September Is Around The Corner

September - Week One - Book Releases

I don't know about you, but I am always looking for a new book to read.  However, finding what's coming out isn't always so easy.  That's where I come in!  I'm here to help you with your quest!  I've compiled a list of ten books that will be released the first week of September.  They look pretty interesting to me but remember ... I haven't read them yet.  I have no idea if they are good or not.  If you read them before me, I'd love to hear from you.  It's always fun to get other perspectives!  OK - enough gabbing.  Here are the books I picked:

If you want to read up on what these books are about, continue reading.  I've included book descriptions for each one.  Happy reading and let me know what books you are counting down the days until they are released!

"Enthusiasm"

(Don't forget our "Battle Of The Books" going on this week.
 Vote for your favorite vampire ... look to the right!)

"When someone asks for a reading suggestion, Enthusiasm is the first word off my tongue." --Stephenie Meyer, author of Twilight

Prior to reading Enthusiasm, I read a novel that just left me feeling depressed. I knew the next book I curled up with had to be a super fun, cute, light book.  I talked to my mom and she suggested I read Enthusiasm.  I decided to give it a whirl and let’s just say … I LOVED it!  Right from the beginning it caught my attention and I could not put the book down.  These past few years I have become a huge Jane Austin fan so this book was perfect for me!  I also love how Enthusiasm focused on teenage relationships and how important they are.  My mom has always taught me that “High School is about finding bridesmaids, not husbands” and this novel shows loyalty and friendship between two girls … the way it should be.  Julie and Ashleigh are always there for each other, through thick and thin and I really admired that.  If you love Jane Austin, romance, and a book that just leaves you smiling - Enthusiasm is the book for you!

Check out what Enthusiasm is all about:

Battle Of The Books!

Battle of the Vampires

DAMON SALVATORE VS. ADRIAN IVASHKOV

The thing I love the most about a good book is how lost you get in another world.  The upshot of this is I end up having very non-fictional feelings for fictional characters. I've had so many I lost count!

So here at Tidal Wave we have decided we need to find the ultimate book boyfriend and need your help to find our winner.

Each Week we will be pitting two of our favorite leading men against each other but the winner is up to you so don't forget to vote each week. Round 1 will have 8 "swoon"worthy characters starting this week with my two favorite vampires. The winners from the next 4 showdowns will face each other until we have found our perfect book boyfriend.


DAMON SALVATORE
Damon has been a long time book boyfriend breaking into the scene in 1991 in the Vampire Diaries series, by L.J. Smith. Fans of Damon have been lucky to see him brought to life in the T.V. series played by Ian Somerhalder, who  is the perfect choice to play this devil-may-care character. Although the book and t.v. series have little in common they stuck fairly true to the character of Damon. Let's be honest who wouldn't want to be the girl to bring out the good side of Damon.

Pros: 

Damon is an Italian aristocrat from the renaissance and has been described as having the looks and an Adonis. There basically isn't a vampire power out there that Damon doesn't possess:
Super strength, Healing, Super Speed, Shape Shifting, manipulation the list really goes on and on.

Cons:

Damon seriously doesn't have a moral code, while being a bad boy is a plus, serial killer may not be.

Favorite Quote:

"My brother (...) is a fool. He thinks that because you look like Katherine you're weak and easily led like her. But he's wrong. I could feel your anger from the other side of town. I can feel it now a white light like the desert sun. You have strength, Elena, even as you are. But you could be so much stronger...."
                                                                                                                   - The Struggle-




ADRIAN IVASHKOV

Adrian caught our eyes as the love interest of Rose Hathaway in the "Vampire Academy" series by Richelle Mead. This 6'1" green eyed hottie has always been an underdog in the romance department, his first love Rose cheats on him, breaking his heart, but leaving an opening for alchemist Sydney Sage in the Bloodlines series. For me it was the Bloodlines series that turned my book crush on Adrian into a full blown obsession. Readers start to see through his edgy arrogance and start noticing his vulnerable side, and makes us fall in love with him over & over again putting Sydney's happiness above his own.

Pros:

Adrian is a rare spirit user with the ability to dream walk. Adrian is moroi Royalty, he is the great-nephew of Queen Tatiana Ivashkov.

Cons:

Excessive drinker & smoker, spirit use causes some mental instability.

Favorite Quote:

" I tried to be a better person for her- but it was to impress her, to get her to want me. But when I'm around you, I want to be better because... well because it feels right, because I want to. You make me want to become something greater then myself. You inspire me in every act, every word, every glance. I look at you, and your like... like light made into flesh. (...) you have no clue how beautiful you are or how brightly you shine."
                                                                                                                                   -The Golden Lily -

Let the fun begin, time for you to vote on who you think is the most "swoon"worthy boyfriend. You have one week to vote and get as many other people to vote so your favorite can move on.


"The Giver" Give-Away WINNER and Movie Review

Before I announce the winner of our “The Giver Give-Away", I’m going to share my feelings about the movie.  Hang in there … enjoy the ride … and the winner will be revealed soon!

I am a fan of the 1993 book, The Giver by Lois Lowry, so my review of the movie may be a little bias.  To say I “LOVED” this book would not be accurate.  How can someone enthusiastically say they love a book as disturbing as The Giver?  You don’t walk away after reading it and say, “That was soooo amazing!  I loved it!!!”  Instead you walk away and think about what you just read for the next week … the next month … the next year.  That’s what makes me a fan.  Any author that can get their readers talking, pondering and feeling what they just experienced is brilliant.  This same sentiment goes with the movie.  I went to the movie with my family and after the final credits rolled, we found ourselves just sitting there, silently alone in the theater, letting everything we just witnessed sink in … and then the discussion started.  For this reason, I would recommend going to see it. 

3 Wishes Wednesday!!!

"My 3 Wishes Wednesday"!!

Here are my Fav's for the week!  I thought I would keep it in the theme of the book ~ Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier and go with "Luscious Red" goodies .... So here it goes! 

Wish #1

This necklace says "Time Travel" all the way!  And if you look at it really close ... you can see the "rubies" on the face of the pendant.  I absolutely fell in love with it the first time I saw it.  If you love it as much as me ... here's the link:  Time Travel Necklace

Wish #2

Fall is right around the corner and these are perfect!  Who doesn't love Boot Cuffs Topper Socks.  I especially love the splash of red and the flower bead detail.  They will even do custom orders for you.  Check them out:
Boot Cuffs Topper Socks


Wish #3

Another fav ... this "Ruby Red" timepiece!  How cute is this!!!  Check this watch out here:  Ruby Red Timepiece


Book News and Food - What More Could We Ask For!

Okay - I'm going to start out with Happy news!!!  Straight from the mouth of Kiera Cass, here is the announcement ...

"We are writing a fourth novella about Marlee entitled "The Favorite"!  The Queen and The Favorite will be out in a paperback bind up early 2015!

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!

I'm so pleased to announce that we are writing TWO MORE FULL LENGTH SELECTION NOVELS!  The first of them, entitled "The Heir", will be out Spring 2015!

I hope you guys are just as excited as I am!  More to come soon!"
-Kiera Cass-

Let's just take a moment to let that all sink in ... ahhhhhh ... I'M SOOOOOO EXCITED!  HAPPY DANCE!


Now for the next purpose of this post:  Yesterday we had a wonderful review for the book "Ruby Red".  In honor of the book I am going to share a yummy recipe so we can all get cozy, curl up with the novel and eat some delicious pancakes.  You will love these as much as I do!  Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.  I would love to hear from you!


Ruby Red Velvet Pancakes with Cream Cheese Topping


Ingredients

Cream Cheese Topping

4
oz (half of 8-oz package) cream cheese, softened
1/4
cup butter, softened
3
tablespoons milk
2
cups powdered sugar

Pancakes

2
cups Original Bisquick™ mix
1
tablespoon granulated sugar
1
tablespoon unsweetened baking cocoa
1
cup milk
1
to 1 1/2 teaspoons red paste food color*
2
eggs
Powdered sugar, if desired

Directions

  • 1In medium bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and 3 tablespoons milk with electric mixer on low speed until smooth. Gradually beat in 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, on low speed until topping is smooth. Cover; set aside.
  • 2In large bowl, stir all pancake ingredients except powdered sugar with wire whisk until well blended. Heat griddle or skillet over medium-high heat (375°F). (To test griddle, sprinkle with a few drops of water. If bubbles jump around, heat is just right.) Brush with vegetable oil if necessary or spray with cooking spray before heating.
  • 3For each pancake, pour slightly less than 1/4 cup batter onto hot griddle. Cook 2 to 3 minutes or until bubbles form on top and edges are dry. Turn; cook other side until golden brown.
  • 4Spoon cream cheese topping into resealable food-storage plastic bag; seal bag. Cut off tiny corner of bag; squeeze bag to drizzle topping over pancakes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

"Ruby Red"


O.k ... it's Monday, so you know what that means?!?!   That's right.  Another review of another great book for you to read!  
I recently got "Ruby Red" by Kerstin Gier but didn't have high hopes for it because one of my friends started to read it and never finished.  Well ... I was pleasantly surprised!  At first I didn't know what to think.  It didn't grab my attention right off the bat.  I felt the beginning moved a bit slow; however, once I got a few chapters in, I couldn't put it down.  There was a girl whose life turned upside down when she found out she could time travel. This same girl could also see ghosts.  That alone makes for a good read but then you add the "cherry-on-top" ... a hot boy she couldn't get out of her mind!  I would recommend this novel.  The mystery of the book caught my attention and I HAD to get the next book and the one after that so I could find out how everything ended.  If you love a good mystery with romance and a good time travel - this is the book for you.  
Here is what the book is about: