Smart Chicks Kick It Tour...feeling like a rockstar....

We arrived at the Chapters store in Brampton around 11:30am on Saturday after about 1 1/2 hours on the road. All of the seats had already been taken and they had started a line. Lucky for these Princesses, Curlypow had secured a one-on-one interview with all 8 authors prior to the main event. Thank you to Karen Wadsworth, the publicist for the tour, who made this happen.

Unfortunately most of the Smart Chicks didn't arrive until almost 1:30. This was due to engine problems in Chicago. At least the problems occurred before they left the ground! We're just glad they arrived safely. We were so nervous that we were shaky - it's a bit like having a backstage pass at a rock concert! We asked as many questions as we felt we could without delaying the event.

As we were wrapping up our interview, we felt it only fair that these Smart Chicks leave with a parting gift. Everyone got a box of SMARTIES! And a high 5, so hopefully they'll remember us Canuck bloggers.

As tempting as it was to ask for all 26 books to be signed right then and there, we felt we should line up with the rest of the fans. So we did....and it only took about 2 hoursto get to the head of the line. But we made some new friends....and got to closely scrutinize the history section of Chapters as we wound our way through the stacks. We did have a video clip for you here, but technical difficulties have resulted in a what appears to be blank video - if we manage to solve the problem we'll post the video at a later date, along with our interview.  For now, all we've got is a picture with the Smart Chicks ...

The sound wasn't great in the store because we were in the stacks and couldn't see the authors, and some customers were talking during the speeches so we couldn't catch much of what was being said, but we didn't mind too much since we'd had the chance to meet them all beforehand.
We have to add here that Kami Garcia didn't make it due to illness - so sorry Kami. Hope you're feeling better. We missed you. Hope to catch you the next time you are in the Toronto area!

All in all, Saturday was the best book day we've ever had. Curlypow and I had such a fantastic time and it truly felt like a once in a lifetime experience. A very special thank you goes out to Margaret, Kelley, Melissa, Melissa, Jennifer, Jeri and Alyson for being so gracious in our interview and sticking it out to sign everyone's books. We hope that Canadian fans have made an impression with you and cannot wait for Smart Chicks Kick It 2.0. We'll be booking the day off work as soon as we get the date! To the authors who didn't make it to Canada, we're sorry we weren't able to meet you all, but the strength of your writing and following is shown in your fanbase. Smart Chicks really do Kick It! Here's to Kicking it with you next year!

Keep your eyes open for our post with the interview.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating. This week’s pre-publication “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is

Released: November 2nd, 2010

Publisher: Penguin

From the Publisher
A gorgeously written fantasy about the friendship between a princess and her Pegasus. Because of a thousand-year-old alliance between humans and pagasi, Princess Sylviianel is ceremonially bound to Ebon, her own Pegasus, on her twelfth birthday. The two species coexist peacefully, despite the language barriers separating them. Humans and pegasi both rely on specially-trained Speaker magicians as the only means of real communication. But its different for Sylvi and Ebon. They can understand each other. They quickly grow close-so close that their bond becomes a threat to the status quo-and possibly to the future safety of their two nations. "New York Times" bestselling Robin McKinley weaves an unforgettable tale of unbreakable friendship, mythical creatures and courtly drama destined to become a classic.

I have been a major fan of Robin McKinley for years, so I'm always looking forward to anything new by her. What are you waiting for?

Tyger, Tyger by Kersten Hamilton

Released: Nov. 15th, 2010

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Copy provided by: eARC courtesy of publisher and Netgalley

Summary: Netgalley

Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures-goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty-are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.
Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right. The goblins are coming.




Anyone who has been following the blog for a while will know that I love fairies and fairytales, and this book is no exception. Athough Tyger, Tyger is not a fairytale in the traditional manner, it is full of goblins and high sidhe, hell hounds and fallen angels and countless other marvellous creatures.

It is also a love story in the true sense. Two people who fall in love at first sight - fated to be together. I just adored Finn - he was a true 'hero' and I loved everything about him. His selfless acts of courage are beautiful. Who dives into water to save someone when they can't swim themselves? Finn does! Teagan is a lovely person too, whose biggest concerns are for her family and friends. She never seems to think of herself, just how she can help others. Their story involves a trip fraught with danger while trying to rescue Teagans father and solve the mystery of her mothers' death.

I could go into detail, but that would spoil the story for you and I think you should read it for yourselves. The title includes the words 'A goblin Wars Book', which leads me to think there will be more, and I can't wait. In short, I loved Tyger, Tyger, and I'm only sorry that so many of you will have another 6 weeks or so before you can read it.

In My Mailbox - (Christinabean) September 27

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren in which bloggers post about the books they have received for the week.  Books may be won, taken out from the library or bought from a store.

Since I was going to be attending the Smart Chicks Kick it Tour in Brampton on Saturday, I wanted to make sure that we had plenty of books to get signed and perhaps some to give away so I place an order with Chapters.ca and they arrived just in the nick of time (Thursday afternoon).  Here's my haul -

As for contests, I've sadly been missing out on winning anything.  I've been entering lots but nada.  Zilch.  I'm empty-handed.  I'd like to think that I'm just taking a hiatus and letting other people have a chance.  :P  Please keep your eyes peeled for our Smart Chicks Kick It post.  The day was AWESOME!!!  What's in your mailbox?



Alpha by Rachel Vincent

Released: October 1st, 2010

Publisher: Mira

# Pages: 473

Copy provided by: Publisher through Netgalley
Summary: Netgalley

YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE FAYTHE…
The unscrupulous new Council chair has charged Jace, Marc and me with trespassing, kidnapping, murder and treason. Yeah, we’ve been busy. But now it’s time to take justice into our own hands. We must avenge my brother’s death and carve out the rot at the heart of the Council.
It’s not going to be easy, and loss seems unavoidable, but I have promised to protect my Pride, no matter what. With a target on my back and Marc at my side, I’m heading for a final showdown that can—that will—change everything forever. A showdown I’m not sure I’m ready for. But life never waits until you’re ready.


I was lucky enough to be one of only a few people who were given access to an ARC of Alpha. Thank you so much Ms Vincent and Netgalley. Alpha is the 6th and final book in Ms. Vincent's shapeshifter series. I have to admit to only having read the first in the series, prior to this one, but I did not find that a handicap at all. (I have read all of the YA Soulscreamers series though, which I absolutely loved. Check HERE for my review of My Soul to Keep.) Ms. Vincent mentions events from previous books with just enough detail to enable you to keep reading without being lost, and just enough to make you want to go back and read the others in depth and find out 'exactly' what happened.


The main character is Faythe - a rather spunky werecat - who has obviously proven in previous books (at least to those people that matter to her) that she is just as good as the guys, in every way. Her strength of character is severely put to the test in this final book and she has to prove to everyone this time around that she is good enough to lead the pride. I don't want to give away any of the story, but there is lots of action and some unusual shifters that I have never encountered before. The fact that the main characters are werecats, and not typical werewolves, is a nice change, and there is a strong sense of family and duty throughout the book that was very compelling. The bad guys were really nasty and the good guys were really good, and I found myself really enjoying the conflict. There is, of course, the love triangle, which seems to be almost a pre-requisite for paranormal/shapeshifting/urban fantasy these day, but Ms Vincent handled it well and I was quite happy with the way the story concluded. I wonder I would have felt differently if I'd read the middle 4 books?


At 473 pages this is not a short book, but I never once felt that the action was dragging or that the story was getting bogged down. Being the last book in the series, you are fairly certain that everthing is going to work out in the end, but the proccess of getting there was an interesting and involved one, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I will probably try and read the books in the series that I missed, but only because I'm curious about the details, not because the story didn't make sense. For those of you who are interested the six books are Stray, Rogue, Pride, Prey, Shift and Alpha.

I'll leave you with a favourite passage from the book

'"....I know you better than anyone else ever will. I know what nightmares wake you up in the middle of the night. I know where you go to be alone when you sneak off during a group run. I know that you're every bit as tough as the face you show the world, but that underneath that, you're scared. And I also know that fear has never stopped you from doing a damn thing you put your heart into. So why can't you put your heart into us?"'


Note: It has just dawned on me that this is our first non-YA review, but to be honest on the strength of this last book in the series, I can see no reason why older teens couldn't read this one - just remember I'm basing this opinion on only 2 of the six, and I'm not sure of the content of the others. I suspect that in at least one of the others there may be some sexual content, but I could be wrong.

Contest of Epic Proportions

So I was swinging through my 400-500 blogs today and came across this HUGE contest by My Neurotic Book Affair and Shut up! I'm Reading.  Check it out.  They really have a lot of titles to choose from.  Which would you choose? 

I think I'd choose Paranormalcy and Captivate....

Enter The Contest of Epic Proportions here!

What's in a cover?

Hi folks, did anyone miss me when I was gone? In case you weren't aware of it, and you probably were not, I have been in England for the last 12 days visiting my parents. I had a lot of fun, but as always, as much fun as it is to be away, it's nice to be home.

One of the things I did while I was away was visit a few book shops for a look around. I couldn't buy any books though, as the luggage allowance on my flight was really small, and as we are all aware, books are really heavy. It was very interesting to see what was on the YA shelves, although it was a bit of a challenge, because when I asked where the YA books were, all I got was blank looks - 'oh, do you mean 'older teens'?', was the response I usually got. Most of the books that I saw were the same as we see in Canada, but in general the area devoted to YA was much, much smaller than what we see here. But the big difference is the covers and two sets in particular come to mind. Now, I don't know about you, but I absolutely love the covers for the 'Hunger Games' trilogy over here, but tell me, what do you think of these?

They are a bit blah aren't they? They don't have nearly the same impact as our North American covers. I know Christinabean and I have talked before about covers, but sometimes the differences really surprise me. Does anyone know why they change the covers when they change countries?

Now, what do you think about these covers for Michael Grant's 'Gone' series?

When you see them they just burst off the shelf and the edges of the books are coloured to match the print on the cover, which is almost neon. Aren't they just amazing. (Although I have just realized that they don't look as effective on the screen as they do when you actually see them.) It was really difficult for me not to buy these, but it would have cost me at least another $20 for excess baggage if I had, and they were already more expensive than here. I wonder how much it would cost to have them shipped from Amazon UK?

I'd love to hear what you think about the covers. Which ones would you buy if you had the choice?

Christinabean's Friday Finds

This week has been incredibly busy as we get ready for tomorrow's massive Smart Girl's Kick it Tour.  Saturday also marks the Teen Read Awards night.  Who do you think will win?  Here are my predictions

Best Read - The Hunger Games - Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Best All Time Fave - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling

Best Series - I would like to see Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments win this one but I have a sneaky feeling that Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy is going to beat her out.

Best Book to Flick - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling although I'm certain that the Twi-hard fans are going to place New Moon at a close second for Stephenie Meyer.

Best New Writer - Fallen by Lauren Kate (although the other Lauren, Lauren Oliver wrote a pretty darn fabulous debut with Before I Fall...must be the word "Fall"....).  This was a toughie because I also loved Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl as well as Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (Patch is smokin' hot in my mind....)

Best Hero - This is the toughest prediction for me because I haven't read all of the books yet.  I was 1/2 way through Heist Society and had to return it to the library. However, I'm going to guess that it will be Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan.

Best Villain - OK, so really how can you top a guy as nasty as He Who Cannot Be Named?  and who has a nickname that is longer than their real name anyways?  Harry Potter strikes again.  That's my prediction.

Best Hottie - Hmmm...here's another toughie.  Patch is smoking hot in my mind (as mentioned earlier) but I think that Jace and I spent more time together and I feel like we got to know one another a bit better over 3 books.  I'm all for Jace from the Mortal Instruments series.  Sorry Patch.  Maybe if things don't work out with said Shadowhunter we can run amuck.

Best Liplock - Umm....another category that I have little knowledge in because I haven't read all of these titles.  So I'm going to steal something I read in a blog last week (can't name the blog since I now follow between 400-500 of them).  I hear Carrie Jones writes a mean kissing scene.  Mean as in "awesome", opposed to "not nice".

Best Canadian Read- This was honestly another tie for me.  Lesley Livingston seems to be kicking butt right now and I did have the chance to chat with her a couple weeks ago via Chapters/Indigo Facebook author interview (which was fabulous).  She is so down to earth and sweet.  However, Kelley Armstrong is more experienced and has a fairly strong series with The Darkest Powers Trilogy.  I'm going with the newbie this time around.  Sorry Kelley.  I hope you don't hold it against me when I meet you on Saturday afternoon and become a Fangirl.

So there you have it.  My predictions for the Teen Read Awards celebration in Toronto on Saturday evening.  I have to admit that I'm incredibly disappointed that I am not of the right (ahem) age bracket to attend but I'm hoping to catch the action in a video on Sunday.  Also, I cannot believe that so many authors will be in town on Saturday and we can't see them all.  Smart Chicks tour takes precedence though.  We've been anticipating this event for MONTHS!!

Book Blogger Hop - Friday September 24

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!

Each week, participating blogs are asked questions to post and answer on their websites.

This week’s question –

When you write reviews, do you write them as you are reading or wait until you have read the entire book?

We both tend to write reviews or comments as we read a book.  I often have questions or want to make comparisons as I'm reading.  Unfortunately, I am not nearly as organized as Curlypow and instead of one notebook, I often have 2 notebooks and a whole bunch of little paper scraps going at once.  Sometimes we are both drafting up a review as we are reading the book.  I find it keeps my ideas all in one place!

If you are new to The Paperback Princesses, welcome!  We try to post something new every day and review quite a variety of books.  Most of them are YA but we do have special feature books on crafts, older titles that are still fantastic reads and fairytale re-tellings.  Plus, we try to highlight good reads for guys.  I know that most of our followers are female but sometimes it's nice when you can offer up a great read to the male species.  Please make yourself at home and write us a comment at the bottom of the post to let us know that you've stopped by.  Don't forget to link back to the Blog Hop at Crazy for Books. There are some great blogs to start following!!

Happy Blog Hopping!


 



Musing by Knitwits - Brave New Knits

Published: August 2010

Publisher: Rodale Books

Pages: 256

Copy Provided by: NetGalley

Summary: Amazon.ca

Summary:

Brave New Knits is the first book to celebrate the convergence of traditional hand-knitting and modern technology. The Internet has made it possible for the knitting community to connect through photos, pattern-sharing, and blogs that document the knitting projects and passions of dozens of designers and enthusiasts. With a Foreword written by Jessica Marshall Forbes, co-founder of Ravelry.com, Brave New Knits includes 26 must-have garment and accessory patterns, all gorgeously photographed by knitting celebrity Jared Flood of Brooklyn Tweed. Contributors range from established designers like Norah Gaughan, Wendy Bernard, Anne Hanson, and knitgrrl Shannon Okey, to rising stars such as Melissa Wehrle, Connie Chang Chinchio, and Hilary Smith Callis. In-depth interviews with the designers reveal their design philosophy and passions. From shapely sweaters and delicate shawls to fingerless gloves and stylish hats, each of the knitted designs features detailed directions and charts to inspire both the beginner and experienced knitter.

Review:
After just a quick review of this e-book (Thank you Rodale Publishers!), I found that the author just jumped right into instructions and I found it hard to follow, wondering where the photos of the finished project were. I prefer to flip through the book and look at the pictures while deciding if the pattern instructions are do-able for me. I eventually found the pictures at the end of the book and I must tell you, they are GORGEOUS!  Why these babies don't have front and center attention at the very beginning of the book is beyond me.  I would like to try something myself (to add to my overflowing unfinished project closet) because these sweaters are absolutely stunning. One of the nice things about this book was that the designers were interviewed and you could learn a little bit about them. What a nice way to combine contemporary methods of sharing in the knitting community (online blogs, websites) with a traditional craft.

My favorites - The Global Cable Coat, Krookus, Silke Jacket, and the Origami Shrug.

Many of the instructions included cables (which I have yet to attempt) and seemed a bit more for an advanced knitter but there were several accessory projects which may be more suited to a beginner level to start with. I may be putting this one on my Christmas wishlist!

Waiting on Wednesday - Torment by Lauren Kate

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating. This week’s pre-publication “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is

Summary (by Goodreads):

How many lives do you need to live before you find someone worth dying for? In the aftermath of what happened at Sword & Cross, Luce has been hidden away by her cursed angelic boyfriend, Daniel, in a new school filled with Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans. Daniel promises she will be safe here, protected from those who would kill her. At the school Luce discovers what the Shadows that have followed her all her life mean - and how to manipulate them to see into her other lives. Yet the more Luce learns about herself, the more she realizes that the past is her only key to unlocking her future...and that Daniel hasn't told her everything. What if his version of the past isn't actually the way things happened...what if Luce was really meant to be with someone else?

Loving the book trailer as well...music not so much....

I know I've mentioned this one before but it is a much anticipated sequel on my list. It has been awhile since I last read Fallen so I think I may need to re-read it...and perhaps do a review on the book again. Often when I find a book that I enjoy, I start to learn more about the author via their blog or website. I really like Lauren Kate. She is so down to earth and conscientious of how she treats others. I love how book fame has kept her humble. Which authors do you admire most?

Last Chance to Enter for Squeaky Books Giveaways!!

Have you been following Enna Isilee's birthday bash? No?! Well allow me to inform you:

Enna Isilee is the operator of the YA book-blog Squeaky Books, and from August 23rd-September 22nd she's been celebrating her birthday in style with author interviews, guest posts, and giveaways featuring some of the hotest YA titles. It's been a blast so far! CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE SUMMARY OF EVENTS

The bad news? IT ALL ENDS TONIGHT!

That's right, all FIFTEEN (15) giveaways end at 11:59 pm MST tonight! But don't worry! You still have time to enter! Below I've listed all of the possible things you can win. The winners will be announced tomorrow (September 22nd) on Squeaky Books.

If you live in the US you are qualified to enter every giveaway! Most giveaways are open to Canadian residents as well. Sorry international friends, no contests are open to you. But if you have a friend in the US or Canada that will mail to you then you are welcome to enter!

So? Have you entered yet? NO?! What are you waiting for? Check out the links below and enter to win some wicked sweet prizes!!

• Paranormalcy By Kiersten White!
• Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala!
• One of the GORGEOUS UK Versions of Shannon Hale's Books
• ARC of Pegasus by Robin McKinley!
• Swag and an ARC of Dust City by Robert Paul Weston!
• Swag and a signed copy of Spy Glass by Maria V Snyder!
• Swag and a pre-order of Nightshade by Andrea Cremer!
• Win one of three sets of punctuation earrings!
• A signed copy of Ice by Sarah Beth Durst and some Enchanted Ivy swag.
• Pre-order of Matched by Ally Condie
• UK edition of The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
• Win I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
• Swag and a copy of It's a Mall World After All, by Janette Rallison
• Two different Janette Rallison Books
• Pre-read SIGNED ARC of Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George

Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Released: June 2010

Publisher: Egmont

Pages: 418

Copy provided by: Bought

Summary: Goodreads

Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two. But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs. But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?

I liked this book. It just wasn't the usual type of werewolf story and I really enjoyed that. I think it was more primal, more about family, or 'pack', and what it means to be part of one. It's not a conventional love story either. That part of the story is different, not what I was expecting, but no less enjoyable for all that.

Bryn is a very strong character, a human who has been brought up in the middle of a werewolf pack. I loved the way that she didn't whine about her life. She accepted it and was determined to get revenge on the 'Rabid' that killed her parents. She sets out to do this with the help of her friends, Chase, Devon and Lake. I found Chase's character a little unformed, but I suspect he will be fleshed out in future books. That's not to say I didn't like him, I just felt that there was more to him than we found out in the book. (He's the one who 'got bit'.)

Lake is one of only 5 female werewolves in the US and is therefore 'special', but basically that just means 'kick-ass'. I loved her no-nonsense attitude.

'Anyone else probably would have balked at my bluntness,but Lake just twirled her blonde hair around her right index finger and nodded. "Google?" she asked.'

I have to say tho' that my favourite was Devon. What's not to love about a 6' 4" protective werewolf who loves Armani and show tunes? Don't ask - just read!

'"Remind me again - is this the grounding that kept you from going with me to see the delightfully horrendous film adaptation of my seventh-favorite Broadway musical, or the grounding that came about because you almost got yourself killed? And didn't bother to bring me along? Hmmmmm?"' (p 66)

'Raised by Wolves' is exciting, compelling, well written and just dowright great. Do yourself a favour and go out and find a copy. You won't regret it.

PS Not a vampire in sight!

PPS. The second book in the series 'Trial by Fire' is due out Summer 2011

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren in which bloggers post about the books they have received for the week.  Books may be won, taken out from the library or bought from a store.

My mailbox was pretty lonely this week until I received this....

I received it on Friday and was thrilled because I had won it from a Twitter contest.  I had to be the 222nd tweet to win.  To anyone who follows me on Twitter - sorry for the spam-like behaviour.  I will try to restrain myself more but HELLO??  It's a signed copy!!  Thank you to Life After Twilight for this giveaway!  BTW, did I mention that we'll be heading to the Smart Chicks Kick it Tour this Saturday (wwheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!) and Ms. De la Cruz will be there?  Can't wait!

The next lovely item in my mailbox this week was

I am really enjoying it but I haven't been able to dedicate the same block of time as I was for Mockingjay.  I just started taking 2 online courses last week and I'm having a bit of a rough go at juggling 2 jobs, 2 courses and a toddler.  I'll work through it though.  At least I have it on a 3 week loan.  :D 

What's in your mailbox this week?

p.s. Did you check out my Friday Finds this week?  I'm so excited that Cassie Clare and Holly Black are coming to Toronto!!

Jealousy by Lili St. Crow

Published: July 2010
Publisher: Sleuth Razor Bill
# Pages: 316
Copy provided by: Library
Summary: Goodreads

Dru Anderson might finally be safe. She’s at the largest Schola on the continent, and beginning to learn what it means to be svetocha–half vampire, half human, and all deadly. If she survives her training, she will be able to take her place in the Order, holding back the vampires and protecting the oblivious normal people. But a web of lies and betrayals is still closing around her, just when she thinks she can relax a little. Her mentor Christophe is missing, her almost-boyfriend is acting weird, and the bodyguards she’s been assigned seem to know much more than they should. And then there’s the vampire attacks, the strange nightly visits, and the looks everyone keeps giving her. As if she should know something. Or as if she’s in danger. Someone high up in the Order is a traitor. They want Dru dead–but first, they want to know what she remembers of the night her mother died. Dru doesn’t want to remember, but it looks like she might have to–especially since once Christophe returns, he’ll be on trial for his life. The only person who can save him is Dru. The problem is, once she remembers everything, she may not want to…

Jealousy is the 3rd installment in the Strange Angels series by Lili St. Crow. (She also writes adult fiction under the name Lilith St. Crow.) The first two books, 'Strange Angels' and 'Betrayals', are fast paced and exciting and I thoroughly enjoyed them. So I was really looking forward to reading 'Jealousy'. Unfortunately, the first half of the book seemed rather a let-down to me after everthing that had gone on previously. I normally take notes while I'm reading so that I will have something to go on when I post, and I realized that I was halfway through the book and hadn't written anything at all!

Then wham, things started happening at a frenetic pace and I remembered why I had loved the first two books so much. Instead of werewolves and vampires, in this series we have loup garou and djamphir - hybrids, instead of the real thing - but that doesn't slow the action down once it gets started. Dru is at the centre of a mystery concerning her mother, Elizabeth, and she is trying to remember what happened the night her mother died. The growing relationship between Dru and Graves is slow, hesitant and very sweet. Christophe is the typical bad boy, with a soft spot for Dru. Anna is a supreme Bitch (note the capital B), and I just love the host of minor characters like Dibs and Shanks. By the end of the book, I was thoroughly enjoying all my favourite characters and I'm now really looking forward to #4 in the series 'Defiance', which is due out in Spring 2011. If you haven't tried this series yet, you are in for a treat.

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Published: August 2009

Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers

Pages: 343

Copy Provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Lia Milthorpe and her twin sister Alice have just become orphans, and, as Lia discovers, they have also become enemies. The twins are part of an ancient prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other. To escape from a dark fate and to remain in the arms of her beloved boyfriend James, Lia must end the prophecy before her sister does. Only then will she understand the mysterious circumstances of her parents' deaths, the true meaning of the strange mark branded on her wrist, and the lengths to which her sister will go to defeat her. Debut novelist Michelle Zink takes readers on an unforgettable journey where one sister's fateful decision could have an impact of Biblical proportions. Prophecy of the Sisters is the first of three books.

I have taken this book out of the library at least twice, possibly 3 times and I loved the premise of the story, enjoyed the writing style and even liked the print layout on the page.  However, after reading about 250 pages, I found it to be too slow. I just couldn't get into it and the story seemed to take FOREVER to pick up.  As we have mentioned in the past (Curlypow with Jatta), there are so many great reads out there that if you find something that isn't working, move on.  Someone once told me that if I couldn't get into a book in the first 20-50 pages, to move on because there are just too many good books out there to waste your time on something that isn't working for you.  (Thanks Andrea).  The thing is, it's not necessarily that the book is a poor story or badly written, maybe it just isn't right for you at that moment.  Maybe I'll try again in a couple years but not now.

Prophecy of the Sisters, I'm sorry but I'm just no that into you.  I hope someone else is because you and I just weren't meant to be together....NEXT!!

Friday Finds

Hey everyone!

I've been searching the web for all interesting booky things and here is what I've found

Becca Fitzpatrick, author of the Hush Hush series has released the name of her third book title - Tempest!   Can't wait for Crescendo to come out on October 19th.

Gayle Foreman is going to release a new book called Where She Went.  It is the follow up to If I Stay (sooo good).  I will be posting this one on a Waiting for Wednesday closer to the release date (April 2011)

Eva's book Addiction had a super-cute post with this video!  Great find!  I LOVE it!!

Do you ever follow Chapters/Indigo on Facebook?  You should.  It seems that most Friday afternoons they have author interviews.  I've chatted with Sara Shepard, Lesley Livingston and Maggie Stiefvater!  It's so cool!  Not very busy either so I'm sure they'd love more participants.  Just log into your Facebook account, search for Chapters Indigo Music & Books Inc. and follow their announcements.  They have been featuring some fab authors recently to build up momentum for the Teen Read Awards taking place on Saturday Sept 25th.

**Gushing and jumping up and down starts here**
Speaking of Chapters/Indigo....CASSANDRA CLARE AND HOLLY BLACK ARE COMING TO TORONTO!!!  Yay!!  Curlypow and I have already made plans to attend their signing on November 5th at the Queensway Chapters store.  I'm even taking the day off so we can get good seats!! 
**End gushing and jubilation dance**

Contests (I'll slowly be adding to this list this weekend) -

Flipping for all Ages is giving away a $75 GC to CSN open to both USA and Canada.  Contest ends Sept 30.

Flipping for all Ages is also giving away a copy of Scars open to USA and Canada.  Contest ends Oct 3rd.

Book Blogger Hop - September 17

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!

Each week, participating blogs are asked questions to post and answer on their websites.

In honor of Book Blogger Appreciation Week, let's take time this week to honor our favorite book bloggers and why we love them!

There are so many great book bloggers out there that sometimes it is hard to choose.  I often find myself using the Blog Hop, or Blogfest to add new blogs to my list.  To keep them under control, I often unsubscribe the ones that just aren't working for me. 

 Some of my favourite book bloggers -

A Good Addiction - Kari always has great variety on her website and updates regularly.  I first started really noticing her when she won an ARC of Clockwork Angel from going nuts on Twitter in a contest.  Well done Kari (on the blog, not winning the contest).

Tynga's Reviews - Tynga is a fellow Canadian and she also offers variety on her website.  I love how beautiful her homepage looks.  Did you know that she also does designwork on the side?  Tynga, we might be contacting you as we grow!  Tynga also offers up great reviews, videos and even vlogs.  Vlogs on some sites are a bit painful and can drone on but Tynga keeps her videos short and to the point.  Great job Tynga! 

Stop, Drop and Read - Diana's blog description indicates that she reviews YA fiction, Japanese and Korean Graphic novels but I've found that she focuses more on the YA fiction.  I used to live in Asia for a short time and I love her feature called Music Machine.  Sometimes at the end of a review, she will put up a video from an Asian singer or group.  It just adds something special to her blog and reminds me of a place I once called home.  Plus, she isn't afraid to raise a stink when something about the book world is bothering her.  Two thumbs up Diana!

I follow so many other blogs but these are my top three at the moment.  do you have any that you'd like to share?  Please post a comment and tell us why they stand out in your mind.

Make yourself at home, take a look around our blog and let us know what you think in the comments section.  We would love to hear what you have to say about our posts.  We try to post almost everyday so there is always something new to read.  Since there are two of us running the show, we always have a variety of titles and events we are commenting on.  Happy hopping!

Fantastic Fairytales - Spindles End by Robin McKinley

Published: 2000
Publisher: Ace
# Pages: 354
Copy: Purchased
Summary: Back of book

All the creatures of forest and field and riverbank kniew the infant was special. She was the princess, spirited away from the evil fairy Prnicia on her name-day. But the curse was cast: Rosie was fated to prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and fall into a poisoned sleep - a slumber from which no one would be able to rouse her ....

An absolutely wonderful retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Robin McKinley tells the story with humour and romance and beautiful language that captures the reader from the very beginning. Everyone knows the story of the sleeping beauty, correct? Well, perhaps not the way this one is written. With twists and turns that will keep your interest until the very end, this version of the well know tale will entrance and surprise you.

Waiting on Wednesday - The Duff by Kody Keplinger

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine , that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating. This week’s pre-publication “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is

Summary (by Goodreads):

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "Duffy," she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren't so great at home right now. Desperate for a distraction, Bianca ends up kissing Wesley. And likes it. Eager for escape, she throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out that Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.  

My take - Nicknames suck and so do stereotypes but admit it, we all do it.  Even as adults we often have stereotypes for each other.  I remember when I was in high school and a friend of mine (not the prettiest or the most popular) used to sneak out of class (actually she'd ask to go to the bathroom) and meet one of the football players behind the stairs.  They would make out just about every class.  She'd come back breathless and flushed and she only told me because I of course wasn't going to tell anyone...until now...on my blog...whoops! (c'mon people, that was AGES ago).  Anyway, I think he was secretly afraid to be seen with her because she didn't have the same "status" and she liked the power that she had knowing that she could crush his reputation at any time... can't wait to read The Duff!  I wonder how similar my friend's situation is to this one.  Maybe it will bring me back to high school...

Same Book, Second Look - The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Published: March 2010

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 327

Copy Provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:
Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her “power” to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he’s claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay’s intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she’s falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself.

Same Book, Second Look is a chance for both of us to review the same book. Both Curlypow and I are librarians but we have different opinions when it comes to certain titles. To each, her own! We want the ability to express our own opinions whether they are similar or differ. Same Book, Second Look allows the second person to do an additional review of a book that has already been posted.

Review:
WOW. And I'm not talking Waiting on Wednesday. This is how I know the Body Finder is a winner - I stayed up until 2am one night reading it until I couldn't even keep my eyes open. (I finished the last 20 pages the next day.) I also tweeted to the author TWICE to let her know how much I enjoyed her novel!

I received this at the library (one of the few times I beat Curlypow on the hold list) and unfortunately, I already had 4 books on the go so I let her read it first. I have to admit that I am slightly upset that I let Curlypow beat me to it because it was such a great read. You can read Curlypow's original post here. She did a great job of describing just how thrilling this book is.

I didn't have the same sense of surprise when the twist happened part way through the book but I definitely found that I was riveted right until the last page. That is my favorite kind of read, something that has you hooked and wondering how events will unfold right up until the very end. Fast-paced and unpredictable - love it. If I don't want to put the book down to eat, the author has me hooked.

Ahhh...young love. Watching (ok, reading) Jay and Violet dance around each other as they work their feelings from friends to lovers was so refreshing. Ms. Derting did a wonderful job of building up their relationship, sense of trust and jealousy capturing these feelings in a very believeable, realistic way. Their relationship was a secondary story. Of course the main story was a serial killer, on the loose and only Violet has the gift to stop him. Ms. Derting captured the essence of the killer well. The book was laid out so that chapters about the killer's thoughts were in italics and the rest of the story blended around. I felt like I was watching a suspense thriller movie while hiding behind a blanket. Kimberly, you captured the killer's "voice" so well, is there something you want to tell us??  Creepy good fun.  In fact, this might be the perfect read with your friends on Halloween night!  This book gets two thumbs up from me.  I was lucky enough to borrow this copy from the library but I will definitely be purchasing a copy of my own.

Can't wait for the next book in the series - Desires of the Dead. Quick sneak peak at the cover -

I love the covers of these books. The black background makes them feel mysterious, like a light reaching out from the dark...or an "echo" reaching through the night...you'll want to add it to your TBR pile. Release date is set for March 2011!

In My Mailbox (Christinabean) - September 13

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren in which bloggers post about the books they have received for the week. Books may be won, taken out from the library or bought from a store.

This week my mailbox was pretty lonely.  I received some new business blog cards, stickers and sticky notes as well as

via a lovely lady in Australia from BookMooch.  I haven't read this book for a long time so I thought it would be nice to read it again.  I thought it was hilarious the first time.

So I said my mailbox was lonely but then we received a very pretty box from the Hatchette Book Company (Little Brown division) and it had me jumping for joy!!  Here is what I snagged...

I CAN NOT WAIT to read these ones!!  Beautiful Darkness especially since Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl are coming to Canada on September 25th with the Smart Chicks Kick It Tour!!

What's in your mailbox?

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

Published: April 2010
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Audio Copy provided by: Overdrive courtesy of library
Summary: Goodreads

One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens—both named Will Grayson—are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the Will Graysons find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most fabulous high school musical.
Hilarious, poignant, and deeply insightful, John Green and David Levithan’s collaborative novel is brimming with a double helping of the heart and humor that have won both them legions of faithful fans.

I had read quite a bit about this title in various blogs and found it quite intriguing, so when the opportunity arose for me to listen to it, I jumped at the chance. What an experience it has been. The story is narrated by MacLeod Andrews and Nick Podehl, who provide the two different voices of both Will Graysons. They are absolutely superb at projecting the differences between the two characters and even burst into song when the occasion demands it. I was completely enthralled by the story, and I can't actually imagine just reading it now.

This was a wonderful story about discovering who you really are and allowing yourself to be ok with that. The cast of supporting characters are perfect, with Tiny Cooper taking the prize for best overtly gay teen ever - think of the character Damian in the movie 'Mean Girls' x10 and you've got the picture. His is so much larger than life that you can''t help but love him. The two supporting female friends are fleshed out nicely and are allowed to make mistakes that they learn from. The parents of both boys are a very real presence without being too obtrusive and I liked that.

The story is about finding love, falling in love, being in love, coping with love and all the consequences that arise from that. Perhaps I should add, surviving love. I thoroughly enjoyed Will Grayson, Will Grayson. It made me laugh out loud and cry too - which gets you strange looks when you're driving the car in traffic! - and I would highly recommend it for boys and girls. It might even work for an ISU as a portrait of contemporary coming of age.


Note, perhaps this isn't for younger teens, there is a fair bit of language and sexual suggestion throughout the book, but I honestly can't imagine the book having such a strong impact if it wasn't there. If you don't like language or non-heterosexual relationships it won't appeal to you, but otherwise, give it a try.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Published: August 2010

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Pages: 398

Copy Provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans -- except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay -- no matter what the personal cost.

*** There will be spoilers in my review. Do not read further if you haven't read Mockingjay ***

I just finished Mockingjay about an hour ago and I am still reeling from the read. Normally about now I would say WOW but I seem to use this quite frequently in my reviews so I think I'll refrain. Mockingjay was released at the end of August and I knew that I was one of the first on the list to read it when it came to the library so I held out. I received it Thursday and haven't had a large block of time to sit down and devour it. I will do my best to explain why I enjoyed this book without giving too much away.

Do you know the feeling of anticipation when you watch the latest installment of a big screen blockbuster movie? (Say Harry Potter or Twilight) The trailers end, the intro begins and if you're like me, your palms are sweaty, your mouth is dry (better take a sip of the humungous coke/popcorn combo you bought for 20 bucks). This is how I felt with Mockingjay. I actually paused for a minute to admire the cover and run my fingers along the spine, before I opened up the cover (creak) and slowly started to read. Normally I read at a fairly quick pace when I am confortable, have the time and am surrounded by silence. This time though, I wanted to savour every morsel Mockingjay had to offer....and there were many morsels to savour.

One thing I'd like to note is that it has been awhile since the second book was released - Catching Fire.  It may be a good idea to read Catching Fire before you jump into Mockingjay.  I do wish I had the foresight to have done this ahead of time but I was just so eager to jump in.  The first few chapters I had to seriously think about the characters and the roles they played in previous books.

Ms. Collins brilliantly wove this story together, each chapter in Mockingjay builds up until the last battle ensues. She works the tension and emotion beautifully so that before you know it, you're halfway through the book, holding your breath, trying to absorb every word as if the reality is unfolding before your very own eyes. The players have been marked from the beginning and their roles continue even after they disappear from Panem. Don't think you know what is going to happen. She mapped out the psychology of warfare and was honest in how raw and cruel humans can be to one another when it comes to battle. This series should not be read by a younger audience, I would recommend it to an older crowd. Expect people to die and expect detailed violence and gore. This is what makes it work - the brutality of war to and even amongst a younger, innocent age group.

I have to say, the turning point for me was when Gale leaves for the Capitol as the first to volunteer to rescue Peeta. I felt a lump in my throat as I read this.

My favourite quotes -

Pages 64-65

"You're still angry" (Gale)
"And you're still not sorry," I reply.
"I still stand by what I said. Do you want me to lie about it?" he asks.
"No, I want you to rethink it and come up with the right opinion," I tell him.

(That was so hilarious! It sounds like something I would say to my husband...)

Page 244-245
"He started arguing with himself like he was two people.  The guards had to take him away.  On the good side, no one seemed to notice I finished his stew." Johanna rubs her hand over her protruding belly.  I look at the layer of grime under her fingernails.  Wonder if the people in 7 ever bathe.
(Read in context, this might give you a giggle.)

Page 270
"Ally." Peeta says the word slowly, tasting it.  "Friend. Lover. Victor. Enemy. Fiancee. Target. Mutt. Neighbor. Hunter. Tribute. Ally.  I'll add it to the list of words I use to try to figure you out."...."The problem is, I can't tell what's real anymore, and what's made up."

There are three book series that stand out in my mind for story development and writing style. All three have captured my imagination and made me fall head-first into a new world, investing both the time and emotion to identify with the charcters and journey with them through thick and thin, wanting more every step of the way.

Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling

The Mortal Instruments - Cassandra Clare
The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

One of the best series ever written and will be read again and again at my house. Real or not real?

Real.

Book Blogger Hop - September 10

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!

Each week, participating blogs are asked questions to post and answer on their websites.

This week’s question –

Post a link to a review or favorite post that you've written in the past three months.

Christinabean's fav - To be honest, I don't have a favorite post or review because we are still new to the game and I feel that I need to work on my writing skills.  I'm afraid it has been too many years since I've been out of school and my written communication is just not up to snuff to convey my quirky sarcastic remarks to a 'T'.  However, my review of Same book, Second Look - Demon's Covenant comes mighty close.

If I had to guess, I'd be betting that Curlypow's Clockwork Angel review is her fav, despite having damaged her book...we'll have to see if I'm correct.

So...for all of you new hoppers, WELCOME to the Paperback Princesses site.  Make yourself at home, take a look around our blog and let us know what you think in the comments section. We would love to hear what you have to say about our posts. Since there are two of us running the show, we always have a variety of titles and events we are commenting on. 

One thing that I'd like to share straightaway is that today is the beginning of Blogfest 2010 hosted by A Journey of Books.  It is another opportunity for you to discover new blogs only this time you have an opportunity to win some prizes!  It runs for this weekend only and there is even a cool little tracking device so you can make notes on different blogs and keep tabs on those you have yet to visit.  Of course, I'd love to hear if any of you win anything as well.  Happy Hopping!