Book Of The Month: September

Book Of The Month is a monthly meme hosted here, at Lost In A Book!  It is where you can show the book that you are most looking forward to coming out during the current month, or your favorite book that has been previously published during the month.

Want to join?  I'd love it!  All you have to do is grab the button and link back here!

My Book of the month:

Goliath

Alek and Deryn are on the last leg of their round-the-world quest to end World War I, reclaim Alek’s throne as prince of Austria, and finally fall in love. The first two objectives are complicated by the fact that their ship, the Leviathan, continues to detour farther away from the heart of the war (and crown). And the love thing would be a lot easier if Alek knew Deryn was a girl. (She has to pose as a boy in order to serve in the British Air Service.) And if they weren’t technically enemies. The tension thickens as the Leviathan steams toward New York City with a homicidal lunatic on board: secrets suddenly unravel, characters reappear, and nothing is at it seems in this thunderous conclusion to Scott Westerfeld’s brilliant trilogy.

As I know I have said before, I am avidly awaiting the release of this book, which is the twentieth of this month!  I've got it pre-ordered, and it can't come soon enough!

Waiting On Wednesday (2)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine

What I'm waiting for:

Tuesdays at Castle Glower are Princess Celie's favorite days. That's because on Tuesdays the castle adds a new room, a turret, or sometimes even an entire wing. No one ever knows what the castle will do next, and no one-other than Celie, that is-takes the time to map out the new additions. But when King and Queen Glower are ambushed and their fate is unknown, it's up to Celie, with her secret knowledge of the castle's never-ending twists and turns, to protect their home and save their kingdom. This delightful book from a fan- and bookseller-favorite kicks off a brand-new series sure to become a modern classic.

Why I'm waiting:

I absolutely adore, love, and any other synonym to love, Jessica Day George's books.  This is her first childrens novel (all of her others are YA).

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Schulman

Elizabeth has a new job at an unusual library— a lending library of objects, not books. In a secret room in the basement lies the Grimm Collection. That’s where the librarians lock away powerful items straight out of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales: seven-league boots, a table that produces a feast at the blink of an eye, Snow White’s stepmother’s sinister mirror that talks in riddles.

When the magical objects start to disappear, Elizabeth embarks on a dangerous quest to catch the thief before she can be accused of the crime—or captured by the thief.

Polly Shulman has created a contemporary fantasy with a fascinating setting and premise, starring an ordinary girl whose after-school job is far from ordinary— and leads to a world of excitement, romance and magical intrigue.


I won this book from Bookshop Talk, and had low expectations for it.  Sure, it sounded like my kind of book, but something about it just put me off.  In fact, I probably wouldn't have read it if I had not won it.

And that, would be a big miss.  Because this book is amazing.  It is an entirely fresh look at the world of fairy-tales, with adventure and romance.  I mean, come on?  Who wouldn't want to work at a library where you can check out historical items, especially magical items.  Even us book lovers can't say that isn't awesome.

Elizabeth starts working at an odd library...And it gets even odder when she learns that there is a secret floor full of magical items.  But  when items start going missing or loosing there magical powers, it's up to her, her new friends, and a co-worker whom she hates to get the magical items back.

I would recommend this book to lovers of fairy-tale, adventure, romance, action, and magic.

I give this book a 5/5.

Entwined by Heather Dixon

In the half-magical world of Eathesbury, Azalea is the oldest of 12 daughters and heir to her father�s throne. When the sisters� mother dies after a long illness, the siblings find a hidden passageway to an enchanted pavilion under the castle where they can dance all night, secretly breaking the rules of mourning. The mysterious and alluring Keeper makes this possible, but he also seems to have less-than-honorable plans for the girls, especially Azalea. The tale�s atmosphere becomes increasingly dark and brooding as the truth from ages past comes out, and Azalea realizes just what evil they are pitted against. With several unexpected twists, the story, based on the original Grimms� tale �The Worn-Out Dancing Shoes,� plunges toward a harrowing conclusion. This first novel is richly imagined with a gothic feel, and Dixon�s descriptions of the many dances are thrilling. Although the general story line will be familiar to readers of Jessica Day George�s Princess of the Midnight Ball (2009), this romantic fantasy is darker in tone, and the villain resembles the faeries in Nancy Werlin�s Impossible (2008) and O. R. Melling�s The Hunter�s Moon (2005). The story gracefully explores significant themes of grief and loss, mercy and love. Full of mystery, lush settings, and fully orbed characters, Dixon�s debut is both suspenseful and rewarding.

This book was beautiful.  If I was going to judge a book by its cover, this would be the one to judge.  It's cover, font, and layout is gorgeous.  And then there is the actual book.

It had the kind of over used idea of the princes being evil.  But, just like another of my favorite retelling of this story, the author used the idea so originally that it did not feel like an overused idea.
This story begins with only eleven princesses, and their mother still alive.  Then, the twelfth princess is born, and their mother dies.  And that's when things go wrong.

I would recommend this story to lovers of fantasy, mystery, romance, adventure, fairy tales, and just a bit of paranormalcy.

Market: YA
Sensuality: Mild
Language: None/Mild
Violence: Mild

It's Monday! What are you reading? (1)

It Monday!  What are you reading?  Is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

What am I reading today?

SANDRY'S BOOK by Tamora Pierce


I have picked this up several times, but have never read past the first page.  This time I started it late last night...and I love it.  Tamora Pierce is an amazing author.

On My Wishlist (1)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where we list all the books we desperately want but haven't actually bought yet.



Katarina Bishop has worn a lot of labels in her short life: Friend. Niece. Daughter. Thief. But for the last two months she’s simply been known as the girl who ran the crew that robbed the greatest museum in the world. That’s why Kat isn’t surprised when she’s asked to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald so it can be returned to its rightful owners. There are only three problems. First, the gem hasn’t been seen in public in thirty years. Second, since the fall of the Egyptian empire and the suicide of Cleopatra, no one who holds the emerald keeps it for long — and in Kat’s world, history almost always repeats itself. But it’s the third problem that makes Kat’s crew the most nervous, and that is . . . the emerald is cursed. Kat might be in way over her head, but she’s not going down without a fight. After all, she has her best friend — the gorgeous Hale — and the rest of her crew with her as they chase the Cleopatra around the globe, dodging curses and realizing that the same tricks and cons her family has used for centuries are useless this time. Which means, this time, Katarina Bishop is making up her own rules.

If you look at my review of HEIST SOCIETY you will see that I read and loved it, and NEED this book.

Blog Hop (1)

Blog Hop is a hop hosted by Crazy For Books.

Q: “Non-book-related this week!! Do you have pets?”

Yes!  If you look at my 'Who I Am' page you will see I have:
4 dogs

1 cat

3 turtles

3 gerbils

1 teddy hamster

1 chinchilla

1 guinea pig

1 rabbit

2 leopard geckos

6 fish (do they count?)

1 water frog
1 White-Eyed Conure (bird)


And guess what!  Two of my dogs are Miniature Schnauzers, just like the host of Blog Hop!  That's probably why I started to read her blog.

Follow Friday [Ahem, Thursday] (1)

Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee

Q. In some books like the Sookie Stackhouse series the paranormal creature in question "comes out of the closet" and makes itself known to the world. Which mythical creature do you wish this would happen with in real life?

My Answer:
Wow, that's really hard to decide.  I've always thought mermaids were awesome.  I mean, come on, who wouldn't want to breathe underwater?  But of course Faerie's are cool to, because they can fly, plus have an 'etheral' beauty. 

But I've also always loved Greek Mythology, so a Greek goddess (especially Athena, Goddess of the Wise) would be cool, or a nymph.

So I guess my answer is:  I don't know.  Pretty much any non-deadly mythical creature coming out of my closet would be amazing.

A Giveaway link!

There is a Giveaway over at Lc's Adventure's in Libraryland, and all you have to do to enter is become a follower!

Waiting On Wednesday (1)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Breaking The Spine to showcase the novels and books we have been waiting for.
Release Date:  September 20, 2011
Alek and Deryn are on the last leg of their round-the-world quest to end World War I, reclaim Alek’s throne as prince of Austria, and finally fall in love. The first two objectives are complicated by the fact that their ship, the Leviathan, continues to detour farther away from the heart of the war (and crown). And the love thing would be a lot easier if Alek knew Deryn was a girl. (She has to pose as a boy in order to serve in the British Air Service.) And if they weren’t technically enemies. The tension thickens as the Leviathan steams toward New York City with a homicidal lunatic on board: secrets suddenly unravel, characters reappear, and nothing is at it seems in this thunderous conclusion to Scott Westerfeld’s brilliant trilogy.


Why I'm waiting:
I read and loved the first two books in the series, LEVIATHAN and BEHEMOTH.  They have excellent writing, cool plots, plus I learn things in them-they are period novels, no matter how AU they are.  I've been waiting since I first finished BEHEMOTH, which was almost a year ago.  And now, it is less than a month until the release date!  (An added bonus:  The cover is amazing.)

The Heist Society by Ally Carter

Tired of her lifelong involvement in her family's illicit dealings, teenager Katarina Bishop enrolls herself in a prestigious boarding school. Then after a mere three months there, 16-year-old billionaire Hale arranges for her to get kicked out. He informs her that five paintings have been stolen from the menacing Arturo Taccone and that her father is the prime suspect. Determined to save him by locating the real thief and stealing the paintings back, Kat gathers a crack team of larcenous teens for the heist to be pulled off before the two-week deadline. However, her resolve falters when she learns that the paintings are Nazi war spoils. She negotiates complicated relationships in an action-packed plot, and the unknown identity of the thief suggests a sequel. This irresistible light-fingered fairy tale is elevated by glamour and mystery. Carter's style is conversational, smooth, and clever, exposing Kat's wry humor and her steely determination. Amid themes of family loyalty and identity, the protagonist comes to understand herself, her beliefs, and her place in her family. Daring, delicious, but filled with a sense of purpose, Heist Society mixes classic elements of the adolescent bildungsroman into a high-stakes escapade.

First off I'd like to thank Lulu at The Bookworm Is Here for starting me on Ally Carter's wonderful books.

I first read Ally Carter's 'I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You', a Gallagher's Girls book.  I liked it, enough to buy 'The Heist Society' with a ten dollar gift card.  And I LOVED it.  It was much better than the 'Gallagher Girls', which she is surprisingly more famous for.

It is about Katarina Bishop, who leaves her families con-man business for boarding school.  After only three months, her old partner Hale sets her up for a crime she didn't commit, thus getting her kicked out of boarding school.  Why?  Because her father was framed for a crime...and he isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list.

With the help of her five friends, she plans to pull the biggest heist in history.  All I'm saying, is I can't wait to get my hands on 'Uncommon Criminals', the second book in the series.

I would recommend this book to lovers of adventure, action, mystery, and the slightest bit of romance.

Market: Ya
Language: None
Sensuality: None/Mild
Violence: None/Mild
Adult Themes: Criminal acts, slightly sensual scenes

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

This book was amazing.  However, if you are picking up a book for action packed time traveling adventures, you might want to pass.  This story was more about Gwen coming into fact with her gift, and meeting the characters.  It is the first in a trilogy, and left me with many questions.

Why can Gwen see ghosts?  What is her mother hiding?  What is her cousin and cousin's husband planning?  And are they the good guys, or the bad guys?  I can tell you this much, these questions, combined with the sheer awesomness of the writing, and the amazing plot, leave me avidly waiting for the next in the series.

I would recomend this book to lovers of fantasy, romance, adventure, and mystery.

Here is the book trailer, although I do not think it has much to do with the actual story, nor describes Gwens feelings toward time traveling correctly.

Market:  YA
Sensuality: Mild
Language: None/Mild
Violence: Mild

My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison

Amazon Description
In her latest effort, Rallison returns to themes of sibling rivalry and romance, familiar to readers of Revenge of the Cheerleaders (2007). Here, though, she adds fractured-fairy-tale magic to the breezy plot. Sixteen-year-old Savannah is devastated when her boyfriend dumps her for her studious older sister, and she dreams that her life will take a fairy-tale turn, complete with a handsome prince, a ball, and a happy ending. Her wishes bring the astonishing arrival of Chrissy, an aspiring fairy godmother. Still in training and not quite in command of her magical abilities, Chrissy sends Savannah through a chain of otherworldly mishaps, including visits to Cinderella and Snow White’s stories and finally to the Middle Ages, where Savannah defeats a cast of magical creatures and discovers that regular guys are sometimes preferable to princes. Memos from Chrissy and her professors alternate with Savannah’s often hilarious narrative. The irreverent references to familiar tales, romantic twists, and frequent comedic asides will delight fans of light fantasy, as will the likable characters, who move beyond stereotype.

Janette Rallison is an amazing author.  This story is funny, well-written, it has a great plot, and it is easy to read.  The main character is Savannah, who has a fair godmother.  Just fair, because her school scores were not great, or even good, just fair.  When Savannah wishes for a prince charming, she gets sent to the middle ages three times-once as Cinderella, once as Snow White, and once to help a boy who accidentally got sent back too.


The plot is amazing, the characters are strong and show character development throughout the entire piece.  Savannah seems like a normal (partially stereotype) girl at the beginning, but in the end she loses some of her quirks. 


This book is perfect for lovers of fantasy, romantic comedy, and adventure.

Market: Ya
Sensuality: Mild
Violence: Mild
Language: None
Adult Themes: Cheating