April 27, 2011

A Year Today! April 28th 2011

My blog is a year old today.
It's hard to believe that a year has gone by, time goes quickly when your having fun. I know thats cliche but it's so very true. I had no idea a year ago today that I would have actual people (you) reading my thoughts about books and I'm so grateful for it. I had no idea a year ago today that I would be a part of such a fabulous community, who supports me in my blogging life and "real life" too.
Huge thankyous to Ginger from GReads who has been so generous, including helping me with graphics including the one you see above (she's incredibly talented) . Thank you to Maria from Cariblogs for her encouragement, even if she doesn't accept the relationship that Jay (from the BodyFinder) and I have. Thank you to Jen Bigheart from I Read Banned Books, for her kind words and to Liz from Midnight Bloom Reads for always being the first one to RT my Tweets.:)

I look forward to all the books I'll read in the next year,
and I especially look forward to chatting about them with you.
Love, Jen (Librarygal)

Now for the Giveaway:
Cialina from http://muggle-born.net/ was the first to guess the titles correctly!! She wins 10 extra entries in the draw and a book of her choice from The Book Depository (under 12.00 CAD)

The Mystery Giveaway Titles are:




Blogoversary is Tomorrow!


My one year anniversary of blogging is tomorrow and I'm really REALLY excited about it. To celebrate and to thank everyone for their support I'm hosting a giveaway-all the details will be posted tomorrow and I'll also announce the titles of the mystery books. You still have time to guess, no one has submitted the titles for both books. If you are the first to email the correct titles of both book before midnight tonight-you'll get 10 extra entries to the giveaway and a surprise :) to recap here are the clues-

Clue# 1 They are both titles I've reviewed on the blog

Here is the cover for one of them


Clue # 2- The number 5 is important in one of them

Clue # 3 -One is Contemporary and one is Dystopian

Clue # 4- In my review of the first title -I talked about "belly sobs", in my review of the second title I said it was "captivating and satisfying"

Can you guess yet?

April 25, 2011

Giveaway Clue # 3

One title is Contemporary and the other is Dystopian

Have any ideas yet? First one to email me the names of both of the books will win 10 extra entries....

April 24, 2011

Giveaway Clue # 2

April 28th is approaching.....here's a clue for the second title-

 5

April 22, 2011

April 28th- Mystery Giveaway!



April 28th is my Blog Anniversary!
To celebrate I'll be giving away two of my most favourite reads from the year.
Any guesses? I'll posting the giveaway on April 28th but in the mean time, here are a couple of clues:

They are both titles that I reviewed this past year.
Here is a portion of one of the covers.......



More clues to follow tomorrow... whoever guesses both titles by
 Thursday will win 10 extra entries in the draw!

April 21, 2011

I sense a giveaway in the air....




Stay Tuned!

Storytime with Dog's Colorful Day



This week's story time was centered around Dog's Colorful Day: A Messy Story About Coloring and Counting by Emma Dodd
I enjoy sharing many of Emma Dodd's stories. I find they work really well for story time especially for the younger preschool age. In Dog's Colorful Day we meet a white dog with a black spot who moves through out his day getting spots of all different colours from various sources. As I read this story I have an enlarged picture of the dog on my board and I invite one of the children to come up choose the crayon colour and create a dot on him as we read. They love particpating and it's a great activity for developing colour recognition, listening skills and following directions.

Dog's Colorful Day: A Messy Story About Colors and Counting (Picture Puffins)

A great companion book:

Lots of Dots

Lots of Dots by Craig Frazier
Published by Chronicle Books 2010

April 20, 2011

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely, #1)

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
Published by HarperTeen 2007
328 pages
Reviewed from library copy

Summary from goodreads
All teenagers have problems, but few of them can match those of Aislinn, who has the power to see faeries. Quite understandably, she wishes that she could share her friends' obliviousness and tries hard to avoid these invisible intruders. But one faery in particular refuses to leave her alone. Keenan the Summer King is convinced beyond all reasoning that Aislinn is the queen he has been seeking for nine centuries. What's a 21st-century girl to do when she's stalked by a suitor nobody else can see?

   I know that many bloggers have already read this one, and I don't know what took me so long to pick it up. For those that haven't read Wicked Lovely, prepare yourselves as I'm about to gush.
    I loved the story line, even though I have read a number of Faery books, I though Marr's approach was refreshing. I was completely transported and totally could have stayed there.
    The chemistry between Seth and Ash was incredibly well written, it was intense and I think my heart beat faster any time I saw Seth's name in print.(still does)
    The book has everything going for it. An amazing lead character, swoon worthy love interest, evil to overcome, hearts to change, challenges to meet and it's all balanced so well. Highly Recommended.

April 17, 2011

In My Mailbox (23)


In My Mailbox is a weekly feature hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.
Each week we post  about books we received by mail, from the Library or bought.

In My Mailbox:


He's So Not Worth It by Kieran Scott
Expected Publication: June 2011 by Simon & Schuster


Possession by Elena Johnson
Expected Publication: June 2011

Under the Green Hill by Laura Sullivan
Published by Henry Holt October 2010
 
A huge thank you to my S&S book fairy and to Laura Sullivan
 
What was in your mailbox?



April 13, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday- Possession

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. We post about the books we are anxiously awaiting and can not wait to read.

My pick this week:

Possession

Possession by Elena Johnson
Published by Simon & Schuster June 2011

Summary from Goodreads
Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.
But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can't leave Zenn in the Thinkers' hands, but she's wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous--everything Zenn's not.
Vi can't quite trust Jag and can't quite resist him, but she also can't give up on Zenn.
This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.
 
Besides the fact that the cover is lovely, and it's my favourite genre to read, the summary sounds fantastic!
 
What are you waiting for?

April 11, 2011

Chime by Franny Billinglsey

Chime
Chime by Franny Billingsley
Published March 2011 by Dial Books (Penguin)
Hardcover 361 pages
reviewed from library copy

Summary from GoodReads
Before Briony's stepmother died, she made sure Briony blamed herself for all the family's hardships. Now Briony has worn her guilt for so long it's become a second skin. She often escapes to the swamp, where she tells stories to the Old Ones, the spirits who haunt the marshes. But only witches can see the Old Ones, and in her village, witches are sentenced to death. Briony lives in fear her secret will be found out, even as she believes she deserves the worst kind of punishment.
Then Eldric comes along with his golden lion eyes and mane of tawny hair. He's as natural as the sun, and treats her as if she's extraordinary. And everything starts to change. As many secrets as Briony has been holding, there are secrets even she doesn't know.

   I don't think the description above does this story justice especially since it gives no mention of Rose (Briony's twin) who is an integral character in the book (one of the most important in my opinion) Rose, a few minutes older than Briony was injured as a child and suffers emotional and mental challenges. Briony has always been tied to her and feels responsible for her care and well being. She has an inner struggle in looking after Rose and I think though she tries not to, resents her. Rose and Briony's father is the Minister in their village and  is absent from their daily activities. They're basically on the their own except when they are called upon to be "good" examples of a Ministers daughters.

    This is one powerful read. The book told through Briony opens with her statements of self hatred and wishing to be hung. She believes she is evil and deserves to be punished. We, the readers aren't sure as to where the guilt and hatred she clings to so tightly comes from, but of course as the story moves along we discover why. I adored Briony. I felt so badly for her, but I think her feelings about herself will resonate with many. A cycle of negative thinking, sometimes even "planted" by an outsider can do damage if we let it, and it's so easy for it to happen. I loved that underlying thread through out the book. It's not necessarily an uplifting read, and it might not appeal to everyone but I think readers will enjoy the familiar fairytale feel with swamp monsters, faeries and witches and root for Briony to ask for the help she needs. The writing was beautiful, and left me thinking about it. Recommended.

April 9, 2011

IMM (22)


In my mailbox is a weekly feature hosted by Kristy at the The Story Siren

Each we we post about books we're received in the mail, from the library or from the bookstore.

From the Library:
Falling Under (Falling Under, #1)Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely, #1)

In My Mailbox:

I sent away for a signed bookplate from Kim Harrington, the author of Clarity and it came!
My review of Clarity is here.

Also In My Mailbox from my book fairy at S&S:


Thank you sooooo much!!!!!!!!!

What was in your mailbox?


April 6, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday- Die For Me

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, where we feature a book we are anxiously awaiting.

My Pick this week:

Die for Me (Revenants, #1)

Die For Me by Amy Plum
To be Published May 2011
Harper Teen

Summary from GoodReads
My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.
Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.
Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.
Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.
While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family's—in jeopardy for a chance at love?

What are you waiting for?