Saving June by Hannah Harrington

Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: Nov 2011 (1st Published May 2011)
Pages: 345
Book Source: HarlequinTeen & NetGalley

Synopsis: ‘If she’d waited less than two weeks, she’d be June who died in June. But I guess my sister didn’t consider that.’

Harper Scott’s older sister has always been the perfect one so when June takes her own life a week before her high school graduation, sixteen-year-old Harper is devastated. Everyone’s sorry, but no one can explain why.

When her divorcing parents decide to split her sister’s ashes into his-and-her urns, Harper takes matters into her own hands. She’ll steal the ashes and drive cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going California.

Enter Jake Tolan. He’s a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession and nothing in common with Harper’s sister. But Jake had a connection with June, and when he insists on joining them, Harper’s just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanour and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what she needs.

Except June wasn’t the only one hiding something. Jake’s keeping a secret that has the power to turn Harper’s life upside down again.

Review:

You'd think with the amount of YA fiction out there where the story line revolves around the death of a sibling or parent that this would get old. Not that I'm making light of it, far from it. I seem to be drawn to bittersweet fiction like this, especially when it's written in a way that parallels "real life" and Harrington writes in a real-life kinda way ... honest, raw, warts and all.

Mom always used to say, "Why can't you be more like your sister?" But I wasn't interested in being like June, and I definitely didn't want to live in June's shadow. Even if mine was less impressive, at least it was my own."

After the suicide of her older sister June, Harper is understandably a trainwreck. She's angry, confused, devastated and combined with the complicated family dynamics and emotions already in existence it makes for a pretty messy trainwreck. But kudos to Harper for voicing the thoughts that many of us have but don't say, because it's just not the done thing.

“I am so mad at her,” I tell him. It’s hard to admit that. I’m ashamed for being as angry as I am. I mean, she was in so much pain, she had to be, to do what she did, and logically I know it’s not fair of me to hate her for it. But no one said emotions are fair. Part of me still thinks she was a selfish bitch, for bailing on me and our mom and everyone else, for leaving me with nothing but the pieces of so many shattered lives and a guilt that will never, ever go away. “She didn’t even say goodbye, or leave a note, or anything, and I hate her for that. I should’ve seen it coming. I should’ve done something.”

I liked Harrington's portrayal of Harper & Laney's friendship, it's always refreshing to read a YA where the friends actually behave like friends. I liked Jake well enough even though he did come across as a "douche-baggy hipster music snob ..." (Laney's words lol)  but I loved his passion for music. Harper and Jake rub each other the wrong way ... until they don't, and I liked that too.

Harper, Laney and Jakes' road trip across the US to scatter June's ashes in California is an adventure in itself, but it's also a journey of discovery, tears, laughs, friendship, hope and MUSIC ... complete with a van named Joplin :)

What I loved ... was the music talk, Jake is totally into the music of my late teens and early adulthood; The Rolling Stones, ABBA, Queen, Jimi Hendrix, Coldplay, Eric Clapton. Music has played such an important part in my life, especially after the death of my baby daughter, music has uplifted and inspired, consoled and comforted, music has been a warm place and a safe harbour.  

 



"Clapton wrote this song about it, after, and it just – It rips your heart out. It is the best kind of devastating there is. He took his pain and he turned it into something beautiful. Into something that people connect to. And that’s what good music does. It speaks to you. It changes you. What I’m trying to say is, it’s just nice, I guess, knowing that someone else can put into words what I feel. That there are people who have been through things worse than I have, and they came out on the other side okay. Not only that, but they made some kind of twisted, fucked-up sense of the completely senseless. They made it mean something. These songs tell me I’m not alone. If you look at it that way, music...music can see you through anything.” Jake -  (on Eric Clapton's Tears in Heaven)

and make sure you check out Jake’s playlists at the back of the book :))

More favourite quotes:

Jake was right - I'm strong in a way June never was. Because I know that I want to be here. Even with the pain. Even with the ugliness.  

Life goes on, I’m going on, even without her. Not every day hurts. Not every breath hurts.
Maybe that’s all we can really ask for.

An impressive debut novel and an author to watch out for.

Want to know more about Hannah Harrington? ~ check out her blog.

and the Aussie cover is my favourite!! (just saying)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and an Update

A weekly event hosted by Sheila from Book Journey to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week. Thanks Sheila :)

I had a good week with reading and review posting and an even better week on the home front. Callum returned from schoolies safe and sound having had a blast with the week-long party. I had a day catching up with Alaine (hadn't seen her for weeks) and a wonderfully romantic night in the city celebrating a small milestone with Mike ... roses, champagne and these adorable tuxedo strawberries.

My sister and I celebrating her 40th October 2010

Birthday Card using the very cute Jillibean Soup range

and last but not least I do hope all my US pals had a truly blessed Thanksgiving! 



************

I posted reviews for: (click on title)

BLOOD SONG by Rhiannon Hart ~ addictive & effortless and Aussie!!!

DEARLY, DEPARTED by Lia Habel ~ awesome zombie lore and laughs aplenty :)

and I tried out "Six Sentence Saturday" from Staci @ Life in the Thumb for these reviews -

MOM & DAD AREN'T GETTING ALONG (Now That Mom's a Zombie) by Garry McNulty ~ amusing horror story.

AGAIN by Lance Zarimba ~ moving short story


************

Giveaways:

Winner of SONG OF THE NILE by Stephanie Dray - Congratulations Quixotic Magpie

************

Finished last week:

SURVIVING MAGGIE: An Australian Story by John Fingleton ~ pretty good memoir

THE PLEDGE by Kimberly Derting ~ enjoyable

FEET and OTHER SILLY POEMS by Mitch Fairchild ~ review scheduled this week

************

This Week's Reading List:

EVERY OTHER DAY by Jennifer Lynn Barnes ~ page 40

THE DEMON LOVER by Juliet Dark

BEAUTIFUL CHAOS by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl (audiobook) ~ halfway through, hope to get it finished this week.

************

Reviews Scheduled:

SAVING JUNE by Hannah Harrington (review scheduled Tue)

Reviews Still To Do:

ROAM by Alan Lazar ~ for all dog lovers

MY SOUL TO STEAL by Rachel Vincent

MY SOUL TO KEEP by Rachel Vincent

MY SOUL TO LOSE by Rachael Vincent

Six Sentence Saturday Reviews

SIX SENTENCE SATURDAY

My US buddy Staci from Life in the Thumb designed this review format and I'm stealing borrowing it because it's cool! Actually she gave me permission; isn't she sweet? Thanks Staci <3

Six Sentence Saturday is:
"Where I try to express my thoughts on recent reads using only 6 sentences!!!
At the end of each review I will post a rating scale of 1-5 using the cute and original (lol) Playing Cards."

Rating scale will be as follows:

5 of Hearts - You must read this book NOW!!

4 of Hearts - A great read, put it on your TBR list

3 of Hearts - Happy that I read it...a good read.

2 of Hearts - Just OK, nothing to write home about

Joker Card - Don't bother (Why did I?)

AGAIN by Lance Zarimba

Published: Sept 2011

Book Source: Untreed Reads Publishing

Love is patient, love is kind, love lasts forever.

An elderly couple revisits their relationship after the husband experiences a debilitating stroke. How will the change in physical abilities and expectations affect their relationship?

My thoughts:

This was a moving short story, well written but giving that it gave new meaning to "short" it did leave me wanting more. While the couple remain nameless their journey to intimacy after the husband's stroke is sensitively captured by the author and the emotion of their relationship is palpable.

She could feel the unevenness of his muscle tone. One side of his body was solid and firm, while the other was soft and pliable. One side was the way things used to be, and the other was the way things were right now.

For this couple love and patience prevailed over physical limitations and emotional trauma. A hopeful read which I'm sure would be appreciated by those experiencing a similar situation.

You can purchase this one on Amazon for $1.49

 

Mom and Dad Aren't Getting Along (Now That Mom's a Zombie) by Garry McNulty
Published:
Book Source: Untreed Reads Publishing

Synopsis: Teddy's teen years were bound to be affected when his mom returned from the supermarket infected by a zombie bite. Dad immediately insisted he and his wife sleep in separate bedrooms. Mom silenced a complaining neighbor by eating him. Then there was the unfortunate Avon Lady incident.

Family harmony hit a new low, however, when Mom discovered Dad's new girlfriend and became one really unhappy zombie. Teddy's doing his best to keep the family together, but it's getting tougher all the time. What's a teenager to do?

My thoughts:
An amusing horror story that gave me quite a few giggles. 

Teddy's mum is a zombie, his best friend Tryker is pretty cool with it but Teddy's dad is not quite as accepting of mum's new, all-flesh diet.

“You know the guy next door, the one who was always coming over to complain about stuff?”

“Tall, skinny, sour-faced guy?”

“That’s the one. He came by yesterday, ranting about something, and my mom attacked him like a lioness bringing down a giraffe. It was horrifying but at the same time…”

“At the same time, TOTALLY AWESOME!” said Tryker, interrupting as he sprang up in the bed. “I wish my mom could do cool shit like that instead of wasting her time on that stupid book club. And gardening.”

Teddy’s trace of a smile changed to a frown. “Of course, I did feel bad about what happened to the Avon lady.”

“Hey, even zombie moms aren’t perfect.”

A great story for reluctant readers with fitting 'teen-speak' and a touch of gruesomeness that would be suitably appreciated by boys in particular.


Pick this one up on Amazon for $1.50

Thanks to Brendan from Untreed Reads for these titles :)

Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart

Genre: YA Fantasy
Series: Lharmell #1
Copyright: 2011
Pages: 290
Book Source: Own purchase

Synopsis: I wanted to turn but I was held captive by the song on the wind. I’m coming, I told the voices. Please, wait for me.

When her sister becomes betrothed to a prince in a northern nation, Zeraphina’s only consolations are that her loyal animal companions are by her side – and that her burning hunger to travel north is finally being sated.

Already her black hair and pale eyes mark her out as different, but now Zeraphina must be even more careful to keep her secret safe. Craving blood is not considered normal behaviour for anyone, let alone a princess. So when the king’s advisor, Rodden, seems to know more about her condition than she does, Zeraphina is determined to find out more.

Zeraphina must be willing to sacrifice everything if she’s to uncover the truth – but what if the truth is beyond her worst nightmares?

Review:

This is one addictive, effortless read with a creepily original fantasy world to boot. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough, in fact I finished this in one night. Blood Song isn't epic fantasy but YA fantasy done epically well.

Zeraphina  is not your ordinary heroine, she has a bizarre craving for blood and an overwhelming compulsion to travel North. She's also strong, feisty, stubborn and a little bit lost. Her trusty sidekicks; an eagle named Griffin and a cat called Leap are a great addition to the cast of characters with their own engaging personalities.  

Rodden, adviser to the King of Pergamia, is dark, mysterious and just a little scary. Rodden & Zeraphina have that kind of sparks-flying relationship based on mutual antagonism that I absolutely love.

Escapism at its best, Blood Song has a little bit of everything; intrigue, suspense, magic, romance, creepiness (gotta love creepy) and a big helping of fantasy adventure. I'm stoked to add another talented Aussie author to my must-read list and a new YA fantasy series to my keeper bookshelf!

Blood Storm, the 2nd book in the Lharmell series will be out August 2012 - *Woot Woot*

Want to know more about this awesome debut Aussie author? ~ Check out her blog Dangers Untold & Hardships Unnumbered.

Squeeworthy News!

OMG bring on March 2012 ... The Hunger Games on the big screen :D 

The trailer gave me goosebumps and it sure looks like the movie is going to do the book justice. Can't wait to see Katniss, Peeta, Gale, Haymitch, Cinna and the rest of the crew!

I'm also super super excited to be auto-approved by HarperCollins *woot woot* which means amongst other awesome titles I also received an ARC of HALLOWED by Cynthia Hand, book 2 in the Unearthly series. UNEARTHLY was a favourite read in 2011 and I can't wait to get stuck into Hallowed :))

Unearthly is also in production at the CW television network home of such awesomeness as the Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, Gossip Girl etc. How cool would it be to see this one make prime time!

US cover

Australia cover

UK cover

My favourite is the Aussie cover ... what's yours?

 

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

Genre: YA Fantasy, Steampunk
Series: Gone With the Respiration #1
Release Date: 18th October 2011
Pages: 470
Book Source: Random House Publishing & NetGalley

Synopsis: Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

In Dearly, Departed, romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love.

Review:

I just fell for a ZOMBIE ... who would of thought??

After a sluggish start the zombie rattler picked up pace! The first 50 or so pages are a slow but necessarly chew through back story and world history but don't give up, I promise it's worth it.

In this eclectic genre fusion Lia Habel gives readers a remarkably drawn world, chock full of original zombie lore. New territories & tribes have risen in the place of nations. The New Victorians have adopted Victorian values & virtues while embracing advanced technology; think digidiaries, ID chips, holograms. While the Punks, so called extremist rebels are not so technologically enamoured.

And thanks to 'The Laz' virus that raises the dead there's also good zombies and bad zombies thrown in the mix -

the Good: undead that 'come back' relatively intact with their memories and personality, they still have 'cravings' but they get their protein from ... you guessed it ... tofu. They also require regular medical assistance to maximise their expiry date.

the Bad: also referred to as Grays are the rotting, flesh eating zombies of our nightmares.

I adored the cast of characters, especially Captain Abraham Griswold (Bram), he's a Punk, he's dead and he's utterly charming. Thankfully he's retained his humanity, his chivalrous personality and the majority of his looks lol. Bram's comrades at Z base are an absolute hoot; Chas, Coalhouse, Tom, Renfield and Dr Samedi. The witty banter and often hilarious comraderie had me giggling like a loon.

"Have you heard of vampires?"
I nodded. Who hasn't?
"Had you heard of zombies before you came here?"
I shook my head.
"See?" He thumped his book for emphasis. "Vampires are just zombies with good PR! That could be us in a few years!"

Nora Dearly is a New Victorian, as is her best friend Pammy. Nora's outspoken, stubborn, brave and not particularly conventional and thus entirely likeable. Pamela comes across as a bit insipid but she certainly comes into her own as the novel progresses, finding inner strength in adversity.

There are five different narrations, each quite distinct but Nora & Bram are the key note speakers. Whilst I had no problem with the changing POV I did enjoy the chapters narrated by Bram & Nora more than the others.

So ... Girl is alive, Boy is dead and against seemingly insurmountable odds a romance flourishes and it's just ... delightful. This is one uniquely fun read and I for one cannot wait for Dearly, Beloved.

About the Author: Lia Habel was born in Jamestown, NY, and has lived there the majority of her life. Her first book, Dearly, Departed, is a sweeping tale of zombie-living romance set in a cyber-Victorian/steampunk future. When Dearly, Departed sold, Lia was swimming in debt incurred from her studies and years of un- and underemployment, with only a few dollars to her name. Miss Habel lives with three former ally cats. She enjoys attending anachronistic and steampunk events, watching zombie movies (she has watched over a hundred of them), commissioning ball gowns, and collecting Victorian and Edwardian books. She is incredibly grateful for the opportunities she has recently been given.

Want to know more about Lia Habel? ~ visit her website.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

A weekly event hosted by Sheila from Book Journey to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week. Thanks Sheila :)

Well I didn't read or review as much as planned, it turned out to be a busy week with Callum finishing his high school journey & heading off to the week-long Schoolies celebrations. I've got quite a few reviews scheduled for this week though so it's nice to be semi organised for a change lol.

Graduation Day

Year 8 & early Year 12 school photo (2007 & 2011)

Cal & I did go and see Breaking Dawn part 1 which we both loved, although his favourite is still Eclipse, mine is now Breaking Dawn as was the book.

Bundy, my eldest son's dog is slowly recovering from his accident and I'm no longer in pain although I am constantly exhausted. I usually love the onset of our summer heat but with my thyroid in overdrive I'm experiencing a little cold weather envy of all my northern hemisphere friends :)

************

I posted reviews for: (click on title)

SONG OF THE NILE by Stephanie Dray ~ 4.5 stars 'unputdownable'

Secret Santa & Card Exchange ~ holiday fun!

************

Giveaways:

SONG OF THE NILE by Stephanie Dray ~ enter here. Ends 23rd Nov

Winner of photo from BONJOUR 40: A Paris Travel Log (40 years. 40 days. 40 seconds) by Karen A Chase ~ Congrats Alicia0605

************

Finished last week:

 

 

SAVING JUNE by Hannah Harrington

************

This Week's Reading List:

SURVIVING MAGGIE: An Australian Story by John Fingleton ~ page 175 & very good!

EVERY OTHER DAY by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

BEAUTIFUL CHAOS by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl (audiobook) ~ still only 3 hrs into

************

Reviews Scheduled:

DEARLY, DEPARTED by Lia Habel ~ review scheduled Tuesday

BLOOD SONG by Rhiannon Hart ~ review scheduled Thurs

Reviews still to do: eek!!

MOM & DAD AREN'T GETTING ALONG (Now That Mom's a Zombie) by Garry McNulty (short story)

 

ROAM by Alan Lazar ~ for all dog lovers

AGAIN by Lance Zarimba ~ moving short story

MY SOUL TO STEAL by Rachel Vincent

MY SOUL TO KEEP by Rachel Vincent

MY SOUL TO LOSE by Rachael Vincent

Song Of The Nile by Stephanie Dray ~ Review, Interview & Giveaway

Genre: Historical Fiction

Series: Cleopatra's Daughter #2
Copyright: Oct 2011
Pages: 416
Book Source: Courtesy of Author for Blog Tour

Synopsis: Sorceress. Seductress. Schemer. Cleopatra’s daughter has become the emperor’s most unlikely apprentice and the one woman who can destroy his empire…

Having survived her perilous childhood as a royal captive of Rome, Selene pledged her loyalty to Augustus and swore she would become his very own Cleopatra. Now the young queen faces an uncertain destiny in a foreign land.

Forced to marry a man of the emperor’s choosing, Selene will not allow her new husband to rule in her name. She quickly establishes herself as a capable leader in her own right and as a religious icon. Beginning the hard work of building a new nation, she wins the love of her new subjects and makes herself vital to Rome by bringing forth bountiful harvests.

But it’s the magic of Isis flowing through her veins that makes her indispensable to the emperor. Against a backdrop of imperial politics and religious persecution, Cleopatra’s daughter beguiles her way to the very precipice of power. She has never forgotten her birthright, but will the price of her mother’s throne be more than she’s willing to pay?

Review:

Everything that I liked in Lily of the Nile was multiplied ten-fold in Song of the Nile making for an 'unputdownable' read. Ms Dray's skill is more refined, polished; the detail - exquisite, the pace - whirlwind, the characters - engaging and the plot - mesmerising.

Song of the Nile is a darker installment which in itself, appealed to me and at the risk of repeating myself I just love the way Stephanie interweaves history, artistic embellishment and mysticism, creating a captivating tapestry of plausible events.

Song of the Nile picks up where Lily of the Nile ends, Selene is married off to Juba and the pair begin their new life as King & Queen of Mauritania. I don't want to give too much away so I'll just say that Selene's journey is fraught with danger. She's a quick study, she fights hard to achieve all that she does as the beloved leader of a now prospering nation. But the fight is not without its costs, their distance from Rome is not outside the reach of Augustus and the power play continues.

Cleopatra Selene is such a fascinating character, she's resilient, passionate, ambitious, compassionate, and intelligent but obsessed with obtaining her rightful place on the throne of Egypt alongside her twin brother Helios. I cringed at some of her choices but was ultimately inspired by Selene's development throughout the book and spellbound by the growth of her power as the daughter of Isis.

I know it sounds cliched but Stephanie Dray really brings the time period and the characters to life; I was completely immersed in the experience. ... the mark of an excellent historical fiction author. 

I wait with bated breath for the final installment!

Want to know more about Stephanie Dray and her work? ~ Check out her website.

Purchase Song of the Nile @ Amazon or B&N or The Book Depository.

I'm thrilled to welcome Stephanie to my blog and hope you enjoy the interview:

1. I love the interweaving of fact with fiction, historical accuracy blended with insightful, convincing embellishment; for me this is historical fiction at its best! Is there anything you find particularly challenging when writing?

Thanks so much for those kind words! While I'm willing to tinker a bit with the historical timeline to suit a narrative fiction arc, I sweat the small stuff. I try to make sure it's all authentic. That I've gotten everything right. So I'm always horrified when something slips through the cracks.

2. I understand you have a long-time love of all things Egyptian & Roman; how much research went into writing Lily of the Nile and Song of the Nile?

More than five years of research went into Lily of the Nile, but in truth, I've never stopped researching, so we're going on almost a decade here now. I'm always learning something new, finding some tidbit I hadn't considered before, and so on. In fact at the moment, I'm trying to track down a certain statue at the Louvre so that I can see I can better determine whether or not Drusilla of Mauretania was Selene's daughter or her granddaughter.

3. Any 'news' you can disclose on the final installment in the trilogy?

I don't have a title or release date for it yet, but I can tell you a little bit about the themes in it. In Song of the Nile, I was very aware of Selene as a symbolic personification of Persephone (or Kore). If she was a young maiden with the problems of maidens in this middle book, she is now very firmly a mother, with the problems of a mother in the next novel. Like Demeter, she has to worry about her beloved daughter being stolen away to Rome, where the emperor has a claim on her. Selene has finally carved out some happiness for herself, and I intend to show in this last book, how she fights to hold onto it at all costs!

4.What do you think makes your stories different or unique to others in the market?

Up until this year, I'd have pointed out the inclusion of magical realism in my historical fiction as something that decidedly set me apart. But at the moment I'm reading Pilippa Gregory's latest, The Lady of the Rivers, and she's definitely flirting with the supernatural! I suppose I would say that my novels make a decidedly direct appeal to young women to embrace the divine feminine inside themselves and to use Cleopatra Selene as an inspiration.

5. What's next on the table for Stephanie Dray?

Right now I'm knee deep in writing the third and final installment of the Nile trilogy. After that I'm considering another ancient queen. Perhaps Dido of Carthage or Olympias of Macedonia. Or maybe I should leave the ancient world to explore another time period altogether. Do you or your readers have a preference?

Ooh I do Stephanie, please stay in the ancient world! I'd love to read a novel on Dido of Carthage, I remember discussions in ancient history lessons of Dido, her mathematical prowess & her tragic end.

6. What are you reading now?

Philippa Gregory's Lady of the Rivers.

7. If you could be dropped into any book as a character who would you be and why?

Oh I wouldn't go back in time, I'll tell you right now. As much as I love to read about history, I love my modern conveniences. I'm not a good camper. I love luxury. So, perhaps I'd want to be a character in some modern day story, like The Devil Wears Prada or something :P

8. Describe yourself in three words.

Obsessive. Ambitious. Loyal

GIVEAWAY:

To win a copy of SONG OF THE NILE please leave a comment answering Stephanie's query in Question 5 & follow Stephanie on one of these profiles: newsletter, Twitter, or Facebook.

Don't forget your email address

 US/Canada only (sorry)

EXTRA ENTRIES:

+2 tweet about this giveaway & leave a link

+5 comment on my review of LILY OF THE NILE & let me know.

Giveaway ends 23rd November and the winner will be announced on my blog.

Secret Santa & Card Exchange

 

A Secret Santa - broke and bookish style ~ head on over to The Broke and the Bookish to sign up for this one by November 18th; I have :)

Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog is the host for The Book Bloggers Holiday Card Exchange. Sign up by November 30th. This one is inexpensive and lots of fun!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

A weekly event hosted by Sheila from Book Journey to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week. Thanks Sheila :)

Well another big week on the home front. Callum has completed his final exams and has 4 days left of his school life. This Saturday he is off to "Schoolies" a week long celebration at the Gold Coast where school leavers let their hair down and parents worry for the week ;)

I've had excellent results from Japanese acupuncture and now just have to wait for my thryroid to return to normal so I'm feeling heaps better.

Bundy my eldest son's dog needed further orthopaedic surgery on his elbow, but he's finally home on cage rest; now it's just a case of time to heal the fractures in his pelvis and hip but he should make a full recover which was wonderful news.

************

I posted reviews for: (click on title)

JUNIOR'S DESSERT COOKBOOK by Alan Rosen, Beth Allen ~ to-die-for recipes

IF I TELL by Janet Gurtler

************

Giveaways:

BONJOUR 40: A Paris Travel Log (40 years. 40 days. 40 seconds) by Karen A Chase ~ enter here.

************

Finished last week:

DEARLY, DEPARTED by Lia Habel ~ a slow start but ended up loving it! (review up this week)

MOM & DAD AREN'T GETTING ALONG (Now That Mom's a Zombie) by Garry McNulty (short story)

ROAM by Alan Lazar ~ for all dog lovers

  

************

This Week's Reading List:

SAVING JUNE by Hannah Harrington

SURVIVING MAGGIE by John Fingleton

BEAUTIFUL CHAOS by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl (audiobook) ~ 3 hrs in

************

Reviews still to do:

SONG OF THE NILE by Stephanie Dray ~ Review & Giveaway up 16th Nov

BLOOD SONG by Rhiannon Hart

AGAIN by Lance Zarimba ~ moving short story

MY SOUL TO STEAL by Rachel Vincent

MY SOUL TO KEEP by Rachel Vincent

MY SOUL TO LOSE by Rachael Vincent

Junior's Dessert Cookbook by Alan Rosen & Beth Allen

Title: Junior's Dessert Cookbook: 75 recipes for Cheesecakes, Pies, Cookies, Cakes, and More.
Release Date: 18th October 2011
Pages: 176
Book Source: Taunton & NetGalley

Synopsis: What would life be without dessert? With this book, you’ll never have to find out. Junior’s Restaurants, the landmark chain with four locations on the East Coast, are nationally known for their award-winning cheesecakes. But Junior’s has perfected other confections, too; here, more than 30 full-page, four-color photographs showcase 65 fabulous desserts. Authors Alan Rosen and Beth Allen present scaled-down kitchen-tested recipes so bakers can create their own restaurant-worthy delights. Never-before-published recipes include sundaes, ice cream sodas, pies, black ‘n whites, cheesecakes, layer cakes, and cookies. A chapter on slimmed-down sweets will appeal to calorie-counters. Along with entertaining family tidbits, sidebars on “The Junior’s Way” help bakers achieve great results, making Junior’s best-loved recipes feel right at home in any kitchen.

Review:

A wonderful cookbook if you love desserts, which I emphatically do! It was also quite interesting to read the history of Junior Restaurants from humble beginnings to famous cheesecakes and more. Being Australian I wasn't familiar with the Junior's chain but the mention of Dessert was enough to catch my attention ... drool, drool. 

Junior's famous range of cheesecakes

Recipes for cheesecakes, pies, tarts, brownies, milkshakes, sundaes, biscuits, cupcakes & cakes, all very well explained for the homebaker and accompanied by beautiful photos. There's a great basic's directory and a troubleshooting section if something hasn't turned out perfectly. Another handy inclusion is the metric equivalents and oven conversions.

And in the interest of universal appeal a recipe section and sugar smart shopping list for those on sugar free, sugar restricted diets or those watching their weight ... guilt-free dessert ... oh yeah!

Red Velvet 4-layer Cake

I can't wait to try this to-die-for Red Velvet cake converted to cupcakes but for now I wanted to share the recipe for:

The best! Fudge Sauce

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

1tblsp unsweetened dark cocoa powder (100% cacao)

1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

pinch salt

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate (at least 60% cacao) - chopped

1tblsp vanilla

1 cup heavy or whipping cream 

Melt butter with brown sugar, cocoa & salt in medium heavy saucepan over medium heat, whisking to combine. Add the chocolate and stir until sugar melted and smooth.

Slowly stir in cream and heat, stirring frequently until the sauce is smooth and thickens. Watch closely, do not let boil.

Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
Makes approx 2 cups

Refrigerate any left over for up to 1 week (as if lol)

To reheat, stir constantly over medium heat.

This was difficult to read as a PDF but it would make a delightful addition to your cookbook library.  

Any of my US pals know of Junior's or eaten there?

If I Tell by Janet Gurtler

Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: 1st October 2011
Pages: 256
Book Source: Sourcebooks & NetGalley

Synopsis:

It was like watching a train wreck. I wanted to look away but couldn't take my eyes off them.

Her best friend and her mom's boyfriend. Locking lips. This is the secret Jasmine Evans has to keep at all costs. Because her mom is pregnant, and Jaz doesn't want to ruin her life-again (just being born did it the first time). But the harder Jaz tries to pretend everything is okay, the faster her life spins out of control. Until Jackson. He doesn't care about the popularity of her friends or the color of her skin. But can she really trust a guy who just transferred in from reform school? She might be willing to chance the heartbreak, but telling him everything and risking the truth getting out is a whole other level of scary.

Review:

I had a hard time reviewing this book, which is why it's taken me so long to put up. I wanted to love it but ended up liking it overall and disliking it in part ... make sense? Yeah I know, see my dilemma.

If I Tell is a quick read dealing with real issues; bi-racial relationships, atypical family units, betrayal, drinking, promiscuity, isolation, prejudice, post-natal depression, sexual identity, secrets and consequences. It's also a little book with a lot going on and I think that was part of my problem. There are few of us these days without "issues" but If I Tell seemed gratuitously overloaded with them or maybe it was just a case of squeezing too much into too little space.

The main character Jaz is self-centred, isolated, bitter and conflicted and why shouldn't she be? She's bi-racial (think Oreo - Jaz does) in a small-minded town, she's been brought up by her Grandparents, her relationship with her mother is unusual and she's just seen her mother's boyfriend Simon, pashing her best friend Lacey. No wonder Jaz has trust issues.

As Jaz builds her walls higher, her relationships crumble around her but I still had difficulty empathising with her. Enter Jackson, one of my favourite characters, as well as Ashley (gay friend who's not afraid to serve Jaz up a dose of tough love.) Jaz does have a committed support network of good friends, she's just too caught up in pain and self-pity to see it and as someone who bemoans the judgement of others Jaz is very quick to judge Jackson ... the others, well maybe they deserve it ;)

I liked that this is a story about characters who make mistakes, about forgiveness and self discovery but it fell short for me. Certainly won't stop me from reading more from this author though :)

Want to know more about Janet Gurtler? - Check out her website or blog.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading & Update

A weekly event hosted by Sheila from Book Journey to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week. Thanks Sheila :)

Well after my 4th round of Japanese acupuncture, I have some relief from the axe-in-the-back-of-my- head pain and I am quietly hopeful that I'll continue to improve. I've driven my car for the first time in almost a month; I've got good pain tolerance but with the pain in my head, I just couldn't be sure of my safety (or anyone else's) on the road - I'll no longer take this simple thing for granted.

I did however miss scrapbook camp which was disappointing as the next one isn't til Feb 2012. I'm sure it will come around soon enough with the way the year is flying but I missed catching up with friends @ Daisy Chain Scrapbooks. I needed to give myself the best chance of recovery before holidays and Christmas & the upside of this was I got lots of rest, reading and reviewing done :)

In other news my eldest son's dog, Bundy was hit by a car on Wednesday night, the heartless driver didn't even stop and poor Bundy ended up in a critical condition in hospital. Anthony & Christine are hoping that he may get to come home today after the vet changes his cast. He sustained massive blood loss, a crack to the pelvis and a pretty much destroyed elbow but being a puppy he's otherwise strong & healthy so we have our fingers crossed that he won't need any further surgery. xx Bundy

************

I posted reviews for: (click on title)

LILY OF THE NILE by Stephanie Dray

BONJOUR 40: A Paris Travel Log (40 years. 40 days. 40 seconds) by Karen A Chase ~ LOVED it!

************

Giveaways:

BONJOUR 40: A Paris Travel Log (40 years. 40 days. 40 seconds) by Karen A Chase ~ enter here.

Winners Are Grinners ~ see this post for winners of latest giveaways.

************

Finished last week:

SONG OF THE NILE by Stephanie Dray ~ riveting, excellent follow up to Lily of the Nile. Review & Giveaway up 16th Nov

BLOOD SONG by Rhiannon Hart ~ brilliant Aussie YA fantasy

JUNIOR'S DESSERT COOKBOOK by Alan Rosen, Beth Allen ~ what can I say ... YUM! - review up this week.

AGAIN by Lance Zarimba ~ moving short story

************

This Week's Reading List:

DEARLY, DEPARTED by Lia Habel ~ page 30

ROAM by Alan Lazar ~ I have a feeling I'm going to need a box of tissues for this one

BEAUTIFUL CHAOS by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl (audiobook) ~ this is a long one at 16hrs, I'm only 2 hours in but enjoying it.

MOM & DAD AREN'T GETTING ALONG (Now That Mom's a Zombie) by Garry McNulty (short story)        

************

Reviews still to do:

IF I TELL by Janet Gurtler ~ review scheduled this week

MY SOUL TO STEAL by Rachel Vincent

MY SOUL TO KEEP by Rachel Vincent

 

MY SOUL TO LOSE by Rachael Vincent

Winners Are Grinners :))

Winners of my October Celebration Giveaway ~ Congratulations

BlackWolf - book & bonus

Jet

Niina

Winners of Happy Birthday To Me Again ~ Congratulations

Becca

Jill of the O.W.L

Emails have been sent to all the winners, you have 3 days to respond or another winner will be chosen. I wish everyone could win a book but please check out my other giveaways for another chance to win and stay tuned for more giveaways up soon!

DESTINED by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast ~ enter here - LAST DAY

Win 5 x & Professional Photograph from BONJOUR 40 by Karen Chance
~ enter here.

Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray

Genre: Historical Fiction
Series: Cleopatra's Daughter #1
Copyright: Jan 2011
Pages: 341
Book Source: Own Purchase

Synopsis: With her parents dead, the daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Antony is left at the mercy of her Roman captors. Heir to one empire and prisoner of another, it falls to Princess Selene to save her brothers and reclaim what is rightfully hers…

In the aftermath of Alexandria’s tragic fall, Princess Selene is taken from Egypt, the only home she’s ever known. Along with her two surviving brothers, she’s put on display as a war trophy in Rome. Selene’s captors mock her royalty and drag her through the streets in chains, but on the brink of death, the children are spared as a favor to the emperor’s sister, who takes them to live as hostages in the so-called lamentable embassy of royal orphans…

Now trapped in a Roman court of intrigue that reviles her heritage and suspects her faith, Selene can’t hide the hieroglyphics that carve themselves into her flesh. Nor can she stop the emperor from using her for his own political ends. But faced with a new and ruthless Caesar who is obsessed with having a Cleopatra of his very own, Selene is determined honor her mother’s lost legacy. The magic of Egypt and Isis remain within her. But can she succeed where her mother failed? And what will it cost her in a political game where the only rule is win or die?

 

Review:

I must confess I was a little apprehensive about picking up Lily of the Nile as one of my favourite reads about Selene is Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran. I was pleasantly surprised; Stephanie Dray does a wonderful job of weaving history, artistic embellishment and mysticism into a cohesive, plausible and enjoyable piece of historical fiction.

 

Selene's motivation to protect her twin brother Helios and younger brother Philadelphus govern her dealings with Emperor Octavian. As a mere child, albeit an intelligent one and a political pawn, Selene quickly learns the art of manipulation and gameplay, and attempts to use Augustus's obsession with Cleopatra to her own end.

 

I really enjoyed the political machinations, the intrigue and betrayals, the portrayal of Julia, Agrippa, Octavia, Juba & the loathesome Livia. I also loved the vivid descriptions of festivals, dress, culture, jewellery and hairstyles.

Ms Dray's inclusion of magic in the novel was something that I loved, much as I did Philippa Gregory's use of it in The White Queen & The Red Queen. It's not gratuitous, many ancient cultures have a deep seated belief in magic and Gods, the Romans being one of them. The hieroglyphic messages appearing on Selene's arms from the Goddess Isis, the drawing of heka all seemed in keeping with Isiac beliefs.

 

I've already started Song of the Nile; not only am I keen to see where Stephanie Dray takes Queen Cleopatra Selene, I'm finding it totally enthralling.

Want to know more about Stephanie Dray and her work? ~ Check out her website.