Review: My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent

My Soul to Keep (Soul Screamers, 3) by Rachel Vincent
Young Adult Urban Fantasy
Harlequin (June 1, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0373210053
296 pages

Kaylee has one addiction: her very hot, very popular boyfriend, Nash. A banshee like Kaylee, Nash understands her like no one else. Nothing can come between them.
Until something does.

Demon breath. No, not the toothpaste-challenged kind. The Netherworld kind. The kind that really can kill you. Somehow the super-addictive substance has made its way to the human world. But how? Kaylee and Nash have to cut off the source and protect their friends—one of whom is already hooked.

And so is someone else…

Read more after the jump »

Interview & Giveaway: Rachel Vincent, author of My Soul to Keep

Today I get to share with you a Q&A that the lovely Rachel Vincent, author of the Soul Screamers and Shifters series, was kind enough to do with me! Her latest book, My Soul to Keep, is officially released tomorrow. Let's see what Rachel has to say...

My Soul to Keep is the 3rd Soul Screamers novel that you've written. What have you learned about writing for a younger audience?

I've learned that the YA audience is smart. They want complex characters, and detailed plots, and characters they can feel something for, whether that something is love, hate, or sympathy. Teen readers tend to have good vocabularies, and if they don't know a word, they can infer the meaning. And they know when you're talking down to them, so don't even try it.

Sounds familiar, huh? That's cause they have a lot in common with adults. And you can't generalize about teens any more than you can about adults. They're individuals, and they each bring a different life experience to a novel.

Read more after the jump »

Pint-Sized 'Pinions: Paranormal YA Edition

I've got a bunch stuffed into this post...

Firespell (Dark Elite, 1) by Chloe Neill
Young Adult Urban Fantasy
Signet (January 5, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0451228864
256 pages

New Girl.
New School.
Old Evil.

From the author of the Chicagoland Vampires novels.

A new series about a boarding school filled with something worse than homework.

Lily's parents have sent her to a fancy boarding school in Chicago filled with the ultra-rich. If that wasn't bad enough, she's hearing and seeing bizarre things on St. Sophie's creepy campus. Her roommate, Scout, keeps her sane, but keeps disappearing at night. When one day Lily finds Scout running from real-life monsters, she learns the hard way that Scout is involved in a splinter group of rebel teens.

Read more after the jump »

Blog happenings

Hey, everyone!

I just wanted to give you a heads up about what's happening here at The Eclectic Book Lover this week.


Monday, May 31st: I'll be reviewing Rachel Vincent's latest in the Soul Screamers series, My Soul to Keep, which officially hits bookstores this Tuesday. I'll also be interviewing Rachel and she has been kind enough to offer up a signed copy of the book for a giveaway, so be sure to come by!




Thursday, June 3rd: I'll be participating in the blog tour for Lee Nichols's new paranormal YA novel, Deception, which will be released June 8th. There'll be a review, interview and, of course, a giveaway.



Exciting stuff, right?

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I'm an Amazon Associate. Feel free to use my links to purchase items - the commission will go towards paying the shipping costs on giveaways.

In My Mailbox (28)

This peek inside my mailbox is all thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren and Alea of Pop Culture Junkie

Too many books = no photos. I got some great swag and an extra copy of Insatiable - did someone say "giveaway"?

Won:

Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep signed + signed Spider's Bite and Web of Lies bookmarks (Thanks Fresh Fiction and Jennifer Estep!)
Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker (Thanks Elizabeth Scott!)
Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott (also from Elizabeth Scott)
Something About You by Julie James signed + SAB and Practice Makes Perfect/Just the Sexiest Man Alive bookmarks (Thanks Julie James!)
Ancestor by Scott Sigler (from Read It Forward)

Read more after the jump »

Currently Coveting (4)

In case you haven't seen this feature before, I'm switching from my usual Waiting on Wednesday post. Instead of just one upcoming title that I want I'll list several, along with some backlisted books that I have on my wishlist too. If you guys have read any of the previous releases, let me know what you thought about them.

On shelves now:

Kissed by an Angel: Kissed by an Angel; The Power of Love; Soulmates by Elizabeth Chandler
YA Paranormal Romance Omnibus

A love beyond life...a danger beyond doubt.

In a romantic and suspenseful collection of the New York Times bestselling trilogy, love's unbreakable bonds are put to the test.

When her boyfriend, Tristan, died, Ivy thought she'd lost everything, even her faith in angels. But now she's discovered that he's her guardian angel -- his presence so strong that she can feel the touch of his hand, the beat of his heart. Ivy needs Tristan now more than ever because he knows she's in terrible danger. Only Ivy's guardian angel can save her now that his killer is after her.

But if Tristan rescues Ivy, his mission on earth will be finished, and he must leave her behind forever. Will saving Ivy mean losing her just when he's finally reached her again?

I spotted this one while perusing the shelves at Borders. I love finding books that way!

Read more after the jump »

(Un)Cover: All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins

Read more after the jump »

Friday Feature: My attempt at reading a Jane Austen variation

Who: Author Sharon Lathan

What: Her novel, Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One

When: I picked up and put back down this book on May 21st after only reading a couple of chapters.

Why: I freakin' love Jane Austen but I've always been skeptical about the sequels and prequels to her work. Frankly, I have always been of the opinion that no on could do her stories and characters justice and that they were just wasting everyone's time trying. I hate having prejudices as a reader. I realize that a lot of fellow Jane fiends find these books very enjoyable. All those people can't be wrong, right? So, I decided to give one a try. Now, I'm aware that one writer's take on Austen doesn't represent the whole lot but it'll still be a looooong while before I try something like this out again (if I try again, that is).

Read more after the jump »

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Guest Post: Is it a Book or a Movie? by Jessica Brody, author of The Karma Club

Today's post is from Jessica Brody, author of The Fidelity Files and Love Under Cover. She's recently published her YA debut, The Karma Club (which I've reviewed and really enjoyed!), and is here to give us a peek at how she plots her fun novels!

People tell me quite often that my books read like movies. While I’m always flattered by this compliment, I usually respond with, “Well, I hope so!” Because the truth is, I plot out ALL my novels using a how-to guide for screenwriters.

It’s called Save the Cat, and it’s written by the fabulously talented, Blake Snyder. Someone first told me about Blake’s book years ago and introduced it as “the ultimate guide to plotting out a story.” And after having now written four novels based on Mr. Snyder’s brilliant handbook, I can say with absolute certainty that it is the ultimate guide to story plotting. Whether that story will take place on a screen, a stage or in the pages of the book.

Blake uses a simple outline that he calls “The Blake Snyder Beat Sheet” consisting of 15 “beats” or story points that make up almost every well-told story. And after watching a zillion movies with that beat sheet in hand, I can affirm with astonishment that he’s right!

Now I never write a single word of a new novel before I have my trusty 15 beats securely plotted. It saves me loads of time further down the road when it’s time to revise. Because not once has my editor ever read one of my manuscripts and asked me to revise the story. It’s always individual scenes or lengths of chapters, a few sentence structures here and there, but the story is always so concrete and laid-out, thanks to Blake’s beat sheet, that I’ve never had to reconstruct it in my revisions. Something that probably saves me months of rewriting work!

To demonstrate how I use Blake’s screenwriting guide to outline a book, I’ve listed out his 15 beats below and then a brief description of how each beat plays out in my latest YA novel, The Karma Club (omitting any spoilers, obviously!)

Read more after the jump »

In My Mailbox (27)

This peek inside my mailbox is all thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren and Alea of Pop Culture Junkie

Won from author through Books on the House:

The Pillow Book of Lotus Lowenstein by Libby Schmais - signed and w/ a bookmark (Thanks Libby and BOTH!)

Read more after the jump »

Review: Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson, 5) by Patricia Briggs
Urban Fantasy
Ace (March 30, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0441018192
352 pages
Review copy provided by publisher

Synopsis from Amazon:

When mechanic and shapeshifter Mercy Thompson attempts to return a powerful Fae book she'd previously borrowed in an act of desperation, she finds the bookstore locked up and closed down.

It seems the book contains secret knowledge-and the Fae will do just about anything to keep it out of the wrong hands. And if that doesn't take enough of Mercy's attention, her friend Samuel is struggling with his wolf side-leaving Mercy to cover for him, lest his own father declare Sam's life forfeit.

Read more after the jump »

Currently Coveting (3)

In case you haven't seen this feature before, I'm switching from my usual Waiting on Wednesday post. Instead of just one upcoming title that I want I'll list several, along with some backlisted books that I have on my wishlist too. If you guys have read any of the previous releases, let me know what you thought about them.

On shelves now:

Playing with Matches by Brian Katcher
Young Adult General Fiction

Leon Sanders has a mug that looks like it should be hanging in a post office with the caption WANTED FOR SHOPLIFTING AND CREDIT CARD FRAUD. His new locker neighbor is Melody Hennon—class outcast and certified freak. Everyone at school keeps their distance from Melody because she was burned in a childhood accident. Leon has avoided her too, until the day he takes a chance, tells her a bad joke, and makes her laugh. No one, least of all Leon, could have predicted that Melody would turn out to be a funny, smart, and interesting person, or that he and Melody would become good friends . . . and later, more than friends.

Read more after the jump »

Review: Nancy's Theory of Style by Grace Coopersmith

Nancy's Theory of Style by Grace Coopersmith
Chick Lit
Gallery (May 18, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-1416598862
368 pages
Review copy provided by the publisher

Lively young socialite Nancy Carrington-Chambers has always believed an excellent sense of style and strict attention to detail are what it takes to succeed, but her own husband Todd is showing symptoms of incurable tackiness, so Nancy flees their McMansion for her posh San Francisco apartment. She knows her event planning company, Froth, is a real winner, but she must prove herself by reinventing the turgid Barbary Coast Historical Museum fundraiser. Luckily, Nancy now has the perfect assistant. Derek Cathcart is British, impeccably dressed, gorgeous, and clearly gay—so why does Nancy find him so attractive?

Read more after the jump »

Interview: Nancy from Nancy's Theory of Style by Grace Coopersmith

Today I'm lucky to have as my guest Nancy, event planner and heroine of Nancy's Theory of Style by Grace Coopersmith! Although her story officially hits bookstores tomorrow, May 18th, I've got her here to give you all a taste of what to expect from it.


Nancy, you use some very original words, like "thrillified". Where do you get the unusual vocab? Do people ever get confused with your unique sayings?

Language, like fashion, is a living thing. Some, such as William Shakespeare and myself, are essential to moving language forward. In fact, Shakespeare is credited with making up over 3,000 words, including some of my favorites: besmirch, bedroom, daunting, hobnob, and lackluster. I don’t mean to be smirkish or ubercompetitive with the Master, but I have inventerated over 4,000 words already! I hope to see them in a dictionary soonish.

Read more after the jump »

Update: Interview tomorrow with Nancy of Nancy's Theory of Style

Hey everyone!

Just wanted to ask you to check out my interview tomorrow with Nancy from Nancy's Theory of Style by Grace Coopersmith (a.k.a. Marta Acosta, author of the Casa Dracula books). Nancy was gracious enough to answer a few questions for me and, trust me, you'll want to hear what she says. She's a hilarious character and I'm having a great time reading the book (which my review of will be posted tomorrow too)!

See you then!

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I'm an Amazon Associate. Feel free to use my links to purchase items - the commission will got towards paying the shipping costs on giveaways.

In My Mailbox (26)

This peek inside my mailbox is all thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren and Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.

I cleaned up this week!

One ARC Tours:

Girl On the Other Side by Deborah Kerbel

Read more after the jump »

YA chicks that make my head hurt

I feel the need to vent about some silly YA beeyatches. Caution: Spoilers abound!

Emerson Watts (The Airhead series by Meg Cabot):

Let me preface my rant with this: Em wasn't all bad. Had I been in her situation, I might have been a lot self-involved and may have made some dumb as hell decisions too. But, alas, I'm the reader, so I get the privilege of pointing fingers.

Em had a habit of being in the midst of dangerous situations - thanks to billionaire Robert Stark and his Super-Douche of a son, Brandon - and finding it the most appropriate (NOT) time to obsess about Christopher. Christopher who was obvs a touch psycho and as bitchy as a chick to boot. On top of that, when she would finally get Christopher off the brain, she'd withhold crucial info from her family and friends, decide to bear the burden all on her lonesome and make seriously silly choices. It killed me whenever she would bring up her sister Frida's romance heroines who were TSTL (Too Stupid To Live) when, clearly, her name is synonymous with the term!

Read more after the jump »

Pint-Sized 'Pinions: Meh Edition

I think the title of this one is pretty self explanatory. Didn't love 'em, didn't hate 'em...

The Smart One and the Pretty One by Claire LaZebnik
Chick Lit
5 Spot (September 10, 2008)
ISBN-13: 978-0446582063
304 pages

When Ava Nickerson was a child, her mother jokingly betrothed her to a friend's son, and the contract the parents made has stayed safely buried for years. Now that still-single Ava is closing in on thirty, no one even remembers she was once "engaged" to the Markowitz boy. But when their mother is diagnosed with cancer, Ava's prodigal little sister Lauren comes home to Los Angeles where she stumbles across the decades-old document.

Frustrated and embarrassed by Ava's constant lectures about financial responsibility (all because she's in a little debt. Okay, a lot of debt), Lauren decides to do some sisterly interfering of her own and tracks down her sister's childhood fiancé. When she finds him, the highly inappropriate, twice-divorced, but incredibly charming Russell Markowitz is all too happy to re-enter the Nickerson sisters' lives, and always-accountable Ava is forced to consider just how binding a contract really is . . .

Read more after the jump »

Friday Feature: True Blood Season 3 Trailer AND Spoilers

Who: The cast of HBO's True Blood, Season 3

What:

1. The new trailer that previews the upcoming season

Read more after the jump »

Thoughts on . . . The Guardian's List of Best Children's Books

Thanks to Leila at Bookshelves of Doom I saw this interesting little list of the best children's books ever that The Guardian cooked up. Most of them I haven't read and many of them I haven't even heard of. Of the nine that I have read (including whole series), I think I can get behind their being placed on the list. I am lamenting the lack of Dr. Suess and Jacqueline Woodson, however.

My favorites on the list:

• The Narnia books: CS Lewis
• Harry Potter: JK Rowling
• The Borrowers: Mary Norton
• Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret: Judy Blume
• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: Mark Twain

Books listed that I want to read:

• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time: Mark Haddon
• Witch Child: Celia Rees
• His Dark Materials: Philip Pullman

What do you think about the list? Any you think are missing? Any favorites on there?
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Content © 2009-2010 Jacqueline Cook, All rights reserved except where credited

Review: Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn

Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn
Avon (May 25, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0061491894
384 pages
eARC provided for review by the publisher

Synopsis from Amazon:

Ten Things You Should Know About This Book

1. Sebastian Grey is a devilishly handsome rogue with a secret.

2. Annabel Winslow's family voted her The Winslow Most Likely to Speak Her Mind and The Winslow Most Likely to Fall Asleep in Church.

3. Sebastian's uncle is the Earl of Newbury, and if he dies without siring an heir, Sebastian inherits everything.

Read more after the jump »

Just curious...

I recently finished a cute Regency romance by Julia Quinn (Ten Things I Love About You) that, while I wish it had just a bit more length and/or substance, I think would make a great romantic comedy. The story was lighthearted enough, didn't have too much to translate plot-wise and contained some very cinematic characters and funny lines.

What book(s) have you read lately that you think would make a good film and why?

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I'm an Amazon Associate. Feel free to use my links to purchase items - the commission will help me with paying the shipping costs on giveaways. ________________________________________________________________
Content © 2009-2010 Jacqueline Cook, All rights reserved except where credited

Currently Coveting (2)

I'm switching from my usual Waiting on Wednesday post. Instead of just one upcoming title that I want I'll list several, along with some backlisted books that I have on my wishlist too. If you guys have read any of the previous releases, let me know what you thought about them.

On the shelves:

Heartbreak River by Tricia Mills
Young Adult Romance

Hailey Abbott’s Summer Boys takes a weepy turn in this story of one girl’s attempt to tell her childhood friend how she really feels about him.
Alex thought she’d be spending the summer focused on her family’s rafting business, burying the memories of her father’s death last year, and leaving behind all the messes she made in its wake.

But when Sean returns to town, she is forced to reckon with her mixed-up crushy feelings for him—more powerful than ever before. It takes another tragedy to make Alex realize Sean has loved her, and forgiven her, all along.

Read more after the jump »

Review: Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine

Kiss of Death (Morganville Vampires, 8) by Rachel Caine
Young Adult Urban Fantasy
Signet (April 27, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0451229731
256 pages
Review copy provided by the publisher

Synopsis from Amazon:

A new chapter in the New York Times bestselling Morganville Vampires saga.

Vampire musician Michael Glass has attracted the attention of a big- time producer who wants to cut a demo and play some gigs-which means Michael will have to enter the human world. For this, he's been assigned escorts that include both a dangerous immortal as well as Michael's all-too-human friends. And with that mix of personalities, this is going to be a road trip from hell...

Here's a heads-up: If you're looking for a totally unbiased and/or spoiler free review - this isn't it. I am completely in love with the Morganville Vampires series. Seriously, Rachel Caine has yet to disappoint me with these books.

Read more after the jump »

Review: The Beautiful Between by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

The Beautiful Between by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
Young Adult General Fiction
Knopf Books for Young Readers (May 11, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0375861826
192 pages
ARC provided for review by the publisher

Synopsis from Amazon:

If high school were a fairy-tale kingdom, Connelly Sternin would be Rapunzel, locked not in a tower by a wicked witch but in a high-rise apartment building by the SATs and college applications—and by the secrets she keeps. Connelly's few friends think that her parents are divorced—but they're not. Connelly's father died when she was two, and she doesn't know how.

If Connelly is the Rapunzel of her school, Jeremy Cole is the crown prince, son of a great and rich New York City family. So when he sits down next to her at lunch one day, Connelly couldn't be more surprised. But Jeremy has a tragic secret of his own, and Connelly is the only one he can turn to for help. Together they form a council of two, helping each other with their homework and sharing secrets. As the pair's friendship grows, Connelly learns that it's the truth, not the secrets, that one must guard and protect. And that between friends, the truth, however harsh, is also beautiful.

Read more after the jump »