To Read, or Not To Read

Title: Changeling (Order of Darkness, Book One)
Author: Philippa Gregory
Read by: Charlie Cox
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Audio
Publication Date: May 24, 2012
Running Time: 6.5 hours
ISBN: 978-1-4423-5023-6
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction
Source: Publisher

Summary:

Italy, 1453. Seventeen-year-old Luca Vero is brilliant, gorgeous—and accused of heresy. Cast out of his religious order for using the new science to question old superstitious beliefs, Luca is recruited into a secret sect: The Order of the Dragon, commissioned by Pope Nicholas V to investigate evil and danger in its many forms, and strange occurrences across Europe, in this year—the end of days.  

Isolde is a seventeen-year-old girl shut up in a nunnery so she can’t inherit any of her father’s estate. As the nuns walk in their sleep and see strange visions, Isolde is accused of witchcraft—and Luca is sent to investigate her, but finds himself plotting her escape.  

My thoughts on the audio:
Charlie Cox has appeare…

Greetings from across the pond!
In the email exchange that we had when discussing this guest post, Marcie suggested that I might consider writing on the subject of “the best/worst thing about 25th Century Britain.”
I suspect she realised that just about my only reference source for this would be my own book, “Drayling” – so I agreed readily. Many thanks, Marcie!
Drayling is, in fact, the name of a small district in Southern 25th Century Britain, and it is typical of communities throughout the country at that time.
Its citizens revere the memory of Dunstan Heathfield, a 24th Century statesman who formed the Government of National Unity, and went on to show how, by non-violent, yet determined political means, peace could be achieved throughout the world.
Such a prize did not, of course, come without a price. Over a period of time, competitive sport, religion, currency and non-administrative travel and communication were all abolished and banned by law.
Controversial, certainly, but Hea…

Here is a bit of background on the scene from Joy Preble:
“The Anastasia Forever deleted scene is my favorite. I had originally envisioned Anne turning into a full blown Baba Yaga much earlier. And so I wrote this scene where she and Ben and Tess and Ethan all go to that Swedish film festival, but in the middle of the story. And there's all this wonderful tension and just at the moment that Ben decides to confront Anne about Ethan and her feelings, Anne realizes that smelling Ben's cologne is making her hungry. Really hungry. And well, she almost eats him. And after that much wackiness ensued. But in the end, I didn't go this route. But it is fun to see what might have been had my editor seen it.”


Deleted Scene:
We stop at the base of the Grand Staircase - all pretty marble and elegant looking. I’ve always loved those stairs – regal in a way that most things aren’t these days. Once when I was five, David chased me up and down the stairs until we were both red-faced and ou…

I've recently signed up for Austen in August. I've read all of Jane Austen's books except for Mansfield Park, and this is the perfect opportunity to read it. I also have a few books in my reading pile that fit this reading challenge perfectly. I'm a huge fan of all things Jane, and so excited to participate.  If you'd like to join me for Austen in August, you can sign up here. Which Austen book is your favorite?

The Serpent’s Bite, is set on the treacherous trails and isolated wilds of Yellowstone Park, where an aging father, George Temple, seeks to use a nostalgic horse trek to reconcile with his estranged daughter and son.  They hadn’t seen one another since the passing of George’s wife nearly five years earlier and the family reunion is intended to bring back memories of their first trek 20 years earlier. The story reveals hidden secrets that plague the family and lead to disaster.
George, a wealthy man, had  previously cut off his children from additional handouts after having given each of them millions of dollars to further their failed dreams.  Scott still hoped to get his business off the ground while Courtney was still looking to make it big as an actress.  But George wants to unite the family and ask for their support as he announces plans to wed again, so he decides to resume funding what he knows are lost pursuits, feeling both guilty for cutting them off earlier and  now for ena…

Title: Gold and Glory (Mercenaries #2)
Author: Brian Libby
Publisher: Avid Readers Publishing Group
Published: April 22, 2010
paperback, 454 pages
ISBN: 1935105477 (ISBN13: 9781935105473)
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Author

Summary (From Goodreads):
GOLD AND GLORY The second volume of the Mercenaries series After a long winter of training and reorganization, the Pelicans Mercenary Regiment marches out of obscure Ironport to look for a contract, its inexperienced commander wondering if she is up to the job for which she was so unexpectedly chosen. There is indeed work available for sharp halberds and accurate bows, and not just locally, as the slowly-approaching storm takes more definite shape.

My thoughts:
This review is of the second book of a series and may contain spoilers for book one!

Gold and Glory is part two of Mercenaries by Brian Libby. You can read my review of part one, Storm Approaching here. This book picks up pretty much where part one left off. Andiriel is the leader of the mercenary…

The Olympics Beat By Shannon Young
As a little girl growing up in America, I watched the Olympics religiously. There was a surprise every time we turned on the TV: a sport we’d never heard of in the throes of a dramatic moment, an inspirational commercial about the human spirit, a special on the culture of the Olympic city. We watched diving and gymnastics, the 100-meter final and every Michael Phelps race. I loved it all.

My favorite was the Opening Ceremony, a celebration full of colors and lights and symbolism I didn’t understand. During the four-hour production, I’d bounce back and forth between the TV and the kitchen (for snacks), eager to see what each country’s athletes would be wearing that year.

When I had the opportunity to attend an Olympics in person, I jumped for it like I was in the pole vault finals. The 2008 Beijing Games occurred just before my senior year of university, just when my college had given me a fellowship to study anything I wanted. It was the perfect time…

Late in the summer of 2005, starkly independent Jake Thornton was on the verge of turning 16, expecting little more than his driver’s license in the fall, and the continuance of the quiet life shared with his father. So when 14-almost-15 year old Sara moved in next door and began vying for his father’s attention, Jake wasn’t exactly thrilled, and couldn’t quite understand his father’s motives for allowing it. But certainly he never anticipated the dramatic shift their lives would take as a result.

As the summer fades and autumn takes over, friendship between the two teenagers begins blossoming into a bond, until fate steps in once more, threatening to tear them apart as quickly as they’ve come together. The decisions that follow, and the emotive tale that results, opens Jake’s eyes to the simple yet life altering truth, a truth that Sara has understood all along: that love—not the feeling but the action—is the most powerful force in the world.

Thanks to the author I have an e-copy of…

Title: The Elusive Mr. McCoy
Author: Brenda Baker
Publisher: NAL
Published: July 3, 2012
paperback, 336 pages
ISBN: 978-0-451-23689-0
Genre: Contemporary
Source: Publisher

Summary (From Goodreads):

While trying to identify a man who collapses in a Portland, Oregon, coffee shop, two wallets are found: one belonging to David McCoy, the other to Eric McCoy.
Devastated by their comatose husband’s betrayal, Kendra and Lesley reluctantly join forces in an attempt to piece together a true picture of the man they both fell in love with. Instead, they uncover a vast web of deceit as they learn their husband lived a third life neither of them suspected.


My thoughts:
The Elusive Mr. McCoy by Brenda Baker is a very intriguing novel. From the first page, it had me hooked. David/Eric McCoy collapses in a coffee shop in front of Jason Cheddick, who is a private investigator. Jason  discovers two different ID's on this man when he checks for identification; one for Eric McCoy and one for David M…

Boston, 1767: In D.B. Jackson's Thieftaker, revolution is brewing as the British Crown imposes increasingly onerous taxes on the colonies, and intrigue swirls around firebrands like Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty. But for Ethan Kaille, a thieftaker who makes his living by conjuring spells that help him solve crimes, politics is for others…until he is asked to recover a necklace worn by the murdered daughter of a prominent family.
Suddenly, he faces another conjurer of enormous power, someone unknown, who is part of a conspiracy that reaches to the highest levels of power in the turbulent colony. His adversary has already killed—and not for his own gain, but in the service of his powerful masters, people for whom others are mere pawns in a game of politics and power. Ethan is in way over his head, and he knows it. Already a man with a dark past, he can ill afford to fail, lest his livelihood be forfeit. But he can't stop now, for his magic has marked him, so he must fight…

1. Why did you choose My Right Leg is Tastier Than My Left for your title?

It is the name of one of the chapter is the book, specifically Bangkok. When I was travelling I tried to make my blog titles funny or interesting. This specific one came about due to the fact that while sleeping in Bangkok, all the biting insects feasting on my right leg, but not my left, which meant I had one leg dotted with big splotches, while the other was relatively unscathed!

2. Why did you quit your job to travel the world?
I think the question should be why more people don't! I had been working the same job for five years, as well as freelancing and filmmaking, but my job was just a paycheck; the only thing I miss now are the friends I had there. But after I finished shooting my second short film, The Collector (based on a short story by acclaimed author Jonathan Lethem), I knew I had to go travelling then because I would not have the opportunity to do so again. We had shot for eight days in late 201…

How did the idea for Wild Ink come about?
Participants in my workshops at writers’ conferences were eager for more complete information on writing for young adults (YA). There’s so much to say about this fascinating subject—more than can be covered in a few hours.

Why do you write young adult fiction?
I’m drawn to coming-of-age stories full of intensity, growth, and passionate voices.

What do you see as the future of young adult fiction?
More and more readers will discover this genre, and for good reason. YA novels are fast-paced and well-written, starring dynamic young characters who wrestle with all the pressures of life. Irresistible! I expect the market to keep expanding.

What about the future of YA nonfiction?
Nonfiction YA is an exploding genre right now. Hundreds of topics are just waiting for knowledgeable authors to write about them in a refreshing style that appeals to teens. (Wild Ink includes a chapter on writing nonfiction YA.)


What makes Wild Ink stand out from other books on…