Inspirational Music (5)

This week's song is another love song from my current WiP.  It's another song I heard on Pandora as I was plotting and I had to run to Itunes and buy it straight away. I love it when that happens, because this song has become a cornerstone of my WiP play list.

Quick Pick: The Iron Daughter & The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Daughter (Harlequin Teen)-Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: August, 2010
Source: Library
Author website

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.
Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

(Amazon)

If you haven't read The Iron King, there are spoilers here!

After I finished The Iron King I had to reserve the next two books in the series from the library! If it's possible, I loved this book more than the first! The adventure is more high-stakes, as is the love story. I'm not going to lie, I'm Team Puck all the way and I enjoyed their scenes together. Perhaps I'm just too old, but I don't dislike Ash, but I'm not that crazy about him as a match for Meghan either. Sometimes it seems as though Meghan chooses him because of the 'omg we can never be together!' factor, which is a little annoying. But then again, I'm not a teenager. :grin:

That said, this book was a stand-out, and I'm so glad that I finally caught onto the awesomeness of this series!

The Iron Queen (Harlequin Teen)-Julie Kagawa
My name is Meghan Chase.
I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.
This time, there will be no turning back.
(Amazon)

I adore this series, and I have to say that The Iron Queen takes the Iron Fey to the next level. There's more action, romance and Meghan really grows as a character.

I will say that Ash grew on me a bit in this book, I still prefer Puck (can't help it, call it the Duckie syndrome if you must) but I'm starting to see the appeal of Ash.

I started reading Summer's Crossing right after I finished this book and I'm dying for the next installment of this fantastic series. Seriously, if you haven't read this series yet, now's a perfect time to start.

Visual Inspiration (6)

Australian author Steph Bowe posts inspiration photos on her blog. I love this idea and hope to participate as often as time allows. All photos are from Tumblr or Photo Donuts and do not belong to me.

Ira Glass on Storytelling

A large part of my blog is inspiration. I hope to inspire myself to be a better person, and a better writer. I also hope that in some small way, I inspire my readers. The video below features Ira Glass' thoughts on storytelling. As I watched, I had this feeling of....rightness.  I've been honing my craft for a year and a half and I don't feel that I'm through the woods yet. I hope I'll get there soon, but I'm not rushing myself, and you shouldn't either!

If you're an aspiring author, or even aspiring to aspire, take two minutes out of your day and watch this video.



Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.

(Video linked on my own tumblr, but found from the awesome Beth Revis' tumblr.)

If you're struggling, feeling like what you're writing is crap, stick it out, push through it. You will get better. 

In My Mailbox (33)

In My Mailbox is a weekly event held by The Story Siren.


From the library:

Tiger's Curse (Book 1) by Colleen Houck & A Blue So Dark by Holly Schindler, Beauty Queens by Libba Bray, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary by David Sedaris & The Dead Travel Fast by Deanna Raybourn.


Free for my Nook:

Hunted By The Others by Jess Haines

The Mistress' House by Leigh Michaels

Never a Bride by Amelia Grey.

Errant by Diana Peterfreund (see how to get your copy here).


For review:

Shadow Grail #2: Conspiracies by Mercedes Lackey & Rosemary Edghill

For an upcoming blog tour:

Kicking Ass and Saving Souls: A True Story of a Life Over the Line by David Matthews & Domestic Violets: A Novel (P.S.) by Matthew Norman.

From Netgalley:

The Iron Knight (Harlequin Teen) by Julie Kagawa

Thanks Tor Teen & Harlequin Teen & TLC Book Tours!

What's in your mailbox?

Review: Clean by Amy Reed

Clean-Amy Reed
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication date: July 19, 2011
Source: Galley Grab
Author website

Olivia, Kelly, Christopher, Jason, and Eva have one thing in common: They're addicts. Addicts who have hit rock bottom and been stuck together in rehab to face their problems, face sobriety, and face themselves. None of them wants to be there. None of them wants to confront the truths about their pasts. And they certainly don’t want to share their darkest secrets and most desperate fears with a room of strangers. But they'll all have to deal with themselves and one another if they want to learn how to live. Because when you get that high, there's nowhere to go but down, down, down.
(Amazon)

I don't accept that many books for review anymore. Not because I don't enjoy reviewing books, but because my 'have to' read pile was becoming a chore and I needed a break. That said, when I read about Clean, I knew it was right up my alley. I hate to keep repeating myself, but seriously, contemporary YA is where it's at. I've grown weary of a lot of dystopian and paranormal YA, but I've yet to have a contemporary YA let me down.

We meet the characters of Clean as the newest member of the bunch, Olivia, arrives at rehab. I enjoyed how the story was told, from different perspectives, but also in the form of group therapy and essays by the five main characters.

Addiction often doesn't happen without reason, and each of the characters had their proverbial crosses to bear. Their stories were believable. If the author had strayed too far, this novel could have ended up in the Liftetime Movie of the Week territory, but there is no cliche here. The characters seem real. Flawed, not always likable, but enjoyable to read about.

There is a fair amount of cursing and sexual situations in this novel, and honestly, I felt it should have been one of those books that focuses on young adults but is really marketed as an adult novel. Having said that, I need to tack on my usual caveat that I am an old lady and not a teenager, and things were different in my day, yadda, yadda, yadda. :waves cane, shoos kids from my lawn:

I really enjoyed Clean and had a hard time putting it down. I have a feeling if you pick it up you'll be drawn in like I was.

Quick Pick: Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris

Bad Taste in Boys-Carrie Harris
Publisher: Delacorte
Publication Date: July 12, 2011
Source: Review copy provided for blog tour
Of Note: Debut Author Challenge Book #10
Author Website


Someone's been a very bad zombie.
Kate Grable is horrified to find out that the football coach has given the team steroids. Worse yet, the steriods are having an unexpected effect, turning hot gridiron hunks into mindless flesh-eating zombies. No one is safe--not her cute crush Aaron, not her dorky brother, Jonah . . . not even Kate! She's got to find an antidote--before her entire high school ends up eating each other. So Kate, her best girlfriend, Rocky, and Aaron stage a frantic battle to save their town  . . . and stay hormonally human.
 (Amazon)

It's not often that a book has me laughing on the first page, but I'm happy to say that Bad Taste in Boys is one of those books. That said, I was happily surprised to find it was a little less madcap and "ZOMG BRAINS!11" than I was expecting. There are serious moments and the story has a real heart.

I especially enjoyed the variation on the traditional zombie theme. I can't really expound on that too much without spoiling a big chunk of the story, but let's just say this zombie story falls more into the "happy zombie" camp, which I always enjoy.

Often when I review zombie titles, someone will comment and say that zombies aren't their thing. If zombies aren't your thing, or if you've never read a zombie book before, check out Bad Taste in Boys. The gore is pretty minimal, and the story will leave you smiling. 

Inspirational Music (4)

This week's song is one of those 'pick me up' songs, for when you're feeling low. I have a whole playlist of songs like this for when I'm feeling low or discouraged with my writing. After one listen of this song, I'm ready to dive back into my work.

Visual Inspiration (5)

Each week Australian author Steph Bowe posts inspiration photos on her blog. I love this idea and hope to participate as often as time allows. All photos are from Tumblr or Photo Donuts and do not belong to me.