Snow Like Ashes

Okay, so I just finished Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch. 

There is just one thing to say about this book ... I wish I would have read it earlier.  It's amazing!  I have been holding out for a good book that I just can't seem to put down and, well, this is it. 

Our hero is 16 year old Meira, one of the few surviving Winterians.  16 years ago, Spring massacred the Kingdom of Winter, destroying their magic and killing their Queen.  A handful was able to escape the evil clutches of Spring and now those 8 survivors are the only hope the Winterians have.  The orphan Meira has trained her whole life to be a warrior and to protect her best friend and Winters future King, Mather (Love interest #1).  With blond hair, blue eyes and a body to kill for, you can't help but love him right from the start. 

Later in the book we meet Love Interest #2.  The Prince of Cordell Theron (my personal  favorite, yup that's right.  As of book 1 I'm team Theron.)  I could go on and on about why I feel this way but I guess you will just have to read it for yourself and find out why he is so amazing.   lol

After Theron's dad, the King of Cordell turns out to be a real jerk, the fighting begins.  A war is fought and Meria is taken prisoner.  Thrown into the work camps with the rest of the Winterians, Meira sees what they have gone through for the past 16 years and it's heart breaking. 

This is where I must stop because I don't want to give spoilers.  You just need to read the book!  I will say, there is more fighting, kissing and (of course) hot boys ... so run don't walk to the nearest book store and buy this book today!  Or sit on Santa's lap and ask him for it ASAP.

But hold on ... there is a giveaway as well to go with this book! 

The picture is to come but here is a hint ... I asked Sara Raasch what her favorite quote was from Snow Like Ashes and the prize has something to do with that.

Good Luck!

To add to your Goodreads list go to Goodreads

To buy, go to Amazon.ca
                     Amazon.com
                     Barnes and Noble

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"Kindness Party" Week!

As you may already know, this Thursday is "World Kindness Day" and here at My Title Wave we are having a "Kindness Party" this week!

Hopefully all of you are trying to figure out some act of kindness you can do.  It would be amazing to see a little more thoughtfulness ... an outreached hand to lift up those in need ... in the world today.  Try to focus this week on "small-acts-of-kindness" or "pay-it-forward" moments you can create!  Because ...

Recently I read an article that focused on kindness.  In it, they talked about all the benefits we can give our children by teaching them to be kind to others.  Not only does it help those on the receiving end, but it also helps the one giving the service.  Without going into tons of details, here are the things your child will learn from being kind.

They will be more happy and caring.

They will have increased peer acceptance.

They will have a greater sense of belonging and improved self-esteem.

They will have improved health and less stress.

They will have increased feelings of gratitude.

They will have better concentration and improved results.

There will be a reduction in depression.

And ultimately ... there will be less bullying.

In the article, Patty O'Grady, PhD, an expert in neuroscience, emotional learning, and positive psychology ... stated this:

“Kindness changes the brain by the experience of kindness. Children and adolescents do not learn kindness by only thinking about it and talking about it. Kindness is best learned by feeling it so that they can reproduce it.”

That got me thinking.  What better way to get a child to "feel" something than by reading them a story.  I find so many expressions can be felt by the written word.  I have read books with my family where we have laughed together, swooned together, were scared together, and cried together.  So, in honor of our "Week of Kindness" on My Title Wave, I compiled a list of books that children will love!  Each book has a similar message ... being kind to others.

My challenge to you is to pick one book to read together with your children.  However, don't just read it ... stop and discuss what they are hearing.  Get them to express their feelings to you.  And at the end, ask them what they learned from listening to the story.  You will be amazed at what insight these precious young ones may have.

Read further to learn more about the books pictured.

A Week Of Kindness

November is here and for those of you in the U.S., Thanksgiving is on it's way. This week is Kindness Week so things here at My Title Wave are going to be based around kindness. To kick off this week, it's time for a book review.  The book I chose to review was once again an author I had the chance to meet at the Vegas Valley Book Festival. : )

Sarah Ockler's, The Book of Broken Hearts, was a book that hit close to home. Jude is the youngest in a family of girls, I loved how each of these girls had their roll in the family and when the family is dealing with hard things, these traits came out. Jude has grown up her whole life with one rule ... stay away from the Vargas brothers! They are notorious heartbreakers. Eapecially after one of the Vargas brothers cheats on Jude's sister, breaking off their engagement, Jude and her sisters make a pact in blood and forever sealed in the Book of Broken Hearts. never to be broken.

Years later, Jude is the only one living at home and is spending her summer trying to hold on to the one thing that she believes will keep her Papi with them. Jude's Papi has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and it's progressing rapidly.  The only time Jude sees her Father for who he truly is, is when they are fixing up his vintage Motorcycle. The only problem is that the only person who will fix the bike is non-other than the youngest Vargas brother, Emilio. She swears never to tell her sisters and before she knows it, she is caught in the Vargas trap and is starting to fall in love.  What will her sisters say? Will the restoration of the bike help her dad? Well ... you're going to have to read the book to find out.

Jude is one of the most selfless characters I have ever read about. She has stopped her life to take care of her dad who can't be left alone. Leaving behind the epic summer she was supposed to have with her best friends.

You can't help but fall in love with Emilio with his amazing dimple and cocky personality.  (Sorry.  I just love my bad boys.)

I think my favorite thing about this book is the sense of family. I love how close they are (which made the deterioration of Papi hard to handle at times), Oh ... and I have never wanted to make empanadas more in my life than I did while reading this book.

Needless to say, I loved the book! The language at times was not the best so it's a 17+ book but it's a must read. Just as your heart is breaking, something swoops in to put it back together.  (Mainly a boy named Emilio.)

If you would like to know more about this book, keep reading ...

The Taking

Oh my goodness … where do I start!  How about … I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!  I didn’t know what to think when I first picked it up.  It’s not my “usual” read.  However, I was pleasantly surprised.  I was surprised by the characters.  I was surprised by the plot.  I was surprised by how entertainingly brilliant the book was.  It kept me locked in my room, reading … only coming up for air to eat.  The Taking was everything I hoped for and more.

Kyra was the heroine.  She was your typical teenager, trying to figure out what path her life was going to take.  One night, everything changed.  After getting in a fight with her dad, she disappeared.  To Kyra, it seemed like she was only gone for the night.  However, five years had gone by and EVERYTHING had changed.  Life had gone on without her and now she was trying to figure out how she fit in with all the changes.  I don’t want to say too much because part of what I loved most about the book was not knowing what was around the corner.  I liked discovering things as Kyra was discovering them and trying to figure out the puzzle that The Taking revealed so amazingly.

There was a swoon-worthy love interest in the novel.  Kimberly Derting wrote it brilliantly.  Just the right amount of “crushing” to go along with a sixteen year old brain.  It was a sweet relationship that flowed easily and worked perfectly.

The plot was fast moving and kept me hooked throughout the entire book.  There were tons of thrills and secrets that kept me in the roll as “novel-detective” … trying to figure out what was going to happen next.  This was definitely a “can’t-put-down” book!  (This book has already cycled through two others in my family ... Dad/Husband included.  PS - He LOVED it!)

The Taking was an incredible YA paranormal romance.  I absolutely loved it!  And the ending … oh my goodness!  Just read it.  See what I’m talking about.  I’m sure you will love it too!

Here’s a little bit more about what The Taking is all about:

The School For Good And Evil

In honor of Halloween, we decided to do a book review to go along with the “Halloween” theme.  On Friday we are going to see TONS of amazing costumes. We might see fairies, brides, or princesses. Some may choose to be something more evil like zombies, vampires, or evil wizards.  Everyone decides if they want to be good or evil for the night.  What if that choice was taken away?  What if they were assigned to be good or evil for the night?  What if the thing they got assigned, good or evil, they were stuck being that way forever?  That is how it is in The School For Good and Evil.

At first I did not know what I would think of this book. Do you know the saying, "Don’t judge a book by its cover"?  I did the complete opposite when I saw this book.  I saw the cover and immediately thought, "Nope.  This is NOT a book for me."  However, I read what the book was about and I thought, "Let's just give it a shot."  I ended up liking it.  I liked seeing the two main girls, Sophie and Agatha, try to figure out how to live in these schools that they obviously did not belong to at first.  I loved trying to figure out what was going on and how everything was going to fit together.  It is a book for younger people so the language is clean, which I always love.  There are not a lot of books like this book so it was something different.

Now for the bad part. I hate saying this, but there were some things in the book I was not crazy about. Some of the things in the book were a little too weird for me.  Somethings just sounded wrong when I read them in the book. (If you read it you can probably guess what I am talking about).  However, do not let that stop you from reading this novel.

Overall, I thought the book was pretty good.  Now it is time for you to read The School For Good and Evil and decide...are you really good...or are you evil?

Here is a look at what the book is about:

Happy Halloween....And Then There Were None!

We all remember the great Agatha Christie novel And Then There Were None. 

It is Christie's best-selling novel with 100 million sales to date.  This makes it the world's best-selling mystery ever and one of the best-selling books of all time. With the dark poem we are all know ...

Ten little Indian Boys went out to dine;

One choked his little self and then there were nine.

Nine little Indian Boys sat up very late;

One overslept himself and then there were eight.

Eight little Indian Boys travelling in Devon;

One said he'd stay there and then there were seven.

Seven little Indian Boys chopping up sticks;

One chopped himself in halves and then there were six.

Six little Indian Boys playing with a hive;

A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.

Five little Indian Boys going in for law;

One got in Chancery and then there were four.

Four little Indian Boys going out to sea;

A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.

Three little Indian Boys walking in the zoo;

A big bear hugged one and then there were two.

Two little Indian Boys sitting in the sun;

One got frizzled up and then there was one.

One little Indian Boy left all alone;

He went out and hanged himself and then there were none.

I loved this story that forced the detective in me out, trying to figure out the "who-done-it".  I was trapped in the story and could not put it down until I had the answer.

When my sister told me about a book called Ten that was written by Gretchen McNeil, and that she was going to be at the Vegas Valley Book Festival, I knew that was one I had to get.  After the amazing day at the festival, Ten was the first book I picked up to read.  I was not disappointed!  The book was everything I expected ... a great modern retelling of the original. 

The Story takes place on a secluded Island (already creepy).  A bunch of kids get together for what is supposed to be an epic house party.  Even the swoon worthy T.J. was going to be there.  What more could a girl want?  However, when a storm blows through and there is no way off the island, the party turns into a nightmare.  One by one, people start being killed off and red slashes start to appear on the wall for every body that turns up. 

I read the book in 24 hours!  I couldn't put it down.  The best friend drove me crazy, but trying to figure out the puzzle that was Ten, kept it a "couldn't-put-down" book.  I wish I could say this book is for everyone but unfortunately I can't.  :(  I understand that when faced with death you're not going to use the best language.  For that reason I have to say 17+ is my recommendation.  With all this said, it's a good Halloween read full of murder and suspense and whole lot of sexy.

To find out more about Ten keep reading ...

TOMORROW IS FACTION DAY!

Tomorrow is the day!!!  October 22nd is “Faction Day”!

Have you made your plans for the day yet?  Have you picked out what you are going to wear?  Or ... have you decided what faction you belong with?  Not sure yet?  Time is running out!  Well, this post may help you decide!  Today, we are focusing on the last faction … Dauntless!

Ready to jump off the train and face your fears … then Dauntless is your faction!  In this faction you will be worked into your tip top physical shape.  They accept nothing but the best of the best in Dauntless. You must be brave.

What kind of books would they be reading?  Here are some from our list:

These books might get members of the Dauntless faction in Divergent to take a break from jumping off trains or practicing knife-throwing long enough to read because they feature brave characters going on adventures and are full of action.

Keep reading and you can find out more about these books!  Here's a look:

The Erudite Faction

Another week ... another faction!  October 22nd will be here before you know it.  Have you made your plans for the day yet?  Have you picked out what you are going to wear?  Or ... have you decided what faction you belong with?  Not sure yet?  Well, this post may help you decide!  Today, we are focusing on Erudite.

Members of the Erudite faction are smart and they know it.  Erudite is the most intelligent of the Divergent Factions and thus are poised to best lead the other groups.

What kind of books would they be reading?  Here are some from our list:

These novels contain themes that will resonate with the Erudite faction in Divergent: intelligence, scientific inquiry, discipline, and rigorous study.

Keep reading and you can find out more about these books!  Here's a look:

All The Truth That's In Me

I love books filled with fluff and as far from reality as possible.  I always say that I read books to get away from the real world for awhile.  So when I got the book All The Truth That's In Me ... 

I had no clue what to expect.  I mean, it's not a book filled with witches and wizards or sexy vampires.  It's a book about a girl and a boy and the challenges they face.  It's dark, but not in a Tim-Burton-darkness.  It's dark in a real life way.  All The Truth That's In Me is about two girls that go missing and 4 years later one returns.  Judith didn't come back the same little girl she was when she left.  Judith comes back silent, her tongue cut out and the truth buried with it. 

All she can do is silently pour out her thoughts, as if reading her journal, we see life through her eyes.  The cruel way she is treated from those in her community because "who's she going to tell anyways" ... the love she has for her childhood friend Lucus ... and the way her mother treats her because she is embarrassed by what happened.

However, after all the time she has spent learning to be invisible, just as her mother taught her, an attack breaks out at Roswell Station and only one man can help. Can Judith dare to bring him back with all the pain and horror?  And what would be the consequences if she did?

All the Truth That's in Me is a dark and chilling tale of abuse and secrets, of love and loss, and of silence and courage.  Its second person narration was one so unique and almost lyrical, with a rhythm and a kind of music I've never read before.  Each chapter is usually only half a page long, sometimes less.  It keeps with the way Judith might think, in short sequences.  She's a very calculating kind of person.  She seems to always see deeper than others, as if her lack of speech opened her eyes and ears to a far more intricate world only she can see and the narration portrayed it wonderfully.

As you go on this journey with Judith, you can't help but know the characters in this book so intimately.  You really have a chance to fall in love with the people she loves and hate the ones she hates.  This book had you guessing the whole time and you can't put it down until you put the whole puzzle together.

In the end, I was surprised by how much I liked this book.  There was no fluff and the story was something that could happen in our world today.  (But don't worry.  There was still the hot guy.)  I would recommend this book to anyone 17+.  There is more mature content to the book but the writing was amazing.  Bravo Julie Berry Bravo.

Keep reading if you want to know more about what this book is all about.

Faction Day Is Almost Here!

Another week ... another faction!  October 22nd will be here before you know it.  Have you made your plans for the day yet?  Have you picked out what you are going to wear?  Or ... have you decided what faction you belong with?  Not sure yet?  Well, this post may help you decide!  Today, we are focusing on Candor.

Members of the Candor faction believe truth will set you free!  Candor is the faction known for honesty, so it is the most truthful of the Divergent Factions.

What kind of books would they be reading?  Here are some from our list:

These books feature characters who exhibit characteristics the Candor faction in Divergent values: truthfulness and honesty or plots where characters learn the importance of the truth.

Keep reading and you can find out more about these books!  Here's a look:

Splintered

It’s national “Mad Hatter Day”!  This is the perfect day for me!!!  Why?  I guess the best way to explain it is to show you what is on my computer screen every time I log on …

That’s my life in a quote … a little crazy!  But that’s the way I like it.  J

In honor of this amazing day, I want to introduce one of my favorite books to you … SPLINTERED!

This stunning debut novel delves into the mad, magical, delicious, much-loved world of Wonderland.  When I first heard about this book, I was instantly taken by the idea of this story.  It has wonderful connections to the Alice Story we’ve known for years … taking us into the life of Alice’s very own great-great-great granddaughter – Alyssa.  However, I must admit, I almost passed this novel by.  I was attending the Vegas Valley Book Festival when A.G. Howard was there.  I picked up Splintered a few times thinking, “This is a book I would LOVE to read!”  The problem was … I had already spent TONS of money and this was one I decided to cut.  My daughter saw me contemplating the purchase and after seeing me put the book back down, secretly bought it for me, had the author sign it, and gave it to me for Christmas.  I am sooooo happy she did!

One of the things I loved about this book was A.G, Howard’s incredible talent for “world-building”. 

She takes the original Alice story and twists and turns it inside out.  This is NOT Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland.  This is a Wonderland that is darker, more seductive and more terrifying … but gorgeous and magical at the same time.  Everything Alyssa thought she knew was wrong or false.  I loved how we got a completely new “this-is-what-really-happened” story.  It’s brilliant!

If you were to ask me which character I liked best, I couldn’t tell you.  Each one was a “stand-out” on its own.

Alyssa - here's how I pictured her:

Alyssa at first appears … ummm … different.  She can hear the whispers of insects and flowers and is afraid of becoming what every women in her family has become … cursed with madness.  However, as you get to know her better, you warm up to her.  She’s independent, she’s sympathetic, she’s delightful, and above all – she’s brave.

Then there’s Jeb:

Jeb is the "best-friend" who is not the stereotypical boy-next-door.  He is definitely swoon worthy.  He is protective, a loyal friend, sensitive, and honest.  He is ruled by his emotions and sometimes that wasn’t a good thing.  Overall, “Team Jeb” has tons to brag about.

But we can’t forget about Team Morpheus!  When I read about Morpheus, this is the picture that came to my mind.

Morpheus is a Wonderland native who (we see hints) is madly in love with Alyssa and trying to win her over.  He is seduction and mystery, expertly wrapped into a dark, enticing package.  He’s all black wings, cockney accent, and a fetish for well-made hats.  In my opinion, Morpheus is sly, sexy, mischievous, and has his own way of caring.  He’s the guy we’re not supposed to like … so naturally … we like him more. 

All the other characters and creatures we meet along the way are based on the original Alice books but are definitely more twisted.

Splintered is a "can’t-put-down" book!  I found myself cheering for Alyssa as she went through her “tests” on her road to self-discovery.  I gasped along with her as family secrets were revealed.  I found myself walking beside her as I was sucked into the world of Wonderland, wanting to jump in and help her at times.  But what I especially appreciated was that Alyssa went through everything she went through out of love for her mother and father, and in the process, learned who she really was. 

The bottom line: you won’t regret reading this Splintered.  Its pages are full of heart-pounding adventure, and an unforgettable romance … not to mention a story you'll be thinking about for a long, long time.

Stay “mad” everyone!  After all … we’re all a little like that!

Here’s a closer look at what Splintered is all about:

Four Weeks And Counting ... To Faction Day!

Another week ... another faction!  October 22nd will be here before you know it.  Have you made your plans for the day yet?  Have you picked out what you are going to wear?  Or ... have you decided what faction you belong with?  Not sure yet?  Well, this post may help you decide!  Today, we are focusing on Amity.

Citizens who blamed aggression for war joined Amity.  In the Amity faction, they live for peace and fun. Amity loves to smile and tend to choose professions such as counselors and caretakers.  They are kind, loving and free!

What kind of books would they be reading?  Here are some from our list:

These books feature characters who exhibit characteristics the Amity faction in Divergent values: peacefulness or a longing for peace, a commitment to democracy, a willingness to serve or help others, and happiness.  Since Amity is also an agricultural community, some books are set on farms.

Let us know other novels you think could be added to our list!  And let us know if you agree with our choices ... we do have good reasons why these made Amity's "Must Read" list.  ; )

Keep reading and you can find out more about these books!  Here's a look:

Our First Ever Guest Blogger

First off ... I would like you all to meet our first ever "Guest Blogger" ... Belle!

Belle is 11 years old and is in her first year of Middle School.  She loves all things aquamarine and anything with bling!  She loves jewelry, shopping, drawing, doing crafts and reading.  Belle can never have enough fun.  Every day is a "GREAT!" day for Belle.  Here is her book review:

Ever After High ... The Storybook of Legends

One of my favorite book series is the Ever After High series.  I think it is a good book for anyone my age.  The first book in the series is The Storybook of Legends and I LOVED it!!!  I had a hard time putting it down each night.  I wanted to keep reading even though I needed to be getting my sleep for the next school day.  It was a resort-to-flashlight-under-the-covers kind of reading.

The Storybook of Legends taught a good lesson.  It made me want to "write my own story" and not worry so much about what others think I should be doing.  After reading this book you will realize that following the crowd is not the way to go!  

And ... you don't need to be a kid to enjoy this novel.  My Mom and I read it together and she even liked it.  Any age will love these books.  I strongly suggest reading out loud with your mom or anyone else who wants to join in the fun.  It made reading the book even better.

My favorite character in the book is Madeline Hatter (the daughter of the Mad Hatter).  I like her because Madeline doesn't care what other people think of her.  She is a loyal friend, she's carefree, she loves to have fun, she's playful, and has a good personality.  She also walks to the beat of her own drum.  All of the students in the story are children of famous fairy tale characters.  The adults in the story are also based off of fairy tales.  I loved meeting new people throughout the pages of the book and trying to figure out who's kids they were.

There is also a little side story twist that I thought was cute!  An unexpected romance at Ever After High between Ashlynn Ella (the daughter of Cinderella) and Hunter Huntsman (the son of the Huntsman in Snow White).  You don't find out too much about their story but I'm hoping to find out more in the following book.

Oh ... I almost forgot ... not only are the books great, but there are other things that go along with the books!  They have clothing ...

... and what I love ... DOLLS!

And I just found out ... they have Halloween costumes!!!

How's that for "Three Wishes"?!!  I have a few more things to add to my Christmas list!

The Storybook Of Legends is absolutely charming!  I was surprised with how fun the plot was and how much I liked the characters.  Will they choose to keep the story they were born to do or will they choose their own destiny?  Find out everything in the Ever After High Series!

Here is more about the book The Storybook Of Legends:

Counting Down To Faction Day

Calling all Divergent fans!  My Title Wave is joining the fun!!!  October 22 is "FACTION DAY" and we are starting the countdown now.

What is "Faction Day"?  By now, you have probably thought about ... talk about ... or decided what Divergent Faction you would have picked if you were in Tris Prior's position.  On the 22nd of October you can join us all as we let everyone know where we stand.  All fans are asked to wear the color of their faction.  What color will you be wearing that fall day?

In further celebration of this day ... and as a fun way to countdown and get you pumped up ... we are going to list books that each faction would most likely read.  (We have five weeks - so that means five factions ... PERFECT!)  To kick it off ... we have ABNEGATION!

Members of the Abnegation faction put the common good above all other concerns, and the needs of others above themselves.  They bring their selfless outlook to politics and make for great leaders.  What kind of books would they be reading?  Here are some from our list:

These books feature characters who exhibit characteristics the Abnegation faction in Divergent values: volunteering to help others (especially those less fortunate), self-sacrifice, duty, and kindness.

Let us know other novels you think could be added to our list!  And let us know if you agree with our choices ... we do have good reasons why these made Abnegation's "Must Read" list.  ; )

Read more to learn about these books:

"Awaken" To A Great Series

We are going to flashback a little bit today. In honor of the third Awaken book that recently came out, I am going to review the first two books. In my family we have a tradition that every year we draw out a name of a cousin who we are going to buy a gift for. Every year I love sitting there and getting to open the present my cousin picked out for me. Two years ago one of my cousins got my name and when I opened it, I found the book Awaken inside the wrapping. I had never heard of the book before but I was so excited to give it a go. Let me just say … I LOVED it!!!!

Growing up in a world that is so involved with technology, made this book really hit home. Every day we are becoming more and more dependent on computers, the internet, smart phones, texting, etc. In Awaken we see the world advanced to the point where human interaction is almost void. It made me realize how important everyday communication and our social lives really are.  This book is set in 2060 where everything is done on the computer. Going to school, hanging out, and even dating is done online. That is the way Maddie lives. I absolutely love Maddie. I love seeing her growth through the first book and having her realize that there might be more than just the digital world. Of course this book has a love interest and let me just say, when he was introduced, I fell in love with him almost instantly. However, the reason I loved Awaken so much is because it made me look at life and how much I was taking for granted. Was I being thankful for having friends to hang out with and have me some "girl talk"? Was I taking the time to just be outside and enjoy the world around me? Was I taking full advantage of school and all that it had to offer me? Or just simply, was I fully enjoying the opportunity to be with my family, talking ... laughing ... and communicating together? So much in life is being forgotten as we shift our focus to the things on a screen. Awaken is one of the books that I went around telling anyone and everyone I knew to go read it.

I always get nervous reading the second book when I loved the first book so much. I always have such high expectations and sometimes it is a huge disappointment. Middle Ground was definitely not a disappointment! I loved it just as much as the first book. As soon as I finished Awaken, I drove down to the bookstore and got this follow-up in my hands!  And what did that mean once I was back home ... Middle Ground and I had an all night reading date!  I couldn't put it down!!! I don’t want to give too much away for all you who haven’t read the first book. I will just say it was amazing! The book had me laughing, crying, and biting my nails at points. You continue to see Maddie fighting against the digital world … I will just stop now or else I will give stuff away.

Should you read this book series??? YES!!!!!!! A hundred times yes!!!! Awaken is the book I recommend whenever someone asks me what they should read. Go buy it so you can read the final book that just came out this month! Great author, great characters, and just an overall great book!

Here is a look at what Awaken and Middle Ground are about:

Another Week ... Even More Amazing Book Releases

Oh my goodness!  This is an awesome week for book releases!!!  As I read over the different book summaries,  I found myself making a mental note of all the books I want to add to my "Must Read" list.  And trust me ... there were LOTS!!!  These books this week have a whole slew of genres and so many of them are right up my alley.  So now the question is ... are these books "Hits" or "Misses"?  Read them and let me know what you think.  Here they are:

Keep reading to find out if these books are your style.

The 2nd Week Of September Book Releases

The second week in September brought even more new releases!  Looking over the books, they all seem a little more dark than the first week, except for a couple.  For all you that love mystery/thriller novels ... this is the week for you.  Check out the new crop and let me know what you think.  I would love some recommendations!  I'm up for something new to read!!!  Without further adieu ... here they are:

To find out what these books are all about ... keep reading!

"Longing For Home"

All of us have authors we love!  We follow them and keep up with all books out and any new novels soon to be released.  This is the same with me.  I have a list of “favs” and I follow them closely.  One of those on my list is Sarah M. Eden.  She had a new book released September 2^nd (“For Elise”), so I decided that today I would review an old one written by her.

“Longing for Home” by Sarah M. Eden, takes you back in time to 1870 Wyoming territory.  A sweet girl named Katie is trying desperately to save money to go home to Ireland and to help her family.  Her life has not been easy and if she thought coming to America would make things easier, she is going to be disappointed.  Katie quickly finds out that the Irish are not held in high regard.  She also finds out that opening up your heart and allowing people into your life can make challenges less overwhelming.  Especially when there are two handsome men who long for Katie’s attention. 

I love most of Sarah M. Eden’s books and this was no exception.  She writes clean and cute romance novels.  This book left me wanting more.  I couldn’t put the novel down until I discovered how everything turned out.  This meant lots of late night reading with very little sleep … the markings of a good story!  Lucky for you … the 2^nd book is out and you can read both right now!  Amazing right?  Nothing better than a series that is finished.  Now I need to get reading “For Elise”!

To find out more about this book, read below:

Lets Get Blown Away Together!

Okay ... wow! Just, WOW! I have no clue how to even start this book review. While I wrap my mind around what I just read, let me just introduce the book ...

Dorothy Must Die

When you think of the Land of Oz, what do you think of? I think of "Over the Rainbow", the yellow brick road, Dorothy and Toto, the Wicked Witch of the West, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Cowardly lion. 

If that's what you're looking for, put this book down!

Amy is a teenage girl who definitely got the short end of the stick when it comes to her life. She was bullied and called "Salvation Amy" by her peers.  Her Dad left her and her mom and her mom became an alcoholic who doesn't move off the couch for days at a time. When I started this book I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep reading. Her life was just a little to depressing for me.  However. it made me grateful for the life I have had and still do have. I am sure glad I kept reading!

Amy, like Dorothy, gets swept to the land of Oz by a tornado - but Oz has changed. We also find out that Dorothy went back to Oz after she clicked herself home and found magic and became evil. Os is now a land where good became bad and bad became ... well, I don't know if you can say good ... I'll say a little less bad. It's now Amy's job to save Oz by killing Dorothy. The largest problem is that Dorothy is not only ruthless but she has her Amy of evil doers ...

The Scarecrow

Oh, he got his brain all right but now he uses it to torture and mutilate the residents of Oz. 

The Tin Man

He now has a heart but his heart fell in love with Dorothy and will do anything she asks; even lead the ruthless police force sworn to uphold Dorothy's laws.

The Lion 

The Lion was the worst of the bunch. He is no coward anymore. He sucks the fear out of people until they are old and frail and then ... death.

Hold on! There is hope. There are a few groups rebelling against Dorothy, the big one being "The Order". The order is made up of the wicked witches of Oz. Oh, and a wizard! We can't forget Nox, our handsome Wizard who knows nothing more than how to serve The Order and seeking revenge on Dorothy. I can't wait to see what happens to him in the next book, due out March 30th, 2015.

This is a dark continuation of a classic tale. The story is more then Dorothy gone crazy. It a story about a girl who has to find out who she is and what she stands for. It's also about making choices and those choices creating the path of who you are going to become Good or Evil. It's Disney meets Tim Burton and my twisted mind LOVED IT! 

To read more of what this book is all about click here:

By Popular Demand From Our Readers ...

A Few More New Releases

First ... Don't forget to vote for our "Battle Of The Books" guys this week! Look over to the right side of your screen and you will see our poll.  It's easy!  Just click on the person you want to win and press "vote".  That's all there is to it.  So get to it!  Battle of the Twilight guys ... who will win this week?  I definitely have my choice.  ; )  Now on to some more books ...

Just over a week ago, we posted "New Releases" that were coming out the first week in September.  I'm busy reading them ... how about you all?  A big "shout out" needs to be given to our readers who sent a few other books my way.  I love hearing about books you all are waiting for with baited breath!  It's nice to know I have company in my crazy book countdown calendars.  Anyways, here are some of the much talked about books I missed!  They are all out now so read and enjoy.  Just remember - I haven't read them yet so I have no idea if they are good or not.  I'd love to hear what you think!!!

If you want to know what these books are about ... keep reading!