Using personal stories in writing: do or don’t?

 Of course it is a do. One of my favourite books is Oranges are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson which is a reworking of her own childhood within a fictional format as opposed to an outright memoir. What matters is that you are true to the kind of story you wish to tell, regardless of what is the inspiration. I would also say that no writer works in a vacuum as if their books are ‘ex nihilo.’ Whether you mean to or not, you write the kind of story you are either interested in, or have been through in some way. It is all inspired by your personal past and you rework it, sometimes even try to ignore it, but then press it down and reshape it so that it can become unrecognizable from truth but it still has seeds in it. There are some stories I love to read but would never be able to write because I would never be inspired to write them because they come from a different sort of experience to the one I have had. But novels should be about trying to tell some kind of truth – either the one you wish was real or the one that is.  And sometimes I think the novels that have impressed me the most and the ones that have really stayed with me as visceral works of honest art are the one that you discover had some grounding in the author’s past. You do look at them in a new light and they seem so much more informed. But this novel is not based on my own personal story in any other way than it is about the interrogation and destruction of the family unit.

Thank you Nelle!

About Legacy of Eden (Goodreads)

“To understand what it meant to be a Hathaway, you’d first have to see Aurelia.”

For generations, Aurelia was the crowning glory of more than three thousand acres of Iowa farmland and golden cornfields. The estate was a monument to matriarch Lavinia Hathaway’s dream to elevate the family name – no matter what relative or stranger she had to destroy in the process. It was a desperation that wrought the downfall of the Hathaways – and the once prosperous farm.

Now the last inhabitant of the decaying old home has died – alone. None of the surviving members of the Hathaway family want anything to do with the farm, the land, or the memories.

Especially Meredith Pincetti. Now living in New York City, for seventeen years Lavinia’s youngest grandchild has tried to forget everything about her family and her past. But with the receipt of a pleading letter, Meredith is again thrust into conflict with the legacy that destroyed her family’s once-great name. Back at Aurelia, Meredith must confront the rise and fall of the Hathaway family… and her own part in their mottled history.

“Our farm was like the world when people still thought it was flat. And when you left it, it was as if you had simply sailed too far and fallen off the surface into the void.”

I tried to read this book but it just wasn’t for me. I adore the cover and I think the premise sounds lovely. Maybe I’ll give it another try in a few months.

There is also a scavenger hunt going on with this blog tour. Check it out!

posted in Author Guest Post by The Cozy Reader Leave A Comment
©2012 The Cozy Reader. All Rights Reserved.

Disclosure: Amazon.com Associate. If you click on my links and purchase anything a very small percentage of the purchase price will be awarded to The Cozy Reader.

Reading A Wrinkle In Time for the First Time

I honestly can’t believe I didn’t read this book years ago! I’m a big fan of Newberry Award winners.

I must admit though, that I haven’t finished the book. Not because it isn’t good but due to poor planning and time management on my end. I will have a full review for you soon!

Of what I’ve read so far, the characters are delightful and totally engrossing and most imporatantly, original. I wasn’t quite sure how to take some of them but they’ve grown on me immensely. I started this book having no idea of what it is about. I still don’t quite know. And you know what? I LOVE it. I love that I have no expectations and that the slate is completely clean. Each word is new and revealing. The story is unfolding brilliantly and so smoothly. I don’t know where it’s going but I can already tell it will be amazing and unique. I am excited to finish this book and then explore the remaining books of the Time series.

To think that this book has been around for 50 years is breathtaking. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to read this for the first time and share it with you. I must admit that I prefer the paperback cover to this new 50th Edition. It is just so much more fun!

But the 50th Edition has some nice bonus features:

•      Frontispiece photo*†

•      Photo scrapbook with approximately 10 photos*†

•      Manuscript pages*†

•      Letter from 1963 Caldecott winner, Ezra Jack Keats*†

•      New introduction by Katherine Paterson, US National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature  †

•      New afterword by Madeleine L’Engle’s granddaughter Charlotte Voiklis including six never-before-seen photos †

•      Murry-O’Keefe family tree with new artwork †

•      Madeleine L’Engle’s Newbery acceptance speech

* Unique to this edition                † never previously published

Check out the Wrinkle in Time Facebook page!

Check out the other 50 blogs participating in the Blog Tour!

posted in Blog Tour by The Cozy Reader Leave A Comment
©2012 The Cozy Reader. All Rights Reserved.

Disclosure: Amazon.com Associate. If you click on my links and purchase anything a very small percentage of the purchase price will be awarded to The Cozy Reader.

272 pages, Knopf Books for Young Readers, (2012-02-14)

$11.46 (Amazon.com)

Procurement

eARC from publisher via NetGalley

My Grade

Plot: 5

Setting: 5

Writing: 5

Originality: 5

Characters: 5

Romance: 5

Overall: 30/30 So swoon-worthy it’ll burst your heart!

Title/Cover Bonus: 3

Overall

So much swoon I nearly died by heart bursting! An epic tale of finding love, acceptance, painting, and broken noses.

Summary (Goodreads)

Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she’s going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He’s out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for. Really fall for. Instead, Lucy’s stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she’s managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they’re suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can’t see is the one thing that’s right before her eyes.

First Line

I pedal fast.

 

Most Memorable Scene

Goodness me! There are way too many. The scene where Malcolm finds Ed and Lucy in the park is one of the best! Lucy sure knows how to handle herself.

“Why don’t you give it to Leo? Wait, I know, it’s because you’re scared of him, you cockroach-eating-coward motherfucker.”

I look at her. “Motherfucker?”

“Motherfucker,” she says.

“The next one to call me a motherfucker takes the message,” Malcolm says.

“Motherfucker“, Lucy and I say together.

Plot

So Lucy is obsessed with art. She lives in an Australian city that has  well know graffiti artist duo, Shadow and Poet, who work together graffitiing buildings with amazing artwork and creative dialogue that’s usually in the form of poetry. Lucy is also obsessed with finding out who Shadow is because she’s convinced that he is the man of her dreams. She meets up with two of her friends, Jazz and Daisy, and Daisy’s boyfriend, Dylan, and his two friends, Leo and Ed. Together they all set out for a late night scavenger hunt of these two graffiti artists.

I enjoyed the plot tremendously.

Setting

A small Australian city polluted with graffiti. The graffiti was brilliant. It popped right out of the words that described them. The group set off all across this city. It’s all very vivid and expertly portrayed.

Writing

Amazing. I haven’t swooned so many times in one book. I’d go so far as to say that it was better than any Simon Elkeles’ book I’ve read and that’s super hard to do. I loved that the point of view alternated between Lucy, Ed and even Poet. I loved that Poet’s view was mostly in poetry form. It provided a nice break between Lucy and Ed’s adventure.

One of things I loved most were the flash backs. A lot of the story is told in reminiscing scenes. Ed thinks about his past a lot and Lucy retells her tales of learning glass blowing. The retelling of Lucy’s first real date is masterfully written. I couldn’t stop laughing and then ultimately swooning.

Words of Interest

Wanker was used a lot. I find that word highly amusing and enjoyed it’s use.

Toilet was used instead of bathroom. I’m guessing this is a cultural difference since this was set in Australia.

Originality

I haven’t read anything quite like this but it did remind me of Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist, which I’ve seen the movie but not read the book.

Characters

Wow. I’m usually a fan of the ass kicking female lead but Lucy really impressed me because this is not a paranormal book at all. It’s 100% contemporary and full of romantic tension that Lucy’s actions were alarming yet totally and completely adorable and pure. Her character has such depth to her.

Ed is a troubled young man but given the life he’s lived so far no one would blame him for who he’s turned out to be. And what is that exactly? He finds out along the way. His character was engaging. I had to know more about him. I loved how he replayed his past and how emotional he was deep inside.

Ed’s friends Leo and Dylan are pretty interesting just like Lucy’s friends, Jazz and Daisy were too. I loved the group trips to the toilet!

Romance

Gah! This book is so packed with so much swoon it’s not even funny! I thought for sure my heart was going to burst a few times with the amount of “Awwww” that came pouring out of some of these scenes! I was a giddy teenaged girl all afternoon! Yes, I read this in only one afternoon! It’s amazing and you have to know what happens and it’s so easy to read the words just flow into you and fill you with pure joy.

Title/Cover Bonus

I saw this on NetGalley and wasn’t immediately attracted to it but then I read some of the summary they had on NetGalley and decided to request it. Both the title and the cover are nice in their own way but I think they’re not the best choices because they don’t really appeal, to me at least. Unless I was a graffiti artist I’m not sure I’d pick this up at the bookstore.

Ending

Beautiful. Amazing. Way too full of swoon to be healthy.

Series

Looks like this is a stand along novel. But I loved these characters so much I wouldn’t mind joining them again. Or in the very least reading any other books by this author!

A genuine must read! And it releases on Valentine’s Day! Swoon!

posted in Book Reviews by The Cozy Reader Leave A Comment
©2012 The Cozy Reader. All Rights Reserved.

Disclosure: Amazon.com Associate. If you click on my links and purchase anything a very small percentage of the purchase price will be awarded to The Cozy Reader.

Procurement

Review copy supplied by the author.

My Grade

Plot: 5

Setting: 5

Writing: 5

Originality: 5

Characters: 5

Romance: 5

Overall: 30/30!

Title/Cover Bonus:  2

Overall

A fun, historical time travel full of creativity, beautiful scenes, and an engrossing mystery.

Summary (Goodreads)

Michelle De Freccio moves to England seeking a normal life. Instead she falls for a hot medieval ghost with a sketchy past.
First he appears in her drawings. Then he grabs her at the castle, his pale green eyes full of longing. But history calls him a murderer.
Now Michelle faces endless dangers…and a timeless love.

First Line

I pull the zipper up the back, sealing myself into the dress.

 

Most Memorable Scene

I loved the first time Michelle meets Christopher. Also, Michelle is attacked in an alley and Christopher helps her.

Plot

I fell in love with the entire story. I loved learning about Christopher’s time and the political issues that make up most of his issues. Michelle’s brother, while a small role, had a huge impact on me and I loved how his presence is increased by the end of the book.

Setting

Set in London, the setting was mostly amazing. The castle that Michelle meets Christopher in is spectacular.  And going back in time during that setting? Brilliant. I’m a huge fan of historical books or movies that center around this era of armored knights welding swords.

Writing

I had no issues with Marie’s writing. I enjoyed hearing the story from Michelle’s point of view. I loved how she seamlessly integrated the two worlds.

Originality

I haven’t read too many time travel books and none that had such pure romance and a true mystery element to it. Michelle and Christopher’s relationship unfolds magically. Their first encounter is a favorite scene of mine. I truly didn’t know what had happened! I thought for sure that Christopher was going to be a vampire! With his clothes, his strong frame and the disappearing act he pulled I thought for sure he was paranormal. I was excited to be wrong.

Also, Michelle’s ability to time travel and the way it happens is very unique.

Characters

Michelle is pretty much a normal teenaged girl. She’s in a new school, meeting new people. She befriends a few guys: William, the son of the owner of Wallingford Academy, who plays a decent role in Michelle’s story and Roger Mortley, a not so popular guy but a very nice guy for sure, also plays a big role in Michelle’s life. She’s wonderfully creative at drawing.

Michelle meets Christopher at the castle. He’s a knight, sexy and super chivalrous.

Romance

I always find romances that blossom from time traveling bittersweet. Because I always think, how is this possibly going to turn out good in the end?

Their romance was very beautiful and endearing. I didn’t want to see it end.

Title/Cover Bonus

The title is just fine, however, the cover, while fitting, isn’t amazing.

Ending

I can say for sure that the ending was not what I was expecting but it was perfect.

posted in Blog Tour by The Cozy Reader Leave A Comment
©2012 The Cozy Reader. All Rights Reserved.

Disclosure: Amazon.com Associate. If you click on my links and purchase anything a very small percentage of the purchase price will be awarded to The Cozy Reader.

To see the other Blog Tour stops check out Marie’s blog.

Writing Magic

A guest post by Marie Lamba, author of the new paranormal Drawn

We writers have the best job in the world. We get to perform magic, to make things mysteriously appear out of nowhere. All writers do this when they write fiction, but when we are writing actual fantasy scenes, well, that’s more magical than ever.

The trick, as with all magic, is making the audience believe. In my new paranormal novel Drawn, the main character Michelle De Freccio is an artist that draws and then meets Christopher, a hot medieval ghost with a sketchy past. Okay, so you have to suspend some disbelief when you read books like this, but my job is to make everything as credible as possible. I didn’t want to create something goofy, but a novel that is gripping and that feels very real. A story that truly draws you in. To do this, I grounded as much as I could in a gritty reality, and only put in a few spare touches of magic.

On the reality front, it helps to have a character like Michelle who is a born skeptic, and a cynical Jersey-girl to boot. She’s hoping to start over in England and have a more normal life (back in New Jersey everyone called the De Freccio’s the De Freakos…her family has an odd background and she was labeled a freak).

Even Christopher, who is technically a ghost to Michelle, is a realist living in his own world in the 1400s. Convincing both of them that they are linked in a time traveling relationship isn’t easy. People who are skeptics need some undeniable proof…and a touch of magic, like in this scene from the book, narrated by Michelle, when she realizes she’s truly in another time and invisible, among other things:

But Thomas Haston’s vision remains barely focused on Christopher. “Yes, master.” He bows his head. “I shall grab the reins.”

He hurries toward us. Straight toward me. He must be completely blind, because he’s going to walk right into me.

“Watch it,” I say.

He doesn’t walk into me. He walks through me. Like I’m a stream to be waded through. My skin feels itchy and a nasty saltiness fills my mouth. Christopher releases me and looks at me with horror. I look at my hands, expecting them to be see-through, but they’re solid. “What the hell?” I say.

“What in hell,” he says, his voice barely a whisper.

So who is the ghost here, and what, exactly is going on? Here’s the end to that scene:

Christopher takes both my hands, gingerly, as if he’s afraid they’ll burst into flames. “What are you? A sprite? A spirit? A phantom?”

“I’m a freak,” I say. And burst into tears.

While much of Drawn is based in realistic scenes, whether in the present or in the distant past, there are a few times when I really get to flex my magic muscles. One of my favorite moments happens when Michelle brings a book with her into the past, a book that reveals all the battle outcomes in the 1400s. While Christopher would be able to use this information to his advantage, this will clearly mess with destiny. Some things are just not meant to happen, so:

I run my finger over the text to where I left off. “The Duke, misreading his opponent, brought his forces for the Christmastime to the castle of…” Suddenly the page looks different. More white space. Less words.

“The castle of?” Christopher prompts.

I try to focus on the words. “…for the Christmastime to the castle of Sandall, but…” Something seems to move across the paper. My skin crawls, as I slide my eyes downward. I watch with horror as the letters at the bottom of the page disappear one by one.

I flip the page. Letters disappear from the bottom here, too. The white of the paper grows, eating away at the words. Frantic, I flip back to the page I was just reading. Completely blank. “Oh God.”

“What is wrong?” Christopher tries to sit up.

I flip ahead a few pages. Two paragraphs are left. I quickly read, “Henry’s forces had been gathering throughout the area for some time and the land was heavily for—” The rest of that word is gone, as is the rest of the writing on that page.

“Why did you stop?” Christopher says and peers at the book. He draws in his breath as the words I’d just read vanish like a fabric unwound by a pulled thread.

Every novel with a fantasy element must have its own set of rules. In Drawn, messing with destiny can be killer, literally. The history book with its unraveling writing sends up a warning to Michelle, but she disturbs destiny anyway, and winds up putting Christopher’s fate in horrific danger… Okay, I can’t say anything more about that without spilling too much about the story.

But I can say one other thing about writing magic: If you put a very real moment right up against a magical one, the contrasts can create a seriously strong scene. In this scene from Drawn, Michelle is in her own time being attacked by a bunch of thugs from “the wrong side of Castle Road”:

As rough hands drag me off the sidewalk, I shriek “Christopher!”

They laugh. “Calling your posh boyfriend?” Bobby says. “Guess he can have you when we’re through.”

I close my eyes and hear a scream. It’s not me.

My eyes fly open. Bobby cradles his arm. Blood seeps through his fingers. “Who did that?” He looks around wildly.

I back away and another guy tries to grab at me. He shrieks as his thumb is sliced off, seemingly by nothing. It lands bloody beside me. I catch a glimpse of a rusty truck in the street before I close my eyes and curl up in a ball. Tears streak my face.

There’s more terrified screaming, then I hear them run away.

“Michelle. Michelle?” someone says and touches me. I whimper. “It is okay. I came. They will not hurt you now.” I feel the hand rub my arm and he says, “Shh now. Shh.”

I dare to open my eyes and there is Christopher kneeling beside me, a blood-smeared sword in his right hand. He drops the sword and gathers me into his arms.

For some reason, this scene always gives me the shivers. I guess I’ve always been a sucker for a brave hero in tall boots. Now that’s magic!

Marie Lamba (marielamba.com) is author of acclaimed young adult novels including What I Meant… (Random House), Over My Head, and Drawn. When she isn’t writing or doing magic tricks, she’s working as an Associate Literary Agent at The Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency in NYC.

About Drawn

Teen artist Michelle De Freccio moves to England in search of a normal life…instead she finds a hot medieval ghost with a sketchy past.

It all begins when a strange guy appears in Michelle’s drawings. When she actually meets him at the town’s castle, she’s unmistakably drawn to him. But something is definitely not right. For starters, he wears medieval garb, talks of ancient murders and tends to disappear each time they kiss.

Could he possibly be a ghost? Could Michelle be losing her mind? Or has she simply uncovered a love so timeless it’s spanned the centuries…

Praise for Drawn

“A lushly romantic ghost story…captivating and haunting. I didn’t want it to end.” –Cyn Balog, author of paranormal YA novels Fairy Tale, Sleepless, and Starstruck

“…a wonderfully spooky tale of romance and discovery. It’s a magical exploration of the unconquerable power of love. Highly recommended!” —Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of Rot & Ruin and Dust & Decay

“In DRAWN, Marie Lamba deftly entwines romance and mystery, past and present, into a page-turning adventure. Buy it today and I promise you’ll be finished reading far too quickly!” —Joy Nash, USA Today bestselling paranormal romance author of The Immortals series, The Grail King and The Unforgiven

posted in Blog Tour by The Cozy Reader Leave A Comment
©2012 The Cozy Reader. All Rights Reserved.

Disclosure: Amazon.com Associate. If you click on my links and purchase anything a very small percentage of the purchase price will be awarded to The Cozy Reader.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD: Top Ten American Classics of Our Time

Digitally Remastered and Fully Restored with Over Three Hours of Bonus Materials Including Two Full­ Length Documentaries

On Limited Edition Collector’s Series Blu-ray™ Combo Pack,

Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, one of the screen’s most beloved and critically acclaimed films, celebrates its 50th anniversary with a commemorative Limited Edition Collector’s Series Blu-ray™ Combo Pack as well as on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD from Universal Studios Home Entertainment on January 31, 2012. The powerful and poignant adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel hits the half-century mark, digitally remastered and fully restored from high resolution 35MM original film elements, plus more than three-and-a-half hours of bonus features chronicling the making of the cinematic masterpiece.

Unquestionably an American classic, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is one of the most beloved films and novels of our time. In honor of its release on Blu-ray on January 31, we will take a look back at other classic books and movies that have helped define our nation over the last century.

Giveaway

To enter to win a copy of To Kill A Mockingbird on Blu-ray just use the below Rafflecopter widget!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

posted in Giveaway by The Cozy Reader Leave A Comment
©2012 The Cozy Reader. All Rights Reserved.

Disclosure: Amazon.com Associate. If you click on my links and purchase anything a very small percentage of the purchase price will be awarded to The Cozy Reader.

WHEN IT COMES TO COMEDY…

NO GAME NO FOWL

Let the fowl play begin!  Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment presents the story of a competitive trio who quickly turn a simple quest into the ultimate competition when THE BIG YEAR spreads its wings on Blu-ray and DVD January 31.

Bird Brains

Comedic Icons Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson Star in the Hilarious Outdoor Adventure Coming to Blu-ray and DVD January 31!

Brad, Kenny and Stu are not the only people fascinated by ornithology. They are joined by a well-known bunch of famous faces including Daryl Hannah, Paul McCartney & Prince Philip. Here, we’ll take a fun look at the array of celebrities who have a passion for feathered friends much like our leading men.

Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson portray three men from very different walks of life, facing a mid-life crisis, a work-life crisis and a no-life crisis. In the biggest competition of their lives, they undertake an unforgettable trek through North America, engaging in hilarious and bizarre adventures and forming friendships that will last a lifetime!

Prince Philip

The Duke of Edinburgh is an accomplished bird photographer, writer, and wildlife advocate. Due to his extended time spent on the royal yacht, Prince Philip began photographing rare seabirds. In 1962, he published Birds from Britannia, a collection of pictures of some of the world’s rarest birds. Additionally, Prince Philip later became president of the World Wildlife Fund.

Daryl Hannah

Daryl Hannah isn’t just an actress – she’s also an environmentalist and a birdwatcher! It is unknown whether Hannah is an avid or casual birdwatcher, but she has stated in interviews that she enjoys bird watching. Regardless of her level of activity in the bird watching arena, Hannah is a fierce advocate of the environment and of various species, birds included.

Paul McCartney

As a teenager, Paul McCartney was a big fan of the BBC nature show “Look” – he even wrote to its host (wildlife artist Peter Scott) asking for “the drawings of them ducks, if you’re not doing anything with them.” Since his youth, McCartney has been a passionate advocate for birds and other wildlife, including the endangered skylark, which he used to watch in Liverpool as a child.

Jimmy Carter

Former President of the United States of America, Jimmy Carter, is an avid birder! Jimmy and his wife, Rosalyn, have birded throughout the world. Rumors in the birding community speculate that their combined life list is around 1,500 species! In interviews Jimmy has spoken about checking out bird ringing stations in Israel and searching for African Hoopoes in Zimbabwe.

Giveaway

To enter to win a copy of The Big Year on DVD please use the below Rafflecopter widget!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

posted in 20th Century Fox by The Cozy Reader Leave A Comment
©2012 The Cozy Reader. All Rights Reserved.

Disclosure: Amazon.com Associate. If you click on my links and purchase anything a very small percentage of the purchase price will be awarded to The Cozy Reader.

Procurement

eARC via NetGalley.

My Grade

Plot: 5

Setting: 5

Writing: 5

Originality: 5

Characters: 5

Romance: 5

Overall: 30/30!

Title/Cover Bonus: 5

Overall

A thrilling ride that uncovers the strange happenings of life after death, but not really, and how a teenaged girl overcomes the strangeness that affects her after a crazy accident she survives with the help of her best friend.

Summary (Goodreads)

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine
-despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she’s far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can’t control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?
Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she’s reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy’s motives aren’t quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?
For fans of best-sellers like Before I Fall and If I Stay, this is a fascinating and heart-rending story about love and friendship and the fine line between life and death.

First Line

The first time I died, I didn’t see God.

 

Most Memorable Scene

Delaney’s fall into the lake was an intense scene. I also enjoyed Decker’s reaction to Delaney in the hospital.

Plot

Delaney dies for 11 minutes and awakens with a weird “gift” afterwards. She awkwardly befriends bad boy Troy while simultaneously losing her best friend, Decker.

Setting

I don’t recall the location exactly but it’s a small town in winter. I loved the imagery used to explain the settings. I had to snuggle with a blanket for most of this book because it mostly seems to take place outside in the freezing cold!

Many scenes are freaky and chilling in a non-weather related sense.

Writing

Megan did an excellent job with writing this book. Written from Delaney’s point of view, which is awesome because Delaney’s character is refreshing. She’s a teenage girl that’s real, funny, and strong.

Originality

The summary compares this book to Before I Fall and If I Stay. I don’t think it’s like either of them. I haven’t read much of Before I Fall but I have read the other. I’d say this book is more like Rachel Vincent’s Soul Screamer’s series than either of the two previous mentioned titles, minus the screaming of course.

While it’s similar to Rachel’s series it’s truly unique. It was way creepier than I expected and incredibly intense at points. There’s also a underlying romance that is so sweet to see blossom.

Characters

Delaney’s character was so much fun to get to know. She’s so different than other characters I’ve read recently. She’s self conscious to a degree but not afraid to be who she is.

Delaney’s best friend and neighbor is Decker. His character was also very enjoyable. While I wasn’t his biggest fan the whole book I really looked forward to seeing him pop back up here and there.

Troy is the bad boy of the book. I REALLY disliked him. Seeing how the story ended was a relief and made so much sense I couldn’t help be sigh.

Romance

Delaney and Decker’s relationship was so sweet to see it mature. I was scared for them both and couldn’t have been more happier with how things turned out in the end.

Title/Cover Bonus

A beautiful cover and the title is just perfect!

Ending

I loved the ending!

Series

Eleven Minutes (Fracture, .5) by Megan Miranda – Told from Decker’s point of view. The 11 minutes Delaney is under water and the 6 days after the accident.

posted in Book Reviews by The Cozy Reader Leave A Comment
©2012 The Cozy Reader. All Rights Reserved.

Disclosure: Amazon.com Associate. If you click on my links and purchase anything a very small percentage of the purchase price will be awarded to The Cozy Reader.

Fractureby Megan Miranda272 pages, Walker Childrens, (2012-01-17) $10.80 (Amazon.com)

Trailer

My Review

Fracture Fan Page on Facebook!

posted in Blog Tour by The Cozy Reader Leave A Comment
©2012 The Cozy Reader. All Rights Reserved.

Disclosure: Amazon.com Associate. If you click on my links and purchase anything a very small percentage of the purchase price will be awarded to The Cozy Reader.

Cinder: Book One in the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer 400 pages, Feiwel & Friends, (2012-01-03) $12.09 (Amazon.com)

Read the first 5 chapters on Kindle for FREE!

Cinder: Chapters 1-5 by Marissa Meyer pages, Feiwel & Friends, (2011-12-06) (Amazon.com)

My Other posts on Cinder!

My Review

Trailer

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

posted in Feiwel & Friends by The Cozy Reader Leave A Comment
©2012 The Cozy Reader. All Rights Reserved.

Disclosure: Amazon.com Associate. If you click on my links and purchase anything a very small percentage of the purchase price will be awarded to The Cozy Reader.

Here’s what I’ve received over the past 2 weeks. I’ve been a huge slacker on posting the books I’ve received so I’ve put it as a goal to keep up with my mailbox!

Review

Forbidden by Syrie James 416 pages, HarperTeen, (2012-01-24) $8.99 (Amazon.com)

Hallowed (Unearthly) by Cynthia Hand 416 pages, HarperTeen, (2012-01-17) (Amazon.com)

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin 336 pages, Greenwillow Books, (2012-04-24) $11.24 (Amazon.com)

A Wrinkle in Time: 50th Anniversary Commemorative Edition (Madeleine L’Engle’s Time Quintet) by Madeleine L’Engle 280 pages, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), (2012-01-31) $15.98 (Amazon.com)

NetGalley

The Marked (A Talents Novel) (Delcroix Academy) by Inara Scott 320 pages, Hyperion Book CH, (2012-04-03) $10.40 (Amazon.com)

Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig 368 pages, Katherine Tegen Books, (2012-03-13) $11.02 (Amazon.com)

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows 384 pages, Katherine Tegen Books, (2012-01-31) $11.22 (Amazon.com)

Horizon (Luna Books) by Sophie Littlefield 400 pages, Luna, (2012-02-01) (Amazon.com)

Slide by Jill Hathaway 256 pages, Balzer + Bray, (2012-03-27) $10.98 (Amazon.com)

The Last Apprentice: Grimalkin the Witch Assassin by Joseph Delaney 400 pages, Greenwillow Books, (2012-04-17) $11.03 (Amazon.com)

Partials by Dan Wells 480 pages, Balzer + Bray, (2012-02-28) (Amazon.com)

Invisible Sun by David Macinnis Gill 352 pages, Greenwillow Books, (2012-03-27) $10.98 (Amazon.com)

Endure (Need) by Carrie Jones 288 pages, Bloomsbury USA Childrens, (2012-05-08) $12.10 (Amazon.com)

Spellcaster (Harlequin Teen) by Cara Lynn Shultz 304 pages, Harlequin, (2012-03-27) $9.99 (Amazon.com)

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown 320 pages, Delacorte Books for Young Readers, (2012-06-12) $10.52 (Amazon.com)

The Nightmare Garden: The Iron Codex Book Two by Caitlin Kittredge 432 pages, Delacorte Books for Young Readers, (2012-02-14) $11.98 (Amazon.com)

Purchased

I bought a Woot! Shirt! I LOVE it!

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 336 pages, Dutton Juvenile, (2012-01-10) $9.45 (Amazon.com)

Wither (The Chemical Garden Trilogy) by Lauren DeStefano 373 pages, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, (2011-03-22) (Amazon.com)

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood 325 pages, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, (1986-02-17) (Amazon.com)

The Hedgewitch Queen by Lilith Saintcrow Orbit, (2011-12-01) (Amazon.com)

FREE Kindle Edition

Warriors #1: Into the Wild by Erin Hunter 292 pages, HarperCollins, (2009-10-13) (Amazon.com)

Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey 373 pages, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, (2010-01-18) (Amazon.com)

posted in In My Mailbox by The Cozy Reader Leave A Comment
©2012 The Cozy Reader. All Rights Reserved.

Disclosure: Amazon.com Associate. If you click on my links and purchase anything a very small percentage of the purchase price will be awarded to The Cozy Reader.

Did you know that there are tons of books that are lendable?

I joined eBook Fling months ago and have enjoyed creating my library of ebooks that I’ve been able to share, receive credit, and in turn borrow books! For FREE!

eBook Fling is completely free, unless you want to buy credits, but don’t do that! It’s so easy to build a library of lendable books that people want to borrow!

Be sure to follow a Kindle blog that tells you about the bargain deals and the tons of free books that are always available!

posted in Amazon Kindle by The Cozy Reader Leave A Comment
©2012 The Cozy Reader. All Rights Reserved.

Disclosure: Amazon.com Associate. If you click on my links and purchase anything a very small percentage of the purchase price will be awarded to The Cozy Reader.

About the Book

Set in a world in which a diminishing oil supply has lead to chaos and mass rioting, sixteen year old Faye is plagued by waking visions and nightmares.  Her parents think the only solution is to send her to Holbrook Academy, the creepy prison-like school for disturbed teenagers. When she and her friends wake up on the floor with their hands stained red, Faye has no idea what it means, but fears she may be the cause.  But despite the strangeness of Holbrook and the island on which it sits, Faye feels oddly connected to the place.  The handsome Kel tries to help her unravel the mystery, but Faye is certain he is trying to kill her –and the rest of the world too.

Advance Praise for Harbinger

· “Heart-wrenching, terrifying, hot, and un-put-down-able!” – Tamora Pierce, New York Times bestselling author

· “Intricate, suspenseful, completely absorbing.  Harbinger is masterfully done.” – Lisa McMann, author of the New York Times bestselling Wake trilogy

Trailer

What do you think? A pretty intense trailer I’d say!

posted in Trailer by The Cozy Reader Leave A Comment
©2012 The Cozy Reader. All Rights Reserved.

Disclosure: Amazon.com Associate. If you click on my links and purchase anything a very small percentage of the purchase price will be awarded to The Cozy Reader.

I didn’t make any this year. I haven’t had any for the past few years. I don’t like to fail so I don’t set myself up for failure. The way I look at it is if I do something I want to do over the course of this coming year then “Woohoo for me!” If I don’t, then no big deal. :)

20th Century Fox has sent me The Big Year for review. I haven’t watched it yet but hope to get to it this weekend! I love me some Jack Black and Owen Wilson! It releases January 31!

Here’s a cute little print out to help you keep track of your resolutions, plus watch a funny movie!

Stay tuned for an upcoming giveaway to celebrate this new release!

Click the image for a larger version!

posted in 20th Century Fox by The Cozy Reader Leave A Comment
©2012 The Cozy Reader. All Rights Reserved.

Disclosure: Amazon.com Associate. If you click on my links and purchase anything a very small percentage of the purchase price will be awarded to The Cozy Reader.

Rafflecopter has gone live and even redid their widget recently.

To celebrate the New Year they’re giving away a 16MB Apple iPad 2 and several Amazon Kindle Fires.

Be sure to say that I referred you! To make it even easier, I’ve included the giveaway widget below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

posted in Giveaway by The Cozy Reader Leave A Comment
©2012 The Cozy Reader. All Rights Reserved.

Disclosure: Amazon.com Associate. If you click on my links and purchase anything a very small percentage of the purchase price will be awarded to The Cozy Reader.

Under the Never Sky (#1) by Veronica Rossi

HarperCollins (January 03, 2012 ), 384 pages

$11.98 (Amazon)

Procurement

eARC via NetGalley.

My Grade

Plot: 5

Setting: 5

Writing: 5

Originality: 5

Characters: 5

Romance: 5

Overall: 30/30! Totally engrossing!

Title/Cover Bonus: 5

Overall

An epic journey to find a mother, save a child, and bond one barbarian of a male to one strongwilled girl.

Summary (Goodreads)

Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction.

As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions.

They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers a barbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love – one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY.

First Line

They called the world beyond the walls of the Pod “the Death Shop”.

Most Memorable Scene

I LOVED it when Perry makes shoes for Aria out of the leather cover of an old book! Also: Tree house, after the encounter with the wolves, um, yeah. ;)

Plot

The beginning of this was INTENSE. I was kinda confused as to what the heck I had picked up. It was a brilliant opening though, to show exactly what the Dwellers can suffer from. When Aria finds herself outside of the Dwelling I immediately connected with how she felt. The fact that Perry joins her almost immediately is pretty freaking awesome. His intenseness was palpable in those first few scenes. He had every reason to be of course. Aria and Perry join forces: her to find her mom and him to rescue a loved one. The journey they encounter along the way is epic and unforgettable.

Setting

Reverie is the city that Aria “dwells”  in at the beginning. Dwellers are forced to live inside due to the Aether that is in the air and causes intense lightning storms that scortch the earth. Dwellers are prone to DLS (a disorder that makes them pretty much insane) so they’re always connected to their version of a virtual world, since it is too dangerous to have a life outside the dwelling.

The outside is a world surrounded by Aether clouds which rain lightning. Veronica did an amazing job building this world, espeically the journey through the woods.

Writing

Written in alternating point of views between Aria and Perry. Brilliantly done because it would have been awful not knowing what Perry was thinking! Tons of creative thought went into this story from the plot to the intense characters.

Originality

The technology in this is abundant. Aria, and all Dwellers, sport a Smarteye contraption that fuses over one eye giving them a connection to basically their own network that streams a virtual world. The worldbuilding is nothing like I’ve read before. I loved the references to the old world artifacts.

I read Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder right before this one and while they have quite a few similiarities they are completely different, and I loved them both!

Characters

Aria was a Dweller before being cast out as an Outsider. I’m so glad she encounters Perry. I’m not sure if she would have survived! She is frightened of Perry at first but she quickly puts her fears aside and man’s up to the challenge. I enjoyed her character immensely. I loved how much she grew and changed.

Perry is a Scire. He can see clearly in the dark. He’s an Outsider and a Barbarian to Aria. He is a fierce protector and guides Aria through quite the journey. His attention to his surroundings and people were qualities I enjoyed most.

Roar – Perry’s best friend with extremely good hearing.

Vale – Perry’s Blood Lord brother. He knocks heads with him constantly becauase they are both “alphas”.

Talon – Perry’s nephew of about 6. He’s ill and Perry loves him so much.

Romance

Aria and Perry’s relationship starts out as one of those hate/hate relationships. They can’t stand each other. He’s a barbarian with a weird accent and she smells funny. Their relationship reminded me of Avery and Kerrick from Maria V Snyder’s Touch of Power, which I had read just prior to this one, and it was lovely to see them come together.

While Perry was a hard man at first, he softens so well for Aria.

Title/Cover Bonus

Love them both!

Ending

I was so sad by the end of this book! The ending is not as tidy as can be. It’s very vague but you think you understand what happens. Since this is #1 I’m assuming a second book will be released to continue this story. If so, I’m so ready!

Series

Untitled (Under The Never Sky #2)  | 2013

posted in 2012 Debut Author by The Cozy Reader Leave A Comment
©2012 The Cozy Reader. All Rights Reserved.

Disclosure: Amazon.com Associate. If you click on my links and purchase anything a very small percentage of the purchase price will be awarded to The Cozy Reader.

Have suggestions for me to read? Please comment!

What I plan to read

Links go to Goodreads

1. Everneath (Everneath, #1)by Brodi Ashton | 01/24
2. When the Sea is Rising Red by Cat Hellisen | 02/28
3. Katana by Cole Gibsen | 03/08
4. Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig | 03/13
5. Slide by Jill Hathaway | 03/27
6. Immortal City by Scott Speer | 04/03
7. Ripper by Amy Carol Reeves | 04/08
8. The Wicked and the Just by J. Anderson Coats  | 04/17
9. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry | August
10. This Is Not a Drill by Beck McDowell | Fall
11. Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger | 10/02
12. Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans | Late 2012 possibly 2013

2012 Debut Authors read in 2012

1. Incarnate (Newsoul, #1) by Jodi Meadows | 01/31 | Finished 01/09 | Review to come!
2. TBD

2012 Debut Authors Read in 2011

1. Cinder (Lunar Chronicles, #1) by Marissa Meyer | 01/03|  Review
2. Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky, #1) by Veronica Rossi | 01/03 | Review coming soon!
3. Fracture by Megan Miranda | 01/17 | Review
4. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman | 05/08 |Review coming soon

posted in 2012 Debut Author by The Cozy Reader Leave A Comment
©2012 The Cozy Reader. All Rights Reserved.

Disclosure: Amazon.com Associate. If you click on my links and purchase anything a very small percentage of the purchase price will be awarded to The Cozy Reader.

Cinder: Book One in the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer 400 pages, Feiwel & Friends, (2012-01-03) $12.09 (Amazon.com)

Read the first 5 chapters on Kindle for FREE!

Cinder: Chapters 1-5 by Marissa Meyer pages, Feiwel & Friends, (2011-12-06) (Amazon.com)

Check out the other posts I did today!

My Review

Trailer

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

posted in Giveaway by The Cozy Reader Leave A Comment
©2012 The Cozy Reader. All Rights Reserved.

Disclosure: Amazon.com Associate. If you click on my links and purchase anything a very small percentage of the purchase price will be awarded to The Cozy Reader.

Cinder: Book One in the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer 400 pages, Feiwel & Friends, (2012-01-03) $12.09 (Amazon.com)

Trailer

Other Links

Marissa Meyer’s LiveJournal

Marissa on Twitter

Marissa on Facebook

posted in Release Day! by The Cozy Reader Leave A Comment
©2012 The Cozy Reader. All Rights Reserved.

Disclosure: Amazon.com Associate. If you click on my links and purchase anything a very small percentage of the purchase price will be awarded to The Cozy Reader.