GIVEAWAY HOP: Romance Is In The Air

What can I say? Romance does it for me. No matter what I'm reading - urban fantasy, YA, paranormal - if there isn't at least a teensy bit of romance in the story, it feels lacking to me. So, I fully embrace this particular giveaway hop, sponsored by I Am A Reader Not A Writer and Rachael Anderson.

Lately, I've especially been taken with the New Adult genre. They are so angsty, so emotional - so ROMANTIC. So, for this hop, I'm offering up the first NA book I ever read. For those who are new to this genre, this is a good one to start with. It's not nearly as raw as some. It's more YA with a little kick. I give you, Slammed, by Colleen Hoover.

If the Book Depo ships to you, I'll send you a copy of this wonderfully touching, romantic book. It's about poetry, for crying out loud. It's PERFECT for Valentine's Day. Good luck!

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REVIEW: Chime

Chime, by Franny Billingsley
Published March 17, 2011
Publisher:  Dial
Format:  Audiobook - library
Genre:  YA historic fantasy, romance

Rating:  2.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Before Briony's stepmother died, she made sure Briony blamed herself for all the family's hardships. Now Briony has worn her guilt for so long it's become a second skin. She often escapes to the swamp, where she tells stories to the Old Ones, the spirits who haunt the marshes. But only witches can see the Old Ones, and in her village, witches are sentenced to death. Briony lives in fear her secret will be found out, even as she believes she deserves the worst kind of punishment.

Then Eldric comes along with his golden lion eyes and mane of tawny hair. He's as natural as the sun, and treats her as if she's extraordinary. And everything starts to change. As many secrets as Briony has been holding, there are secrets even she doesn't know.

Oh, where to begin? 

Okay, first, I have to say that Billingsley has a ton of talent. Her use of the English language is so impressive. In Chime, she weaves words together so intricately and describes normal, every day objects and feelings so uniquely, it was almost like poetry. 

So, why did I come *this close* to not finishing it several times? Well, despite all the beautiful prose, most of the time, it was kind of a hot mess. 

Chime reminded me of taking a big dog for a walk. For a few minutes, you're strolling along and everything is fine. Then, Fido smells a squirrel to the left and takes off like a rocket. Halfway there, he sees a rabbit and veers violently to the right. But, after a second of that, he smells another dog and stops immediately, sticking his nose in the ground. 

The story line was so schizophrenic, I wasn't quite sure what was going on at any given moment. Scenes would start, conversations would happen, and then all of a sudden, it would be three days later and everyone was talking about something else. There were all these strange creatures with these weird names (Mucky Face? The Boggy Man?) and they were just THERE and never explained.

And, Briony - for the love of Mike - that girl was certifiably nuts. She talked to herself. And ANSWERED herself. All. The. Time. Who does that?? Crazy people, that's who! Why did Eldric love her? Usually the female leads have some outstanding redeeming qualities - strength of character, confidence, compassion. I didn't find any of these in Briony. She was cold, sometimes mean and always self-deprecating. It was exhausting. 

The ending was my favorite part. All the craziness that didn't seem to be going somewhere actually did go somewhere. A resolution was reached and most of the loose ends were tied up. That was nice. It made me glad that I stuck with it. 
   

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This is one meme I can get on board with - I LOVE lists! I'll show you mine if you show me yours!

Top Ten Best Bookish Memories

Maria V. Snyder and Jennifer L. Armentrout at YA Fest

1. YA Fest 2012 - This was the first author event I ever attended. I know, I know - I was a 36-year-old read-a-holic and I had never met a real live author. Sad. But, my good friend Jen from At Random took pity on me and brought me to an event with more than 30 authors in one place! I met authors like Jennifer L. Armentrout, Maria V. Snyder and Michelle Zink. I had a chance to chat with them and they signed my books. It was amazing!

2. PAYA 2012 - Less than a month after YA Fest, Jen and I attended another multi-author event. I got my tote bag and books signed by the likes of Wendy Higgins, Jessica Spotswood and Jeri Smith-Ready.

3. The creation of this blog - On January 2, 2012 I wrote my first post on this blog. I initially started it as a way to challenge myself and to get all my thoughts out of my head about the books I was reading. It's grown into so much more than that.

4. Reading Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - In 1996 my best friends from college introduced me to a little book called Outlander. I hadn't been reading much at the time - I was a senior with a boyfriend and had recently turned 21. I had other things going on. But something about that book... it reignited the passion that I had for books when I was a kid. And the rest is history.

5. Joining Goodreads - I joined Goodreads in December 2011, but didn't get involved with an amazing group of ladies who share my love of paranormal romance and urban fantasy books until March 2012. Now I consider them some of my very best friends even though I've only met one of them in person.

6. Scholastic book order day - I remember that the days when I would come into elementary school and there would be stacks of brand new shiny books lined up on the tables along the back wall, well, those were the best school days of the year.

7. Reading Nancy Drew by flashlight - When I was around 10, I found a box of books in our attic that had belonged to my mom when she was young. Most of the books were original Nancy Drews. I ended up reading every one of them, even though some scared me a little. I would read in bed until my mom came to tell me to turn out my light, and then I'd read a little more with a flashlight. Awesome thing is, my mom still has those books, and some day soon, they will go to my daughter.

Me reading to my 8-month-old daughter

8. Reading to my daughter - When I was pregnant with my daughter (who was my first child), I read that if you read to your child from the get-go, there is a greater likelihood that your child will be a reader too. So, starting from the time when my daughter was about 2 months old, I would read a book to her every night before bed. Even though she didn't really start paying any attention until she was closer to a year old, I still did it. Now, she is 6, and sure enough. reading is one of her most favorite things to do.

9. Signing up to go to BEA - In December 2012, I clicked the button that signed me up for my first trip to BEA. I am so excited to go and meet authors and other bloggers! I think that when I get there I will likely do a little fangirling (which I DON'T normally do), and maybe a little squealing. I can't wait!