5 Reasons The Library Rocks

It's The Place. The one that feels like a second home and welcomes you with open arms, like a long lost child. The one that smells like freshly printed pages or dusty old volumes. The place that may or may not have a grouchy desk clerk. You know what I'm getting at.

The Library

*cues singing angels and harps*

I know for myself, that recently I have neglected this place. I am deeply saddened but I do realize that the library is a one-of-a-kind place. Why? For five reasons....or more. Depends on how you count :)

1. Free Books... and a free Card

Yes, you read that right. FREE BOOKS! For READING, at HOME, for YOU! I think that solidifies this case. No money spent (except for late fees) and yet we are able to read many many books! Of course, there is a downside.... you don't get to keep the books. Unless, *cough* you, yah know, fake losing it. But then, your wallet suffers and its totally not fair to others.

Not only that, you get a free CARD! Maybe not everyone is as excited as I am but I seriously brag of having a library card. 'Cause I'm cool like that. *glares at laughing sister*

2. The Atmosphere

Where else can you go to find a more glorious atmosphere: a place all about books, with books, for the books... books, books, books, and maybe magazines.  That's beside the point though. The whole atmosphere oozes bookish personality and charm. It's awesome!

3. The People

 Ok, I have to admit, my library doesn't exactly have this BUT I've heard of libraries where book lovers gather and congregate. (My library is very empty.) Where else are you going to find people who are so into books that they are signing out stacks? The Internet is great (you know I love you all) but come on, the library has "opportunity" written all over it. This is the place to get recommendations, from readers, and personally interact! Cha-ching!

Unless, of course you have this as a librarian:

4. Selection

Libraries are like a buffet. You have a selection to drool over. Rows upon rows upon rows of just books..... to choose from.  You've got your romance, paranormal, dystopian, historical, comedy, science fiction --- YA, Adult, Classic... you name it, the library has it.

Your drooling aren't you?

5. Free Internet

Ha! Ok, this one's not a real reason ......... but it is kinda nice, eh?

The fifth (real) reason is...

There is one benefit of having Conan the Librarian in your library: peace and quiet to read. And usually there are comfy chairs & a nice reading area!

Yes. The library is the Place to be. It's a book lover's dream!

What are your thoughts? What's your library like? What do you enjoy about it? 

Stacking the Shelves #3

Stacking the Shelves is a meme created/hosted by the lovely Tynga @ Tynga's Reviews! (All credit goes to her for this meme.) If you want to participate click on the link! The more the merrier! It's a chance to showcase titles that arrived in the mail or for review... any book goodies over the past week (or weeks for me)!

Won 

 

Of Poseidon (Of Poseidon #1) by Anna Banks

Thank you to Claire @ Claire Reads, this is the last book I will be recieving from her giveaway (I got three pre-ordered books). I can't wait to crack this baby open - I've heard great great things!

Bought

Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth

 This lovely came last week and I literally did a happy dance (ok, fine *raises hands in defeat* I did that happy dance in my head). But I AM SO EXCITED TO READ THIS.... but.... I'm a bit scared. I know! But what if it doesn't live up to my expectations? Second books are tricky anyways, I'll see how it goes! I'll be going at it with an empty mind :) And clear heart!

Where She Went (If I Stay #2) by Gayle Forman 

Ruby Red (Edelstein Trilogie #1) by Kerstin Gier

Yup, you read that right! Where She Went and Ruby Red - two books that have been on my wishlist FOREVER. Imagine how estatic I was to see them sitting there at Walmart 30% off -cue gasps and panic attack now- I seriously jumped up and down. I cannot wait to read these two ---- squeee!!

In non-book-releated-news

I saved a squirrel. Yeah. My stupid cat injured the poor darling (not seriously injured but bad enough!) It was freaked out and hid in our bush. So........ my stepdad and I captured it and I put it into a cage and released it back into the woods. Here is the little cutie:

Anyways, I hope all goes well with you little baby :)

Now, what did YOU get? Feel free to leave LINKS to YOUR posts!

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

Review for The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen by Andrea Cefalo

The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen (The Fairytale Keeper #1)
By Andrea Cefalo
Published by Scarlet Primrose Press
Received ARC from author for review (thanks!)
280 pages

"Snow White was a pet name her mother had given her, but her mother’s dead now. Adelaide hates that name anyway. A rampant fever claimed Adelaide’s mother just like a thousand others in Cologne where the people die without Last Rites and the dead are dumped in a large pit outside of the city walls. Adelaide’s father is determined to obtain a funeral for his wife, but that requires bribing the parish priest, Father Soren. When Soren commits an unforgivable atrocity, he pushes Adelaide to her breaking point, but if she seeks justice against the cruel priest, she risks sacrificing everything: her father, her friends, her first love, and maybe even her life." - Goodreads

        

The Fairytale Keeper is a unique blend of fairy tales: you got Snow White, Cinderella, the Elves and the Shoemaker, and the Six Swans - yet, it doesn't feel like any retelling. Because its not. The Fairytale Keeper is its own unique story. It is very entertaining, containing a strong female role, a sweet romance, and much more.

Adelaide, "Addie" for short, is a girl who knows who she is. She knows what she wants, where she stands, when to fight, and when to submit. Addie is a cobbler's daughter and is devastated by her mother's death. As the summary says, Father Soren (how I do hate him so!) committed a terrible atrocity that disrespected her mother. Addie is angry - bitterly angry and wants revenge (hence the title). Her strength, loyalty, and devoutness is more than admirable. She sticks up for what is right and honorable - in a time when women were viewed as mere stock! A feisty go-getter, Addie is a great main character.

Ivo. Ivo, Ivo, Ivo. How I do love him! Ivo is Addie's best friend turned well, into something more. He is the sweetest guy ever! Ivo protects Addie and looks out for her well being all the time. He truly is in love with her and will do anything to protect her. Even when he has more than enough to deal with himself, he looks out for her. The romance was so innocent and yet spine chillingly sweet. I cannot wait to read the next installment.... I want more Ivo, oh and Addie of course!

We've got Adelaide as"Snow White", her father, Ansel as "the Shoemaker", her mother's cousin, Galadriel as"Cinderella", and Galadriel's sister as the little girl in "Six Swans". This made the book very interesting, as we see how all their stories are integrated into Addie's quest of fighting the church "government" of the time. The pace was alright, a little bit hard to get into but by the time you get to Ivo's entrance into the story, well, at least I was hooked *smirks*. Fine, I admit it, I was in it for the romance! Other than that though, I found the historical period very well done. The conversations and actions of all the characters were believable for that time period. The writing was smooth and easy to follow.

I'd recommend this to fairytale, romance, and historical lovers. I didn't know what to expect but what I got was an original story that integrated fairy tales cleverly and had some well developed characters!

Excerpt

"I'm not leaving."

"Fine," he huffs, and shakes his head at my stubbornness. "Take out your braid and cover your face with your hair."

He helps me shake my hair into my face and it is the first time he has ever run his fingers through my hair. "You still look like you," he scowls. "Here, wear my cloak over yours." I look up at him through my hair with the two cloaks on.

"Don't look at anyone," he orders. "Keep your eyes on the ground and don't smile. Hunch your back." He reaches down and smears dirt across my face. "Try to look uglier," he says and I smile because it means even though I am hunched over and covered in cloaks and dirt, he still thinks I'm pretty.

"That's not uglier, Addie."

Clip of Andrea Cefalo reading a passage of The Fairytale Keeper:



Review for Have Book - Will Travel by Kfir Luzzatto

Have Book - Will Travel
By Kfir Luzzatto
Published by Pine Ten, LLC
Release Date: June 1st 2012 
Ebook received from author (thanks!)
           

"Max fears that his family will disapprove of his friendship with Darla, a common girl from the village outside his uncle’s fortress walls. That's why they meet secretly to read together from an old book, which she has found in a dusty room near the fortress laundry where she works.

 

They read about a lost lake and feel adventurous when they slip out of the fortress to go swimming there; but the trouble begins when they find that, in the meantime, the fortress has been sealed and they can’t get back in. It’s lucky that they have the book with them, to guide them through the many dangers that await them on their way back home…or perhaps it is the book that is the source of their troubles.

 

In the end, it is the power of the friendship that Darla and Max have forged, and their courage, that see them through a series of breathtaking adventures."- Goodreads

 

Have Book -Will Travel is not at all what I expected, yet this interesting, heartfelt story of two children's adventures was enjoyable to read about.

 

Max and Darla are the two main characters. Have Book - Will Travel, is mainly focused on the adventure part of the story so the characters aren't as developed as I wanted. But, I did get a sense of their personalities and cared for them (always a good sign). Their friendship is interesting and its nice to see it grow stronger throughout the book. The people they meet through their adventures were interesting to read about! Different people, different places, and a whole lot of travelling!

 

I think this would be a good classification for a MG book, just because the writing is more on the simplistic side, the characters are not fully detailed ("fleshed out"), and the book progresses in a way that is fit for MG readers. I'm not saying this is bad - I just want to let future readers know that, to me, it seems more middle grade. The premise of the book was original and the way the story went was unpredictable. It kept me on my toes a bit. I wouldn't say it was fast paced but it wasn't slow. It was enough to keep me engaged in the story. Have Book - Will Travel, is a adventure book. That's the best way to describe it. Through this book that they find, the duo have many exciting experiences.

 

I suggest this to those who do not mind MG books, like adventure, and want a lighter, fun read.  I did feel that it  had more potential but I appreciate the author allowing me a chance to read it, I did enjoy it and it was a good read.

 

Excerpt:

 

"Hey," said Max out loud, taking a step forward. He was so close to her that he could have touched her.

The girl jumped to her feet, closing the book and hugging it to her chest. "You scared me!" she complained.

"Well," said Max, "you scared me, so we're even. Who are you?"

"I'm Darla," she said. "what's your name?"

"I'm Max... at least, I am for my friends. Are we going to be friends?"

"It depends..."

"It depends on what?" Max asked in surprise.

 

Review for The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

The False Prince (The Ascendance Trilogy #1)
By Jennifer A. Nielsen
Published by Scholastic
Personal Copy
342 pages 

"In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.

As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together."-Goodreads

The False Prince is a book worth buying. It grabs you and pulls you in between the pages until the story turns into a real thing. Then, it leaves you wanting more - more I tell you!

Where to begin. How about with a high contender for the best-male-lead-character-ever? Sage is his name. (On a side note, how rockin' is that name? I adore it! Spoiler- highlight to read: Imagine how distraught I was to find out he will be no longer "Sage". I almost cried - Jaron just doesn't do it for me.) *Sighs wistfully* Sage, Sage, Sage. He is everything that makes a near perfect male voice for this type of story. He's witty, smug, has a quick-tongue, is steps ahead of everyone else, quick on his feet, knows how to look out for himself, can take pain and yet, is a very sweet boy. In his own right. His voice and attitude makes The False Prince so enjoyable. The dialogue and witty banter, his quick and smart comebacks are sure to have you grinning. The way he is able to predict things and take charge is very admirable. We soon uncover some vulnerability in him but he still manages to keep that swagger. Sage is someone who will have you wrapped around his finger but that's ok, he just has a way of doing that.

I should mention the other characters. I really liked their development because I did get to know them well. It irked me -in a good way- that I thought I would have someone figured out and then it turns out I'm wrong. Conner is a very complex character, as well as Tobias and Roden. I loved Imogen's story too -she's a servant girl that Sage befriends.

The plot and pace was amazing too. This is an example of a book that has been laid out before hand. The author made it so that she dropped hints throughout the book in order to build up to a dramatic conclusion. It was like a giant jigsaw puzzle that simply snapped into place. I loved how all the details matched together. Although I did predict somewhat was was going to happen, the finer details were a mystery to me - and a delight to read about! The False Prince is a smooth book, the events lead into each other and are connected well. The only thing that bothered me was at two points in the book: the POV changed to third person. I do understand why but it was a bit disorienting. Anyways, the writing was clear and easy to picture - hopefully we will get to see some more world building though in the the next book!

I'd highly recommend this book to adventure, fantasy, historical-ish, edge of your seat lovers who like good political intrigue. Although the idea isn't the most original it is extremely well done! Definitely one of my favourites of the year!

Excerpt

Conner walked back to me. "A thief and a liar, eh? Can you manage a sword?"

"Sure, if my opponent doesn't have one."

He grinned. "Do you farm?"

"No." I took that as an insult.

"Hunt?"

"No."

"Can you read?"

I stared up at him through the parts of my hair. "What are you wanting me for, Conner?"

"You'll address me as Sir or Master Conner."

"What are you wanting me for, Sir Master Conner?"

"That's a conversation for another time."

Book Trailer: spoiler free - its safe to watch :) 

       

Review for Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday

Deadly Cool
By Gemma Halliday
Published by HarperTeen
Personal Copy
303 pages    

"Hartley Grace Featherstone is having a very bad day. First she finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her with the president of the Herbert Hoover High School Chastity Club. Then he’s pegged as the #1 suspect in a murder. And if that weren’t enough, now he’s depending on Hartley to clear his name.

But as much as Hartley wouldn’t mind seeing him squirm, she knows he’s innocent, and she’s the only one who can help him. Along with her best friend, Sam, and the school’s resident Bad Boy, Chase, Hartley starts investigating on her own. But as the dead bodies begin to pile up, the mystery deepens, the suspects multiply, and Hartley begins to fear that she may be the killer’s next victim."-Goodreads

Deadly Cool is a quick, fun, and mysterious read that boasts a very eye catching - beautiful!- cover. You'll devour it in one sitting and then want more!

Sometimes, I kick myself for not making half stars - otherwise I would have given Deadly Cool a 4.5 rating. Why not five? The only thing that I felt was missing was character building. We don't get to know too much on her BFF Sam (who I loved) and some other characters. BUT with that being said, I didn't realize all this until... well... I was done. Completely done. Even when I realized this, I couldn't help but think: this is one good book. Seriously, lack of character development aside - it totally rocks.

Hartley (how cool is that name?) is the narrator throughout the whole book and this was very enjoyable. She has such a witty, quirky, and sarcastic attitude that it was a blast reading through her POV. The way she responded to events, how she thought, and how she conversed with her friends/foes was a realistic teenage reaction. Hartley is very clever and resourceful. The way she plunges head first into things, set the stage for some hilarious outcomes. Her friends and families, they seemed a bit exaggerated but really? I loved it!  I know I said they didn't have *too* much development but they still had their unique personalities. Sam and Chase were beyond perfect for side characters.

Now, I realize that this is a murder mystery. Somehow, the author was able to make this a light read. The mystery behind it all had me flipping pages as fast as I could. The fact that I wasn't able to predict "who-done-it", gave the author brownie points. I love not being able to figure out the murderer/mystery before the MC! Maybe, I'm just not very attentive but nevertheless, they author pulled the wool over my eyes. The writing was smooth, very easy to follow and imagine in your head. The pacing was great and as I said before, Hartley's voice was what made this book.

Could this really happen in real life? No. Would a sixteen year old be able to do this? Probably not. Should you read this? Yes. I'd highly recommend this to mystery fans who like it on the lighter side, with a side dish of laughter and a dash of romance! I really enjoyed it and will be adding Social Suicide to my buying list!

 

Excerpt:

I was so engrossed in reading his binder of personal musngs that I almost didn't hear the sound outside the window.

Almost.

"Caw! Caw!"

I froze. No. Tell me Sam didn't just...

"Caw!"

 ***

Just below, on the outside of the gate, stood Sam, jumping up and down flapping her arms.

"Caw!"

I opened the window.

"What are you doing?" I hissed.

"Making a bird call to get your attention."

"That is the wost bird sound ever. 'Caw?' What bird actually says that?"

She shook her head, flapping even more violently. "He's here!" she said.

Review for What a Boy Wants by Nyrae Dawn

What a Boy Wants
By Nyrae Dawn
Published by CreateSpace
Bought Kindle Edition
142 pages

"Courtesy of watching his mom’s relationships, Sebastian Hawkins knows what girls need to do to get a guy. He has what he considers a PHD in hooking up. When he needs extra cash for a car, Sebastian starts up an online venture as The Hook-up Doctor, to anonymously help girls land the guy of their dreams. Of course, his services don’t offer a happily-ever-after guarantee. He’s seen firsthand getting together never means staying together.

And then he falls in love…

With the last girl he would expect…

Totally not in his game plan.

Suddenly, Sebastian finds himself muddled in the game he’s always prided himself on. He can’t even pick up girls at parties anymore! Why would anyone want to be in love when it turns you into a stuttering, screwed-up, mess with really lame stalker tendencies? Stalking? Totally not his gig.

But the Hook-up Doctor won’t let himself go down easily. He’s always known how to give a girl what she wants and now it’s time to figure out what a boy wants… and he definitely plans on getting it."- Goodreads

What A Boy Wants was what one girl wanted - that girl being me. I needed a good romantic, yet hilarious, read. This book is sure to make you smile (if not laugh out loud) and say "awww". Sebastian Hawkins will capture your heart.

Sebastian, aka "Bastian", knows a thing or two about hooking up. He has loads of experience and has seen it first hand with his mother's relationships. Yet, he knows nothing about love - nothing! It was hilarious watching him fall in love, he totally was at a loss of what was happening to him. He was losing his "groove". When it dawns on him that he is in love, I really liked how he handled that knowledge. Bastian, under all his bravo, is a character to love. As his mother and Aspen would say, "he has a big heart". He's always worried about his mom getting hurt or his friends getting hurt. He's always there to protect them. All four of them - Bastian, Jaden, Aspen, and Pris - are a tight knit group of friends. As Bastian says, "they got each others back". It was nice to see this in a book and I enjoyed reading about every one's unique personalities. But the best part? Bastian's voice. No not his physical voice, but the narrative voice. Thank the writer heavens - this is *exactly* how a male mind would think (well at least half of the teenage male population). What he said, how he reacted, what he thought etc. just screamed: "Teenage boy! Teenage boy!" I adored this aspect of What A Boy Wants.


The idea itself, is fantastic. A hook-up doctor? To get some extra cash? Brilliant! This is a fairly quick read and through it all there is something that just keeps you reading. Whether it be Bastian's love life or his lack of love life, the ball just rolls on through. There are plenty of laughs, yet this book does have some substance. Especially regarding love. If I had only one problem with this book it was the editing, although it wasn't terrible, there were a few spots that needed attention (no biggie at all but just thought I'd mention it).

I'd recommend this to those who are into romantic, hilarious, good natured books that might be slightly predictable - but come on, who doesn't like those? I thoroughly enjoyed What A Boy Wants and will definitely be reading What A Boy Needs through Jaden's POV!

Excerpt:

My hands stung as I slid down the tree. The second Jaden and I hit the ground, I saw her front door jerk open. Daddy was pissed and he had a bat! We ran. Unfortunately, Jaden's car was in the opposite direction. My chest hurt but I pushed forward, Jaden right beside me. Daddy was on our tail, swinging his bat and cursing.

"Pris!" I told him. She lived in this neighborhood.

***

As we hit the next street over, I saw them. Pris and Apsen stood in Pris's driveway. They were looking at something in the truck of Aspen's car.

***

I had no choice but to dive in the trunk. Jaden was right behind me.

"Where'd you go you little punks?" He was still after us. Aspen must have put two and two together quickly and slammed the trunk. She was always smart.

As I fought to catch my breath, Jaden's sweaty back against mine, I cursed. The girls were never going to let us live this down.

Stacking the Shelves #2

Stacking the Shelves is a meme created/hosted by the lovely Tynga @ Tynga's Reviews! (All credit goes to her for this meme.) If you want to participate click on the link! The more the merrier! It's a chance to showcase titles that arrived in the mail or for review... any book goodies over the past week (or weeks for me)!

Received From Author:

The Fairytale Keeper by Andrea Cefalo

So, the wonderful Andrea Cefalo sent me a copy of her book The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen for review. Thank you so much!!! I'm so excited to start reading it! It will be released on June 1, 2012 :)

Won:

Hemlock (Hemlock #1) by Kathleen Peacock

Struck (Struck #1) by Jennifer Bosworth

Yes, I won a pre-order package style deal and these two lovelies came in the mail :) I'm still waiting for one more out of the ones I won. Thanks to Claire @ Claire Reads!!

Bought:

 The False Prince (The Ascendance Trilogy #1) by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Deadly Cool (Deadly Cool #1) by Gemma Halliday

I'm so thankful to The Book Depository for having that 10% discount going... I was able to convince my parents into buying a couple books (why yes, there was begging involved). AHHHH! I cannot wait to read these two, I've been drooling over them forever!

Basically, this week rocked. I'm still expecting a couple books to arrive in the mail. Anyways, enough about what I got............

Now I want to know what YOU got!! So leave LINKS to YOUR posts :)

Thanks for reading and stay lovely!