Thursday, February 28, 2013
Published: March 5, 2013 by Tor Teen
Pages: 367
16-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare. Literally. Dusty is a magical being who feeds on human dreams.Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn't get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder. The setting is Arkwell. And then it comes true. Now Dusty has to follow the clues--both within Eli's dreams and out of them--to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she's up to and marks her as the next target.
Mindee Arnett lives on a horse farm in Ohio with her husband, two kids, a couple of dogs, and an inappropriate number of cats. She's addicted to jumping horses and telling tales or magic, the macabre, and outer space. She has far more dreams than nightmares.Website Twitter Facebook Tumblr
Mindee Arnett is a crazy awesome author right? Hopefully you are as excited about her book as I am! So make sure you add it to your Goodreads if you haven't already! And now I've got a special treat for ya'll. I got the awesome-sauce priviledge to intervie Mindee! Woot! She's fantastic, and I hope you have as much fun read things as I did....[oh shut up Inky, just roll the interview already!]....onward ho!
Your book has a crazy intriguing idea, telling the story from the POV of a Nightmare! Any special thing that triggered this idea for a novel?Yeah, I was asleep one night, and I had this dream…nah, just kidding. No dreams involved. Really, I sort of stumbled on the idea purely by chance. I was researching monsters to populate some of short horror stories when I came across them. What intrigued me most was the idea that nightmares ride people’s chests when they’re sleeping and give them bad dreams. I started to wonder what it would be like to be one of those creatures and to have to live that life. And almost right away the idea of the creature being a girl instead of a monster occurred to me.
What is your favorite memory from the writing process from Draft One to your finished novel?Tough, tough question. There are so many! Like getting my awesome edit letter that consisted mostly of “add more magic and romance” or seeing the formatted print in the first pass pages. But probably my favorite was when my big sister, and one of my early readers, told me in an e-mail that the story was “read again good.” It meant a lot. Still does, actually.
What's the best piece of writing advice you've ever gotten?“You must not come lightly to the blank page.” That’s a direct quote from page 106 of the first edition of Stephen King’s On Writing. Of course, it took me a really long time to figure out what it actually means, but once I did things started changing for me as a writer.
For me, not coming lightly meant I got serious about the stories I was trying to tell. I no longer let the story wander without purpose or aim, and most especially without question. I started to truly study the art of storytelling—not writing—but storytelling. I familiared myself with terms like “turning point,” “major setback,” “climax, “denouement, “deus ex machina” and so on. I sought out solid, reliable critique partners. And I immersed myself in the business of writing by finding agents and editors online, and learning about what really goes on when a book is sold and put into production.
Describe your book in 5 words.Whimsical murder mystery with magic.
How did you name Dusty?Honestly, at first I picked it at random. I always thought it would be a fun name for a girl, sort of along the lines of “Taylor.” Also, the first horse I ever loved was named Dusty. So maybe that had something to do with it. But really, Dusty is just a nickname, one she picked herself—mostly to annoy her mother.
If she had to be renamed what would her name be?Taylor? Evangeline? Sally? I really have no idea. She is—for better or worse—Dusty. And to be honest, it’s a little bit of a running gag throughout the story that I hope people will like.
Do you write by free-hand or by typing on the computer?Nearly all my writing is done on the computer. I occasionally draft scenes by hand, but only if I can’t get to my computer. My handwriting is atrocious, and I can’t keep up with my brain. I do, however, do all my brainstorming and prewriting by hand.
You're stranded on a desert island with one book. What is it?The sequel to The Raven Boys or barring that, the sequel to The Diviners, two of my favorite reads of 2012. I definitely wouldn’t pick a book I’ve already read, no matter how much I love it. If I’m stranded, at least I’ll get a couple days of pure escape into a new book before being condemned to read it over and over again.
What is your favorite kind of scene to write?Action, all the way, regardless of what type of action is, including a death scene or kissing scene.
What is one of the first things you do to get your know your character a little more?
I start drafting the opening scene. My brainstorming about character usually happens after I’ve settled on the voice for the character. Even if that first scene never makes it into the final cut, the voice I discover usually remains the same.
Any special upcoming projects?I’m very excited about both the sequel to The Nightmare Affair, and my upcoming sci-fi thriller Avalon.
Is there something you want readers to take away from your book?I really just want the reader to have had fun reading it. Call me shallow, but that’s what matters most to me as a reader—did I enjoy the time spent with the story? If the answer is yes, that’s a win in my book.
Favorite movie of all time?Ugh, this question—so hard! I have so many favorite movies. Seriously, I’m like a movie whore. But today I’m going to go with Serenity.
What's your ideal place to read a book?My La-Z-Boy recliner with my rocker ottoman, a warm fuzzy blanket, and my warm fuzzy cat Bela in my lap.
Candy Corn or Candy Canes?Candy Canes
M&M's or Skittles?M&M's.
Root Beer Floats or Ice Cream Sundaes?Ice Cream Sundaes
Thor or Captain America?Thor, all the way. Chris Hemsworth? Total swoon.
Blonde or Brunette?Blonde
Plaid or Polka Dots?Plaid.
Thank you so much for stopping by Mindee! It was an absolute pleasure.
Thanks for such a
fantastic interview!
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Isn't she fabulous?! I hope you've gotten more excited to read her book! If you haven't had that pleasure yet, here is your chance! Mindee has so generously offered up TWO signed copies of her book to two lucky tour followers! Isn't that awesome?! So hurry! Go enter! Don't miss out! And make sure to leave a comment for Mindee below! Happy Thursday!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Have a fabtastic day and sleep tight tonight! Don't want any nightmares dropping in! XOXO,
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Born of Illusionby Teri Brown
Releasing: June 11, 2013 by Balzer + Bray
Anna Van Housen is thirteen the first time she breaks her mother out of jail. By sixteen she’s street smart and savvy, assisting her mother, the renowned medium Marguerite Van Housen, in her stage show and séances, and easily navigating the underground world of magicians, mediums and mentalists in 1920’s New York City. Handcuffs and sleight of hand illusions have never been much of a challenge for Anna. The real trick is keeping her true gifts secret from her opportunistic mother, who will stop at nothing to gain her ambition of becoming the most famous medium who ever lived. But when a strange, serious young man moves into the flat downstairs, introducing her to a secret society that studies people with gifts like hers, he threatens to reveal the secrets Anna has fought so hard to keep, forcing her to face the truth about her past. Could the stories her mother has told her really be true? Could she really be the illegitimate daughter of the greatest magician of all?Why I'm Hyperventilating:
Holy cow. I want. I need. I'm mesmerized in the illusion of awesome I'm getting. Can't you feel the vibes of epic surrounding yourself? First off, it's historical. That's check #1 on the Bucket-List-of-Things-That-Make-A-Great-Book-For-Inky. Second, the cover is absolutely stunning. It's mysterious and that girl!! Her eye...*shivers* Plus the is kinda you know...rocking. Those swirls are phenomenal!! And then we have the synopsis. Read it carefully. 1920. Holla!!!! And all this talk of secret society, and street savvyness just makes my mouth water. I want. I need. Magicians?!!! Heck yeah.
What are you hyperventilating/waiting on this week?
Link me up!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
~ J. R. R. Tolkien
...I mean the man is a GENIUS!...wait, he's DEAD? darn....
~Jane Austen
...so many awesome chick flicks I'll never run out....or maybe I will.....
~Fiona Paul
..she writes historical fiction, intrigue and hot boys. The end.....
~Veronica Roth
...have you even read DIVERGENT? The girl is BRILLIANT!.....
~C. J. Redwine
...her fantasy is all the kick-butt to desire, & she likes her men swoony...
~A. G. Howard
.....she wrote Jeb. And one of the craziest retellings out there!......
~Brodi Ashton
.....this girl is crazy epic, & boy can she write! (till we swoon)....
~Shannon Hale
...every book she writes is impeccable. She'll sweep you off your feet...
~Rick Riordan
....cheers to the creator of PERCABETH!....
~Moira Young
..this girl wrote BLOOD RED ROAD...how can I not suck her up?....
~Marissa Meyer
...twisted sci-fi fairy-tales and hot princes/wolves? YES PLEASE!.....
~Sarah J. Maas
...her book was genius....I love love love love love it....'nuff said....
-Cynthia Hand, Author of Unearthly Trilogy
-Katherine Longshore, Author of Gilt
-Kiersten White, Author of Paranormalcy/Mind Games
And THAT, ladies and gents, are the Top TEN (or so) authors on my AUTO-BUY list!! They are all Mega-Epic and if you have not read ANY of their books yet, GET ON IT NOW. But that's enough of me for the day.
Who is on YOUR Auto-Buy List?
Link me Up!
Happy Tuesday everyone! Today it's my turn to host a lovely little stop on the tour for this delightful fairy-tale spin-off! Wooot! If you love fairy-tales make sure you read on through! I've got a little info about this book and then I've got some
Published: 8. 5. 12
Pages: 194
Everyone knows how all those fairy tales go. The princess gets beautiful, nabs her prince, falls instantly in love, lives happily ever after and leaves her evil stepsisters in the dust.
But what happens when you’re the ugly stepsister and your obnoxiously perfect—read pretty, smart, and, worst of all, sickeningly nice—stepsister is dating the charming, tall, devastatingly handsome guy you’ve had a thing for since you were nine years old?
Quirky, artistic and snarky Mattie Lowe does not lead a charmed life. Her mother is constantly belittling her on Skype. Mercedes, the school mean girl, has made it her personal mission to torment Mattie. But worst of all? Her stepsister Ella is the most beautiful, popular girl in school and is dating Mattie’s secret longtime crush, Jake Kingston.
Tired of being left out and done with waiting for her own stupid fairy godmother to show up, Mattie decides to change her life. She’ll start by running for senior class president against wildly popular Jake. Ella can keep her Prince Annoying. Mattie’s going to rule the school. And no one, not even a cute and suddenly flirty Jake, is going to stop her.
About the Author
Twitter - Website - Facebook
Sariah Wilson has never jumped out of an airplane, never climbed Mt. Everest, and is not a former CIA operative. She has, however, been madly, passionately in love with her soulmate and is a fervent believer in happily ever afters—which is why she writes romance. The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back is her fourth happily ever after novel. She grew up in southern California, graduated from Brigham Young University (go Cougars!) with a semi-useless degree in history, and is the oldest of nine (yes, nine) children. She currently lives with the aforementioned soulmate and their four children in Utah, along with three tiger barb fish, a cat named Tiger, and a recently departed hamster that is buried in the backyard (and has nothing at all to do with tigers).Don't Sariah and her book sound awesome? Here's a little more of Sarah's Fairy-Tale insight, in these three guest posts! Enjoy!
We look at fairy tales as not being politically correct. As demeaning to women. But these are stories that have survived hundreds (thousands?) of years. They’ve been told and retold for centuries. They’re worlds full of magic – witches, ogres, trolls, giants, fairies, elves, talking animals – a truly fantastic place that unleashes the imagination. A child raised on fairy tales is a child who can dream big.
The world is full of good and it is full of evil. Fairy tales are a safe way of introducing this world to our children. Fairy tales are a place where goodness always triumphs, and evil is always defeated. It is full of heroes and heroines who through their own moxie are able to triumph in a scary place full of giants and evil grown-ups.
It allows us to imagine a romantic love so great and fantastic that we would scale any wall, slay any dragon, make any sacrifice. And shouldn’t we want to love that way?
I also think it’s important that our children learn to dream, and have a little bit of magic in their lives. This is the only time in their lives they’ll believe with such purity and intensity. Why would anyone want to deny them that chance?
And as our culture evolves and changes, so do our fairy tales. They’re told in new and exciting ways, allowing us to keep that sense of wonder and excitement with our new versions.
My ugly stepsister knows she isn’t anywhere near as pretty as Cinderella. But what she fails to realize is that she has her own beauty, one that isn’t necessarily skin-deep. And my hero is attracted to her long before her Cinderella-esque transformation.
Beauty is so subjective and comes in so many different forms that maybe those girls did deserve a second look.
Original fairy godmothers were important in tales – the comfort that existed by reading about a child alone in the world who had a godparent looking out for them, and how much better that they were magical and could grant wishes! Wouldn’t that be every child’s dream? (See also: Nickelodeon’s “The Fairly Oddparents.”) They were kindly and good-hearted – even if their magic did have limits (Cinderella’s carriage turns back into a pumpkin, her dress back into rags). I love the idea that while the Fairy Godmother is providing the transportation and the dress, the rest would be up to Cinderella. She would have to win the prince over with her own merits, not with magic.
But for every Cinderella Fairy Godmother we get, there are a long line of vindictive fairies out to punish those who have forgotten them or overlooked them, such as cursing a boy to be “too clever” or saying that Briar Rose would die by touching a spindle or refuse to help because they weren’t consulted about a possible marriage. Or they give advice instead of wishes, which the heroines can’t find any use for.
I love the fairy godmother in “Ella Enchanted” who thinks she is giving this fantastic gift in making Ella obedient, but it is something that is actively ruining her life. The magic is given without any thought to the consequences.
So they tell you to never look a gift horse in the mouth, but maybe you should take a second look when someone comes along offering you a magical solution. It may not turn out the way you want!
_____________________________________________________AND, not only do you get those awesome posts from Sariah, but there is a FANTASTIC tour giveaway as well! So go ENTER way!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks so much for stopping by! Happy Tuesday! May all your dreams come true! XOXO,
Friday, February 22, 2013
by Ally Condie
Published: 11.13.12
Pages: 512
After leaving the Society to desperately seek The Rising, and each other, Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, but at the cost of losing each other yet again. Cassia is assigned undercover in Central city, Ky outside the borders, and airship pilot with Indie. Xander is a medic, with a secret. All too soon, everything shifts again.Inky's Blurbings:
When I read
Matched for the first time back in 2011, I fell in love. I fell in
love with the characters, the setting, and especially the
breathtaking voice that Cassia has. Same thing happened with Crossed.
Reached hooked me in just the way the first two did, but this book
was so different from what I expected. Maybe that's a good thing.
Dystopias are
generally an easy to predict sort of book. They all have vaguely
similar outlines. We've got the iron-fisted Society and all the
suffocating rules, varying depending on situations. And then there is
the Rebel. Maybe it's the love interest or maybe it's the MC, but
there is aways the group or person that stands up. Then we've got the
Outside, or that safe haven where the rebels go to plan and plot
leading up to the Revolution. The big fight and clash back up against
the Society.
The last of the
four key points is where Reached begins. It's the end and the
beginning of the books. That moment when they revolt. However, this
book took me in a very different direction then the one I expected!
It was more of a quiet revolution. We have this sub-plot of a plague
that seems to BE the revolution. It's hard to explain, but this felt
like a slow quiet and easy fight. The hard part is getting over the
effects of the plague.
It was a very
interesting take on the coming down of the society, but I felt like
it was too vague. We don't ever learn too much about the workings of
the Society. We never learned a huge amount of information about how
the Society just “gave up the ghost” of sorts. It felt like we
were getting all this talk about how the Rising was slow and steady
and then the we hear that the Society is finished. Something was
missing for me.
However much I
thought stuff was missing, I still found this Plague intriguing. I
thought it was neat how this was able to be such a prominent point of
a Revolution. It was for sure a very unique ending to a ruling
society, and it was very interesting to watch it play out, with them
searching for the cure and all.
Another big aspect
of this book is the romantic triangle. In the first two books we've
had a good base built for it. We've got Cassia stuck with the most
impossible choice between Xander and Ky. Both are fantastic
characters and have been developed so well. Both could be with
Cassia, and it's quite a dilemma honestly. Though in truth, my heart
belongs to Ky.
In the previous
installment we got to see the story from Ky's point of view for the
first time along with Cassia's. In Reached we have Xander's
perspective added in. It for sure added this new aspect to the story
that was really interesting. I love Xander. His character goes
through so much anguish in the love aspect, even though he's so well
off. But he's strong and it's hard not to love him. He's Cassia's
best friend and you can tell he cares about her so much. Ky, on the
other hand doesn't have that great of a life, and he doesn't know
Cassia as well. But it's his character that just draws you in. He's
really thoughtful and with Cassia they connect in this deeper more
poetic way than I think she does with Xander.
Now, as with all
Love Triangles you get a little anxious to find out how things end
with that. And I was pretty confident that I would get my boy, er
that Cassia would get the boy I want her to be with. And I'm not
saying ANYTHING, but there was a pretty crazy roller-coaster that
made me fidget a lot as the book progressed. It was almost agonizing
waiting for the final end. But then the end came and well, you'll
just have to read the book to find out.
I really only have
one other thing I'd like to mention. The writing. I LOVE LOVE LOVE
LOVE LOVE Ally's gorgeous writing in this book. It's like poetry. And
not only is it gorgeous but she weaves in poetry. Real poems that are
simply gorgeous are a big part of the story. They are signals they
are stories and they have MEANING in the book. I loved that. It gave
such a unique feel to the book. It was fabulous. Thumbs up.
So...now that all
those thoughts have tumbled out of my head, what did I think overall?
This book was fabulous, despite the questions I had. It ended well,
and even though I'm sad that Cassia's story is over, I'm glad it
ended on a good note. Bravo Ally. And now I'm excited now to see
where she goes next in her writing.
Content: Clean
Content: Clean
4.5 Stars
And that is my take on Reached. Have any of you finished this fab trilogy? Did any of you not like it? I'd love to know your thoughts!
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
by C. J. Redwine
Releasing: August 27, 2013 by Balzer + Bray
Baalboden has been ravaged. The brutal Commander's whereabouts are unknown. And Rachel, grief stricken over her father's death, needs Logan more than ever. With their ragged group of survivors struggling to forge a future, it's up to Logan to become the leader they need—with Rachel by his side. Under constant threat from rival Carrington's army, who is after the device that controls the Cursed One, the group decides to abandon the ruins of their home and take their chances in the Wasteland.Why I'm Hyperventilating:
But soon their problems intensify tenfold: someone—possibly inside their ranks—is sabotaging the survivors, picking them off one by one. The chaos and uncertainty of each day puts unbearable strain on Rachel and Logan, and it isn't long before they feel their love splintering. Even worse, as it becomes clear that the Commander will stop at nothing to destroy them, the band of survivors begins to question whether the price of freedom may be too great—and whether, hunted by their enemies and the murderous traitor in their midst, they can make it out of the Wasteland
Holy crap. The COVER! The blurb! It's all so insanely wonderful! I'm dying of WANT here people. Deception ranked in my top three books of 2013 and I NEEEEED this book. I need it now or I think I might die of BOOK DEPRIVATION. Logan and Rachel were like the best ever and I need more of their kick-butt-ness and swoony-romance!!! And the Cursed One. He rocked my boat off. Best monster ever. AAAACK. C. J. is a freaking genius. Please let me be your BESTEST friend and have an early copy of the book? XOXO forever!! Aaah, anyway, I'm dying of swoony. And the cover. I'm in love. Well done. Well done at making me die of need for this book!
What are you hyperventilating/waiting on this week?
Link me up!
Monday, February 18, 2013
Hey Everyone! Today I have an AWESOME cover reveal for Ya'll!!!! (And I like NEVER do these so it's gotta be amazing right?!) Revelations, the sequel to the fabtastic Renegade by J.A. Souders has a cover! And let me just say...IT IS BEAUTIFUL!!! So, without further ado.......
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Revelations Elysium Chronicles (Book 2)
J.A Souders
Release Date: November 5, 2013
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Tor Teen
Purchase: Goodreads | Amazon
|The
Book Depository
Inky's Cover Blurbings:
Okay, WOW. Sseriously!!! Jessica has hit the jackpot on covers! I loved the cover for Renegade! It's beautiful and hit the book right on the spot! And this cover just BLEW ME AWAY. I love it! I love how the Roses theme is still going and the covers are so gorgeous! The cover seems to fit the book, based off the ending of Renegade and I'm very excited to hear the blurb and find out all about this book! Meep! I personally am in love! What about you? What do you think about the cover?
About Renegade Elysium Chronicles (Book 1)
Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has been trained to be Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium. Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes, all her life she’s thought that everything was perfect; her world. Her people. The Law.
But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into their secluded little world, she’s forced to come to a startling realization: everything she knows is a lie.Her memories have been altered.Her mind and body aren’t under her own control.And the person she knows as Mother is a monster. Together with Gavin she plans her escape, only to learn that her own mind is a ticking time bomb... and Mother has one last secret that will destroy them all.
About A Dark Grave:
Elysium Chronicles (Book 0.5)
There is only one place forbidden to the people of Gavin's village; the island just off the shore, rumored to be haunted. Cursed.All who venture to the island disappear.
But Gavin doesn't believe in such things. He is a hunter; since his father's death, he is the only one who can provide for the family. Silly rumors of ghosts aren't going to stop him from crossing the dark waters to the island in search of fresh game...
About J.A. Souders:
J.A. Souders was born in the heartland with an overactive imagination and an overabundance of curiosity that was always getting her into trouble. She first began writing at the age of 13, when she moved to Florida and not only befriended the monsters under the bed, but created worlds for them to play together. Because she never grew up, she decided she’d put her imaginary friends to work and started writing. She still lives in the land of sunshine and palm trees with her husband and their two children.
THE GIVEWAY!!!
J.A is hosting a giveaway of a signed hard copy of RENEGADE,
an e-copy of A DARK GRAVE (for those that don't have it, of course.) and signed
copies of ARTICLE 5 and BREAKING POINT by Kristen Simmons.
Thanks so much everyone for stopping by! What do you think of the GORGEOUS cover? It's a beauty right?!!!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Published: 2.12.13
Pages: 304
Rapunzel is not your average teenager. For one thing, she has a serious illness that keeps her inside the mysterious Gothel Mansion. And for another, her hair is 15 feet long. Not to mention that she’s also the key to ultimately saving the world from certain destruction. But then she meets a boy named Fane, who changes all she has ever known, and she decides to risk everything familiar to find out who she really is. Filled with romance, adventure, and mystery, Rapunzel Untangled is one story you won’t want to put down. Discover the true meaning of love and friendship in this modern twist to the classic fairytale.Inky's Blurbings:
This book was adorable. Short, sweet, with a pinch of magic and a dash of romance on the side. If you like fairy-tales and happily-ever-afters, this is probably the book for you.
Let's start with Rapunzel. The epitome of Rapunzel plopped in the 21st century. Just like in the fairy-tale, our MC is naive about the world. She knows absolutely nothing about the workings of the world outside her tower. Literal tower. I was a little unsure about this. That's pretty naive. She has to learn everything. And it was fine. Just kinda funny, she didn't even know what M&M's were. But that just goes to demonstrate her innocence. Despite not know anything about the world, she learns things well and changes a lot in character. There were a few times when I felt like she would snap from reluctance to confidence in a page, or when her character would slip. I can't say that I ever felt super connected, but Rapunzel was a very sweet heroine who told the story in a great way.
Moving onto the romance. It's same old same old Girl meets Boy by accident and then they fall in love. This time through the magical internet world of Facebook. :D Now the one thing that deeply cracked me up was the fact that Boy of Interest is named Fane Fannigan. I'm sorry, but it's the 21st century. Yes the name is adorable, but come one. His character is great, and he's a very sweet guy. But the NAME?! Moving on the romance between the two of them was quite cute actually. Yes, it's likes most Rapunzel tales; the girl's intrigued by the boy, the boy likes the girl. 100 pages to love. Aaw. It's all sparkles and cupcakes.
Plot wise, we got a crazy mother Gothel, obsessed with her magic hair. Big surprise. Digging deeper, we find that there is a deep reason behind the madness. I'm not gonna say anything to spoil it, but there were some things about the magic that I really would have liked to know more about. We learn that the magic was PUT in her hair. How. Why? What? Ah well. This is just a cute fluffy book. It's all good.
There's really only one other thing I have to talk about. The Mansion. Haha. Now, what I found interesting about this was that I believe Cindy based it off an actual house. Which is really cool, because I've been to this house. In the book, she talks the house being under constructions, doors opening on walls, stairs to nowhere, and the like. Not to mention Gothel's obsession with sixes. Now, to me, this was screaming Winchester Mystery House. This is a real house near me that had a similar story. It's actually very cool. I've been to see it and so I thought it was tots awesome. Anyway, random thought over.
Am I too sarcastic? Maybe that's a flaw. Either way. Bottom line, this book was too cute. And beyond that, sure a few things cracked me up but I did really enjoy this cute book. It was sweet and a very true retelling of Rapunzel. I loved how it was set in the 21st century. You should go check out this adorable book if you are looking for a sweet chick-flick read.
3.5 Stars
-About the Author-
Cindy C Bennett was born and raised in beautiful Salt Lake City, growing up in the shadows of the majestic Rocky Mountains. She and her husband - who happens to be her high-school sweetheart - raised two sons and two daughters. She's now blessed with two daughters-in-law as well. She developed a love of writing in high school when a teacher introduced her to the joys of escaping reality for ten minutes each day in writing. When she's not writing, reading, or answering emails (notice there's no mention of cleaning, cooking or anything remotely domestic), she can often be found riding her Harler through the beautiful canyons near her home. (Yes, she rides a Harley.)
So whatcha thinking so far?! Well I've got a great guest post from Cindy up next for you. On...fairytales! (What else?!)
a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway
Xoxoxoxoxo's on this VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!
The Frog Kissed the Princess? (Scandalous!) Or, Why Do We Retell Fairytales?
I laughed when Hannah sent me this subject for a guest post. You know, in reality, if a girl kissed a frog she would—at minimum—be frowned upon. And she’d get warts on her lips, right?So, I hope you've enjoyed the Rapunzel fun here today! And don't forget to check out the snazzy giveaways from Cindy! #1 is open to INT, #2 is open to US peeps! Happy Thursday everyone!
As much as I love both the Grimm versions and the Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo versions, I also love the retellings. Fairytales are timeless, classical tales. It seems that every movie, every book, every story can be in some way compared to or traced back to one of the classical fairytales.The original versions of most fairytales have been lost beneath the clutter of Disney films and retellings. For example, in most of the original versions of Rapunzel, she came out of the tower pregnant after the Prince’s many visits (talk about scandalous!). In some versions of The Frog Prince it wasn’t a kiss but sleeping in the Princess’ bed that broke the spell. One incarnation even has her flinging him violently against the wall to break the spell. In almost all of the versions of The Little Mermaid, the Prince marries another and the mermaid is turned into sea foam. In Cinderella, she did not talk to animals, ride in a pumpkin, or have glass slippers until centuries after the first telling.There’s a trend right now for fairytale retellings—which I welcome because I’m such a fan—but it’s nothing new. All of the fairytales have had retellings throughout the centuries from their first incarnation. Some of them are as old as the 1st century, some came about as late as the 1800’s, but in my research for writing my own retellings, I have yet to run across a single one that hasn’t been retold at some point or another.My personal theory is that because of the timeless nature of the stories, they hold an endless fascination to anyone who loves good storytelling. There will be waves and ebbs in the popularity of fairytale retellings, but I suspect that long past the time that my footprint has faded from the earth, there will be some writer putting pen to paper, finger to keyboard, or whatever technology they have, and giving all the old fairytales another go round.
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