Review: What I Didn't Say

Title: What I Didn't Say
Author: Keary Taylor
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Pub Date: May 2012, Self-published
Format: eBook
Source: Received a copy from NetGalley for review.

Synopsis

Getting drunk homecoming night your senior year is never a good idea, but Jake Hayes never expected it all to end with a car crash and a t-post embedded in his throat.

His biggest regret about it all? What he never said to Samantha Shay. He's been in love with her for years and never had the guts to tell her. Now it's too late. Because after that night, Jake will never be able to talk again.

When Jake returns to his small island home, population 5,000, he'll have to learn how to deal with being mute. He also finds that his family isn't limited to his six brothers and sisters, that sometimes an entire island is watching out for you. And when he gets the chance to spend more time with Samantha, she'll help him learn that not being able to talk isn't the worst thing that could ever happen to you. 

Maybe, if she'll let him, Jake will finally tell her what he didn't say before, even if he can't actually say it.

My Thoughts

I hadn't really heard much about this book until seeing it on NetGalley and then came to realize that it had taken off more than many self-published books out there. It's a little different from the Young Adult fiction I typically read, but I thought I would branch out a little and see what the fuss was about.

I am going to go ahead and get the negatives out of the way right now before getting to the good stuff. There are typos--several of them--and they were the kind that just make me cringe when I see them. In a few instances, words were pluralized with an apostrophe before the "s" and "you're" was used in place of "your" at least once. I remember coming across a few other typos/grammatical errors, but the specifics aren't coming to mind at the moment. Other than that, the writing was relatively good--not great--and felt true to the way a teen might tell this story. Truthfully, though, if it weren't for the fact that the actual story was so good, I would probably take more than one star off of my rating. It just goes to show the importance of editing and unfortunately it does seem like self-published books frequently lack good editing.

All of that said, the story itself is very powerful. Given the nature of the book, I'll admit I was concerned that the story might be sad and depressing (I'm sorry, I just don't enjoy sad stories) but thankfully it really isn't. What I Didn't Say is actually pretty uplifting and inspiring, as Jake and Sam work to overcome their respective troubles together. They are both likable characters, which is important since they are the primary focus of the story. As we so often see these days, there is a major plot twist around halfway through the book. Looking back, I knew something was "up," as they say, but I didn't see it coming, that's for sure! This book is compulsively readable if you are able to overlook the typos and take it for what it is: a self-published book. I have read many enjoyable self-published works so I can be inclined to cut some slack for less-than-stellar editing if the story itself is strong, and this one is strong enough to make up for some blatantly obvious typos.

My Rating

The Sunday Salon: Pride & Prejudice (1995 TV Mini-Series)

So, Friday and Saturday this week, while my husband was at work, I felt the need to watch the A&E/BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. It had been a few years since I last watched it and I just needed some Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy in my life again!

I know that the more recent adaptation of Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley (and I'm afraid I don't remember anyone else) is quite popular, but it just didn't resonate with me the way the BBC mini-series did. The mini-series just feels so much more real to me and despite the fact that it is a good five hours long, if I actually have that much time available, I could sit and watch the entire thing straight through. In fact, that is nearly what I did Friday night when my husband worked late, but after unwinding a bit after work, he came up to go to bed so I had to wait and finish the last 45 minutes yesterday. Between the characters, the story itself, and the fantastic musical score, I just don't want the movie to ever end!

I think I probably watch the whole movie with a grin on my face, too. The characters are just superb and highly entertaining -- the cast was just perfect, in my opinion. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett (Benjamin Whitrow and Alison Steadman) are so opposite one another... She is unbelievably silly, suffers from her "nerves", and can't maintain the same opinion for more than five minutes, while he is sensible and calm -- not to mention very dry and witty. His lines are some of the most humours in the film with perfect delivery and timing. Whitrow also portrays Mr. Bennett's weaknesses of character quite well.

Jane and Elizabeth Bennett are aptly cast, as well, though I must admit I find Jennifer Ehle (Lizzie) to be more beautiful than Susannah Harker (Jane), when it should be the other way around according to the story. Of course, it's all a matter of opinion, anyway, and Harker's looks probably were more true to what was considered beautiful at that time. And their three younger sisters are silly as can be, as well -- their house is quite often in some kind of uproar with the crazy antics of those girls and Mrs. Bennett.

But oh, Mr. Darcy -- particularly Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. I honestly think Firth was the perfect Darcy. He is the epitome of what I think Darcy was like -- really, he does a remarkable job acting the part, not to mention he is quite handsome. (Aside: if you haven't seen The King's Speech, you really must -- Firth is excellent in that as well, as King George.) Not only does Firth deliver Darcy's lines just right (both the early stiff, cold mannerisms and the later passionate, warmer feelings of a man in love), you can see he is completely in character by watching his eyes and their expression, as well. Seriously, Colin Firth is Darcy and always will be for me.

There are a host of other lively and quirky characters, as well. Mr. Bingley (Crispin Bonham-Carter) is a nice young man and indeed perfect for Jane, though he is not really a scene-stealer. Quirky characters who are scene-stealers when their times come are Mr. Collins (David Bamber), a man of the cloth and cousin to the Bennetts to whom their property is entailed, and Lady Catherine de Bourgh (Barbara Leigh-Hunt), patroness of Mr. Collins and uncle to Mr. Darcy. Their parts are not prominent, but oh, are those actors just perfect in their roles! Truly, I feel like I am watching the characters in the story and not the actors who portray them, so well-suited to their parts are the members of this cast.

When I watch this movie, I am complete transported into this little world that Jane Austen created, but frankly, I would rather watch it any day than actually read her book. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it well enough, but I just find this TV mini-series adaptation to have more life to it. Austen's writing has never moved me the way it has her true fans. This is definitely one of my favorite movies of all time that I can watch over and over without tiring of it. If you like Pride and Prejudice but haven't watched the A&E/BBC mini-series, you owe it to yourself to give it a try.

Saturday Snapshot (07.28.12): Instagram!

To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky at Alyce's blog, At Home With Books.

I haven't done a whole lot of picture-taking this week, though I HAVE tried to make more use of Instagram on my phone, so I thought I'd share an assortment of the few pictures I have taken so far. I'm still learning the ins and outs and trying to keep up with other people pictures, but I do like the way you can play with the quality of the pictures, add frames, etc. It's something fun and different. So here are some pics I've taken in the last couple of weeks since signing up:

This is what Laura has started doing lately. I really want to get a picture when she does that, looks through her legs at me, and then waves at me, but so far I haven't been fast enough.

Took this one last night when we were playing together before her bedtime.

I got a much-needed hair cut yesterday... I just wish I would be able to style it this way again and have it look this good, but I don't seem to have my hairdresser's magic touch.

We got several desperately-needed rain showers/thunderstorms yesterday. I thought this was another one headed our way last night, but it turns out it was just a lot of noise and to-do about nothing.

Until next week, then... Happy Saturday and enjoy the weekend, everyone! Thanks for stopping by :-)

Review: Washington's Lady

Title: Washington's Lady
Author: Nancy Moser
Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction
Pub Date: June 2008, Bethany House
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased from BJ's Wholesale

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

It has been said that without George Washington there would be no United States. But without Martha, there would be no George Washington. He called her "my other self." Who was this woman who captured the heart of our country's founder? Martha Dandridge Custis was a wealthy, attractive widow and the mother of two small children when she was courted by, then married the French and Indian War hero. Her new life as Martha Washington took her through blissful times at Mount Vernon, family tragedies, six years of her husband's absence during the Revolutionary War, and her position as a reluctant First Lady.

My Thoughts

I'm not going to lie, the cover is probably the first thing that drew me to this book. Isn't it beautiful? Of course, I was also interested in reading this account of Martha Washington, knowing, of course, that it is a work of fiction. I grew up in Yorktown, Virginia, so I've always had a bit of an interest in the Revolutionary War as it relates to Cornwallis surrendering to George Washington on the Yorktown Battlefieds. As a matter of fact, I grew up just miles down the road from those very battlefields. And it should be noted that this book really provides an interesting look at what could have transpired all those years ago as the United States looked to gain freedom from British rule.

Telling the story from Martha's perspective was an interesting way to view the events of the day. It was fun to read about various meetings between so many famous politicians and revolutionaries of the day: Patrick Henry, John Adams, the Marquis de Lafayette, and many others. This book is also a work of Christian fiction, but unfortunately I didn't find it to be particularly uplifting Christian fiction. Obviously those times were very different and much more difficult, with death lurking around every corner, but all of the deaths that Martha had to face really became overwhelming. And quite honestly, I found the portrayal of her character to be tedious -- particularly in the matter of raising her children (and apparently there was truth to her weak parenting skills). Frequently it also seemed like she needed to do a better job of practicing what she preached. That she could be such a pillar and comfort to George Washington and was always able to say the right thing to him seems miraculous given her own spiritual shortcomings. I suppose that isn't such an uncommon practice, though.

With respect to the writing, I found it to be rather dull. To be frank, it became a chore to finish this book. The sentences were choppy and the vast amount of detail and dialogue were often dull and tedious to read. There were a few moments of wit, like the exchange between Martha and George Washington that I shared in my Teaser Tuesdays post, but more often than not, the book was very dry. I did appreciate the notations of fact vs. fiction that Moser included after the story -- that was well worth the read to see just how much of Martha's characterization was true, along with various events that were portrayed. Even so, all the positives weren't enough for me to give this better than a 3-star rating. It was certainly a worthy read from the standpoint of the history of the Revolutionary War, but this version of Martha Washington (how true to her real self no one will ever know) was a difficult character to warm up to -- ultimately not the best way to tell the story, in my opinion.

My Rating

GIVEAWAY: The entire UGLIES series in paperback!

That's right everyone. It has been WAY too long since I hosted a giveaway here at Melissa's Bookshelf, so I thought I would make a comeback with an entire series giveaway!!! That's right, I'm giving away my paperback copies (each has only been read once, so they're in great condition) of Uglies, Pretties, Specials, and Extras by Scott Westerfeld. And guess what -- the giveaway is International, so anyone should feel free to enter!

This is my first-ever Rafflecopter giveaway, so God willing, everything will go off without a hitch. The giveaway will close at 12:01am EDT on August 1st and the winner will be notified via email within 48 hours. And since I'll be leaving for vacation on August 4th, I'll be getting those books out in the mail pretty quickly! Good luck to everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Tuesdays: Washington's Lady

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Here's my teaser this week, from an Inspirational fiction story about George and Martha Washington:

He blushed. "You enjoy teasing me, Mrs. Custis."

"Immensely." I smoothed the lace that lined the edge of my overskirt. "I will stop, if you prefer."

"No need."

"Then I will continue as the moment warrants."

"I look forward to it."

~ page 40 of Washington's Lady by Nancy Moser

Review: City of Lost Souls

Title: City of Lost Souls
Author: Cassandra Clare
Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy
Pub Date: May 2012, Simon & Schuster
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased from BN.com

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace freed from captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing, so is the boy she hates: her brother Sebastian, who is determined to bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

The Clave's magic cannot locate either boy, but Jace can't stay away from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith's magic has wrought - Jace and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other.

Only a few people believe that Jace can still be saved. Together, Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle bargain with the sinister Seelie Queen, contemplate deals with demons, and turn at last to the merciless, weapon-making Iron Sisters, who might be able to forge a weapon that can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. If the Iron Sisters can't help, their only hope is to challenge Heaven and Hell - a risk that could claim their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary is playing a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing not just her own life, but Jace's soul. She's willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

My Thoughts

Holy cow, there is a LOT going on in City of Lost Souls! At first I thought I wasn't going to be able to keep up with all of the plot lines that were breaking off of the main story, but in the end it wasn't really too much to keep track of. While I am one who admits to having a fondness for happy endings, this book doesn't wrap every piece of the story up with a pretty bow and I am totally okay with that because the way some events played out was totally necessary and appropriate. (Don't you love the vagueness of my attempted spoiler-free reviews?) Of course, this book also isn't the last in the series, so there is still time for "and they all lived happily ever after."

{CAUTION: Spoilers ahead if you haven't read City of Fallen Angels.} So call me crazy, but I actually enjoyed Jace and Clary more in this book, probably because I'm so sick of "I love you but we can never be together, blah, blah, blah." For me, the fact that Jace was possessed for the majority of the story actually made the times when he wasn't possessed a little less annoying. But if he and Clary don't finally make it to their happily ever after by the end of the last book, I'm throwing out all of these books! ;-) Other interesting side stories: (1) Alec -- just what is he thinking by listening to Camille's tempting offer? (2) Simon tells his sister about what he is now. Will she handle it better than his mother did? 


{We now return to the spoiler-free zone.} Even though I was a bit disappointed with City of Fallen Angels, it ended with just enough intrigue to make me dive right into City of Lost Souls and I'm really glad I did... except for the fact that I have to wait until March 2014 to read the finale! This book is fast-paced with a much stronger plot, so really held my interest the entire way through and was much more reminiscent of the first three books in that respect. I think I will have to plan an entire series re-read before that last book comes out so that I can really savor the ending. Fans of this series should be pleased with City of Lost Souls!

My Rating

Review: City of Fallen Angels

Title: City of Fallen Angels
Author: Cassandra Clare
Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy
Pub Date: April 2011, Simon & Schuster
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased from Amazon.com

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And - most importantly of all - she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine's Circle, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second bloody war. Clary's best friend, Simon, can't help her. His mother just found out that he's a vampire and now he's homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side - along with the power of the curse that's wrecking his life. And they're willing to do anything to get what they want. At the same time he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls - neither of whom knows about the other one.

When Jace begins to pull away from Clary without explaining why, she is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: She herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

My Thoughts

Well, it has been a LONG time since I read and reviewed the first three books in The Mortal Instruments series. I honestly wish I had time to re-read them before jumping back into the books with City of Fallen Angels. I just feel like there are so many details that I have forgotten or are fuzzy, but it wasn't too hard to get caught back up in the story of the Shadowhunters and Downworlders after the end of the Mortal War.

In my opinion, Cassandra Clare's biggest strength with all of these books is the characters. Everyone in these books is so unique and the mix of personalities in the focal group provides a lot of entertaining interactions. I'll admit that I have been getting frustrated with Jace and Clary's relationship and the roadblocks they keep hitting, but I suppose it shouldn't be that surprising given what they are up against, despite the Mortal War being over.

I'm actually finding it difficult to say some of the things I keep thinking about this story because they are a bit on the spoiler-y side, and even though this book has been out for awhile, I do try my best to keep my reviews spoiler-free. :-) One thing I can say, though, is that I felt like this book was the weakest of the series in terms of the plot -- it was flimsy and pretty predictable. It is helped along with some excellent dialogue (another of Clare's strengths) and the addition of some new characters, but I found myself just skimming through parts to get to the end to see where we would be heading with the fifth book.

City of Fallen Angels is still a good read (just not Clare's best) and I'm very glad I continued on with the series -- I immediately had to jump in to City of Lost Souls and will be sharing my thoughts on that book with you tomorrow. Just don't be too surprised if you don't feel like City of Fallen Angels lives up to the standard set by the first three books in the series.

My Rating


My reviews of the first three books
City of BonesCity of AshesCity of Glass

Saturday Snapshot (07.21.12) - Birthday Cake!

To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky at Alyce's blog, At Home With Books.

Well, I haven't been able to get back to work on our laundry room, so I can't share any final pictures with you just yet.

Instead, I thought I'd share a couple of pictures of the little cake I decorated for my mother's birthday last Saturday. We have really taken to making cake layers in 6" round pans -- they create cute little cakes that are easy to decorate and don't sit around being eaten for days and days.

My mother and I took a basic cake decorating class together back in April and we share a lot of the "equipment" we use to decorate cakes. She brought over a bunch of stuff last week so I had everything I would need to decorate her cake. Except there were some key pieces missing -- couplers so that I could switch out different icing tips but still use the same color of icing. Long story short, it meant I couldn't actually even make some of the flowers I wanted to make, not to mention I was still having to do some makeshift tricks to do what I was able to do.

In the end, while it wasn't what I had originally wanted to do, I was pretty happy with the way the cake turned out. And my mother loved it, so I suppose that's all that mattered, anyway! (I was equally thrilled when I saw how well the layers baked up -- nice and even! Sometimes I never know with my oven... I actually took a picture of those, too, haha, but they're on my phone and not really worth sharing.)

I took the first three pictures right after I decorated the cake the evening before my mother's birthday. My dad took the last picture when they were over at our house for dinner. I'm not sure what setting he used or why his pictures would look so different from mine (we have the same camera), but I liked the way the cake looked -- more dimensional, somehow -- so I thought I'd share that picture, too :-)

I'm not sure how many of you remember my Saturday Snapshot post of Laura's first birthday party, but if these icing colors look at all familiar, yes, they are left over from that. :-)

Happy Saturday! Have a great weekend, everyone!

Booking Through Thursday: Series or Stand Alone?

Um, wow, can't remember the last time I participate in this meme, but when I saw today's question, "Series or Stand Alone?", I couldn't resist participating this week!

And the funny thing is, I don't really have a firm answer one way or the other. I appreciate and love both types of books just about equally.

On the one hand, I love serial books because they keep the story going and I enjoy remaining in worlds and visiting with characters that I have come to know and love (and sometimes hate, haha). Of course, there are times when after a couple of books, a series might start to fall flat for me, and that is certainly disappointing in the few instances I've experienced it. And sometimes a series might just be one book too long. Naturally, when I hit the end of a favorite series, it is bittersweet, but I know that down the road I might immerse myself in the world again with a good re-reading. And there is a certain satisfaction with turning the final page in a series. I'll never forget the way I felt when the Harry Potter books ended -- so sad to leave Harry and Hogwarts, but truly satisfied with the way J. K. Rowling wrapped up her seven-book series. Hmm, just thinking about it makes me want to re-read them, if only I had the time to right now!

All of that said, sometimes it is just nice to read a book and know that all loose ends are resolved and the story is over. Maybe I don't have time to devote to a series or maybe I just want to be able to read a book and move on to something completely different.

So in summary, I really think there are merits to both kinds of books and I have favorites among them both, as well. I do seem to gravitate towards series, though I sometimes think that's because it seems like every author I read is writing these days. Even books that could stand alone are often part of a series that switches points of view to different characters within the same world/family/whatever. But I do love a good Georgette Heyer one-book read or a stand-alone mystery, as well!

How about you? Are you more decisive than I am with your preference?

Teaser Tuesdays: Forgotten Dreams

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

This week's TT post is from an ARC e-book I received, due to be released August 6th:

"They told you it was livable, huh? For rats and termites, maybe. Well, good luck with everything," he said, turning to leave.

"Thanks," she offered. She watched him load into his vehicle and drive away.

~ page 47 of Forgotten Dreams by Alexia Banks

Review: Shadow Eyes

Title: Shadow Eyes
Author: Dusty Crabtree
Genre: Young Adult, Fiction, Paranormal
Pub Date: February 2012, Musa Publishing
Format: eBook (.epub)
Source: In full disclosure, I received my copy for review from Dusty Crabtree. Many thanks for the opportunity to read and review your debut work and share it with others!

Synopsis

Iris thought she could ignore the shadows...until they went after everyone she loved.

Iris Kohl lives in a world populated by murky shadows that surround, harass, and entice unsuspecting individuals toward evil.  But she is the only one who can see them.  She’s had this ability to see the shadows, as well as brilliantly glowing light figures, ever since an obscure, tragic incident on her fourteenth birthday three years earlier. 

Although she’s learned to cope, the view of her world begins to shift upon the arrival of three mysterious characters.  First, a handsome new teacher whose presence scares away shadows; second, a new friend with an awe-inspiring aura; and third, a mysterious and alluring new student whom Iris has a hard time resisting despite already having a boyfriend.

As the shadows invade and terrorize her own life and family, she must ultimately revisit the most horrific event of her life in order to learn her true identity and become the hero she was meant to be.

My Thoughts

Well, if you saw my Sunday Salon guest post from Dusty Crabtree, at the very end you will have noted that I stayed up until after 2:00 am last night to finish Shadow Eyes. I simply could not put this debut book down, even though I will admit I was tired and so ready to go to sleep. I just had to find out what was going to happen to Iris and her family, not to mention everyone else who was constantly affected by these spooky, evil shadows that Iris was seeing. Of course, we don't actually have all of those pressing questions answered; the end of Shadow Eyes is quite a cliffhanger.

I was really impressed with the cast of characters in this book. I thought this bunch of high schoolers was very realistically portrayed, down to their emotions and actions. Iris does come across as a rather weak female lead at times, though she does have her own kind of strength that finally really comes through towards the end. Her friends Lexi and Nicole actually reminded me of a couple of girls I went to high school with. And then there is the obligatory attractive male teacher that every girl has a bit of a crush on, but is there more to Mr. Delaney than meets the eye? When it came to some of the more intriguing characters, I knew something was up, but I just wasn't sure what it was going to be.

What really drives the story and makes you want to keep turning the pages (or tapping the right side of your e-reader screen, as I did) is the desire to find out just what it is that happened to Iris that causes her to see these shadows. A tragic event is hinted at many times, but not until the end do we learn what has happened to Iris. The story twists and turns and I the big plot twist towards the end was one I didn't see coming. And make no mistake, Shadow Eyes deals with some pretty intense issues that I am sure many people like Iris (and her family, in some instances) face every day. This isn't some fluff paranormal adventure that we are dealing with here, which makes it a refreshing read.

I highly recommend Shadow Eyes. I think Dusty Crabtree's writing will captivate you and Iris' story will keep you up late into the night as it did me -- unless you are lucky enough to be able to spend your day reading it!

My Rating




Other Goodies

Check out Dusty’s blog at http://dustycrabtree.wordpress.com/
Find her on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/dusty.crabtree.1
Follow her on twitter at https://twitter.com/dustycrabtree
Buy Shadow Eyes at http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=176
(also available at all major online bookstores)
View the book trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7UP9A0Fm78

The Sunday Salon: Guest Post by Dusty Crabtree

Happy Sunday, everyone! I'm so excited to bring this guest post to you today. It has been quite awhile since I've had one on my blog and I'm hoping to be able to share them with you more regularly. Today, I'd like to welcome Dusty Crabtree, author of Shadow Eyes, which was released earlier this year in February. She will be sharing the inspiration behind her book, and it's not what you might think! Check out that beautiful, spooky cover! But enough from me...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Christian Horror Movie?
Inspiration Behind Shadow Eyes by Dusty Crabtree

Where did you come up with the idea?  What was your inspiration for the story?  Aren’t those the most commonly asked questions for writers?  Especially fantasy writers, since our plots are often so unique?  I guess it’s hard for most to believe that such creative and crazy ideas can just spring up out of nowhere inside our heads and that our muses can’t magically make the storyline unfold before our very eyes.

In truth, it doesn’t just come out of nowhere.  Even if there wasn’t some major thing that helped us come up with the full idea, there was a slow process, a series of ideas, that evolved over time, morphing and changing until they became the plot that makes up the novel.

For my young adult urban fantasy Shadow Eyes, the idea actually first came to me as a screenplay for a Christian horror movie, if there ever was such a genre.  The movie would have been about a cast of intertwined characters going about their lives and making mistakes with dark, creepy shadows (demons) hovering around them, whispering to them, and influencing them to do evil things. Only the audience would see the shadows.  The characters would be completely oblivious.  I could see it all in my head, and it was awesome!  But I had no idea how to write a screenplay.

A few years after I’d had that idea, my friend suggested I should write a novel like the paranormal angel books we’d been reading and loving.  I’d always loved the concept of angels and demons in stories and immediately thought back to that screenplay idea.  After realizing 3rd person omniscient was not a great narrator choice for a novel, I decided on a 1st person narrator, Iris, who had a special ability to see the shadows, as well as light figures (angels), but nobody else could.

As far as the rest of the plot - all the mysterious characters, the big mystery about what happened to Iris when she was 14 that first gave her the ability, and the details of her making mistakes and discovering who these characters were and, more importantly, who she was – it all just fell into place on an outline out my crazy, overly-creative, overly-stimulated mind.  Shadow Eyes, my pride and joy, my baby, is the result.

Shadow Eyes Synopsis:

Iris thought she could ignore the shadows...until they went after everyone she loved.

Iris Kohl lives in a world populated by murky shadows that surround, harass, and entice unsuspecting individuals toward evil.  But she is the only one who can see them.  She’s had this ability to see the shadows, as well as brilliantly glowing light figures, ever since an obscure, tragic incident on her fourteenth birthday three years earlier. 

Although she’s learned to cope, the view of her world begins to shift upon the arrival of three mysterious characters.  First, a handsome new teacher whose presence scares away shadows; second, a new friend with an awe-inspiring aura; and third, a mysterious and alluring new student whom Iris has a hard time resisting despite already having a boyfriend.

As the shadows invade and terrorize her own life and family, she must ultimately revisit the most horrific event of her life in order to learn her true identity and become the hero she was meant to be.

Dusty's Bio:

Dusty Crabtree has been a high school English teacher at Yukon High School in Oklahoma since 2006, a challenge she thoroughly enjoys. She is also a youth sponsor at Cherokee Hills Christian Church in Oklahoma City and feels very blessed with the amazing opportunities she has to develop meaningful relationships with teens on a daily basis.  Her passion for teens has poured into her writing as well.  She is the author of the young adult urban fantasy, Shadow Eyes, through Musa Publishing, which she wrote in order to give teens an intriguing and provocative book series that promotes moral messages.  She lives with her husband, Clayton, in Yukon, Oklahoma, where they often serve their community as foster parents.

More Goodies:

Check out Dusty’s blog at http://dustycrabtree.wordpress.com/
Find her on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/dusty.crabtree.1
Follow her on twitter at https://twitter.com/dustycrabtree
Buy Shadow Eyes at http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=176
(also available at all major online bookstores)
View the book trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7UP9A0Fm78

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Many thanks to Dusty for stopping by the blog to share the inspiration behind Shadow Eyes. I can't wait to share my review with all of you in the next day or two -- I'm right in the middle reading the book as you read this! EDIT: I stayed up until 2:00am last night (well, this morning, technically) to finish Shadow Eyes, so that should tell you something!

Saturday Snapshot (07.14.12) - Laundry Room Re-do (In Progress)

To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky at Alyce's blog, At Home With Books.

As promised, I'm posting a few pictures of the laundry room "refresh" I've been working on. The vast majority is done -- painting, putting up some extra shelves & the ironing board holder along with a wall-mounted drying rack. However, I am still working on hiding the ugly water heater so it won't detract from all the changes I've made. I'm also putting together a scrapbook paper display that I got the idea for on Pinterest. Sadly, my pages are nowhere near as cool as those, but they DO go with the new paint color, so that's what matters, right? :-)

Anyway, here are some pictures for you! I'll start with a few BEFORE pictures:

The one shelf is loaded with toilet paper, detergent, fabric softener, etc., as well as our paper towel supply.

A closer look at the shelves. I like to buy in bulk :-)

Here's the gosh-awful water heater.

I had to include this picture. Someone wasn't happy about being on the other side of that gate while I painted around trim and other edges.

And here are the AFTER pictures:

Ta-da! The almost-finished product. I installed some small shelves over the washer/dryer to hold detergent, etc. I also put up a heavy-duty tension rod to hold our extra hangers and provide some extra drying space. And we finally a good place to store the ironing board! On the wall to the right, I have since installed a wall-mounted telescoping drying rack (no picture yet, sorry), and above that is where I plan to hang my scrapbook paper display.

A close-up of the shelves. I have since stocked up on paper towels to fill that top shelf ;-) And I have to admit, I had no idea just how much I was going to love this new wall color!

I am in LOVE with having these shelves -- finally the detergent, etc. is in a more convenient location for me. I'm not short, but it was difficult to reach up to the other shelves to get this stuff. So, I bought some nice jars for the detergent (homemade on the left, Tide we are still working through on the right) and some cute baskets to hold other items like stain remover, fabric softener, etc.

Yep, the water heater is still there...

This is the fabric I picked out to make curtains to cover the water heater. I am going to install (with help) ceiling mounted flexible curtain tracks to hang these down to the base of the water heater. Y'all don't realize what a big deal this is -- I don't sew. At all. Hopefully I won't screw this up -- I've got some help in the form of my aunt, who is very talented with a sewing machine, so I should be okay.

So, there you have it! I am enjoying having a more functional laundry room and I can't wait to have it truly finished.  I'll post the pictures of the finishing touches once they're finally complete -- hoping to have it done within the next week or two, but we'll see if I can squeeze in the time.

Review: Slow Twitch

Title: Slow Twitch (Brenna Blixen #3)
Author: Liz Reinhardt
Genre: Fiction, Romance
Pub Date: March 2012, Self-published
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased from BN.com

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Summer scatters three friends, ties them back together, and makes them question who they have been and who they want to be in the future.

Brenna expected to soak up the knowledge of great Irish writers at her summer workshop in Dublin. But there are some things even the best books can't teach you, and a passionate new friend and an old familiar full of surprises challenge Brenna to follow her heart. By the time she's back in the States, she can't wait to throw herself back into Jake's arms and tell him exactly what he means to her.

She puts the brakes on that plan when it becomes clear that Jake may not be ready to shoulder any more. He visits his family's palatial home in the mountains of New York, and is exposed to all the possibilities a life surrounded by his pampered relatives and washed in money would hold for him. But is it possible to accept so much and not change who you are? Jake has to face the reality that changing sometimes means losing things...but how much is he willing to put on the line?

Saxon has been thrust into a life of drudgery and indentured service he never dreamed of after a brush with the law puts him on family-enforced probation. Who would have thought Sussex County's resident bad-ass layabout would fall head-over-heels in love with a girl, an elderly aunt, and a shot at a whole new life. The problem is, he's a Maclean to his marrow, and it's in his blood to be a selfish screw-up. Isn't it?

Brenna, Jake, and Saxon spend one summer growing up, working things out, and doing their best to weather the changes that get thrown their way. But can the love and friendships of one amazing summer last through the ups and downs of the coming years?

My Thoughts

Wow, what a finish to the Brenna Blixen series! While there were a lot of things I really enjoyed about this book, frankly, there were some things I didn't like, as well, and I'm going to start with the negative. I couldn't bring myself to classify this one as YA (or even YA Mature as it is noted), though I would say the first two books probably did fit into that category. Call me uptight, old-fashioned, a prude, whatever you like, but in my opinion this last book was just too explicit to be categorized as YA or YA Mature. It's been awhile since I read the first two books, but I don't remember them being quite so daring as Slow Twitch -- well, Junk Miles came closer, I guess. (Makes me wish I hadn't read these on my blogging hiatus so I'd have reviews to refer back to.)

I just really wasn't prepared for the content in Slow Twitch. I guess the times are changing, but I don't recall any of the books I was able to get my hands on as a young adult being as explicit as this one was. And I admit I sure got tired of the F-bomb being dropped all over the place. I mean, I do remember that once kids/teens learned that word and tried it out, it frequently became a part of their vocabulary, but the use of the word just seemed ridiculously overdone in this book and got tiresome quickly. And yes, it's a self-published book, and there are a few (a very few) typos that spellcheck wouldn't catch, but closer editing would.

Okay, all of that said, I really did enjoy this book. There was a lot to like, despite the things I could have done without. I thought the three main characters really came into their own in Slow Twitch and this was, by far, the most I enjoyed reading about them. Saxon's transformation was most impressive and his point of view was the one I most looked forward to reading. (This book switches between Brenna, Jake, and Saxon telling the story.) He may have been a total screw-up in the past, but we finally see the good in him here. Jake was also more enjoyable to read about this time -- he wasn't quite as pathetic as he was in past books. Sure, by the end, we're back Brenna being his whole world, but he does grow a little bit and maybe finally realizes he does need to live his own life some. Brenna didn't change too terribly much. I did enjoy the introduction of a friend she made while in Dublin -- Evan, a crazy gal from Georgia. Evan's scenes really added a lot to the story and were a refreshing change of pace.

The end was a mixture of happily-ever-after and perhaps a bit of uncertainty for some involved. I suppose it was open enough that Reinhardt could get another book out of this series, but I would prefer for this to be the end. It's not always a bad thing to leave a little to the imagination. Bottom line, if you liked Double Clutch and Junk Miles, I am reasonably sure you are going to enjoy Slow Twitch. Just be prepared for much more explicit content to go along with the fast-paced, gripping storyline.

My Rating:

Review: Forest Born

Title: Forest Born
Author: Shannon Hale
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Pub Date: 2009, Bloomsbury USA
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased from BN.com

Synopsis

He bent closer to her ear and whispered, "I'm going to teach you to climb trees."

Ever since her brother Razo introduced her to the trees, Rin has turned to them for peace or reassurance, even direction -- that is, until the day they seem to reject her. Rin is sure something is wrong with her, something that is keeping her from feeling at home in the Forest, from trusting herself with anyone at all.

When Razo returns to the city after a visit home, Rin accompanies him to the palace in hopes of finding a new sense of herself. But a mysterious threat haunts Bayern, and Rin joins the magical girls she thinks of as the Fire Sisters -- Isi, Enna, and Dasha -- as they venture into the woods toward the kingdom of Kel... where someone wants them dead.

My Thoughts

Oh, I am so glad that Hale opted to add a fourth book to The Books of Bayern series! After my disappointment with River Secrets, Forest Born proved to be an awesome read and I enjoyed it every bit as much as The Goose Girl and Enna Burning... maybe even more! And again, I have to wonder if focusing on female characters is really the key with Shannon Hale's stories?

Even Razo is a much better character in this book than he was in River Secrets. He is jovial, amusing, and full of personality and his bantering exchanges with Rin were lively and witty. Truly, the vast majority of the dialogue in Forest Born is particularly strong. And as for Rin, yes she does see herself as flawed, but she is not a whiny miss like her brother was regarding his flaws. She also wants to do everything possible to try to right her perceive wrongs, despite her fears and the uncertainty of the future. Isi, Enna, and Dash return, of course -- solving the problems that crop up for Bayern, as usual.

Boy, does the plot just keep moving right along this time around, as well! This book is action-packed with a couple of pretty big twists -- one of which I saw coming and the other I did not. You know what was missing, though? The touch of romance that Hale normally sprinkles throughout these stories. The funny thing is, I didn't even realize this until the book was nearly over. I'll admit I missed the romance, but obviously it must not have been a requirement for my enjoyment of the story if it took me so long to realize it wasn't there!

I highly, highly recommend The Books of Bayern if you enjoy YA Fantasy and strong female heroines. I am so glad someone thought to recommend them to me a couple of years ago and I'm only sorry it took me so long to get around to reading them!

My rating:


Other Goodies:Shannon Hale's website - be sure to check out the extra features for each of The Books of Bayern!

Teaser Tuesdays: Forest Born

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I haven't been very good about participating in this weekly, have I? Well, here's a peek at what I'm reading at the moment. And while it might sound spoilerish, it actually isn't if you've read the synopsis and the book up to that point -- I promise I'm not ruining the book for you!!

"She?" Isi frowned. "Who is she?"

"Who? The one who'll fry you up for breakfast."

"Not ringing a bell," said Enna.

He spoke slowly, as if they were hard of hearing. "The queen of Kel. Imagine not knowing who it is wants you dead."

~ page 121 of Forest Born
(The Books of Bayern #4) by Shannon Hale

The Sunday Salon: Review: River Secrets

Title: River Secrets (The Books of Bayern #3)
Author: Shannon Hale
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pub Date: September 2006, Bloomsbury USA
Format: Paperback
Source: Received as a gift

Synopsis (from back cover)

Razo flipped around. No one there but a dead body. He could hear his own breathing. Think, Razo told himself. You're here, so be useful.

Razo has never been anything but ordinary. He's not very fast or tall or strong, so when he's invited to join an elite mission escorting the ambassador into Tira, Bayern's great enemy he's sure it's only out of pity. But as Razo finds potential allies among the Tiran, including the beautiful Lady Dasha, he realizes it may be up to him to stop a murderer and get the Bayern army safely home again.

My Thoughts

While I enjoyed keeping up with Hale's world of Bayern in River Secrets, it was my least favorite of The Books of Bayern, so far. It took me longer to get interested in the story -- perhaps I prefer Hale's female leads or maybe Razo just wasn't a particularly likable male lead. I also felt the plot was a little weaker this time around, which I think caused the book to move a little bit slower. Without giving too much away, I rather wonder if the book had focused on Lady Dasha instead if it wouldn't have been a better story that could have seen more action and intrigue, given what we eventually learn about her. Perhaps Hale felt that not every main character should be a girl, but I wonder if she doesn't write a better story when her lead is a female.

Don't get me wrong, Razo is a nice kid, but boy does he lack self-confidence. He is self-pitying and puts himself down to others almost constantly, and frankly, that got annoying. I get that he is far from perfect, but it is like Hale took to blowing his flaws out of proportion for this story. In the last book, Razo's role as a scout did have a good bit of importance and it was obvious that his captain thought highly of those skills, so to say that he was practically worthless this time around felt a little forced and insincere. We do finally learn of some other valuable skills that Razo has, but that they would have gone unknown for this long seems unlikely.

It's funny, as I write this review and think back to all of these things that bothered me, I realize that while I was all set to give this book a four-star rating despite its flaws, I'm not sure it really deserves more than three stars. I still think it is a worthy read to keep up with this series, but it really lacks the power of the first two books. These are supposed to be fantasy stories, and by focusing on such an ordinary character in River Secrets, Hale has kept the reader from truly escaping into her world of Bayern. The story does finally pick up in the last third of the book, but that ultimately didn't make up for how long it took me to get to that point. Once you reach that last part of the book, you will understand why I think it would have been a better story had it focused on Lady Dasha.

Perhaps if I re-read this series down the road again sometime, I will feel differently. But given that I have had the luxury of reading all of these books back-to-back, I don't really think my opinion would change too much. As I already mentioned, I do think it is worth your time to read River Secrets to keep up with the series and events in Bayern -- at least, it is as of now. I have not yet begun Forest Born, so I can't say how the series concludes, but I do find it promising that the cover shows a girl -- Razo's sister Rin, in fact.

My rating:

Saturday Snapshot (07.07.12): Laura on the 4th of July

To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky at Alyce's blog, At Home With Books.

This week, though I do have some pictures of our laundry room re-do as it's in progress, I just have to share some pictures of our baby doll on the 4th of July in her little patriotic dress. These were taken towards the end of our evening at my parents' house for a cookout and I'm not sure if the sugar from the homemade banana ice cream and brownies got to her, but she was so funny just giggling and smiling and tumbling around. In one of the pictures, you'll see my hubby trying to capture her antics on video. And as usual, you can click on the pictures to enlarge them.

I just can't resist that big smile of hers! She is such a little sweetheart!

Next week, you can look forward to pictures of the laundry room re-do that I've been working on. Hopefully I will have even more progress by then, but I'm not sure if all the finishing touches will have been added... :-)

Happy Saturday!

Edited to add that I should have noted my dad took these pictures -- must give credit where it's due!

Review: Enna Burning

Title: Enna Burning (The Books of Bayern #2)
Author: Shannon Hale
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Pub Date: 2004, Bloomsbury
Format: Paperback
Source: Received as a gift

Synopsis (from the back cover)

Each time she contemplated fire, she felt surer that she could learn it and felt a place inside her, a place in her chest, yawn eagerly.

Enna's brother, Leifer, has found the secret to an extraordinary power -- to make fire without a spark. It's an ability that could be used for good... if he can control it. But Enna can't decide if it's a power she wants for herself, or one that should be extinguished forever. And when their home country of Bayern goes to war, the choice becomes unbearable. Enna never imagined the warm, life-giving energy of a fire could destroy everything she loves, but now she must try to save Bayern and herself before fire consumes her entirely.

My Thoughts

I'll admit that for quite awhile, I wasn't sure I liked where this story, the second in The Books of Bayern, was headed. Then Hale blew me away with some great twists and turns and I found myself enjoying this book just as much as I did The Goose Girl. We don't see a lot of Ani/Isi (she goes by Isi now) initially, which makes sense given that this book really focuses on Enna, but she becomes an integral character once again in the last quarter of the book and we continue to see her story unfold. I have enjoyed having two strong female leads in these first two books.

One of the things that I really liked about both of the books (so far) in this series is that they are very well-paced. The story really keeps moving and is at many times action-packed. Enna's often-consuming struggle with the fire and maintaining control is a constant theme once she discovers the language of fire. Because she feels she can trust so few people with the knowledge of what she is capable of, we see a great deal of Razo and Finn in her story, as well. Naturally there is also a bit of romance -- this time that line takes a few twists and turns, as well, and I, for one, thought Hale worked out that piece brilliantly.

There is so much more I would like to say, but it tends towards spoilers so I suppose I will have to refrain. I will say that I liked the ending, though some might think everything worked out too easily -- I am all about a happy ending so it suited me just fine. Ultimately, I think it's safe to say that if enjoyed The Goose Girl, you will like Enna Burning, as well. More great YA Fantasy with plenty of adventure and enough romance to leave you satisfied by the time you close the book.

My rating: