Review of The Red Queen

The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory 

Pages: 382

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: August 3, 2010 (US)

ARC acquired through Simon & Schuster UK

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "The second book in Philippa's stunning new trilogy, The Cousins War, brings to life the story of Margaret Beaufort, a shadowy and mysterious character in the first book of the series - The White Queen - but who now takes centre stage in the bitter struggle of The War of the Roses. The Red Queen tells the story of the child-bride of Edmund Tudor, who, although widowed in her early teens, uses her determination of character and wily plotting to infiltrate the house of York under the guise of loyal friend and servant, undermine the support for Richard III and ultimately ensure that her only son, Henry Tudor, triumphs as King of England. Through collaboration with the dowager Queen Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret agrees a betrothal between Henry and Elizabeth's daughter, thereby uniting the families and resolving the Cousins War once and for all by founding of the Tudor dynasty."

Imagine a cold, cunning, pious, and determined woman who will stop at nothing to get what she wants and for me, that woman is Lady Margaret Beaufort.  She was the original mean girl; ironically though, she felt that God spoke to her.  As a child she was overly religious and worshiped Joan of Arc.  She often referred to her "saint's knees" and the fact that she should be considered special since God does speak to her.  Well, Margaret's life turned out to be very extraordinary.  Her first marriage was arranged to John de la Pole, but Margaret never recognized it, because it was annulled.   Her second marriage to Edmund Tudor was also arranged at the age of thirteen.  Yikes!  Margaret was nervous and scared as any thirteen year old should be, especially because, to be honest, Edmund wasn't that nice to her.  As it turns out, she had a child, Henry Tudor, after a long and very taxing birth that ultimately scarred her for life both physically and emotionally.  She was married two more times, but had no more children.  Keep in mind her last marriage to Lord Stanley was a marriage of convenience and he was there to simply help her scheme and plot.  Since Henry is her only son and the only heir left in the House of Lancaster, she puts all of her eggs in his basket and stops at nothing to get him to the throne.  While doing all of this, she still claims it is God's will.   Philippa Gregory's second installment in the Cousins' War Trilogy, The Red Queen, is an entertaining and compelling portrayal of the infamous Lady Margaret.


Philippa Greogry's writing style is superb.  She is my one of my favorite authors of historical fiction.  She can turn the most dull history book into a magical tale of intrigue.  I devoured The White Queen, which is the first book in this trilogy and depicts Elizabeth Woodville, whom I found to be even more compelling than Lady Margaret as they are polar opposites.  I preferred Elizabeth Woodville as a narrator over Lady Margaret, because she was more passionate and mesmerizing.  I think Lady Margaret would agree with me, because after all, she spent a lot of time in the novel being very jealous of Elizabeth's looks and her good luck.  Although Gregory's story telling made me interested in Lady Margaret, I found I was too turned off by her holier than thou complex.  Unlike Lady Margaret, I found Elizabeth Woodville had that special something.  She was spellbinding, which is ironic as many thought she was a witch. One could say that is because Elizabeth was in love whereas Lady Margaret gave up her chance at love to get her son Henry to the throne.  What didn't she give up to pursue this dream?


However, Lady Margaret was gripping in her own way. I was in a state of disbelief while reading about her scheming and planning.  Her determination is astounding; in fact, she engaged in evil plotting as many feel she is to blame for the murder of the princes in the tower.  Readers cannot deny how much she gave up for her son though.  A son that she didn't even see much and was raised by her brother-in-law Jasper.  I think all of the horrid things that happened to her as a young girl, which may have made her the cold and calculating woman we have come to know.  She was used a chess piece by her mother whom she despised for her scheming and then ended up being just like her. I found all of this to be beyond interesting.  I also felt sympathetic when she had to cope with her feelings for the only person she ever loved, Jasper.  I felt bad for the many situations that she was in, but I don't think she would have had it any other way as all of these instances led her to her ultimate goal.


As in true Gregory fashion, she has intrigued me and has me waiting with bated breath for the third and final book, which I thought was going to focus on Princess Elizabeth of York, daughter of Elizabeth Woodville and betrothed to Henry Tudor.  Readers get to meet her again in this novel and I found her to be fascinating. I definitely cheered for Elizabeth during her showdown with Lady Margaret. However, according to Gregory's website, she is focusing more on Elizabeth Woodville's mother, Jacquetta, for the third book. I believe it will be entitled The Rivers Woman and is to be published in the fall of 2011.   


All in all, I found this book to be an absorbing read and fans of Gregory and The Cousins' War will not be disappointed.  After reading The Red Queen and learning more about Lady Margaret, readers will never have to wonder how the Tudor Dynasty occurred as it was Lady Margaret's vicious, deliberate, and preconceived plan from the very beginning.  She was truly an influential matriarch and despite her many downfalls, she is one to be respected.

*A big thank you to Ally at Simon and Schuster UK for giving me this opportunity to be part of the blog tour!

*Pre-order The Red Queen 

*Buy The White Queen

*Watch the Book Trailer:

*Philippa Gregory talks about The Red Queen:

July Confessions

Yikes! This summer is flying by and one of my favorite months is already coming to a close.  August means that I will start the school year soon and have a new group of middle school students. I am always happy to get back into the classroom, but I must admit that I'll miss the lazy days of summer.  At least I have a few more weeks of summer bliss and one more vacation coming up!  July was an awesome and a very busy month for me!  I can't complain though. I enjoyed every minute!


Books Read:
1.  We Hear the Dead by Dianne Salerni
2.  Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
3.  Sea Change by Aimee Friedman
4.  Second Time Around by Beth Kendrick
5.  The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell
6.  The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
7.  Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel
8.  Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White
9.  Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus
10.  Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken
11.  Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
12.  The Summoning (Darkest Powers #1) by Kelley Armstrong
13.  The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory (Review to come!)

My July Top Five:

1.  Favorite Book:  Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey


2.  Biggest Let Down:  The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan


3.  Biggest Surprise: Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken and The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell


4.  Favorite Post:  Reading for a Cure


5.  Favorite Part of July:  My mini-vacation to Key West, Florida

Review of The Summoning

The Summoning (Darkest Powers #1) by Kelley Armstrong

Pages: 390

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pub. Date: July 1, 2008

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "After years of frequent moves following her mother’s death, Chloe Saunders’s life is finally settling down. She is attending art school, pursuing her dreams of becoming a director, making friends, meeting boys. Her biggest concern is that she’s not developing as fast as her friends are. But when puberty does hit, it brings more than hormone surges. Chloe starts seeing ghosts–everywhere, demanding her attention. After she suffers a breakdown, her devoted aunt Lauren gets her into a highly recommended group home.  At first, Lyle House seems a pretty okay place, except for Chloe’s small problem of fearing she might be facing a lifetime of mental illness. But as she gradually gets to know the other kids at the home–charming Simon and his ominous, unsmiling brother Derek, obnoxious Tori, and Rae, who has a “thing” for fire–Chloe begins to realize that there is something that binds them all together, and it isn’t your usual “problem kid” behaviour. And together they discover that Lyle House is not your usual group home either…"

Chloe Saunders is following her dreams at art school.  She is striving to become a director and is finally becoming a "normal" teenager, except for the fact that she is a bit behind developmentally.  Weird things start happening to her as she gets closer to puberty and ultimately, she suffers a breakdown of sorts from seeing ghosts.  Being that she completely freaked out at school, her Aunt Lauren enrolls her in Lyle House, which is a reputable group home that will help Chloe recover.  Her aunt plays a major role in her life since her mother passed away and her father is extremely busy working in Washington D.C.  While at Lyle House, the doctors diagnose her with schizophrenia and Chloe is trying to "behave" in order to get out of the house quickly.  Her housemates are all very strange and suffer from mysterious problems.  Simon is nice, but his brother, Derek, is extremely creepy and Tori, the mean girl, is always giving everyone a hard time.  She does have one good friend, Rae, but she claims to have an obsession with fire.  As Chloe gets to know these people and spend more time at Lyle House she uncovers the mystery that surrounds the house and why these teenagers are truly there.  Perhaps they don't actually suffer from mental illnesses?  Kelley Armstrong's The Summoning, which is the first book in the Darkest Powers series, is entertaining, but for me, it wasn't that memorable.

This book is beyond spooky. There are parts of this novel that would translate perfectly to a horror film, especially as Chloe encounters ghosts in the basement of Lyle House.  I'm not going to lie; that particular scene freaked me out, especially since I am not a fan of basements myself.  I also liked that The Summoning is very appropriate for middle grade students.  I can't say that there is anything in the novel that is too edgy or inappropriate as long as the reader can handle some eerie scenes.  I know that a lot of my former seventh and eighth graders were hooked on this series and I can see the appeal.  And speaking of hooked- the ending was extremely intense. Talk about a cliffhanger?!  All of the questions that I had as I was reading the book Armstrong just started to address at the end of the novel and then before you know it, she hits me with an astounding cliffhanger.  


I can't say I was overly invested in this novel and I lacked a connection with the characters, which is why I probably won't be reading the next few books in the series.  Am I glad I read it since I know it's hugely popular?  Yes.  Did I enjoy it? Yes.  Was it mind-blowing? I can't say it was.  However, I will be putting it on the shelves of my classroom library and I'm sure my students will thoroughly enjoy Chloe and her adventures.

*Buy The Summoning

*Read the first nine chapters 

Reading For A Cure

Today I finished one of my challenges and goals for the year and that was to be a part of Reading For A Cure.  I donated money to this foundation for every book I read from the month of January to the end of June.  It feels good to pay it forward and be a part of fighting Childhood Cancer.  If you want to learn more about Reading For a Cure, please check out the link on how you can make "your reading count" this year or watch the video below.  A big thanks to Caribousmom for setting up such a worthwhile reading challenge.  

Review of Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side 
by Beth Fantaskey

Pages: 351

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pub. Date: February 1, 2009

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "The undead can really screw up your senior year ... Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction."

Jessica Packwood wants a normal senior year of high school.  She wants to date her cute neighbor, Jake, and have fun with her best friend, Mindy.  She has no clue what is in store for her when she heads out for her first day of school.  She notices that a tall, dark, mysterious, yet handsome guy is staring at her while she is waiting for the bus.  Shockingly, he never gets on the bus and ends up at her school.  He's the new foreign exchange student, Lucius, and he has come to Lancaster, Pennsylvania all the way from Romania.  He ends up telling Jessica that she is actually a vampire princess as her birth parents come from a very important royal vampire family and were unfortunately killed.  Jessica is in a state of disbelief.  Although she is aware that she is adopted, she doesn't believe in vampires or anything irrational and has hard time accepting Lucius' claims.  And on top of that news, he says that as children they were betrothed with hopes that the two opposing families would join together; therefore, avoiding a war.  Lucius tries and court Jessica using all of his European flair and etiquette; however, she is extremely resistant and wants a more normal life.  Jessica starts to wonder if she can turn her back on her Romanian family and betrothal; in fact, she doesn't even believe in vampires!  And much to her annoyance, the head cheerleader starts showing an interest in Lucius and she worries that maybe she is starting to feel something for Lucius, but she questions how on earth can she actually be a vampire princess?  Beth Fantaskey's debut novel Jessica Guide to Dating on the Dark Side is definitely not one to be missed, especially for fans of the vampire genre.  


Lucius.  Wow, what a character.  I really enjoyed him and not just, because he's the extremely good looking , irresistible vampire, but because he's hilarious.  I don't think I have laughed out loud as much while reading a book as I did when I read the letters he wrote to his uncle concerning his adventures in Pennsylvania.  I don't know if it's because I live in Pennsylvania and went to college in rural Pennsylvania, but I was dying!   His letters were so witty and hysterical. They were my favorite part of the book!  His observation on American teenage life was spot on and comical.  I was reading this book at the pool while on vacation and I'm pretty sure the people around me thought I was nuts due to the fact that I kept laughing out loud to myself.  I also LOVED that Fantaskey made Jessica real.  She didn't immediately decide she was "in love" with Lucius and quickly form a bond. It was something that grew.  She also didn't believe in vampires initially and I thought that was realistic being that Jessica is someone that is extremely logical and a fan of math and science.  Lastly, I adored the fact that she was a curvy girl and embraced her weight.  I am so sick of size two girls in literature; plus, Lucius told her that he liked her curves and wanted her to not be "invisible" like most of the American girls today.   What a great message!  


Fantaskey's writing style was extremely entertaining.  It was a pleasure to read this book and I couldn't put it down.  I felt the pace was perfect and it was a fun take on vampires.  She somehow got me to swoon over Lucius and his old world ways of courting one minute and then laugh out loud with something the next minute.  I didn't think I would enjoy this since I am kind of getting sick of vampires, but I was definitely wrong.  Fantaskey brought something new to the genre and I was pleasantly surprised.  Without a doubt, I am now a fan of Fantaskey and will be reading anything that she writes in the future.  


Ultimately by the middle of the novel, Jessica realizes that she may need to fight for love and she realizes that if it were easy, it wouldn't mean anything.  I think that's true about a lot of things in life and I could really appreciate Jessica's determination.  With that said, I am glad I picked up this novel despite the cheesy title and initial hesitation. It actually turned out to be one of the best books I've read this year.  A big thank you to Jenn at Book Crazy for recommending it to me.  Thankfully, there will be a sequel coming out in 2011 entitled Jessica's Guide to Ruling on the Dark Side.  I can't wait to find out what happens!  

*Buy Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side

*Read chapter one

*Once you have read Jessica's Guide, be sure to check out the story of what happens after the novel ends. It's posted on Beth Fantaskey's website.

Review of Brightly Woven

Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

Pages: 368

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pub. Date: March 23, 2010

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Sydelle Mirabil is living proof that, with a single drop of rain, a life can be changed forever. Tucked away in the farthest reaches of the kingdom, her dusty village has suffered under the weight of a strangely persistent drought. That is, of course, until a wizard wanders into town and brings the rain with him.  In return for this gift, Wayland North is offered any reward he desires—and no one is more surprised than Sydelle when, without any explanation, he chooses her. Taken from her home, Sydelle hardly needs encouragement to find reasons to dislike North. He drinks too much and bathes too little, and if that isn’t enough to drive her to madness, North rarely even uses the magic he takes such pride in possessing. Yet, it’s not long before she realizes there’s something strange about the wizard, who is as fiercely protective of her as he is secretive about a curse that turns his limbs a sinister shade of black and leaves him breathless with agony. Unfortunately, there is never a chance for her to seek answers.  Along with the strangely powerful quakes and storms that trace their path across the kingdom, other wizards begin to take an inexplicable interest in her as well, resulting in a series of deadly duels. Against a backdrop of war and uncertainty, Sydelle is faced with the growing awareness that these events aren’t as random as she had believed—that no curse, not even that of Wayland North, is quite as terrible as the one she herself may carry."

In the far corners of a kingdom there is a village that is suffering from a serious drought. The drought has plagued the villagers for years until a wizard came along and somehow lifted the "curse" and brought rain.  Sydelle Mirabil, the protagonist, is the daughter of the town elder and a talented weaver.  When her father meets with the wizard, Wayland North, he promises him pretty much anything as a reward for the rain.  North wants his daughter, Sydelle, which comes as a huge surprise to her.  In turn, she is plucked from her village, her family, her friends, and everything she knows.  She is traveling with North across the kingdom to deliver a very important message that may prevent an unnecessary war.  Sydelle wonders why North picked her and on top of it, he is extremely secretive when pressed on this very issue.  During their travels, they encounter other wizards who are just as interested in her, but she is not sure why.  And along the way they encounter strange weather, duels, romance, and of course, more excitement.  Alexandra Bracken's debut novel, Brightly Woven, is a high fantasy adventure that I loved to live in.


The relationship between Sydelle and North was extremely entertaining.  Sydelle is a strong character that I immediately connected with and North was swoon worthy and then made me laugh out loud. For me, this is a recipe for the perfect literary relationship.  Also, as I was reading this book it occurred to me that I love wizards.  I wish I read more books with wizards, but whenever I think of them, something nerdy comes to mind like Dungeons and Dragons.  However, Bracken made wizards cool and not to say that Harry Potter isn't cool, but in my opinion, North is more mature.  Don't get me wrong, Harry Potter is one of my favorite characters, but is he swoon worthy? Not so much.


Also, as the mystery of why Sydelle was chosen for this quest unfolded, I became more and more captivated. I really had no idea where Bracken was taking the plot and I was pleasantly surprised.  My only issue was the pace of the novel.  There were a few moments when the plot seemed to slow down a bit, but overall, I was extremely entertained.  Lastly, I find it shocking that this is Bracken's debut.  Brightly Woven didn't feel like a debut novel at all; I was extremely impressed.  Based on the information on Bracken's website, there are no plans for a sequel at this time, which definitely saddens me.  I hope that the publishers will plan on a sequel, because Bracken has so much potential.  Bracken is only 23 and to write this novel in your early twenties is incredible.  I can't wait to see what Alexandra Bracken comes up with in the future.  

*Buy Brightly Woven

*Read the first chapter

Waiting on Wednesday: Falling Under

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine. "Waiting on Wednesday" spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

Pub. Date: March 2011

Goodreads says, "In her dreams he’s irresistible—seductive, charming, and undoubtedly dangerous. But when he appears to her when she’s awake—and captivates her just the same—she’s not sure which way is up and which is down.  Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life, not allowed the same freedoms as the rest of the teenagers in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, she feels every urge she’s ever denied burning through her at the slightest glance from Haden Black. Theia knows she’s seen Haden before—not around town, but in her dreams.  Theia doesn’t understand how she dreamed of Haden before they ever met, but every night has them joined in a haunting world of eerie fantasy. And as the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her forward one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear. And as she slowly discovers what Haden truly is, Theia’s not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul."  

*What do you guys think? Although it sounds similar to some other novels out there, I'm hoping this one will separate itself.  I like the idea of dreaming about someone before you meet them.  Plus, I really like that cover.  

Key West Photos

I wanted to let everyone know that I'm back from my trip and I wanted to share a few photos. Key West was a lot of fun; I love the vibe down there.  Everything is so laid back and anything goes.  There's no need to dress up for dinner or fix your hair. You just come as you are.  


I did get a lot of reading done so I'll be posting a few reviews this week.  I'm pumped for Philippa Gregory's The Red Queen, which comes out in the US on August 3rd and the UK on August 19th.  I adored The White Queen, so I am very excited to read this one.  


Thanks to my fellow bloggers who visited my blog while I was away. I appreciate it.  Here are a few photos from my trip.

The famous Key West Sunset

The Running of the Hemingways on Duval Street for Hemingway Days

Hemingway's typewriter in his writing studio

Me at the Southernmost point in the US

I love the Key West homes

Famous Sloppy Joe's Bar- Key West has great nightlife

In My Mailbox #24

Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing by Mignon Fogarty

*I often Grammar Girl podcasts with my students so when I had the opportunity the review the book, I was elated!  I know that this book will come in handy, especially in my classroom.  Thanks to Jason at Henry Holt for providing me with a copy.

Goodreads says, "Are you stumped by split infinitives? Terrified of using “who” when a “whom” is called for? Do you avoid the words “lay” and “lie” altogether? Grammar Girl is here to help!  Mignon Fogarty, a.k.a. Grammar Girl, is determined to wipe out bad grammar—but she’s also determined to make the process as painless as possible. One year ago, she created a weekly podcast to tackle some of the most common mistakes people make while communicating. The podcasts have now been downloaded more than seven million times, and Mignon has dispensed grammar tips on Oprah and appeared on the pages of The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today. Written with the wit, warmth, and accessability that the podcasts are known for, Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing covers the grammar rules and word-choice guidelines that can confound even the best writers. From “between vs. among” and “although vs. while” to comma splices and misplaced modifiers, Mignon offers memory tricks and clear explanations that will help readers recall and apply those troublesome grammar rules. Chock-full of tips on style, business writing, and effective e-mailing, Grammar Girl’s print debut deserves a spot on every communicator’s desk."

The Grammar Devotional by Mignon Fogarty

*A grammar tip a day? Sounds perfect for my classroom. I can't wait to list a tip a day on my board and share it with my class.  Thanks again to Jason at Henry Holt for providing me with a copy.  I can't wait to check it out!

Goodreads says, "  From the New York Times bestselling author of Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing come 365 kicky tips and tricks for improving your writing. Millions of fans around the globe punctuate properly and communicate clearly thanks to Mignon Fogarty's practical and easy-to-remember advice about writing style and word usage. Her first book, Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing, hit the New York Times bestseller list, and her weekly grammar podcast has been downloaded more than 20 million times and hailed by USA Today as "authoritative but warm".  Now, in tip-of-the-day form, Grammar Girl serves up 365 lessons on language that are sure to inspire. Filled with new, bite-size writing tips, quizzes, puzzles, and efficient memory tricks, The Grammar Devotional gives you a daily dose of knowledge to improve your writing and also serves as a lasting reference you'll use for years to come."

The King's Daughter by Sandra Worth

*I adore historical fiction and I came across this one; I knew I just had to buy it.  I haven't read much adult historical fiction lately and I plan to before the summer is over!

Goodreads says, "In this groundbreaking novel, award-winning author Sandra Worth vibrantly brings to life the people’s Queen, “Elizabeth the Good.” Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth of York trusts that her beloved father’s dying wish has left England in the hands of a just and deserving ruler. But upon the rise of Richard of Gloucester, Elizabeth’s family experiences one devastation after another: her late father is exposed as a bigamist, she and her siblings are branded bastards, and her brothers are taken into the new king’s custody, then reportedly killed. But one fateful night leads Elizabeth to question her prejudices. Through the eyes of Richard’s ailing queen she sees a man worthy of respect and undying adoration. His dedication to his people inspires a forbidden love and ultimately gives her the courage to accept her destiny, marry Henry Tudor, and become Queen. While her soul may secretly belong to another, her heart belongs to England."

War of the Roses by Alison Weir

*I love Weir's writing style; it's so captivating.  I am intrigued by the War of the Roses, so I knew I had to read this one.   

Goodreads says, "Lancaster and York. For much of the 15th century, these two families were locked in battle for control of the British throne. The war between the Houses of Lancaster and York profoundly altered the course of the monarchy. In this book, one of the foremost authorities on the British royal family brilliantly brings to life the war itself and the historic figures who fought it on the great stage of England."

What did you guys get in your mailbox?  Have you read any of these books? Let me know what you think.  I look forward to checking out everyone's  mailboxes. Have a great day!  This meme is hosted by The Story Siren.

Key West Bound

I'm off to Key West, Florida for a long weekend and a much needed getaway.  Key West is commonly known as America's Caribbean and since I am such a beach bum, I'm excited to explore this island.  Just to let you know, it's going to be quiet around here for a few days, but once I return, I will have some book reviews to post since I plan to get  a lot of reading done on the plane and under a palm tree.


I've been to Key Largo, but never to Key West.  Have any of you gone? Any recommendations?  

Many people have told me how great the restaurants and bars are. I'm excited to check them out.   Of course my husband, Mike, wants to buy Key Lime Pie, which you can apparently get on a stick and smothered in chocolate.  I am dying to see Hemingway's House, which is where he wrote For Whom the Bell Tolls, Death in the Afternoon, The Green Hills of Africa, and To Have and To Have Not.  Plus, I hear it is Hemingway Days while we are there, which Mike thinks I especially planned our trip around, but I swear it's a coincidence.  :)  We also want to visit Harry Truman's Little White House, where he spent eleven working vacations during his presidency.  Not a bad gig, right?  And lastly, I must check out the Pirate and Shipwreck Museum as well.....especially since I know some pirates at home whom are especially fond of rum.  


I hope everyone has a great weekend and don't forget to enter my giveaway for a signed copy of We Hear the Dead and my other giveaway for Shadow Hills.  

I'm off to Margaritaville,

 (Pictures from parrotkeyresort.com)

Waiting on Wednesday: Matched

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine. "Waiting on Wednesday" spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Matched by Ally Condie

Pub. Date: November 30, 2010

Goodreads says, "In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.  Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s barely any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one . . . until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow—between perfection and passion.  Matched is a story for right now and storytelling with the resonance of a classic."

*Christina at Reading Extensively recommended this one to me and she's right--it sounds like something I'd really enjoy.  I know a lot of people have read this novel and it has received awesome reviews.  Needless to say, I can't wait for this one!   

Review of Shadow Hills and a GIVEAWAY!

Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

Pages: 400

Genre: YA Fantasy/Mystery

Pub. Date: July 13, 2010

My Rating:

Goodreads says, "His love captivated her... his secrets might kill her.  Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts—the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.  After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all.  But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town…might cost her her life."

Persephone Archer, otherwise known as Phe, is a dealing with the sudden death of her sister, Athena.  Her death is shrouded in mystery and Phe is trying to piece it all together.  Athena's last diary entry discussed a prep school called Devenish, located in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts, many miles away from where they live in Los Angeles.  Phe is also dealing with very vivid and scary dreams which started as soon as Athena died.  There's nothing left in LA for Phe; her parents have checked out after Athena's death and her friendships are falling apart.  She decides to go to Shadow Hills and enroll at Devenish.  Ultimately, Phe tries to figure out why her sister would have referenced this place in her diary; she's hoping there will be something there that will help her make sense of everything.  But once she gets to Shadow Hills, she is even more confused by its ominous cemetery and small town with weird locals that are hiding secrets.  The more and more she searches for answers, the deeper she falls into the town's mysteries.  Phe meets a dreamy guy named Zach, but oddly enough, she recognizes him from one of her dreams, which completely freaks her out, but she can't deny the attraction she feels for him.  On top of it, she is starting to realizes that the townspeople, including Zach, posses some unusual abilities, which makes Shadow Hills even more creepy.  Anastasia Hopcus' debut novel, Shadow Hills, is definitely a paranormal page-ripper, but what makes it so different than the other novels in its genre is the fact that there are no werewolves or vampires present in it at all!  


This book has received so much blogosphere buzz! I was nervous to start it, because I was afraid it wouldn't live up to the hype; however, I was pleasantly surprised.  Hopcus presented her readers with a unique idea that was cloaked in mystery.  I wasn't sure where she was taking the story, which I enjoyed.  Each page turn was a suspenseful surprise.  Hopcus' writing style was entertaining and had me turning the pages late into the night.


The characters were amusing, especially Phe and Zach.  Their relationship never seemed too forced or too quick like a lot of the YA relationships out there.  Also, I really liked a lot of the secondary characters, such as rich girl Adriana and her obsession with couture.  Then there's computer geek, Toy, and surfer-dude, Graham that were also very likable.  In fact, I wish they were included more in the novel, because I found them to be especially entertaining.  And of course there's the mean girl that I loved to hate: Corinne, Zach's sister.   Every school needs a mean girl like Corinne, but I felt like Zach was too influenced by his sister at times. Lets just say that Corinne would be the sister-in-law from hell.  Hands down.


My only issue with the novel was Phe's breaking and entering obsession. It became very Nancy Drew-ish for me; it never bothered me, but I wondered how the heck did she not get caught?!  Because of that, it seemed forced and not believable at times, but like I said, it never really disturbed me to the point where it took away from the story. 


All in all, Anastasia Hopcus' Shadow Hills was extremely engaging and an A+ mystery.  I finished it quickly and for once, I honestly couldn't predict where the story was going.  It kept my full attention and interest up to the last page!  I am keeping my fingers crossed that there will be a sequel, although Hopcus' website says that there is nothing official to announce yet.  If you are like me and you need a break from the usual vampires, werewolves, and fairies, check out Shadow Hills this summer.  It's an imaginative, paranormal mystery, unlike any that I've read before.  It shouldn't be missed!  

*Buy Shadow Hills

*Read an excerpt here

Watch the book trailer:

GIVEAWAY:  I have an extra copy to give away to one lucky reader!  You must be a follower of my blog and it's for US followers only.  If you are an international follower, check out my other international giveaway!  The deadline for my Shadow Hills giveaway is 8/15/10 at midnight EST.  I will use random.org to determine the winner and I will email the winner on 8/16/10.  Good luck and thanks for following my blog. I appreciate it.

You must fill in this form in order to enter!  

Teaser Tuesday #24

This is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and the author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

"Listen, like I've said a million times now, I am not going to slip up.  Persephone will never find out about us.  She will never find out what we are."  (page 86)

*I'm really enjoying this one so far. I love that it's suspenseful and mysterious.  I have no idea where Hopcus is going with it--I love to be surprised!  

Review of Forget-Her-Nots

Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White

Pages: 384

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pub. Date: March 2, 2010

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "When someone leaves three mystery flowers outside her dorm door, Laurel thinks that maybe the Avondale School isn't so awful after all — until her own body starts to freak out. In the middle of her English presentation on the Victorian Language of Flowers, strange words pop into her head, and her body seems to tingle and hum. Impulsively, Laurel gives the love bouquet she made to demonstrate the language to her spinster English teacher. When that teacher unexpectedly and immediately finds romance, Laurel suspects that something — something magical — is up. With her new friend, Kate, she sets out to discover the origins and breadth of her powers by experimenting on herself and others. But she can’t seem to find any living experts in the field of flower powers to guide her. And her bouquets don't always do her bidding, especially when it comes to her own crush, Justin. Rumors about Laurel and her flowers fly across campus, and she's soon besieged by requests from girls — both friends and enemies — who want their lives magically transformed — just in time for prom."

Laurel's mother passes away and leaves Laurel, her dad, and her grandmother devastated.  Laurel's father tries to start over by promptly moving out of the house Laurel grew up in and the expansive gardens her mother tended.  She is unhappy and decides to attend Avondale School, which is a boarding school where not only her cousin attends, but her mother and grandmother attended as well.  Laurel may act like a typical fourteen year old, but she is hardly "normal."  During her English presentation on the Victorian Language of Flowers, she finds out that she holds special powers when she interacts with flowers.  Strange things start happening, for example, she presents her lonely English teacher with the "love" bouquet from her presentation and now her teacher, who classmates called Spinster Spencer, finds love!   She even helps her friends do better on tests by providing them with rosemary, which is for remembering.  But things start to get out of hand when she realizes that although she holds some power over flowers, things don't always go well with the magic and there are consequences to transforming people's love lives.    Amy Brecount White's debut novel is a cute read that I know my middle school students will love as well as any fans of flowers and nature.  Readers will bask in its beautiful descriptions and be enchanted by the language of flowers.


White incorporates many touches of poetry, such as e.e. Cummings and references many classics like Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and the myth of Demeter and Persephone, which was especially exciting for me since I actually teach those stories.  I also found the language of flowers to be captivating. I knew about this beforehand, but learned so much more about it through this novel and Laurel's adventures.  Another aspect of this novel that I enjoyed was the fact that it was innocent.  It was one of the most charming and sweet young adult novels that I've read in a long time.  I could easily recommend it to my students without hesitating, which as of late, is rare in young adult literature.  Usually there's either more cursing, sexual references, or violence, but readers can rest easy that this novel is very PG.  Lastly, I truly enjoyed White's descriptions of nature and of the flowers themselves.  I know this might annoy some readers, but I love nature and gardening so I fell in love with White's use of imagery.   It made me want to go out and buy a bouquet of gardenias or peonies, which are some of my favorites. Plus, there's a glossary in the back of the book that includes the language of flowers, which is especially fun and I referenced it many times while reading the novel.


There were only a few things that I didn't enjoy in this novel, but I know my middle school students probably wouldn't mind.  First, there is some teen speak.  There wasn't as much as other novels, but be forewarned, it's there.  For example, "love" is "luv" at times.  Also, Laurel tends to be corny at times and I think some of my "cooler" students may have a problem with this.  For example, she includes an e.e. Cummings poem in her email to her crush and while I love Cummings, many fourteen year old girls wouldn't dream of doing that.  Unfortunately, more might quote the immortal words of Justin Bieber before they quote classic love poetry.  I also felt like Laurel was a bit of a doormat and that frustrated me to witness her interactions with fellow classmates. Thankfully, her cousin Rose is anything but a doormat and I truly appreciated her character. She often came to Laurel's rescue when involved in awkward social situations or if she simply needed a friend.  But by the end of the novel, Laurel gets it together and things come full circle.  


All in all, Amy Brecount White's Forget-Her-Nots is a delightful debut novel that I will be recommending to my female middle school students this coming school year.  I am also excited that Amy will be at Bring YA to PA, which is coming to my neighborhood this August.  Also, I think it's really awesome that she was a former English teacher! (WOO HOO!) According to her website, she is currently working on her second novel which is tentatively titled String Theories.  I will have to keep my eye out for that one!  

*Buy Forget-Her-Nots

*Read an excerpt here

*Watch the Book Trailer: