Book Blogger Hop April 30

Happy Friday, everyone! Are you ready for another Book Blogger Hop?!

Check out Jennifer's page, Crazy-for-Books, and enter your link and check out some of the other book blogs out there!!

Here are a couple of great blogs I found last week at the Hop:

Only Sexy Books Allowed

Writers' Ally aka S.A. Larsen

So join in the fun and check out the Hop!

"Ondine: The Summer of Shambles"

"Ondine: The Summer of Shambles"
by Ebony McKenna

Source: from Jenny at Egmont UK

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

My Review:

Ondine feels like a failure at psychic summer camp, so she packs up and runs away to home. In Ondine's world, the small country of Brugel, magic is accepted as a part of everyday life, so her parents are only a little surprised that she has brought home a talking ferret named Shambles. Actually, Ondine is one of the few who can actually hear Shambles talking- in an old-fashioned Scottish brogue no less! It turns out he used to be a man, but was cursed to live as a ferret. When he's not sneaking food away from the kitchen, Shambles overhears a murder plot against the duke. All sorts of chaos follow Ondine and Shambles as they try to warn and save the duke, all the while trying to lift the curse so that Shambles can be a man again.

This fantasy story was so sweet and so much fun! Ondine was spunky and Shambles was such a handful! I have to admit, I really want a talking ferret that I can wear as a stole and take everywhere with me! Shambles is so lovable as a foul mouthed ragamuffin! McKenna describes him so well that I can just see all of his shenanigans so clearly, and it's totally believable.

But you know how in "Beauty and the Beast", you were just a teensy bit disappointed when the lovable beast turned into a boring prince? (or am I the only one?) This book isn't like that at all! When Shambles is in his human form, Hamish, he's just as wonderful but in a different way. He's sweet and polite and jaw-droppingly handsome!

The author uses footnotes a lot in this story to tell about Brugel and give other insights. The footnotes were always really funny and I appreciated that McKenna was trying something unique. Sometimes, they were a little distracting, though, and I would have liked the information better if it had been in the body of the work instead.


Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 4/5 (there was a lot of drama in Ondine's family :)
Setting: 5/5
Romance: 5/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 5/5 (captures the story perfectly! love the silhouettes and all the fun glittery shapes)
Writing: 5/5

Extras: I love that Egmont UK is devoted to ethical publishing! From the use of sustainable papers to making sure that workers are treated fairly. Way to go!


Bottom Line:I loved this book, especially Shambles. The story was really fun with lots of madcap action. And there was a good message underneath it all, too. Now, where can I find a talking ferret?

Waiting on Wednesday (21)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it is a way to show off the books you can't wait to be released!!

This week I chose:

"Firelight"
by Sophie Jordan
Harper Teen
Release Date: Sep 7, 2010

The following description is from Goodreads.com:

With her rare ability to breathe fire, Jacinda is special even among the draki—the descendants of dragons who can shift between human and dragon forms. But when Jacinda’s rebelliousness leads her family to flee into the human world, she struggles to adapt, even as her draki spirit fades. The one thing that revives it is Will, whose family hunts her kind. Jacinda can’t resist getting closer to him, even though she knows she’s risking not only her life but the draki’s most closely guarded secret.

What makes me really excited for this book is that Sophie Jordan is one of my favorite historical romance authors! When I saw that she had written a paranormal YA novel, I knew I had to read it! I love dragon shapeshifters, too, and what a cover!!

What are you waiting for this week???

"Fragments" Marilyn Monroe's Writings Released this Fall

(photo from LIFE magazine)

Exciting book news today! Never before seen personal writings and correspondence from Marilyn Monroe will be released as a book this fall by publisher Farrar, Straus and Giroux. The book will be titled "Fragments" and will contain various writings from Marilyn herself from 1943 to her death in 1962. Expect diary entries, letters, and thoughts jotted down on paper.

This is really exciting to me because I think Marilyn was such a complex person, and she was so different than the image she worked so hard to portray. A part of me thinks that its an invasion of privacy-did she really want her personal writings released? But the part of me that is a fan really wants to know more about her life so I can understand her better.

Please see the following links for more details on the story:

Yahoo News

New York Times

In My Mailbox (20)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren, and is a way for everyone to show their new books for the week, including those bought, swapped, won, or received for review.

I received these books from the publisher:

"Ravished by a Highlander" by Paula Quinn.

Check back next Sunday, May 2 for my stop on the blog tour. I will be posting my review and a giveaway for 5 copies of the book!! Thanks, Hachette!

"Put on Your Crown" by Queen Latifah:
thanks to Hachette

"Daughters of Fortune" by Tara Hyland:
thanks to Simon and Schuster, UK and Bookalicious Ramblings

"A Touch of Scandal" by Jennifer Haymore

thanks, Hachette!
Everyone please send positive thoughts and prayers Jennifer's way as she has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer.

"An Earl to Enchant" by Amelia Grey
thanks to Sourcebooks and Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell

"Beautiful People" by Wendy Holden
thanks to Danielle at Sourcebooks!

What did you receive in your mailbox this week??

"The Highlander's Forbidden Bride"

"The Highlander's Forbidden Bride"
by Donna Fletcher

Source: bought

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

My Review:

Athena Smith, the costume curator for a Chicago museum, is elated to finally see the legendary vintage gowns worn by a city icon, Bertha Palmer. But the gowns are owned by the Clayworth family, who are not on good terms with Athena's family. The Clayworths just fired Athena's father from their company for unknown, but scandalous, reasons. So Athena has little hope of gaining the gowns for an exhibition at the museum. While looking at the gowns, she inhales a toxin which acts as a truth serum. Wh...more Ronan Sinclare and his brother, Cavan, were captured and tortured by the barbarian Mordrac and even tortured by his daughter, Carissa. Cavan managed to escape, but Ronan remained and endured even more torture from Carissa. His only relief was from the slave, Hope, who tended his wounds, including his eyes that were swollen shut, preventing him from being able to see her. After being sold to mercenaries by Carissa, Ronan vowed revenge on her, both for his own torture and for his beloved Hope's murder. Ronan succeeds in kidnapping Carissa, but learns that this barbarian is so much more than meets the eye.

Donna Fletcher never fails to disappoint me. I like my heroes to be sweet and loving, and she just writes this type of hero so well! Sure, Ronan is grouchy and even hates Carissa at first, but somehow, Fletcher has him as sweet and romantic as his brothers by the midpoint of the story. I love that even though the leads often butt heads, neither is outright disrespectful or does or says anything that is unforgivable.

I think it's pretty clear that I loved Ronan, and Carissa was an exceptional character as well. She was so complex and the layers of her personality become understandable as we learn her motives.

The Sinclare clan plays a big role in this story. All of the characters feel so familiar by this book, it's like seeing old friends again. I'm not sure if this was the final book in the series, but if there are more, I will be sure to read them too.


Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5 (I love those Sinclares!!)
Setting: 4/5
Romance: 5/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 4/5 (love the retro covers, I can't help it!)
Writing: 5/5



Bottom Line:

While this wasn't my favorite book by Donna Fletcher, it still lives up to what I have come to expect from her as an author- A super sweet romantic story with a hero who has that really rare mix of strength and tenderness. He's head over heels for this woman and he's not afraid to show it!

Book Blogger Hop April 23

It's Friday, which means it's time for another Book Blogger Hop!!

Check out Jennifer's page, Crazy-for-Books, and enter your link and check out some of the other book blogs out there!!

I've been able to find some great new blogs to read!!

Here are just two of the many awesome bloggers I've found at the hop:

Sarah at Book Reviews from Inside an Igloo

Violet at The Eager Readers

So join the fun and spread the word about this new event!!

Healthy Habits (1) Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

I've been thinking a lot about living a healthier lifestyle lately, and I wanted to incorporate the things I've found into my blog posts! So today I'm making my first "Healthy Habits" post, which I hope will become a weekly post for me! I don't want the posts to be about dieting or exercising obsessively, I want them to be an inspiration to be healthy!!



Today's Healthy Habits post focuses on "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution." For those of you who haven't seen Jamie's show on ABC (Fridays at 9!), he's trying to change the American way of eating, (you know processed foods that are basically just chemicals and other junk that have no business in our bodies) and focus on fresh, healthy foods, as well as cooking as a way of life and something to share with family and friends!

Jamie has set up an online petition that is focusing on getting better foods in kids' school lunch programs, as well as keeping cooking skills alive. Go ahead and sign the petition, it only takes a few seconds, and its a start to a healthier way of life. Over 430,000 Americans have signed so far!

Don't forget about Jamie's Food Revolution Cookbook, I can't wait to get this one and start cooking some of the healthy meals.

Waiting On Wednesday (20)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it is a way to show off the books you can't wait to be released!!

This week I chose:

"Halo"
by Alexandra Adornetto
Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: Sep 14, 2010

The following description is from Goodreads.com:

Three angels are sent down to bring good to the world: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. But she is the most human, and when she is romantically drawn to a mortal boy, the angels fear she will not be strong enough to save anyone—especially herself—from the Dark Forces.

Is love a great enough power against evil?

I know you're not supposed to judge a book by it's cover, but this cover is GORGEOUS!! It seems like angels are the new paranormal craze! It sounds really romantic too :)

What are you waiting on this week??

In My Mailbox (19)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren, and is a way for everyone to show their new books for the week, including those bought, swapped, won, or received for review.

This is my first In My Mailbox post for April, so there are a lot of books! But I want to make sure I give everyone a shout out, especially all of those bloggers that hosted contests and publishers who sent out books :) Thank you, everyone!

"Ondine" by Ebony McKenna

I received this from Jenny at Egmont books. I'm reading as we speak!! It's so cute, can't wait to review it!

"To Sin With a Scoundrel" by Cara Elliott

I won this in a contest from Brande at Book Junkie and it was sent by Hachette. I've been waiting to read this one!! It's the first book by Andrea Pickens alter ego, Cara Elliott!

"How to Never Look Fat Again" by Charla Krupp

I won this one from Bridget at Readaholic and it was also sent by Hachette. I've started this one, and I'm a little iffy on it so far. Maybe I will get some good info before I finish, though!

"Intertwined" by Gena Showalter

I won this ARC from Christina at Reading Extensively. Wow! I have been waiting a long time to read this one, I've heard so much about it!

Beautiful Dead by Eden Maguire

I won this book from Michelle at Red Headed Book Child. I had no idea there were so many books in this series. I can't wait to get started!

What did you receive in your mailbox this week??

"The Highlander's Sword"

"The Highlander's Sword"
by Amanda Forester

Source: won from Anna's Book Blog, sent to me by Sourcebooks

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Review:

Athena Smith, the costume curator for a Chicago museum, is elated to finally see the legendary vintage gowns worn by a city icon, Bertha Palmer. But the gowns are owned by the Clayworth family, who are not on good terms with Athena's family. The Clayworths just fired Athena's father from their company for unknown, but scandalous, reasons. So Athena has little hope of gaining the gowns for an exhibition at the museum. While looking at the gowns, she inhales a toxin which acts as a truth serum. Wh...more Lady Aila Graham is shocked when her father arranges for her to marry a stranger, Padyn MacLaren. Aila had been trained her whole life to become a nun, so she's unprepared to be any one's wife. Padyn and Aila's sudden marriage is only the first in a string of fast-paced adventures they have together, including kidnapping, a besieged castle, a secret passageway, and many high speed chases on horseback. Among their many adventures, the two find themselves falling in love.

I really enjoyed this highland story, the action was non-stop! I'm surprised by how much I liked the book because the romance really wasn't the strongest part of the story.

I loved the character Chaumont, the French knight who was Padyn's sidekick. He really made the book entertaining for me, he stole the show! I liked Chaumont a lot better than Padyn, and I was hoping he would get his book, but that seems unlikely. Chaumont was always quick to make light of the situation, but later, we find out why he acts this way. A few times, I thought Chaumont acted more admirably than Padyn, even towards Aila.

I loved Aila's character too. She was a strong, intelligent woman who could take care of herself-especially on horseback! She was independent and took risks often. However, she admitted her mistakes also.

Unfortunately, the romance was a little lacking and seemed awkward at times. The love scenes, especially, were uncomfortable, and somewhat immature. There were long periods of time when the couple were separated and even towards the end, Aila had to ask others what her husband was like because she didn't know him well enough. The romantic gestures between the two of them didn't really flow and felt uncomfortable.

There was a Christian theme in the book which was unusual for this type of romance, but I think it fit well, especially since Aila studied to be a nun. In no way is the religious theme overbearing.


Main Characters: 4/5 (Aila more so than Padyn)
Supporting Characters: 5/5 (Chaumont, enough said!!)
Setting: 4/5
Romance: 2/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 4/5 (gotta love it!)
Writing: 4/5



Bottom Line: I recommend this book to fans of highland romance because it's a lot of fun and action packed. Too bad Chaumont isn't the star of the story though, and he's relegated to second banana. Chaumont alone is worth picking up this book!

Book Blogger Hop April 16

It's Friday, which means it's time for another Book Blogger Hop!!

Check out Jennifer's page, Crazy-for-Books, and enter your link and check out some of the other book blogs out there!!

I've been able to find some great new blogs to read!!

I missed last week's Hop since it was Spring Break, and I'm eager to see the new blogs participating now!!Here are just two of the many awesome bloggers I found the last time I participated in the hop:

Kim at Queen Bee

Porcelaine at Literary Lolita

So join the fun and spread the word about this new event!!

"I Has a Hotdog"

"I Has a Hotdog"

by Professor Happycat and ihasahotdog.com

Source: received from the publisher for review, thanks to Anna at Hachette Book Group

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Review:

"I Has a Hotdog" is such a cute book!! It's perfect for fans of the website ihasahotdog.com. For those of you unfamilar with the site, (I suggest you check it out, first of all!) this book contains full color pictures of adorable and silly dogs with hilarious captions written in the "I has a hotdog" language. Or to quote the back of the book:

"For all you hoomins, a LOLdog is a kay-nine picture with a funny, mispelled caption."

I couldn't have...more "I Has a Hotdog" is such a cute book!! It's perfect for fans of the website ihasahotdog.com. For those of you unfamilar with the site, (I suggest you check it out, first of all!) this book contains full color pictures of adorable and silly dogs with hilarious captions written in the "I has a hotdog" language. Or to quote the back of the book:

"For all you hoomins, a LOLdog is a kay-nine picture with a funny, mispelled caption."

I couldn't have put it better. "I Has a Hotdog" is really what the subtitle of the book says: "what your dog is really thinking."

The size of the book is small, so it doesn't take up a lot of space. It's perfect for sitting on your coffee table, or passing around the office. The book is a fantastic gift for dog lovers of all kinds. It's family friendly, so you don't have to worry about the humor used here.

Bottom Line: This is a really fun, lighthearted book that can be enjoyed by everyone. Some of the photos and captions are adorable, some are funny, and some are just plain off the wall! There's something for everyone!

Waiting on Wednesday (19)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it is a way to show off the books you can't wait to be released!!

This week I chose:
"Paranormalcy"
by Kiersten White
HarperTeen
Release Date: Oct 1, 2010

The following description is from Goodreads.com:

Sixteen-year-old Evie's job is bagging and tagging paranormals. Possessing the strange ability to see through their glamours, she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency. But when someone--or something--starts taking out the vamps, werewolves, and other odd beasties she's worked hard to help become productive members of society, she's got to figure it out before they all disappear and the world becomes utterly normal. Normal is so overrated.

This one looks like so much fun!! And I love the cover, it's gorgeous!!

What are you waiting on this week??

Spring Break!

Hi, Everyone!! I'm back from spending a great Spring Break with my family!! I hope everyone had an awesome spring break and great Easter Holiday!! Mine was so much fun and so BUSY I didn't have time to blog :) I did have time to read so here are a few of the books that I finished over the week and I will be posting reviews for these shortly:

"I Has a Hotdog" by Professor Happycat

"The Highlander's Sword" by Amanda Forester

"How I Met My Countess" by Elizabeth Boyle

"Too Dangerous to Desire" by Alexandra Benedict

And here's what I'm currently reading:

"The Highlander's Forbidden Bride" by Donna Fletcher

Hope everyone is having a great spring!!!!

Book Blogger Hop April 2

It's Friday, which means it's time for another Book Blogger Hop!!

Check out Jennifer's page, Crazy-for-Books, and enter your link and check out some of the other book blogs out there!!

I've been able to find some great new blogs to read!!

Here are just two of the many awesome bloggers I found last week at the hop:

Whitney at She is Too Fond of Books

Angela at My Book Barn

So join the fun and spread the word about this new event!!