Library Mosaic

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Review and Giveaway - Double Crossing by Meg Mims

Title and Author: Double Crossinf by Meg Mims

Publisher:

Publication Date: August 9th, 2011

Paperback/Hardcover: 230

Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery/Suspense

Summary:

A murder arranged as a suicide … a missing deed … and a bereft daughter whose sheltered world is shattered.

August, 1869: Lily Granville is stunned by her father’s murder. Only one other person knows about a valuable California gold mine deed -- both are now missing. Lily heads west on the newly opened transcontinental railroad, determined to track the killer. She soon realizes she is no longer the hunter but the prey.

As things progress from bad to worse, Lily is uncertain who to trust—the China-bound missionary who wants to marry her, or the wandering Texan who offers to protect her … for a price.

Will Lily survive the journey and unexpected betrayal?

Review:

I received Double Crossing from the author in exchange of an honest review and I really did enjoy this story.

It had been a while since I had last read a historical fiction book but this one was able to keep me interested.

After Lily gives her father a message from her uncle about a mine in California, he shows up dead and she is certain his lawyer – a man she never trusted – is to blame. He is sure the man is interested in deed for the mine in California. Lily decides she needs to get to California to her uncle’s so she can avenge her father’s death. Unfortunately, her aunt shows up to make her life miserable and there’s someone following her!

During her travels she meets a girl name Kate who she befriends and hires a man named Ace Diamond who appears a ruffian.

I really liked the characters in this book. They were believable and it was easy to see why Lily acted why she did. I enjoyed the fact she was focused and knew what she wanted.

Ace was very interesting as well, especially because he is so mysterious at first.

Another thing I enjoyed about this book was the mystery and suspense. It was well written and made me want to discover exactly what was happening.

The blossoming romance between Lily and Ace was very interesting to read about as well.

All in all this is a very interesting and well-written book. The ending leads you to believe there will be a second book, which is great.

If you like Mystery, Suspense and historical fiction this book might be for you.

Rating: Somewhere between Worth Your Time and Must Read (4 ½ Stars)

Goodreads

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Meg is offering one winner an ebook of Double Crossing. To enter the giveaway simple fill in the rafflecopter form below.

Open to everyone!

Team Smackdown - Team Edward vs Team Jacob

Hello! Hello!

Remember that Team Smackdown I told you all about in this post? Well, it's time for the first smackdown!

Some guys will have advocates while other won't. For those guys who don't have an advocate, I'll post his stats and quotes.

I'll try to have a little giveaway ready every week for who participates in this and maybe a bigger one when the feature comes to an end.

So, the first Team Smackdown is:

Team Edward vs Team Jacob

Edward is being defended by Kristin @ Better Read Than Dead

Team Edward – The Twilight Saga

Name – Edward Anthony Mason Cullen

Species - Vampire

Birthday – June 20, 1901

Birth Place – Chicago, Illinois

Year Turned – 1918

Turned by – Carlisle Cullen

Physical Stats

Height – 6’2

Build – Slender, yet muscular

Hair – Bronze and untidy

Eyes – Topaz (when well fed), Black (when hungry)

“…devastatingly, inhumanly beautiful.”

Edward, ah Edward…how I do love thee,

Beautiful, mysterious, dangerous…yet obscenely loyal to those you love. Strong, fast, and fiercely protective…you fight for what you believe, even when it means leaving the one you love…if it means they will be safe. Old-schooled, mostly well-behaved, and virtuous…you always try to do the right thing, even when you would love to do it all wrong.

You were my choice from the very first page of Twilight. Okay…maybe not the first page because, well…I hadn’t met you yet, so from page 18 on.

Selfish…I don’t even think so. On many occasions, you referred to yourself as “an essentially selfish being” but I found that to be completely untrue. To put yourself through the pain you did to even be close to Bella was, masochistic – yes, but completely unselfish. Your conquest to keep her safe, even from herself, was well beyond any self-centered tendencies. Any selfish creature would have turned her immediately to ensure her immortality and invincibility. Your attempt to leave her – maybe not the brightest idea – to keep her safe from your own family could hardly be described as self-indulgent. Heck…you even offered to let her “keep” Jacob if it would make her happy…selfish – no; stupid – maybe?

Stalkerish…maybe a tad bit, but I find it extremely romantic. I could only dream of the pure ecstasy of someone not only wanting to watch me sleep, but constantly telling me how completely “unordinary” I am. And…if I am ever in danger, it’s you I want to save me. Your quick reflexes, unparalleled strength, and protective instincts would assure I was never hurt.

Romantic…how do I count the ways? You assured that Bella had a complete human life before you changed her…prom, wedding, and then sex. You weren’t the typical boy looking to get into her pants…you were patient and loving…always attentive to her needs. Smoldering kisses, hot make-out sessions, and sincere words make you impossibly idyllic. The jealousy you felt about Mike and Jacob made you human.

For these reasons and so many others…I am unquestionably on your side – now and always.

Sincerely,

Kristin @ Better Read Than Dead

Unforgettable Quotes:

“I told you – you don’t see yourself clearly at all. You’re not like anyone I’ve ever known. You fascinate me.” Edward to Bella – Page 245 Twilight

He was too perfect, I realized with a piercing stab of despair. There was no way this godlike creature could be meant for me. – Bella thinking about Edward – Page 256 Twilight

“Bella, I couldn’t live with myself if I ever hurt you. You don’t know how it’s tortured me…The thought of you, still, white, cold…to never see you blush scarlet again, to never see that flash of intuition in your eyes when you see through my pretenses…it would be unendurable…You are the most important thing to me now. The most important thing to me ever.” Edward to Bella – Page 273 Twilight

“Isabella Swan?...I promise to love you forever – every single day of forever. Will you marry me?” Edward to Bella – Page 460 Eclipse

“Then I suppose you don’t realize how utterly, heart-breakingly beautiful you are tonight.” Edward to Bella – Page 56 Breaking Dawn

“It would be hard to find someone less sad than I am now. Impossible, I’d venture. Not many people get every single thing they want, plus the things they didn’t thing to ask for, in the same day.” Edward to Bella – Page 483 Breaking Dawn

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Jacob doesn't have an advocate so I'll post a few facts about him:

Team Jacob – The Twilight Saga

Name –Jacob Black

Species -Werewolf / Shapeshifter

Birthday – January 14th, 1990

Birth Place – La Push, Washington

Physical Stats

Height – 6’7 (in the books)

Hair – Black

Eyes –Dark Brown

Quotes:

"I know how you're unhappy a lot. And, maybe it doesn't help anything, but I wanted you to know that I'm always here. I won't ever let you down. I promise that you can always count on me." - New Moon

"The clouds I can handle. But I can't fight with an eclipse." - Eclipse

"If you think that imprinting could ever make sense of this insanity… Do you really think that just because I might someday imprint on some stranger it would make this right? Tell me what the point was then, Bella! What was the point of me loving you? What was the point of you loving him? When you die, how is that ever right again? What’s the point to all the pain? Mine, yours, his! You’ll kill him, too, not that I care about that. So what was the point of your twisted love story, in the end? If there is any sense, please show me, Bella, because I don’t see it." - Breaking Dawn

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Now that you've read a little bit about each of the guys in today's Team Smackdown is time to vote for your favorite! The Team that wins today will face another Team in a future round!

I also have a little giveaway for you:

One winner gets to choose a Twilight Inspired Wood Keychain from Hotapplepie. Here's an example:

This weekly meme is hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.

Read this past week:

Instant Gratification - Jill Shalvis

Instant Temptation - Jill Shalvis

Currently Reading:

Midnight Palace - Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Double Crossing - Meg Mims

Upcoming:

But I Love Him - Amanda Grace

What about you? What are you reading this week and are you enjoying it?

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Author Weekend Giveaway

Are you ready for the Author Weekend Giveaway?

Here are the details:

One winner will win a Magnetic Bookmark from Loriamckee. Here's an example:

Cute, right?

Check the store out on facebook: www.Facebook.com/loriamckeedesign

In order to enter the giveaway all you have to do is fill in the Rafflecoptet Form below: (You might have to wait a few seconds for it to open!)

Review - Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson

Title and Author: Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Childrens Books

Publication Date: August 4th, 2011

Paperback/Hardcover: 320

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

Summary:

17-year-old Lila has two secrets she's prepared to take to the grave. The first is that she can move things just by looking at them. The second is that she's been in love with her brother's best friend, Alex, since forever. Or thereabouts.After a mugging on the streets of South London goes horribly wrong and exposes her unique ability, Lila decides to run to the only people she can trust - her brother and Alex. They live in Southern California where they work for a secret organisation called The Unit, and Lila discovers that the two of them are hunting down the men who murdered her mother five years before. And that they've found them. Trying to uncover the truth of why her mother was killed, and the real remit of The Unit, Lila becomes a pawn in a dangerous game. Struggling to keep her secrets in a world where nothing and no one is quite as they seem, Lila quickly realises that she is not alone - there are others out there just like her - people with special powers -and her mother's killer is one of them..

Review:

I was sure I would like Hunting Lila and I was not wrong. This was a very interesting book that kept me well entertained and intrigued. A great debut novel!

Lila Loveday is not your teenager. She’s special. She has the ability to make things move with her mind, and ability that ends up leading her to a troubled situation. Scared with her own power and needing to hide it, Lila decides to run away from her home in London and move to California with her brother Jack and his best friend Alex, who she has a crush on. It turns out Jack and Alex have a few secrets of their own, secrets related to the unit their work for and the truth behind Lila’s mother murder.

I really liked this book and all the character (well, all except Rachel, maybe) :P

Lila was sweet and likeable and struggling hard to come to grip with her special abilities. It’s easy to understand why she has been in love with Alex all of her life, he’s sweet, caring, intelligent, resourceful and all around amazing. Lila’s reactions to Alex were pretty funny. The chemistry between them is definitely there and they make a great couple but there are several things that get between them.

I definitely enjoyed reading about all the other characters and their special abilities.

Besides interesting characters this book offers action and several twists that are always thrilling and interesting.

All in all Hunting Lila is a very well-written book with a string plot that offers interesting twists and strong characters that you can’t help wanting to read more about. The book is fast paced and was able to keep me captivated.

If you are a YA and Paranormal fan, I think you’ll definitely like this book!

Rating: Somewhere between Worth Your Time and Must Read (4 ½ Stars)

Goodreads

Bookdepository

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Sarah Alderson Interview

Sarah Alderson, author of Hunting Lila, was kind enough to answer some of my questions.

Check out her answers. :)

1 - Tell us a little bit about yourself?

SA: I was born and grew up in London but now I live in Bali. I’m a wanderer – I think I’d be happiest living on an RV bus like the one in Hunting Lila, driving around from place to place (preferably with Alex for company).

2 – Have you always wanted to be a writer? If not, when did you find out you wanted to be a writer?

SA: I had no clue I wanted to be a writer until about two years ago. I worked for a charity as Head of Projects and I quit my job as I’d had enough of living in London and my husband I decided to take off on a round the world trip with our then three year old daughter to find some place new to live. I started off writing a blog about our travels which was really well picked up by papers and magazines and I also started writing Hunting Lila. It was only after I’d finished that I realised that I had discovered my passion. I can’t believe I didn’t work it out sooner – but better late than never! Now I can’t imagine not being a writer. And perhaps I needed thirty years of living and loving and having adventures under my belt before I began.

3 – Where did you come up with the idea for Hunting Lila? What inspired you to write it?

SA: I came up with the idea whilst swimming. I wanted to write something that was the opposite of a lot of young adult books – where the girl character was the kickass one and not a damsel in distress.

4 – Out of all your characters, which one is your favorite? Which was the most challenging character to write about and why?

SA: In Hunting Lila I don’t have a favourite, I genuinely love all the characters, except perhaps Rachel. They’re all very real in my head. I really like Lila – she’s impulsive and a bit obsessed with Alex but she has a great self-deprecating humour and I love the history she shares with Alex and Jack. There are all these memories of Christmas’s past and basketball games in backyards and first days at school that are all in my head but which I hope the reader senses in their interactions. I love Demos too because he’s so conflicted. I really like all of Demos’s crew – Amber, Ryder, Nate and Suki in particular. I’ve just written a short story from Suki’s perspective which was so much fun. Her and Nate are such a comedy duo.

The most challenging – none of them really. Suki takes a little bit of concentration because you have to be aware that she’s reading the thoughts of every character in the scene and that’s going to affect what she says and does.

5 – I like the fact that in Hunting Lila some characters like Lila have special powers. If you could have one special power, which one would that be?

SA: I would love to be able to transport myself to wherever I needed to be. I miss my friends in other parts of the world and I’d love to go, ‘right tonight I’m going to hang out in London with my best friend drinking red wine and eating chocolate brownies, then I’m going to drop by my other friend in the Caribbean and go for a spin on their boat, then I’m going to pass by LA and go shopping and have brunch, and I’ll make it back to Bali in time for the school run.’ That would be just the most wonderful power ever.

I want the world at my fingertips!

6 – What do you like the most about writing? What would you say is the hardest part of being a writer?

SA: I’m lying in bed right now. That’s pretty cool right? I can write when I want, where I want. No more bosses (or at least, not in the same sense). No more commute (other than to the pool) and I get to interact with the coolest bunch of people – readers, bloggers, reviewers.

The hardest part is that it can get pretty lonely living in these fabulous worlds which exist only in my head. But I share each chapter as I go with a couple of friends and that helps. Another hard part is the waiting. That sucks. You wait all the time – for an agent, a deal, a contract, news on sales figures, overseas rights, reviews. It’s hellish.

7 – Can you let us know something about the sequel to Hunting Lila?

SA: It’s called Losing Lila and it’s out next August. The opening scene is very Bourne Ultimatum though set in Mexico City. I hope fans will really love this sequel – not only does it feature nearly all the characters from Hunting Lila but it’s very much the story of how Lila grows and develops in her own skin and takes control of that wayward power of hers. She’s much more powerful and kick ass and there are lots of tensions between characters in the books that need to be worked out as well as the key mysteries to solve – what’s happened to Jack? And will they rescue Lila’s mum? (And for Lila – can she overcome Alex’s resolve in the midst of all this craziness – our girl has her priorities straight).

8 – Which author/s have inspired you the most?

SA: I’m really inspired by movies and television shows just as much as writers. I’m a child of the 80s, so Star Wars and Terminator and Lost Boys and Twin Peaks gave me my early education into other worlds and what could be conjured from the imagination. I think all this deeply influenced my writing.

I read and admire authors like Maggie Stiefvater and Suzanne Collins for their beautiful prose and the energy and plot of The Hunger Games.

9 - What can your readers expect from you in the future?

SA: I write insanely fast. I’ve just finished my sixth book and sold the film rights to Hunting Lila (though that’s a long and bumpy road and I’m not holding my breath) but I hope the future is full of Alex and Lila (3D versions please) and Evie and Lucas (from Fated). I want to keep writing until the ideas dry up, which judging from the way I write now, isn’t going to happen any time soon! Touch wood. I might try a screenplay at some point too.

10 - Is there anything else you would like your readers to know?

SA: I have a short story called Catching Suki, coming out soon, featuring a lot of the cast of characters from Hunting Lila. It will be available as an e-book on Amazon and all royalties and profits are going to a fabulous charity called Girltank which supports young girl changemakers across the globe.

Thank you, Sarah! :) I can't wait to read Losing Lila now!

You can find Sarah at:

Official Website

Twitter

Sarah Alderson

So, this weekend is dedicated to author Sarah Alderson. Let's get to know her a little better.

Author's Profile:

"Having spent most of her life in London, Sarah quit her job in the non profit sector in 2009 and took off on a round the world trip with her husband and princess-obsessed daughter on a mission to find a new place to call home. After several months in India, Singapore, Australia and the US, they settled in Bali where Sarah now spends her days writing by the pool and drinking lots of coconuts.

She finished her first novel Hunting Lila just before they left the UK, wrote the sequel on the beach in India, and had signed a two book deal with Simon & Schuster by the time they reached Bali.

A third book, Fated, about a teenage demon slayer, which was written during their stay in California, will be published in January 2012 by Simon Pulse (an imprint of Simon & Schuster).

She is currently working on sequels to both series of books."

Sarah Alderson Books:

Title and Author: Hunting Lila

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Childrens Books

Publication Date: August 4th, 2011

Paperback/Hardcover: 320

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

Upcoming Books:

Title and Author: Fated

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Childrens Books

Publication Date: January 5th, 2012

Paperback/Hardcover: 320

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

What happens when you discover you aren't who you thought you were? And that the person you love is the person who will betray you? If your fate is already determined, can you fight it?
When Evie Tremain discovers that she’s the last in a long line of Demon slayers and that she’s being hunted by an elite band of assassins –Shapeshifters, Vampires and Mixen demons amongst them – she knows she can’t run. They’ll find her wherever she goes. Instead she must learn to stand and fight.
But when the half-human, half-Shadow Warrior Lucas Gray - is sent to spy on Evie and then ordered to kill her before she can fulfil a dangerous prophecy, their fates become inextricably linked. The war that has raged for one thousand years between humans and demons is about to reach a devastating and inevitable conclusion. Either one or both of them will die before this war ends.
If your life becomes bound to another’s, what will it take to sever it?

Title and Author: Losing Lila

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Childrens Books

Publication Date: August 2nd, 2012

Paperback/Hardcover: 320

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

Alex and Lila are on the run, desperately trying to stay one step ahead of the Unit, which somehow is managing to track their every move. Whilst Alex is determined to keep Lila safe and her ability secret at any cost, Lila’s only thought is of finding a way back to California so that she can rescue her brother and mother from the military base where they’re being held.
Struggling to control both her growing power and her deepening feelings for Alex, Lila decides the time has finally come to stop running and start fighting. Together with Alex, Demos, and the people she’s come to think of as family, Lila plans not just to save her brother and mother, but to completely destroy the Unit and everything it stands for.
But the plan requires Lila to return alone to California, make friends with the enemy, and to risk losing everything - Alex, her family, and even her life.

You can find Sarah at:

Official Website

Twitter