tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49769570551314517692024-03-13T13:27:21.072-04:00The Literati Press A Journal of Fantasy and Science Fiction DiscoveriesStarr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.comBlogger275125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-7526552022926399302014-01-29T08:45:00.000-05:002014-01-29T08:45:18.611-05:00Find me on BloglovinHey! Have you been wondering why you haven't seen any of my posts in your bloglovin feed? It's not because I have stopped blogging. I have switched -same name different host. Look for Theliteratipress.<b>wordpress</b>.com.<br />
Hope to see you there!<br />
<br />
<br />
Always Shine,<br />
Starr KStarr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-89408984426776158852013-07-18T00:59:00.001-04:002013-07-18T00:59:31.379-04:00Breaking News: The Literati Press is moving Well, it has been a fun journey here on Blogger. But, I have decided to move. I have thought about it and weighed the options. You can now find me at <a href="http://theliteratipress.wordpress.com/">http://theliteratipress.wordpress.com/</a>.<br />
<br />
For those who have been with me from the beginning, you know that I started with Wordpress. I have played around with it, and I think that it's a better fit for me.<br />
Tuesday, I started playing around with the Wordpress Site, and did the framework to see what it would look like. Today I hope to have everything transferred. I probably will not import reviews (when I update that part of the site, the links will come here), it's a lot less work I will have to do.<br />
<br />
This site will still be here, but I won't be posting anything here.<br />
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I hope that you all move with me!<br />
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<br />
Always Shine,<br />
Starr KStarr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-66215558315090660832013-07-16T17:14:00.001-04:002013-07-17T21:40:21.814-04:00From the Editor: Breaking NewsIt is not official. But I am considering moving my blog back to Wordpress. For those who have been with since the beginning, know that my first blog ever was started there. I have been with blogger for about two years, and I like it. I just don't like the fact that someone can totally erase my blog. Granted, unlike the experience<strike>s </strike>I've read about with Amazon, the Google people will restore your account if they felt they made an error. It's nerve-wrecking. If you would like to check out my possible wordpress site, feel free.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://amazingbookreviewsbystarr.wordpress.com/">http://amazingbookreviewsbystarr.wordpress.com/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
I will let you know my final decision Thursday. I know I owe you two posts today, they may come up later or I may wait til Thursday.<br />
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Always Shine,<br />
Starr K<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Update: </span>I discovered that I can change the name so the address is <a href="http://theliteratipress.wordpress.com/">http://theliteratipress.wordpress.com/</a>Starr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-70741651598403792422013-07-14T19:24:00.000-04:002013-07-15T01:49:35.304-04:00From the Editor's Desk 7/14/13<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; clear: left; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgayM4Wc651yNhjv7kSWk3qSdRetIiN-gK9uv8BXidWgZE3EvyW6AINFigkqCncX-Qs114oYygoN49MK0qI66aJC04Dye2_PH7sSyR8kvYyzXGer1Ls0wXQ9joCBWkktbTEH93WiMKfc/s1600/IMG_0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgayM4Wc651yNhjv7kSWk3qSdRetIiN-gK9uv8BXidWgZE3EvyW6AINFigkqCncX-Qs114oYygoN49MK0qI66aJC04Dye2_PH7sSyR8kvYyzXGer1Ls0wXQ9joCBWkktbTEH93WiMKfc/s320/IMG_0078.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; background-color: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">SKG Photo</span></td></tr>
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<b><u>For Review:</u></b></div>
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Infinity Ring Book 5: cave of Wonders by Matthew J. Kirby (Netgalley)</div>
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The Returned by Jason Mott (Netgalley)</div>
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Saxon's Bane by Geoffry Gudgion (Netgalley)</div>
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Panic by Lauren Oliver (Edelweiss)</div>
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Warrior by Ellen Oh (Edelweiss)</div>
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Her Dark Curiousity by Megan Shepard (Edelweiss)</div>
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<b><u>From the Library:</u></b></div>
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The Drowning Girl by Caitlin R. Kiernan</div>
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Epic Legends of Fantasy edited by John Joseph Adams</div>
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<b><u>Gifted:</u></b></div>
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Hunted by Kevin Hearne</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Plus a whole stack of awesome books that I'm too lazy to get up and get so I can list- but they're awesome. </div>
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(Thanks Theresa! Always feeding the addiction, you're such a book dealer!)</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u>Purchased:</u></b></div>
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Still waiting on that one book from an order about a month ago. :( </div>
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Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead</div>
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(I will get the picks up sometime this week, hopefully). </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u>What am I currently reading?</u></b></div>
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Well,, I kind of went off pile last week. I didn't finish <i>The Passage</i> last week and I didn't start <i>Dragon's Path </i>either. I did finish reading <i>Diverse Energies</i> and I finished up <i>Carrier of the Mark</i> by Liegh Fallon. After much twisting of my arm, Darby Karchut convinced me to drop everything and read <i>Hunted</i> by Kevin Hearne. I will finish that tonight, though I am not sure if I will be emotionally ready to post the review this week. </div>
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<b><u>What will I be reading?</u></b></div>
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Well, I still have a couple more weeks of July so I will be putting another anthology on the pile. I am going to try to read<i> After: Nineteen Stories of Apocalypse and Dystopia</i>. I will also focus on catching up on the<i> Dragon's Path</i> read-a-long. And I will finish <i>The Passage</i>. I figure if I aim to read more than 3, I will just go off-pile again so if by any chance I finish these three reading goals, I will pick a random book. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u>What I wish I was reading:</u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Oh I have so many books I want to read and so many I want to re-read. Every week when I think that I have it under control, something pops up. For instance, I have been trying to get to <i>Finn Finnegan </i> and <i>Griffin's Storm</i> for a long time. I was moving stuff around in order to get my office straightened out and discovered that I have both <i>I Hunt Killers</i> and <i>The Game</i> by Barry Lyga. Now, I've already read <i>I Hunt Killers</i>, but I remember counting down the days to get the sequel. I got it the week that it came out and it's still sitting unread. I also have my own copy of Amy Zoll's <i> Gladiatrix: The True Story of History's Unknown Woman Warrior</i>. I <i>reaaaaalllly</i> want to read that. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u>Reviews Posted:</u></b></div>
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Yep, I suck. I intended to type up my review of <i>Diverse Energies </i>and post it Thursday. I decided to do something a little different and discuss the reactions I had after each story. This is much more difficult than I thought that it would be. But I plan on finishing it and having that along with my review of <i>Wolf Mark</i> by Joseph Bruchac up Tuesday. Here's Hoping!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Well, that's all for me! Leave me a link or comment and tell me what your reading plans are!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Always Shine, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Starr K</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 22px; text-align: right;">SKG Photo taken by me, and cannot be used or copied without my express written permission</span></div>
Starr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-48083924827671732372013-07-09T18:48:00.003-04:002013-07-09T18:48:40.783-04:00Letter From the Editor: 7/09/2013<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Importance of Diversity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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In truth, this is an old argument. Lots of people have tackled this topic and
have provided lots of excellent examples. I am here as a reader and as someone
who wants to make my own niche into the publishing world. I am one who reads just
about everything, but most of it falls into the science fiction/fantasy or
crime/forensic genres. I am one who is tired of walking into Wal-Mart
and seeing books that perpetuate the stereotypes of black people (and not the
positive stereotypes either), but I have to go into an actual bookstore or
special order authors like Nalo Hopkinson or Octavia Butler. Now I am not knocking any of the books
featured in Wal-Mart’s African American Section, I can’t I haven’t read any of
it. I’m just saying. They have 4 rows of
<i>The Hunger Games and Immortal Instruments
</i>books, can they make a little room for <i>Drowned
Cities, Huntress, and Silver Phoenix</i>. I want it to be as easy to find a
science fiction novel with a main character that’s Asian as it is if the
character is white. I am tired of
searching for quality work featuring people of color when smut can be found
around every single corner. It’s not fair!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Enough has already been said about cover white-washing. So I
want to go there. It still happens though. I think that it’s said that when big
list of the “must-reads” or “best ofs” authors of color or books with
characters of color are not found there.
I declined to participate in a blog celebration of authors because not
one of the hundreds author were of color or had a book with a main character of
color. Quality fiction that includes
diversity is out there. Once you start looking for it, it will start popping up
everywhere. But, unless fate intervenes, it’s going to take you looking for it.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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When I talk of diversity, I am not referring to books that
pertain to one particular culture. And I am not saying that it's either black or white. It's Asian, Latino/Hispanic, Irish, Norse, Swedish, Black, African, Icelandic, French, Canadian, Caribbean, Native American, mixed, mixed twice over, mixed so much that you're a mutt (don't be offended, I'm a mutt. Every so often I'm told I have a little of this and a little of that in me. Embrace it-it's beautiful!). I’m talking about where the story is the
important focus, and it just happens that the characters are diverse. I get that people often just want to read
characters that are like them, or they are just looking for a good story. I am
and always will be a sucker for a good story.
But to be completely honest, most of the books that I have read lately
(and in the past) are nothing like me. When I write, my characters lose their
physical identities because somewhere in the back of my mind I’m thinking that
maybe it’s better for the reader to decide what the character is like? <o:p></o:p></div>
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But what if
there is another young girl out in the world like me, one who gets all giddy
when a really good sci-fi novel crosses their path, but they pass on it because
the person on the cover is nothing like them? Why is this so important to me?
Why do I want you to care? Because there is quality to be found in diversity!
Our worlds are not made of the same cookie cutter characters. Some are lovable
and heroic, some or malicious and downright hate-worthy. Because if we don’t
take time to recognize the gems that are waiting to be found, we are going to
keep having this conversation about where is the diversity. Frankly, I am
hoping for one day where we don’t have to have this conversation. I’m hoping
that in a few months when I return back to the school where I lead a book club,
I don’t have to go through an agonizing amount of time to find a book that is
relevant to them, that doesn’t feature someone pale and beautiful and just the
right size. I know I can’t change the
world, I know that it really just starts with me and paying it forward. So that
is what I am going to do. My characters will not be lost into other’s
imagination, they will be exactly who they were meant to be. My blog will become a regular stop for books
that are either written by a person of color or feature a character of color.
No, I will not start excluding books because they don’t fall under one of these
characteristics. But I expect my
Diversity in Reading page to start filling up. I will also use this space as a
way to talk about all bookish and diverse such things. </div>
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<br /></div>
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For instance, if you are in the search for
some diverse YA science fiction and need a starting place, check out <a href="http://www.leeandlow.com/p/tu.mhtml." target="_blank">TU Books, and imprint of Lee and Low Books.</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Check back here Thursday for my review of <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14342606-diverse-energies" target="_blank">Diverse Energies edited by Tobia S. Buckell </a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Always Shine, </div>
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Starr K</div>
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Starr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-71610218585849735212013-07-08T23:39:00.002-04:002013-07-08T23:42:36.119-04:00From the Editor's Desk: July 8, 2013<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; clear: left; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgayM4Wc651yNhjv7kSWk3qSdRetIiN-gK9uv8BXidWgZE3EvyW6AINFigkqCncX-Qs114oYygoN49MK0qI66aJC04Dye2_PH7sSyR8kvYyzXGer1Ls0wXQ9joCBWkktbTEH93WiMKfc/s1600/IMG_0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgayM4Wc651yNhjv7kSWk3qSdRetIiN-gK9uv8BXidWgZE3EvyW6AINFigkqCncX-Qs114oYygoN49MK0qI66aJC04Dye2_PH7sSyR8kvYyzXGer1Ls0wXQ9joCBWkktbTEH93WiMKfc/s320/IMG_0078.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;">SKG Photo</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><b style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: small;">For Review:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The Grimm Company byLuke Scull (Penguin First to Read)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Rising Sun, Falling Shadow by Daniel Kalla (Netgalley)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Zombie Nation by E.R. Vernor* (Netgalley)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Demon's Veil by Brandice Snowden* (Netgalley)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Not Compatible with the Kindle so I'm not sure if I'll get to it before it expires</span></div>
<b><u><br /><span style="font-size: small;">From the Library:</span></u></b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Nothing </span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: small;">Gifted;</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Nothing</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: small;">Purchased:</span></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Well.....half price was having a really good sale, so I kind of put my bookshelf challenge on pause for the day. And restarted it as soon as I walked out the door. I have also increased my challenge from 10 to 20 now. Picks will be up later this week (a couple are crying to be read so I'm avoiding that stack, lol). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I am still waiting on a used book from an order from the beginning of June. Waiting so long, I almost forgot about it. Grrrr...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: small;">What I'm Currently Reading:</span></b></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Okay, so this week was the last week of classes, it was also the week of the fourth of July and my birthday. So needless to say, I wasn't so productive on the reading front. Both of the books that I planned on reading are still unfinished. (Though I will be finishing up Diverse Energies tonight!) So, I am currently reading The Passage by Justin Cronin (it's good but it's long, so glad I'm reading the print copy.) The group read for The Dragon's Path has started, so I will be reading that as well. </span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: small;">What I will be reading:</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I don't know which anthology I will be reading next. I am still debating but it will either be <i>Full Dark, No Stars</i> by Stephen King or <i>The </i>Moo<i> by </i>Adriena Dame. I will also attempt to read <i>Griffin's Storm</i> by Darby Karchut, <i>The Grimm Company</i> and/or <i>Death's Acre</i> by Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson. (I am being cautiously optimistic that I will finish <i>The Passage</i> tomorrow. (Or soon :) )</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: small;">What I wish I was reading right now:</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">There are still a lot of books that I would love to be reading right now, and that is not to say that I am not enjoying the books that I am currently reading. Because, boy am I! But if I had to pick just one title that I wish I could put on the pile this week but am resisting it would be <i>Hunted </i>by Kevin Hearne. Really, who wouldn't want more Atticus and Oberon? Plus, there is the stack of recently purchased books that I am avoiding.......</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Well, that's all for me! Leave me a link or comment and tell me what your reading plans are!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Always Shine, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Starr K</span></div>
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Starr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-89518862407556924012013-06-30T08:03:00.001-04:002013-06-30T08:04:23.820-04:00From the Editor's Desk: 6/30/2013- July is Anthology Month<br />
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<b style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: small;">For Review:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17331423-cut-to-the-bone" target="_blank">Cut to the Bone by Jefferson Bass</a> (From Edelweiss)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6YJ7BEmXK8yBAQPJh7DqrUP3v4SWGnXnm44CqSmQP-lLq9V2KvacSNJ7HGxGsEkhmZ3WBN60eLUsk3NjlluTnYMuirnqUz4xUqP76oYMvZcD4y0hcCun5XpITYbwPSPTWmIyhhSxowE/s1600/IMG_0138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6YJ7BEmXK8yBAQPJh7DqrUP3v4SWGnXnm44CqSmQP-lLq9V2KvacSNJ7HGxGsEkhmZ3WBN60eLUsk3NjlluTnYMuirnqUz4xUqP76oYMvZcD4y0hcCun5XpITYbwPSPTWmIyhhSxowE/s320/IMG_0138.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The Storm Makers by Jennifer E. Smith (from Arcycling)</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: small;">From the Library:</span></u></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7Grm22t_tQljbBgAAn4lw1WigTEObKSloQPoIwScI7pMnxrEI9tZgJcI_Z_1k7ZIDrkCFoKUHPkxT90fyiPjqn_cqXDl9WP5UU7yiyS-jaHCpL-AttL3r9KSBuHLHIhhm0vQyKn2ccA/s1600/IMG_0134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7Grm22t_tQljbBgAAn4lw1WigTEObKSloQPoIwScI7pMnxrEI9tZgJcI_Z_1k7ZIDrkCFoKUHPkxT90fyiPjqn_cqXDl9WP5UU7yiyS-jaHCpL-AttL3r9KSBuHLHIhhm0vQyKn2ccA/s320/IMG_0134.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">After: Nineteen Stories of the Apocalypse Ed. by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The Iowa Awards the Best Stories from Twenty Years selected by Frank Conroy </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>Gifted;</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">(From Lauren, a lovely lady in my writing group. She was giving books away and this is what I got.)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJATdy8-JDKb38Tm9h5O0DConpXHF0eZMt2-DSSl3WYn8icvHDXeFefN-dHJht31hOqKqPHg4H80Z40ewg8q6gVgu57rVqOjgLXcd3UpctvmKLLTVVf6sdn31b3VDPjCTc90uCS_0CeIU/s1600/IMG_0136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJATdy8-JDKb38Tm9h5O0DConpXHF0eZMt2-DSSl3WYn8icvHDXeFefN-dHJht31hOqKqPHg4H80Z40ewg8q6gVgu57rVqOjgLXcd3UpctvmKLLTVVf6sdn31b3VDPjCTc90uCS_0CeIU/s320/IMG_0136.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The Pillars of Hercules by Paul Theroux</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>Purchased:</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">(This was from the last order, everything is in except for a pre-order.)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73GXSGc8B-0obYKchJgEPMIIb7m3ry24Ky9aSXmVmf-OyoMGM5xYn2MgIzUX7kK_RbIxKnnhewHiAI_CG3bKljCqn7iXjgNluVD4jiY0P5S4Wq6P9a5oVlNAfhkOigxSNybr5xN-N_1Y/s1600/IMG_0137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73GXSGc8B-0obYKchJgEPMIIb7m3ry24Ky9aSXmVmf-OyoMGM5xYn2MgIzUX7kK_RbIxKnnhewHiAI_CG3bKljCqn7iXjgNluVD4jiY0P5S4Wq6P9a5oVlNAfhkOigxSNybr5xN-N_1Y/s320/IMG_0137.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><u><b>What I'm Currently Reading:</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Let's see,I didn't finish<i> World War Z </i>last week like I planned. Because of school and the <i>Shutdown</i> Tour, I didn't finish it until yesterday. Which means that I didn't touch <i>Carrier of the Mark. </i>But I did finish <i>Shutdown</i> and have already posted my review. I then went on to finish <i>World War Z</i> and <i>Saga Volume 1. </i>Right now I am reading <i>Two Way Street</i> by Lauren Barnholdt. It's a pretty fast read so far, so unless I decide to do homework I will probably finish it tonght. </span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: small;">What I will be reading:</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This month's theme is Anthologies. So I will be reading a bunch of those-some I have for review, some I've gotten from the library and some that I have had for a while. I tried making a list and working from those, but then I realized just how many I've had. Then I found some that I left out. So, I will just see which one suits my mood week by week. There are 5 weeks in July so I plan on reading at least 5. I've already started <i>Diverse Energies </i>(I only read two stories) so I will finish that up this week. Since I didn't get to <i>Carrier of the Mark </i>last week, I hope to get to it this week. </span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: small;">What I wish I was reading right now:</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Oh, there are so many books I would love to be reading right now. Since this is my last week of classes I will have more time to read. But that time will also be split with writing. I really want to start the Body Farm series by Jefferson Bass, as well as Darby Karchut's books. Honestly, I think it's time that I pay a little bit more attention to my challenges as well. We'll see where the moon takes me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Well, that's all for me! Leave me a link or comment and tell me what your reading plans are!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Always Shine, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Starr K</span></div>
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Starr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-89359594040440006302013-06-29T11:34:00.000-04:002013-06-29T11:34:32.046-04:00Short Story Saturday<br />
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Hey guys! I bet you thought that I forgot, didn't you? It's okay sometimes I do that. I've decided to do monthly themes with my reading. July will be Anthology Month. So It will be a month full of short stories! I haven't decided if I am going to feature short stories throughout the week or do a big review at the end of the week. Either way, I decided to pause Short Story Saturday until August. But it will be back!!!<br />
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Always Shine<br />
Starr KStarr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-24104966381697612202013-06-28T20:13:00.000-04:002013-06-28T20:13:41.608-04:00Book Tour: Shutdown- Review and Giveaway<i>Thanks to Shane, from <a href="http://www.itchingforbooks.com/" target="_blank">Itching for Books</a>, for organizing this blog tour. To see other stops on the tour click <a href="http://www.itchingforbooks.com/2013/05/blog-tour-sign-upshutdown-glitch-3-by.html" target="_blank">here</a></i><br />
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<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1366550651l/16045008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1366550651l/16045008.jpg" width="213" /></a><i> </i><b style="text-align: center;">Shutdown by Heather Anastasiu</b></div>
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Glitch #3 <o:p></o:p></div>
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320 pages- Fiction,
Young Adult, Scifi/Fantasy/post-apocalyptic<o:p></o:p></div>
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July 2,2013 <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.heatheranastasiu.com/">http://www.heatheranastasiu.com/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Facebook- Yes<o:p></o:p></div>
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Twitter-@h_Anastasiu<o:p></o:p></div>
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Source: Netgalley,
and Itching For Books<o:p></o:p></div>
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Purpose: Review, Blog
Tour<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this digital galley, free, in
exchange for my honest opinion. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16045008-shutdown" target="_blank">From Goodreads:</a> <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The battle is all but over, and hope seems to be lost. Zoe and her fellow Resistance fighters are on the run, having lost their home, their protection, and their leader. They are outnumbered and outmatched by the powerful corporation that controls the world, and the cruel Chancellor is inches away from completing a scheme that would kill most of humanity. Zoe's only remaining option is to chase the impossible dream of upending the Link system, freeing the world from the hardware that controls their thoughts and emotions, and hope it will trigger a revolution.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> </span></i><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The plot requires a nearly impossible mission to infiltrate the dangerous Community, and it is a task that Zoe must unfortunately complete alone. With challenges and surprises at every turn, nothing goes according to plan. Adrien's visions of the future now show two possible outcomes: one in which they succeed, and one in which humanity falls. It all lies in Zoe's hands. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">My Thoughts:</u> </span></i></div>
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Have you
been following my reviews? Have you been listening to my thoughts about this
series so far? In case you haven’t, or if you want a refresher, here it goes. <i>Glitch</i> didn’t do it for me. I was
excited about the series, but in the end was completely disappointed. In fact,
I even considered giving up on the series altogether. <i>Override</i> was a lot better. Though it didn’t make me want to go out
and purchase a copy, it did make me very grateful that I chose to continue the
series. But then . . .but then I read <i>Shutdown.
</i> I am a fan! Finally. Okay, yes I
still had my doubts. Yes I was still hypercritical and hyperaware of the
pitfalls. Yes there were moments that I groaned because I felt that Zoe was
regressing into her whiny naïve self. And perhaps she was, but she <b>didn’t</b> stay there! She grew and
blossomed into a very flawed, a very human hero. I couldn’t say for sure whether or not she
would survive ‘til the end, but I was right there with her. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I don’t
want to make this super long, and go overboard with my happiness, but I will
say this. I am even more grateful that I was convinced that I needed to
continue the series. Let’s rewind a bit,
and cover the cons of this story. Honestly, they are minor and I can’t say that
they lie in Anastasiu’s control. First, I am not sure if it was just the galley
or if it effects the print edition, but there were quite a few areas where
words were misspelled, words were left out or extra words were left in. It was
distracting, but not too detrimental. Zoe was whiny, to the point that it got a
little annoying. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But
here is the good. There was action, there was danger and doubt. There was hope,
there was strength, acceptance and humanity. There was redemption, beauty and
redefining. Zoe turned out to be an
awesome hero, one who carried the guilt and truth of things but also the hope
and strength to push on. The things that didn’t make sense seemed believable.
The romance… Finally it was believable and it didn’t read as being too much. The
end came and it didn’t turn out the way that anyone expeted it to. I really
liked the conclusion to this series; it may not be a favorite of 2013. But it
does get the title of the most improved and I plan on buying this series-all
because of <i>Shutdown</i> – the best in the
trilogy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>4.5 Stars ***<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/64262968/" id="rc-64262968" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Always Shine, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Starr K</div>
</div>
Starr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-46930981895155882622013-06-23T19:16:00.000-04:002013-06-30T07:28:24.047-04:00From the Editor's Desk 6/23/13<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUbCEeT9tfaJieUPH_i3sQnnP1RgkvzJzjqdxQyPPqh1IexAriiV9iGoehRxZFBX9UPf9cXcY6yRwzqxU1QyUl9wHPELlZ2Yw9mQKgC2v-zmzmaPyi6TdbYGo-I36laptNfk5FWt3tUI/s1600/IMG_0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.3s; color: #009eb8; display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px !important; outline: none; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.3s;"><img border="0" class="" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUbCEeT9tfaJieUPH_i3sQnnP1RgkvzJzjqdxQyPPqh1IexAriiV9iGoehRxZFBX9UPf9cXcY6yRwzqxU1QyUl9wHPELlZ2Yw9mQKgC2v-zmzmaPyi6TdbYGo-I36laptNfk5FWt3tUI/s400/IMG_0078.JPG" style="-webkit-border-image: url(data:image/png; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 9; border-image-source: url(data:image/png; border-image-width: 9px; border: 9px none; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; margin: 10px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><u>Books Received:</u><br />Again, I forgot some books on my post last week. This is a mixture of review, recent purchases, books that came in the mail this week as well as those forgotten. </span></td></tr>
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For Review:</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmuXtj7nO1C-XSSIFa5NPZrd1-1iSJs98mOmVLHo5KrITak9woKgGczFmblTFWPLPcc6hTRceN00u8W_Bnvf0q402Vb4tJNTOQ4RDKgx9PhBaELgke-bL3HfLb-8CUZire4RVhiqT5O8/s1600/IMG_0123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.3s; clear: left; color: #009eb8; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px !important; outline: none; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.3s;"><br /></a>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKuFTXJLo9uRLNlh1oPc5flbUlESWAFgY9nzmGOiaperyiGjXhXPzWMCXAziM5VFhyH9S7oRgbm2vjUY2uv1KhB9nj1VJT84ANT_b_hz4ffbaU0N3tiqTBlGdvgzwzt692hdZKgiSYBA/s1600/IMG_0132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKuFTXJLo9uRLNlh1oPc5flbUlESWAFgY9nzmGOiaperyiGjXhXPzWMCXAziM5VFhyH9S7oRgbm2vjUY2uv1KhB9nj1VJT84ANT_b_hz4ffbaU0N3tiqTBlGdvgzwzt692hdZKgiSYBA/s320/IMG_0132.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Thanks to Penguin Debut Author Challenge!</div>
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I also received for review: </div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13522285-the-beginning-of-everything" target="_blank">The Beginning of Everything byRobyn Schnieider</a></div>
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and </div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17571793-journey-into-the-flame" target="_blank">Journey into the Flame by T.R. Williams</a></div>
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<b><u>Purchased:</u></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGH8IIhz0abovwVX3EiLmKHIlQbQtR18rgbBiF417JXo4iGjWWDTXrNDQpVYk4ANGB1orGg3BxosTyMVqjEEcgjAjh_FkXc-oDoUtVM09hvIxX_NVCigig5DP_P4-JzQYML21eSvalEU/s1600/IMG_0127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGH8IIhz0abovwVX3EiLmKHIlQbQtR18rgbBiF417JXo4iGjWWDTXrNDQpVYk4ANGB1orGg3BxosTyMVqjEEcgjAjh_FkXc-oDoUtVM09hvIxX_NVCigig5DP_P4-JzQYML21eSvalEU/s320/IMG_0127.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SKG Photo </td></tr>
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Unnatural Creatures anthology Edited by Neil Gaiman </div>
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Ender's Game by Orson Scott Care</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQN3lEJqTr8OAmpmT3p_DtlWM5GTrd_Jy08lu_4R7o7ETRGK4C3H_kiCMSao1QN_ZTDJpS10jppCf5EvJ7ld3IFIRL7O0BYW8NnoQYPS6wW3FBKqitVT1GJCLlSomIMgOXnm4Nt0zNqI/s320/IMG_0129.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SKG Photo </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQN3lEJqTr8OAmpmT3p_DtlWM5GTrd_Jy08lu_4R7o7ETRGK4C3H_kiCMSao1QN_ZTDJpS10jppCf5EvJ7ld3IFIRL7O0BYW8NnoQYPS6wW3FBKqitVT1GJCLlSomIMgOXnm4Nt0zNqI/s1600/IMG_0129.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></a><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15251.Death_s_Acre" target="_blank"> Death's Acre by Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson</a>/ T<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10950924-the-dovekeepers" target="_blank">he Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman</a>/ <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7933615-hidden?ac=1" target="_blank">Hidden by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast </a></span><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonZNY6PyReEBv-SbEp6jumcubbfmXScjpUPKEgTjKktLDqIbbscJFWVZL8_3Kf4DBS5cwfGoiEOQvp7N9n1ojNEYwf6Mj2P0Pn1czSNAr-f5EdB0vpU9zitQ2XTsZXbfwSyo87GFpVIw/s1600/IMG_0131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonZNY6PyReEBv-SbEp6jumcubbfmXScjpUPKEgTjKktLDqIbbscJFWVZL8_3Kf4DBS5cwfGoiEOQvp7N9n1ojNEYwf6Mj2P0Pn1czSNAr-f5EdB0vpU9zitQ2XTsZXbfwSyo87GFpVIw/s320/IMG_0131.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3588137-blue-diablo" target="_blank">Blue Diablo by Ann Aguire</a>/<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9680728-rise-of-the-corpses" target="_blank">The Undertakers: Rise of Corpses by Ty Drago</a>/<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6350211-fighting-to-survive" target="_blank">Fighting to Survive by Rhiannon Frater</a>/<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12173462-white-horse" target="_blank">White Horse by Alex Adams</a>/<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/510342.Dark_Matter" target="_blank">Dark Matter Edited by Sheree R.Thomas</a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizH9unHHYmWVtaiilS744oZ950wp60_6yr_pgEkRqkTkvNz4cVx1uVZHZWzapzu7CYOZlzbZoHRW7x4FtOHT1VkSXImWSewjflsqaPaCZV0b1ZYATF7kvf1B0HbLzNBQBHUZswSDh-5Y4/s1600/IMG_0130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizH9unHHYmWVtaiilS744oZ950wp60_6yr_pgEkRqkTkvNz4cVx1uVZHZWzapzu7CYOZlzbZoHRW7x4FtOHT1VkSXImWSewjflsqaPaCZV0b1ZYATF7kvf1B0HbLzNBQBHUZswSDh-5Y4/s320/IMG_0130.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8704975-the-bone-yard" target="_blank">The Bone Yard by Jefferson Bass</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/184661.The_Third_Option" target="_blank">The Third Option by Vince Flynn</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7841445-dead-zero" target="_blank">Dead Zero by Stephen Hunter</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9415946-huntress" target="_blank">Huntress by Malinda Lo</a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvSJjDxm09eIZmTtipMlOAZ6vPuWohVWYFX81E94h7O30aiDf2V7XXpLcMNrqNKv7v-iz753cG4CI7ZVGUCCN8lZK15e6PXzsi3qPqjBDGevqZsFMvLSPR3ZJ0xoTDOhsP3H_tmGWPJE/s1600/IMG_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvSJjDxm09eIZmTtipMlOAZ6vPuWohVWYFX81E94h7O30aiDf2V7XXpLcMNrqNKv7v-iz753cG4CI7ZVGUCCN8lZK15e6PXzsi3qPqjBDGevqZsFMvLSPR3ZJ0xoTDOhsP3H_tmGWPJE/s320/IMG_0128.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SKG Photo </td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/series/49122-space-odyssey" target="_blank">2010 Odyssey Two/2061 Odyssey Three by Arthur C. Clarke</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22892.The_Foretelling" target="_blank">The Foretelling by Alice Hoffman</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1715.Metamorphoses?ac=1" target="_blank">The Metamorphoses by Ovid </a></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/71409.Midnight_Robber" target="_blank">Midnight Robber by Nalo Hopkinson</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4381.Fahrenheit_451" target="_blank">Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14201.Jonathan_Strange_Mr_Norrell" target="_blank">Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell by Susanna Clarke </a></div>
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<b style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><u>What am I reading:</u></b></div>
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Well, I have finished Override by Heather Anastasiu. I enjoyed that so much better. I am almost finished with World War Z, I will actually be finishing that up after I do some math problems. (Which I will get back to after finishing this post.) So this week's reads will be Shutdown by Heather Anastasiu, and Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon. I will be participating in the blog tour for Shutdown, and my stop will be Friday. I kind of stumbled upon this reading pattern, of reading a Kindle title and a print book for the week. it has also happened to be a review book and a fun book. I like this method so I will continue it. Finally, after how long of looking for an enjoyable reading system? </div>
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<b><u>What I will be reading:</u></b></div>
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Next week will be the first week of July, so my theme for that will be Anthologies. I have both print and electronic anthologies that I will be reading. I haven't narrowed the list, but I will do that this week. Though I haven't decided what I am going to partner with them. I know I want to finish some series, so it will either be the end of Kelley Armstrong adult Otherworld series, or Darby Karchut's Finn and Griffin Books (I have been dying to read these for so long). But since next week is the last week of classes, I may actually get through even more books without killing myself. </div>
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<b><u>What I wish I was reading right now:</u></b></div>
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I will probably go back to clearing my Goodreads shelf in August (if I don't get through them before then). I can't say that I am unhappy with what I'm ready, because I'm not. I can say that I have a lot of awesome books (Hunted by Kevin Hearne and the Escape from Furnace by Alexander Gordon Smith jumps to mind) lined up for this summer. So I am hoping that it doesn't fly by so I can enjoy all of the books that I want to. </div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
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Well, that's all from my desk! Leave a link or mention in the comments on what you're reading this week!!</div>
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Always Shine,</div>
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Starr<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 22px; text-align: right;">SKG Photo taken by me, and cannot be used or copied without my express written permission</span></div>
Starr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-27292009582853330302013-06-21T21:46:00.001-04:002013-06-21T21:46:06.101-04:00Review: Override <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1341513437l/14759331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1341513437l/14759331.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<b>Override by Heather Anastasiu <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Glitch #2 <o:p></o:p></div>
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320 pages- Fiction,
Young Adult, Scifi/Fantasy/post-apocalyptic<o:p></o:p></div>
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February 12,2013 <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.heatheranastasiu.com/">http://www.heatheranastasiu.com/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Facebook- Yes<o:p></o:p></div>
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Twitter-@h_Anastasiu<o:p></o:p></div>
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Source: Netgalley<o:p></o:p></div>
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Purpose: Review<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this digital galley, free, in
exchange for my honest opinion. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14759331-override" target="_blank">From Goodreads: </a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Zoe is free. She has escaped the enslavement of the Community, disconnected from the hardware that had controlled her every thought and emotion, and evaded capture by the Chancellor intent on killing her. She is finally free, but she is far from safe. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Zoe and Adrien hide themselves from detection at the Foundation, an academy that trains teen glitchers to fight in the Resistance movement. Together, Zoe and her new team of superhuman fighters must risk their lives to rescue other glitchers and humans from the Chancellor's control. Challenges abound at every turn, and Adrien, who has become silent, distant, and tormented by his visions of the future, only adds to the growing certainty of defeat. But worst of all, as Zoe's team fights against impossible odds, distrust and betrayal leads to the terrible discovery that their greatest threat could already be lurking behind the safe walls of the Foundation.</span></i></div>
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Did
anyone read my review of <i>Glitch</i>?
Well, this is not going to be the same. I liked this <i>Override</i>. Did I love it? Almost, but not quite. I have learned a
valuable lesson in keeping an open mind when continuing a series, and to finish
all review books. Yep, it’ll be hard and irritating, but you never know what
will surprise. Where I didn’t feel <i>Glitch</i>
was worth reading, O<i>verride </i>definitely
was. I couldn’t put this one down. It still had it flaws, but they weren’t so
in-your-face. I was able to overlook them and get into them. That’s something I
can appreciate, since it is hard to write the perfect story for more than one
person. <i>Override</i> was redeeming to the
series. I am once again looking forward to this series. <o:p></o:p></div>
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There
are only a couple of minor things that I didn’t like, so I won’t talk about
those. I will talk about the major flaws that I saw. Of course, the first one
is the romance. I get it, I really do, but gag! They are teenagers so their
hormones are going crazy. Their emotions are still fairly new so they are
strong and overwhelming. But, really?
Come on! Is it really necessary to do some serious kissing and light
touching, then sneak away and insinuate they’re going to have sex only to pull
back at the last moment? At this point, either do it to get it over with or
move on. Personally, the passion is too much for such young and naive people. I
can understand the tension that’s being created, but there are much better ways
to do that. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The
second major thing is the twist. Well, it sucked. It read as if it was thrown in
there because Anastasiu didn’t know how to get to point A to point B with what
was already happening in the story, so she just pulled something out of the
air. What’s sad about the twist is two things. The first is the writing is
better than that, she cut herself short doing this. The other is that this
would have been an awesome twist, and an emotional pivot point in the story –
had it been believable. I won’t spoil it, but if there had been an earlier clue
to put the possibility out there this would have been amazing. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now on to what I
liked about it. This time, the characters had emotional depth. It wasn’t just
because they were able to openly share and experience emotions. Each had a
story and as it was shared, I was able to understand them a little better. With
this understanding came a connection. There was a whole lot of action and
second guessing. The pacing was strong and the storyline was engaging. Finally,
Zoe. When I started reading and she was the same whiny, annoying glitcher I
groaned and thought the books was doomed before I started it. But-she grew, she
changed. She developed into someone who really stood a chance at being a hero.<br />
<b>3.5 Stars<o:p></o:p></b></div>
Starr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-86514673075407071252013-06-16T23:49:00.001-04:002013-06-17T00:02:16.858-04:00Short Story Saturday 6/15: A Brief History of the Trans-Pacific Tunnel <div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1357142607l/17203776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.3s; color: #009eb8; display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px !important; outline: none; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.3s;"><img border="0" class="" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1357142607l/17203776.jpg" style="-webkit-border-image: url(data:image/png; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 9; border-image-source: url(data:image/png; border-image-width: 9px; border: 9px none; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; margin: 10px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">A Brief History of the Trans-Pacific Tunnel by Ken Liu</span><br />
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Source: <a href="http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.3s; color: #009eb8; display: inline; outline: none; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.3s;" target="_blank">Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine</a>, Jan/Feb 2013 edition</div>
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<b>What is it about?</b></div>
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<i>Charlie tells the story about how the Trans-Pacific Tunnel came to be at the same time he tells of his growing relationship with Betty. It turns out that he's been keeping a secret. After spending time with Betty he learns that there is a balance between speaking too loudly and not speaking at all. </i></div>
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I couldn't see where the story was going when I first picked it up. But the more I read, the more I wanted to read. This is surprising since there's no action -anywhere in the story. This read as someone retelling the events of their life. Which is fine, since this is what it's supposed to be. (At least that's how I read it.) There were parts that were a little dry, but once I got used to the character's voice it was much easier to read. I like the way that the issue of racial and class superiority is handled in this story. The best way to describe it would be fact, neither good not bad - it just was. That doesn't mean that the characters were okay with it, but it was a part of this world. Charlie's secret was powerful and believable. In the end, he doesn't go against the character that we have gotten to know, But, honorably, he decides to do something to make the secret a little harder to keep.</div>
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Always Shine, </div>
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Starr K</div>
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Starr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-8792067133878317382013-06-16T23:37:00.003-04:002013-06-30T07:26:58.374-04:00From The Editor's Desk 6/16<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUbCEeT9tfaJieUPH_i3sQnnP1RgkvzJzjqdxQyPPqh1IexAriiV9iGoehRxZFBX9UPf9cXcY6yRwzqxU1QyUl9wHPELlZ2Yw9mQKgC2v-zmzmaPyi6TdbYGo-I36laptNfk5FWt3tUI/s1600/IMG_0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.3s; color: #009eb8; display: inline; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px !important; outline: none; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.3s;"><img border="0" class="" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUbCEeT9tfaJieUPH_i3sQnnP1RgkvzJzjqdxQyPPqh1IexAriiV9iGoehRxZFBX9UPf9cXcY6yRwzqxU1QyUl9wHPELlZ2Yw9mQKgC2v-zmzmaPyi6TdbYGo-I36laptNfk5FWt3tUI/s400/IMG_0078.JPG" style="-webkit-border-image: url(data:image/png; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 9; border-image-source: url(data:image/png; border-image-width: 9px; border: 9px none; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; margin: 10px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: 11px;">SKG Photo</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><u>Books Received:</u><br />I realized too late that last week I focused only on the kindle books I purchased and not the print books, so that is included in this week's post as well.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmuXtj7nO1C-XSSIFa5NPZrd1-1iSJs98mOmVLHo5KrITak9woKgGczFmblTFWPLPcc6hTRceN00u8W_Bnvf0q402Vb4tJNTOQ4RDKgx9PhBaELgke-bL3HfLb-8CUZire4RVhiqT5O8/s1600/IMG_0123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmuXtj7nO1C-XSSIFa5NPZrd1-1iSJs98mOmVLHo5KrITak9woKgGczFmblTFWPLPcc6hTRceN00u8W_Bnvf0q402Vb4tJNTOQ4RDKgx9PhBaELgke-bL3HfLb-8CUZire4RVhiqT5O8/s320/IMG_0123.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SKG Photo </td></tr>
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The Histories by Herodotus</div>
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Another Faust by Daniel and Dini Nayeri</div>
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Twisted by Sara Shepard </div>
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Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay</div>
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The Old African by Julius Lester</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4gkCnsYUTc-cMcaBwAtEl8A4sY9J9QTepOsWy7qXgM7RbcF4s_zsdR1mhXpWDMmAAmr4QTvIcQWXspFjvXNBLoOLQoVDUw0qkE2kBHdvt-WPqQSsDD8P9nJLNl_unHGqXvIzsa80Wj8/s1600/IMG_0125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4gkCnsYUTc-cMcaBwAtEl8A4sY9J9QTepOsWy7qXgM7RbcF4s_zsdR1mhXpWDMmAAmr4QTvIcQWXspFjvXNBLoOLQoVDUw0qkE2kBHdvt-WPqQSsDD8P9nJLNl_unHGqXvIzsa80Wj8/s320/IMG_0125.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SKG Photo </td></tr>
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The Enchanted World of Winnie the Pooh</div>
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Moon Over Star by Dianna Huts Aston</div>
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Inside Seal Team Six by Don Mann </div>
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Gladiatrix by amy Zoll</div>
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Half World by Hiromi Goto </div>
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Conversations with Octavia Butler by Conseula Francis </div>
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The Dead by Charlie Higson</div>
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Lord of the Rings (set) by J.R.R. Tolkien </div>
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Chronicles of Narnia (set) by C.S. Lewis </div>
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<b><u>What am I reading:</u></b></div>
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I have finished Glitch,and if you have been following along you know that I didn't like it. I did finish it though I wanted to give up on it. I have also made the decision to continue on with the series, Override and then Shutdown. I am going to keep an open mind on the last two books, but I will also be honest. I am hoping that the series picks up. I am also hoping to read World War Z by Max Brooks, and White Horse by Alex Adams this month. </div>
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<b><u>What I will be reading:</u></b></div>
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Well, I have a lot of books that I want to get through, some review and some for challenges. I also will not make the mistake of depriving myself of books that I just want to read. So, <strike>stealing </strike> borrowing an idea from a video blog I follow, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/thereadables" target="_blank">The Readables</a>, I am going to choose a theme and four to five books that fall within that theme. If I am able to throw in some other ones I will, but the goal would be to make it through the four books. I decided I wanted to focus on some anthologies for the month of July. I have tons to choose from, but I'm still narrowing the list down. </div>
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<b><u>What I wish I was reading right now:</u></b></div>
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Along with the themed books, I will be concentrating on clearing my Goodreads to-read shelf. I am making progress with <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/642241.On_Photography" target="_blank">On Photography by Susan Sontag</a>. Not sure if I will continue to read it as I had been (more like a background book) or focus on it a little more to get through it quicker. I am enjoying it and it's definitely making me want to take my camera out more. But with school, and maintaining and developing this blog-well I need more time than what I've got. </div>
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<b><u>Netgalley Adds</u></b><br />
Consume by Melissa Danell</div>
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Elysian Fields by Suzanne Johnson</div>
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Thomas Quick: The Making of a Serial Killer by Hannes Rastam</div>
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Well, that's all from my desk! Leave a link or mention in the comments on what you're reading this week!!</div>
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Always Shine,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmuXtj7nO1C-XSSIFa5NPZrd1-1iSJs98mOmVLHo5KrITak9woKgGczFmblTFWPLPcc6hTRceN00u8W_Bnvf0q402Vb4tJNTOQ4RDKgx9PhBaELgke-bL3HfLb-8CUZire4RVhiqT5O8/s1600/IMG_0123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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Starr<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 22px; text-align: right;">SKG Photo taken by me, and cannot be used or copied without my express written permission</span></div>
Starr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-17282099567161626712013-06-15T11:42:00.000-04:002013-06-21T20:43:22.660-04:00Review: Glitch by Heather Anastasiu<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1326131169l/10535458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1326131169l/10535458.jpg" width="266" /></a><b>Glitch</b><b> by Heather Anastasiu</b></div>
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Glitch #1 <o:p></o:p></div>
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308 pages- Fiction,
Young Adult, Scifi/Fantasy/post-apocalyptic<o:p></o:p></div>
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August 7, 2012 <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.heatheranastasiu.com/">http://www.heatheranastasiu.com/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Facebook- Yes<o:p></o:p></div>
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Twitter-@h_Anastasiu<o:p></o:p></div>
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Source: Netgalley<o:p></o:p></div>
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Purpose: Review<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this digital galley, free, in
exchange for my honest opinion. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10535458-glitch" target="_blank">From Goodreads: </a></i></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers. </span></i><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.</span></i></div>
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What
can I say? I was very disappointed with this book. I was very excited about it,
the premise sounded new and original and exciting. The execution was fair with a
dash of mediocre. When I had read 30% (there aren’t page numbers on a Kindle) I
put the book down, and debated on giving up on it altogether. The main thing
that I hated about this story was the romance, it was juvenile and distracting.
I get that everything was new to Zoe and to the other glitchers. But it didn’t
have to read that way, so I consider it a writing flaw. First problem was, Adrien and Zoe had only
really known each other for a few hours (at the most) before they were
liplocked and in love. On top of that, within three pages (three screens on the
Kindle) they had stopped and kissed each other more than was necessary. Then
something happens with Max later, and within minutes they’re in love. Though,
he’s more in love than she is. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Usually
when the romance in a story bothers me, I try to separate it and go on with the
story. But in this case, the love triangle (which actually doesn’t completely
form til the near end) takes forefront in the story. Zoe’s path from
destination A t o destination B is travelled through the romance. The story
plot was placed on the shoulders of the interactions between Zoe and Max as
well as Zoe and Adrien. To me Zoe was a
very weak hero, and I didn’t like her. There was strength in her at the beginning
that I thought might be the redeeming factor for the book. It wasn’t because she
lost it somewhere around the third of the book. She didn’t get that back at all
in this installment. She did get some strength towards the end when the truth
and betrayals were revealed. Even then, it seemed to just appear in her
character, there wasn’t anything internal clicking in place. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Max, to
me it was obvious the role that he played. He was too hot and cold. He was
obsessive, selfish, abusive and an all-around jerk. He had nothing redeeming
about him. I was not surprised with his decision at the end. Adrien, I liked a
little bit more. Actually between all three of the main glitchers I liked
Adrien the best. He was flawed but likeable. I think a lot could have been
avoided if he was honest with someone about something being off with his gift.
There were a couple of things that I liked: I liked that there was some
diversity within the characters. I can’t
say that there was a lot, because not everyone was described. The ending (I won’t give it away) was the
best part, action and strength in the characters. I can’t say that they came
into their own. I can’t say that the ending redeemed the torturous beginning
and uncomfortable romance. I can say that I enjoyed it and I will continue to
the next book to see what happens. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2 stars **<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21px;">Always Shine, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21px;">Starr K</span></div>
Starr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-33263787028109790032013-06-09T08:30:00.000-04:002013-06-09T08:30:02.715-04:00From The Editor's Desk 6/09<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
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<b style="line-height: 1.4;"><u>Books Received </u></b></div>
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There were some good deal on some Kindle titles, so I took advantage of it! (This is actually over a three-week period.. I kind of forget to mention my Kindle titles...)</div>
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<img alt="The Song of Achilles (P.S.)" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51stYiIEMGL._SY100_.jpg" /> 1.99</div>
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The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller </div>
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<img alt="The Woodcutter" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51xnKQDtvxL._SY100_.jpg" /> 1.99</div>
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The Woodcutter by Kate Danley</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Remember The Blood" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51C9gcDcJOL._SY100_.jpg" /> .99</div>
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<img alt="Dark Matters: A Novella" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51wuV9rWidL._SY100_.jpg" /> .99</div>
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Dark Matters and Remember the Blood by Vicki Pettersson</div>
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<img alt="Bound by Guilt" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51HakHWcxAL._SY100_.jpg" /> Free!!</div>
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Bound by Guilt by C.J. Darlington</div>
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<img alt="The Homecoming Masquerade (Girls Wearing Black: Book One)" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51HfmkjQqjL._SY100_.jpg" /> Free!! </div>
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The Homecoming Masquerade by Spencer Baum </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Born (The Born Trilogy)" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Zb60yx9nL._SY100_.jpg" /> .99</div>
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Born by Tara Brown</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Cold Magic (The Spiritwalker Trilogy)" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51sOXnWa3NL._SY100_.jpg" /> 1.99</div>
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Cold Magic by Kate Elliott</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="A Blood Seduction: A Vamp City Novel (Vamp City Novels)" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51ZG4RvUwZL._SY100_.jpg" /> Free!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A Blood Seduction by Pamela Palmer </div>
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<img alt="Don't Breathe a Word: A Novel" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51JyUdjv3mL._SY100_.jpg" />1.99</div>
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Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon</div>
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<img alt="Never Knowing" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51acFUhiuIL._SY100_.jpg" />3.79</div>
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Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens </div>
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<img alt="Smart Girls Get What They Want" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51uX756DSXL._SY100_.jpg" /> 1.99<br />Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>All Images are from Amazon's website, and prices are always subject to change. </i></span></div>
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<b style="line-height: 1.4;"><u>What I am Currently Reading:</u></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Let's see, where am I at with my reading? I finished and loved Thermopylae by Paul Cartledge. I learned a lot and looking forward to reading even more by him and on the subject of Spartans in general. I then picked up The Enemy by Charlie Higson, I had started it a long time ago but it kept getting pushed aside. Well- finally- I finished it. Not only that, I finished writing the review of it! Now, I just need to get it typed up and prettified for the blog :). Now I am slowly getting back into the swing of reviewing, so my first review book is <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10535458-glitch" target="_blank">Glitch by Heather Anastasiu</a>. So far, it's a little on the dry side. I just started reading it last night. I'm hoping it picks up, I have book 2 for review and I'm participating in a blog tour for book 3. If nothing else, it's got an interesting premise. </span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><u>What I will be reading:</u></b></div>
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When I finish Glitch I will be moving on to Override (book 2) and then Shutdown (book 3). After that, we'll see where my reading mood takes me. </div>
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<b style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><u>What I wish I was reading right now:</u></b></div>
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I would like to clean up my currently reading shelf on Goodreads, books that I've started but have yet to finish for one reason or another. There are a couple of series that I want to get back into and finish up, as well as series that I want to start. But I'm good with the material I'm reading through now and I like being able to randomly pick what I read. I will get through everything eventually. </div>
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<b><u>Netgalley Adds</u></b><br />
I've been approved for a few titles worth mentioning (some that may jump ahead on the reading pile.)</div>
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The Enchanter Heir by Cinda Williams Chima (it's sad that I forgot I owned the first three in this series until I was approved for this title.)</div>
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Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken (Darkest Minds 2)</div>
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Along Came a Spider by Kate SeRine (Transplanted Tales 3) </div>
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Fear Has a Name by Creston Mapes</div>
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Ready to Die by Lisa Jackson (I Love Her!)</div>
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Qurantine 2: The Saints by Lex Thomas (I have been waiting on this title for a year!! It's moving up!)</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Well, that's all from my desk! Leave a link or mention in the comments what you're reading this week!!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Always Shine,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Starr</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">SKG Photo taken by me, and cannot be used or copied without my express written permission. </span><br />
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Starr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-58477029697234323582013-06-08T20:25:00.001-04:002013-06-08T20:25:27.678-04:00Short Story Saturday 6/08: Watch the Cow Note: This actually used to be a regular feature, but it fell away like so many other things. But I'm bring it back like a couple of other things!!<br />
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Watch the Cow by Alex Ivine <div>
Source: <a href="http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/" target="_blank">Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine </a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What is it about?</b></div>
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<i><b> </b>This is the story of a father who discovers that his kids can no longer see. This blind phenomenon is something that happens to 2 million kids around the world. He knows the person responsible for this accident and believes that they are the only ones who can fix things. But some changes are permanent. </i></div>
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It's really hard to talk about a short story without giving too much away. Especially with short stories that stand alone and are not considered novellas. But I will try. I found this story interesting, mainly because there were so many layers, and for its length it was pretty deep. The kids who are affected by the blindness are okay with it, they have lost their sight but they have also gained something. This happens because of science research gone wrong. The same cannot be said of the adults, who are freaking out and trying to find someone to blame. In all of the stories of what the adults are doing, only two people are said to be trying to figure out a way to fix it. Of those two, one is the person who caused the accident and the other is the main character. He is the father of two of the children and he sees the difference in the kids reactions and adult reactions. He understands that in the end this may have caused a whole generation of kids that are now on a higher level of awareness. But he also recognizes that this may not necessarily be a good thing. </div>
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This makes me think of what my world would be like if I lost any of my five senses. If I could choose (choice definitely changes things) I would like to keep my sight and sense of touch since I am a writer and a photographer. But my sense of hearing I could lose and be okay with. I took ASL in college so I know more about the Deaf culture and though there are differences, they seemed to make up for the inability of hearing with other things. </div>
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What do you think the world would be like if children collectively went blind? If you could lose one sense, what would it be?</div>
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See you next Saturday!!</div>
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Always Shine, </div>
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Starr K</div>
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Starr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-47490797783396665042013-05-26T23:53:00.002-04:002013-05-26T23:53:59.332-04:00From the Editor's Desk: Wait you mean you want reviews?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="line-height: 1.4;"><u>Books Received </u></b></div>
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Purchased: </div>
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Out of this Silent Planet and That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis </div>
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The Tolkiien Reader by J.R.R. Tolkien</div>
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The Essential C.S. Lewis edited by Lyle W. Dorsett</div>
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The Road by Cormac McCarthy </div>
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Earth, Song, Spirit edited by Clifford E. Trafzer</div>
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The Curious Incident of the Dog int he Night-Time by Mark Haddon</div>
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The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights by John Steinbeck </div>
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<b style="line-height: 1.4;"><u>What I am Currently Reading:</u></b></div>
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I am almost finished with the <i>Thermopylae </i> book. Right now, I am in appendix I. Usually I don't read the preface or appendix, but there is such a wealth of information, that I really couldn't help myself. I am also reading <i>The Enemy</i>, in an attempt to clean up my currently reading shelf on Goodreads. I started it, but obligations (reading and life) got in the way. Plus I was suffering through a bout of book ADD. </div>
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<b><u>What I will be reading:</u></b><br /><div style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
I honestly don't know what I will be reading next. I wanted to read the books on my currently reading shelf before trying to tackle anymore books, but I was offered an opportunity to participate in a tour for a book that I really want to read so I couldn't pass it up. I guess if I had more of a structure than I wouldn't take so long reading one book, on the other hand, I'm trying to relax the pressure in my reading and reviewing. So not knowing could be a very good thing. </div>
<br /><b><u>What I wish I was reading right now:</u></b><br /><div style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
I guess this isn't about what I wish I was reading, but doing. I wish that i was posting more reviews. I have some written and ready to be typed up, but I keep forgetting about them. So, that is my goal this week- get three reviews posted. Some of them are long overdue, and some are recent waiting on me to finalize my thoughts. But I will do them, please don't let me forget. </div>
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<b><u>Netgalley Adds</u></b></div>
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Viral Nation by Shaunta Grimes </div>
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Awaken by Meg Cabot </div>
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A Study in Silks by Emma Jane Holloway</div>
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Well, that's all from my desk! Leave a link or mention in the comments what you're reading this week!!<br /><br />Always Shine,<br />Starr</div>
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Starr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-47721274231239260892013-05-22T12:11:00.001-04:002013-05-22T12:11:13.809-04:00From the Editor's Desk: Reading Update<div class="article-header" style="display: table; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center; width: 750px;">
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Yes, I know this is late. But at least it's here! Baby steps...<br /><br /><br /><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="line-height: 1.4;"><u>Books Received </u></b></div>
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I purchased The Illiad by Homer</div>
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Falling Under by Gwen Hayes </div>
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Farewell Summer by Ray Bradbury</div>
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Soul Eater by Michelle Paver </div>
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and a C.S. Lewis book along with a Chronicles of Narnia Reader</div>
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<b style="line-height: 1.4;"><u>What I am Currently Reading:</u></b></div>
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Shortly after posting this last week, I realized that I was in a reading funk. I had a stack of library books out that I really wanted to read. At the same time, it felt like a chore to get through the stack and my mood was changing. I had finished Lord's book and loved it. Then I picked up <i>Things Fall Apart, </i>while I was interested in reading I was engaged in it. </div>
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So I did the only thing I could think of, made sure all of the books were added to my Goodreads list and talked it out with a book friend. After talking it out, I figured out I was in the mood for some nonfiction stuff, stuff that would turn out to be relevant to my WIP. I wanted to find out what a regular person a hero, what caused people to run towards danger instead of away from it. I also wanted to increase my literary knowledge. So I grabbed a couple of books and started reading them and wow, I'm excited once again about what's on my reading pile. I am currently reading <i>Thermopylae: The Battle that Changed the World.</i> This tells the story about the 300 Spartans. I am almost finished with the actually story part of the book, but there are a couple of appendix pieces that I want to read and I will be looking at the bibliography and further reading section to grab my next book about the Spartans. Yes I am fascinated with them</div>
<b style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><u>What I will be reading:</u></b><br style="background-color: white;" /><div style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
Well, I am attempting to keep my reading constantly diversified so as to avoid the slump again, so I will be cleaning up my Goodreads <i>currently-reading </i> shelf. I will also be diving into the Galdiatrix book that keeps staring at me. This is the story about the female gladiator skeleton that was found. I believe that this was also a special on the Discovery Channel. </div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><b style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><u>What I wish I was reading right now:</u></b><br style="background-color: white;" /><div style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
I'm pretty content with what I'm reading and will be reading. </div>
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<b><u>Netgalley Adds</u></b></div>
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Under the Empyrean Sky by Chuck Wendig </div>
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The Judgment Stone by Robert Liparulo </div>
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Spartan Front by Jennifer Estep</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Well, that's all from my desk! Leave a link or mention in the comments what you're reading this week!!</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Always Shine,</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Starr</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SKG Photo taken by me, and cannot be used or copied without my express written permission. </span></div>
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Starr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-83301145356643757822013-05-12T18:52:00.001-04:002013-05-12T18:52:31.271-04:00From the Editor's Desk: Doing Things My Way <br />
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Okay, so this whole weekly thing has really turned into a whenever I remember it kind of thing. Not on purpose, but between my insane work and school things and actually trying to read, it's kind of hard. Especially when the books I'm reading are turning more disappointing by the minute. (Though <i>Redemption in Indigo</i> was awesome!) But it's May, and I've been looking again at the goals that I set back in January. Some of them I'm actually pretty close to achieving, and well some of them are not. I am currently 4 books ahead on my Goodreads challenge ( I was going to aim for a crazy high number but decided to build on the number of books actually completed last year. It's more motivating if you surpass something rather than miss it slightly.) I am a couple steps closer to making the big home purchase, and I and 4 classes closer to getting my degree. I am behind on ALL of my reading challenges (Diversity, Banned, Netgalley, etc) and I am behind on my blogging goals (two reviews a week plus the weekly Editor's Desk). But hey, I'm working on it- now. New classes start tomorrow and I'm hoping they won't dominate all of my time, but we'll see.<br /><br /><br /><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="line-height: 1.4;"><u>Books Received </u></b></div>
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At some point I said i wasn't going to buy anymore books until I have cleared some off my bookshelves and I failed at that. I tried it again, and failed -again. Then I said i wasn't going to buy anymore until I found a new job - failed at that too. So while I have purchased books sporadically there are too many too mention, plus I don't remember what was presented in my last "Books Received". But some books that I have recently (used in a relative term) and that I'm really excited about: </div>
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The Game by Barry Lyga (I Hunt Killers #2) </div>
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Wash by Margaret Winkler</div>
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Dante Valentine: The Complete Series by Lilith Saintcrow. </div>
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<b style="line-height: 1.4;"><u>What I am Currently Reading:</u></b></div>
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I just started <i>The Best of All Possible Worlds</i> by Karen Lord. I'm really looking forward to getting into this world and story. Books and I have not been agreeing lately. I read and was disappointed with <i>The Hunt</i>, but the last sentence made me go ahead and check out <i> The Prey</i>. The issue brought up by the last sentence of the first book was quickly and immediately resolved in the second book. After that, I felt that it was going to be as bad as the first one, so I returned it to the library and moved it to my DNF shelf on Goodreads. Next was a book I read for a blog tour, and I can't really tell you how pissed the book made me. ( I haven't posted the review and it's not really a priority anymore, but when I do post it (soon) you will understand. But then I picked up <i>Redemption in Indigo</i> by Karen Lord and I have to say that I have found a new favorite author. The review for that will be posted soon. Since I was so pleased with that and thought I should throw in a review title, I opted for <i> The Best of All Possible Worlds</i>. I'm excited and praying the good books will keep coming my way.</div>
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<b style="background-color: white;"><u>What I will be reading:</u></b><br style="background-color: white;" /><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
After Lord's book I will go back to my Library stack and work through that, starting with Chinua Achebe's <i>Things Fall Apart</i>. </div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><b style="background-color: white;"><u>What I wish I was reading right now:</u></b><br style="background-color: white;" /><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
I wish that I had a few more review books on the pile, and it's my fault that they're not. Darby Karchut's books are burning a hole through me because I REALLY want to read them. But with school getting crazy, I decided to take a break from books that I had promised to review. So I went to the library and got some books that had been on my list for a while. If something moves me to write a full review than I will and if not, oh well. Reading for the pleasure of reading is by far so much more fun than just about anything. So I gave myself til June to read things for me and me alone. By then my summer courses will be halfway over, I'm hoping to have a new job that allows me to be somewhat normal, and that should make resuming my regular blogging activities much easier. You may have noticed in an earlier post I will also be changing the way that I write my reviews and that's gonna start immediately. I love having conversations about books and that is what I am going to use this blog for, to conversate. Join in the discussion however you like. </div>
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<b><u>Netgalley Adds</u></b></div>
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A few worth mentioning: </div>
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All Our Pretty Songs by Sarah Mccarry </div>
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Soul Stripper by Katana Collins</div>
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Shadow Train by J. Gabriel Gates and Charlene Keel (this is going to call for a re-read and I am totally okay with that!) </div>
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Hot Blooded by Amanda Carlson</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Well, that's all from my desk! Leave a link or mention in the comments what you're reading this week!!</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Always Shine,</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Starr</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">
SKG Photo taken by me, and cannot be used or copied without my express written permission. </div>
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Starr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-787192960643146802013-05-07T12:35:00.003-04:002013-05-07T12:37:10.203-04:00From the Editor's Desk: Thoughts on reviews <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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I have been thinking about the way that I write up my reviews, and the way that I talk about the books I've read. And there's a big difference. I am not sure if anyone else is like this, so I thought that I'd put it out there. When I am writing a review I try to be fair to the author, knowing that they have put in a lot of time and energy to bring their baby to life. (Although, I have read some haphazard books that would have been a lot better if the author had spent a little bit more time with it). I find that if I make it through the book I tend to give it an extra star for that alone. I hardly give out one star reviews, the only bonus being that I made it to the end. Is it doing the author any justice if I am nice in my negative reviews if in reality I am seething for wasting my time with that book? I have just now created a DNF list on my goodreads and have convinced myself that it's truly okay to use it. I have 5 bookcases of my own books, a very packed Kindle and a stack of library books that scream at me to use the DNF shelf more often.<br />
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I understand that there is a need to be somewhat professional on my personal blog, since I interact with publishers and authors and readers here. But, on the other hand reading is a very personal thing. That's why there are books that are genuinely excellent books, but I still find that I don't like them. Those are what I call the "not for me" books. But when I read books where it seems that the author didn't care enough about the craft or the audience, it makes me angry. Angry because I wasted my time, and angry because if my review simply says "This book sucks" I am the one who stands to get the whiplash for it. If the author has not taken their readers into consideration, why should I take them into consideration when writing my review. </div>
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I guess I know the answer, but just wanted to vent. I just finished a book and the only thing I can say is that it sucks. I can't review the potential of it because it still may fall short. I can make suggestions, but in all honesty it's not my job - I'm the reader. I also write so I know and understand that role. But I also have readers in my life that will stop me at each phase and say "this sucks" when I need to hear it. Yes, they have more tact than that. But, I don't. I will be changing the way that I write my reviews so that they mirror the way that I actually talk about the books in person. I promise to not casually say something sucks, but I am no longer going out of my way to try to find a positive spin on books I don't like. If I lose followers because of that, okay. If I lose offers to review books from publishers or authors, okay. But maybe, just maybe, authors will start considering the audience a little and respecting the craft a little more. << This does not include all authors and there is no difference in self -published or traditionally published. Both sides requires writers to work their hardest to present the best story they possibly can. Traditionally published authors just aren't offered as many shortcuts to the publishing aspect as self-published authors. That is why I want all authors to respect the craft of writing. </div>
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Always Shine, </div>
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Starr K<br />
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Starr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-6186830965194835582013-05-02T09:15:00.000-04:002013-05-02T09:15:13.295-04:00Review: The Hunt<br />
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<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344174064l/10913887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344174064l/10913887.jpg" width="252" /></a><b>The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The Hunt #1<o:p></o:p></div>
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May 8, 2012 – St.
Martin’s Griffin <o:p></o:p></div>
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293 pages –Yong Adult,
Fiction, Paranormal/Fantasy<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.andrewfukuda.com/">http://www.andrewfukuda.com/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Facebook: Yes<o:p></o:p></div>
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Twitter:
@AndrewFukuda<o:p></o:p></div>
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Source: Louisville
Free Public Library <o:p></o:p></div>
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Purpose: Fun Read<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10913887-the-hunt" target="_blank">From Goodreads:</a></b></div>
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<b> </b><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i>Don’t Sweat. Don’t Laugh. Don’t draw attention to yourself. And most of all, whatever you do, do not fall in love with one of them.</i></strong></div>
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Gene is different from everyone else around him. He can’t run with lightning speed, sunlight doesn’t hurt him and he doesn’t have an unquenchable lust for blood. Gene is a human, and he knows the rules. Keep the truth a secret. It’s the only way to stay alive in a world of night—a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for their blood. </span></i><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">When he’s chosen for a once in a lifetime opportunity to hunt the last remaining humans, Gene’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble around him. He’s thrust into the path of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible—and into a ruthless pack of hunters whose suspicions about his true nature are growing. Now that Gene has finally found something worth fighting for, his need to survive is stronger than ever—but is it worth the cost of his humanity?</span></i><i><br /></i><div class="MsoNormal">
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<b>My thoughts: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The
ending changed the rating for this read. I had been looking forward to finally
being able to read this that maybe my expectations were too high. In the beginning it was excruciatingly slow. I understand that there has to be world
building, but there wasn’t a lot to it. The earth as we know doesn’t exist. It’s
a lot more barren and everyone comes alive at night. The sun is deadly; humans
are hepers and what we know as vampires are considered people. Don’t get me wrong, this was a completely
original take on the vampire myth, and there were some changes that needed to
be understood so the story was more believable. There had to be a way for Gene to survive so
long and go undetected. I get it, but that part just didn’t hold my attention. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I was
preparing myself for a DNF read (something I used to not ever do but with my
current stash of library books and overflowing bookshelves, I’ve accepted I
need to do), and then… the story picked up. It got a little bit more interesting.
I can’t say that I liked any of the
characters, and I can’t say that I didn’t like them. Honestly I wasn’t moved
one way or the other. I am not sure if I care what happens to the hepers, the
last of the known hepers live in a bubble protected. They will be released for
the hunt and they have been given weapons to make it more interesting. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Ashley
June, there’s definitely something not right about her. Is she cold and
calculating or has she be conditioned to be that way? Gene, with everything that’s going on and has
happened, I can’t understand how he survived for so long. What makes him so
important? <o:p></o:p></div>
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In the
end, everything is not as it seems. And
this is what makes me continue to read. I
have to know what is really going on. My
response to the end of the book: What?! < This is why I’m continuing the
series and hoping for some answers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>2 Stars ** <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Always Shine, <o:p></o:p></div>
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Starr K<o:p></o:p></div>
Starr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-68862046722721765062013-04-27T09:40:00.000-04:002013-04-27T09:40:42.983-04:00Book Tour: Review and Contest<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEPmTmoKYUjIODsLNnCFb2NSsV8Z2gEFPKxSNES2OR6fMgFKfdR8j7lZ14VijOqVLn8K0mrQnvfxXR8E8gfI5TtdWvjmXtRpulY2lJSVMImc2bxuSE9rY648xVO4h2xrUdzGMDa8Lyf8/s1600/Echo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEPmTmoKYUjIODsLNnCFb2NSsV8Z2gEFPKxSNES2OR6fMgFKfdR8j7lZ14VijOqVLn8K0mrQnvfxXR8E8gfI5TtdWvjmXtRpulY2lJSVMImc2bxuSE9rY648xVO4h2xrUdzGMDa8Lyf8/s320/Echo.jpg" width="207" /></a><b>Echo by Alicia Wright Brewster<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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291 pages – Fiction,
Young Adult, Science Fiction<o:p></o:p></div>
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April 25, 2013 –Dragonfairy
Press<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.aliciawb.com/">http://www.aliciawb.com/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Facebook: Yes<o:p></o:p></div>
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Twitter:
@aliciawbrewster<o:p></o:p></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.xpressobooktours.com/" target="_blank">Xpresso Book Tours</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Purpose: Review <o:p></o:p></div>
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Disclaimer: <i> A
copy of this galley was given to me, free, in exchange for my honest opinion<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13445008-echo" target="_blank">FromGoodreads:</a><span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> <i>The
countdown clock reads ten days until the end of the world. The citizens are
organized. Everyone's been notified and assigned a duty. The problem is . . .
no one knows for sure how it will end.</i></span><i> Energy-hungry Mages are the most
likely culprit. They travel toward a single location from every corner of the
continent. Fueled by the two suns, each Mage holds the power of an element:
air, earth, fire, metal, water, or ether. They harness their powers to draw
energy from the most readily available resource: humans. Ashara has been
assigned to the Ethereal task force, made up of human ether manipulators and
directed by Loken, a young man with whom she has a complicated past. Loken and
Ashara bond over a common goal: to stop the Mages from occupying their home and
gaining more energy than they can contain. But soon, they begin to suspect that
the future of the world may depend on Ashara's death.</i><i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<b>My Thoughts:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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First, I
have to say that the cover is awesome! What can I say? This was an amazing
read. It does take a little while to start hitting the key points. So long that
I was beginning to think that I was going to hate the ending –thinking that it
would be rushed or cut off. There is really only one word to describe the
ending –perfect. I have to say that
despite my doubts, I was completely satisfied with the ending. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I
really liked the Ashara, Loken and Rey. I liked Krin in the beginning, but I
was disappointed in her at the end. I get it, I really do, but I guess I
expected more from her. I was definitely interested in this world and how it
all worked from the beginning. My only
complaint, and it is a small one, would be that there wasn’t enough sensory
details when it came to the setting. That
made it difficult for me to visualize so
I ended up inserting what was familiar to me. There were some areas that this
didn’t apply, but as an overall thing I wanted more sensory. As far as the characters, most had some
distinctive features and all of the primary characters had distinct voices. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Moving on to the actual story. . .I
had a very hard time putting this book down. Even with the doubts about the
ending, I couldn’t stop reading. Even though
the mystery was slowly unraveled (some may say that it had a nice even pace) I
had to have more. In a book world where we want everything now and then
complain it all happened too fast, Brewster’s timing was near perfect! (Just
because I can acknowledge the problem doesn’t mean I’m not going to be
impatient…)There were enough given to keep you interested in what was <i>really</i> going on without distracting you
from the action. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The action and interactions between
the characters were at times filled with tension and at other times filled with
warmth. This made me really care about what was going to happen to them, I was
able to connect with them emotionally.
There was humor, romance, mystery and the unique role of magic. I am so
happy to see the tension between faith and science in this work. This is
something that could have gone horribly horribly wrong, but it worked out so
well. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The ending was my favorite
part. After everything I witnessed on
the journey to such a pivotal moment, it was nice not to be let down. I was
holding my breath right along with the characters (ok so I may have been alone
on that one, but still). The ending was
completely satisfying, and while there was a mere suggestion of things to come,
I would be completely okay if it stopped here. It was full and satisfying, but
I wouldn’t hesitate to revisit this world if given the chance. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">5 stars *****<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b>A 2013 favorite<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d04251129/" id="rc-d04251129" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>
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<br /></div>
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Always Shine, <o:p></o:p></div>
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Starr K<o:p></o:p></div>
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Starr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-22216166844773657702013-04-26T15:19:00.002-04:002013-04-26T15:19:29.731-04:00Congratulations!!! The Shifting Selves Contest Winner Announced<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Congratulations to:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Spirit of the Phoenix!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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I am sorry that the announcement is late, but the contest closed at 8pm on Wednesday. An email has been sent to the winner, and of course if there is no response within 24 hours another winner will be chosen. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Thanks to everyone who entered, please check back again for future contests!</span></div>
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Always Shine, </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Starr K</div>
Starr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-50347359024978067652013-04-17T18:50:00.000-04:002013-04-19T04:56:20.714-04:00Promo: Excerpt and Giveaway- Shifting Selves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Today's Headline News Feature:</span></b></div>
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Keep reading for an excerpt and a chance to win a copy of both books and some awesome swag!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5xYi9YoBaZuVc34synPJ_DgBwKN5RgiUJClVqa3G54Ax83U_QtfZnhY9fe_-rjIdT_c7Fiyzr5qztpLDVnkqJhxcD-eC2pM6GmvWGNgh6uu0K9IflZI4D92Dnety-qTehcoS5A25YSI/s1600/ShiftingSelvesCVRsmall.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5xYi9YoBaZuVc34synPJ_DgBwKN5RgiUJClVqa3G54Ax83U_QtfZnhY9fe_-rjIdT_c7Fiyzr5qztpLDVnkqJhxcD-eC2pM6GmvWGNgh6uu0K9IflZI4D92Dnety-qTehcoS5A25YSI/s400/ShiftingSelvesCVRsmall.jpeg" width="261" /></a></div>
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<b>Shifting selves by Mia Marshall</b></div>
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Elements #2 </div>
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342 pages - Fiction, Urban Fantasy </div>
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April 16,2013 - Match Books</div>
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<a href="http://miamarshall.com/" target="_blank">http://miamarshall.com/</a></div>
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Facebook: Yes</div>
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Twitter: @miamarshalled</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16368470-shifting-selves" target="_blank">From Goodreads</a>: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i>Aidan Brook's world was shattered when the actions of a brutal murderer revealed long-buried secrets about her past--secrets even she didn't know. A powerful elemental, Aidan discovered she possesses the wrong kind of magic. It's a secret that could cost her sanity—or even her life. </i></span><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">What she needs is some peace and quiet. What she gets is a phone call from a division of the FBI so secret it doesn’t even have a name, asking for her help with a series of shifter disappearances.</span></i></div>
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Before Aidan can settle into a new routine of pancakes and evenings by the fire, the case develops claws. She quickly finds herself caught between uptight bears, deadly mountain lions, overprotective parents, and unhappy federal agents. Throw in a stalled romance with an enigmatic shifter and the slow dissolution of her chosen family, and it’s hard to say which will drive her mad first: her magic, or her chaotic life.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b>Excerpt: </b></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 120%; text-indent: 0.25in;">I moved my magic through the water that
undulated at the end of James’s trail, seeking an explanation for its abrupt
disappearance.</span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 120%;">There it was. It was the smallest hint,
the quickest dip of human flesh reaching out to help another. “He got into a
boat, and he </span><span style="line-height: 19px;">wasn't</span><span style="line-height: 120%;"> alone.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Will nodded at me once, a short
acknowledgement of gratitude, then rounded on his other son. “Brandon, let’s
have some words.” He stalked far away from the rest of us, leaving his son to
follow dismally behind him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Above me, I caught a flicker of movement
as Simon shifted back into cat form and raced silently along the branches,
looking for a good spot downwind to eavesdrop. He might lack any skill with
weaponry beyond his own sharp claws, but there was a reason we called him our
ninja.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 120%;">I sat on the shore and waited. Mac, I
realized, was watching me, might have been watching me the entire time. “I </span><span style="line-height: 19px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 120%;"> know you could do that,” he said quietly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 120%;">I should have ignored him. I should have
offered a polite answer. I should have done a whole lot of things other than
flirt with the man who’d spent the last several weeks avoiding the crazy
half-fire chick. I should have accepted that he </span><span style="line-height: 19px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 120%;"> want me and my bonfire
full of baggage, and it was time to move on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">I've</span><span style="line-height: 120%;"> never been very good with </span><span style="line-height: 19px;">shoulds</span><span style="line-height: 120%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Instead of letting him go, I smiled and
let my eyes fill with vague, silent promises. “There’s a lot you don’t know
about me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I swore his breath hitched in his chest
for just a moment. It was enough. I felt warmth thread through my body, heating
my cheeks, dropping through the core where the magic lived and heading even
lower.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 120%;">“Aidan.” Brandon’s voice snapped me back
to the present. He walked toward us slowly, his father’s disappointed gaze on
him the entire time. Brandon looked dejected and, for a moment, far younger
than his years. I imagined that whatever his father had wanted to know, the
interrogation </span><span style="line-height: 19px;">hadn't</span><span style="line-height: 120%;"> been pleasant. “There’s no one around. Could you make it
rain now?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I was unable to resist his pathetic
expression, the face of a kid who just wanted something pleasant to wash away
his doubt and pain. I quickly wrapped my magic around the water hovering in the
air and, for good measure, pulled some from the lake as well. I let it circle
above us before dropping slowly, drenching the three of us in a cold shower I
knew at least one of us desperately needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p>This is what you could win: </o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHF0kSpXT6aNeM-pJO5UZ8SUqoz4pzmXlnEX6Vq7uGSP7C46MY6BCfttvXHpDentnw3ebvDjALHVo8gnE5Faf6k-tfFE4rpe3jpIOsBkORQTIT76PT54QC6I47NI87y5ZD79hMBuU7XBg/s1600/SwagBag1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHF0kSpXT6aNeM-pJO5UZ8SUqoz4pzmXlnEX6Vq7uGSP7C46MY6BCfttvXHpDentnw3ebvDjALHVo8gnE5Faf6k-tfFE4rpe3jpIOsBkORQTIT76PT54QC6I47NI87y5ZD79hMBuU7XBg/s320/SwagBag1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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(plus and aluminum water bottle -not pictured)!</div>
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<b>How to enter:</b></div>
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It's easy, leave your answer in the comments with an email address!</div>
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What kind of magical power would you want, if you could choose? What would be a perk and a drawback?<br />
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<b>Contest will close at 8:00 pm on Wednesday April 23, 2013</b></div>
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Good luck!!!</div>
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Always Shine, </div>
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Starr K</div>
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<br /></div>
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Starr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976957055131451769.post-82805795822478666372013-04-04T12:34:00.001-04:002013-04-04T12:34:38.925-04:00Phoebe Pope and the Year of the Four Blitz + GiveawayHave you ever read a book that surprised you with its awesomeness? Have you read something that was a little more than what you expected? Well, let me introduce you to one of those books: <i>Phoebe Pope and the Year of the Four</i> by Nya Jade.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Phoebe</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"> </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Pope</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"> and the Year of Four by Nya Jade</span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Series: A Shapers Novel #1</span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Publication date: October 30th 2012 </span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">by Dreamwell Publishing</span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Genre: YA Paranormal</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.nyajade.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" target="_blank">http://www.nyajade.<wbr></wbr>com/</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6556613.Nya_Jade" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></span></div>
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Facebook: yes </div>
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Twitter: @TheNyaJade</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Synopsis:</b><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">The students of Green Lane Academy roam their halls unaware that below their manicured campus exists a prestigious school of an entirely different kind . . .</span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Sixteen-year-old </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Phoebe</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"> </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Pope</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"> has enrolled at the Campus Below: a spy academy for shape-shifters hidden deep beneath the grounds of a boarding school whose humans unknowingly protect it. There, thanks to a carefully planned schedule, she leads a double life: spy trainee Below and normal teenager Above.</span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">As if two course loads, concealing a secret power she alone wields, and coping with her father’s recent death weren’t enough,</span><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Phoebe</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"> finds herself developing major feelings for actor and teen heartthrob Colten Chase, who attends the Campus Above and appears to be majoring in winning </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Phoebe</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">’s heart. But when officials learn that </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Phoebe</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"> may be at the center of a startling prophecy, she becomes the target of shape-shifting assassins who will stop at nothing to suppress the truth.</span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Now </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Phoebe</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">’s lessons about Shaper’s enemies and spycraft take on great importance as a menace stalks the campus, with </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Phoebe</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">as its target. Meanwhile, what began as an unlikely relationship with Colten, quickly morphs into heartache when she suspects that something sinister lurks beneath this movie star’s glitter and fame. Suddenly, </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Phoebe</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">’s caught in a mesh of lies, betrayals, and danger where she doesn’t know who to trust, and needs to rely on herself—and her secret power—to get to the truth and to stay alive.</span></i></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fZ2kqhsVlVg" width="560"></iframe>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d04251122/" id="rc-d04251122" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>
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<b>Bonus Material: </b></div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Singer-songwriter and debut author, Nya Jade, discusses three quotes from authors of books she loves</span>.</div>
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Thank you for hosting me today and featuring my book trailer! I hope your wonderful readers enjoy watching it.</div>
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I love inspiring quotes. When designing my new website, I decided to dedicate a section to some of my favorite quotes from authors. I thought it would be fun to highlight a few of them and tell you why they spoke to me.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">“</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">We, and I think I’m speaking for many writers, don’t know what it is that sometimes comes to make our books alive. All we can do is to write dutifully and day after day, every day, giving our work the very best of what we are capable. I don’t think that we can consciously put the magic in; it doesn’t work that way. When the magic comes, it’s a gift.”</span></div>
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—Madeleine L’Engle, (A Wrinkle in Time)</div>
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I really savor the moment when a great idea falls into my lap. Sometimes I wish they would fall like a hail storm. But I probably wouldn't appreciate them as much if they did. There's nothing like writing and getting that oh-my-God-this-is-working feeling. And I know that feeling only registers on the "magical moment radar" because of all of the agonizing what-the-hell-am-I-doing hours that came before it. So when that gift comes, I accept it gratefully.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">"The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips and spreads like wildfire."</span></div>
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—Malcolm Gladwell, (<span style="font-style: italic;">The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference</span>)</div>
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Can you imagine creating something - a book, a song, a movement - that hits that magical tipping point? We're all creators. And I think we should try to imagine our own personal tipping point. I say "personal tipping point" because it doesn't have to be grand (unless that's what you want). It could simply be that moment when someone other than a friend, or a relative, buys your book or your painting. That moment could very well be the spark that creates the wildfire! </div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becom</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">es a master.</span></div>
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—Ernest Hemingway (<span style="font-style: italic;">A Farewell To Arms</span>)</div>
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This quote from Hemingway has given me a sense of ease. We all strive to do the best we can with whatever talents we have. Some are innate and others are acquired along the way. The fact that a Nobel Prize winner in literature, considered himself an apprentice—and not a master—in his craft, gives me permission to just enjoy the creative process. This thing called writing is dynamic and will continue to evolve. At this moment in time, I'm grateful for the opportunity to be an apprentice.</div>
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Thank you again for today's feature. I appreciate the opportunity!</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Nya</div>
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This book is awesome! Yes you should read it! Yes I am waiting for the next installment!!!</div>
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Always Shine, </div>
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Starr K</div>
Starr Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00617802298680632466noreply@blogger.com0