Chosen at Nightfall is HERE!!!

It's here!  It's here!  Chosen at Nightfall is finally here, everyone!  And to celebrate, here's some information to get everyone geared up for the final volume in Kylie Galen's story.  

When Kylie Galen entered Shadow Falls Camp, she left her old life behind forever and discovered a world more magical than she ever imagined. A place where you’re two best friends can be a witch and a vampire…and where love doesn’t happen the way you’d expect.

When Kylie’s most powerful enemy returns to destroy her once and for all, there’s only one way to stop him—to step into her full powers and make a stunning transformation that will amaze everyone around her.  But her journey won’t be complete until she makes one final choice…which guy to love.  Should she choose to the werewolf who broke her heart but will give anything to win her back, or the half-fae who ran from their attraction before they had a chance?  Everything she’s learned at Shadow Falls has been preparing her for this moment—when her fate will be revealed and her heart claimed forever.

And next, here are 13 things that happen in Chosen at Nightfall!

In Chosen at Nightfall Kylie. . .

1. …nearly kills Lucas twice.

2. …has another boy become interested in her.

3. …acquires another stalker.

4. …is accused of having an affair with an older man.

5. …has an unwanted guest crawl over a bathroom stall when she’s trying to pee.

6. …gets kissed by two guys.

7. …finally makes a choice of which boy she loves.

8. …is forced to kill someone to save someone she loves

9. …tells a human that she’s a supernatural.

10.         Discovers someone isn’t who they say they are.

11.         …gets caught buying pregnancy tests for someone.

12.         …Has another guy paying a pint of blood to spend an hour with her.

13.         …gets read the riot act by Burnett. 

And that's not all, everyone. The amazing CC Hunter is holding a HUUUUUUGE giveaway on her blog and I kid you not, y'all won't believe what all she's giving away.  So be sure to check it out HERE!

Last but not least, definitely check out the book trailer for Chosen at Nightfall. 

Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Title:  Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1)
Author:  Marissa Meyer
Pages:  387
Genre:  YA Science Fiction/Fairytale Dystopia
Publisher:  Feiwel and Friends
Obtained:  Bought (at signing)
Summary:  Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl...

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future.

What I Liked:  1) Cinder was quite the unique heroine that fell into the category of having to rescue herself rather than wait to be rescued. Readers cannot help feeling for her situation at home as well as the warring emotions after meeting and helping Prince Kaito. 2) New Beijing. When the setting seems to have a life of its own, you know you have a great story. 3) Peony and Iko were fascinating supporting characters, and I can understand Cinder's attachment to them by the end of the book. 4) The villains delivered a performance worthy of invoking my wrath. Both Adri and Queen Levana deserved to be backhanded many times over, and I applaud Meyer for creating such villains that make me want to punch something.

What I Didn't Like:  I can't really think of anything off-hand, though I admit it would have been nice to see more of New Beijing. I do look forward to seeing more of Meyer's futuristic Earth in the next titles.

Overall:  Readers who enjoy a retold and updated fairy tale will certainly find similarities in Cinder while also getting to know this new world and spin on the girl who lost her "shoe" following the ball.

Wandering the Archive

Deep within the archives of a home library, there lurks title upon title of books accrued over half (or more) a lifetime. Nobody knows just why a bookshelf grows out of proportion or why it needs to be expanded except... the bibliophile. And even then, she might have forgotten the reason somewhere along the way. But now, thanks to the intrepid explorer (my beau), these titles will slowly be unearthed and examined here for any who dare to wander into... DJL's personal archive.

What is it?

Star Wars: Darth Maul - Shadow Hunter by Michael Reaves (2001)

For the infamous, power-hungry Sith, beholden to the dark side, the time has come to rise again.

After years of waiting in the shadows, Darth Sidious is taking the first step in his master plan to bring the Republic to its knees. Key to his scheme are the Neimoidians of the Trade Federation. Then one of his Neimoidian contacts disappears, and Sidious does not need his Force-honed instincts to suspect betrayal. He orders his apprentice, Darth Maul, to hunt the traitor down.

But he is too late. The secret has already passed into the hands of information broker Lorn Pavan, which places him right at the top of Darth Maul's hit list. Then, in the labyrinthine alleyways and sewers of Coruscant, capital city of the Republic, Lorn crosses paths with Darsha Assant, a Jedi Padawan on a mission to earn her Knighthood. Now the future of the Republic depends on Darsha and Lorn. But how can an untried Jedi and an ordinary man, stranger to the powerful ways of the Force, hope to triumph over one of the deadliest killers in the galaxy?

Where did it come from?

I picked up this copy at a Bookstop. 
(If you remember this bookstore, I'll not feel so old!)

Why did it get picked up?

First off, I blame a college friend for "turning me over to the dark side." And secondly, I was disappointed in how little screen-time Darth Maul was given in Phantom Menace, so it was fascinating to see his character further developed by Reaves.

When was it read?

On my Tropical Ecology class trip to Belize in 2002, I read it in one night (because of pseudo-scorpions found on my window making me unable to sleep). Shadow Hunter kept me awake and alert more than the arachnids did.

To whom should it be recommended?

Science fiction readers and Star Wars fans who seek more story development of their favorite characters.

Will it be kept?

Keep it I should. *ahem* I've kept it this long, and I see no reason to give it up. ^_^

Bloglovin!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

In light of the imminent disappearance of Google Reader, I have hopped on board the Bloglovin wagon!  It's pretty nifty, so have a look at it yourself as an option for Google Reader. ^_^

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Recommend The Most

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new Top Ten list will be posted by one of the bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish. Everyone is welcome to join, just make sure to link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so everyone can check out other blogger lists. Have fun!

Top Ten Books I Recommend The Most

(Best part about being a librarian!)

1) The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

2) The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

3) Shadow Falls Series by C.C. Hunter

4) Dust City by Robert Paul Weston

5) The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

6) Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr

7) Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by David Levithan & Rachel Cohn

8) Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

9) Dork Diaries by Rachel Renee Russell

10) The Color Trilogy by Kim Dong Hwa

2nd Annual Lunar Love Giveaway Winner!

And the winner is...

Julia Rain Wellman!

Congratulations, Julia!

Thank you for participating, everyone!

Wandering the Archive

Deep within the archives of a home library, there lurks title upon title of books accrued over half (or more) a lifetime. Nobody knows just why a bookshelf grows out of proportion or why it needs to be expanded except... the bibliophile. And even then, she might have forgotten the reason somewhere along the way. But now, thanks to the intrepid explorer (my beau), these titles will slowly be unearthed and examined here for any who dare to wander into... DJL's personal archive.

What is it?

Mercenaries by Angela Knight (2005)

Trinity Yeager would rather die than be auctioned off as a bride to the freaks on Rapture's Colony. There is an alternative: Join Nathan August's star-hopping team of mercenary soldiers. The captain has one condition--that Trinity prove her resilience as the one-night plaything for him and his first officer, Sebastian Cole. Trinity not only sees Nathan's bet. She raises it...

From galactic dens of depravity to far-reaching planets of dominant females and strapping male slaves to the violent shadows of an unknown off-world, Trinity joins forces with Nathan and Sebastian to risk flesh and blood, and to push the boundaries of erotic adventure in order to protect, honor, and serve--in the name of duty.

Where did it come from?

This book came from the Recycled Bookstore in Denton.

Why did it get picked up?

Angela Knight was one of the first romance authors whose works I'd read. I thought this one would be fairly interesting since it was composed of 3 novellas taking place in a science fiction setting.

When was it read?

Either in 2006 or 2007, though I'm not sure of the exact time.

To whom should it be recommended?

Readers who enjoy romance with adventure... and a wee bit of domineering. (If you're looking for an alternative to Fifty Shades of Grey, I recommend this one.)

Will it be kept?

Yes, as it is my one remaining Angela Knight title in my collection (even if my beau does tease me now).

Shadow Falls: The Beginning

Have you heard about Kylie Galen?  How about Shadow Falls, the camp for supernaturals and paranormals of all types?  If you haven't, then here's your chance to get into the story from the very beginning. 

You'll get...

..and...

...in this neat little package!

While I love and adore the splendid natural beauty of the first two books, this is a great opportunity to take advantage of and get two books for the price of one!  Pretty sweet deal, right? 

So if you know someone who loves supernaturals or if you've been dying to get into the Shadow Falls series, now's your chance to get the first two books! 

Shadow Falls by C.C. Hunter

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Lunar Love Giveaway Hop!

Lunar Love Giveaway Hop

March 8th through 13th

Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Bookworm Lisa

I'm giving away a paperback copy of Marissa Meyer's Cinder in celebration of lunar love (though readers shouldn't love the Lunars represented here!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check out all the other blogs participating in the hop!

Top Ten Tuesday: Series I'd Like to Start But Haven't Yet

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new Top Ten list will be posted by one of the bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish. Everyone is welcome to join, just make sure to link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so everyone can check out other blogger lists. Have fun!

Top Ten Series I'd Like to Start But Haven't Yet

While there's a lot, I'm going to list those that have been on my TBR list the longest time.

1) The Darkest Powers by Kelley Armstrong

2) Legacy of Tril by Heather Brewer

3) Medusa Girls by Tera Lynn Childs

4) All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness

5) Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

6) Newsoul by Jodi Meadows

7) The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare

8) Royal House of Shadows

9) Healer Trilogy by Maria V. Snyder

10) Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan

Wandering the Archive

Deep within the archives of a home library, there lurks title upon title of books accrued over half (or more) a lifetime. Nobody knows just why a bookshelf grows out of proportion or why it needs to be expanded except... the bibliophile. And even then, she might have forgotten the reason somewhere along the way. But now, thanks to the intrepid explorer (my beau), these titles will slowly be unearthed and examined here for any who dare to wander into... DJL's personal archive. 

What is it?

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff (1982)

The Wisdom of Pooh.

Is there such a thing as a Western Taoist? Benjamin Hoff says there is, and this Taoist's favorite food is honey. Through brilliant and witty dialogue with the beloved Pooh-bear and his companions, the author of this smash bestseller explains with ease and aplomb that rather than being a distant and mysterious concept, Taoism is as near and practical to us as our morning breakfast bowl.

Romp through the enchanting world of Winnie-the-Pooh while soaking up invaluable lessons on simplicity and natural living.

Where did it come from?

Ironically, this book came from a guy I dated while in library school. Since he couldn't find any new copies (so he claimed), he gave me his (slightly beaten-up) copy. 

Why did it get picked up?

I had told said guy about my grad school profession and that while I was interested in Eastern philosophy (such as Taoism), I'd never read one of the most widely-known books on relating Eastern philosophy to Western culture. It was nice of him to give me his copy.

When was it read?

While I haven't read The Tao of Pooh in its entirety, I have read various passages that I felt related to what challenges were going on in my life at the time. I did obtain it in 2007.

To whom should it be recommended?

Anyone interested in philosophy or who appreciated A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh series. 

Will it be kept?

Yes, because I want to read it completely, and it will be nice to have such a book on hand.

Stacking the Shelves (14)

We are all book lovers and the need to share our enthusiasm is sometimes overwhelming. Stacking the Shelves, created and hosted at Tynga's Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in stores or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course ebooks!

Gifted:

The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron (Signed)

Rock On ARC by Denise Vega

Monument 14 ARC by Emmy Laybourne

Beneath a Meth Moon ARC by Jacqueline Woodson

Whispers at Moonrise ARC by C.C. Hunter 

All of these and an awesome wolf bookmark came from 
Marla at Starting the Next Chapter. Thanks, Marla!

Won:

Seraphina ARC by Rachel Hartman (From Marla)

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (From Courtney at Fuzzy. Coffee. Books. and signed!)

Bought:

Cinder by Marissa Meyer (Signed!)
The Arcived by Victoria Schwab


Big stack but I received all of these over quite a few weeks. ^_^

Reader's Advisory: The Big Question

Earlier this week, I had a library patron ask for a particular title, but then she asked me what my favorite book was.  I said that was a hard question, and she then rephrased it to who my favorite author was.  Also a hard question, but I told her a few of my favorites and Maggie Stiefvater caught her attention.  She asked if there was a book by Maggie that I would recommend to her, and I immediately suggested The Scorpio Races since it is a standalone and a great book (in my humble opinion).  The patron was amazed by the brief description I gave of the story, and she took one of our copies, thanking me for making her day. 

While this is a good example of reader's advisory, I wanted to discuss the idea of reader's advisory in an unfamiliar area.  One of the main reasons I am a blogger is to stay in the know about various titles, but what happens if a patron is looking for a book suggestion in a genre I'm not familiar?  I do try to read in different genres so I can offer advice when patrons ask, but there are times I'm just at a loss on what to tell the patron.  Case in point, a patron came in and asked for a book suggestion.  I immediately pointed out the new bookshelves which had a copy of Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo front and center.  However, the patron said, "Oh, I don't like fantasy" at which point, I asked what genres she did enjoy.  Needless to say, the patron was not very forthcoming in what type of book(s) she wanted.  This might have been a specialized case, but they do happen on occasion.

Sometimes, I also find myself recommending books that I have heard good reviews but haven't had the chance to read it myself.  I usually prefer to recommend titles I've read, but there's only so much I can offer that others have yet to read as well.  When that happens, I will inform the patron that while I haven't read it, I have heard friends speak well of the title in question.  My main question is would you (a librarian) recommend only books that you have read or would you suggest unread titles that are within the same genre as what the patron is asking for?  And would you (a patron) prefer recommendations read by the librarian you're asking for book suggestions? 

How do you handle reader's advisory?