My Bookmark This Week (#4)

I don't know about you but I probably own a good number of bookmarks.  I think this might be the case of all bookish people, but the problem is that I can never find one when I need it.  I end up using whatever I can find - receipts, post-in notes, ribbon, take out menus - because I really don't like to bend the pages of my books (and I often borrow them from the library.)

I though it would be fun to share with you what exactly I am using as a bookmark every Friday. Today I am reading 'Forever' by Maggie Stiefvater and my bookmark is one of promotional cards for 'The Scorpio Races' that were available at the book signing.

What are you using as a bookmark today?

Feature and Follow Friday (#2)

Feature and Follow Friday is blog-hop hosted by Parajunkee's View

This week's feature is from Angela at Angela's Anxious Life and the question is:'

What do I do when I am not reading? 

I work full-time, which of course takes a lot of my time.  I am the mother of three boys (A, B, and C,) luckily they are difference ages and that allows for some flexibility.  And of course I have to maintain some resemblance of order in our house.

Sounds depressing?  Not at all, I love my life, my work and my family.  For fun I blog and visit other blogs, I bake and cook, I watch movies and I have some TV series that I love and follow (about five or six.)  We also travel a little to other states and to Puerto Rico when we have a chance. I think that's it, the day after all is just 24 hours long!

Event: Maggie Stiefvater Forever Tour

On July 12^th I was fortunate enough to attend the first event on Maggie Stiefvater’s book tour.  The event was held at Barnes & Noble of Tysons Corner in Virginia.  First, let me get something of my chest: I have DC traffic.  I try to avoid it like the plague, but for author extraordinaire, Maggie Stiefvater I ventured out and made it there just in time. *End of venting*

Those of you who follow Ms. Stiefvater’s blog and tweets know that she has a great sense of humor, so you can imagine what a treat this was.  In my son’s words (who was sitting on the floor two rows away reading Manga)  “mom, that lady was hilarious.”  And she was.  One of her first questions to the audice was: Who know how to say my last name?  She talked about the Shiver series, about her April Fool’s Day prank (remember ‘Litter’?), on why she chose to write a book about wolves and about ‘The Scorpio Races’ (to be published on 10/18/11.)  You can really appreciate how confortable she is with public speaking and how appreciative she is of her readers.  She answered some questions from the audience and then proceeded to the book signing.

There were more than a 100 people there (I was number #75) to get book(s) signed, but I have to say that the line moved fairly quickly. There was also some swag to take home (for details visit Maggie Stiefvater’s blog.)   

I also have to mention that singer Sulaiman Azimi interpreted songs for us, one of them “Summer Girl”, the song that Sam wrote for Grace in ‘Linger’.  He has a beautiful voice and nice presence.

Note:  Sorry for the face, I was talking while B was taking a picture.

Our Great American Bake Sale!

Yesterday, my department hosted 'Great American Bake Sale.'  It was a great experience, although it was a LOT of work.  I was the main baker for the event (I baked over the weekend) and the rest of the office staff helped with cutting, packing, labeling, pricing, setting up and cleaning up. 

For our first bake sale I think it went rather well.  We raised $232.00 for a really good cause.  Maybe we can do another one once I have a chance to rest!

The table with all our treats

Me an hour later (noticed some things were sold!)

Wating on Wednesday: Carrier of the Mark (Carrier #1)

Waiting on Wednesday idea from Jill at Breaking the Spine

Title: Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon
Published by: Harper Teen
Released date: October 4th, 2011

A move to Ireland is about to introduce Megan to her destiny, her real destiny, can she embrace it and will she survive it? A tragedy in Megan’s past set her on a predetermined course. A chain of events has been set in motion that brings Megan to Kinsale, a small town in the south of Ireland where her destiny awaits her. Her life starts to fall into place as she makes new friends and settles into her new school. However, the reclusive and distant Adam DeRís calls to her body and soul.

She finds herself increasingly drawn to Adam and his strange family. Adam knows a secret from her past and he and his family hold the key to her future. A future that binds her to Adam and his world, a world of power, mystery and ancient orders. A world that unbeknownst to her, she very much belongs in.

Why I want to read it:  Doesn't the synopsis sound amazing?  And look at this cover!  It's absolutely gorgeous.

What book are you waiting for?



Top Ten Tuesday: Authors I Would Die to Meet

Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish.

1.Richelle Mead - I really enjoyed the 'Vampire Academy' series.  Her blog and twitter are also very entertaining.  We could talk vampires for hours...

2. Julia Quinn - She is my favorite historical romance author of all time.  If you haven't read one of Ms. Quinn's books, what are you waiting for?

3. Rachel Vincent - Another series that love is 'Soul Screamers', can't wait to know what happens next.  I check he blog regularly and I imagine a conversation with her will be amazing.

4. Cassandra Claire - 'The Immortal Instrument' series, need I say more?

5. Maggie Stiefvater - She is such a funny lady, her blog and tweets are hilarious.  Her writing is so lyrical, poetic, and beautiful, I love the 'Wolves of Mercy Falls' series.  I would be amazing to meet her.

6. Amy Plum - Her debut book 'Die for Me' was really good and I enjoy her blog and tweets also.  Wouldn't you like to visit Paris with her?

7. Simone Elkeles - I liked both her 'Perfect Chemistry' and 'Leaving Paradise' series.  A great writer that creates great characters.

8. Jane Austen - Can you imagine how much fun this would be?  We could talk about Mr. Darcy for hours...

9. Julie Kagawa - Oh Ash!  This is one of my favorite male characters of all time.  I absolutely love this series. *biting nails and waiting for 'The Iron Knight*

10. J.K. Rowling -  'Harry Potter' is one of my favorite series of all time.  Ms. Rowling's imagination is so amazing that I cannot help but wonder what it would be like to talk to her for five minutes.  Maybe I can ask what happens between the end of the 'Deathly Hollows' and the epilogue...

Note:  Sarah Dessen is not in the list because I went to a book signing last month. Yeah!

What is on your list this week?

Review: Mercy (Mercy #1)

Title: Mercy by Rebecca Lim
Published: May 17, 2011 by Hyperion Books
Source: Library
Grade rating: B-

A fallen angel haunted by her past. Yearning for her immortal beloved. Forever searching for answers.Who will show her Mercy?

Mercy has lost herself. She can’t count how many times she’s “woken up” in a new body, and assumed a new life, only to move on again and again. During the day she survives in the human world on instinct and at night her dreams are haunted by him. Mercy’s heart would know him anywhere. But her memory refuses to cooperate.

But this time is different. When Mercy wakes up she meets Ryan, an eighteen year old reeling from the loss of his twin sister who was kidnapped two years ago. Everyone else has given up hope, but Ryan believes his sister is still alive. Using a power she doesn’t fully comprehend, Mercy realizes that Ryan is right. His sister is alive and together they can find her. For the first time since she can remember, Mercy has a purpose; she can help. So she doesn’t understand why the man in her dreams cautions her not to interfere. But as Ryan and Mercy come closer to solving the dark mystery of his sister’s disappearance, danger looms just one step behind.

Will Mercy be able to harness her true self and extraordinary power in time?

Review

I love to read fantasy.  I like werewolves, vampires, fairies, angels and other supernatural beings.  I have to say this one was a little weird.  You can probably learn more about the story by reading the synopsis that by reading the actual book.  It is so mysterious that very few answers are revealed. 

Mercy is a complex character that exists as a spirit and its assigned a host that she tries to help to the best of her ability.  It was really hard for me to sympathize with Mercy, for some reason she didn't come across as likable.  I do have to say that she is brave, tough and strong willed, which  I appreciate in a female character.  Luc might gorgeous, but that is all.  I don't know why, but I can't make myself like or trust him.  On the other hand, Ryan was a sweetheart, a strong and handsome young man that it's not afraid to show his insecurities and that was able to look beyond the host's body to appreciate Mercy.

There are two mysteries that are parallel in the story: who is Mercy and who kidnapped the girls.  I was able to guess at the culprit of the kidnapping, but it was fun to read Mercy and Ryan's thought process and their investigative skills.  We still have a lot to learn about Mercy's past and I'm looking forward to the discovery.

To me the writing felt was a little rushed and the climax and conclusion came too fast.  I do have to say that the story is original and that Ms. Lim delivers it quite well.  This was a quick read and I will definitely read Exile (book #2) when it comes out next year.

About the cover: The cover is beautiful.  You can't really appreciate it here, but there are shiny translucent wings on the model (Mercy.)  The dark colors on the background play very well with the blue-green of the title and how pale the model is.   

In My Mailbox (#7)

IMM is a weekly meme inspired by Alea at the Pop Culture Junkie and hosted by the wonderful Kristi at The Story Siren.  All links are to Goodreads.

Just a couple of books from the library this week.  I have something big planed for next week, so I hope it all works out (don't want to jinx myself!)

From the Library

(Sorry about the quality of the picture)

Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin - I like the cover of the book, that's my only excuse to get it.

Mercy by Rebecca Lim - Not only is the cover gorgeous, but I liked the synopsis too.  I already finished it and the review will be coming soon.

That's it for me, what's in your mailbox this week?

Note: I am baking up a storm for a 'Great American Bake Sale' that we are holding at work next week.  Please forgive me if I'm not around the blogs today and I don't answer your comment today.