Mundie Moms

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Read An Excerpt of Partials by Dan Wells



If you guys haven't already, go pick up this book! It is fabulous. I'll have my review up shortly so you can read my thoughts on it, but in the mean time, please click on the link above or go HERE to read an excerpt from Partials.


By: Dan Wells
Released: 2/28/12


Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with partials--engineered organic beings identical to humans--has decimated the world’s population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island. The threat of the partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to the disease in over a decade. Humanity’s time is running out.

When sixteen-year-old Kira learns of her best friend’s pregnancy, she’s determined to find a solution. Then one rash decision forces Kira to flee her community with the unlikeliest of allies. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that the survival of both humans and partials rests in her attempts to answer questions of the war’s origin that she never knew to ask.

Combining the fast-paced action of The Hunger Games with the provocative themes of Battlestar Galactica, Partials is a pulse-pounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question--one where our sense of humanity is both our greatest liability, and our only hope for survival -quoted from Goodreads

Be sure to go LIKE the Partials Facebook page.

March 2012 YA Releases

Happy almost Spring! Here is the list of upcoming YA releases for March:

March 1st
March 13th
March 15th
March 27th
*Most links go to Amazon and a few go to Goodreads. While MM's does have an affiliate page on Amazon none of these links go to that page.

If I missed any YA releases for March, please leave a comment with the title, author and the release date in the comments.

Waiting on Wednesday: Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

*may not be final cover*

Published by: Harper Teen
To Be Released on: July 3rd, 2012
Pre-Order from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

15 year old Tiger Lily, proud and fierce, wild and misunderstood, doesn't believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland, and immediately falls under his spell. Peter is unlike anyone she's ever known. Impetuous and brave, big-hearted but hard to reach, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything - her family, her future - to be with the haunted, hunted, courageous boy who loves her. When - as a punishment for her rebellious ways - she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she's always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter. With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it's the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who's everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart. -quoted from Goodreads

I have been on a classical fairy tale retelling kick lately and I love that this year's releases include some of my favorite fairytale stories. As much as I love the story of Robin Hood, I also LOVE the story of Peter Pan, and I'm beyond exciting to dive into the story of Tiger Lily. I've not yet read any other story about her, and she's a character I've secretly wished would have gotten explored a little more. I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this at ALA, and I've tried to be patient about waiting until a couple months before it's release to read it, but I'm not sure I can wait much longer.

What book are you waiting to be released?

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Twitter Tuesday - Photomaniper's Art

If you follow Cassie's tumblr, you may have noticed her links to photmaniper's photos. There are so many and you can follow them all here

Which one's your favorite?

April Events at Book People

Check out these awesome events that will be happening in April at Book People! Mark your calendars for the following exciting events:


Featuring authors:

Will be at Book People on Monday April 16th at 7 pm to talk about and sign their newest releases, The Scorpio Races, Take A Bow and The List! This event is one you don't want to miss. You can find out more about the event here.



Another event you don't want to miss is meeting Pitch Dark authors Tahareh Mafi and Veronica Rossi! They will be at Book People on April 26th at 7 pm to talk about their debut books, Shatter Me and Under The Never Sky! Don't miss meeting them and hearing them talk about their books. Find out more about this event here.

I hope to see you guys at both events!!

Monday, February 27, 2012

City of Lost Souls Prologue & Chapter Titles!


It's already the end of Feb and you know what that means right? We're that much closer to the release of City of Lost Souls!!! Cassie treated fans to the Prologue & Chapter Titles to COLS today! You can read it here and I've posted it below.

City of Lost Souls Chapter Titles

Prologue: Consecrated

Read it here.

Chapter One: The Last Council

In which we meet some new characters

Chapter Two: Thorns

A place shaped like a heart is full of thorns and roses — Yeats

Chapter Three: Bad Angels

Along the wall were the pegs where the residents of the Institute hung their coats when they came inside: one of Jace’s black jackets still dangled from a hook, the sleeves empty and ghostly

Chapter Four: And Immortality

Lead us from the unreal to the real,” she read aloud. “Lead us from darkness to light. Lead us from death to immortality.”

Chapter Five: Valentine’s Son

he knew perfectly well that Sebastian had kissed her

Chapter Six: No Weapon in this World

“Quick! To the weapons room!” (Okay, not really)

Chapter Seven: A Sea-Change

Of his bones are coral made; Those are pearls that were his eyes: Nothing of him that doth fade. But doth suffer a sea-change. Into something rich and strange — The Tempest

Chapter Eight: Fire Tests Gold

Ignus aurum probat

Chapter Nine: The Iron Sisters

What it says

Chapter Ten: The Wild Hunt

Gabriel’s Hounds

Chapter Eleven: Ascribe All Sin

“I don’t think I can do it,” Alec said miserably. “I’m sorry.”

Chapter Twelve: The Stuff of Heaven

The stuff of heaven in this case is the substance the demon towers are made out of, sometimes called adamant

Chapter Thirteen: The Bone Chandelier

Modeled on this.

Chapter Fourteen: As Ashes

in the dimness, he looked very like the boy she had known in Idris before the Circle had been formed

Chapter Fifteen: Last of the Morgensterns

You and I, we are the last. The last of the Morgensterns.

Chapter Sixteen: Brothers and Sisters

He’d been pacing his apartment for the last hour, sometimes taking his phone out to see if Maia had texted

Chapter Seventeen: Valediction

Our two souls therefore, which are one

Chapter Eighteen: Title Too Spoilery

Chapter Nineteen; Love and Blood

“You did,” he said. “You slept with him.”

Chapter Twenty: A Door into the Dark

All I know is a door into the dark. (Seamus Heaney)

Chapter Twenty-One Raising Hell

If I cannot otherwise reach Heaven, I will raise Hell.

Epilogue


What do you guys think? I'm loving these chapter titles. I'm a little curious about Chapter 19, Love & Blood.

Elizabeth Eulberg's Take A Bow Sneak Peak Week, Day 1: Meet Carter

Welcome to Take a Bow Sneak Peek Week! I’m so excited for everybody to start getting to know the characters from the book. First up, Carter!

Carter’s introduction in the book gives you a lot of details about him, so I’ll let him speak for himself. What’s interesting about Carter is that he was originally supposed to be a secondary character. While I was working on the outline, I started to realize that I couldn’t just tell the story from Emme’s point of view, I needed to include Sophie…and Ethan. It was right at this time that I thought of Carter, a former child star and Sophie’s boyfriend, and something hit me. I knew a secret Carter was hiding and realized he had his own story to tell.

Suddenly this once minor character ended up having one of the biggest transformations in the book. But since I totally hate spoilers, you’re going to have to wait and see what Carter’s senior year has in store for him.

So without further ado, ladies and gentleman, Carter Harrison…

THE AUDITIONS
CARTER



My life has been one big audition.

I can’t even remember the first audition my mom dragged me to. It was for a diaper commercial back when we were living in LA. I was six months old. While most kids’ first memories are of playing with friends, mine are of sitting in cold reception areas waiting for my name to be called. The only plus side was that after I auditioned, Mom rewarded me with McDonald’s. That was the only time I ever truly felt like a normal kid.

After I got cast in the first Kavalier Kids movie, I didn’t have to go on that many auditions. The roles came to me. By the time I was nine, I was on the cover of People magazine and a presenter at the Oscars, the basic go-to kid for cute. I was the on-screen “son” of every big name actor. I’ve worked with the best. And with the Kavalier Kids franchise, I was featured on countless lunch boxes, pillowcases, Happy Meals — you name it, my face was on it. (I don’t think I’ve recovered yet from seeing my toothy grin on a roll of toilet paper. Really, toilet paper. Apparently the studio’s marketing division had no shame).

I’d shoot a big-time movie during the spring and a Kavalier Kids movie in the fall (for a major summer release). And even though my childhood was anything but normal, I look back fondly on the Kavalier Kids movies. The other child actors were like friends to me. At least they seemed like my friends, or what friends should be. But we only hung out on the set. There were no sleepovers or pizza parties, just on-set tutors and line readings.

Things were great, but then there was a — let’s call it an altercation between my mom and the producer. I got kicked off the franchise. A new wave of cute kids came into Hollywood and I was relegated to being a featured guest star on network crime shows.

So I made a decision. It was the one thing that scared Mom more than anything, even more than crow’s-feet and taxicabs. And it wasn’t moving to New York City or starring in a soap opera that was “beneath” me. No, we did those things so I could do the thing that was even scarier to Mom:

High school.

Yes, Carter Harrison, former child megastar and current soap opera actor, wants to go to school.

But as I sit in the hallway at the New York City High School of the Creative and Performing Arts, I know that this isn’t a normal school. It’s one of the most prestigious performing arts high schools in the country. I knew I could convince my mom to let me go if I talked about how this will help me with my craft.

Yes, I actually used the word craft to describe what I do. But my “craft” is more on a par with the caricature artists in Times Square than those of a true artist.

I play pretend. I’ve been doing it my entire life. I’ve been doing it so long, I don’t even know who I am anymore. I’m more comfortable being someone else than being me. I don’t even feel like me when I’m “Carter Harrison.” The paparazzi were waiting outside the school today when I arrived, and I flashed that famous grin at them . . . but that wasn’t me. That was a role.

As we wait for my name to be called, I glance at Mom, hiding behind her oversized sunglasses. She didn’t seem all that surprised to see the photographers outside. Gee, I wonder who leaked that my audition is today? It’s not like being on a soap opera gets you a ton of press, but when you were the biggest box office draw at the age of ten, people like to follow you around. See what you’re up to. It’s like my life is never-ending episode of Where Is He Now?

At least I’ve gotten used to the attention. I’m really good at blocking it out. Plus, it helped me get a role on a show that only requires me to work a few hours a week. This way, I stay on television to appease my mom and I get to go to school for me.

I’m not even nervous as I wait for my name to be called. Stepping onto that stage and reciting my two monologues (one from Our Town and the other from You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown) will be easy. That’s a normal day for me. But the thought of getting to go to school is what will make me nervous.

What’s ironic is that Mom is the one who doesn’t want me to go to school. She thinks I won’t be prepared to handle being in a school with other kids.

Let’s see, I’ve spent my entire life being judged, critiqued, and picked apart.

I think I’m more ready for high school than anybody could be.


Excerpt from Take a Bow, published by Point/Scholastic, copyright © 2012 by Elizabeth Eulberg. Used with permission.

********

Thank to Carter for stopping by today and to Elizabeth Eulberg for having us on the tour! Be sure to follow the next four stops in the tour here. Tomorrow Sophie will be on Novel Novice's site.

Here's a little bit about Take A Bow:


Emme, Sophie, Ethan, and Carter are seniors at a performing arts school, getting ready for their Senior Showcase recital, where the pressure is on to appeal to colleges, dance academies, and professionals in show business. For Sophie, a singer, it's been great to be friends with Emme, who composes songs for her, and to date Carter, soap opera heartthrob who gets plenty of press coverage. Emme and Ethan have been in a band together through all four years of school, but wonder if they could be more than just friends and bandmates. Carter has been acting since he was a baby, and isn't sure how to admit that he'd rather paint than perform. The Senior Showcase is going to make or break each of the four, in a funny, touching, spectacular finale that only Elizabeth Eulberg could perform. -quoted from Goodreads

Take A Bow will be released on April 1st, 2012 by Point/Scholastic
You can Pre-Order it from Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Mundane Monday #125

Happy Mundane Monday! Today's post is a variety of things that Cassie has recently posted like a deleted City of Lost Souls scene, a Clockwork Princess teaser and Kara-lija's newest artwork, which is amazing!

I seriously love this piece! I feel like I'm getting a glance at a stolen moment between Jace & Clary. You can read about the inspiration behind on this piece by visiting Kara-lija's Deviantart site here.

City of Lost Souls Deleted Scene:

Clary’s efforts almost went for nothing when she glanced up and saw Sebastian, leaning against the opposite wall of the corridor, his arms crossed, looking at her.

She felt immediately conscious of what she was wearing. The same slip dress she’d worn to the club, but without her boots, her jacket and most importantly, without the buzz she’d been riding last night, she felt unprotected, vulnerable. “Who took my shoes off?”

“That’s what you want to know?” Sebastian looked incredulous. “You pass out at a club and wake up covered in blood and and you want to know where your shoes are?”


That's a deleted scene? I'm almost scared to find out what the actual scene entails. I can not wait for May 8th!! You can read Cassie's post for this here.

Clockwork Princess Teaser:

“A very magnanimous statement, Gideon,” said Magnus.

“I’m Gabriel.”

Magnus waved a hand. “All Lightwoods look the same to me.”


Aw, Magnus! You can read Cassie's post for this here.

Must Have Middle Grade Reads

Welcome to this week's edition of Must Have Middle Grade Reads, a weekly feature here on Mundie Moms where I spotlight last week's middle grade books I reviewed on Mundie Kids. This week's Must Have Middle Grade reads are: Sadly I only reviewed one MG read on Mundie Kids this past week which was:


Illustrated by: Evette Gabriel
Published by: Midlandia Press
Released on: November 15th, 2011
Ages: 8 & up
4 stars: I Really Enjoyed It
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Latasha and the Little Red Tornado tells the story of Latasha Gandy, a precocious and inventive third-grader who lives in Pittsburgh with her hardworking mother and a naughty puppy named Ella Fitzgerald. At eight years old, Latasha cannot wait to grow up. Ella, on the other hand, absolutely refuses to! When Ella's antics push the Gandy's landlady, Mrs. Okocho, to her wits' end, Latasha realizes that she must turn her mischievous mutt into a model dog. Latasha enlists the help of a classmate and neighbor, Ricky, in her efforts to train Ella. Their friendship grows as Ricky joins the girls on their adventures in the park. But after Latasha and Ricky have a falling out, Latasha decides to take Ella out on her own, a choice that proves to have grave consequences. At turns hilarious and heartbreaking, this tale of friendship and maturity follows Latasha as she struggles with Ella, school, and her mother's absence from home. -quoted from Goodreads

This is such a heart warming, wonderful story for younger readers. It's a story kids will be able to relate to, and one they'll enjoy spending time with as they get to know Latasha, the story's main character. Young Latasha, who's now eight years old has a lot to deal with. She has an unruly faithful pup named Ella Fitzgerald (named after Latasha's favorite singer) who likes to do things puppies do like get into things they're not suppose to... meaning the trash and the down stairs neighbor/landlord's flowerbed. Not only does Latasha do the best she can to teach her friendly dog manners, she also tries to be a huge help to her single mother who's recently started a new job, and keep a good attitude about spending more time their elderly down stairs neighbor Ms. Okocho.

You can read the rest of my review here.

Next week I hope to have a lot more MG reviews to share with you. I'm gearing up for my Mundie Kids Middle Grade March Madness feature. More info will be posted on Mundie Kids shortly.


Middle Grade Monday:
Don't miss my Marvelous Middle Grade Monday meme on Mundie Kids, a weekly meme hosted by author Shannon Messenger's. You can check out this week's Mundie Kids feature here

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Book Review: Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday


Published by: Harper Collins
Release Date: October 11, 2011
Source: Purchased

4 stars - I really enjoyed it

Synopsis: First I find out that my boyfriend is cheating on me. Then he’s pegged as the #1 suspect in a murder. And now he’s depending on me to clear his name. Seriously?

As much as I wouldn’t mind watching him squirm, I know that he’s innocent. So I’m brushing off my previously untapped detective skills and getting down to business. But I keep tripping over dead bodies and I’m still no closer to figuring out who did it. And what’s worse: all signs seem to point to me as the killer’s next victim.

I really need to pick a better boyfriend next time.

There's something about a smart, snarky girl detective character that I just love. Life couldn't be worse for Hartley. First, she finds out that her boyfriend's cheating on her and then while she's snooping around his bedroom, she finds a dead body. Not just any dead body, but the dead body of the girl Hartley suspects he was cheating with. How humiliating. Fortunately for Hartley, a neighbor (who just happens to be the good-looking, brooding type and a senior at her school) was taking pictures of his car and he helps her with what turns out to be a classic mystery.

And Gemma’s written it in a style that’s a nod to both Veronica Mars and a much, much more sarcastic Nancy Drew. I admit that I looked forward to Hartley’s exchanges with Chase (yes, the neighbor who is also the editor of the school’s paper) the most. Because the two of them are, in turn, sweet, funny and OMGHYSTERICAL when they are together. There’s a scene where Hartley ends up hiding under Chase’s bed, which still causes me to giggle when I think about it.

The side characters are well drawn, too. Especially Hartley’s best friend, Sam and the police detective, Raley . Even minor characters like the grief counselor, Miss Bessie are brought to life with only a few descriptive words and lines of dialogue. Gemma is masterful at making you laugh, wonder, guess (and incorrectly) and most of all enjoy Hartley’s determination to find the killer. As with any good mystery, no one is safe and almost everyone ends up being a suspect, yes, even Chase.

When you’re in the mood for a well written YA mystery, be sure to pick up Deadly Cool. In the meantime, I’m ready to go back to Herbert Hoover High for the next installment, Social Suicide, which will be released on April 24th. I need to see what Hartley, Chase and Sam are up to in their next adventure.

In My Mailbox #112 & Weekly Feature

Happy Sunday! Welcome to this week's edition of In My Mailbox & Weekly Feature. In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren where bloggers share what goodies they received the previous week in the mail to review, traded, were gifted, bought etc. Here's what arrived in my mailbox this week:

For Review:

* ARISE, Hereafter #2 by Tara Hudson, published by Harper Teen, to be released on 6/5/12, I'm so excited I'm quoted on the back of the ARC!


* Cold Fury by T.M. Goeglen, published by G. P. Putnam & Sons, to be released on 6/24/12

* Two Halves by Marta Szemik, published by MyLit Publishing, released on 11/29/11

* No Safety In Numbers by Dayna Lorentz, published by Dial, to be released on 5/29/12

* Shadows (Lux 0.5), by Jennifer Armentrout, published by Entangled Publishing, released on 2/21/12, not pictured


For Review, Mundie Kids:

* Beyonders #2, Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull, published by Aladdin, to be released on 3/13/12, published copy

* Kepler's Dream by Juliet Bell, published by G.P. Putnam & Sons, to be released on 5/10/12

* Best Friend Thief by Laurel- Ann Dooley, published by WordWorks Publishing, LLC, released on 9/20/11

* Stay Close to Mama by Ton Buzzeo, published by Disney Hyperion, to be released on 3/13/12

* Daddies Do It Different by Alan Lawrence Sitomer, published by Disney Hyperion, to be released on 4/17/12

* My Little Troublemaker by Thierry Robberecht, published by Clavis Publishing, released on 12/2/11

* I Have Two Homes by Marian De Smet, published by Clavis Publishing, released on 12/2/11

* The Little Snowman Stan by Guido van Genechten, published by Clavis Publishing, released on 10/1/11

* StAY, The True Story of Ten Dogs by Michaela Muntean


Gifted:

* Confectionately Yours, Save the Cupcake! by Lisa Papademtriou, from a Scholastic BK Fair workshop
* Diary of a Whimpy Kid, Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney, from a Scholastic BK Fair Workshop
* Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway, gifted from Sophie
* Signed YA/MG author posters from Project Book Babe a few year back. This is going to a friend of mine.... I'm seriously so excited about this. It's signed by a large group of awesome authors like Stephenie Meyer, Shannon Hale, Brandon Mull and Laini Taylor.


Bought:

* Forge by Laure Halse Anderson, signed, won in an action for charity hosted by author Carrie Harris
* Article 5 by Kristen Simmons


Thank you to:

Harper Teen, Tara Hudson, Simon & Schuster, Penguin Teen, Scholastic, Carrie Harris, Shannon M, Sophie, Marta Szemik, and Laurel-Ann Dooley for this week's awesome reads!

What goodies did you receive this week?


Week in Review:

Misc:


Reviews:

* The Secrets of Spruce Knoll by Heather McCorkle
* Haunted by Joy Preble, Haunted blog tour
* Embrace by Jessica Shirvington, Embrace blog tour
* Bewitching by Alex Flinn, Dark Days blog tour
* The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
* Perception by Kim Harrington

Author Interviews & Guest Posts:

* Kelly Keaton, A Beautiful Evil blog tour
* Jessica Shirvington, Embrace blog tour
* Joy Preble, Haunted Blog Tour

Upcoming Events:

Tomorrow we'll be kicking off Elizabeth Eulberg's Take a Bow Sneak Peek Week! Monday- Friday you'll be able to meet the characters (Carter, Sophie, Ethan and Emme) of Take A Bow, as well as enter to win some awesome prizes. Be sure to stop Elizabeth's site here to follow the tour!

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