Saga Vol.1 by Brian K. Vaughan

Author: Brian K. Vaughan
Illustrator: Fiona Staples

Title: Saga
Publication: October 10, 2012

Publisher: Image

Genre: Science Fiction, humor, action

 Pages: 160

Audience: 18 and up

Rating: 5 out of 5

Source: Bought

Synopsis (Amazon):

When two soldiers from opposite sides of a never-ending galactic war fall in love, they risk everything to bring a fragile new life into a dangerous old universe. From New York Times bestselling writer Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man, Ex Machina) and critically acclaimed artist Fiona Staples (Mystery Society, North 40), Saga is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the worlds. Fantasy and science fiction are wed like never before in this sexy, subversive drama for adults. This specially priced volume collects the first six issues of the smash-hit series The Onion A.V. Club calls "the emotional epic Hollywood wishes it could make." Voted one of the top graphic novels of the year by the NYT, IGN, the Examiner, and SF Weekly. Voted Best Comic of the year by MTV Geek and Best New Series by Paradox Comics. Voted a finalist in the GoodReads Best GN of 2012 contest. Voted #2 Graphic Novel of 2012 by Amazon editors.

My thoughts:  Saga. Wow, what can I say about Saga? I picked up this book on a recommendation from a friend, without knowing one single thing about it other than, "Dude it's amazing you need to read it." So I did, and was blown away. This is the story of two military deserters from two opposing planets at war and their newborn child, on the run from a cruel universe. I loved Saga, it has everything from guns and swords to spaceships and ghosts. Keep in mind this book does have nudity, strong language and heavy violence, but don't let that scare you away, because this is a very touching and action packed story. I can not wait till the next volume.



 

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

Author:  William Joyce
Illustrator: Joe Bluhm

Title: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

Publication: June 19, 2012

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Children

Genre: Children

Pages: 56

Audience: 5 and up

Rating: 5 out of 5

Source: Public Library

Favorite line: "It was filled with the fluttering of countless pages, and Morris could hear the faint chatter of a thousand different stories, as if each book was whispering an invitation to adventure."

Synopsis (from the cover):
Morris Lessmore love words. He loved stories. He loved books. But every story has its upsets. Everything in Morris Lessmore's life, including his own story, is scattered into the winds. But the power of story will save the day.

My thoughts:
One, I cannot believe I am just now finding out about this book. Two, I had no idea Pixar made a short 15 minute film out of it! I feel so behind on the times.  I cried when I read this book. It is a children's book about the life of a book lover. It is a book on how magical and life changing a book can be. It is about how writing your own story can be as simple as a diary. It is about the book lover in us all who lovingly repairs a favorite novel. It is just a fantastic depiction of a book lover. It describes the magic of books and how opening a book can change your life. It is just a truly wonderful book. I cannot say enough or recommend it enough.

Excerpt: Moon Rise by Marilee Brothers

Title: Moon Rise (Unbidden Magic #2)
Author: Marilee Brothers

Publication: August 1, 2008

Publisher: Bell Bridge Books 
Source: Author/Publisher via netgalley

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy 

Audience: 12 and up

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Synopsis: Her mom is still dating losers. Her boyfriend’s gone back to Mexico. Dad still hasn’t told his wife and kids that she exists. At school, the drama queens and bullies still rule. But worst of all for Allie Emerson (aka the Star Seeker of an old Gypsy prophecy) is that her powers have taken a hike. She can’t read minds anymore. She can’t move stuff just by looking at it. The other Star Seekers are counting on her psychic gifts more than ever, and the evil Trimarks are closing in, eager to snatch her magic moonstone necklace while she’s helpless. The hot new guy at school is ready and willing to fight her battles, but he comes with some wicked baggage.

Dear diary: I’m a little worried. My new BF is a demon.

Welcome again to Allie Emerson’s funny, scary, amazing, and always unpredictable life, as the girl voted least likely to save the world from evil.

Excerpt: 

My mother and I were engaged in a squinty-eyed, visual smack down, neither of us willing to blink. I gripped the edge of the table and glared at her.

“Just because you’re bitter and spiteful doesn’t mean I have to be.”

My voice was shrill with anger. ”Besides, half of me came from my dad, whether you like it or not.”

Faye was sitting at the dinette in the twenty-four-foot travel trailer we called home. “”Brain Dead Roy,” an underwater welder and Faye’s current boyfriend sat between her and the wall, probably so she would wait on him.

“Yeah,” Faye said with a bitter smile. “And I’m seeing his half right now. The half that always has to be right, the half that won’t listen to reason, the half …”

I released my pent-up breath. It whistled through my teeth making a noise that sounded like, Phhhhtttuuuiii.

Faye popped u, danger signs flashing in her eyes. “What did you say?”

Apparently, she’d heard some kind of “f” word in that gibberish and, combined with the uh sound, it wasn’t looking good for me.

I raised my hands and backed away. “Nothing. No way. I wouldn’t say that to you. You heard wrong.”

“Hey, ladies. Take a chill pill.”

Roy said lame stuff like that all the time. He stood, stretched and gazed at us through heavy-lidded eyes, Roy’s version of a look so compelling, so sexy, we would stop fighting and focus on him. If I hadn’t been in the middle of a fight with my mother, I’d have busted out laughing.

Faye and I spoke in unison. “Shut up, Roy.”

Author Bio: 

A former teacher, coach and school counselor, Marilee lives in Washington State and writes full time. Her books include Castle Ladyslipper, a medieval romance, The Rock and Roll Queen of Bedlam, winner of the 2010 Booksellers Best award for romantic suspense, Moonstone, Moon Rise, Moon Spun, Shadow Moon, and Midnight Moon. Marilee is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Pacific Northwest Writers Association and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

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Cover Reveal: Spirit by Shauna Granger

Title: Spirit (Elemental, #5)

Author: Shauna Granger

Release date: April 30, 2013 

Genre: Urban Fantasy 

YA/New Adult/Adult: YA/New Adult 

Cover Design: Mooney Designs 

Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours 

Goodreads

Synopsis:

Not even a guardian angel is more powerful than Death.

Always careful to watch out for others, Shayna put too much trust her abilities to keep herself safe and has been cut down by crazed man. Now she is trapped in the land of the dead, watching as her two best friends suffer the consequences of her death; their powers are fading and soon they will too. Shayna is desperate to return to the land of the living to save them from a similar, cold fate. To save her friends Shayna must turn away from the Light and, in doing so, sacrifice her wings.

But the longer Shayna stays among the dead, the further she slips from sanity. If Shayna cannot find her way back she will be condemned and lost forever among the restless souls of the dead. With nothing left to lose, she will do whatever it takes to fight her way back, with or without her wings.

  

About the Author:

Like so many other writers, Shauna grew up as an avid reader, it was in high school that she realized she wanted to be a writer. Five years ago Shauna started work on her Elemental Series and released the first installment, Earth, on May 1, 2011. When not reading and writing, Shauna enjoys cooking and playing hostess whenever she can. 

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Cover Reveal: The Truth About Letting Go by Leigh Talbert Moore

A companion to The Truth About Faking (not a sequel; the books can be read out of order), The Truth About Letting Go takes readers back to Shadow Falls, or more specifically Shadow Creek, with Ashley Lockett as she learns about real friendship, love, and letting go.

Title: The Truth About Letting Go
Author: Leigh Talbert Moore
Publication: February 21, 2013

Amazon |B&N|iTunes|Kobo|Goodreads

Synopsis: Ashley wants to smash everything in her once-perfect life. Charlotte wants to walk in Ashley's seemingly charmed shoes. Colt wants to turn Smalltown USA on its ear--with Ashley at his side. Jordan wants to follow his heart... but Ashley is the one sacrifice he never expected to make. 

Up until now, Ashley Lockett has always followed the rules. She's always done the right thing, played it safe, and then her ideal life is shattered when her dad dies suddenly. 

Fueled by anger and grief, she vows to do everything opposite of how she lived before. She rejects safety, the rules, faith, and then she meets Jordan. 

Jordan has big dreams, he's had a crush on Ashley for years, he's a great kisser... but he's also safe. 

Enter Colt. He is not safe, and he's more than willing to help Ashley fulfill her vow. 

Excerpt:
I feel Colt laugh, and he looks down into my face. That’s when he seems to realize what I’ve been acutely aware of for the last several minutes—our bodies are pressed together. “It’s awesome, yeah?” he says. “Adrenaline rush.” “Yeah,” I breathe. “I guess.” I’m not sure if he’s going to kiss me until he does. His mouth covers mine, and energy mixes with the alcohol flooding my body. Our tongues slide together, and I grip his shirt so I don’t collapse.  Every single bit of this is wrong, and there’s no way I’m stopping it. It’s back, that good feeling. The sadness has been pushed out again, and in its place is this rush, this rush of adrenaline like Colt said.  He pulls back and smiles at me. “We’re going to start dating. Now. You’re my partner in crime.” 

About the Author:

Leigh Talbert Moore is a wife and mom by day, a writer by day, a reader by day, a former journalist and editor, a chocoholic, a caffeine addict, a lover of YA and new adult romance (really any great love story), a beach bum, and occasionally she sleeps.

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The Truth About Faking is her debut young adult romance (on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and Kobo) -








Rouge is her first New Adult romantic suspense novel (on Amazon). Leigh loves hearing from readers; stop by and say hello! 

Guest Post: Cinthia Ritchie Author of Dolls Behaving Badly

Writing in Rural Alaska by Cinthia Ritchie

For two years I lived in a small rural community at the end of the Alaska road system.
Seward, Alaska, is a small town of about 1,800 people. The main industries are fishing, the
railroad and tourism. It’s a working class town filled with working class people. In the winter, when the tourists go home and the streets become quiet, everything closes by 5 p.m.: The cofeeshops and most of the restaurants, and there’s nothing to do but sit in smoky bars and drink or wander around the Safeway buying wilted fruits and vegetables that you don’t need but nevertheless want.

It’s a slow town, a laid back town. Women don’t want makeup or color their hair, and in the
summer when locals don sandals (thick, sturdy sandals with durable soles) and brave their feet to the cold ocean breeze, it’s a shock to come across the occasional painted toenails.
I moved to Seward because of my job as a journalist, but mostly I moved there to write. It’s the perfect writing town. In the evenings the air shadows everything in blue, the most perfect lavender blue, and walking along the shores of Resurrection Bay with the dog, I would often cry from the beauty of it all. Sometimes jellyfish washed up on the shore as I squatted down and stared at their fragile iridescence, I’d yearn for something indistinct yet plausible, something just out of reach.

Because my company was based in Anchorage and I was working as a stringer, I could schedule my reporting duties around my writing, and most nights I sat at my desk in front of large windows overlooking the mountains, and I wrote until I couldn’t move my fingers, wrote until there was nothing left inside of me. Often the sun would be rising up over the mountains just as I was going to bed, and I’d lie in the yellow light of early morning, exhausted and depleted and happier than I had ever been.

Living in a small, semi-isolated community, a place surrounded by vast wilderness, and by a silence like no other, is both a haven and a curse for a writer. A haven because there is nothing to do but write, nestled there along with the energy of the mountains and the bay, the sight of harbor seals and bears. Yet a curse because so much solitude, so much silence forces you to look deep inside of yourself, deeper than you have ever dared, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll like what you see.

I finished my first novel, Dolls Behaving Badly, while living in Seward, and I rewrote the last edits, too, index cards spread out over the living room floor as an eagle soared outside the window. It was surreal, and magical, and some of that magic leaked into my book in the form of ghosts and an optimism I didn’t believe yet nevertheless followed.

After I handed in my last edits, I moved back to Anchorage, to Alaska’s largest city and the grit and noise, the traffic and big-box stores. I’m happier here, in a sense. There are more opportunities for writers, more fellowship, more support, and if I want mountains, I can be out in the wilderness in twenty minutes driving time. Still, it’s not the same. There are birch trees outside my window now, not mountains, and the light is different and so is the air. There is little magic and no hushed solitude, no long days of writing nonstop and talking to no one but the dog.

I’m working on my second novel now and while it’s going well, I can’t help missing Seward,
missing the mountains pressed up to town and how enclosed I felt, and how safe. I don’t know if I’ll ever have such solitude in my life again, or so much writing time, and I miss it. It’s like an ache, like the yearning for a lost love, one you miss with a nostalgic loss made ever the more bittersweet because you know that no matter what you do, you can never go back recapture it.
You don’t necessarily want to recapture it but still, you miss it, you long for it all the same.

Excerpt from Dolls Behaving Badly 
Thursday, Sept. 15 
This is my diary, my pathetic little conversation with myself. No doubt I will burn it halfway through. I’ve never been one to finish anything. Mother used to say this was because I was born during a full moon, but like everything she says, it doesn’t make a lick of sense.
     It isn’t even the beginning of the year. Or even the month. It’s not even my birthday. I’m starting, typical of me, impulsively, in the middle of September. I’m starting with the facts. 
     I’m thirty-eight years old. I’ve slept with nineteen and a half men. 
     I live in Alaska, not the wild parts but smack in the middle of Anchorage, with the Walmart and Home Depot squatting over streets littered with moose poop. 
     I’m divorced. Last month my ex-husband paid child support in ptarmigan carcasses, those tiny bones snapping like fingers when I tried to eat them. 
     I have one son, age eight and already in fourth grade. He is gifted, his teachers gush, remarking how unusual it is for such a child to come out of such unique (meaning underprivileged, meaning single parent, meaning they don’t think I’m very smart) circumstances. 
     I work as a waitress in a Mexican restaurant. This is a step up: two years ago I was at Denny’s. 
     Yesterday, I was so worried about money I stayed home from work and tried to drown myself in the bathtub. I sank my head under the water and held my breath, but my face popped up in less than a minute. I tried a second time, but by then my heart wasn’t really in it so I got out, brushed the dog hair off the sofa and plopped down to watch Oprah on the cable channel. 
     What happened next was a miracle, like Gramma used to say. No angels sang, of course, and there was none of that ornery church music. Instead, a very tall woman (who might have been an angel if heaven had high ceilings) waved her arms. There were sweat stains under her sweater, and this impressed me so much that I leaned forward; I knew something important was about to happen. 
      Most of what she said was New Age mumbo-jumbo, but when she mentioned the diary, I pulled myself up and rewrapped the towel around my waist. I knew she was speaking to me, almost as if this was her purpose in life, to make sure these words got directed my way.
      She said you didn’t need a fancy one; it didn’t even need a lock, like those little-girl ones I kept as a teenager. A notebook, she said, would work just fine. Or even a bunch of papers stapled together. The important thing was doing it. Committing yourself to paper every day, regardless of whether anything exciting or thought-provoking actually happens. 
      “Your thoughts are gold,” the giant woman said. “Hold them up to the light and they shine.” 
        I was crying by then, sobbing into the dog’s neck. It was like a salvation, like those traveling preachers who used to come to town. Mother would never let us go but I snuck out with Julie, who was a Baptist. Those preachers believed, and while we were there in that tent, we did too. 
       This is what I’m hoping for, that my words will deliver me something. Not the truth, exactly. But solace.
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Cinthia Ritchie is a former journalist who lives and runs mountains and marathons in Alaska. Her work can be found at New York Times Magazine, Sport Literate, Water-Stone Review, Under the Sun, Memoir, damselfly press, Slow Trains, 42opus, Evening Street Review and over 45 literary magazines. Her first novel, Dolls Behaving Badly, released Feb. 5 from Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group.

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Cover Reveal: Bitter Angel by Megan Hand

Title: Bitter Angel

Author: Megan Hand

Expected release date: April 1, 2013

Genre:  Thriller

Age Group: New Adult

Cover Designer: BDesign  

Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours

Goodreads 

Synopsis:

Torn between two realities.

A choice that will mean life or death.

She won’t know anything… until she wakes up.

College sophomore, Lila Spencer lived Friday night twice. She doesn’t know how or why, just that she did. As if she split in half and went in two different directions.

Out clubbing with her friends, Heather and Nilah, the girls rock it out and party hard. What begins as an innocent night will lead to a deadly fight for their lives, and Lila might be their only chance for survival.

In bed with her boyfriend, Jay, Lila is safe and warm as she drifts to sleep in the arms of the man she loves. Until she is sucked into a horrifying nightmare of her friends’ deaths.

As the sunlight warms her face on Saturday morning, the two scenarios collide. But there can be only one outcome. Will she wake up in her warm bed with Jay by her side, devastated and grieving for her friends? Or was she there to save them?

The answer is just the beginning.

  

About the Author

At twelve, Megan decided to write a novel. A month later, she quit. A reading junkie by nature, she started writing again in her twenties as a way to get the voices out, because who wouldn't want to create a Real Living Person out of thin air? Megan also plays the piano and sings. She teaches little kids and takes pictures of pretty butterflies. She eats way too much chocolate, is sort of a mad scientist with her blender, and spends an unhealthy amount of time LOLing on Facebook and Twitter. She lives in Ohio with her husband and very smiley son. Bitter Angel is her first published novel.

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