE: Library Book

ABOUT THE BOOK
Where did the ghostly girls come from? And what do they want? Before the students know it, the missing girls enter the school, where Amber spots Millie, who speaks to her almost as if to warn her of something. Is there more to this supernatural mystery than just the school itself? The answers to why these girls have come back and what caused their death are revealed in this haunting series finale.

MY THOUGHTS
I can’t believe that the series is finished. I have to say that I was really happy to have actually read them all in one sitting and to have read them. I think this was a great manga series to read.

In this book the dead girls are returning to school and no one knows where they came from. Jeannie is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. With a little help from Miss Anu they start to put the clues to the puzzle together. Will they figure out what is going on before its too late?

I have to say that all the illustrations in the three books was beautiful.

You can see Queenie Chan’s offical site here.

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.