Waterfall Wednesdays Read-Along #5

Waterfall Wednesdays, a read-along of Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren, is hosted by Tina, Joy & Serena, Nic, Jenny, and Missie. Join in on the discussion at anytime + you can win prizes! Click HERE for more info and to sign up.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR CHAPTERS 24-28 hosted by Irresistible Reads
1.  After Gabi is injured, the doctor gives her a tonic.  Gabi questions the doctor several times what is in it but he refuses to tell.  Would have you taken the tonic in Gabi situation?
    Hell no. No freaking way. I’d wait it out, travel forward through time, and then go see my doctor, because my doctor rocks. 
2.  Before the games Gabi asks Lia to let Lord Forabosch win in the archery event as people especially Lord Forabosch are becoming suspicious of them. But during the games Lord Forabosch upsets Lia trying to throw her off her game. So Lia decides to win.  Do you think she did the right thing by not letting Lord Forabosch bully her or do you think she took an unnecessary risk?
      It might have been better if she threw the game, but I can’t blame Lia for showing what she’s capable of. She’s a teen, of course she’s going to give it her all after some gloating jerk taunts her. 
3.  When Gabi is dying and she and Lia decide to return to the tombs so they can get the cure at home but they have to tell Marcello the truth.  Even though Marcello thinks that it is madness that they are from the future he believes in Gabi because he loves her.  Do you think this is believable?  What would you have done if you were Marcello?
     I honestly would probably think the person was crazy if I were Marcello. But hey, if they are dying, I care about them, and they want to go to some tomb in order to time travel, what’ve you got to lose? I’d say it’s definitely believable that Marcello just goes with it, thinking from that perspective. 
4.  In the end Gabi and Lia return home.  Do you think Gabi will return to Marcello? Would you go back?
      Considering that there are two more books, I’d say it is a given that Gabi travels back in time again. She's too into Marcello not to come back. I don’t know if I’d travel back, (especially after getting stabbed) but if some romantic, chivalrous guy was waiting for me…who knows? ;) 
5.  Looking back at Waterfall what was your favorite moment?
       Any scene with Luca was a favorite of mine (Fortino was pretty amusing at times too)...and the action scenes were pretty great! :)
Oh, no! The Read-Along's over! This was such fun though....Many thanks to everyone who put this whole read-along together!


Past DiscussionsDiscussion Questions for Chapters 1-6(hosted by Tina's Book Reviews)
Discussion Questions for Chapters 7-11(hosted by The Unread Reader)
Did not participate in week 3 Discussion (I forgot!)
Discussion Questions for Chapters 18-23(hosted by Supernatural Snark)

Blog Tour Interview + Giveaway: Anna Carey

Today is my stop on the Eve Blog Tour, and I have author 

Anna Carey here to answer questions about Eve, plus a giveaway! 

Quick! Describe Eve in 7 words or less!

Torn between fear and love.

What was the most difficult part for you when writing Eve? 

I loved writing the first section of the book, when Eve leaves School and is out in the wild for the first time. The hardest part was writing the section that came right after. Eve is slowly letting go of everything she’s been taught, and struggling with her new feelings for Caleb. There’s a lot of confusion and fear and curiosity there. It was tricky to convey all that and still keep the plot moving.

Which supporting/secondary character was your favorite to write?

I love Arden. She’s a really strong woman. There’s also so much sadness in her. She doesn’t let people in. She’s terrified of being vulnerable to anyone else—the one thing she needs most. Despite all that, she’s the bravest character in the book.

Any favorite teaser quotes from Eve that you can share?

From the first time Eve is alone with Caleb:

“He was a strange breed of man, part wild. Not the sophisticated kind who graced the pages of The Great Gatsby. Nor did he seem like the violent men I’d encountered my first day in the wild. He’d saved me, at least. I could only hope it wasn’t for some nefarious purpose.”

What are you working on next?

I’m just finishing up the second book, then I’m diving into the third one.

Thanks so much for the interview, Anna! And if you are curious about Eve, check it out on Goodreads. 

***

Win a copy of EVE!

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Ends Sunday - October 2nd, 2011
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Many thanks to The {Teen} Book Scene!

Waterfall Wednesdays Read-Along #4

Waterfall Wednesdays, a read-along of Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren, is hosted by Tina, Joy & Serena, Nic, Jenny, and Missie. Join in on the discussion at anytime + you can win prizes! Click HERE for more info and to sign up.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR CHAPTERS 18-23 hosted by Supernatural Snark
1.  Gabi and Lia both face several life and death situations in these chapters, having to pick up weapons in defense of those they love and experiencing firsthand the brutality of close combat. If you had the choice between picking up a weapon and standing on the front lines or staying behind to tend to the wounded as necessary, which would you choose?
Give me a weapon, because I’m game. But seriously, if it comes down to people I love, I don't care if morally I have a problem with it - I'm protecting them. I would never want to look back and regret not actively protecting people I care about. I'd rather give it my all, and hope for the best. It wouldn’t be easy, but it would be worth it to defend the people I love....wow, that got personal really quickly ;) 
2.  Both girls get to wear extraordinary gowns to their victory celebration; what would your dream medieval gown look like?
I’d love a gown like Lia’s, it sounded gorgeous! Especially if it’s a pretty shade of blue. I'm a sucker for blue :) 
3.  Gabi has crude stitches put in and must endure both their removal as well as the cauterization of the wound. How is your threshold for pain? Do you think you would have simply gritted your teeth as Gabi does?
Pain threshold = not that great. I would be hurting pretty badly if I were in Gabi’s place. And probably also freaking out. Crude stitches? Yikes. 
4.  Marcello wants to properly court Gabi after they express mutual feelings of affection, wanting to speak with her mother about his intentions. What do you think is the most romantic aspect of medieval courtship?
        Didn't they used to write poetry in medieval times when courting? I haven't seen in the story yet, but I  believe they did. Anyway, I think that's utterly romantic. Nothing says "romantic" like the time and effort it takes to write a poem that expresses your feelings for another. Even just a plain old love letter would be romantic. 
5.  Gabi and Lia find themselves with conflicting desires toward the end with Lia wanting to return home and Gabi hoping to stay. Do you think that Gabi is being unfair to Lia for wanting to stay, or is Lia being unfair to Gabi for demanding they go? A little of both?
I think Gabi is being unfair to Lia for wanting to stay. It’s only been a week, and she’s already considering staying just because she has some intense crush that might be love (I’m a huge romantic, don't get me wrong, but I’m also a realist. Love takes time). Gabi and Lia are not from the time they're stuck in. Lia just wants to go home, to her life, to her correct era, and Gabi should respect that. 

Past DiscussionsDiscussion Questions for Chapters 1-6(hosted by Tina's Book Reviews)
Discussion Questions for Chapters 7-11(hosted by The Unread Reader)
Did not participate in week 3 Discussion (I forgot!)

Top Ten Tuesday (2)

For more information on how to participate in Top Ten Tuesday and this week's topic, visit The Broke and Bookish for details! 

Top Ten Books I Feel As Though Everyone Has Read But Me
1.  The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - I can already see some of you giving me that look because I've never read this one. I own it, but I haven't quite gotten past 20 pages in...
2.  The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky - I meant to get this one so many times, but it was never in at my library whenever I looked. I always feel so weird for not having read it when so many other people have. 
3.  The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan - It looks like such fun, and it's got mythology (I love mythology), but I still haven't ever picked up a copy. 
4.  Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles - It's pretty much a given that someone will recommend this to me at least once a month. Honestly, it sounds utterly cliché to me, but I guess it's still pretty popular?
5.  Bloodlines by Richelle Mead - Okay, so maybe everyone hasn't read this yet, but it sure feels like it. I keep seeing so many mixed reviews, they're making me nervous to buy a copy of the book! 
6.  The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger  - The year I would have read this back in high school was also the year I took an Honors version of English, so I ended up reading other books for that class. *hides under rock*
7.  Clockwork Angel / CoG / CoFA by Cassandra Clare - Okay, this is more than one book, but let's just pretend that they're all only one. Usually, I'm pretty good with sequels and series. But for some reason, I haven't finished the Mortal instruments books, let alone gotten past pg. 50 in Clare's newest series....Maybe I just need to do a full reread of every book, and then I'll be inspired to finally catch up?
8.  Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - I vaguely remember trying to read this one, but then I just watched the Keira Knightly movie instead ;)
9.  Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly - Raving reviews are everywhere for this book. Everywhere. Why haven't I read this one???
10.  The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin - This book isn't even released yet and I already feel like everyone else has read it. And loved it. And loved some dude named Noah. So much so, I keep reading fangirly raves about him. Apparently, this book (and Noah) cannot be missed....

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Where She Went (If I Stay #2)
by Gayle Forman
Release: April 5th, 2011
Pages: 208 (hardcover)Publisher: Dutton JuvenileSource: Unsolicited copy - PublisherSummary: 

It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.
Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future - and each other.
Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

I've been thinking about this novel for a few months now, reflecting on the story and my reaction to it¹...and in the end, I realized that Where She Went must have been pretty spectacular to remain in my thoughts for so long. 
After three long years, Adam and his band are on top of the world and he's a famous rock star. But despite how great everything seems, Adam's less than thrilled with his life. Even his relationships with his band-mates aren't what they used to be. Everyday, he runs through the motions of his rock-star life while staving off nervous breakdowns with a bottle of pills. Honestly, it was so heartbreaking to read Adam narrative and to see his character so sad. Even with Mia's appearance, the changes in her both pleased and saddened me as I followed Adam's narration.

Forman's writing evoked different emotions in me with words that were poetic, beautiful, and heartbreaking. It is so easy to get lost in the story and emotion of Where She Went, and to just let the pages turn as the story unfolds. The story itself takes place quickly, for the most part in a matter of a full day, as Adam and Mia spend time trying to understand each other, themselves, the past, and coming to terms with each of their futures. 
Highlights: Adam's voice is achingly familiar, yet fresh and compelling - I was worried he would sound like Mia. However, Adam is different, broken² in a different way than Mia once was. And thankfully, he still has some of his lovable charm and humor. I love how Forman shows how her characters have changed in three years, how they've evolved and grown. Even though it was initially a challenge for me to dive into Adam's mindset, Adam's words and the emotion behind them resonated with me long after the final page. 
Lowlights: The first half of the novel was difficult to get through because Adam really is in such a down place, and not entirely the man he used to be. It's difficult to see a character you adore be in a place like that. But, the last half made everything worthwhile. Rating:   
1 I even had to reread it, because I was not quite sure the first time around how I even felt. 2 He's a bit like a lit firecracker in this novel, just seconds away from exploding emotionally...Adam is just so vibrant as a character. 

Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready

Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready
Release: 3 May, 2011
Pages: 384 (hardcover)
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Source: Bought & Publicist
Summary:

Aura’s life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can’t deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she’s not sure that she wants to.

Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift.

As Aura’s search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets…and her heart.

Sexy, mysterious, exciting and filled with surprises - Shift has it all. The story begins with Aura being a bit (okay, extremely) bummed out regarding what happened to Logan previously. It isn't until a few chapters later where the Aura that I adore comes back - her sarcastic humor never ceased to amuse me. But, there are still of troubles, whether it's with boys or even with the DMP. Smith-Ready excels at creating genuine and honest chemistry (both friendship-wise and romantic) between characters, but only one of the lovely guys who adores Aura truly fits with her the best, and I loved seeing this relationship grow. 

In between typical (and not so typical) teenage drama lies a mystery that will captivate readers entirely. The significance of Aura and Zachary's births, Aura's mother, The Shift, Stonehenge, one downright shocking secret, and so much more....the closer Aura came to discovering everything, the more hooked on the story I became.

Shade delivered compelling and realistic characters, Shift came through with plenty of seductive secrets, and I have no doubt that Jeri Smith-Ready is going to give readers something spectacular with the next novel,  Shine.

Highlights: Many of the characters grew in this installment. And Smith-Ready made a kilt sexy...which I didn't think was possible. Smith-Ready ends the story nicely, but leaves quite a few tantalizing hooks to keep readers curious for the third novel¹. All in all, these books are must-reads, so go check out the first novel if you haven't already!

Lowlights: Despite the incredible chemistry², the boy drama got to be a bit much every now and then. I wanted to shake some sense into quite a few characters! 

Rating: 4 out of 5

Other reviews in this series:
Shade (Shade #1)


1 No joke. I'm dying to know what happens next. I would consider trading my sibling for a copy of Shine, and I'm fairly sure that wouldn't be entirely legal.
2 And yes, there are plenty of super-sexy moments. And a couple might be for more mature teens.

In My Mailbox {57}

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For ReviewAnna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake (hardcover)Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver (netgalley)Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (netgalley)Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler (ARC)Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs (ARC)Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (ARC)
BoughtSapphique by Catherine FisherCircle of Fire by Michelle Zink

ReceivedVenom Squad kit (bookmarks, stickers, pin)

Many thanks to Netgalley, Harper Teen, Tor Teen, Egmont USA, Little, Brown & Company, Tera Lynn Childs, Simon & Schuster, and Ann Redisch Stampler! :) 
What did you get this week? 

Waterfall Wednesdays Read-Along #2

Waterfall Wednesdays, a read-along of Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren, is hosted by Tina, Joy & Serena, Nic, Jenny, and Missie. Join in on the discussion at anytime + you can win prizes! Click HERE for more info and to sign up. 

Discussion Questions for Chapters 7-11 (hosted by The Unread Reader)
1.  Gabi's search for her sister is made increasingly difficult by the fight for territory between Castello Forelli and Castello Paratore. At this point, do you think the rivalry is warranted? Why or why not?       I don’t think the rivalry is warranted, and I’m not even going to attempt explaining myself so as not to bore anyone with a long-winded explanation (trust me, it would bore you).  
2.  Gabi aids Fortino by having his sickroom cleaned out and using steam to loosen the phlegm inside his lungs so he could breathe better. Have you ever found yourself in a situation that required you to rely on home remedies to aid yourself or another? What are some of your favorite home remedies?        I rely more heavily on modern medicine, but I do sort of use home remedies. I’m a firm believer that warm liquid foods/drinks are the absolute best things you can eat/drink when you’re sick. Also, warm, steamy showers always make breathing a little easier (plus they feel good!). Gargling salt water is supposed to be great for sore throats, although it rarely works for me (mostly because I gag on the saltiness and spit it all out, lol). 
3.  Marcello and his men don't hide their surprise when they learn that Gabi is skilled with a sword. What did you think of this development? Has your initial impression of Gabi changed? Do you have any secret skills?        I love that Gabi can swing a sword and that she’s brave enough to put herself in the middle of a battle. I think I’m liking her character more as the story moves along. As for my secret skills, I don’t think I really have any…maybe I should work on getting some ;) 
4.  "Our lips were so close, I could feel the heat of his breath on my skin." Gabi and Marcello's feelings for one another are beginning to stir. What do you think of Marcello as a romantic interest thus far? What do you think of his intended?        I actually like Luca more than Marcello, plus he’s single! Marcello’s already taken and that complicates things. Lady Romana Rossi was a bit of a {expletive} at first, but I don’t know. I want to still hate her, but she kind of redeemed herself a little bit during the escape scene. Let’s just see what she does next.  
5.  Marcello and Luca take turns teaching Gabi the dances of Toscana. Would you have liked to attend a ball like the one Gabi was practicing for? Do you like to dance? Do you know any cool dance moves? Extra (not really) points if you YouTube yourself dancing and share the video. Come on, it will be fun! :)        I think it’d be fun to attend a ball, in a gorgeous gown, as long as I knew how to do the steps!
And as for making a video of myself dancing – HA! You don’t want to see me dance. I like to dance, but I don’t do it very well! 

Past DiscussionsDiscussion Questions for Chapters 1-6(hosted by Tina's Book Reviews)

Slow Week...and Links

Hey everyone!
I know things have been slow on the blog lately. My college courses started a couple weeks ago, so I'm a little behind on blogging (analyzing The Canterbury Tales and Beowulf is taking up so much of my time that it's almost ridiculous). However, I should be back on track with blogging, commenting, and emailing fairly soon. In the meantime, this week will have fewer posts than normal.
But in the meantime, I did manage to spot something neat while on Amazon buying textbooks -- Have you seen that the original script of the pilot episode for ABC's upcoming TV series Revenge is available free on Kindle? It even has a link to the full pilot episode at the end of the script to watch, so be sure to check it out! 
Also, make sure you enter to win Hades by Alexandra Adornetto here on my blog if you haven't already. It ends soon!
Hope you all are having a fabulous week so far :)


PS: I figured since I didn't have that many posts lately, I at least owed you guys an adorable photo of my dog from her puppy years. Don't be fooled by her innocent stare though....she was a rascal then, and even more so now ;)

Winter's Passage by Julie Kagawa

Winter's Passage (The Iron Fey #1.5)by Julie KagawaRelease: June 2010Pages: 59 (ebook)Publisher: Harlequin TeenSource: NetgalleySummary: 

Meghan Chase used to be an ordinary girl...until she discovered that she is really a faery princess. After escaping from the clutches of the deadly Iron fey, Meghan must follow through on her promise to return to the equally dangerous Winter Court with her forbidden love, Prince Ash. But first, Meghan has one request: that they visit Puck--Meghan's best friend and servant of her father, King Oberon--who was gravely injured defending Meghan from the Iron Fey.
Yet Meghan and Ash's detour does not go unnoticed. They have caught the attention of an ancient, powerful hunter--a foe that even Ash may not be able to defeat....

Mini-Thoughts: Fast and exciting, Winter's Passage fills in the blanks between books 1 and 2 as Ash and Meghan make their way from her home to the chilling Winter Court. A very quick, exciting, and action-packed novella that any fan of the Iron Fey series will enjoy. I chose to read this after reading book 2¹, and while it was not necessary to read Winter's Passage, I found it to be worthwhile. 
Highlights: Ash became a more sympathetic character to me (but I'm still firmly Team Puck). His motivations and internal conflicts seem to really show more readily than they normally do, and it helped me enjoy his character more. And of course, Grimalkin was a definite highlight². 
Lowlights: The conflict was almost too easily fixed. The villain could have easily been more terrifying/intimidating...and no Puck! :(
Rating: 4 out of 5
Reviews of other books in this series:The Iron KingThe Iron Daughter (coming soon)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Footnotes1 I wanted to see if it was even necessary to read the novella, or if I could understand what happened from the second book alone. The Iron Daughter does a good job of quickly summarizing what happened in Winter's Passage, but there's still a bit more that would be worth reading. 2 Isn't he always a highlight? Grimalkin is awesome ;)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------