Laurisa White Reyes's Blog, page 102

BOOK REVIEW: FAIREST by Marissa Meyer

FAIREST
(Book .5 of The Lunar Chronicles)
Marissa Meyer
Feiwel & Friends
Ages 12 - 17

Mirror, mirror, on the wall.Who is the Fairest of them all?
Pure evil has a name, hides behind a mask of deceit, and uses her "glamour" to gain power. But who is Queen Levana? Long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress in The Lunar Chronicles, Levana lived a very different story—a story that has never been told . . . until now.
New York Times –bestselling author Marissa Meyer reveals the story behind her fascinating villain in Fairest, an unforgettable tale about love and war, deceit and death. This extraordinary book includes a special full-color image of Levana’s castle and an excerpt from Winter, the exciting conclusion to The Lunar Chronicles.
MY REVIEW:
I am a HUGE fan of Meyer's The Lunar Chronicles, but I admit I was hesitant to read Fairest.  I like reading about the good guys! Why would I want to know anything about the evil lunar queen Lavana?
While this pre-quel to the series first book, Cinder, lacks the humor and romantic appeal of the other books (for good reason), Fairest is integral to the overall story arch and sets the stage for the fourth and last book of the series, Winter, which comes out in November.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Fairest. I really, really hate Lavana. If Meyer intended for us to develop any sympathy for her, that could not happen. But the book succeeds in giving us a view deep into Lavana's past and heart, so we can hate her even more than we already do.
All I can say is that I CANNOT WAIT TO READ WINTER!!! To read my reviews of the other books in the series, just click on the covers below.
[* I received no compensation of any kind for this review. I purchased the book with my own money.]

CONTENT RATING:
Profanity:  NoneSexuality:  Moderate (sex occurs but is not described)Violence:  Moderate
CINDER REVIEW HERE SCARLET REVIEW HERE CRESS REVIEW HERE

Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card w/ THE MAISY FILES

Mother Daughter Book Reviews is pleased to be coordinating a Book Blast (February 17 to 18, 2015) for the second book in "The Maisy Files" mystery chapter book series by Elizabeth Woodrum, "Maisy and the Money Marauder". If you haven't had a chance to check out Book 1, you can grab a Kindle copy for FREE from Amazon February 17 and 18, 2015! About the BookTitle: Maisy and the Money Marauder (The Maisy Files, Book #2) | Author: Elizabeth Woodrum | Publication Date: February 17, 2015 | Publisher: Independent | Pages: 90 | Recommended Ages: 6 to 12 Summary: Lunch money has been stolen at West Valley Elementary, and everyone's favorite fourth-grade detective in on the case. With a cherry lollipop in hand, her fedora, and her trusty notebook, Maisy steps into her black-and-white mystery world to search for clues. Join Maisy on her quest to unmask a thief in Maisy and the Money Marauder.
Book 2 Available from AmazonPLUS, Grab a FREE Kindle Copy of Book 1, Maisy and the Missing Micefrom Amazon February 17 and 18, 2015. Sneak Peek  
The Buzz About Book One" Maisy and the Missing Mice is a fun chapter book featuring a smart and sassy tween girl as the title character; a solid and interesting plot featuring age-appropriate intrigue and suspense; and some terrific writing that carries the reader on a journey as a detective uncovering clues and solving the mystery of who stole the missing mice. I highly recommend this book as a read aloud book for children between the ages of 6 and 10 or for independent readers between the ages of 7 and 12 who love to read mysteries." ~ Mother Daughter Book Reviews
"Woodrum certainly knows her target audience and does a very nice job with the character development of Maisy. This is an incredibly kid-friendly story that makes a great introduction to the genre of mystery for newly independent readers. It's a quick page turning read that encourages kids to think outside of the box." ~ The Children's Book Review
"The delights from this book start with the cover art and continue with a fun story that is well-written." ~ 5 Star Review, R. Johnson, Amazon
"My name is Kat. I am 9 years old. I would rate this a five because I like everything about it, the mystery the most. It was fun to read. My favorite part was the mystery and the end. I love this book so much. I think other kids would love it too because it has mystery and most kids would like mystery books. Most mystery books have a good mystery. I would love to read the whole series." ~ 5 Star Review, Heather A., Amazon
"What an Amazing book. I totally love it. I admire the author dedication for writing an incredible book. While reading this book, it was very clear that author understand kids. I’ve always been an avid reader and this book is one of the best books I have read in 2014. This book grabs my attention from the very start of the book and couldn't put it aside till I finish it." ~ 5 Star Review, KristinT, Amazon
"I knew I would love this book simply because I knew it would remind me of the mystery books I read in my childhood. I really love how much trust the teachers and community as a whole put in Maisy. She is well deserving of their admiration as the way she finds clues and finds the mascot for the school is well thought out. This is a story any child would love to read. I hope Maisy continues to solve mysteries..." ~ 5 Star Review, Josh, Amazon 
About the Author: Elizabeth Woodrum Elizabeth Woodrum[/caption] Elizabeth Woodrum is an elementary teacher in Ohio. She came to love writing when she was in elementary school, but more recently began writing material for use in her classroom. From that writing, grew the desire to write books for the general population of children and adults alike. The Maisy Files , a children's series, is the first series that she has published. As a reader, Elizabeth prefers the fantasy genre, but she enjoys realistic fiction as well. Some of her favorite authors include JK Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, Rick Riordan, Veronica Roth, Suzanne Collins, and Nicholas Sparks. Originally from Indiana, Elizabeth currently resides near Dayton, Ohio with her two pets: a cat named Butterscotch and a dog named Reese Cup.  
Book Website | Author Blog | Twitter Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest 
* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *
 Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: March 16, 11:59 pm, 2015 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Elizabeth Woodrum and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

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Win a copy of THE CRYSTAL KEEPER

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Goodreads Book Giveaway The Crystal Keeper by Laurisa White Reyes Giveaway ends March 16, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win

BLOG TOUR IS A GO!!!

Okay. Thanks to amazing Amber Garcia at Lady Amber Book Tours, the blog tour for THE CRYSTAL KEEPER is back on track. I've updated the blogger list and post dates HERE. Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

BOOK REVIEW: WAITING FOR A SIGN

WAITING FOR A SIGN
Esty Schaeffer
Ages 12 +


Shelly and Ian used to be close, but after Ian leaves home to attend the Hawthorne School for the Deaf, Shelly feels abandoned, and the two drift apart.
When Ian returns home with news that the future of Hawthorne is in jeopardy, Shelly isn't sure she wants him back. And Ian, who has enjoyed living with students and staff who sign all the time, feels angry when his family forgets to do the same.An explosive argument that could drive brother and sister further apart actually offers hope for reconciliation-a hope that grows as Shelly's spirited best friend, Lisa, helps strengthen their bond.

The siblings grow closer still when they find themselves coping with an unexpected tragedy. To fully heal her relationship with Ian, however, Shelly needs to acknowledge and understand why Hawthorne-and access to the Deaf community-is so important to him. To do so, she'll need to take action and stop waiting for a sign.
Written by clinical social worker Esty Schachter, Waiting for a Sign celebrates the beauty and power of Deaf culture, offering readers an opportunity for insight and understanding.

MY REVIEW:

Waiting for a Sign is a touching story about siblings reconnecting with each other after a tragedy helps them find common ground. The author does a wonderful job with including ASL in her book. Signed dialogue appears in italics, and it works perfectly. I was able to easily visualize the signed conversations even though I don't know ASL. It's a short book and easy to read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.



CONTENT REVIEW:

Profanity:  None
Sexuality:  None
Violence:   None

THE CRYSTAL KEEPER BLOG TOUR POSTPONED

If you're following the blog tour for THE CRYSTAL KEEPER, you've probably  noticed that no one has actually posted anything about my book. This was due to technical difficulties on the part of the person who arranged the tour for me. Her internet went out for a while and so apparently the materials were not received by the participants. So until this is resolved, the tour has been postponed. The Kindle Fire giveaway will continue, however, though I may extend the end date to accommodate all this.

Thanks for your patience.

WIN A KINDLE FIRE in THE CRYSTAL KEEPER BLOG TOUR!!!

Welcome toTHE CRYSTAL KEEPER BLOG TOUR& GIVEAWAY!
I'm so excited about my newest series, THE CRYSTAL KEEPER, the prequel to The Rock of Ivanore and The Last Enchanter. The first three books in the series are now available for Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Smashwords and in Print!
DOWNLOAD EXILE FOR FREE
Below you will find an excerpt from Book I, EXILE. To thank you for stopping by, I am giving away a KINDLE FIRE HD 6 to one lucky winner! The giveaway will end on February 28th at midnight. To be eligible to win, you must be 18 or older and a U.S. resident.

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Participating Blogs

2/9
Bella Harte Books (Promo)
www.bellaharte.blogspot.co.uk

2/10
Word to Dreams (Promo)
http://wordtodreams.blogspot.com

2/11
Celebrating Authors (Promo)
http://celebratingauthors.blogspot.ca/

2/12
Lady Amber's Reviews (Dream Cast)
http://ambersupernaturalandya.blogspot.com/

2/13
Jazzy Reviews (Play List)
http://jazzyreviewzz.blogspot.com/

2/14
Jess's Book Blog
jessbookblog.blogspot.com

2/15
Jacklynn Love's Reading!!! (Promo)
http://jacklynnlovesreading.blogspot.com

2/16
Self Publish or Die (Promo)
http://www.selfpublishordie.com/

2/17
Kcbreviews (Promo)
http://kcbreviews.blogspot.com/?m=1

2/18
Tammy's Tea Time (Review)
http://tammysteatime.blogspt.com

2/19
Deausha&Kittys YA Bookblog (Review)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Deausha-Kittys-YA-Book-Blog/709258539116151?ref=hl

2/20
Sweet Treat Reading Reviews (Promo)
http://strreviews.blogspot.com/

2/21
Author Sandra Love (Promo)
http://authorsandralove.blogspot.com/

Ever and Ever Sight (Poss Review)
http://everandeversight.blogspot.com/

2/22
Hayley's Reviews (Review)
http://hayleyreviews101.blogspot.ca/

Brenda's Blog (Promo)
http://www.brenda-sparks.com/blog.html



Excerpt from BOOK I: EXILE




Chapter One Ivanore hunched over the parchment, the tip of her quill flicking above her hand like a trapped bird desperate to escape. The tallow candle cast a cramped circle of light across the table, hardly enough to see by. If only Chapter Two



Twelve months had passed since Jayson had arrived in Hestoria, and for the first time in his nineteen years, he was drunk.
The tavern keeper, a skinny man by the name of Timbrey, had him by the neck. “Cheat me out of two pints, will you?” he said, shoving Jayson out the tavern door. “And keep your silly trinket. I only take real money here! Worthless Agoran scum!”Jayson stumbled and fell face first onto the wet cobbled road. If he hadn’t been so intoxicated, he could have easily fought the man and won. But at the moment, Jayson had neither the strength nor the inclination to do it. He lay there in the street, cursing the gods and Lord Fredric for sparing his empty, meaningless life. Execution would have been preferable to living as an outcast with only the shadows and his memories to keep him company. Although, that wasn’t completely true. He did have Arik, but where the hell was he now?That’s right, Jayson remembered. The boy was still inside the tavern, arranging for a room.Timbrey’s words rang in Jayson’s ears. Agoran scum. Was it his fault he was only half-human? That his father had loved an Agoran who had born a child with slitted pupils and claws like a cat? Aside from that and his thick mane of dark hair, Jayson looked like any other man. But no Hestorian would ever let him forget what he really was. A mongrel. A half-breed.Jayson managed to get up on his feet again. Leaning forward and resting both hands on his knees, he waited for the world to stop spinning. His stomach rebelled against him, and the sickly yellow bile landed between his feet.If the stench of his own vomit hadn’t pervaded his senses, he might have smelled the thief approaching him from behind. Instead, the scrape of a metal blade sliding from its sheath alerted him. Jayson spun round just as the dagger sliced through the edge of his cloak. The dagger came down again, slashing at Jayson’s waist, but again the blade had missed its mark.Or had it?Jayson slapped his hand against his belt and found the cut end of a thin leather strap. “Gods be damned!” he said.Though it was the middle of the night, the darkness was no obstacle for his eyes. Even so, his assailant’s features were concealed beneath a dirty rag tied at the neck. The thief turned to run, but Jayson lunged forward, catching him around the knees. Both slammed into the cobblestone. Jayson, dizzy from too much ale, tried to hold on, but the thief wriggled free.As the thief scrambled to his feet, Jayson saw a leather pouch clutched tightly in his fist—the very one he had sliced off Jayson’s belt. Jayson lashed out with his claws, but the liquor in his blood slowed his reflexes. He managed only to graze his assailant’s arm. The pouch dropped to the ground as the thief’s good hand snapped up to clutch his wound. Then he turned and sprinted away into the darkness.Jayson scooped up the pouch and, deciding to put it out of sight, tucked it into his boot. Once again, he struggled to get on his feet, but the buildings spiraled around him. A gray fog blurred his vision, and it seemed as if a gaping black chasm had opened up in front of him. Jayson staggered forward, wavering at its edge. Then he fell, letting the void swallow him.

BOOK REVIEW: THE NIGHT CIRCUS by Erin Morgenstern

THE NIGHT CIRCUS
Erin Morgenstern
Knopf Doubleday
Adult Fantasy

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.
But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.
True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.
MY REVIEW:
I'd been hearing about this book ever since it came out in 2011, but I never got around to reading it even though I've had a copy on my shelf for years. I finally downloaded it from Audible and listened to it on my Ipod.
My initial response was that this was a bit slow-moving. And the story is rather long. But it is beautifully written. Every sentence is like a poem, more than that, it is a sensory experience. The Night Circus is one of the most visual books I've ever read. Morgenstern is a master at world building, and there has never been a fictional world quite like the Cirque de Rev.
Rich and complicated and surreal, Morgenstern's tale of a competition between two styles of magic is one of the most extraordinarily inventive books I've ever come across. When I had finally finished it, I was left with a feeling of awe and otherworldliness that is difficult to describe. I have just one word for it -- remarkable.


CONTENT RATING:
Profanity - NoneSexuality - MildViolence - Mild

ROMANCE IS IN THE AIR GIVEAWAY HOP!

   Romance is in the Air $250 Cash Giveaway An Amazing Group of Authors and Bloggers have joined with me to bring you 1 fabulous prize!! Need a little cash for your Valentine? Here is your chance to win some! 
1 lucky winner will receive $250 in Paypal Cash!    
Sponsor List I Am A ReaderDanielle ThorneLaurie Here - Cont Fiction and MOREKrysten Lindsay Hager authorAnn Swann - Romance and Romantic SuspenseKimber Leigh WheatonKindle & MeYA Author Fabio BuenoLaurisa White ReyesMartha @ Reviews by Martha's BookshelfGlistering B's BlogDiana's Book ReviewsLise McClendon - AuthorunshefishThe Discerning ReaderA Tattered CopyJ.L. WeilB. Kristin McMichaelSimple WyrdingsKelsey KetchStacy Claflin, AuthorLeahSay's ViewsAmiabookloverA Leisure MomentAubrey Wynne: Romantasy Through The AgesKelly's Lucky YouDianne VenettaEvery Free Chance BooksinspiredbooksguideFelicia StarrRoom With BooksLori's Reading Corner  
Giveaway Details: $250 Paypal Cash Ends 2/14/15. Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author, bloggers and publishers on the sponsor list. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.   
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MUSINGS OF A FRUSTRATED CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR

I haven't posted in a while, mostly because I've been so busy getting my new book ready. THE CRYSTAL KEEPER will be released in print and ebook formats on February 9th.

In the meantime, I've been thinking a lot about writing, and publishing, and why I feel so compelled to keep going despite so many setbacks and failures. Over the past eight years since I started writing fiction and trying to get my books published, I've discovered that the universe of children's books is vast, and it is only getting bigger. There are just SO MANY books out there! And more are published every single day!

In other words, competition is fierce. I don't mean children's books authors are competitive or mean to each other. Quite the contrary. In fact, being a writer of children's books means you are part of a wonderfully supportive and encouraging family.

But...

With so many thousands of writers all vying to get their work in front of agents and editors, the odds of landing that dream deal with one of the Big 5 publishing houses feels a lot like winning the lottery. I have many friends who have been so lucky (and I don't think lucky is quite the right word, but who knows) and I used to think there was room for every good writer at the top, or at least somewhere in the middle.

I don't think that anymore.

Why not? Well, it's pretty simple. I've written a lot books. In eight years I've submitted six novels to well over 300 agents and editors. To date, I've had three "Yes"s. And "yes"s are good! But they represent about a 99% failure rate. And yet I've been very fortunate to have three books published with small presses, and my experiences with them has been very positive.

But let me be frank--for the majority of us, there is little money to be made in writing children's books. Unless you are fortunate enough to land a deal with one of the top traditional publishers via an agent, it is very likely going to cost you money to be an author. Sales are often dismal, royalties even more so, and promoting takes a lot of time and money. You can promote by visiting schools, but many school either can't afford to pay for author visits or are understandably only willing to pay for the big names.

The whole thing can be pretty discouraging.

Of course, now there is the whole self-publishing thing, which provides more control over the final book and greater potential for higher earnings--but the reality is self-publishing a book for middle grade readers runs into the same problems mentioned above, but on an even greater scale. Let's face it. Most kids are exposed to books through their schools Scholastic book fliers, and only a very, very minute percentage of books published end up in those, and those are usually titles written by famous authors or that have already proven themselves in the market.

MIDDLE SHELF MAGAZINE, the publication I work for, is trying to change that. We are doing our best to seek out great books for kids no matter who wrote or published them. We review books published by Random House, Holiday House, Candlewick, Tanglewood, and dozens of other large and small presses. We also include select independent titles. The goal is to help more kids discover the vast wealth of amazing books out there, books that are probably never going to end up in the Scholastic fliers or become mega-hits, but are really worth reading.

As a writer, this gives me hope, for myself and for my fellow writers. The whole point in writing a book is for people to read it, right? And how will anyone be able to read it if they never hear about it? Promotion and marketing are key. Promoting books to kids is always a challenge. They are dependent upon the adults in their lives to put those books in their hands--teachers, librarians, parents--it is our responsibility and privilege to introduce our kids to a variety of books to read, which means we need to know what's out there, what books are being published, and which ones will appeal to our kids.


Of course there the usual resources such as Publisher's Weekly, The Horn Book, and School Library Journal, but these cost money. Fortunately, there are several really great FREE resources for adults and kids to find new books. These are also great venues for authors of kids books to advertise and promote their books as well.

1.  MIDDLE SHELF MAGAZINE

Middle Shelf Magazine launched in 2013 and is published bi-monthly. Each issue includes interviews with award-winning and debut authors, book reviews, spotlights, and features on different themes, fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, illustration, and poetry. The full-color magazine is electronic, but designed to read just like a print magazine, so kids can flip through every page. The best part is that subscriptions are free and are delivered directly to your inbox.

2.   CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEWS

This incredible resource posts daily reviews and spotlights of books for children of all ages. They have an extensive list of recommended books, plus author interviews and regular giveaways. 

3.  MIDDLE GRADE MANIA

Middle Grade Mania is an online directory of blogs that regularly post about books for middle grade readers (ages 8 - 14). Well over 200 blogs are listed with links to each, and these blogs post book reviews, author interviews, excerpts and giveaways.  The list is updated every few months, and samples from participating blogs are posted frequently.

4.  THE CYBILS
 "The Cybils Awards aims to recognize the children’s and young adult authors and illustrators whose books combine the highest literary merit and popular appeal. If some la-di-dah awards can be compared to brussels sprouts, and other, more populist ones to gummy bears, we’re thinking more like organic chicken nuggets. We’re yummy and nutritious." - The website is a great place to spot nominated titles for a particular year. Finalists and winners are a good bet.