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Who is the better doctor?

I find that I am very opinionated on this subject. No matter how much I try, I can't get used to the new doctor. His facial expressions, his mannerisms . . . he just seems to lack the depth of character and the range of emotion that I got used to with David Tennant.


David Tennant could do insanity. "I mean what could possibly go wrong!!!" as if he's hoping everything will.


He could do angry. Like when he cursed the Prime Minister for destroying the alien ship when the aliens were retreating.


He could do sad . . . mischievous . . . curious . . .


So I thought I'd put it to a vote . . . WHO IS THE BETTER DOCTOR?

MATT SMITH or ....





DAVID TENNANT!!!





What do you think?

Book Review: The Raven Boys




I love Blue and Gansey! I can’t begin to tell you how impressed I was with this story. Maggie Stiefvater just soared to my top 5 YA authors, along with Holly Black and Libba Bray.



She doesn’t know it, but I’ve been stalking her online the last few weeks, ever since I finished reading Raven Boys. Let’s just say, her blog is a whole lot of fun! I was hoping I could find a way to get her for an interview, but it doesn’t look like it’s very easy to get time with her.



Anyway, I love Blue. She’s so down to earth and pragmatic. She’s the only teenage girl in a house full of women: her mom, her mom’s two best friends, her two aunts, and her mom’s half sister. And everybody in this house is a psychic except her.



Her mom is so laid back, treating Blue more like a mini adult than a teenager, which is why I think Blue is so mature. Until Blue meets Gansey, Blue’s mom has never given Blue a direct order or a restriction before, but after, Blue is banned from ever seeing him again.



I love this dialogue between Blue and her mom:

[Mom:] “Way back before you were born, Calla and Persephone and I were messing around with things we probably shouldn’t have been messing around with ——”

[Blue:] “Drugs?”

[Mom:] “Rituals. Are you messing around with drugs?”

[Blue:] “No. But maybe rituals.”

[Mom:] “Drugs may be better.”

[Blue:] “I’m not interested in them. Their effects are proven –— where’s the fun in that? Tell me more.”


And Gansey. He’s just so complex. One moment, he seems like a haughty rich playboy, and the next he’s just an insane scholar searching for his one, all-consuming passion. This description of his apartment (a refurbished, abandoned old factory) also depicts Gansey’s personality pretty well:



The high ceiling soared above them, exposed iron beams holding up the roof. Gansey’s invented apartment was a dreamer’s laboratory. The entire second floor, thousands of square feet, spread out before them. Two of the walls were made up of old windows —– dozens of tiny warped panes, except for a few clear ones Gansey had replaced –— and the other two walls were covered with maps: the mountains of Virginia, of Wales, of Europe. Marker lines arced across each of them. Across the floor, a telescope peered at the western sky; at its feet lay piles of arcane electronics meant to measure magnetic activity.

And everywhere, everywhere, there were books. Not the tidy stacks of an intellectual attempting to impress, but the slumping piles of a scholar obsessed. Some of the books weren’t in English. Some of the books were dictionaries for the languages that some of the other books were in. Some of the books were actually Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Editions.



And the story! So well played. Just enough information given to keep us asking questions, and the more I learned as the mystery / adventure unfolded, the more addicted I was to Gansey’s search for the missing King.

Have you read this one yet? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Book Review: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares



I loved reading Dash & Lily Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

It starts with Dash finding a notebook next to his favorite book in a bookstore and opening to find a dare and a puzzle. He has to find some obscure books to piece together clues, and his trip around the store takes him from beautiful poetry to a YA book to The Joys of Gay Sex. Then the instructions tell him to pick a book and leave it along with the notebook with the kid at the Help desk.

He adds a pamphlet for a pizza joint / video rental store, and when Lily retrieves her notebook, she runs through the movies, finding clues, before she sends him to Macy’s to brave the Christmas shopping rush.

The game is on, taking them all over New York City. Back and forth, they leave clues, trade stories, and swap the notebook, leaving it in public places and never meeting. But the dares turn into something more as they begin to share their deepest secrets and most heartfelt emotions with each other. Getting to know Dash and Lily

At one point, he asks her what she wants for Christmas, and she answers with three pages of introspection:

I want to believe that despite all the evidence to the contrary, there is a reason to hope… I want to believe that even though I hope for things that are so magnanimous (good OED word, huh?), I am not a bad person because what I really want to believe in is purely selfish.

I want to believe there is somebody out there just for me. I want to believe that I exist to be there for that somebody… Belief. That’s what I want for Christmas. Look it up. Maybe there’s more meaning there than I understand. Maybe you could explain it to me?

He responds with this:

We believe in the wrong things… That’s what frustrates me the most. Not the lack of belief, but the belief in the wrong things. You want meaning? Well, the meanings are out there. We’re just so damn good at reading them wrong…

Two people who are deep thinkers—one who has grown weary of life and the other who is still in love with the wonder of every day—and they discover each other and find themselves in the process.

However, the bed of roses has a few thorns. They each develop their own expectations of the other, and when they do meet for real . . . well, let’s just say it wasn’t the best circumstances. They have to push past their disappointments and find friendship and understanding.

And it is this discovery that made me love this book so much.

Birthday--Scratch That--Christmas Wishes

I'm a day late and a dollar short this month.


Everything is all messed up.


The world is upside down.


Christmas and the New Year have come waaaay too fast this year.


My birthday was over a week ago and I planned to do this post and never got around to it. Sooooo, my birthday wishes turns into Christmas wishes.




Wish #1. An eReader.



But I don't really know what kind I want. Nook or Kindle. Fancy or simple. But honestly, I think I prefer the wanting of one to the getting of one. I like keeping my options open because once I make a purchase that's it. It's over.


Wish #2. Jennifer L. Armentrout Lux series!!! I've been aching to read this!!! Frustrated that my library doesn't have it. (Thus the desire for an eReader.)





Wish #3.  Abbi Glines books!





Wish #4. Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin



Wish #5. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake


Wish #6.  Divergent and Insurgent by Veronica Roth



Wish #7. Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi





What books are on YOUR Christmas wish list?

Discussion: How long should review posts be?

Reading this post on Melissa's Bookshelf, I got to thinking: Bloggers are underappreciated and overworked.


So much is expected from bloggers. I once asked a blogger for a review of Transcendent, but she couldn't commit to it because her reading time was booked three or four months in advance . . . and so were the other reviewers who contributed to the site.


And I've seen Sunday "In My Mailbox" posts where bloggers are picking up 20 books a week from giveaways and ARC and the library and their own shopping. Assuming that they bring in that much of a haul every week, how do they get through all those books?


Plus there's the writing of the reviews and all sorts of daily work it takes to maintain a blog. Not every post is a review, but you have to keep up with all the book information traveling through


After a while, I think I'd come to hate reading if it was such a chore.


Honestly, my favorite posts to read are cover reveals and Waiting on Wednesdays, and my favorite reviews are the short ones that give me a taste of the book without making me spend a lot of time reading.


Simple and easy to read is the trick for a good post, IMO.


Maybe I'm lazy (which I refuse to admit to).


Or maybe (as the case may really be) I'm busy.


Either way, I think short and sweet, simple and easy makes for a great blog.


What do you think?

Author Interview: L.P. Dover




Thank you to author L.P. Dover for joining me for this interview! I'm really excited about sharing her answers with all of you.

Oh, and check out the book review & giveaway for her book Forever Fae here on my blog!



Author Bio from Goodreads:
I am an avid reader that loves my collection of books. Writing has always been a passion of mine and now I am glad that I get to share my passion with the world. I live in North Carolina and I absolutely love being a southern girl. I spent several years in college starting out with a major in Psychology and then switching to dental. I worked in the dental field for eight years and then decided to stay home with my two beautiful girls.

I spent the beginning of my reading years reading suspense thrillers, but now I can't get away from the paranormal/fantasy books. I knew ever since then that if I wrote anything it would be in a paranormal aspect. Now that I have started on my passion and began writing, you will not see me go anywhere without a notebook and pen.



RITA:  What are 5 adjectives to describe yourself?

L.P.:  Funny, dorky, caring, happy, loud



RITA:  Please give me a one sentence synopsis of your book Forever Fae.

L.P.:  The fate of the Land of the Fae rests in the hands of the Summer Court
Princess who is destined to save it from evil....will she succeed, or will
she turn towards the darkness?



RITA:  Please tell me about your next book.

L.P.:  The next book is called Betrayals of Spring and it focuses on Meliantha
which is Calista's sister in the first book, and also Kalen which is
Ryder's brother. This book is different from the first because Meliantha
and Kalen already know each other and you get to see them grow together in
this one. But of course, the dark sorcerer is lingering by waiting to take
Meliantha's power to make himself stronger. Not everyone is who they seem
in Betrayals of Spring.


RITA:  What advice do you have for writers?

L.P.:  No matter how difficult or how cruel some people can be about your
writing you have to keep going. Writing is supposed to be fun and about
getting your creative thoughts on paper. Pace yourself and never give up.


RITA:  Why did you choose to self-publish/traditional publish?

L.P.:  I chose to self-publish because I like taking care of my work myself.
I like being able to make all the decisions. I will most likely
investigate the thought of a publisher one day, but for now I plan on doing
this on my own. It costs a lot of money, but in the end I honestly think
it will all be worth it.



RITA:  What book do you want for Christmas?

L.P.:  Hmmmm....there are so many books I want for Christmas...lol. If this
book was out for Christmas I would have to say Twice Tempted by Jeaniene
Frost. It's the 2nd book in her Night Prince series and I am so inlove
with Vlad Tepesh.



RITA:  What is your New Year's wish?

L.P.:  My New Years Wish would be to have a successful first novel. I worked
hard on Forever Fae and I would love to see it soar.



RITA:  Thank you for visiting and answering my questions!



Hello to all of you! Please share this interview on Facebook and Twitter (you can use the button bar at bottom of post). This is an awesome up-and-coming writer.

Help her New Year's Wish come true!

Book Review & Giveaway: Forever Fae by L.P. Dover

Blurb from goodreads.com:


He leans down, lips parted, and then our lips connect……….We didn’t know that this one kiss has FOREVER changed the Land of the Fae.


According to the Prophecy proclaimed many years ago, Princess Calista of the Summer Court is destined to change the Land of the Fae from the evil determined to destroy it. Her powers are phenomenal, and she secretly trains for battle with her handsome warrior friend, Merrick, who unbeknownst to her protects her heart as well, in hopes of keeping it for himself. At least, until the seductive Prince Ryder attends the Guardian Ceremony and instantly sends a fire burning through her veins and a connection so deep they both discover a love above anything imaginable.

No one knows how Calista is destined to change the kingdoms, but there is one that does. He not only craves Calista’s power, but her body as well, and his goal is to steal her power, make her his Dark Queen, and take over the Land of the Fae.

Will the evil succeed in claiming Calista’s soul? Or will the two men that fight for her heart save her from despair, and help her fulfill her destiny to become what she was meant to be.

***Warning: this book contains graphic language, sex, and violence. Mature readers only. Not intended for young adult readers.***


MY THOUGHTS

Cute and sweet romantic tale!


I’ve read a lot of fiction featuring faeries, including kids lit, YA, and adult: Iron King by Julie Kagawa, Tithe by Holly Black, Spiderwick Chronicles also by Holly Black, Fablehaven by Brandon Mull, Cold Days by Jim Butcher, and Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs.

Everybody handles the fae in a slightly different manner, and I had to put aside my pre-conceived notions. L.P. Dover has a fresh way of depicting the fae. Certainly not quite as dark as I am used to (even the kids lit like Fablehaven and Spiderwick Chronicles portrays the fae as a menacing force, not always evil, but definitely uncaring to the human plight). L.P. Dover’s Forever Fae is different in that it is not about human interactions with the fae, but more about the fae in their own world.

I was reminded of a high school setting without the angst: from the parties and dresses to the dialogue. But this is by no means a YA book. The love scenes are a bit too racy, though not beyond anything you’d normally find in a romance novel.



WHAT I LIKED

Awesome ending. The plot was certainly tight. Pacing was good. And the evil villain is certain nasty enough to get my hackles up.

I liked Calista. She loved to read and was kind to those around her. She also was thoughtful—not in being caring, but in that she thought about things. But then, people who read usually do think more about things. She understood the people around her, what made them tick, and who they were on the inside. And yet, I could totally see why she’d miss the fact that Merrick (her best friend) had been in love with her for years.

I liked Ryder too. He was a good depiction of a Winter warrior prince, cold and calculating.



WHAT I THOUGHT COULD BE IMPROVED

I thought the romance could have used more time to develop. A little less lust and falling in love at first sight, and a little more friendship and more conversation.


OVERALL

I can’t wait to see how this author grows. As she adds depth to her characters and plot lines and strengthens her writing style (like learning how to show more and tell less), she’s going to be an awesome writer.



GIVEAWAY RULES:  
  • Winner will receive 1 eBook copy of Forever Fae by L.P. Dover
  • International contestants welcome
  • Begins  Monday 12/17/2012
  • Ends Friday 12/21/2012


a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Next Big Thing: Wendy Amazing and the Girl's School for Mad Science

Thanks to Helen Maryles Shankman for tagging me!

And as usual, I'm running way behind. Finally, I'm getting around to posting this.



What is the working title of your book?
Which one? I always have several books to work on, or I’ll get bored.
But my current favorite is Wendy Amazing and the Girl’s School for Mad Science.





Where did the idea come from for the book?
Wendy Amazing and the Girl’s School for Mad Science came from a dream. I dreamt of a girl whose parents were inventors and someone in the army wanted their most recent invention. When her parents were arrested, the girl had to hide the invention in the forest.





What genre does your book fall under?
Steampunk Alternate History for ages 10 to 12





Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Abigail Kathleen Breslin







What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
A 12-year-old girl saves the world with a time machine, a strange group of friends, and a whole lot of luck.





Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
Published through Robot Playground Inc





How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
About two months so far, and I’m half way done.





What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I don’t know of any books that are like this one. If science were magic, this would fit in with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone or Spiderwick Chronicles or Fablehaven. However, there is no magic in this book, but some awesome, magical things do happen.





Who or What inspired you to write this book?
My mother-in-law. She had been a school librarian when her kids were still in school, and she told me that there weren’t many books out for kids ages 10 to 12. It was hard to order books for this age group, and I wanted to fill the gap.





What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
The pets are super smart! A cat who reads. A Venus fly trap who pouts. A gerbil who does tricks. A lizard who writes bad words on his aquarium when he's angry. A guinea pig who can escape every cage. And an ordinary dog who can wag his tail.


Tagging the following authors:
Renee Miller, author of Writer's Companion
Susan Griscom, author of Reflections
S.M. Carrière, author of  The Dying God and Other Stories