Saturday, June 29, 2013

Shelf Candy Saturday #74: Search for the Star, by Mary Stanton




Welcome to Shelf Candy Saturday!!



This weekly feature
showcases beautiful book covers,
and provides information,
if available, on their very talented creators!

For more information
about Shelf Candy Saturday,
just click HERE.


This is my choice for this week!




(Unicorns of Balinor #5)
Trade Paperback, 128 pages
Scholastic Paperbacks, First Edition
November 1, 1999
Fantasy, Middle-Grade Fiction



Why do I love this cover?

I have been wildly in love with horses my entire life, although I haven't been lucky enough to ever have been owned by one....  Of course, unicorns, as their close relatives, claim my admiration as well!

This particular unicorn is breathtakingly, magically, beautiful.  Since I know something about the Arabian breed (my favorite), I can see that this unicorn was inspired by an Arabian stallion.  The features are typical of the breed.  And oh, those soulful eyes....  That luxuriously flowing mane.... And then there's that golden horn.... The horse is a strange shade of lovely blue-green, which makes him even more beautiful to my eyes.  How I wish I could be friends with this magnificent creature in real life!

Friday, June 28, 2013

Book Blogger Hop #24 (6/28 - 7/4): All That Hype....





Welcome to the new
Book Blogger Hop,
hosted by Billy @
He took over this hop from
Jennifer @ Crazy For Books.
I'm so glad he decided to
continue with this weekly feature!
For more information, click HERE.


What to Do

1.) Post on your blog answering this question:

So would you read a book
just because of the hype?

2.)  Enter the link to your post in the
Linky list on Bill's blog.

3.)  Visit other blogs on the list and
comment on their posts. 

4.)  Be sure to find out next week's
question when you visit Bill's blog!


My Answer

Well, before I started blogging about books, I can't say that hype had much influence on my reading habits.  One exception was the Harry Potter series.  I had heard of these books long before I actually read the first one.  At first, I wasn't too interested in picking up one of these books.  But then, I happened to be at a Barnes & Noble store during the midnight release party for book 7.  There were people there dressed as characters from the books.   I saw Dumbledore, Voldemort, and a kid who really fit the part of Harry Potter.  I stayed a while, greatly enjoying the enthusiasm of all the fans crowded around the characters.  In fact, the store was overflowing with them!  And people were even getting their pictures taken with the Sorting Hat on!  So that was it -- I went to a cash register and bought book 2; a friend had previously given me the first book, but  I hadn't read it yet.  So I bought the second book, started on the first one right away, and went on to the second.  I just had to get the rest of them after that!

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Waiting On Wednesday #80: The Burning Sky, by Sherry Thomas




This is a weekly event hosted by
It showcases future releases which
we book bloggers are
eagerly anticipating!!




Here's my choice for this week!




(The Elemental Trilogy #1)
Hardcover, 464 pages
Balzer & Bray
September 17, 2013
Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult Fiction


Goodreads Synopsis

Iolanthe Seabourne is the greatest elemental mage of her generation—or so she's being told. The one prophesied for years to be the savior of The Realm. It is her duty and destiny to face and defeat the Bane, the greatest mage tyrant the world has ever known. A suicide task for anyone let alone a sixteen-year-old girl with no training, facing a prophecy that foretells a fiery clash to the death.

Prince Titus of Elberon has sworn to protect Iolanthe at all costs but he's also a powerful mage committed to obliterating the Bane to revenge the death of his family—even if he must sacrifice both Iolanthe and himself to achieve his goal.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Family Magic Blog Tour: Interview with author Patti Larsen, plus Giveaway!!




Welcome to this stop in the
Family Magic Blog Tour,
sponsored by
Innovative Online Book Tours!!


Please join me in welcoming
author Patti Larsen to
A Night's Dream of Books!




Patti Larsen


Maria:  How would you describe yourself, both as a writer and a person?

Patti:  As a person: nerdy geekgirl who's finally come to terms with her status and is fine with it, thanks.  I'm passionate about things I love and "meh" about those I don't.  I've learned to put me first in most things, a struggle that's led me to the happiest life I've ever imagined.  I adore sports though they hate me and will throw my heart and soul into a cause if it speaks to me.  I see most things in black and white until the gray is explained to me, and have a temper I've come to embrace. 

As a writer: So. Lucky. I get to write fulltime, make a living at it.  Happy.  Focused.  Professional.  In tune with the teenagers clamoring for attention in my head.  I'm addicted to telling stories, especially paranormal stories -- don't ask me to write something without witches, demons, angels, oracles, super powers.  I. Just.  Can't.

I'm an artist and a businesswoman.  This is all I've ever wanted to do and I'm doing it.

Maria:  What do you consider most important in building a good, page-turning plot?

Patti:  Outlining. Knowing where I'm going before I write a word of prose.  I typically outline a full series before I begin the first book.  I hate not having all the threads tied up, the thought I might drop one and disappoint my readers.  Understanding outlining involves understanding how stories flow -- from the normal of the first act to the abnormal of the second, the growing of conflict from the small to the ginormously horrid until the character is thrust into their new normal in the third.  I love writing action, keeping a story moving with the constant peck-peck-pecking, the death from a thousand cuts.  My poor characters don't stand a chance.


Monday, June 24, 2013

Book Review: Breaking Dawn, by Sephenie Meyer


Breaking Dawn
(The Twilight Saga, #4)
Stephenie Meyer
Trade Paperback Movie Tie-In Edition, with Poster, 768 pages
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Sept. 25, 2012
(first published 8/2/08)
Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, YA




Every single one of the books in this beloved series is absolutely stunning!  This fourth and last one wraps everything up in a very satisfying way, while delivering a solid story in Meyer's signature style, which is so riveting, it continues to gain new fans for the series even though this edition of the last book was published in 2012.  The last movie was shown in theaters in November of that year.

Edward and Bella's storybook wedding at the Cullen house, and their subsequent honeymoon on a lush tropical island off the coast of Brazil (Carlisle's gift to his wife, Esme), mark the very romantic beginning of the novel. Everything is deceptively peaceful....

Then Bella becomes pregnant, thus setting off the novel's central conflict, for the child grows very quickly, putting her life in danger. Edward and Jacob both want her to have an abortion.  She refuses, enlisting Rosalie's help in keeping that from happening.

Of course I loved this novel! The details involved, Meyer's meticulous care to make sure all threads were neatly tied up in the end, are nothing short of masterful!  As was apparent from the very first book, her characters are thoroughly fleshed-out, her settings beautifully described, and each event in the story seamlessly leads up to the next.

Bella finally comes into her own in this novel.  All her clumsiness is gone; she is now as graceful as a gazelle.  And, as a newborn vampire, she's also stronger than even Emmett, easily beating him in several arm-wrestling contests, much to his chagrin.  Yet, she's still the Bella that all of us fans have come to know and love, who is heroically self-sacrificing, deeply cherishes her loved ones, and who now turns into a fierce protector of her unusually gifted daughter.

One of the things I especially admired in this novel was Meyer's depiction of a young woman who resolutely refuses to abort her baby, even though the pregnancy endangers her life.  This is evidence of Meyer's very strong pro-life stance, with which I wholeheartedly agree.  It's also beautiful to see how all the members of the Cullen family do everything in their power to make Bella comfortable during her unusual pregnancy.

In fact, the Saga's overarching theme is the sanctity of human life.  The Cullens, just like the Quileute werewolves, are totally committed to protecting humans at any cost, each in their own way.  Life is inextricably entangled with love, and this love is a living force that, in turn, makes life precious.

The setting of Forks -- which, in this book, is the only location in which all the action takes place -- is perfect for the unfolding drama.  The lush, green forests, the meadows, the almost permanently cloudy skies....all form an appropriately turbulent backdrop for all the ensuing events in the novel.  Furthermore, Forks is where it all began, in the first book, so this last novel brings everything full circle back again.

I think that Meyer's solution to the love triangle of Edward, Bella, and Jacob, which took central stage in the third novel, Eclipse, is absolutely brilliant.  It's clear evidence of her inventive power, and ties things up very nicely.  Some have criticized it as being a little creepy, but I totally disagree.  Yes, it's unusual, and totally unexpected.  But that's precisely why it's so very perfect.  Also, it allows Jacob to go back to being Bella's best friend, which is what he was to her in Twilight, as well as at the beginning of New Moon, the second novel in the series.  In other novels, such triangles have usually been resolved through the violent death of one of the people involved.  In keeping with her overarching theme, Meyer has chosen a totally original resolution -- a non-violent one.

This was my third reading of the novel, and it surely won't be my last!  All of these characters are now like family to me, and so, I feel very strongly tied to them.  I love them all -- except for the evil Volturi, of course, although, as villains go, they are truly magnificently depicted.  Thanks  to Meyer's skillful, psychologically informed writing, I know them all so well -- their dreams, motivations, thoughts, feelings.  I will always return to this book, as to the preceding three in the series, in order to become immersed once again in this lushly romantic, incredibly compelling story!


MY RATING: 





Purchase Links



   


Saturday, June 22, 2013

Shelf Candy Saturday #73: Family Magic, by Patti Larsen




Welcome to Shelf Candy Saturday!!



This weekly feature
showcases beautiful book covers,
and provides information,
if available, on their very talented creators!

For more information
about Shelf Candy Saturday,
just click HERE.


This is my choice for this week!





(Hayle Coven #1)
Trade Paperback, 466 pages
CreateSpace
October 27, 2011
Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy,
Young Adult Fiction



Why do I love this cover?


This is a very simple, yet very striking, cover.  The eye dominates, yet the gorgeous font used for the title and author's name also capture the viewer's attention.

The star around the eye's pupil is a little freaky, but fascinating, at the same time. 

The letters of the title are so graceful and beautiful!  They have a definite Art Nouveau influence, and also remind me of the font styles used on vintage 1970's book covers.  I love that they share the lovely aqua color of the rest of the cover, in varying shades of it.

Last but not least, the gentle scrolls with leaves  adorning the top and bottom of the cover are not only lovely, but magical as well.  They contribute to the overall mood of this gently enchanting cover!

Stacking The Shelves #18





This is a weekly event hosted by Jennifer, Lili,
Stephanie, Helen, and Tynga @ Tynga's Reviews!
(I have decided to start participating
every other week, though, because of
time constraints.)

As the title implies, this is all about
sharing the books you're adding
to your shelves, be they physical or virtual.
For the complete rules, and to sign up,
just click on the link above.



This week's haul!!








  
Books Purchased 


I've recently discovered this series,
and came across the special edition of the
very first volume!
Kate Daniels sure sounds like a very intriguing,
strong heroine!  Besides, 
these books are full of magic and action!
This special edition contains some
extra material, too, like a story prequel,
and an FQA section!

  

Trade Paperback, 384 pages





  
This debut novel caught my eye
the moment I first saw its
gorgeous cover on
I love horses passionately, so
this book just had to be mine!!
Of course, the plot is truly awesome,
too, with lots of supernatural mayhem
involved!



Trade Paperback, 310 pages







I first came across this one on
The cover is absolutely beautiful, although
I was dubious at first, since I thought,
at first sight, that  the girl was holding a
human heart in her left hand...
Ugh.
Thankfully, that's not the case!!
I was also pulled in by the plot, which deals with
"women who can sing magic into the world."
They are known as 'Chantresses'.
Wow.
This is a very original idea, as well as a
highly compelling one!



Hardcover, 336 pages




Friday, June 21, 2013

Book Blogger Hop #23 (6/21 - 6/27): Reviews - During Or After?





Welcome to the new
Book Blogger Hop,
hosted by Billy @
He took over this hop from
Jennifer @ Crazy For Books.
I'm so glad he decided to
continue with this weekly feature!
For more information, click HERE.


What to Do

1.) Post on your blog answering this question:

When you are writing your reviews,
do you write them as you are
reading, or wait until you
are completely done with the book?

2.)  Enter the link to your post in the
Linky list on Bill's blog.

3.)  Visit other blogs on the list and
comment on their posts. 

4.)  Be sure to find out next week's
question when you visit Bill's blog!


My Answer

Most reviewers, I think, tend to wait until they finish reading a book before starting to write their reviews. I usually do the same.  However, sometimes I actually begin writing my review toward the end of the book.  That's because, if I really like the book, I can't wait to share it with my readers! 

Now that I think about it, it might not be a bad idea to begin work on a review as one begins a book, then add to it and revise as necessary, as reading progresses.  That way, important details can be retained fresh in the mind.  Of course, it's not good to be including spoilers.  Still, this could be an interesting way to proceed.  I think I'll give it a try when I write my next review!







Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Waiting On Wednesday #79: Kindred and Wings, by Philippa Ballantine




This is a weekly event hosted by
It showcases future releases which
we book bloggers are
eagerly anticipating!!




Here's my choice for this week!





Trade Paperback, 340 pages
Pyr
August 6, 2013
Fantasy, Romance


Goodreads Synopsis

On the back of the dragon Wahirangi, Finn the Fox flees the world he has known. As he sets out to find the brother he never knew of, he still holds in his heart the memory of the Hunter. He has denied his love for her, but he cannot deny it forever.

In the halls of the Last Believers, Talyn begins to uncover her own mysteries, but her lust for the death of the Caisah is still strong and clouds her vision. She must choose her path, as the Seer of her people or as the assassin of the overlord.


Saturday, June 15, 2013

Shelf Candy Saturday #72: Dante: The Poet, the Political Thinker, the Man, by Barbara Reynolds




Welcome to Shelf Candy Saturday!!



This weekly feature
showcases beautiful book covers,
and provides information,
if available, on their very talented creators!

For more information
about Shelf Candy Saturday,
just click HERE.


This is my choice for this week!



Hardcover, 448 pages
Shoemaker & Hoard
(an imprint of Avalon Publishing Co.)
August 16, 2006
Biography, Classics, Poetry
(Note: I own this book, so I can attest
that the publisher listed on Amazon
is not the right one.)


Why do I love this cover?

This is a truly stunning cover!  The man portrayed here -- the great Italian poet, Dante -- is depicted sitting at a table, apparently comparing two books for accuracy of information, or perhaps to investigate two opposing views. 

Aside from the fact that Dante is a fascinating figure in his own right, I think that this portrait is also a perfect symbol of the quintessential bookworm -- someone who just can't get enough of books, even trying to read two at the same time!  The poet is obviously absorbed in his reading, totally oblivious to the world around him.  He's probably sitting at his desk, in his own private study.

I love the warm, cozy color scheme of this painting; the main color is burnt sienna.  This masterpiece was created by the Italian Renaissance artist, Luca Signorelli (see links below).  It's located at Cappella di San Brizio, Il Duomo, Orvieto, a city located in southwestern Umbria, Italy.  The cover photograph was taken by the author of this biography.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Book Blogger Hop #22 (6/14 - 6/20): My Favorite Genres





Welcome to the new
Book Blogger Hop,
hosted by Billy @
He took over this hop from
Jennifer @ Crazy For Books.
I'm so glad he decided to
continue with this weekly feature!
For more information, click HERE.


What to Do

1.) Post on your blog answering this question:

What is your favorite genre
(genre that you read the most)?
Recommend a book!

2.)  Enter the link to your post in the
Linky list on Bill's blog.

3.)  Visit other blogs on the list and
comment on their posts. 

4.)  Be sure to find out next week's
question when you visit Bill's blog!


My Answer

I'm a very eclectic reader, so I have several favorite genres.  However, for quite some time now, I've been very partial to Young Adult Fiction -- specifically fantasy, paranormal romance, and urban fantasy.  In fact, I've been pretty much obsessed with such books!  This is thanks to two of my favorite authors -- Stephenie Meyer and J.K. Rowling.  Since most of you know which books these writers are famous for, I won't mention them yet again.

Here are some of my top favorites in the above-named genres (of course, in addition to the Meyer and Rowling books).  Although the books below are listed in a certain order, this by no means indicates any descending order of preference.  I love them all equally!!


































What do you think of my list?
What are some of your favorites?