Teaser Tuesday

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 "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page. (Sometimes I cheat a bit on this one and do a few more sentences.)
          ~Be careful not to include spoilers! (make sure that what you share doesn't give to much away.               You don't want to ruin the book for others.)

          ~Share the title and author, so the other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser.  :0)

My teaser this week comes form Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula by Elise Stokes.  I am reading it on my kindle and I am at 81%.  I'm taking the teaser from where I am at.

"You're enjoying this.  You're making me go on the bus like this because I caught you in my arms," I accused.


This book is currently free on Amazon for Kindle.  I am enjoying this book, it will get a great review from me.


Here is a link to the Amazon kindle page.

Review of " A Banshee's Tale" by Veronica Breville

A Banshee's Tale by Veronica Breville

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Source: LibraryThing Early Reviewers
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publish date: October 28, 2011

Description from Goodreads: Catherine Dalry feels like a normal child, growing up in a normal small town, raised by normal, middle-income parents. That is, until she starts school. Children and adults alike look at her with trepidation and scorn. She learns quickly that her version of normal and theirs differ greatly. Just as Catherine is preparing to turn sixteen, she is forced on a journey that will change her life in ways most only dream of. An ancient book teaches her of the connection between her freaky eyes and the secretive ranks she is now forced to join by matter of inheritance. She is a Guide, or in the old country, a Banshee. As far as the masses are concerned, Catherine’s destiny is to be the wailing spectral woman that wanders the land lamenting and signaling the impending death of a loved one. As her life is pulled in countless directions, she leans on her best friend and psychic, Will; her beloved aunt, teacher, and fellow Guide, Lucie; and her attractive and terminally arrogant Caomhnóir or protector, Zane. The world of myth, mystery, and fairytale monsters engulfs Catherine and sets her on a course of self-discovery and life altering responsibility. 


My thoughts: This is a very interesting book. I was pleased by this unique take on the Irish legend of the Banshee. This book is set in the modern day and a sixteen year old girl named Catherine has just discovered that she is a Guide, or a Banshee. Her mission in life is to help the dying cross over into the light and gain rest and peace.

She is an outcast and has only one good friend named Will. They have an unsettling connection, they both dream of a young girl being taken by an unknown entity.

Add in a handsome assistant at her father's work, and the fireworks begin. They don't get along and he is destined to help her in her work.

The books ending is unexpected. I feel that she drew it out longer than she needed to and some of the dialogue is a little strange. I'm not sure that strange is the right word, but it needs a little work.

I will be looking forward to reading more form Veronica Breville.

Join the Lunar Love Giveaway Hop

Between March 8 to 13th,  I will be co-hosting a Blog Giveaway Hop with I am a Reader Not a Writer.  On March 8th is a full moon, so what better way to honor the day than with a Lunar Love Blog Hop?

This hop is for family friendly blogs, no pics that show content that I would be embarrassed to  have my 14 year old daughter stop  by your blog and enter there.

If you would like to participate with a giveaway on your blog, that would be wonderful.  This hop is featuring books with a paranormal, supernatural, sci-fi, space travel, or moon related books.  

Hop Rules:

• Each participating blog will host a giveaway on their site.
• Your giveaway must feature a book with paranormal, supernatural, science fiction or space travel element or a book that has something to do with the moon or has a moon on its cover.
• No more than 4 possible entries per person. 1 mandatory & up to 3 optional.
• Offering a Gift Card or book of choice from The Book Depository is fine.
• Any family friendly blog or site is welcome to join.
• Your post must include the giveaway hop image, the linky or a link to the host site & must be live by 12:01 AM on March 8th.

Here is the linky to sign up with!  

YA Faeries & Fantasy Hop

Thank you I am a Reader, Not a Writer & wb32 for hosting this giveaway hop!

I love reading fantasy.  It is the genre that I grew up reading.  My mother had our bookcases full of fantasy books, they still remain one of my favorites.

Today I am going to offer a choice.  I will have two books to giveaway.  One will come from the Book Depository, so it's International as long as they ship for free to your country.  The second will be an eBook that I will gift from Amazon as a kindle edition.

Book #1 from the book Depository!

I read this one quite a while ago and I loved it.  It is the first book in a series.  Here is the book Description form Goodreads: Swept away into a court of magic and beauty, she discovers she is Tania, the lost princess of Faerie. Since Tania's mysterious disappearance five hundred years before, Faerie has been sunk in darkness and gloom. With her return, Faerie comes alive again as a land of winged children, glittering balls, and fantastic delights. But Tania can't forget Anita's world, or the boy she loved there.

Torn between two loves and between two worlds, Tania slowly remembers why she disappeared, and realizes that she is the only one who can stop a sinister plan that threatens the entire world of Faerie.

Book #2 Kindle eBook

The second book is a book that I recently read and reviewed.  I really enjoyed it and I am excited to giveaway a kindle copy.  Here is the book description from Goodreads: Sixteen-year-old Keegan is struggling to keep her huge secret from her friends--she's an elf, descended from a long line of elves that live in secrecy alongside humans. In elfin society, mates are predetermined but not allowed to meet until they are eighteen. Against tradition, Keegan's brother Thaddeus told her Rourk's name because his visions warned him she'd need Rourk's protection, especially since Keegan will play a key role in the coming war between the dark and light elves. 

Rourk finds himself drawn to Keegan's side every time she thinks his name. He wants to talk to her but remains in the shadows, silently guarding her every time she mentally beckons him. A twist of fate thrusts the two of them together when Rourk is forced to step up his protection and make his presence known. An ancient prophecy deeply entwines Keegan's family and the future of their society. Somehow they must find a way to thwart fate and win the battle...without losing Keegan. With war brewing, and dark forces aligning, will Keegan and Rourk ever have the life together that they both desire?

Rules, etc:

* You must be 13 or older to enter.

* Fill in the rafflecopter for entry.  I love comments, but the rafflecopter is your official entries.

*The only required entry is that you follow me on GFC or Networked Blogs.  I know that GFC is leaving non blogger blogs and some no longer wish to use it,  so I will give you a choice of following.

Guest post by Karen Wojcik Berner ~ Author of " A Whisper to a Scream"

Five Things I Have Learned About E-books

By Karen Wojcik Berner

Thank you so much, Lisa, for inviting me to guest blog today. I am very excited to be here.

Curious about e-books, but not sure if you are ready to give up physical copies yet?

I completely understand how you feel.

When I first released A Whisper to a Scream (The Bibliophiles: Book One) as an e-book in February 2010, I didn’t even know anyone who owned a Kindle or a Nook.

Electronic sales were just starting to climb. The first indie superstar, Karen McQuestion, was receiving national attention. Since then, eleven authors have been named Kindle million-sellers, and the mind-blowing success of Amanda Hocking has made her an indie household name.

Over the past two years, I have discovered some interesting things about e-books I would like to share with you today.

E-books are here to stay. In the same way iTunes has changed the music industry, e-books have permanently altered publishing. E-book sales increased 116.5% from August 2010 to August 2011, according to the American Association of Publishers. Even though book sales were down across the board, e-book sales are steadily increasing.

E-books are cheaper. And they should be. It does not cost as much to upload a file as it does to print out an entire novel.

E-books do not require storage space. Is your significant other constantly nagging you about the stacks of books piled around your home? Does your book obsession resemble an episode of “Hoarders?” Not the case with e-books.They are all stored on one device, whether it be an e-reader, iPad or your smart phone. Problem solved.

E-books do not give you back trouble. No more lugging around multiple books on vacation. Just download what you want to bring, and you’re off.

E-books are fun! I don’t usually care much about gadgets, but e-books are starting to change all of that.You can download a book in barely two minutes. A simple click and BAM! It is on your device. How great is that?

Say you see a book mentioned on television or read about it online. A couple of clicks is all it takes to be reading it in as little as a few minutes, unless you get sidetracked, like I do, by the “customers also bought” section.

I also like that you can try out an e-book before you purchase it. Just hit “sample,” read a bit, and see if you like it or not.

Physical books will not become extinct any time soon. And, don’t get me wrong, after being on my computer for hours on end, sometimes I need a break from staring at a screen and pick up a regular book. Nowadays, I split my reading 50/50 between both formats.

How about you? Do you read e-books?

A Whisper to a Scream Book Description: Ovulation detectors. Hormone surges. Anxiety-ridden dreams. This is the world in which Annie Jacobs is thrust when she and her husband John receive a diagnosis of unexplained infertility. A 37-year old PR executive, Annie has wanted to be a mother since she first cuddled her Baby Tenderlove at age five. She is dreading another Christmas of relatives asking when they will be hearing the pitter patter of little feet, and Uncle Joe slapping John on the back, telling him to relax and take a cruise. Lots of people get pregnant on vacation, you know. 

Across town, stay-at-home mom of two, Sarah Anderson, attempts grocery shopping with a toddler intent on hurling items from the cart at passersby. She notices a box of rice heading straight for a gray-haired head. Leaping across the aisle, Sarah grabs it, saving the woman from certain doom, or at least a minor head injury. Little Alex screams at being thwarted. The unknowing octogenarian shakes her head and admonishes Sarah for not knowing how to keep her child quiet in public. 

"A Whisper to a Scream" is the story of two women on opposite ends of the child-bearing spectrum who come to realize the grass is not necessarily greener on the other side of the fence. A vivid portrayal of contemporary marriage and its problems, the novel speaks to a longing in all of us, a yearning that might start as a vague notion, but eventually grows into an unbearable, vociferous cry.

Teaser Tuesday

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 "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page. (Sometimes I cheat a bit on this one and do a few more sentences.)
          ~Be careful not to include spoilers! (make sure that what you share doesn't give to much away.               You don't want to ruin the book for others.)

          ~Share the title and author, so the other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser.  :0)

This week I am reading A Banshee's Tale by Veronica Breville.  I'm reading it on my Sony eReader.  It says that it's on page 35.  I'm not sure how well it correlates with the actual book pages.

Lovely, I won't have to experience normal teenage angst but the trade-off was dealing with death on a daily basis.  I'm sure that won't warp me in anyway!

REVIEW ~Dark Eden by Patrick Carman

Dark Eden by Patrick Carman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source: ARC Received to review
Age Recommendation: YA

Description from Goodreads: Fifteen-year-old Will Besting is sent by his doctor to Fort Eden, an institution meant to help patients suffering from crippling phobias. Once there, Will and six other teenagers take turns in mysterious fear chambers and confront their worst nightmares—with the help of the group facilitator, Rainsford, an enigmatic guide. When the patients emerge from the chamber, they feel emboldened by the previous night's experiences. But each person soon discovers strange, unexplained aches and pains. . . . What is really happening to the seven teens trapped in this dark Eden?

Patrick Carman's Dark Eden is a provocative exploration of fear, betrayal, memory, and— ultimately—immortality.

My thoughts: This book takes you on a psychological journey. It looks at seven 15 year old kids who all suffer from disabling fears. All see the same psychiatrist and when she is no longer able to help them they have the "opportunity"to attend a camp to cure their fears.  The camp is named Eden.

The book follows Will. He is in the unique position to take a look at what is happening to himself and the other teens at Eden. He knows that something is not quite right and works to figure out what that is.

This story takes on many aspects that are uniquely interesting. I found the name of the camp to be ironic. Once again I am thinking biblical and the symbolism associated with the garden. You would need to read it for yourself and see if you understand what I mean.

The book starts off slowly because it is building the plot that leads to the end. I was taken by surprise with part of the storyline. This story will appeal to both boys and girls.

I think it's appropriate for kids.  You may want to make sure that they are not overly sensitive though. Part of the cure comes from intense fear.

Best Wishes for a Happy New Year!

Wishing you a wonderful 2012!