Deception Blog Tour Giveaway

Hello BookWhisperer has enlisted in the first blog tour ever. I will have author interview and review of the book up on the 1st of June, so be on the lookout. As for this post, and the million dollar word GIVEAWAY. I am hosting a contest for Bloomsbury books, and it all starts here. The giveaway includes two copies of Deception by Lee Nichols.

When Emma Vaile’s parents go missing while away on a mysterious business trip, she’s left all alone in her creepy old house. But her brother’s very cute best friend, Bennett Stern—Emma’s knight in J. Crew armor—arrives unexpectedly to whisk her away to New England. There, Emma settles into his family’s museum-like mansion and enrolls at an old-fashioned private school. She quickly finds friends in the popular legacy crowd at Thatcher and spends her free time crushing on Bennett. But the eerie visions she’s been hiding from everyone have gotten worse. Emma has memories of Thatcher that she can’t explain—it’s as if she’s returning home to a place she’s never been. Finally, Emma confides in Bennett and learns she is a ghostkeeper, a person who can communicate with ghosts. Bennett brought Emma to Thatcher to protect her, but now he needs her help tracking an other-worldly murderer.
A rich New England setting filled with mystery, tradition, and prep-school intrigue make Deception the perfect choice for fans of series like Kate Brian’s Private, as well as all those paranormal fans. The shocking ending will leave readers desperate for book two.


Rules:
Must be a follower
Must live in the US, No PO Boxes please
Please fill out the form completely to enter

Review: Deception: A Haunting Emma Novel by Lee Nichols

Title: Deception: A Haunting Emma Novel

By: Lee Nichols

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Fiction

Publisher: Bloomsbury Books (Special Thanks for review copy)

Release Date: June 8th, 2010

BookWhisperer Rating:

         

Book Description:

When Emma Vaile's parents go missing while away on a mysterious business trip, her brother's very cute best friend, Bennett Stern—Emma's knight in J. Crew armor—arrives unexpectedly to whisk her away to New England. There, Emma settles into his family's museum-like mansion and enrolls at an old-fashioned private school. Emma has memories of Thatcher that she can't explain—it's as if she's returning home to a place she's never been. Finally, Emma confides in Bennett and learns she is a ghostkeeper, a person who can communicate with ghosts. Bennett brought Emma to Thatcher to protect her, but now he needs her help tracking an other-worldly murderer.

Modern Young Adult Ghost story that will keep the reader guessing through the entire story. Emma is a very likable character that is about to discover she has abilities beyond her wildest imagination. She soon finds herself amidst a world where she is not only gifted, but hunted for her powers that sets her apart from all the others.

Deception is set in a very intriguing world where Ghostkeepers are constantly at work to keep the balance between the living and the dead. This allowing for an abundance of exciting characters that may not all be living. Nichols world is one where no one should be taken at for granted, and very few can be trusted. As a ghost story I did not feel the scary and spooky nature that typically accompanies this type of story. I find Deception to be intriguing and genuinely great story writing. Lee Nichols proves to be a talented author that will hold the readers attention to the very last word, and will control your thought beyond the last page. With her twists and turns you will find yourself done before you know it.

This was not only an awesome story, but an amazing love story all wrapped up into one. Emma and Bennett seem to carry a love that have struggled through time. Even with the immediate addition of feelings from Emma; Nichols recovers quickly and builds the relationship to its height in this story. I found this love to be mostly an unspoken attraction, but the emotion and attraction is undeniable. I love a story that can give you butterflies, and make even the reader fall in love.

The ending to this novel was drastic and unexpected; leaving me only to wonder how this author will be able to surpass herself in the next novel. It is difficult to create a story that totally changes after the climax, and that is the only way I can explain this novel. It was like a whole new story after Emma’s battle. Nichols also throws an extra twist at the very end of this novel that will cause the reader to question everything that the story has built. Don’t read this book looking for a quick and easy read; the story will demand your attention and focus. With so much detail packed into 304 pages; I can only guess what Emma’s second novel will bring.

Lastly, as in my tradition I like to talk a little about the cover. I love a book with a mystery cover. This is a cover that once you have the read the story the cover makes complete sense. While this book is no totally confusing, it did pack some mystery in the pages that I find to be a great addition to the cover. Unfortunately, after having read the book the character on the cover is not what my imagination had set for Emma. Though, as I am sure many other book lovers can testify that before even turning the first page this is an attractive cover that many love.

Questions and Concerns

While I am a huge Twilight fan, and had been reading this series long before the teenbopper thrill started. I have be observing from afar, and sitting back to watch the unfolding of Kristen Stewart career. After today I an fairly concerned about what the fasination is about photoshoots that appear to me to be saying only one thing "Trailer Trash". While I am not making judgements or sterotyping, because low and behold I live in a trailer. Although, this is not even what I can would call a beautiful picture. EVER! I am not understanding how this would be consider an effort to expand her future career. Sorry, opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one. And I am sure that their are others that don't see a problem. So, just take this as a grain of salt if you want. This is only my opinion.

Cover Alert: Magic at the Gate

Unfortunately, I have not had the pleasure of the reading Magic in the Shadows; but I can tell you without a doubt this is one of my favorite series. This is the cover for the fifth book in the series that is due for release November of 2010. Allie Beckstrom is a kick ass heroine with an attitude that all readers will love. Devon Monk is a talented author that continues to keep her readers guessing in from one book to the next.

BookWhisperer IMM

In My Mailbox is a meme brought us by the Story Siren. This is a great way for book   bloggers to preview that books they receive, and thus help add to your TBR piles. If you noticed BookWhisperer didn’t have a IMM post last week. This was the first week that I didn’t receive anything in the mail, but so far this week seems to be making up for it….. 

And Then I Found Out The Truth by Jennifer Sturman

Scholastic Books July 1st, 2010

Sequel to And Then Everything Unraveled

Book Description:

Delia Truesdale is still searching for the truth about her mother, who is in hiding somewhere in South America. But for now, Delia has to make do with her mystery-solving in New York City, alongside her Aunt Charley (a downtown hipster), her Aunt Patience(an uptown ice queen), a detective with a questionable taste in neckties, an eccentric psychic, her brainiac friend, and Quinn, the wealthy, gorgeous boy who--gasp!-- seems to return Delia's affections. Too bad Quinn's shady CEO dad may be involved in the scheme Delia is trying to crack. And a trip to South America may be in order after all...

 

Once Upon a Nightmare by Lee Moylan

Received from author (October 31st, 2008)

Book Description:

On the night of October thirteenth, the Hunter's Moon descended upon the quiet town of White Chapel. As Sara Bishop drifted off to sleep under its soft illumination, the full moon seemed to have brought with it something far more sinister than a warm glow. At once, the nightmare started. But this wasn't any ordinary nightmare… This one seemed real ─ as if she could smell it, feel it, taste it. It was one of those dreams ─ one that awakened her witch-like sense ─ a harbinger of heartbreak and now, horror. Together with Rebecca Parker, the only other person who understood her gift, someone who had experienced her own strange senses, Sara hoped to come to terms with this ominous nightmare. But her closest friend and next door neighbor was no where to be found ─ not since the night of October thirteenth. And so it begins. With little help from her skeptical husband or local police, Sara finds herself virtually alone as her grisly dreams crawl from the darkness to become a sick and twisted reality ─ a reality where she has become the ultimate desire of a sadistic serial killer. As images of death, phantoms and shadows surround Sara in this Halloween season, she needs to listen to the whispers in her mind, use her gift, to unmask those around her, for one of them is the man from her nightmare. And he sees her when she's sleeping… He knows when she's awake. When the next full moon descends upon White Chapel, he will reveal himself to her. And under its silvery glow, a new nightmare will be born. Will Sara Bishop have to experience death itself to stop this killer? Or will her nightmare never end?

 

 

Insatiable by Meg Cabot

William Morrow Books (June 1st, 2010)

Book Description:

Sick of vampires? So is Meena Harper.
But her boss is making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn’t believe in them.
Not that Meena isn’t familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper knows how you’re going to die (not that you’re going to believe her; no one ever does).
But not even Meena’s precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets—then makes the mistake of falling in love with—Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side . . . a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire-hunters, would prefer to see him dead for.
The problem is, he already is dead. Maybe that’s why he’s the first guy Meena’s ever met that she could see herself having a future with. See, while Meena’s always been able to see everyone else’s future, she’s never been able look into her own.
And while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare.
Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future . . .
If she even has one.

 

 

Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider by Ellen C Maze

Recieved from author (November 13th, 2009)

Book Description:

What if your bestselling novel attracts the wrong kind of attention?
Author Beth Rider's second vampire novel has hit number one and she is flying high on her new-found fame. But at a fated book signing that runs late into the night, Beth is confronted by an evil she'd only experienced in nightmares. Jack Dawn, a supernatural monster belonging to an ancient race of bloodthirsty immortals known as the Rakum, vows to track down and kill the young writer because of the vile redemptive message her book is bringing his people.
The Rakum have spread evil among mankind since the Beginning, growing in strength and influence with every passing century. A respected Elder among his brethren, Jack recognizes the novel's destructive potential and his duty to destroy her before the book's promises annihilate his Kind. His method of subduing the novelist is an ancient punishment perpetrated against humans who bring them the ultimate displeasure; Jack marks her as a Rabbit. By forcing her to ingest his poisonous blood, Beth's body now regenerates endlessly and she is set free to be tracked by his hungry brethren. The plan? His people will torture her, slowly, night after night, until she goes insane. Marking her was easy - now Jack only has to sit back and wait for the Rakum to do their worst.
Jack's proselyte Michael Stone was brought up from his youth to be strong, sensible and oftentimes, brutal. But at one hundred and thirty, Michael is old enough to appreciate the quiet and ordered life he'd carved out for himself over the years. Aware that his Elder has marked a human for death, Michael is on the lookout as he leaves work late one night. When he stumbles upon the beautiful and apparently innocent Beth Rider, he is instantly smitten, despite the fact that a few seconds later he realizes that she is the target of his Elder's fury. Puzzled by Jack's unreasonable condemnation, Michael takes it upon himself to protect the lovely author from the limitless lust of his brethren.
Rakum grunt Javier - Millier was never one to question the Fathers nor doubt the word of the Elders but after reading a curiously odd vampire novel, he begins to doubt the understood deity of his race. Soon identified by Jack Dawn as a traitor, Javier goes on the run with Elder Roman and a mortal with a personal hidden agenda. They also are in pursuit of the book's author, although their intentions are quite dissimilar from those of their brethren.
Facing the most terrifying trial of her life against creatures known only in fables, one simple woman will unintentionally threaten the very existence of a powerful and accursed people. In the climactic mêlée, it is a race to the death, or if Beth has her way, a race to the life-of every Rakum who makes the choice.

Breaking News!!

I just come across breaking news that Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick is going to be released early. Check it out below....

These are US release dates. Can I hear a woohoo!

Kiddy Korner Giveaway for June

For the Month of June we are having a Kiddy Korner giveaway. The books up for grabs are:


                    Dad & Pop by Kelly Bennett




The Dollhouse Fairy by Jane Ray

These are both books previously reviewed with Kiddy Korner here on the BookWhisperer Blog. This contest is two books one winner. So sign up now. Rules are below
Rules:
*Must be follower
*Must be US Resident
*Must complete form to be entered. There are extra entries this time so please list understandably, or I will not count them.
(ex: side bar  (www.book-whisperer.blogspot.com)
ex: blog post (www.book-whisperer.blogspot.com)
*This contest will end on June 30th

Kiddy Korner Review: The Dollhouse Fairy by Jane Ray

Title: The Dollhouse Fairy

By: Jane Ray

Genre: Children’s Book

BookWhisperer and Kids Rating:

This is a tale about a young girl that inherits a young troublesome fairy while her father is away. While the fairy comes to rosy injured, they still create quite a friendship to help Rosy overcome the loss of her father being away. Though, once it is time for Rosy father to return Thistle is all healed and must leave. This is a very cute story that my children and I enjoyed. I was unable to discover much of a lesson underneath the storyline though. With that being my favorite part to a story book for my children. I have trouble giving it five stars. To simplify this is a very enjoyable story, but it is just that a good light hearted read. Nothing more.

 

BookWhisperer IMM

In My Mailbox is a meme brought us by the Story Siren. This is a great    way for book   bloggers to preview that books they receive, and thus help add to your TBR piles. If you noticed BookWhisperer didn’t have a IMM post last week. This was the first week that I didn’t receive anything in the mail, but so far this week seems to be making up for it….. 

The Healing Spell by Kimberly Little

Scholastic Books (07/01/2010)

Book Description:

Twelve-year-old Livie is living with a secret and it's crushing her. She knows she is responsible for her mother's coma, but she can't tell anyone. It's up to her to find a way to wake her momma up.

Stuck in the middle of three sisters, hiding a forbidden pet alligator, and afraid to disappoint her daddy, whom she loves more than anyone else, Livie struggles to find her place within her own family as she learns about the powers of faith and redemption. Livie's powerful, emotional, and sometimes humorous story will stay with readers long after the last line is read.

Set in the lush bayou of Louisiana, Kimberley Griffiths Little brings Livie's story to life with power and grace.

 

Blood Song by Cat Adams

Tor Books (06/08/2010)

Book Description:

Bodyguard Celia Graves plies her trade in a world where vampires roam the alleys of Tinseltown and movie stars openly practice witchcraft., where streetcorner psychics have real powers and cops use memory enhancement spells on witnesses. Though she’s an ordinary human, Celia uses street smarts and charmed weapons to protect the rich and famous from mortal and supernatural threats.
She’s landed a plum job, protecting the Prince of a small but politically vital nation while he tours Los Angeles’s least savory hot spots. What should be a routine assignment goes badly wrong. Attacked by a master vampire, Celia knows she is about to die.
She’s startled to awaken on a cold metal table in a university lab. Celia Graves has become an Abomination, neither fully mortal nor fully vampire. Her “master” is hunting her, to destroy her or finish what his bite began. She’s accused of murder and the cops aren’t sure whether she should be locked up or staked. And then there’s the demon she glimpsed during the vampire attack . . . .
Struggling to cope with her new powers and trying not to terrify everyone she meets with a flash of fang, Celia reaches out for help from her once (and future?) lover, who is a powerful mage; his warrior-priest brother; a handsome werewolf who keeps his lupine nature concealed from the world; an elderly clairvoyant, and one trustworthy cop.
Celia Graves has three days to save the world, her sanity, and her soul.

 

The Secret to Lying by Todd Mitchell

Candlewick Press ( 06/08/2010)

Book Description:

A teenage boy’s self-reinvention gets out of control in a sharp, funny, poignant, and compulsively readable novel that gives a familiar theme a surprising twist.
James was the guy no one noticed — just another fifteen-year-old in a small town. So when he gets into an academy for gifted students, he decides to leave his boring past behind. In a boarding school full of nerds and geeks, being cool is easy. All it takes is a few harmless pranks to invent a new James: fighter, rebel, punk. Everyone’s impressed, except for the beautiful "Ice Queen" Ellie Frost and the mysterious ghost44, an IM presence who sees through his new identity. But James is riding high, playing pranks and hooking up with luscious Jessica Keen. There’s just one thing awry: he’s starting to have vivid dreams of being a demon-hunting warrior, a thrill that is spilling over into dangerous and self-destructive acts while he’s awake. As he’s drawn deeper into his real-life lies and his dream-world conquests, James begins to wonder: What’s the price for being the coolest guy around?

 

Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James

Bantam Books (07/13/2010) Early Reviewer Book LT

Book Description:

So. Were you glad, deep down? Were you glad to be rid of her? Your perfect sister? Were you secretly glad when she was killed?
Following a terrible tragedy that leaves her once-perfect family shattered, Katherine Patterson moves to a new city, starts at a new school, and looks forward to a new life of quiet anonymity.
But when Katherine meets the gregarious and beautiful Alice Parrie her resolution to live a solitary life becomes difficult. Katherine is unable resist the flattering attention that Alice pays her and is so charmed by Alice’s contagious enthusiasm that the two girls soon become firm friends. Alice’s joie de vivre is transformative; it helps Katherine forget her painful past and slowly, tentatively, Katherine allows herself to start enjoying life again.
But being friends with Alice is complicated – and as Katherine gets to know her better she discovers that although Alice can be charming and generous she can also be selfish and egocentric. Sometimes, even, Alice is cruel.
And when Katherine starts to wonder if Alice is really the kind of person she wants as a friend, she discovers something else about Alice - she doesn’t like being cast off.

 

What did you get this week?

 

Review: Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Title: Spirit Bound

By: Richelle Mead

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Razorbill (May 18th, 2010)

BookWhisperer Rating:

Book Description:

Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong…

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives beyond the Academy’s iron gates to begin. But Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and he's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he's silenced her...forever

 

After pining over this book for months I have ran through it in just days, and find myself in waiting all over again. Such a tremendous author that has me cursing and ranting for hours after finishing the final pages of every book. Rose’s journey has been long, but well worth every minute spent reading. I have been torn to find the determination of Rose’s future. After having traveled to Siberia in the last book, she is back at Valdamir long enough to graduate in this novel. So largely this book takes place at Court that was visited in an early novel. I was astounded by the amount of action all in this one book. It was almost like three stories wrapped into one. At 489 pages I was impressed this this book didn’t have a rushed feel while reading.  On to the goods,  I am ecstatic about the outcome of Dimitri. Although I found myself torn over the liking I have taken to Adrian. I can honestly say that I have no idea how I would like it to turn out.

As a whole Spirit Bound has taken the safe and comfortable world, and twisted it upside down leaving no one to trust. Mead’s twist in that leaves in Rose imprisoned was a hard punch to the gut, and I don’t know who Mead plans to get her out of this predicament. In light of these events Rose’s Dad has taken on a lot larger role in this book, and I anticipate he will be a large role in the upcoming Last Sacrifice. Usually after reading a series this one long; one begins to have feelings about where the next novel with lead but with this author I am at a total loss. I can not wait for December, so that I can jump on reading the six and what I believe will be the final book.

This amazing series carries tremendous followers, and I believe that is largely to due with the quality of these stories. The VA series may be told from Rose’s point of view, but with her ability to see through Lisa it is almost like having another main character. The amount of emotion rolled into each book allows for more input from many of the other characters, as well and they are all powerful characters. Lastly, I like to note about covers. VA Covers are one of the best looking I come across. Not much for the mystery, but they are amazingly beautiful artwork. So here’s to waiting for December.

Torment Sneak Peak

Lauren Kate declares readers asked for it so here it is....

A sneak peak to Torment, check it out here.

I just can not get enough of this awesome cover. Torment is scheduled for release on September 28th, 2010 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers. If you are not familiar start with Fallen by Lauren Kate, and read it now.

Kiddy Korner Review: God's Promises for Girls

Title: God's Promises for Girls
By: Jack Countryman & Amy Parker
Genre: Christian Childrens Book
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Books
BookWhisperer Rating:
              


Book Description:
An easy way to help young girls see God’s promises and how they can rely on His love in their daily lives.

The promise verses in this book are selected from the best-selling International Children’s Bible® to offer comfort and encouragement when a girl is feeling afraid, lonely, worried, angry, dissatisfied, discouraged, sad, rebellious, impatient, or sick . . . and when they need reassurance of God’s protection, love, forgiveness, help . . . and that He listens when they pray. It’s a great way for children to hide God’s Word in their hearts.

Very useful tool in teaching children about the right and wrong in God's Eyes. This small book carries a huge amount of information that is specifically written for young children to grasp and understand the basic and most important concept that God is always there for us, and always loves us. I loved the structure of the book portraying questions such as: are there times you feel lonely, or are there times you really want something that you have been told no. Each question is followed up with scripture that is paraphased into sentences or paragraphs that young children can easily understand. It is easy to tell this book was directed toward young girls. I think that the authors beautifully wrote this book to cover very important lessons that are problems spot with most young girls. As a one time read I don't feel that the significance of the book will be truely appreciated. This should be a repetative reader; with reduance I think this book could easily become a life handbook for our young readers. God Promises is a amazing books with illustrations and lessons that children can relate to themselves. I hope to also have a look at God Promises for Boys; these books in my eyes are just truely extraordinary. I love that even the literary world is beginning to understand the impact and importance for religion in children's lives.

BookWhisperer IMM

In My Mailbox is a meme brought us by the Story Siren. This is a great   way for book   bloggers to preview that books they receive, and thus help add to your TBR piles. If you noticed BookWhisperer didn’t have a IMM post last week. This was the first week that I didn’t receive anything in the mail, but so far this week seems to be making up for it….. 

For Review:

The Fire Opal by Regina McBride

Publisher: Scholastic Books (Release May 11th, 2010)

Book Description:

There was a time when Maeve O'Tullagh led a simple life; a time when she and her mother, Nuala, collected kelp on the foreshore near their cottage in Ard Macha; a time when she played among the Celtic ruins with her older brothers and daydreamed about the legendary Holy Isles, an enchanted land ruled in a past age by a beautiful goddess.
But after Maeve's sister, Ishleen, is born, her mother sinks into a deep, impenetrable trance. For years, Maeve tries to help her mother "awaken," and then the unthinkable happens: Ishleen succumbs to the same mysterious ailment as Nuala.
            Heartbroken to think that her sister and her mother might be lost to her forever, Maeve sets off on an unimaginable quest to a world filled with fantastical creatures, a web of secrets, a handsome, devious villain who will stop at nothing to have her hand in marriage—braving them all to retrieve a powerful glowing stone that will help her recover the souls of her loved ones and bring them home to Ard Macha.

 

 

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Publisher: Chicken House Books (Released May 4th, 2009)

Book Description:

Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back? The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don't exist – almost.

 

 

The School for Dangerous Girls by Eliot Schrefer

Publisher: Point Books (Released January 1st, 2009)

Book Description:

Angela's parents think she's on the road to ruin because she's dating a "bad boy." After her behavior gets too much for them, they ship her off to Hidden Oak. Isolated and isolating, Hidden Oak promises to rehabilitate "dangerous girls." But as Angela gets drawn in further and further, she discovers that recovery is only on the agenda for the "better" girls. The other girls -- designated as "the purple thread" -- will instead be manipulated to become more and more dangerous . . . and more and more reliant on Hidden Oak's care.

 

 

A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C Bunce

Publishers: Scholastic Press (Released March 1st, 2008)

Book Description:

Upon the death of her father, seventeen-year-old Charlotte struggles to keep the family's woolen mill running in the face of an overwhelming mortgage and what the local villagers believe is a curse, but when a man capable of spinning straw into gold appears on the scene she must decide if his help is worth the price.

 

 

 

The Ghosts of Kerfol by Deborah Noyes

Publishers: Candlewick Press (Released August 26th, 2008)

Book Description:

In her classic ghost story "Kerfol," Edith Wharton tells the tale of Anne de Barrigan, a young Frenchwoman convicted of murdering her husband, the jealous Yves de Cornault. The elderly lord was found dead on the stairs, apparently savaged by a pack of dogs, though there were no dogs — no live dogs — at Kerfol that day. In this remarkable collection of intertwining short stories, Deborah Noyes takes us back to the haunted manor and tells us Anne de Barrigan's story through the sympathetic eyes of her servant girl. Four more tales slip forward in time, peering in on a young artist, a hard-drinking party girl, a young American couple, and a deaf gardener who now tends the Kerfol estate. All these souls are haunted by the ghosts of Kerfol — the dead dogs, the sensual yet uneasy relationships, and the bitter taste of revenge.

 

 

Zen and Xander Undone by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Publishers: Houghton Mifflin Books (Released May 3rd, 2010)

Book Description:

Zen and Xander are sisters—truly, madly, deeply sisters, and this is their last summer together.

Zen is the "good" girl with a black belt in karate and a newfound penchant for kicking heads. Xander is a wild scientific genius with a self-destructive streak a light-year long. They have three things in common: they’re brown-eyed blondes, they’ve noticed the boy next door has turned into a hottie, and they miss their mom, who died almost a year ago.These sisters are surviving just fine—except Zen keeps getting into fights that are harder and harder to finish, while Xander spirals into a vortex of late-night parties, scary men, and drugs. What’s worse, Xander has scholarships to the most coveted universities in the country, but she’s about to ruin everything. Should Zen keep trying to protect Xander, or finally let her go?

 

 

Dead is the Rumor by Marlene Perez

Publishers: Houghton Mifflin Books (Released August 23rd, 2010)

Book Description:

As the creepy little town of Nightshade prepares to celebrate its 200th anniversary—on Halloween, of course—many of its paranormal residents are receiving mysterious blackmail letters. Psychic teen Daisy Giordano and her sisters set out to find out who is behind the threats. But launching an investigation isn’t easy for Daisy with her overprotective father watching her every move. Though she’s is happy to have him back after the years he spent being held captive by an anti-paranormal group called the Scourge, Dad is having difficult time adjusting to home life—and the fact that his little girl is now a senior in high school. He even disapproves of Daisy’s boyfriend, Ryan. Can their relationship take the strain?
And Daisy’s got even more on her plate: A talented amateur chef, she has won cooking lessons with celebrity chef Circe Silvertongue. After nosing around (with a little help from Circe’s pet pig), Daisy begins to suspect the temperamental chef’s secrets aren’t only in her ingredients. . . .
The fourth installment in this favorite series is full of surprises and scares!

 

 

Swoon at your own Risk by Sydney Salter

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books (April 5th, 2010)

Book Description:

It’s the summer before senior year and Polly Martin has sworn off boys. Who needs the hurt and confusion? Five recent breakups have left her with an unnatural knowledge of NASCAR, the ultimate hiker’s outfit, a student council position, the sixth highest score on the Donkey Kong machine at the mall, and a summer job at Wild Waves with ex #2 Sawyer Holmes.
Success seems a sure thing when Polly’s grandmother, the syndicated advice columnist, Miss Swoon, moves in for the summer. Polly almost doesn’t mind sharing a room with her little sister, Grace. Think of all the great advice she’ll get!
Everything is going according to plan except... Miss Swoon turns out to be a man-crazy septuagenarian! And then there’s Xander Cooper. If only he wouldn’t keep showing up at Wild Waves with his adorable cousins every afternoon — and what is he writing in that little notebook?
No advice column in the world can prepare Polly for the lessons she learns when she goes on a group camping trip (with three too many ex-boyfriends). Polly is forced to see people for who they are — a blend of good and bad qualities that can’t be reduced to a list or a snappy answer in a Miss Swoon column.

Review: Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Title: Stolen

By Lucy Christopher

Publishers: Chicken House (Imprint of Scholastic Books)

BookWhisperer Rating:  Five Stars

Book Description:

Told in a letter to her captor by 16-year-old Gemma, Stolen explores the influence that a really wild and remote space can have on the inner development of a young woman.

Gemma, a British city-living teenager, is kidnapped while on holiday with her parents. Her kidnapper, Ty, takes her to the wild land of outback Australia. To Gemma’s city-eyes, the landscape is harsh and unforgiving and there are no other signs of human life for hundreds of kilometres in every direction. Here, there is no escape. Gemma must learn to deal with her predicament, or die trying to fight it.

Ty, a young man, has other ideas for her. His childhood experience of living in outback Australia has forever changed the way he sees things. But he too has been living in the city; Gemma’s city. Unlike Gemma, however, he has had enough. In outback Australia he sees an opportunity for a new kind of life; a life more connected to the earth. He has been watching and learning about Gemma for many years; when he kidnaps her, his plan finally begins to take shape.

But Ty is not a stereotypical kidnapper and, over time, Gemma comes to see Ty in a new light, a light in which he is something more sensitive. The mysteries of Ty, and the mystery of her new life, start to take hold. She begins to feel something for her kidnapper when he wakes screaming in the night. Over the time spent with her captor, Gemma’s appreciation of him develops into what could be referred to as Stockholm syndrome.

Stolen is a incredible story of a young girls courage to survive.The main character is that of Gemma, she is a sixteen year old that is kidnapped/stolen. Her capture kidnaps her from a Bangkok airport, and whisks her away to a home he has created in the middle of the desert.  Shortly, after the abduction of Gemma we begin to find that this was no a chance kidnapping. Ty had been stalking the victim for several years prior to her abduction. As I was reading this novel I couldn't help but compliment the detailed and planned abducting; had this book not ended in the turn of events that it had I could see the couple having never been found. With miles and miles of desert; escape was no longer a concern a person would be dead long before making headway toward civilization. The entire story was written a letter that the victim is writing to her abductor after the fact. I found this to be a very creative way to write, and a thrilling experience for the reader. As the tables begin to turn; even the reader will have a hard time not sympathizing with Ty. He is a very troubled person that has had a very traumatizing past. I believe that this would be a very good book for discussion; this is ultimately a very controversial book that readers would not likely see eye to eye. Upon completing this novel, I can without a doubt say that Ty truely loved his victim, and he sacrificing himself for her safety can not be misunderstood as anything else. I am tremendously impressed by Lucy Christopher and will be adding more of her books to my To Be Read pile. The cover of Stolen was a very plain and simple look. There is not a whole lot that one can say about it.

Review: Zen and Xander Undone by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Title: Zen & Xander Undone

By: Amy Kathleen Ryan
Publishers: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Release May 2010)
Reading Level: Young Adult Fiction

BookWhisperer Rating:

Book Description:

Zen and Xander are sisters—truly, madly, deeply sisters, and this is their last summer together.

Zen is the "good" girl with a black belt in karate and a newfound penchant for kicking heads. Xander is a wild scientific genius with a self-destructive streak a light-year long. They have three things in common: they’re brown-eyed blondes, they’ve noticed the boy next door has turned into a hottie, and they miss their mom, who died almost a year ago.

These sisters are surviving just fine—except Zen keeps getting into fights that are harder and harder to finish, while Xander spirals into a vortex of late-night parties, scary men, and drugs. What’s worse, Xander has scholarships to the most coveted universities in the country, but she’s about to ruin everything. Should Zen keep trying to protect Xander, or finally let her go?

Ryan's May release Zen and Xander undone is one novel that packes one hell of an emotion punch. From the book description I anticipated a heart wrenching story of loss for these two girls that becomes their undoing. What I did not anticipate was that the true under lieing storyline of a young girl that is struggling with the loss of everything in her life. Because of the lifestyle and choices of poison it is an immediate concern for the future of Xander the older out of control eighteen year old, but the reader slowly learns that Zen is in more trouble than at first sight. Zen has not only lost her mother, but she is now facing the loss of her sister and her deeply depressed father. This book reminded me a lot of P.S. I Love You, because of the letters that Zen and Xanders mother prepares before her death. This was a careful crafted story line that is deeply emotional, and will pull the reader through by the heart strings. The amount of saddness and despair in the one small book is unreal. I especially felt sad for Xander when it becomes clear that Adam is in love with Xander. It seems as though this character is always being left behind. This is the first novel that I have ever read that has the main character doing all of the talking, but it is mainly about the side characters story. Everything seems to be about Xander, but you discover that under the story Xander feelings show through. The story then takes a definetly turn, to the mystery and mission of their Mother. After having stolen their mothers will records from the lawyer, they find that I may not really know their mother. This turns into a disasterious mission to discover their mothers secrets. Only what they find is that everyone has secrets, and when you don't know all of the details it is easy to make presumptions and judge unfairly; somethings are better left buried. As my first novel by Amy Kathleen Ryan I have to say that I am quite impressed by this authors ability. Such deep feeling is intertwined in her writing that it left me craving more. I look forward to seeing what she can come up with in the future. As for my cover note on this novel it was pretty self explanatory without reading the novel. Mine is the cover previewing two girls one with makeup, jewelry, and looking like shes on the prowl which my guess is Xander; while the other is innocent and sweet I perceived this to be Zen. Not a lot hidden in the cover, but definetly beautiful and will attract a lot of attention.
**Special Thanks to Houghton Mifflin for my review copy of this book!!