The Not So Closet Geeks

Hush, Hush by Bella Fitzpatrick

2011-09-06T16:00:00.000-04:00

I tend to loose my faith in humanity when a book like this gets more than 4 stars. I'm not saying it was awful. Especially for people who like the kind of relationship that involves a lot of unfounded obsession. But it reminds me of Twilight without momentum. It was the slowest book I've read in ages. I kept thinking, "Is there an end in site?"

I really don't know why the pacing was so terrible. The plot had a couple of interesting curves that should sped things up, but the narrative's focus on how MYSTERIOUS the male love interest was kept crushing any excitement I might have had from the plot.

I wouldn't necessarily argue with 3 stars. The writing wasn't terrible. The characters were so cookie-cutter YA romance that I personally felt the need to give Hush, Hush 2 stars. But 3...yeah, I could see that. Boring, but nothing repugnant. But somehow this book has had a lot of positive reviews. I'm going to have to chalk it up to mob mentality.

A Special Note For Teenage Girls:
If you know a guy that acts like Patch (knowing way too much about you, showing up wherever you are, possibly attempting to murder you, etc.), do me a favor and stay away. In YA romances, guys like Patch end up being misunderstood heroes. But in real life, that make excellent abusive boyfriends or drug-addict stalkers.

NaNoWriMo, Planning, and Your Views

2010-11-09T17:37:00.006-05:00

Even though I've quite obviously taken a break from the blogosphere since arriving at college, I've decided to take a brief...break...from the said break to blog a bit about NaNoWriMo.

For those who haven't seen/heard of NaNoWriMo before and are wondering, "WTF? Is that even a word?!", I have an answer for you.

No. It's kind of not. NaNoWriMo stands for National November Writing Month. Here is a blurb about it from the NaNoWriMo website:

"National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30.

Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft, NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone who has thought fleetingly about writing a novel but has been scared away by the time and effort involved.

Because of the limited writing window, the ONLY thing that matters in NaNoWriMo is output. It's all about quantity, not quality. The kamikaze approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly.

Make no mistake: You will be writing a lot of crap. And that's a good thing. By forcing yourself to write so intensely, you are giving yourself permission to make mistakes. To forgo the endless tweaking and editing and just create. To build without tearing down.

As you spend November writing, you can draw comfort from the fact that, all around the world, other National Novel Writing Month participants are going through the same joys and sorrows of producing the Great Frantic Novel. Wrimos meet throughout the month to offer encouragement, commiseration, and—when the thing is done—the kind of raucous celebrations that tend to frighten animals and small children.

In 2009, we had over 165,000 participants. More than 30,000 of them crossed the 50K finish line by the midnight deadline, entering into the annals of NaNoWriMo superstardom forever. They started the month as auto mechanics, out-of-work actors, and middle school English teachers. They walked away novelists."

My views on a month-long writing fest promoting quantity not quality? Eek. It makes me wince just thinking about thousands of potential writers churning out unplanned narratives.

But.
But, I am participating this year.
I feel that NaNoWriMo lights a much needed fire in some cases, and this year, I am one of those cases. I've been sitting on an increasingly intricate plot since July and haven't done much actual writing with it.

When I was younger, I was determined to be an "impulsive" writer. No planning involved. What did I get from it? A spark of an idea, 60 poorly written pages, and a dead end. It wasn't much fun when I realized my plot didn't exist.

So I took a break for a few years. Even then, I recognized my writing itself needed to mature some.

Back to NaNoWriMo. I often fear that what could be produced in a quantity-filled month will resemble those 60 misbegotten pages. However, this time, I have a very detailed plot formed over four months.

So I have faith that things won't end as poorly as they did last time.

But what if...
you still don't think planning is important.

I think my AP Literature and AP English Language exams opened my eyes to just how important planning is. Early on in the year while composing my practice essays, I noticed that I was continually running out of time. After studying my essays, I noticed the problem. Crossed lines indicated rewritten phrases- sometimes the same phrases as before. I had asterisks indicating I have forgotten phrases and arrows desperately trying to stuff my point into the essay before time ran out.

I realized I wasn't planning enough. So I made a change. I began planning. And for me, planning takes time. I was literally the last person in my classes to begin actually writing. Everyone else would be on their second page while I was still planning, and noticing this was disconcerting. But my results weren't. I'd actually finish my essays before the majority of my class, and my grades skyrocketed.

So planning really helps in my opinion. The writing gets faster when you know what's going on.

But what if...
planning makes your writing boring once you already know what's going to happen.

I don't know about you, but this doesn't really happen for me. Even when I know what's going to happen, surprise characters sneak into my narrative to mix things up.

So I suppose my point is, I see nothing wrong with NaNoWriMo if you have some sort of plan. And maybe some people really don't need a plan. That's cool. I just know it personally won't work for me.

So...What are your views on planning? And how many of you book-reviewers are writers, too? And how many of you are participating in NaNoWriMo this year?

Just curious.

Where In the World Is...

2010-08-21T15:40:00.000-04:00

Bella Aire Holland? Settling into her new home...

Where In the World Is...

2010-08-16T12:37:00.000-04:00

Bella Aire Holland? Home, sweet home, finally...

Where In the World Is...

2010-08-12T14:27:00.000-04:00

Bella Aire Holland? I'll miss those Scottish lads, but I can't wait to explore this new country...

Where In the World Is...

2010-08-08T12:23:00.000-04:00

Bella Aire Holland? I left the green people awhile back...

Where In the World Is...

2010-08-06T15:21:00.001-04:00

Bella Aire Holland? I'm no longer in the Netherlands...

Where In the World Is...

2010-08-05T14:16:00.001-04:00

Bella Aire Holland? Can you guess? I can assure you that I am no where in America...

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith and Jane Austen (review by Angela)

2010-08-03T14:34:00.001-04:00

Hello, NSCG readers! I have recently decided to review Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, a book I had noticed a few times in bookstores, but never picked up. The book has mixed reviews on Amazon, many of the critical reviews coming from hard-core Jane Austen fans who do not like seeing her most famous work “defiled”. Since I had just read Sense and Sensibility and consider myself an Austen fan, I decided I would read this book, no matter how many strange looks I got from people who saw the cover. Therefore, on to the review:

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith (and Jane Austen) takes the basic plot of P&P and adds in—guess what?—zombies. Currently, England is being overrun by the flesh-eating, dim-witted monsters. People are infected and turn into zombies everyday, and there are few people that have the skills to do anything about it. These few people include Elizabeth Bennet and her four sisters, all who have traveled to China with their father to learn how to defend themselves and fend off zombies. The plot continues as it did in P&P, with Lizzy being rejected by Mr. Darcy, Jane falling for Mr. Bingley, Lizzy refusing to marry Mr. Collins (who is then quickly snatched up by Charlotte), Wickham sweet-talking his way into everyone’s good graces, Lizzy meeting Lady Catherine (and Darcy!) during her trip to visit Charlotte, and so on, except zombies (and even ninjas!) pop up every once in a while. I advise reading P&P before this book so you can focus on the new aspects of this book (the zombies) and not have to worry about keeping the plot straight. Plus, then you will notice the subtle (not really) changes to many of the famous quotes from P&P. For example, the first sentence: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife” changes to “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a zombie in possession of brains, must be in want of more brains”. This quote-changing-for-effect is used repeatedly throughout the book, as is crude humor. These jokes may be funny the first couple of times, but doubles-entendres on the word “balls” can get old quickly.

The zombies definitely add a new twist to this beloved story. Whether it helps or hurts the book is up to you. It may be strange at first to imagine the five Bennet sisters as warriors, especially timid Jane and intellectual Mary, but somehow Grahame-Smith gets this to work (at least for a little while). Reading about Lizzy beheading a zombie with a swift kick or Lydia cutting a zombie in half is good fun at first, especially when the sisters work together to take down the monsters. However, the book starts to go downhill when it crosses the line. The sisters seem to have an unlimited amount of gruesome weapons, including guns, knives, swords, and much more, and they seem to relish using them. Lizzy even seems insane at one point when she kills a ninja, rips its heart out, and then takes a bite of it. However, the book is highly entertaining when it sticks to the plot, adding only small details that bring new humor to the story. For example, Charlotte may have a devastating secret; Darcy is the best zombie killer in the county; Bingley (and certainly his sisters) have never touched a gun; Wickham has a tragic accident; and Lady Catherine (a highly esteemed zombie killer herself) was trained in Japan, has her own personal ninjas, and looks down upon anyone who was trained in the Orient (China). The book falls apart a little near the end, where the craziness and gruesomeness reach new heights (ex: heart-eating), but overall, I really enjoyed reading through this silly parody. My advice: Don’t take it too seriously. If you do, you will probably end up hating it. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy a little romance/zombie horror for a while.

You can buy Pride and Prejudice and Zombies here.

P.S. If you liked this book, check out Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Ben H. Winters and Jane Austen!

~Angela

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (review by Angela)

2010-08-01T15:00:00.000-04:00

Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility is the story of two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. When their father dies, he bequeaths his entire estate to their shallow half-brother and his spiteful wife, leaving the Dashwood sisters and their mother virtually penniless. When a distant relative of Mrs. Dashwood, Sir John Middleton, kindly offers them a small cottage on his estate to stay in, the family leaves their beloved home, Norland, and moves to Barton Park. Elinor must also say goodbye to her friend and secret love, Edward Ferrars, her unpleasant sister-in-law’s brother, who would visit and talk with her often at Norland. Soon after the Dashwoods become settled in their new cottage, they are invited to the Middleton’s house, where they meet jovial Sir Middleton, haughty Lady Middleton and her spoiled children, talkative Mrs. Jennings, and kind, quiet Colonel Brandon, a retired soldier. It is obvious that Colonel Brandon falls in love with Marianne, but she has lately fallen under the spell of the charming, young, and handsome Willoughby. Marianne’s emotions lead her to behave indecently around Willoughby, but when Elinor finally begins to chide her for her behavior, Willoughby abruptly disappears, leaving Marianne heartbroken and miserable. Soon after Willoughby leaves, Elinor finds out an awful secret about her beloved Edward, also leaving her disheartened. The two sisters leave for London with Mrs. Jennings, weary of the countryside and not expecting much out of the visit, but they soon discover that being in the bustling city will answer many of their questions and might even lead them to a happier ending.

Sense and Sensibility’s main theme that defines the book is the relationship between Elinor and Marianne. While Elinor is very sensible, always striving to be level-headed and logical, her sister Marianne is wild in comparison. Marianne’s emotions are always extreme—when she is happy she is joyful, when she is sad she is dejected and almost lifeless, and when she is in love, she becomes filled with reckless abandon and believes her admirer can do no wrong. Even their talents illustrate their differences: Elinor loves to draw, while Marianne is passionate about music. Both want what is best for the family, but it is Elinor who must help her mother make the important decisions in their household. This unique and loving relationship between the two sisters keeps the novel interesting and provides some very witty conversations.

***WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!***

However, besides featuring a strong female character(s) and many pages of witty banter, Sense and Sensibility has quite a different feel from the rest of Jane Austen’s work, especially Pride and Prejudice. While Pride and Prejudice uses a light, witty tone to describe the adventures of its spunky heroine, Sense and Sensibility seems darker and not quite as optimistic. From the very beginning of the book, the Dashwoods are surrounded by spiteful, sly, greedy, small-minded, and foolish people. Their father, who was thought to be a good man, leaves nothing to his wife and daughters. Their half-brother seems well-meaning, wanting to help his half-sisters and stepmother somehow, but his greed and dim-wittedness make him easily controlled by his hateful wife. Willoughby is a deceitful and money-obsessed flirt (think Wickham from P&P), unwanted acquaintance Lucy is selfish and whiny, and Lady Middleton is proud and haughty, for the most part ignoring the sisters. Even the people who are nice to the sisters, such as Mrs. Jennings and Mrs. Palmer, seem like silly and somewhat airheaded gossips. The only “good” characters in the book are the Dashwoods, Colonel Brandon, and Edward (kind of—he was flirting with Elinor while secretly engaged to another girl). In addition to the general dark tone of the book, the ending is relatively unsatisfying. Elinor does end up with Edward, but her devotion to sense and self-control makes her engagement to him seem passionless. Marianne, after being rejected by Willoughby, ends up with Colonel Brandon, a much-older man she has never expressed interest in. While this seems implausible considering Marianne’s emotional nature, this serves to reinforce the point that the right balance of sense and passion is needed to live happily.

***END OF SPOILERS***

This is not to say that I do not recommend S&S. While not as thoroughly enjoyable as P&P, this book still has much to offer. In typical Austen style, there is much gossiping, entertaining conversations, and surprising secrets just waiting to be revealed. The satire on the wealthy class of England during Austen’s time is not lost either. The love stories are still touching, and the relationship between the two sisters is very well developed. If this is your first Jane Austen book, I suggest you read Pride and Prejudice first, but if you are an Austen fan, this book is a must-read for you.

~Angela

You can buy Sense and Sensibility here.

C-Ville Lit Life

2010-07-29T13:21:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I'll be moving out to Charlottesville, VA next month for college, and I'm curious about the lit life out there. Are there many author visits? Lit lover get-togethers? Book festivals? If you know about the C-Ville lit life, please let me know in a comment!
~bella aire~

Inception (Movie Review)

2010-07-28T12:59:00.001-04:00

Synopsis

Dom Cobb is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb's rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible-inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming.

Review

Inception has been pulling in some good reviews, so I went to see it tonight.

Wow.

Inception is an intricately woven fabric made up of colors that can’t yet be seen by the human eye. The concept is nothing less than astounding. While the basic premise, meddling with minds, is nothing new, Christopher Nolan*, Inception’s writer, twists it into something brilliant and incredible. The details and complexity of Nolan’s ideas are beyond belief. Many viewers will need to go back to the movie for a second or third showing to accurately, or semi-accurately, grasp the elusive full picture of Inception.

The other aspects of the movie weren’t all that shabby, either. The special effects were up to par, and the casting brightly offset Nolan’s imaginative script. Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Page both had stand-out performances**. I also found the actress who portrayed DiCapio’s character’s wife to be intriguing. Her name is Marion Cotillard, a native Parisian, and she already has won numerous awards (both American and French) for her role in La Vie en Rose. She adds necessary contrast to the movie.

In a time where I find good movies difficult to find, I cannot recommend Inception highly enough.

Your thoughts?

~bella aire~

*Nolan was one of the writers who created The Dark Knight, a movie that revolutionized superhero films.

**I almost felt like there was some chemistry between Leo and Ellen’s characters. Which is odd because of the age gap and because I felt Nolan might have been hinting at a possible relationship between Ellen’s character and “Arthur”, a supporting character. Did anyone else notice this?

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

2010-07-27T12:00:00.000-04:00

Synopsis

Phoebe Kendall is just your typical Goth girl with a crush. He's strong and silent...and dead.

All over the country, a strange phenomenon is occurring. Some teenagers who die aren't staying dead. But when they come back to life, they are no longer the same. Feared and misunderstood, they are doing their best to blend into a society that doesn't want them.

The administration at Oakvale High attempts to be more welcoming of the "differently biotic." But the students don't want to take classes or eat in the cafeteria next to someone who isn't breathing. And there are no laws that exist to protect the "living impaired" from the people who want them to disappear--for good.

When Phoebe falls for Tommy Williams, the leader of the dead kids, no one can believe it; not her best friend, Margi, and especially not her neighbor, Adam, the star of the football team. Adam has feelings for Phoebe that run much deeper than just friendship; he would do anything for her. But what if protecting Tommy is the one thing that would make her happy?

Review

While it may be shallow, the first thought in my head when thinking of Generation Dead is, “It is nothing like its cover.” The cover displays a zombified cheerleader reclining on a set of bleachers. It looks like a cover for a book full of fluffy fear and stereotyped supernatural love. However, the very fact that it displayed zombies and not, say, affectionate vampires, or Taylor Lautner sans shirt, gave me pause. Zombie YA books are pretty rare. After doing a quick Amazon search, I found that Generation Dead had received some very positive reviews. So I bought it.

No, Generation Dead will not be one of my favorite books of all time. I won’t reread it every day for a week or be found spouting off my favorite phases to unsuspecting strangers. But, Generation Dead will likely be one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. And I cannot emphasize enough how thought-provoking it was. Daniel Waters’ concepts were completely fresh and original, his execution was realistic and witty, and his ending was absolutely, painfully beautiful. The character dynamic was extremely interesting, and I cannot wait to read Kiss of Life, the sequel. So. If I were you, I’d stop reading this review and go out and buy Generation Dead. Or at least rent it from your local library. Enjoy!

~bella aire~

Purchase Generation Dead here.

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

2010-07-26T15:46:00.000-04:00

Synopsis

Sookie Stackhouse is just a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. Until the vampire of her dreams walks into her life-and one of her coworkers checks out....

Maybe having a vampire for a boyfriend isn't such a bright idea.

Review

Despite some less than complementary reviews, I chose to take a chance on Sookie Stackhouse. This was in no small part due to the Anthony Award Charlaine Harris’ novel received.

While I generally enjoy supernatural stories, I’ve been very wary of them lately, thanks to a certain current fad involving vampires, werewolves, and bad writing. Since Dead Until Dark features both vampires and shapeshifters, I was cautious about purchasing the first Sookie Stackhouse novel.

Dead Until Dark was neither as good as I had secretly hoped, nor as bad as I had outright feared. The writing has a straightforward, frank quality that appeals to me, and the vampires were not overly romanticized. However, the novel fell short at characterization.

I’ve read in some reviews that Sookie is unlikable, and I wouldn’t say that this is necessarily true. Sookie has dealt with a lot in her life, and I felt she deserved a bit of leeway. What I didn’t like was her borderline “love-at-first-sight” with her romantic interest, Bill Compton. She seemed primarily attracted to him because she couldn’t hear his thoughts*. While this makes a relationship easier, it doesn’t make a relationship necessarily “right”. Especially when she seemed to know so little about Bill.

In addition, many readers will feel a disconnect with the characters. All of the characters display apathy on some level throughout the novel. While I appreciate characters with faults (Scarlett O’Hara, Heathcliff, and Mr. Rochester are a few to name), I much prefer emotional faults, and ones that readers are easily able to empathize with. While I wouldn’t rule out apathy as a "good" fault immediately, I found the fact that it was so prominent off-putting.

I am in no way saying that Dead Until Dark is a bad, or even poorly written, novel. Those who like easy thrills and a chaotic mystery will probably enjoy this novel. I suppose it just wasn’t for me.

Your thoughts?

~bella aire~

Interested? Purchase Dead Until Dark here.

*Side Note: Dead Until Dark was published in 2001, nearly 5 years before the Twilight phenomenon.

...Where'd You Go?

2010-07-12T23:52:00.003-04:00

So. We've been MIA for the better part of a year. And now we're back.

But first things first. You are probably wondering what happened to us.

The answer? College apps/senior year.

I've always been told that senior year would be the best and easiest time I'd ever have in high school. This was so off. Maybe for some, but certainly not for me. I went the accelerated route for my senior year. Honors Physics and AP BC Calc in one year? Not pretty for those with a more literary bent.

After a year of obscene stress, I've been taking a breather.

But now I'm back, and I'd like to show what Not So Closet Geeks can accomplish when they put their minds to it.

Bella Aire Holland
Founder, Site Manager, and Chief Reviewer
University of Virginia

Angela Doyle
Associate Reviewer
Princeton University

Liesel Weasley
Technical Advisor
North Carolina State Univerisity (full ride)

Yep. One of the NSCGs has gone Ivy. I thought you might notice that.

I also want to encourage readers of every type. While I'm planning on majoring in English with the intention of becoming a literature professor, Angela is going into a business/engineering program. And Liesel is going into a computer science/business program. This proves that science and math geeks can be big readers, too!

I'm afraid it will be hard to keep Angela and Liesel in the NSCG reviewing ring in college, so this may be farewell for them.

As for me? The NSCG base will be moving to Charlottesville this fall. I'll bet there are some geeks just waiting for me to shove them out of the (geek) closet at UVa...

Hearts at Stake: The Drake Chronicles by Alyxandra Harvey (review by Bella Aire)

2010-01-15T20:50:00.000-05:00

Product Description:

On Solange’s sixteenth birthday, she is going to wake up dead. As if that’s not bad enough, she also has to outwit her seven overprotective older brothers, avoid the politics involved with being the only daughter born to an ancient vampire dynasty, and elude Kieran Black—agent of an anti-vampire league who is searching for his father’s killer and is intent on staking Solange and her entire family.

Luckily she has her own secret weapon—her human best friend Lucy—who is willing to defend Solange’s right to a normal life, whether she’s being smothered by her well-intentioned brothers or abducted by a power-hungry queen. Two unlikely alliances are formed in a race to save Solange’s eternal life—Lucy and Solange’s brother Nicholas, and Solange and Kieran Black—in a dual romance that is guaranteed to jump start any romance-lover’s heart.

Even fans of the genre who’ve seen it all will find a fresh read with kick-butt characters and family dynamics that ring true for all brothers and sisters—vampire or otherwise.

Review:
Hearts at Stake piqued my interest by advertising a unique friendship in the novel between Lucy and Solange. However, my interest was crushed early on in the novel.

The plot was dragged-out and overused, and the characters were flat at best. Readers, no matter how great their normal reading stamina, will find their attention wandering during these rambling passages liberally strewn with cliques.

I wish I could've enjoyed this book more. But after reading, it just seems like another high-publicized, low-quality YA vampire romance to me.

For those looking for top quality fantasy YA, I highly recommend Fire by Kristen Cashmore- a true gem in it's genre.

always,
~bella aire~

Purchase Hearts at Stake via Amazon here.

Invisible Lines by Mary Amato (Review by Jeannie Jones- MG)

2010-01-14T20:43:00.003-05:00

Invisible Lines by Mary Amato was one of the most awesome, entertaining books I’ve ever read. It’s about a boy named Trevor, but everyone calls him Trev. His family is not very wealthy. Trev lives with his mom, his little sister Tish, and his little brother Michael. Trevor is going to a public school and meets some rich, awesome, soccer-playing boys. Meanwhile Trevor is very good at soccer himself. The boys that become his friends are Xander and Langley. But when Trev threatens Xander’s repudiation as the best soccer player, Xander makes trouble for Trevor.

As a middle school student, it is easy to relate to Trevor. The storyline was strong as well as the author’s writing. Amato understands how the minds of middle schoolers work and never talks down to us because of our age.

I would recommend this fun, realistic fiction novel to any person 5-8 grade. 5 stars.

JEANNIE JONES

Buy Invisible Lines from Amazon here.

The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley

2009-11-29T20:43:00.005-05:00

The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley, set in Elizabethan England, is the story of Katherine Bab, an orphan and talented embroiderer who longs to know her true history. On the day that her best friend, a farmer boy named Christian, proposes to her, a strange, sick woman shows up at her house and demands that Kat’s caretaker, Grace, give her a mysterious necklace. Both the mysterious woman and Grace die of the plague the next day, and Kat finds the hidden necklace with the help of Grace’s deaf daughter, Anna. Against Grace’s last wishes, Kat leaves for London with Anna in an attempt to find out more about herself and to escape from Christian’s startling proposal. When Kat arrives in London, her flaming red hair and beautiful embroidery quickly get her summoned before Queen Elizabeth, and she is made one of the queen’s ladies-in-waiting. As Kat gets closer to the queen, rumors swirl about their very similar appearances, and Kat begins to uncover the truth about the necklace and her heritage. All the while, surrounded by suitors, Kat just can’t keep her mind off a certain sheep farmer…

This book, full of romance, intrigue, and beautiful dresses, will especially satisfy anyone who loves historical fiction or the Elizabethan Age. The clothing and setting are lavishly described, and the many historical facts make this book a fun learning experience as well. The Seymour family especially is explored in great detail, as apparently there is a missing daughter in the family (who knew?).

As for the heroine, Kat is spunky, determined, and likable. Her “sister” Anna is sweet, but doesn’t have much importance in the story besides making Kat feel guilty. Kat is pursued at court by two charming gentlemen, Nicholas and Rafael. Nicholas is the stereotypical pretty-boy, but Rafael has an intriguing storyline that is unfortunately left mostly undeveloped. Queen Elizabeth is actually one of the main characters in the story, adding a unique twist to the book. She is portrayed as both powerful and vulnerable, a combination that makes her seem human and realistic. Christian is, of course, the requisite sweet, caring farmer boy who has loved Kat her entire life.

I really enjoyed The Stolen One. The story is interesting and moves along quickly, especially as Kat finds out more about herself. Making Queen Elizabeth an important character really added depth to the story. However, the only complaint I have about the book is Kat’s apparent bipolar-ness. When she leaves Christian, she claims she could care less about him, but two chapters later, she longs to return to him all the way from London just because he breaks his foot. Also, she claims to care so much about Anna, but completely ignores her once she is accepted at court. Besides this, The Stolen One was a very enjoyable historical mystery/romance that I would recommend to any YA reader.

~Angela

P.S. You can buy The Stolen One here.

Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors

2009-11-29T15:56:00.006-05:00

Just in time for hot chocolate and mini marshmallows, I’m reviewing a sweet novel perfect for the holidays, Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors. The book, set in the Norwegian-influenced town of Nordby, Washington, revolves around Katrina Svenson and her grandmother’s coffee shop. Katrina, who spends every afternoon working in the coffeehouse, feels like she doesn’t have a direction in life. Her best friends, Vincent and Elizabeth, already have their futures planned out, but she doesn’t even know what she likes to do, besides work in the coffeehouse. However, her life turns upside down when she nonchalantly gives some food to a guy she finds sleeping in the alley beside the coffee shop. The guy, Malcolm, finds her at school the next day, begging her to be able to grant her greatest desire, but Katrina just thinks he’s crazy. To get him to leave her alone, she lies to him, resulting in two wishes that cause unhappiness in her life. Malcolm refuses to leave until he finds out Katrina’s “true desire”, and she begins to realize that Malcolm isn’t exactly human, but possibly an angel. In addition to giant rats, traitorous best friends, and villainous next-door neighbors, Katrina now has to deal with something even crazier: falling in love with an angel.

While often sweet and heartwarming, this book has both its upsides and downsides. When I first saw the cover, I felt like it was screaming I AM CLICHÉ at me. However, you should ignore the strange long-haired, glowing boy on the cover, as the book is not actually that bad. As I began to read, I found that I actually did like it. Katrina is sweet and realistic, and her two best friends are developed well. The plot is an interesting concept, and the small-town setting really adds to the book. However, as I continued reading, a few things started to bother me. Katrina began to seem whiny, as she constantly moans about her “lack of talent” and uncertain future. Since when is everyone supposed to know exactly what they want to do with their life when they’re only in 10th grade? The rest of the book is enjoyable, even though it can be a bit uneven. It’s hard to believe that a book that features such hilarious thoughts as “Is it easier to kick a guy in the balls if he’s wearing a kilt?” could be the same book that contains the horrendous sentence “His thighs spread out like corduroy logs”. The only other thing that bothered me was the ending. Everything works out much too perfectly, giving the ending an almost fake feel. However, Coffeehouse Angel was a fun, quick read, and I would recommend it for anyone with some extra time on their hands.

~Angela

P.S. You can buy Coffeehouse Angel here.

Green Books Campaign: Only Milo

2009-11-10T13:00:00.000-05:00

This review is part of the Green Books campaign. Today 100 bloggers are reviewing 100 great books printed in an environmentally friendly way. Our goal is to encourage publishers to get greener and readers to take the environment into consideration when purchasing books. This campaign is organized by Eco-Libris, a green company working to green up the book industry by promoting the adoption of green practices, balancing out books by planting trees, and supporting green books. A full list of participating blogs and links to their reviews is available on Eco-Libris website.

Only Milo, by Barry Smith, is printed on FSC-certified paper to support the environment.

Credit for the Green Books Logo goes to Susan Newman.

Synopsis:
Meet Milo, a closet writer who emerges from his dull, SPAM-flavored retirement to become an unseen force in the literary world. But when Milo's illicit ghostwriting is nearly exposed on national television, his options are limited. In a world of egotistical, no-talent authors and duplicitous, back-stabbing publishers, how can Milo achieve the recognition he deserves?

Review:
Completely unpredictable, Only Milo is a highly shocking and enjoyable read. The novel is simple to read, but has enough surprises and thrills to keep any reader enthralled. Readers gain insight into the twisted mind of a murderer through a riveting and brilliantly executed plot.

It is no wonder that Hitchcock comparisons have been made.

However, while Only Milo is easy to praise, it does have a few weaker points. One that stood out to me was just how far-fetched the murders became. Personally, I found this distracting. Even so, the escalating absurdity of the homicides could have been used for satirical means, so I'll leave this particular point for the reader to interpret.

Like all strong novels, Only Milo pushes the reader to question things they usually overlook. I began to question the effect that murder TV shows (such as Dexter) could have on society. These shows aided in the murder plans in Only Milo.

Overall? A strong novel that suspense/conspiracy fans will certainly adore.

~bella aire~

An Interview with PJ Hoover! (Questions by Jeannie Jones)

2009-11-06T02:04:00.000-05:00

This interview was conducted by Jeannie Jones, our newest and youngest reviewer. She enjoys all types of fiction and is a member of our new NSCG middle grade branch. See her review of PJ Hoover's The Emerald Tablet here. For those who have already read The Emerald Tablet, look for it's sequel, The Navel of the World.

1. When you were a kid, did you enjoy writing as much as you do now?

No way! I never wanted to write as a kid. I didn't think I was very good, and all I wanted to write were humorous poems. I thought I could never find enough words to make up an entire novel and was always astounded by authors and their ability to do just this.

2. Which do you enjoy more- writing or reading?

Writing when the words are flowing, and reading when they aren't. Actually, I think it's important to have a great mix of the two. Reading makes my writing better, and writing makes my reading more interesting.

3. What are the books you’ve published since The Emerald Tablet about?

THE NAVEL OF THE WORLD is the second book in the trilogy that started with THE EMERALD TABLET. It just came out in October 2009. That's the only one published so far, but here's to keeping fingers crossed! And the most fun part about THE NAVEL OF THE WORLD is time travel :)

4. Does your real life ever inspire your books and writing? If so, how?

I love finding inspiration everywhere I can. I use books, TV, music, and hobbies, just to name a handful or inspirational sources. I love Rubik's Cubes, and so I created the Kinetic Orb in my books. I loved the song ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK, and so I set a scene in THE EMERALD TABLET in Bangkok. Finding inspiration everywhere is one of the most fun parts of being a writer.

5. When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer?

I only realized I REALLY wanted to be a writer after the birth of my second kid. I was an electrical engineer for fifteen years, but had a hard time balancing the demands of engineering and giving my kids all the attention I wanted to give them. I started writing to see how it would go, and I found I loved it. It suited my personality super well, and I enjoy the heck out of it.

6. How did you get your first book published?

I met an editor at the SCBWI conference in New York one year who offered to read my manuscript. She gave me amazing feedback, and once I revised, I asked her if she'd read it again. She did, and after a couple more rounds, she bought the entire trilogy.

7. What are your favorite books to read?

In middle grade, I loved the PERCY JACKSON series and am enjoying the GREGOR series immensely. In YA, I loved THE HUNGER GAMES and THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH. These are books I would have loved to have written!

8. How did you pick the names of the characters in The Emerald Tablet?

There were various ways. For some of the more common names, I looked to my yearbooks. For the more unusual ones, I had fun using a random name generator. For example, Proteus Ajax came up via a random name generator. Pretty cool, huh?

9. Are there any special locations where you like to write best?

I have an office in my house, so at home, that's the only place I write. When I need to escape from the house, I head to the library. I find getting away from distractions like laundry and the dishwasher help me get more done.

Thank you so much for having me!

-PJ Hoover

The Emerald Tablet by PJ Hoover (review by Jeannie Jones)

2009-11-06T01:58:00.000-05:00

For our first review in our middle grade branch, Jeannie Jones has reviewed PJ Hoover's The Emerald Tablet. Later today an interview with the author will be posted. Make sure to stop by!

Note: All MG reviews and interviews are composed by MG-aged NSCGs.

The book, The Emerald Tablet, is one of the best books I have ever read. The thing I love most about it is the fantasy and suspense. It is about a boy whose name is Benjamin, and he thinks he is just as normal as everyone else. But one day his mom disappears into a pinprick of light, and Benjamin doesn’t know what happened to her. Then a man appears on Benjamin’s mirror.

What do you think will happen to Benjamin and his mom? Join Benjamin on his wild journey to find out.

Lovers of books full of fun and action will enjoy this novel. They won’t want to put it down. Trust me!

JEANNIE JONES

Upcoming: The Unveiling of a New NSCG Branch and a Green Books Campaign

2009-11-02T15:27:00.000-05:00

Some exciting events are coming up for the NSCGs.

Thursday, Nov. 5: The Unveiling of a New NSCG Branch- While we typically do reviews for YA and older, there has been so much interest in Middle Grade fiction that the NSCGs have added a MG Branch. This branch will feature MG books reviewed by MG-aged readers. Our first review will be of PJ Hoover's The Emerald Tablet. An interview will be included. Both the review and interview were conducted by a middle grade reviewer. (Note: If any MG publishers/authors are interesting in sending us a book for review, send an email to not_so_cg@yahoo.com)
Tuesday, Nov. 10: Green Books Campaign- NSCG goes green in the Green Books Campaign. We will be reviewing the environmentally-friendly Only Milo in support of this campaign.

Make sure to stop by for both events!
~bella aire~

Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines (review by Bella Aire)

2009-10-19T17:41:00.000-04:00

Synopsis:
Lyn is a neo-gladiator’s daughter, through and through. Her mother has made a career out of marrying into the high-profile world of televised blood sport, and the rules of the Gladiator Sports Association are second nature to their family. Always lend ineffable confidence to the gladiator. Remind him constantly of his victories. And most importantly: Never leave the stadium when your father is dying. The rules help the family survive, but rules—and the GSA—can also turn against you. When a gifted young fighter kills Lyn’s seventh father, he also captures Lyn’s dowry bracelet, which means she must marry him... For fans of The Hunger Games and Fight Club, Lise Haines’ debut novel is a mesmerizing look at a world addicted to violence—a modern world that’s disturbingly easy to imagine.

Review:
This book was certainly one to pique my interest. The premise was a promising one, and it possessed a theme that I suspect will hit a wave in young adult popularity in these next few years (not unlike the popularity seen with pirates and vampires in this age group).

Girl in the Arena has a wonderful idea...but a poor execution. The violent dystopian spin on this novel is reminiscent of great works such as 1984 and, as the inside cover boasts, Fight Club. Like those novels, Girl in the Arena makes a reader pause to think..what if? Books such as these serve as a reminder to our culture to be wary of the direction in which we are heading, and, for that reason, these novels are always useful.

This novel didn't stop at creating a warning through the plot; it proceeded to issue warnings through the characters. For example, Lyn's mother has married seven times and no longer knows how to keep her life together without a man's presense in it. As the novel progresses, we learn that her seven husbands weren't exactly strong candidates for that role (with her second husband perhaps being the sole exception). The only interruption in her role as a wife is her role as a mother. Unfortunately, this interruption is not strong enough to fight her identity as a wife. In addition, Lyn's mother has to follow a strict set of rules as the wife of a gladiator and holds little, if any, freedom in life. This character makes it obvious that no woman should live for a man...nor should she be completely reliant on him.

Other than the strong social commentary, Girl in the Arena proved to be a rather weak novel. The writing was choppy and uneven in certain places, and the book ended somewhat abruptly. But what bothered me most was the lack of connection between the author and Lyn. This author/protaganist connection is vital to any strong novel. This does not mean that the author has to like their character (some of the greatest classics in literature have some of the most unlikable protaganists). Rather, the author has to fully understand their character. I didn't get the feeling that Haines reached out and truly felt what Lyn was thinking, feeling, or seeing.

Still, despite its lack of finesse in certain areas, Girl in the Arena serves as a good compare-and-contrast novel against the world we live in today. I particularly recommend it to anyone interested in dystopia and the decline of humanity. However, if a reader really wants a strong, modern, Young Adult novel in this catergory, I would have to reference them to The Hunger Games, the first in Suzanne Collins' brilliant trilogy.

always,
~bella aire~

Check out this amusing Girl in the Arena YouTube video here.
Or stop by Lise Haines' site.

Finally, you can purchase Girl in the Arena here.

An NSCG Return

2009-09-13T19:16:00.000-04:00

Phew! After a very eventful summer, the NSCGs are ready to get back to reviewing. We have plenty of material in our To-Be-Reviewed pile and can't wait to get started.

Much more later,
~bella aire~

Meet a Blogger...Krista of Tower of Books

2009-08-04T19:28:00.000-04:00

Hello, readers! Meet Krista of Tower of Books. My favorite thing about her site is how many new books you can discover there.! The following is a short interview so that you can learn more about her. If you have any questions, just leave them in comments.

What inspired you to begin a blog?
I've wanted to have a review blog for quite some time, so when I stumbled upon a few book blogs last year, I realized a book blog would be perfect me.

What is your favorite classic book?
Do plays count? If so, I would have to say MacBeth. I absolutely loved the ending and the characters.

What is your favorite "guilty pleasure" book?
I don't really have a guilty pleasure read. I'm not embarrassed by any of the books I've read.

If you had to pick a song to describe this past week, what would it be?
Weightless by All Time Low because of these lyrics:
"And maybe it's not my weekend
But it's gonna be my year
I'm so sick of watching while the minutes pass
As I go nowhere"

I'm been spending way too much time at home lately. :-P

And last, but certainly not least...what makes you a geek?
I love to find out random facts whenever I can and mention them when the time is right. There's just so many interesting facts out there that I want others to know about!

Thanks, Krista!
And readers- don't forget to stop by Tower of Books here.

always,
~bella aire~

My Big Nose (And Other Natural Disasters) by Sydney Salter (review by Bella Aire)

2009-08-03T19:02:00.000-04:00

Synopsis:
It’s the end of junior year, and summer is about to begin. The Summer of Passion, to be exact, when Jory Michaels plans to explore all the possibilities of the future--and, with any luck, score a boyfriend in the process. But Jory has a problem. A big problem. A curvy, honking, bumpy, problem in the form of her Super Schnozz, the one thing standing between Jory and happiness. And now, with the Summer of Passion stretched before her like an open road, she's determined for Super Schnozz to disappear. Jory takes a job delivering wedding cakes to save up for a nose job at the end of the summer; she even keeps a book filled with magazine cutouts of perfect noses to show the doctor. But nothing is ever easy for accident-prone Jory--and before she knows it, her Summer of Passion falls apart faster than the delivery van she crashes. In her hilarious and heartbreaking debut novel, Sydney Salter delivers a story about broadening your horizons, accepting yourself, and finding love right under your nose.

Review:

My Big Nose (And Other Natural Disasters) is a heartfelt and hilarious tale of one teen’s torments and troubles.

At first I was worried that Jory, the narrator, would be a whiny/angsty/cliché teen…but I didn’t have to worry long. Jory’s sarcastic marks were witty and her concerns genuine, if somewhat exaggerated. The author (Sydney Salter) proves her genius in the awkward but side-splitting situations that Jory finds herself in throughout the novel.

Not one to shirk on relationships, Salter thoroughly develops the familial, camaraderie, and romantic based connections in My Big Nose. The male characters are an absolute delight- each one with a distinct and unique personality.

Jory’s preoccupation with her features can be sometimes overwhelming and off-putting. However, with the external obsession that society displays today, it does not come off as a far-fetched plot point. Though I felt that the nose-fixation dragged at points in the novel and sometimes distracted from the amusing tales of Jory’s summer, beauty fixation is an important issue that needs to be addressed to reverse much of the damage that modern magazines and “perfect girl” images have done to female teens. Jory’s interaction with her mother moved me most regarding the beauty topic.

Wrapping up with a superb and beautiful ending, My Big Nose was truly a lovely coming-of-age novel.

always,

~bella aire~

Purchase My Big Nose (And Other Natural Disasters) here.

Meet a New Blogger...Reggie of The Undercover Book Lover

2009-08-03T09:31:00.000-04:00

Hey, readers! Meet a fellow geek and book blogger, Reggie of The Undercover Book Lover. I'm loving the organization and set-up of her blog and reviews. Reggie is a bit new to the blogging world, so I've asked the following questions so we can get to her a bit better:

What gave you the idea of beginning a book blog?
I saw a blog called A Garden of Books. It's by Iryna. I loved it and thought that I could share how FANTABULOUS books are. I wanted to show people how talented people (authors) can be.

What was your favorite book as a child?
I HATED books as a child. Up until the fourth grade, I hated them with a passion but my dad and my aunt pushed and pushed me until I learned to love them. Now, I'm a total book nutt!

What is your current favorite genre?
My favorite genre is YA paranormal romance. It seems cliche, but many of the debut 2009 authors have amazing fantasy(ish) books! Of course, I also love verse novels (*ahem* Lisa Schroeder).

What is your favorite time period to read about?
My favorite time period to read about is the present. I'm not really into old, medieval and futuristic times. One exception is Academy 7. I LOVED it!

If you had to pick a favorite song based on lyrics alone, what would it be?
It would have to be Ready to Fly by Amy Pearson. She's Australian and she isn't that well known but she is the BEST!

And, last but certainly not least...what makes you a geek?
You should ask my family. They think I'm a total book geek. I actually joined this contest in our local bookstore called Book-Geek of the Month. I qualified, but I didn't win. But what truly makes me a book geek is that I have at least three books in my bag. Anytime, anywhere.

Thanks for stopping by, Reggie! Keep up the good work.

Don't forget to visit Reggie here at The Undercover Book Lover. And if you have any additional questions for Reggie, just leave a comment, and I'll make sure that she gets it.

always,
~bella aire~

New Winners for Suite Scarlett

2009-08-02T13:04:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately, out of our five winners, two did not respond in time! So now the new winners are:

Sarah Brooke
and
MssJos

I will be sending out an email shortly- please respond within 3 days. Thanks for entering!

Suite Contest Winners!

2009-07-21T16:04:00.000-04:00

'Ello luvs. Guess what made me so absent for the majority of this month?

England! What a wonderful country. But more on that later. Right now it's time to announce the winners of our contest. Each winner will receive a copy of Maureen Johnson's Suite Scarlett.

Robby
Cynthia
Nicole
Ninja Fanpire
Reese

Thank you all for participating in the contest.

I've contacted each of the winners in some way, and they have a week to send me their addys before a new winner is picked.

~bella aire~

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson (comment for an extra contest entry)

2009-07-05T19:30:00.000-04:00

Synopsis:
Her new summer job comes with baggage

Scarlett Martin has grown up in a most unusual way. Her family owns the Hopewell, a small hotel in the heart of New York City, and Scarlett lives there with her four siblings - Spencer, Lola, and Marlene.

When each of the Martins turns fifteen, they are expected to take over the care of a suite in the once elegant, now shabby Art Deco hotel. For Scarlett's fifteenth birthday, she gets both a room called the Empire Suite, and a permanent guest called Mrs. Amberson.

Scarlett doesn't quite know what to make of this C-list starlet, world traveler, and aspiring autobiographer who wants to take over her life. And when she meets Eric, an astonishingly gorgeous actor who has just moved to the city, her summer takes a second unexpected turn.

Before the summer is over, Scarlett will have to survive a whirlwind of thievery, Broadway glamour, romantic missteps, and theatrical deceptions. But in the city where anything can happen, she just might be able to pull it off.

Review:

Suite Scarlett is a bright addition to Maureen Johnson's already fabulous list of works. Fun and bubbly, but with a capacity for more serious subject matter, this novel is filled with a wonderful range of character and emotion. Readers will quickly grasp Scarlett's delightful sense of humor as the novel progresses. However, our narrator isn't the only character well fleshed-out. There is the older brother Spencer who, though charming, has some faults. And who could forget about our romantic interest- the delectable Eric? Though he may seem flat at first (a stereotyped southern gentleman), his secrets and somewhat odd sense of logic add depth to his personality.

What I loved most about Suite Scarlett, though, is it's focus on family. Many novels today make the romantic interest everything. The crushes/boyfriends/husbands/heroes become the entire reason for the novel...and the heroine's entire reason for existence. While I like romance as much as the next girl, too many novels of such a variety could create a skewed and dangerous outlook on life. And that is what makes Suite Scarlett so refreshing. This is a novel where family is more important than the romantic interest.

Interested? Purchase Suite Scarlett here.

Or...you could enter the NSCG 5 Copy Giveaway. Don't forget to leave a comment here for an extra entry!

Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender (review by Viola)

2009-07-01T22:20:00.000-04:00

Synopsis:
Alexis thought she led a typically dysfunctional high school existence. Dysfunctional like her parents' marriage; her doll-crazy twelve-year-old sister, Kasey; and even her own anti-social, anti-cheerleader attitude.

When a family fight results in some tearful sisterly bonding, Alexis realizes that her life is creeping from dysfunction into danger. Kasey is acting stranger than ever: her blue eyes go green sometimes; she uses old-fashioned language; and she even loses track of chunks of time, claiming to know nothing about her strange behavior. Their old house is changing, too. Doors open and close by themselves; water boils on the unlit stove; and an unplugged air conditioner turns the house cold enough to see their breath in.

Alexis wants to think that it's all in her head, but soon, what she liked to think of as silly parlor tricks are becoming life-threatening--to her, her family, and to her budding relationship with the class president. Alexis knows she's the only person who can stop Kasey -- but what if that green-eyed girl isn't even Kasey anymore?

Review:

So I wish Bella had told this book was a bit on the scary side before I started reading it at around 2 AM by myself and got completely caught off guard! Nevertheless, I ended up liking her choice for me, as usual.

Katie Alender named her book, Bad Girls Don't Die, well. No matter how many times you try, they just don't die. They just end up possessing teenager Alexis' young little sister, Kasey, who does the world's evil with a smile. Thanks to their residence's creepy history of a teased little girl falling to her death, the house is pretty much haunted. As if this wasn't bad enough, the only way to stop Kasey from murdering people is for pink-haired Alexis to get along with the super snotty popular girl in school who scared off her best friend by calling her fat. Now think about this... Is that really worth it?

No, this book really isn't that creepy. Promise. So don't let that scare you off from reading this. My only complaint? That everything worked out so perfectly... Otherwise you're in for a really great paranormal adventure!

Purchase Bad Girls Don't Die via Amazon here.

5 Copy GIVEAWAY! Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

2009-06-22T21:52:00.000-04:00

In celebration of Suite Scarlett's paperback release (today!), we are giving away 5 paperback copies of Suite Scarlett. (Isn't the new cover adorable?!)

What others have said:

"I can't wait until my room at the Hopewell is ready." - Meg Cabot

"This book is made of funny and smart and whimsical deliciousness (really, lick a page and taste for yourself)" - Libba Bray

"I couldn't put it down." - Michele Jaffe

"I loved it!" - E. Lockhart

"An utterly winning, madcap Manhattan farce, crafted with a winking, urbane narrative and tight, wry dialogue." - ALA Booklist, starred review.

Synopsis:
Her new summer job comes with baggage

Scarlett Martin has grown up in a most unusual way. Her family owns the Hopewell, a small hotel in the heart of New York City, and Scarlett lives there with her four siblings - Spencer, Lola, and Marlene.

When each of the Martins turns fifteen, they are expected to take over the care of a suite in the once elegant, now shabby Art Deco hotel. For Scarlett's fifteenth birthday, she gets both a room called the Empire Suite, and a permanent guest called Mrs. Amberson.

Scarlett doesn't quite know what to make of this C-list starlet, world traveler, and aspiring autobiographer who wants to take over her life. And when she meets Eric, an astonishingly gorgeous actor who has just moved to the city, her summer takes a second unexpected turn.

Before the summer is over, Scarlett will have to survive a whirlwind of thievery, Broadway glamour, romantic missteps, and theatrical deceptions. But in the city where anything can happen, she just might be able to pull it off.

About the author:
Maureen Johnson is one of my all-time favorite authors. The first Maureen Johnson I read was The Key to the Golden Firebird. A book as moving as that leaves a lasting impression. My favorite of all her works (so far) is Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes.

Maureen's blog is so much fun and definitely one of my favorites, so don't miss that. Or, if you'd like to check out her website, stop by here.

Want to learn a bit more about Maureen and Scarlett? Check out this video here.

And last but not least, a direct link to Amazon here if you'd like to puchase Suite Scarlett right now.

The Rules:
Enter by leaving a comment below including your email address. Five (5) winners will receive a copy of Suite Scarlett! If you are uncomfortable leaving your email address below, feel free to shoot me an email at not_so_cg[at]yahoo[dot]com instead with the subject "Suite Contest". This is a contest for US only.

Extra Entries:
+1 Leave a comment on the NSCG review of Suite Scarlett
+1 Visit Maureen's website or blog and tell me about one thing you learned there about Maureen or her books in your comment (do your best not to use a fact already mentioned in a previous comment)
+1 If you become a NSCG follower
+2 If you were a follower before June 22nd
+4 If you link to this contest in a post, sidebar, etc (a link to this must be left in your comment)

Make sure to leave all extra entries specifics in your comment/email.

This contest closes one month from today (July 20). The winners will be announced and contacted soon after.

NOTE: Only one comment per entrant, please. If you need to post a second comment, etc. because of an error/change, make sure to delete your previous comment(s).

One Lonely Degree by C. K. Kelly Martin (Review by Karilee)

2009-06-17T20:00:00.000-04:00

Synopsis:
Fifteen-year-old Finn has always felt out of place, but suddenly her world is unraveling. It all started with The Party. And Adam Porter. And the night in September that changed everything. The only person who knows about that night is Audrey—Finn's best friend, her witness to everything and the only person (under thirty) Finn trusts implicitly. So when Finn's childhood friend Jersy moves back into town—reckless, beautiful boy Jersy, all lips and eyes and hair so soft you'd want to dip your fingers into it if you weren't careful—Finn gives her blessing for Audrey to date him. After all, how could she possibly say no to Audrey?

With Audrey gone for the summer, though, Finn finds herself spending more and more time with Jersy, and for the first time since September, for the first time in her life maybe, something feels right—absolutely, stunningly right. But Finn can't be the girl who does this to her best friend...can she?

Review:
One of the first things I must note about C. K. Kelly Martin’s One Lonely Degree is that the whole concept of Finn stealing her best friend’s boyfriend is WRONG. However, it is also the most admirable thing to take into consideration. As a reader, I couldn’t help but take Finn’s side, despite the wrong-ness, and hope that she and Jersy eventually do end up together. Not only is it easy to identify with the narrator, but it is also very easy to sympathize. Her whole world is crumbling around her, and the only comfort she has is the love of her best (and only) friend’s boyfriend.

Despite the novel’s emotional control over the reader, there were many things that, as a picky reader, I was annoyed about. For about 150 pages I, for the life of me, had no idea what “HMV” (what I later found out is the title of the music store in the mall) was. It was probably just an error of an unobservant reader, however it must be noted that something so small distracted me from the actual plot. That is not to say that the book was boring, but that I expected what was happening next. Having read the back of the book, I knew that Finn would eventually fall for Jersy and vice versa, but what I did not know is how long that would take. The only thing the synopsis left for the reader to discover is what happens after they fall for each other. But, because it isn’t until the end that they do eventually betray Audrey, there is little information and plot that the reader is surprised about.

Even with my over-analyzation of the plot’s format, what was left for the reader to discover was very interesting and an enjoyable read. One Lonely Degree shows the reader that even though the world as you know it can completely change, it’s still possible to find happiness, even if it seems as though happiness is impossible.

I had a difficult choice between two songs to describe C. K. Kelly Martin’s One Lonely Degree. Although I made my decision, there is a quote from the song that didn’t make the cut. “Oh, instincts are misleading; you shouldn’t think what you’re feeling.” As much as Death Cab For Cutie’s line from “Lightness” captures the plot of the novel, the winner, “Run” by Snow Patrol (one of my all-time favorite songs!), I feel suits the feel of One Lonely Degree better.

Despite the negativity of the majority of my review, I truly did enjoy reading One Lonely Degree, and I can’t wait to read more from C. K. Kelly Martin. I hoped you enjoyed my review and that you get the chance to read One Lonely Degree.

Sincerely,
Karilee

One Lonely Degree by C. K. Kelly Martin can be purchased HERE.

Uninvited by Justine Musk (Review by Karilee)

2009-06-15T19:59:00.000-04:00

Synopsis:

Kelly Ruland's world fell apart when her brother Jasper walked away the sole survivor of a car accident...and kept walking right out of town. She doesn't want to believe that Jasper was at fault - but then why did he run away? How could he abandon Kelly and her parents? Now, former star student and athlete Kelly struggles to care about anything anymore, sleepwalking through school and experimenting with dangerous behavior as she tries to fill the void inside her.

Then one night, Jaspers returns...but he's not alone. Someone has followed him home. Someone who hides in the space behind the truth, who hovers in the shadows between the known and the unknown. His name is Archie, and he is the stranger they never asked to know, the guest they never invited. And he's about to challenge Kelly and Jasper to a game that demands a price they may not be willing to pay...

Review:
I must confess that I cracked the spine of Justine Musk’s Uninvited with a GREAT deal of skepticism. The sci-fi feeling of the synopsis in addition to the “MTV Books” label both led me to believe that no matter how it turned out, it just wasn’t going to be something I’d read on my own. But, to my pleasure and surprise, Uninvited quickly contradicted my initial assumptions. It was unbelievably captivating and I found myself incapable of putting it down. The plot, the characters, and the setting were all fully developed and as a reader it was easy to visualize the novel, even in the parts that were sci-fi-ish.

It is very easy for a mystery novel to have many unsolved mysteries at the start that remain unsolved, even when the book comes to a close. Uninvited, however, pieced together every question posed earlier in the novel while still maintaining an original resolution that the reader could never predict.

Unlike previous novels I’ve had the joy of reviewing, there was nothing that was absolutely, positively, and obnoxiously wrong with it. There were some parts that dragged on for a bit, but were promptly followed by edge-of-your-seat parts. If there was one thing I had to find wrong with it, it would definitely be the resolution of the main character, Kelly’s, love life. However, for the sake of not giving anything away and not over-analyzing a miniscule aspect of the novel, I will not get into that.

All in all, I was thoroughly impressed, and, as always, I look forward to reading more from Justine Musk, and maybe more from “MTV Books.” I highly recommend Uninvited to anyone who loves a captivating mystery.

The song for Justine Musk’s Uninvited is “For Real” by Okkervil River.
Although lyrically it doesn’t necessarily fit Uninvited, I feel as if the tone and feel of it can easily be associated with the novel.

I hope you found my review helpful and that you decide to read Justine Musk’s Uninvited.

Sincerely,
Karilee

Uninvited by Justine Musk can be purchased HERE.

What Happens Here by Tara Altebrando (review by Liesel)

2009-06-14T22:06:00.000-04:00

What happens when bffs cannot actually remain best friends, forever?

Tara Altebrando, in my opinion a highly underrated author, examines the complex double-standards set in all teenage friendships and the complex emotions of loss and despair in What Happens Here. Chloe and Lindsay had been the best of friends – they did everything together, and their lives were intertwined. They planned to travel the world and buy condos in several locations and complete their lives in happiness. When Chloe gets the opportunity of the lifetime to travel to Europe, she gets into a fight with Lindsay but sends her postcards from everywhere she goes, and finds a little romance of her own. Little did she know what would be awaiting her when she got home…

WARNING: Spoilers ahead!!!

Lindsay dies in a tragic murder, and Chloe wants to discover everything that happened that night; she feels guilty that she was not there when she was in Europe, and she finds herself clinging to her on/off crush on Lindsay’s brother Noah. More guilt is exposed as she believes that Lindsay would not approve of this liking, yet both of them work together to move past their terrible loss.

End of Spoilers

Similar to Sarah Dessen’s The Truth About Forever, this book examines the guilt associated with loss, and the idea of embracing imperfection when certain things can no longer be. That book is one of my favorites, and this one comes very close to that level. I feel that anyone looking for a compelling, emotional read should definitely check this one out!

xoxo, Liesel

Purchase What Happens Here via Amazon.

Sprout Review

2009-06-14T10:31:00.000-04:00

Sprout by Dale Peck is the story of Daniel Bradford, a gay teenager who is nicknamed Sprout because he dyes his hair green. When Sprout’s mother dies, his grieving father decides to leave Long Island and take Sprout with him to Kansas. They buy a small trailer, and Sprout’s father drinks all day and starts collecting stumps, having no intention of getting a job. Sprout enters school and feels like an outsider until he meets Ruthie, a confident, outgoing girl determined to get what she wants and maybe help Sprout out too. Sprout, with Ruthie’s help, soon begins to dye his hair green, allowing him to stand out even more at school. Sprout’s writing abilities get him approached by Mrs. Miller, an English teacher inclined to drink a little too much who helps him develop his writing and encourages him to enter an essay writing contest. Two guys enter Sprout’s life, one who he only feels lust for, and the other who shows Sprout true love. Through all of this, Sprout struggles with who he really is and eventually learns more about himself.

This novel is so unique and well-written. The characters are all so realistic and well-developed, especially Sprout. The way he thinks and writes is very mature, yet believable and often funny at the same time. I like how the story revolves around his relationships with others and his struggle to understand himself, not his desire to come out as gay and be accepted (most people already know that he is gay, including his father and Mrs. Miller, and don’t really make a big deal out of it). Sprout’s unique voice always comes through, entertaining the reader and making the story more poignant. The other characters add to Sprout’s story and help him understand himself, even when they betray him (or he betrays them!). The ending was unexpected and a little unsatisfying, but it seemed to fit with the book. Sprout is definitely one of the most well-written and interesting novels I have read this year, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a heartfelt, but also humorous, story.

~Angela

P.S. You can buy Sprout here.

Hidden Voices by Pat Lowry Collins (Review by Karilee)

2009-06-05T23:55:00.000-04:00

Synopsis:

It is a longing and search for love that motivates three girls living in the Ospedale della Pietà, an orphanage renowned for its extraordinary musical program. But for Rosalba, Anetta, and Luisa, the love they seek is not where they expect to find it. Set in the early 1700s in the heart of Venice, this remarkable novel deftly weaves the history of Antonio Vivaldi’s early musical career into the lives of three young women who excel in voice and instrument. Under the composer’s tutelage and care, the orphans find expression, sustenance, and passion. But can the sheltered life of the orphanage prepare them for the unthinkable dangers outside its walls?

Review:

Although Hidden Voices is somewhat boring at the start, as the novel progresses it becomes very consuming. Each chapter is narrated by one of three main characters. At first, they are very indistinct, and I easily found myself doubling back to see who was narrating. However, as the reader learns more and more about the thoughts, actions, and lives of the three musicians their differences become apparent.

One of the most captivating aspects of the plot is how geographical separation is eventually the very thing that brings them all closer together. Annoyance, foolishness, and jealousy all turn into the true love and nurturing of undying friendships (and yes I know how cheesy that sounds, but it was all quite moving). Although the eventual outcomes are not ideal and “they-all-lived-happily-ever-after,” they are comforting in the sense that they are realistic, despite the fact that they are bittersweet.

Moving on to the critical portion of the review, there really isn’t much to be said. The slow start may turn off a wide variety of readers who lack the patience to read through the slow parts of Hidden Voices, but eventually the plot is captivating, thus making up for the semi-boring start. Another aspect of Hidden Voices to take into consideration is the musical jargon. Having been a dedicated musician for most of my life, it was easy for me to pick up on the instruments, voices, styles of pieces, and Italian words dealing with music. However, it would be fair to say that many would probably get lost in pages of words and phrases about the music of which they know nothing. So, in can simply be put that this book is well-suited for musicians just as there are girly books for girls and boyish books for boys.

To any musician, especially those who love the works of Vivaldi, I whole-heartedly recommend reading Hidden Voices by Pat Lowry Collins. And to people who know little of music, I still suggest trying to read it for the life-lessons it contains. I thoroughly enjoyed Collins’ style and use of language and I am looking forward to reading some of her other works.

As is my tradition I have chosen a song that I love and that I feel fits the attitude and plot of Hidden Voices. However, before revealing it, I must say that I had a very difficult time actually picking. I was torn between picking a song for each of the characters or avoiding excess and only choosing one; torn between being utterly cheesy and picking a piece by Vivaldi or “keepin-it-real” and finding a modern song with heart-felt lyrics. Eventually I went with the latter of both debates, deciding upon “All Will Be Well” by the Gabe Dixon Band.
I hope you enjoyed the review and that you get a chance to read Pat Lowry Collins’ Hidden Voices.

Sincerely,
Karilee

Hidden Voices by Pat Lowry Collins can be purchased HERE.

A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell (review by Bella Aire)

2009-06-03T22:37:00.001-04:00

Summary (provided by Amazon):
Cora Bradley dreams of escape. Ever since her reckless older brother, Nate, died in a car crash, Cora has felt suffocated by her small town and high school. She seeks solace in drawing beautiful maps, envisioning herself in exotic locales. When Cora begins to fall for Damian, the handsome, brooding boy who was in the car with Nate the night he died, she uncovers her brother's secret artistic life and realizes she had more in common with him than she ever imagined. With stunning lyricism, Sandell weaves a tale of one girl's journey through the redemptive powers of art, friendship, and love.

They say no land remains to be discovered, no continent is left unexplored. But the whole world is out there, waiting, just waiting for me. I want to do things-I want to walk the rain-soaked streets of London, and drink mint tea in Casablanca. I want to wander the wastelands of the Gobi desert and see a yak. I think my life's ambition is to see a yak. I want to bargain for trinkets in an Arab market in some distant, dusty land. There's so much. But, most of all, I want to do things that will mean something.

-- From A MAP OF THE KNOWN WORLD.

NSCG Review:

Full of lyrical phasing, vivid memories, and honest feeling, A Map of the Known World is a beautifully written YA novel. Readers will be moved by the story of Cora dealing with the loss of her older brother, Nate. Her attempts to understand her brother and the rift that had grown between them before his death shows her struggle. Cora no longer seems to fit in the world she used to live in, and instead of turning to her old friends or family, she makes a connection with the most unlikely- or perhaps most likely- of people.

Damian, Nate’s rebellious best friend, survived the crash that Nate did not. Cora and Damian’s relationship does not start smooth due to the fact that Cora, following in her parents’ footsteps, blames Damian for being a “bad influence”. However, soon the two form an unusual bond through art. But will memories of Nate tear the bond apart…or make it stronger?

The strongest part of the novel is Cora’s recollections of her brother. Lisa Ann Sandell really deserves some praise for making them incredibly touching and heartfelt and just…beautiful. The only real problem I had with this novel was with the angry scenes. For some reason, the flow of the writing weakened and the writing became stilted during shouting matches, etc. However, this didn’t prove a large enough hitch to distract from the novel’s focus.

Did I like it better than Song of the Sparrow (a favorite of mine and one of Sandell’s earlier works)? I can’t say for certain. It would be like comparing apples and oranges. World is very different from Sparrow in writing style, mood, and many other ways. The one constant seems to be Sandell’s lyricism. Both were wonderful, so I’d suggest reading both.

-Bella Aire

A Map of the Known World can be purchased here.

Visit the author at her website.

Lisa Ann Sandell is also a Geek Fest author! Check out her guest blog for the event here.

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler (Reviewed by Angela)

2009-06-03T18:12:00.000-04:00

Summary (from Amazon):

"Don't worry, Anna. I'll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it." "Okay." "Promise me? Promise you won't say anything?" "Don't worry." I laughed. "It's our secret, right?" According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

Review:

This touching, sweet book is one of the best I’ve read this year. All of the characters are very believable, complex, and well-developed. Anna, the main character, is compassionate and kind, but she can’t get over Matt’s death and continues to write to him in her journal. She can’t talk to her best friend, Frankie, about it, because she is scared what Frankie will do when she learns her best friend secretly dated her brother, who is now dead. Frankie has dealt with her brother’s death in a different way, becoming a social butterfly and devoting herself to makeup, clothes, and boys. Frankie’s parents refuse to talk about Matt and continue to pretend that everything is okay in their household. When they all go on a summer vacation to California, everything about Matt’s death will have to be resolved, especially if Anna and Frankie want to stay friends, come to terms with their grief, and accept Matt’s death. This poignant, beautifully written story about grief and friendship is definitely a must-read this summer.

-Angela

Purchase Twenty Boy Summer, released today, here.

GUEST REVIEW Swim the Fly by Don Calame (Review by Royal Reads)

2009-05-19T17:25:00.000-04:00

Reviews Of Young Adult Literature, better known as Royal Reads, is a book blogging site run by Melanie (MssJos). With well-written reviews, fun contests, and wonderful profiles/interviews (if I do say so, myself), her site is one of the best out there. The organization of the site is particularly spectacular. Don't forget the check out Royal Reads here.

Young Adult Fiction
2009
345 pgs
Candlewick Press

Matt Gratton and his two best friends Sean and Coop always have a summer goal--this year is no exception. This summer the boys decide it’s time for them to see a live nude girl in the flesh--no more magazines or internet sites for these fellas. When Matt develops a serious crush on Kelly West, the new girl on the swim team, the summer gets a whole lot more complicated. Before he knows it, Matt finds himself volunteering to swim the 100-yard butterfly for his swim team's championship relay, something that’s nearly as impossible at his other summer goal. With a little help from his friends, Kelly's best friend Valerie, his Grandpa Arlo, and a hard-core swim coach named Ulf, Matt's summer soon becomes one he'll never forget.

What impresses me the most about this novel is the originality of the predicaments Matt finds himself in--more specifically, the creatively disasterous ways he manages to get himself out of these situations. To have covered an entire summer, this novel is a surprisingly fast-paced read that even reluctant readers will have a hard time putting down. Any author who can successfully tie together laxatives, cross-dressing, splitting speedos, and romance in one story has forever secured my readership.

Don Calame's debut novel brilliantly establishes his unique voice and impeccable ability to capture the essence of the wild creature that is the adolescent male. Calame's perfectly constructed dialogue between his characters is laugh-til-your-side-hurts hilarious and so authentic even adult readers will feel 15 all over again. Like any good book, Swim the Fly plays out like a movie in the mind, not surprising since the author is an accomplished screenwriter!
If you liked John Green's An Abundance of Katherine's, David Lubar's Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie, the movies Stand by Me and The Sandlot, you'll love Swim the Fly.

Rec: Grades 9-12

Grade: A

Melanie "MssJos"
ROYAL

Profiled By Royal Reads! (And Other News)

2009-05-18T17:48:00.000-04:00

I'm pleased to announce that I have been profiled and named "Blogger of the Month" by Royal Reads! Melanie, who runs everything over there, is an amazing reviewer. In fact, a guest review from her will be posted over here tomorrow!

I am so honored to have been offered an opportunity like this.

So, without further ado, here is a direct link to my Blogger Profile. Also take note of something mentioned at the end of the profile:
"Comment on [the blogger profile] and/or become a follower of NSCG and get an extra entry in my Book of the Month giveaway for May! "

How cool is that? Let me know what you think of the profile.

Contest List

2009-05-06T16:19:00.000-04:00

How to Buy a Love of Reading (Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf)
How to Buy a Love of Reading (Books by Their Cover)
How to Buy a Love of Reading (Bookluver Carol)
Generation Dead/Kiss of Life (Bookluver Carol)
Graceling (Bookluver Carol)
Fairy Rebels (Bookluver Carol)
Lament/iron key (Bookluver Carol)
Any E Scott (Bookluver Carol)
Love You Hate You Miss You (Bookluver Carol)
A Seer Book ('' '' '')
How to Hook a Hottie (" " ")
I Know It's Over (" " ")
You Had Me At Halo (" " ")
Kiss of Life (Perla)

Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner (Review by Liesel)

2009-05-04T15:45:00.000-04:00

Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner is an intriguing novel that puts quite a twist on the traditional fairytale. Here, the humans and Faerie people were previously at war, and items now exist that are categorized as either from Before or After. Why they began fighting remains unclear, but the remnants of this magic still affect the people in unforeseeable ways.

Liza is one of the many children impacted by magic. Her mother runs away, and when her younger sister was just a baby who happened to possess magical powers, she was immediately abandoned, and the sight of this haunts Liza to this day. Her father is highly protective and does not want any associations with magic. When she begins having visions and realizes that she too has magic within her, she feels that she must run away into the dark wood with a few companions by her side and solve the mystery surrounding her world.

Simner does an excellent job of keeping the novel interesting, though many questions remain unanswered and the descriptions are vague at best. The setting seems to be over dramatized; while the language flows smoothly, it is hard to understand the point of it, and at times it seems almost superfluous. Because of this, the details of the War and the after-effects are unclear. But for a debut novel, this is certainly a great start, and it will be interesting to see whether this story will become a series.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick read in a promising new type of book in the fantasy genre.

xoxo, Liesel

Bones of Faerie can be purchased here: http://www.amazon.com/Bones-Faerie-Janni-Lee-Simner/dp/0375845631/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241444912&sr=1-1

Lisa Mantchev hosts a contest...

2009-05-04T15:39:00.000-04:00

...prizes are either the incredible Eyes Like Stars or a Prize Package.

And, as always, her contest is original and fun.

This one involves wrecking cake fairy-style. Do NOT miss it!

Becoming Chloe by Catherine Ryan Hyde (Review by Nora)

2009-04-29T22:02:00.000-04:00

Plot Summary:

Wanda Johnston, aka “ Chloe”, has seen more in life than anyone should ever have to. It should be enough for her to have given up hope, but the problem is she hasn’t. Her problem is that she doesn’t seem to realize anything that’s happening around her; it’s like things click on an all too low level for her. Jordy, Chloe’s friend/caretaker first tries to forge a life in the city with her, but eventually has to flee on a mission. Jordy is determined to get Chloe to open her eyes to things and truly “see” the beauty in the world.

Review:

This book is expertly written, in a way that the reader can relate to both Jordy and Chloe. Actually, Chloe and I seem like we would make great friends. Her life’s happenings and troubles are big issues throughout the novel, but they make her all the more a round character. And Jordy’s determined and caring personality also gives him the air of a wonderful friend. The plot in this story is somewhat hackneyed, but still enjoyable. It’s a different view on the traditional “revival of the zest in life” theme. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who needs to be reminded of the beauty and loveliness in just being.

~Nora Green

Purchase Becoming Chloe here.
And/or visit the author here.

Winners of Name Game (and I Just Couldn't Resist)

2009-04-28T20:10:00.000-04:00

I am very happy with the turn out for the Name Game- I wasn't 100% it would take.

But it worked out well enough that I believe I will continue it in the future. I'm certainly involved with music often enough. Of course, the songs won't always be so easy!

As guessed,
Danny Boy Here Comes the Sun- The Beatles What A Wonderful World- Louis Armstrong

After looking everything over, I felt the need not to have one winner, but...four! Kind of in honor of April, our fourth month. The winners were randomly chosen:
MssJos
iDogrocker
BN Book Blog (creds to Beth- not Nathan!)
Tower of Books

Winners will be contacted shortly. I'm planning on doing this next month (perhaps five winners?), so stay tuned...

NOTE to AUTHORS:
I noticed at least one author had entered this contest (I'm honored to have had this happen!). Honestly, though, authors get freebies. You guys write BOOKS. How incredible is that? So I'll do an interview/GB/etc. for you regardless of a contest. Just send an email here: not_so_cg[at]yahoo[dot]com, and we'll arrange something. The author I noticed will be emailed tonight along with the winners, but this offer is open to all authors.

Also, I may have mentioned that I ran in to a well-known country singer...

Recognize him? Because in all honesty, I didn't. If someone hadn't said something, I would've had no idea. I don't listen to much country.

His hair was longer last week than it was in this picture, but he really was this adorable.

What Happened to You?

2009-04-27T18:26:00.000-04:00

Wow. It has been a while since I've posted. When I left two weeks ago, I forgot that I had another back to back trip following the first trip (I met someone very interesting to country music fans on the first trip- details after I've caught up). I returned yesterday with a pretty extreme sinus infection. But it's getting better...I think.

So the deal: this week I will be catching up on everything. I have a lot of April reviews that need to be posted and a ton of emails that need responses. I will be getting to that.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I haven't abandoned the site. And now I think I'll go take a nap. I feel like my head is going to explode.

NOTE: NameGame Contest announcements will be made tomorrow.

always,
~bella aire~

Win the Name Game 3

2009-04-17T22:24:00.000-04:00

I'm gone this week (this post is scheduled), but I wanted to leave something to keep the blog busy. So I came up with this: a Name Game. The gist is, I'll post the lyrics of some of the songs I'll be immersed in during my musical weekend, and you'll guess the song title.

These are today's lyrics:
"I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself..."

Recognize them? If so, leave the title of this song and/or artist in your comment with an email address. You are on your honor not to look this song up via internet. But asking others about the lyrics or looking it up in a music book is alright.

The prize is simple- we will host an interview, guest blog, guest poem, and/or guest review here at the NSCG site for whoever wins. Plus, if the winner is a blogger, we will add them to our Fantabulous Blogs list and provide a link to their blog in the post featured here.

You do not HAVE to be a blogger to enter this. Regular readers can have their writing/responses featured on our site, as well.

There will be more lyrics up later.

NOTE: There will be only one winner for all the different Name Game posts.

Win the Name Game 2

2009-04-16T22:13:00.000-04:00

I'm gone this week (this post is scheduled), but I wanted to leave something to keep the blog busy. So I came up with this: a Name Game. The gist is, I'll post the lyrics of some of the songs I'll be immersed in during my musical weekend, and you'll guess the song title.

These are today's lyrics:
"Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here...

...Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here...

...Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear...

...and I say it's all right
It's all right..."

This song is much more upbeat.

Recognize them? If so, leave the title and/or artist of this song in your comment with an email address. You are on your honor not to look this song up via internet. But asking others about the lyrics or looking it up in a music book is alright.

The prize is simple- we will host an interview, guest blog, guest poem, and/or guest review here at the NSCG site for whoever wins. Plus, if the winner is a blogger, we will add them to our Fantabulous Blogs list and provide a link to their blog in the post featured here.

You do not HAVE to be a blogger to enter this. Regular readers can have their writing/responses featured on our site, as well.

There will be more lyrics up later.

NOTE: There will be only one winner for all the different Name Game posts.

Win the Name Game

2009-04-15T21:29:00.001-04:00

I'm gone this week (this post is scheduled), but I wanted to leave something to keep the blog busy. So I came up with this: a Name Game. The gist is, I'll post the lyrics of some of the songs I'll be immersed in during my musical weekend, and you'll guess the song title.

These are today's lyrics:
"But when ye come and all the flowers are dying,
And I am dead, as dead I well may be,
Go out and find the place where I am lying,
And kneel and say an Ave there for me.

And I will hear tho' soft your tread above me,
And then my grave will warm and sweeter be.
For you shall bend and tell me that you love me,
And I will sleep in peace until you come to me."

This is an extremely sad and touching song. The story behind it is beautiful, if slightly depressing.

Recognize them? If so, leave the title of this song in your comment with an email address. You are on your honor not to look this song up via internet. But asking others about the lyrics or looking it up in a music book is alright.

The prize is simple- we will host an interview, guest blog, guest poem, and/or guest review here at the NSCG site for whoever wins. Plus, if the winner is a blogger, we will add them to our Fantabulous Blogs list and provide a link to their blog in the post featured here.

You do not HAVE to be a blogger to enter this. Regular readers can have their writing/responses featured on our site, as well.

There will be more lyrics up later.

NOTE: There will be only one winner for all the different Name Game posts.

Out of Town and And Update on Our Geek Boy

2009-04-14T21:50:00.000-04:00

Many of the NSCGs will be out of town for the remainder of this week and weekend. Thus, some of our reviews will be pushed back. I hate getting behind, but there's no way around it. We aren't far enough ahead right now to schedule any review posts.

"Where are you going?" you might wonder.

We are actually going to two different places. I'm not giving out specifics, but there will be much music. Maybe I'll schedule some posts of the lyrics to some of the music I'll be immersed in to keep the site busy...

"What happened to Geek Boy?" you demand.

I actually gave him a book to read today. Viola and I loved it, though it was not of Karilee's taste. It is typically classified as "Girl YA", so I wanted to get his take on it.

"What book?!"
Um, yes. You will find out in his review.

*Angry glaring*
Stop that! I'm trying to implement some suspense here. Jeez.

...oh, dear. Not the talking with the imaginary readers again. I think it's time for bed.

But wait! I'm thinking of posting a geek boy picture whenever I write something about our Geek Boy. How's this?

"..."
"..."
"But that's Adam Brody...?"

Why, yes. I might have noticed that. But he played a geek boy in the OC, and, well...

Okay fine. I just enjoy posting pictures of Adam Brody. So he is the new face of our Geek Boy. They don't look extremely alike, but they are brunettes...

Hmmmm. Geek Boy may have wanted a say in his face. But I doubt he'll notice that all his posts have the delectable Adam Brody in them. At the least, it will take him awhile...

Geek Fest Summary March 2009

2009-04-13T13:38:00.000-04:00

Geek Fest Author Notes

What did YOU think of Geek Fest? Would you like to see it happen again? What improvements could be made? Which posts were your favorites?

Short Note

2009-04-12T21:41:00.000-04:00

Happy Easter to those who celebrate it! And happy after-Easter chocolate sales to all who love chocolate!

I'd like to thank everyone who follows or visits our site. You guys are truly fantastic. I suppose thanks messages are more for Thanksgiving, but now seems like a good time to me.

In this post, I'd really love to receive some feedback comments. I'm trying to focus on ways to improve the NSCG site, so (please!) comment away. This is the place to voice your opinion.

always,
~bella aire~

Her Notorious Viscount by Jenna Petersen (Review by Bella Aire)

2009-04-09T20:30:00.000-04:00

Synopsis:

Beauty and her beast . . .

Viscount Nicholas Stoneworth is infamous—even being mentioned in the same breath with him is enough to ruin a lady's reputation. Why, the man's spent years in London's underworld pursuing every sort of vice while parlaying his hard muscled body into fame and fortune as a fighter! With his brother's untimely death, Nicholas must assume the title and relearn the civilized ways of the ton . . . and proper Jane Fenton is more than willing to teach him everything she knows.

Circumstances may have forced Jane into the role of ladies' companion, but she knows the danger of associating with a notorious man like Nicholas, a man who could tempt any woman into certain scandal. But her brother disappeared into the same underworld four long years ago, and if she transforms the libertine into a gentleman, he will use his connections to find him. Still, Jane will not—cannot—lose control. She must ignore the promise of sinful pleasure in his eyes . . . and her own wild desires desperate to break free.

Review:
I'm really starting to believe that Jenna Petersen can do no wrong. I mean, a Beauty and the Beast romance set in Victorian England? It sounds like my own personal heaven.

Petersen's writing has a delightfully melodic tone to it. The words flow together beautifully to successfully paint each picture of the story. Readers are clearly able to see the difference in Jane and Nicholas' lives as well as the surprising similarities.

The secondary characters in this novel were particularly strong.

***Slight Spoiler***
Cousin Patrick was so interesting that I'd easily buy a book about what happens to him after Her Notorious Viscount. His role in the story is unusual and fresh. I felt bad for the way things turned out for him.
***Slight Spoiler Over***

As far as action goes, Notorious was a bit anti-climatic. However, anti-climatic is not a word I'd use to describe the romance in this novel. The ending was darling!

One thing that really added to this novel is that both Nicholas and Jane had lives before and outside of their romance. Their backgrounds were very strong, and this made the story three-dimensional, which can sometimes be difficult to create in romances.

Overall, Her Notorious Viscount was a thoroughly enchanting romance.

always,
~bella aire~

Purchase Her Notorious Viscount here.

Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford (Review by Karilee)

2009-04-08T18:10:00.000-04:00

Synopsis:
Meet Will Carter, but feel free to call him Carter. (Yes, he knows it's a lazy nickname, but he didn't have much say in the matter.)
Here are five things you should know about him:

1. He has a stuttering problem, particularly around boobs and belly buttons.

2. He battles Attention Deficit Disorder every minute of every day...unless he gets distracted.

3. He's a virgin, mostly because he's no good at talking to girls (see number 1).

4. He's about to start high school.

5. He's totally not ready.

Join Carter for his freshman year, where he'll search for sex, love, and acceptance anywhere he can find it. In the process, he'll almost kill a trombone player, face off with his greatest nemesis, suffer a lot of blood loss, narrowly escape death, run from the cops (not once, but twice), get caught up in a messy love triangle, meet his match in the form of a curvy drill teamer, and surprise the hell out of everyone, including himself.

Review:
I decided to mix it up for this review and post my chosen songs for this book before reviewing it. I usually only have one, however I felt it necessary to have two. Firstly is “Missed the Boat” by Modest Mouse, because I think the feel of it fits in perfectly with the attitude of Carter Finally Gets It. Second is “Revelry” by the Kings of Leon because in addition to the horribly ironic opening lines, the lyrics partially coincide with certain aspects of the book.

Now on to the review: Ooooh where to begin???? How about with a story.

I’m sitting in history class, so naturally I’m reading. I’m perfectly fine, thoroughly enjoying Carter when I get to IT. It being one of the abundant laugh-out-loud-hysterically-so-everyone-thinks-you’re-crazy parts (and yes I am aware that the last sentence is probably the least grammatically correct phrasing possible. But I love it. So ha.)

Point of my story: don’t ever, and I mean EVER, allow yourself to read Carter in the presence of others.

Other than that, Carter is by far one of the best books I have ever had the joy of reading. It was funny, but it had its moments of morality. (Those would occur after he fled the police, of course.) I loved everything: the plot, the main character (whose name is, shockingly enough, Carter), and I especially enjoyed seeing the change of Carter over time. Despite the fact that the book ended geographically where it began, a lot had happened in between, making the beginning feel as though it had actually been an entire school year away.

Crawford’s language is also something to rave about. It’s not just the *EPIC FAILS* and the humorous plot line. The slang words, and even some of the nicknames, are noteworthy. Although I never did fully understand what he meant by “horn dog”, I still chuckled to myself every time I read it. I'm impressed with Crawford's first book, and I just can't wait to read what he writes next!

The only real thing about Carter that I ever questioned was the thought process of little 14-year-old Carter. Because I, myself, am not and never have been a 14 year old boy, I was left wondering if they were actually as sex-driven and knowledgeable on said subject as Crawford made them out to be. (However, upon questioning of a friend, I ceased all doubts as far as that topic was concerned…)

As if you couldn’t already guess this from my review, I would highly recommend this book for anyone who might even consider reading a book. It’s full of laughs, cringes (as I reader I felt that one poor boy could only suffer but so much embarrassment), and most importantly, it still has a moral and a story line that goes somewhere. I hope you enjoyed my review and that you plan on reading Brent Crawford’s Carter Finally Gets It.

Sincerely,
Karilee

And here is a short note from Bella Aire, who insisted on having a say in this review:
Brilliant in it's humor, Carter Finally Gets It is an absolute delight. I can't remember the last time I laughed so much. Crawford's wit, peppered with hilarious thoughts that scream teenage boy, is unsurpassable. Booklist wrote: "Occasionally poignant and frequently hilarious, this will amuse scads of male readers. Grades 7-10." I, for one, believe Booklist seriously underestimated the groups of readers Carter will appeal to. I am neither a male reader nor in grades 7-10, but I loved this book. The same goes for Karilee. If Carter appeals to guys as much as it does to girls like us, I think it will gather many fans.

always,
~bella aire~

Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford can be purchased here.

Beautiful Americans by Lucy Silag (Review by Angela)

2009-04-08T01:10:00.000-04:00

Summary:

PJ: Penelope Jane’s fluent French comes from being raised near the Canadian border, yet now this troubled, stunning waif will use it to escape forever.
Olivia: She may be a born dancer, destined for success. But that doesn’t mean scholarship-worthy grades and long-distance boyfriends are easy. What’s that saying about best-laid plans?
Alex: With a tough-love New Yorker mom and absentee dad, this snarky fashionista is anything but innocent. While seducing the guy of the moment, she could be in for the worst fall of her life.
Zack: Now that he’s away from his conservative Southern upbringing, lovable, handsome Zack can have almost anything he wants in Paris. But what if what he wants most is…another boy?

Review:

This book was ok, but not one of my favorites so far this year. Beautiful Americans is told equally by each of the main characters, so the reader gets to see the thoughts of PJ, Olivia, Alex, and Zack. The book seems like it might go well when the four arrive in Paris. They meet at school and form a loose friendship, with Alex and Zack becoming immediate best friends and PJ always unsure whether to hang out with them or not.

However, the book goes downhill from there. Alex becomes totally unbearable, as she is shown to be a complete narcissist with no regard for who she is hurting or how much she is spending. Her whole story involves whining about some preppy boy not liking her and how her mother cut off her credit card (she is used to getting whatever she wants). I’m not even sure how she got into this “study” abroad program, as she always has to get Zack to say things for her in French to waiters and others. PJ has a more intriguing story line (she gets to live with a famous, rich, dysfunctional French family), but she is stuck in the past. She is the character with all the secrets, and she is constantly reflecting on them and mostly ignoring anyone who tries to be nice to her. The reader gets little pieces of PJ’s secrets throughout the book. Olivia is the goody-goody turned rebel who at first misses home and her boyfriend back in the U.S., but soon starts keeping secrets from her parents and possibly falling for another guy. Zack is a mostly likable character who doesn’t really do that much. Like Alex, he’s worried about getting a boyfriend, but that’s about it. The one character I like, Jay, isn’t in the book much but seems like a genuinely caring and understanding guy.

The characters do a lot of partying and hanging out. It seems like they’re there more for vacation than to actually learn anything (I know this is true for Alex). However, the story does get a little better near the end, accelerating to a mild cliffhanger involving PJ. For a debut novel, Beautiful Americans is actually pretty well-written. Hopefully the sequel (out in fall ‘09) will make the characters a little more likable and have a better story line as well.

~Angela

You can buy Beautiful Americans here.

Secrets of My Hollywood Life: Paparazzi Princess by Jen Calonita (Review by Angela)

2009-04-08T01:06:00.000-04:00

Summary:

As the last season of Family Affairs comes to a close, prime-time teen star Kaitlin Burke is no closer to deciding what she wants to do after the show ends. Struggling with career choices and bummed over a ridiculous catfight with her BFF, Liz, Kaitlin is so mixed up she even starts to semi-bond with her archnemesis, Sky. Worst of all, she falls in with two of Hollywood's biggest party fiends when one of them asks her, "Don't you ever do what you want to do?" Shopping sprees and the Tinseltown nightlife seems fun at first, but soon Kaitlin realizes that being a paparazzi princess just might be her downfall.

Review:

I really love this unique series about Hollywood’s “It” girl with a twist. Kaitlin, the main character, may be a celebrity, but she actually has morals and tries to do what’s right. She seems like a normal person with real problems who just happens to be famous. The conflicts in her life are not superficial and are easy to relate to: her mom is controlling, she’s fighting with her best friend, she’s trying not to spend too much money in a wealth-obsessed society, she can’t let go of Family Affairs, everyone is pressuring her to get another role, and she’s the last of her co-stars to land a new show. She stresses out, just like any other normal teenager would under all that pressure. Add the paparazzi and two party-hoppers, and everything becomes even crazier! This book gives readers an inside look at Hollywood and is also really funny at the same time. The characters, especially Kaitlin, are all realistic and refreshing. I really love this series and can’t wait for the next book!

~Angela

You can buy Paparazzi Princess here.

An Interview with Jenna Petersen

2009-04-06T22:38:00.000-04:00

Not only is Jenna Petersen a top-notch romance writer, she is also one of the nicest authors I've ever met (by email). Check out our review of Lessons From a Courtesan here. Our review of her latest release, Her Notorious Viscount, is coming soon. And if you're looking for writing advice, I highly recommend visiting the site mentioned in question #9. Thank you so much, Jenna, for stopping by!

1. When did you first start writing? Why?
I started writing in 1996 when I thought it would be “easy” to write a romance during college. It wasn’t. I returned to writing in 1999, though, and started to write full-time. The rest is history!

2. What was your road to publication like?
Bumpy? LOL I wrote a lot of books, I submitted a lot, I stopped counting rejections around 100ish. But I’m glad I went through all that because it toughens you up a bit.

3. Do you having role-model authors for your writing or critique partners?
Not really a role-model for writing itself. I think each author has to find the path for them on their own. I couldn’t write “like” anyone and get it to work. I do have authors whose behavior I respect a great deal. Teresa Medeiros and Jacquie D’Alessandro are both really genuine people and I hope I can be that way, too. As for critique partners, I do trade full, revised books with Kathryn Smith.

4. Do you have any writing habits/rituals?
I try to write at least ten pages five days a week while I’m actively writing a book. That keeps me on schedule which is good. Otherwise, I don’t really have rituals. I don’t listen to music while I write or only eat pears or anything.

5. Have you ever had any encounters with “writer’s block”? If so, how do you cure it?
I don’t really believe in writer’s block. Honestly, I think if I’m stuck I’m either just being lazy and need to push through it or I’ve gone off the track on the story. If I go back and tweak a little, I’ll almost always get “unstuck”. That’s just me, though.

6. What gave you the idea for Lessons From a Courtesan?
I had a very strong image of Justin looking across a room and seeing London’s Most Celebrated Courtesan and realizing it was his wife. Then I just wanted to know why and how they had gotten to that place.

7. Who/what inspires the villains for your novels?
I’m not sure I’ve ever been inspired by a “who”. Although I’ve probably had villains behave in a way I didn’t like to be treated before. LOL but I just try to give them the right motivation so that what they’re doing makes sense to them.

8. A lot of your books are historical romances- what influences your choice of time period?
Actually all my books are historical. And 90% of them are Regency-set. I just like that time
period the most.

9. If you could give aspiring writers any advice, what would it be?
Probably all my best advice is at my site for writers, http://www.passionatepen.com/ The site celebrates its ten-year anniversary this year and we’re having a HUGE celebration, so I hope readers and writers will stop by each month to see what’s new (the site is updated each week).

10. If you could name one song to sum up your past week, what would it be?
Baby Love. We just got back from Tucson where we got to spend a few days with our nephew who turned one this week.

Everything is Fine by Ann Dee Ellis (Review by Karilee)

2009-04-05T18:58:00.000-04:00

Synopsis:
Stuck at home caring for her severely depressed mother and abandoned by her father, Mazzy has only the day-to-day dramas of her neighborhood to keep her busy. But between flirting with the boy next door and worrying about the fact that she's flat-chested, Mazzy has to face the fact that her mom is emotionally paralyzed by a family tragedy. As readers delve into the story, they'll eventually discover what it was that tore Mazzy's family apart, and they'll see what it takes to put it back together.

Despite its serious subject matter, Mazzy brings humor to the trying age of adolescence and gives readers just the kind of awkward, troubled, and endearing character they will gladly embrace.

Review:
Everything Is Fine is weird. That is neither a bad thing nor a good thing, rather an observation I have made as a reviewer. Rather than being divided into chapters, it is a series of what can loosely be called free-style poems. It is a relatively short read, however, in the hour or so it took to read, it delves deeply into the disastrously dysfunctional family of the main character Mazzy. (I hope you enjoyed my alliteration.)

The situations of Mazzy’s entire life are very depressing, without any hopes for a light at the end of the tunnel. She is caring for her mother who barely even wakes up, trying to push away people who keep trying to help, trying to ignore her father, and pining for the boy across the street. As the story progresses and Mazzy allows the reader further into her innermost thoughts, the events that brought her to where she is now are revealed. Everything is Fine’s Mazzy is not the kind of character that you silently weep for whilst reading about her. Instead of crying, the reader is left with this very depressed feeling in the pit of their stomach. Despite the depressing mood of the majority of the book, her life comes together just slightly in the end, leaving the reader to hope that everything will eventually be fine.

To an extent, I thoroughly enjoyed Everything is Fine. But I must admit that, typically, it is not my kind of book. However, it is very different from any book I have ever read, and I would definitely recommend reading it merely for the odd experience, if not for the heart-breaking story.

My Song for Everything is Fine by Ann Dee Ellis is “Stay Golden” by Au Revoir Simone.

Sincerely,
Karilee

Everything is Fine can be purchased here.

Lessons From a Courtesan by Jenna Petersen (Review by Bella Aire)

2009-04-04T20:00:00.000-04:00

Our Jenna Petersen interview and a review of her newly released book, Her Notorious Viscount, will be up soon!

Synopsis:

Lesson #1: Every man loves a mystery.

A scandalous siren called "Ria" has electrified the ton. Every gentleman in London desires her; every woman envies her. And they are all desperate to know the secrets of the tantalizing, seductively beautiful courtesan. All except Justin, the Earl of Baybary. He knows all about Ria. He learned every inch of her tender skin, every taste of her luscious lips . . . on their wedding night.

Lesson #2: No man can make you lose control . . . unless you let him.

Though theirs was an arranged marriage, still Victoria surrendered to passion and gave herself to Justin completely. When he left her alone the next morning, she swore she would never again let him into her bed. Now, though she has other reasons for returning to the city, she enjoys tormenting Justin, letting him see the way other men lust for her. But keeping herself from him is such exquisite torture . . . and forgiveness will lead to an ecstasy unbelievably divine.

Review:

Can I just say I love Jenna Petersen’s male love interests? I particularly love how delightfully glowersome and wonderfully scowlful Justin is from Lessons of a Courtesan. His piercing glares are incredible. Love them. But most of all I love how Victoria reacts to her tall, dark and brooding hero. The girl has got a backbone.

Lessons From A Courtesan is everything one could want in a romance. The story line is incredibly fun, and the tension between Justin and Victoria is superbly well-built. This novel moved with a satisfyingly quick pace as the couple began to understand one another. There were confrontations and confessions. Victoria’s confession truly shocked me. I didn’t see that one coming. Our villain was the only character who really fell flat. There was little to no depth to him. However, Petersen’s great strength is in the actual relationship of Justin and Victoria; it seemed that our villain’s main purpose was to create an original reason for the couple to run into each other in a highly unusual circumstance, so there really was very little need for depth there. Petersen, like all great romance writers, has composed a splendid love story that many will enjoy. She has proved to be my favorite romance writer since Nora Roberts, though both have their own unique styles and strengths.

~bella aire~

Purchase Lessons from a Courtesan here.
Visit Jenna's fabulous website here.

Learn About Operation Teen Book Drop!

2009-04-02T18:58:00.000-04:00

For more information contact:
Sara Easterly,
Publicist for readergirlz
Sara Easterly & Friends
sara@saraeasterly.com 206-632-8588

READING STIMULUS PLAN FOR HOSPITALIZED TEEN PATIENTSLAUNCHES JUST IN TIME FOR “SUPPORT TEEN LIT DAY” APRIL 16

Despite economic downturn, generous publishers have donatedthousands of young-adult books for readergirlz, Guys Lit Wire, and YALSAto deliver to teens in America’s top pediatric hospitals March 17, 2009 (Seattle, Wash.) – Teen patients in pediatric hospitals across the United States will receive 8,000 young-adult novels, audiobooks, and graphic novels next week as readergirlz, Guys Lit Wire, and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) celebrate the third annual Support Teen Lit Day on April 16.

In its second year, “Operation TBD” (short for Teen Book Drop), puts free books donated by 18 book publishers into the hands of many teens most in need of escape, inspiration and a sense of personal accomplishment. Books with exceptional characters and fabulous stories can provide just that for teens and their families dealing with difficult, long-term hospital stays.

At a time when philanthropic giving is down, readergirlz co-founders have been inspired by overwhelming industry support for Operation TBD. “readergirlz is always looking for innovative ways to connect teens with literature, “ said Dia Calhoun, co-founder of readergirlz and acclaimed young-adult author. “We’re honored that publishers have supported this goal by giving so liberally this year.”

Operation TBD also aims to encourage all teens to choose reading for pleasure as a leisure activity, over other entertainment options. Inciting the broader teen community to participate in Operation TBD in its drive to spur reading on a national scale, readergirlz has launched a trailer on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/readergirlz) inviting teens and YA authors to leave a book in a public place on April 16. When visiting www.readergirlz.com, participants can download bookplates to insert into the books they’ll leave behind, which explain the surprise to the recipient and tell them to read and enjoy.

“This event is such a special one because it not only raises awareness about teen literature, but it also truly helps those teens most in need. Teens facing illnesses will be able to find an age- appropriate new book to read while in the hospital — teen books matter and not just any old book will do,” said Sarah Cornish Debraski, YALSA president. “Our thanks to the publishers, readergirlz, and Guys Lit Wire. It’s wonderful to unite with these organizations to forward this cause.”

Participating book publishers who have donated books or audiobooks include Abrams Books, Bloomsbury/Walker Books, Candlewick Press, Full Cast Audio, Hachette Book Group, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Hyperion, Milkweed, Mirrorstone Books, Orca Book Publishers, Peachtree Books, Perseus Book Group/Running Press, Random House, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, Soft Skull Press & Red Rattle Books, TOKYOPOP and Tor/Forge/Starscape/Tor Teen.

“Putting the right book into the hands of a teen can turn that teen into a reader for life, “ said Suzanne Murphy, VP and Group Publisher, Scholastic Trade Book Publishing. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to help Operation TBD show teens firsthand just how much fun reading can be.”

Pediatric hospitals that have signed up to receive books include Phoenix Children's Hospital (Phoenix, Ariz.), Rady's Children's Hospital (San Diego, Calif.), Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Children's Hospital and Research Center (Oakland, Calif.), All Children's Hospital (St. Petersburg, FL), Children's Memorial Hospital (Chicago, Ill.), UM C.S. Mott Children's Hospital (Ann Arbor, Mich.), Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics (Kansas City, MO), The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Children's Medical Center in Dallas, Mary Bridge Children's Hospital & Health Center (Tacoma, Wash.) and Seattle Children's Hospital.

“Our teen patients here at Seattle Children’s loved the books donated through the Operation Teen Book Drop last year,” said Kim Korte, Child Life Manager, Seattle Children’s Hospital. “Books are a wonderful avenue for our patients to be distracted from the pain and stress of hospitalization. We are always in need of books and greatly appreciate the generosity of the publishers who donated.”

Everyone who participates in Operation TBD is invited to celebrate at the TBD Post-Op Party on April 16 at 6 p.m. Pacific Time on the readergirlz blog: http://readergirlz.blogspot.com.

About Support Teen Literature Day
For the third consecutive year, Support Teen Literature Day will be celebrated April 16, 2009 in conjunction with ALA’s National Library Week. Librarians all across the country are encouraged to participate in Support Teen Literature Day by hosting events in their library. The purpose of this new celebration is to raise awareness among the general public that young adult literature is a vibrant, growing genre with much to offer today’s teens. Support Teen Literature Day also seeks to showcase award-winning authors and books in the genre as well as highlight librarians’ expertise in connecting teens with books and other reading materials.

About the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)
For more than 50 years, YALSA has been the world leader in selecting books, videos, and audiobooks for teens. For more information about YALSA or for lists of recommended reading, viewing and listening, visit www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists or contact the YALSA office by phone, 800-545-2433, ext. 4390, or email, yalsa@ala.org.

About readergirlz
readergirlz is the foremost online book community for teen girls, led by five critically acclaimed YA authors—Dia Calhoun (Avielle of Rhia), Holly Cupala (A Light That Never Goes Out) Lorie Ann Grover (Hold Me Tight), Justina Chen Headley (North of Beautiful), and Melissa Walker (the Violet series). readergirlz is the recipient of a 2007 James Patterson PageTurner Award. To promote teen literacy and leadership in girls, readergirlz features a different YA novel and corresponding community service project every month. For more information about readergirlz, please visit www.readergirlz.com and http://readergirlz.blogspot.com, or contact divas@readergirlz.com.

About Guys Lit Wire
Guys Lit Wire brings literary news and reviews to the attention of teenage boys and the people who care about them. Working to combat the perception that teen boys aren’t as well read as teen girls, the organization seeks out literature uniquely targeted toward teen male readers in hopes of bringing attention of good books to guys who might have missed them.

Ó2009 readergirlz

So...who won?

2009-03-30T16:31:00.000-04:00

Thank you guys for the comments- I had completely forgotten about announcing the winners on the blog!

For the Lauren Henderson contest (Kiss Me Kill Me and Kisses and Lies): MssJos

For the Maria V. Snyder contest (Storm Glass): scottsgal

And for the Lisa Ann Sandell contest (The Song of the Sparrow and A Map of the Known World ARC): Amelia

All congratulations emails have been sent.

I wish there were more books to give away, especially for the more dedicated entrants. I'll try to have some more contests in the future.

Thanks to all who participated and contributed! I'm actually planning on sending thank you emails to our guest bloggers and writers once I catch up on everything, so if you'd like to leave a personal thank you comment or something along those lines, I'll add it to the email.

always,
~bella aire~

The College Frenzy

2009-03-29T18:15:00.000-04:00

The results are in for our little polls. What did I learn? Hmmm. We've got a lot of teen readers, but also a decent amount of 20 up, I think. And we're nearly all female. Hopefully our Geek Boy Maybe will add a bit more of a male following. I'm pretty content with the ages, though.

I was brainstorming last night, trying to come up with some new ideas for the blog. What do a lot of teens have in common? I came up with: college. Older teens, in particular, are hit with the college frenzy that sweeps America (and perhaps other countries, as well).

It is time to give a little info up about me. I am a teen. I've never stated that outright on the blog to avoid stereotyping/bias, but if most of you guys are teens, too, I don't mind owning up. I am immersed in the college craze right now. Which schools to visit? Which classes to take next year? How to buff up my resume? So many questions. Though I can't answer most of them for my readers, there is one question I can answer: Which college-related books to read?

I've decided to include college-related books in my reviews. This way, readers will know which ones to read and which to avoid.

If there is something else college-related that you guys would like me to write about, I'm open to new ideas. Comment away! Let me know what you think. If its a bad idea, I can always pull the plug on it.

always,
~bella aire~

Four More Contests

2009-03-29T16:49:00.000-04:00

This is a Sweet Sixteen contest and this is for a multitude of ARCs.

And check out this one- a first ever contest!
Plus this one for The Summer I Turned Pretty.

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols (Review by Bella Aire)

2009-03-27T19:27:00.000-04:00

Synopsis:

All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far...and almost doesn't make it back.

John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won't soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won't be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge -- and over....

Review:

This book blew my mind. The story, the writing, the characters…everything was just...wow. Kirkus didn't exactly agree with me but that's okay. We'll agree to disagree. And my review here will cancel out that one. Because obviously Kirkus and I are on the same level of reviewing, right? I mean, check it out here- Kirkus and I side by side. So there you have it. I'm really tempted to add a little winky smiley face right here, but since I'm Kirkus' main competitor, I really have to make sure I look professional at all times.

What? You're not completely convinced that Kirkus and I are reviewing equals? That's okay too, because if my review alone doesn't cancel out that one, here are a multitude that will.

Anyway, back to the review.

In the beginning, I wasn’t sure if Meg and John would really click; they were so strained together. However, as time progressed, their connection became more apparent and far stronger than I had originally realized.

More importantly, Meg and John truly have an effect on each other. This is far rarer in books than many would expect. How many fictional couples really change each other? Like some chemicals when thrown together, Meg and John (especially Meg) really create a reaction. And speaking of reactions- they have plenty of a physical sort of chemistry reaction, too. What adds an air of suspense to this novel, though, is the question of whether this reaction they create will produce a positive or negative effect on their personas.

Both Meg and John need something. And neither really knows what it is though they both try to find substitutions for what’s missing through various activities. John dedicates himself to the police force, and Meg dedicates herself to living wild. But what will really bring them the peace they seek?

Perhaps there were a few cliches in Going Too Far, but they were written so well and in such a fresh voice, that they didn't really bother me. Which is saying something, since I'm not really the world's biggest cliche fan.

There's a word I've been wanting to use in one of my reviews for quite some time now: enticing. But I hadn't really found a book that really fit the word until I read Going Too Far. So here it is: Jennifer Echol's latest novel is enticing.

Purchase Going Too Far here.

And check out Jennifer Echol's site here!

always,

~bella aire~

I <3 Your Blog

2009-03-25T16:56:00.000-04:00

I won something! Unfortunately it has taken me awhile to get to it since I was in the midst of Geek Fest when I was nominated. Things got a little crazy. Thanks to Lisette of TV and Book Addict , Book Junkie, and Nadine-Stella of Starry Night for the award.

Here are the rules to keep the award moving:

1) Add the logo of the award to your blog

2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you

3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs

4) Add links to those blogs on your blog

5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs!

The blogs that I'm choosing are:

Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf

Sarah's Random Musings

Reading Without a Net

Book Chic

Shalonda's Blog

Becky's Book Reviews

Good Girls Read Books

Congratulations! It may take me a day or two to contact you, but I'll get to it ASAP. I promise. If you find out before I contact you, please leave me a comment to let me know.

Our Very Own Geek Boy (Maybe)

2009-03-23T17:46:00.000-04:00

After reading Jody Gehrman's guest blog, many readers may have a renewed interest in geek boys. So I believe now is the perfect time to announce that the NSCGs will be having a guy friend of mine reviewing for us on a trial basis. If things work out, he will be our first Geek Boy.

I'd love to hear what you guys think of this, so comment away!

So many giveaways...

2009-03-23T17:04:00.000-04:00

here is a contest for five books. And this one is for Cyn Balog's Fairy Tale. And, last but not least, this one for Girls in Trucks.

MAX by James Patterson (A double review by Angela and Bella Aire)

2009-03-23T14:43:00.000-04:00

James Patterson's heroine, Maximum Ride, returns in the next book in the series, Max. This time Max and the gang- Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy, and Angel- are putting on shows to raise awareness about the environment when a new version of bad guys, the M-Geeks, show up, led by the nefarious Mr. Chu. Soon, in the Pacific Ocean, fish are dying and ships are being destroyed, and Max's mom is kidnapped. To save her, Max and her winged family are going to have to go where they've never gone before- underwater. All the while, Max finds that her relationship with Fang is getting serious, her bird/human family is still gaining new powers, and her authority over her flock and her life is getting challenged more and more often.

This book is definitely the best Maximum Ride yet. I am so happy that things finally got moving between Max and Fang (they are perfect for each other!). Angels character also developed and got a lot more interesting in Max. However, I am getting a little tired of the save-the-environment plotline (even though I totally support it), especially since the bad guy was rather boring. Even so, Max is still her sarcastic, kick-butt self, and the book is still entertaining and funny, so I suggest you go get Max as soon as possible!

-Angela

One thing about James Patterson is certain. He knows how to write! Anyone who has read any of his other works have to marvel with me over his range. He can write everything from teenage mutant fiction to sweet adult love stories. It's truly impressive.

However, even the best of authors can have a flop book here and there. But I am happy to say that this is not the case with James Patterson's Max. Max is, as Angela puts it, the best book in the Maximum Ride series- a bestselling series that boasts an "all ages" range (again with the amazing range). Though most of the relationships really grew in this novel, one relationship really outshone the rest: that of Max and Fang. The two finally start acting upon/reacting to the connection that they shared.

Thus said, this book will please all Fang lovers immensely. For all the girls who have been dreaming about Mr. Tall, Dark, and Winged, your prayers have been answered.

Another interesting subplot is the leadership struggle that Max experiences. Is she doing the right thing? Doing enough? Too much? Trying to find a correct balance of power is a crucial factor for Max.

I love that James Patterson has created a strong female leader as his heroine. But you know what I love even more? I adore that he has created a male romantic role who doesn't always have to dominate or who becomes sullen when a female takes control. Sure, there have been a few struggles regarding this before, but all struggles were between two people and not between and man and a woman. What I guess I'm trying to say is that gender never really seems to be a determining factor in whether or not Max is a strong leader (which she just so happens to be).

For first time Max readers, I highly recommend that you begin with the first Maximum Ride novel. This is not one of those series that you can really pick up in the middle. And for old fans? Do not be deterred by The Final Warning (which was, in my opinon, the weak link of the Max series). Patterson's latest more than makes up for it.

~bella aire~

Purchase MAX here.

Buy the first Maximum Ride novel, The Angel Experiment, here.

Or you can visit James Patterson's website!

Last Chance to WIN the Kiss Contest!

2009-03-19T20:22:00.000-04:00

This contest includes both Kiss Me Kill Me and Kisses and Lies by Lauren Henderson. It ends tonight, so enter while there's still time!

The WINNER of How to Hook a Hottie...

2009-03-18T21:48:00.000-04:00

...is Laina! A "Congratulations!" email has been sent.

If you didn't win this contest, there are plenty more! The Geek Fest contest list is on the right side of our website. Getting those extra entries (like The Book Girl) will really tip the odds in your favor...

Books I've Read Meme

2009-03-17T21:52:00.000-04:00

The following meme is from Chelsea of The Page Flipper.

The following list of books teens love, books teens should read, and books adults who serve teens should know about was compiled IN ABSOLUTELY NO SCIENTIFIC MANNER and should be taken with a very large grain of salt.

Instructions:
Put an “X” next to the books you’ve read
Put a “+” next to the books you LOVE
Put a “#” next to the books you plan on reading
Tally your “X”s at the bottom
Share with your friends!

1. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy / Douglas Adams #
2. Kit’s Wilderness / David Almond
3. Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian / Sherman Alexie
4. Speak / Laurie Halse Anderson X+
5. Feed / M.T. Anderson
6. Flowers in the Attic / V.C. Andrews #
7. 13 Reasons Why / Jay Asher#
8. Am I Blue? / Marion Dane Bauer (editor)
9. Audrey Wait! / Robin Benway #
10. Weetzie Bat / Francesca Lia Block X
11. Tangerine / Edward Bloor X
12. Forever / Judy Blume X
13. What I Saw and How I Lied / Judy Blundell #
14. Tyrell / Coe Booth
15. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants / Ann Brashares X
16. A Great and Terrible Beauty / Libba Bray X+
17. The Princess Diaries / Meg Cabot X+
18. The Stranger / Albert Camus
19. Ender’s Game / Orson Scott Card #
20. Postcards from No Man’s Land / Aidan Chambers
21. Perks of Being a Wallflower / Stephen Chbosky #
22. And Then There Were None / Agatha Christie
23. Gingerbread / Rachel Cohn #
24. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist / Rachel Cohn and David Levithan X+
25. Artemis Fowl (series) / Eoin Colfer X
26. The Hunger Games / Suzanne Collins X+
27. The Midwife’s Apprentice / Karen Cushman
28. The Truth About Forever / Sarah Dessen X+
29. Little Brother / Cory Doctorow
30. A Northern Light / Jennifer Donnelly X
31. Tears of a Tiger / Sharon Draper #
32. The House of the Scorpion / Nancy Farmer X
33. Breathing Underwater / Alex Flinn #
34. Stardust / Neil Gaiman X
35. Annie on My Mind / Nancy Garden
36. What Happened to Cass McBride / Gail Giles
37. Fat Kid Rules the World / K.L. Going #
38. Lord of the Flies / William Golding X
39. Looking for Alaska / John Green X+
40. Bronx Masquerade / Nikki Grimes X
41. Out of the Dust / Karen Hesse X
42. Hoot / Carl Hiaasen
43. The Outsiders / S.E. Hinton
44. Crank / Ellen Hopkins #
45 The First Part Last / Angela Johnson
46. Blood and Chocolate / Annette Curtis Klause X+
47. Arrow’s Flight / Mercedes Lackey
48. Hattie Big Sky / Kirby Larson
49. To Kill a Mockingbird / Harper Lee X+
50. Boy Meets Boy / David Levithan
51. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks / E. Lockhart X+
52. The Giver / Lois Lowry X
53. Number the Stars / Lois Lowry X
54. Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie / David Lubar
55. Inexcusable / Chris Lynch
56. The Earth, My Butt and Other Big, Round Things / Carolyn Mackler #
57. Dragonsong / Anne McCaffrey X
58. White Darkness / Geraldine McCaughrean
59. Sold / Patricia McCormick #
60. Jellicoe Road / Melina Marchetta #
61. Wicked Lovely / Melissa Marr X+
62. Twilight / Stephenie Meyer X+
63. Dairy Queen / Catherine Murdock X
64. Fallen Angels / Walter Dean Myers
65. Monster / Walter Dean Myers
66. Step From Heaven / An Na
67. Mama Day / Gloria Naylor
68. The Keys to the Kingdom (series) / Garth Nix X
69. Sabriel / Garth Nix X
70. Airborn / Kenneth Oppel
71. Eragon / Christopher Paolini X
72. Hatchet / Gary Paulsen X
73. Life As We Knew It / Susan Beth Pfeffer #
74. The Golden Compass / Phillip Pullman X+
75. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging / Louise Rennison X
76. The Lightning Thief / Rick Riordan
77. Always Running: La Vida Loca / Luis Rodriguez
78. how i live now / Meg Rosoff #
79. Harry Potter (series) / J.K. Rowling X+
80. Holes / Louis Sachar X+
81. Catcher in the Rye / J. D. Salinger X+
82. Push / Sapphire #
83. Persepolis / Marjane Satrapi X
84. Unwind / Neil Shusterman #
85. Coldest Winter Ever / Sister Souljah
86. Stargirl / Jerry Spinelli X+
87. Chanda’s Secrets / Allan Stratton
88. Tale of One Bad Rat / Brian Talbot
89. Rats Saw God / Rob Thomas
90. Lord of the Rings / J.R.R. Tolkien X+
91. Stuck in Neutral / Terry Trueman
92. Gossip Girl / Cecily Von Ziegesar X
93. Uglies / Scott Westerfeld X
94. Every Time a Rainbow Dies / Rita Williams-Garcia
95. Pedro and Me / Judd Winick
96. Hard Love / Ellen Wittlinger #
97. American Born Chinese / Gene Luen Yang #
98. Elsewhere / Gabrielle Zevin X
99. I am the Messenger / Markus Zusak #
100. The Book Thief / Markus Zusak X

So that's a little under half, I think. Very interesting. Lots of good books...

Another Winner and a Closing Contest

2009-03-17T21:03:00.000-04:00

Our winner for the What Would Emma Do? contest is...TruBlu93! I've sent out the "Congratulations!" email, so make sure to respond to that.

There are still a few ongoing contests (listed on the right side of our blog) for those who didn't win (or even for those who did), so make sure to try those out before they close.

Here is one for Tina Ferraro's How to Hook a Hottie that is ending tonight!

Last Chance to WIN What Would Emma Do? by Eileen Cook

2009-03-16T17:49:00.001-04:00

This contest ends tonight, so there are only a few hours left to enter!

Good luck!

Didn't Win Eyes Like Stars in Geek Fest?

2009-03-16T16:32:00.000-04:00

That's okay, because here is another chance. Six galleys are being given away at the new Theatre Illuminata site! The contest will be open until tomorrow at midnight, so don't waste any time...

I'll openly admit that I love the idea of this contest- so adorable!

Good luck, everyone!

More Winners!

2009-03-16T16:18:00.000-04:00

For the Laurie Faria Stolarz contest (666/Love is Hell): Silvia
And for the Lisa Mantchev contest (Eyes Like Stars): Sara

"Congratulations" emails have been sent.

I know that there were a lot of hopeful entrants for these contest, but there are plenty of other contests left if you didn't win this one. The Geek Fest contest list is on the right side of our website. Again, getting those extra entries (like all of our winners so far) will really tip the odds in your favor...

Last Chance to WIN These Books...

2009-03-15T21:23:00.000-04:00

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev in this contest.

And 666 or Love is Hell in this contest.

These contests end in a few hours, so make sure to enter while there is still time!

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (Review by Bella Aire)

2009-03-15T17:54:00.000-04:00

Synopsis:

In Mary's world, there are simple truths.

The Sisterhood always knows best.

The Guardians will protect and serve.

The Unconsecrated will never relent.

And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village. The fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

But slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power. And, when the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness.

Now she must choose between her village and her future, between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded by so much death?

Review:
This book came as a huge surprise to me. Pinpointing why, though, is a bit difficult since I try to approach all books with as little bias as possible. The cover didn’t do much for me; it has a bit of a dark, depressed undertone to it. Dark, depressed books aren’t my style in general, but as stated above, I do my best to avoid bias. So assuming this didn’t affect my judgment, we’ll move on to the summary. The summary was a bit out-there for me. It seemed to be full of a “the world is ending” premise which works for some, but again, generally not for me.

Normally I wouldn’t pick up a book to review that seems as contrary to my temperament as The Forest of Hands and Teeth (I never said I wasn’t biased in choosing my books- just not in reading them). But the feedback it was getting…the light but excited buzz surrounding this novel caught my interest. So I decided to try it out.

So what exactly surprised me? Truthfully, it was how over-the-top amazing I found The Forest! I don’t advertise my ratings in reviews. In fact, they are outlawed at the NSCG blog. I do this because everyone sees books differently- how many of my favorite books have gotten one or two stars on Amazon from a few of the customers? But I do like to keep a private record of my personal ratings for books.

I’m going to emphasize how incredible this book is by breaking my little rule and posting a few of my ratings today.

I gave The Forest of Hands and Teeth five stars. I cannot adequately explain just how rare five stars are from me in my personal ratings. I started reviewing seriously in October, and in the past five months I have only found four books to which I have given fives (which books? To name: North of Beautiful, If I Stay, The Secret Life of Prince Charming, and Eyes Like Stars (giveaway here!)- two of which have not had their reviews posted yet). Note: this is not to say I haven’t had some great 4.8s, etc out there. For a five star, it’s not enough that I didn’t feel the need for any changes- I also have to be such a fan that I feel the need to go out and defend the

book of changes.

What really shocked me about The Forest is that its five-star rating seemed to have come out of nowhere. For my other fives, I was slightly biased (I'll admit) because I had approached the books with expectation and some excitement. North of Beautiful was by one of my favorite authors, If I Stay had already gotten a ton of hype, Prince Charming was written by an award winning author, and Eyes Like Stars was right up my alley with all the fantasy. So I already had a good idea that I was going to like them.

I started reading The Forest of Hands and Teeth in a more professional manner by doing the unbiased thing. So its five star hit me in the gut.

My little ramble will end here so that I may get to the point. The Forest of Hands and Teeth is an eerie, unpredictable, and slightly gloomy page turner. Not at all my “type”.

But I couldn’t help but love it.

Why? I’m going to go ahead and give all the credit to Mary, the heroine. Her enduring hope will hit readers and stick with them, as it did with me. Even in the darkest of situations, Mary has this sense of hope that brings light to any circumstance. Her dreams set her apart from the slew of heroines I’ve read about in the past year. These dreams are both her saving grace and her

downfall.

But it feels wrong to give all the praise to Mary without mentioning her obviously talented creator, Carrie Ryan. So thank you, Carrie, for writing such a remarkable debut novel (that’s right- this is her first published book). I will certainly be looking for more of your work in the future.

~bella aire~

Purchase The Forest of Hands and Teeth here.
Check out Carrie Ryan's site here.

The WINNER of the Zoe Marriott Contest

2009-03-15T17:33:00.001-04:00

...is The Book Girl! A "congratulations" email has been sent.

The Book Girl won both Daughter of the Flames and The Swan Kingdom from our first Geek Fest contest. There are plenty of other contests left, though, if you didn't win this one. The Geek Fest contest list is on the right side of our website. Getting those extra entries (like The Book Girl) will really tip the odds in your favor...

Last Chance to WIN Daughter of the Flames and The Swan Kingdom...

2009-03-14T20:17:00.000-04:00

...by Zoe Marriott. It ends today, so there are still a few hours left to enter. The giveaway is here.

WIN The Song of the Sparrow and an ARC of A Map of The Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell!

2009-03-14T00:36:00.000-04:00

I loved Lisa Ann Sandell's beautiful The Song of the Sparrow.

Synopsis:

Since the days of King Arthur, there have been poems and paintings created in her name. She is Elaine of Ascolat, the Lady of Shalott, and now there is a book all her own. The year is 490 A.D. and 16-year-old Elaine has a temperament to match her fiery red hair. Living on a military base with her father, brothers, and the rest of Arthur's army, Elaine pines for the handsome Lancelot, and longs for a female friend. But when the cruel, beautiful Gwynivere arrives, Elaine is confronted with startling emotions of jealousy and rivalry. Can Elaine find the strength to survive the birth of a kingdom?

And I can't wait to read A Map of the Known World, which sounds absolutely incredible.

Synopsis:

Cora Bradley dreams of escape. Ever since her reckless older brother, Nate, died in a car crash, Cora has felt suffocated by her small town and high school. She seeks solace in drawing beautiful maps, envisioning herself in exotic locales. When Cora begins to fall for Damian, the handsome, brooding boy who was in the car with Nate the night he died, she uncovers her brother's secret artistic life and realizes she had more in common with him than she ever imagined. With stunning lyricism, Sandell weaves a tale of one girl's journey through the redemptive powers of art, friendship, and love.

Sounds like something you'd be interested in? Entering for this contest is easy, and there are tons of ways to rack up extra entries.

Enter by leaving a comment below including your email address. The winner will receive a both The Song of the Sparrow and an ARC of A Map of the Known World! If you are uncomfortable leaving your email address below, feel free to shoot me an email at not_so_cg[at]yahoo[dot]com instead with the subject "Lisa Ann Sandell Contest".

Extra Entries:
+1 Leave a comment on Lisa's guest blog
+1 Visit Lisa's website and tell me about one thing you learned there about Lisa or her books in your comment
+1 If you become a NSCG follower
+1 If you become a NSCG reader by subscribing to our myspace blog (www.myspace.com/not_so_cg)
+2 If you were a follower before Geek Fest
+2 If you were a myspace subscribed reader before Geek Fest
+4 If you link to this contest in a post, sidebar, etc (a link to this must be left in your comment)

Make sure to leave all extra entries specifics in your comment/email.

This contest closes this next Saturday (March 21th). The winner will be announced and contacted sometime during the week following.

Geekfest: Could There Be a More Beautiful Name? by Lisa Ann Sandell

2009-03-13T21:52:00.000-04:00

Lisa Ann Sandell is the author of the lyrical The Song of the Sparrow, which has earned many starred reviews. Her vivid debut novel, The Weight of the Sky, was also well received. Her next novel, A Map of the Known World, comes out on April 15, 2009. Check in later today to have a chance at winning both The Song of the Sparrow and and ARC of A Map of the Known World in a Geek Fest contest!

Geekfest: Could there be a more beautiful name?

Cardboard. Marigold yellow and white. I remember a marigold yellow and white cardboard box filled with kitty litter, or some other granular substance that looked and felt and smelled a lot like kitty litter (minus the actual cat poo). It was a Chanukah present from my parents, the best one ever. A cardboard box filled with kitty litter and fossils. FOSSILS! As in, fragments of dinosaur bone and trilobite imprints and ancient plant remains. OMG. A box of FOSSILS buried in kitty litter! And it came with a little guidebook, a brush, and a magnifying glass. I couldn’t imagine a better present, not for Chanukah or my birthday or Christmas or National Digging Up Dinosaurs Day—if only that were a holiday.

Well, as soon as my parents presented this magical box to me and I tore off the dreidel-covered wrapping paper, I began picking through the bits of gray, slightly smelly pieces of gravel, or litter box filler, excitedly unearthing piece after piece of prehistoric treasure. I flipped through the book; identified each piece I found, carefully dusting off the microscopic specks of dust; and stuck a small square sticker on whatever flat surface I could find. I painstakingly labeled those stickers with neatly drawn numbers, then pulled out a black and white freckled composition notebook and wrote the corresponding number alongside the name of the artifact. 1. Dinosaur bone (late Triassic – late Cretaceous?). 2. Trilobite (early Cambrian – lower Paleozoic), etc. Finally, I lovingly stored each fossil in a long, rectangular red velvet case, which I stored in the drawer of my night table, at my bedside, so I could examine and caress my precious finds whenever I wanted.

Oh my goodness, I was in geek heaven. A special corner of geek heaven—DINOSAUR geek heaven. And I couldn’t have been happier. Of course, I couldn’t let on to anyone I knew outside my immediate family that this was the best gift I’d ever gotten. In fact, I’m not sure anybody outside my immediate family even knew about my affinity for dinosaurs, aside from one or two bffs. And I didn’t get any less geeky as I grew older and moved into high school.

There, I was a full-fledged geek: top in my class in calculus, a chemistry lover, and…in the marching band (yes, I went to band camp). But I did everything I could to mask my geekiness. I didn’t necessarily succeed at camouflaging myself as one of the non-geeky, but not for lack of trying. I tried to dress trendily (fail), I tried to cover up my good grades, and I tried to convince myself that marching band was cool. Uh huh. Because to admit to geekiness was to admit to weakness, to loserdom, and I certainly wasn’t prepared to do that. At least not willingly.

Once I got to college, however, everything changed. There, I found that to be smart, to have “geeky” interests was actually cool. It was like four years of opposite day. And gradually I began to embrace my closeted geeky side. I learned how to recite the prologue of the Canterbury Tales in Middle English from memory; this bumped me up the geek-o-meter by about fourteen thousand points. Suddenly, I was kind of cool. I majored in medieval English literature and focused on Arthurian legend. Girls who love the mythology of King Arthur are not often considered cool, but in my college English department, it wasn’t even a question. The research that went into my senior thesis led to my second book, Song of the Sparrow. Snap!

And when I left college, suddenly, I realized, the geekier one was, the better. The more I read, the more I knew; the more Star Trek I watched, the more I had to talk about with my friends. Now, as a tried and true geek—still a space and dinosaur lover—and a fan of Battlestar Galactica, when people ask me if I watched the original Battlestar Galactica series (which I didn’t), I feel a pang of anxiety because maybe…maybe I’m not geeky enough. Ah, how things change. For the better!

So, I say: Geeks, stand strong. Wear your fossil-loving, dinosaur-hearting sci-fi nerdiness like the badge of honor that it is! And, geeks, unite!

Confessions of a Dabbler in All Things Geek by Karilee

2009-03-13T19:47:00.000-04:00

Karilee is the newest NSCG reviewer. Below, learn what makes her a true Not So Closet Geek.

1. I enjoy, I may even thrive on, my title as geek.

2. I tell myself (and naturally believe), that people who consider the label “geek” to be license for them to mock us are merely jealous of our undeniable coolness.

3. I am, and probably always be, a member of both band and orchestra. Not only do I get the endearing title of Band Geek, but also the exceedingly awesome title Orch Dork.

4. Despite my uncontrollable love for listening and playing music, I have yet to be able to conquer and string instruments. Believe you me, I have tried. I have also failed miserably. I am what you may call string challenged.

5. I listen to classical music. I enjoy classical music. And I have also been known to “break-it-down” to said classical music.

6. I often use the word “said” when commenting on things that I had previously mentioned.

7. I also use lovely words/word combinations such as dapper, come hither, go thither, and (my personal favorite) FMaj7. The latter I used a replacement for the word face. Get it??? (an F major seventh chord is spelled F-A-C-E)

8. I am the master of all jokes, cheesy. For example: What do you call cheese that isn’t yours??? NACHO CHEESE!!! (No pun was intended when the cheesy joke I used for an example happened to be pertaining to cheese.)

9. I like to consider myself a cheese connoisseur. In other words, I am one of those rare cheese geeks. If ever I were to move to a different state, my number one choice would be Wisconsin.

10. I have a funky hat collection. I have an oh-so-lovely lobster hat, a hat covered in sequins, a smiley-face hat, a pharaoh hat, an Elmo beanie, and a knitted hat with tassels and a yarn puff on top. All I really need now is a cheese wedge hat…

11. I enjoy school just as much, if not more than, I love not being in school.

12. In school I particularly enjoy the math and sciences, therefore dubbing me a science/math geek.

13. I practically go nuts every time I learn to do something new and cool on my calculator. (I’m not even talking about the games on the calculator!)

14. I currently possess (and plan to acquire more) two science humor shirts. One says “Carol never wore her safety goggles…………now she doesn’t need them” and the other has a wonderful stick figure holding an Erlenmeyer flask and a calculator and says “STAND BACK. I’m going to try SCIENCE!”

15. I love math so much that I took two math classes last year. Both were taught by the same teacher. That teacher is now very nearly my favorite person EVER. My fellow geeks and I bought her a TI N-spire last year for her birthday. (For those of you who do not know, a TI N-spire is like the calculator of all calculators.)

16. Despite my lack of multi-cultural-ness I am a devout member of the multi-cultural diversity club at school. There’s just something about watching foreign films with all my closest geek friends.

17. I am trying to struggle my way through as many of the essential classics as possible. Too bad these darn young-adult books keep distracting me!

18. I have a very strong obsession for music. Not really rap or hip hop or R&B, but I’m a sucker for oldies, classic rock, alternative, and for weird stuff that people other than me rarely listen to. (such as screamo, hard-core techno) This obsession is so strong that, upon hearing merely the first tidbits of a bass line or the sound of the guitar or the singer, I can pretty much identify most songs by either: artist, album, title, or sometimes even year.

19. I actually have an album by the Carpenters on my ipod.

20. I enjoy musical theater, opera, and movies. I love it even more when movies become musicals or vice versa (for example: Sweeny Todd became a movie, and the lovely 80s movie 9 to 5 starring Dolly Pardon, is on its way to becoming a musical)

21. I have a great, great love and appreciation for the wonderful music of Mr. Andrew Bird. I have all of his albums (including the instrumental ones, and the Bowl of Fire albums) and my number one goal as of now is to one day see him in concert. (My love for his music isn’t necessarily geeky, but it does assert my former statement about liking music most of which most people have never heard.

22. I have a thing for leather-bound books. I don’t necessarily like to read them; rather I prefer to bask in their beauty.

23. I prefer to root for the under-dog. Maybe that could be because I’m always the under-dog...

24. I don’t actually need glasses (oh the joys of having 20-20 vision), but I would love to get a pair without actual lenses because I think they would make me look smarter.

25. It sincerely bothers me when people speak or write incorrect grammar. However, I often times make the very mistakes I criticize others for making.

26. Just in case you haven't noticed from my first review and from the rest of this post, I have been known to use and create some spectacular hyphenated-modifiers.

While I have many other geeky quirks, listing 26 is enough for Geekfest. So, to all you fellow Geeks out there, don’t ever let anyone make you feel like being a geek is a bad thing, and continue to flaunt your glorious geeky ways!

Sincerely,

Karilee (a well-rounded geek)

WIN Maria V. Snyder's Storm Glass!

2009-03-13T16:14:00.000-04:00

As readers may have gathered earlier, I love Maria V. Snyder's Poison Study. So I'm really excited about her new Glass series. Here is the synopsis of book one (to be released April 28), Storm Glass:

Untrained. Untested. Unleashed. With her unique magical abilities, Opal has always felt unsure of her place at Sitia's magic academy. But when the Stormdancer clan needs help, Opal's knowledge makes her the perfect choice - until the mission goes awry. Pulling her powers in unfamiliar directions, Opal finds herself tapping into a new kind of magic as stunningly potent as it is frightening. Now Opal must deal with plotters out to destroy the Stormdancer clan, as well as a traitor in their midst. With danger and deception rising around her, will Opal's untested abilities destroy her - or save them all?

Sounds like something you'd be interested in? Entering for this contest is easy, and there are tons of ways to rack up extra entries.

Enter by leaving a comment below including your email address. The winner will receive a signed copy of Storm Glass! If you are uncomfortable leaving your email address below, feel free to shoot me an email at not_so_cg[at]yahoo[dot]com instead with the subject "Maria V. Snyder Contest".

This contest is only open to US or Canadian residents.

Extra Entries:

+1 Leave a comment on Maria's guest blog

+1 Visit Maria's website and tell me about one thing you learned there about Maria or her books in your comment

+1 If you become a NSCG follower

+1 If you become a NSCG reader by subscribing to our myspace blog (www.myspace.com/not_so_cg)

+2 If you were a follower before Geek Fest

+2 If you were a myspace subscribed reader before Geek Fest

+4 If you link to this contest in a post, sidebar, etc (a link to this must be left in your comment)

Make sure to leave all extra entries specifics in your comment/email.

This contest closes this coming Friday (March 20th). The winner will be announced and contacted sometime during the week following.

The Not So Closet Geeks

Hush, Hush by Bella Fitzpatrick

NaNoWriMo, Planning, and Your Views

Where In the World Is...

Where In the World Is...

Where In the World Is...

Where In the World Is...

Where In the World Is...

Where In the World Is...

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith and Jane Austen (review by Angela)

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (review by Angela)

C-Ville Lit Life

Inception (Movie Review)

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

...Where'd You Go?

Hearts at Stake: The Drake Chronicles by Alyxandra Harvey (review by Bella Aire)

Invisible Lines by Mary Amato (Review by Jeannie Jones- MG)

The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley

Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors

Green Books Campaign: Only Milo

An Interview with PJ Hoover! (Questions by Jeannie Jones)

The Emerald Tablet by PJ Hoover (review by Jeannie Jones)

Upcoming: The Unveiling of a New NSCG Branch and a Green Books Campaign

Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines (review by Bella Aire)

An NSCG Return

Meet a Blogger...Krista of Tower of Books

My Big Nose (And Other Natural Disasters) by Sydney Salter (review by Bella Aire)

Meet a New Blogger...Reggie of The Undercover Book Lover

New Winners for Suite Scarlett

Suite Contest Winners!

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson (comment for an extra contest entry)

Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender (review by Viola)

5 Copy GIVEAWAY! Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

One Lonely Degree by C. K. Kelly Martin (Review by Karilee)

Uninvited by Justine Musk (Review by Karilee)

What Happens Here by Tara Altebrando (review by Liesel)

Sprout Review

Hidden Voices by Pat Lowry Collins (Review by Karilee)

A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell (review by Bella Aire)

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler (Reviewed by Angela)

GUEST REVIEW Swim the Fly by Don Calame (Review by Royal Reads)

Profiled By Royal Reads! (And Other News)

Contest List

Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner (Review by Liesel)

Lisa Mantchev hosts a contest...

Becoming Chloe by Catherine Ryan Hyde (Review by Nora)

Winners of Name Game (and I Just Couldn't Resist)

What Happened to You?

Win the Name Game 3

Win the Name Game 2

Win the Name Game

Out of Town and And Update on Our Geek Boy

Geek Fest Summary March 2009

Our first Geek Fest occurred in March 2009 as a celebration for all the self-proclaimed geeks out there. A plethora of authors, bloggers, and readers took an active participation in the event.

Geek Fest Author Guest Blogs

Geek Fest Blogger Guest Blogs

Geek Fest Author Notes

Short Note

Her Notorious Viscount by Jenna Petersen (Review by Bella Aire)

Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford (Review by Karilee)

Beautiful Americans by Lucy Silag (Review by Angela)

Secrets of My Hollywood Life: Paparazzi Princess by Jen Calonita (Review by Angela)

An Interview with Jenna Petersen

Everything is Fine by Ann Dee Ellis (Review by Karilee)

Lessons From a Courtesan by Jenna Petersen (Review by Bella Aire)

Learn About Operation Teen Book Drop!

So...who won?

The College Frenzy

Four More Contests

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols (Review by Bella Aire)

I <3 Your Blog

Our Very Own Geek Boy (Maybe)

So many giveaways...

MAX by James Patterson (A double review by Angela and Bella Aire)

Last Chance to WIN the Kiss Contest!

The WINNER of How to Hook a Hottie...

Books I've Read Meme

Another Winner and a Closing Contest

Last Chance to WIN What Would Emma Do? by Eileen Cook