Lisa Marie Pottgen's Blog, page 17
June 15, 2014
Blog Tour Review: I Become Shadow by Joe Shine
Title: I Become Shadow
Author: Joe Shine
Publisher: Soho Teen
Publication Date: June 10, 2014
Page Count: 304
Where I got it: Publisher for Blog Tour
Where you can get it: Amazon
How much: List Price 17.99
Format I read it in: Print ARC
Challenge: 2014 Book Blogger Summer Reading Program
Description/Blurb:
This debut thriller combines a pulse-pounding thriller (like False Memory or Starters) with a new adult coming-of-age story set at Texas A&M University.
When Ren Sharpe was fourteen, she was kidnapped by a shadowy organization called FATE and trained to be a human weapon.
Now, four years later, she receives her assignment: protect Gareth Young at all costs. Currently a student at Texas A&M, Gareth will someday change the world. FATE calls people like Gareth “FIPs”—future important people—and they’re everywhere, each with a FATE-trained shadow.
But when disaster strikes, Ren will have to turn on her maker. Together with Junie, a fellow abductee and the one person she trusts, Ren takes Gareth on the run.
Because whatever else happens, failure is not an option.
From the Hardcover edition.
My Thoughts:
I Become Shadow by Joe Shine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I received an email inviting me to be a part of the blog tour for this book and I jumped at the chance. The description I had read seemed so unique, so different, that I just had to read it. I was not disappointed.
The premise of this book was unlike anything else I have read recently. I was enthralled and amazed by both the story line and the characters.
I instantly fell in love with Ren. She was sarcastic and funny and a total smartass. She reminded me of me.
Imagine being an awkward, gawky teenager one minute, and the next you are being plucked from your bed, not without violence, I might add, and wrested away in the middle of the night, never to see your family again. Then imagine being dropped into a place that you never knew existed and put through a grueling hell for 4 years. Intrigued yet? I sure was.
The characters start out as typical teenagers, but then they develop over time into so, so much more. This story will grab ahold of you and drag you along for the ride of a lifetime. And then, just when you think the ride is over, and you might get a happily ever after, the cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers leaves you gasping, wondering what the heck just happened, and then asking how long it will be before you can find out what happens.
This is definitely a must read YA novel this summer, and if you are a fan of dystopian fiction, or just good action stories in general, this is the novel for you. Give it a read. You will not be disappointed.
About the Author
Joe Shine grew up in Austin, TX (the greatest city ever), and is a graduate of Texas A&M University. He has an MFA from the Peter Stark Producing Program at the University of Southern California, and after brief stints in Los Angeles and Washington, DC, Joe returned home to Austin (repeat: the greatest city ever). Joe has a normal human job like most everyone else but hopes to become a full-time writer one day, and this is where you, the reader, must do him a really big solid and love I Become Shadow, his first novel.
Find Joe Shine: Twitter Goodreads
**DISCLAIMER** In full compliance with FTC Guidelines, I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a blog tour in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was in no way compensated for this opinion, and the thoughts are my own. Links above will take you to a site where you can PURCHASE a copy. Using those links will take you through an affiliate link and I will receive a small percentage of the purchase cost. You are in no way obligated to use affiliate links and there is no additional cost to do so.
© 2014, Lisa Pottgen. All rights reserved.
Blog Tour Review: I Become Shadow by Joe Shine is a post from: Just Another Rabid Reader
June 14, 2014
Soooo, I am doing another readathon.
I am participating in the #treesofreveriereadathon, This one is a little different, as it runs for 2 weeks!! The times are as follows
Start: 12am Monday, 16th of June
Finish: 12am Tuesday, 1st of July
But those times are in Australian Eastern Standard time, so for those of us in the US:
In Eastern standard time (US) the starting time is going to be 14 hours earlier, sooo…that means today, 6/15 at 10a.m.
to 6/30 at 10a.m.
Okay at least I think I did that right. You can click on the link above to get more information. Time zones confuse me!!!
© 2014, Lisa Pottgen. All rights reserved.
Soooo, I am doing another readathon. is a post from: Just Another Rabid Reader
June 10, 2014
Review: The Time Paradox (Artemis Fowl Book 6) by Eoin Colfer #MyNetGalley
Title: The Time Paradox
Author: Eoin Colfer
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Page Count: 433
Where I got it: Publisher via Netgalley
Where you can get it: Amazon
How much: List Price 8.99
Format I read it in: Ebook
Publication Date: August 10, 2009 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 – 6
Challenges: Cleansweep ARC Netgalley Wellness Challenge
Description/Blurb:
When Artemis Fowl’s mother contracts a life-threatening illness, his world is turned upside down. The only hope for a cure lies in the brain fluid of the silky sifaka lemur. Unfortunately, the animal is extinct due to a heartless bargain Artemis himself made as a younger boy. Though the odds are stacked against him, Artemis is not willing to give up. With the help of his fairy friends, the young genius travels back in time to save the lemur and bring it back to the present. But to do so, Artemis will have to defeat a maniacal poacher, who has set his sights on new prey: Holly Short. The rules of time travel are far from simple, but to save his mother, Artemis will have to break them all…and outsmart his most cunning adversary yet: Artemis Fowl, age ten.
My Thoughts:
The Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Wow. Just, well, yeah, wow. I know, I know, not terribly articulate and it will not be going down in history as one of the great first lines of a review to have ever been written, but it is what it is, and though I have the almighty delete key, I shall let it stand.
This one was a little weird and while I kept reading and couldn’t walk away, my head is kind of spinning at the completion of this one.
This particular installment of this ever popular series will leave readers confused and delighted and … Feeling like they missed something, but maybe in a good way?
Artemis has battled fairies, goblins, demons and now… Time. There is action and adventure abounding, and a hint of mystery and intrigue. This is an installment in the series that you do not want to miss. I am sharing these stories with my 10 year old son and he is as enthralled as his book obsessed mom. Coming from the boy who idolizes Jeff Kinney and Rick Riordan and Suzanne Collins, that is saying something.
**DISCLAIMER** In full compliance with FTC Guidelines, I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was in no way compensated for this opinion, and the thoughts are my own. Links above will take you to a site where you can PURCHASE a copy. Using those links will take you through an affiliate link and I will receive a small percentage of the purchase cost. You are in no way obligated to use affiliate links and there is no additional cost to do so.
© 2014, Lisa Pottgen. All rights reserved.
Review: The Time Paradox (Artemis Fowl Book 6) by Eoin Colfer #MyNetGalley is a post from: Just Another Rabid Reader
June 8, 2014
ARC Review: The Lost Colony #MyNetGalley
Title: The Lost Colony
Author: Eoin Colfer
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Publication Date: August 10, 2009
Page Count: 417
Where I got it: Publisher via Netgalley
Where you can get it: Amazon
How much: List Price 8.99
Format I read it in: eARC
Age Level: 10 and up |
Grade Level: 5 – 9
Challenges: 2014 Book Blogger Summer Reading Program Cleansweep ARC Netgalley Wellness Challenge
Description/Blurb:
Demons are beginning to materialize without warning on Earth. If humans were to capture one, all fairies would be exposed. In order to protect themselves, the fairies must decipher complicated equations to determine where the next demon will appear. Not even the brilliant Foaly can make heads or tails of the formulas – but he knows someone who can: Artemis Fowl. When a very confused demon imp appears in a Sicilian theater, Artemis is there to meet him. But he is not alone. Someone else has unlocked the secrets of the fairy world…and she is only twelve years old. Now, in a race against time, a newly-reformed Artemis Fowl will have to dip into his bag of dirty tricks if he is to save his fairy friends from his latest nemesis, not to mention a power hungry demon warlord who is poised to invade our dimension with his savage army.
My Thoughts:
The Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really do not know why it took me so long to read this series, but I wish I had read this much sooner.
This series is one of those that is genre-defining for a reader, and this is what middle-grade fiction will always be expected to be for me at this point. The writing is well done and while the books are on the long side for the target demographic, they are enjoyable and have an excellent flow.
This installment is no exception to that. At nearly 400 pages, I expected it to take me a fair bit longer to read, but it did not. I devoured the pages in just a few days and found myself often unable to walk away until I knew what would be coming next.
Our villain becomes the hero of sorts in this installment and we get to see a whole knew side of him. This one also has more action of a slightly different variety. I am so grateful to have had a chance to finally read this one, and can’t wait to see what more is in store in the next book.
**DISCLAIMER** In full compliance with FTC Guidelines, I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was in no way compensated for this opinion, and the thoughts are my own. Links above will take you to a site where you can PURCHASE a copy. Using those links will take you through an affiliate link and I will receive a small percentage of the purchase cost. You are in no way obligated to use affiliate links and there is no additional cost to do so.
© 2014, Lisa Pottgen. All rights reserved.
ARC Review: The Lost Colony #MyNetGalley is a post from: Just Another Rabid Reader
June 6, 2014
Review: One Realm Beyond by Donita K. Paul
Title: One Realm Beyond
Author: Donita K. Paul
Publisher: Zondervan
Publication Date: January 28, 2014
Page Count: 416
Where I got it: Booklook Bloggers Program
Where you can get it: Amazon
How much: List Price 12.99
Format I read it in: Paperback
Challenges: 2014 Book Blogger Summer Reading Program, Cleansweep ARC
Description/Blurb:
Cantor D’Ahma waited his whole life for this day. Born with a gift to jump between worlds, the young realm walker is finally ready to leave his elderly mentor and accept his role as protector and defender of the realms.
But mere hours after he steps through his first portal, Cantor discovers that his job will be more dangerous and difficult than he ever imagined. The realms are plagued with crime and cruelty, and even members of the once-noble Realm Walkers Guild can no longer be trusted. To make matters worse, his first assignment – finding a dragon to assist him on his quest—has led him to Bridger, who is clearly inept and won’t leave him alone.
With the help of his new friends Bixby and Dukmee, Cantor must uncover the secrets of the corrupt guild before they become too powerful to be stopped. But his skills aren’t progressing as fast as he would like, and as he finds himself deeper and deeper in the guild’s layers of deceit, Cantor struggles to determine where his true allegiance lies.
My Thoughts:
One Realm Beyond by Donita K. Paul
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I received this through the BookLook Bloggers Program in exchange for a fair and honest review.
First, let me say that for a book published by a Christian Imprint, I was thoroughly impressed with the fact that the religious aspects in this book were so subtle that, if you did not know to look for them, you would have believed it to be mainstream young adult fantasy fiction. For a lot of people, that is really a good thing.
I was impressed with how well thought out and well written this novel was. I had never heard of the author before but the cover art sucked me in and the description was enough to catch my attention. I mean, really, look at that cover. Isn’t that just an awesome cover that makes you want to know what is in the pages?
Cantor’s Journey was one that if you think about it enough, can be mirrored in each of our own hearts. The journey to find our way, to learn who we are as we grow up and become the people we are supposed to be. It is a journey that each and every one of us makes, young and old alike, to becoming the people we are intended to be and live the life that the universe has in store for us. I don’t think we ever finish that journey until the day we stop breathing.
If you want to know more, pick up the book and give it a read. I really cannot pinpoint much negative about it, except that it was a little slow starting and took me 3 days to finish completely because the beginning just didn’t seem to catch on fast enough. Overall, though it was enjoyable and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for our friends.
**DISCLAIMER** In full compliance with FTC Guidelines, I received a copy of this book from the publisher via the BookLook Bloggers program in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was in no way compensated for this opinion, and the thoughts are my own. Links above will take you to a site where you can PURCHASE a copy. Using those links will take you through an affiliate link and I will receive a small percentage of the purchase cost. You are in no way obligated to use affiliate links and there is no additional cost to do so.
© 2014, Lisa Pottgen. All rights reserved.
Review: One Realm Beyond by Donita K. Paul is a post from: Just Another Rabid Reader
June 5, 2014
ARC Review: The Girl Who Played Chess With An Angel #MyNetGalley
Title: The Girl Who Played Chess with an Angel
Author: Tessa Apa
Publisher: Big Planet Corporation
Publication Date: December 30, 2013
Page Count: 61
Where I got it: Publisher via Netgalley
Where you can get it: Amazon
How much: List Price 0.99
Format I read it in: eARC
Challenges: 2014 Book Blogger Summer Reading Program Cleansweep ARC Netgalley Wellness Challenge
Description/Blurb:
Thirteen year old Florence doesn’t want reasons; she needs answers. About her father’s death, her mother’s fierce anger, and about meeting an Angel.
Florence knows answers change things, and everything is about to change.
As she wrestles with her father’s sudden death and her mother’s bitterness, Florence begins to see life beyond her own needs. In her tenuous friendship with Max, she finds the courage to ask an even bigger question: is God real? Both Max and her mother are quick to provide their own answers to this deep question, but that’s not enough for Florence. She needs to discover the answer for herself, and that journey will test everything she’s ever thought to be true.
My Thoughts:
The Girl Who Played Chess With An Angel by Tessa Apa
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
2-1/2
I was really torn on this one. On the one hand, I think what the author is trying to accomplish is interesting and somewhat unique. On the other hand, I think the delivery could have been done a bit better.
I did not realize until the very end that the main character here was blind, and I am not sure if that endeared me to her more, or if it just added to what bits of admiration I already held.
The main character has had to endure tragedy in her life and is trying to find meaning. This takes her on a soul-searching spiritual journey. But the layout of the “diary entries” just seemed a little offputting to me. The other thing that struck me was that for mainstream fiction, it was very “preachy” and that will alienate a portion of the audience, to be sure.
I could not pick up on what the target demographic was intended to be. The main character was 13, which leads to YA, but the subject matter was a bit too heavy for the younger teen to be able to grasp and understand.
The story was well written, well edited, but just was not a good fit for me, I guess. I am sure there are other people who loved it and will sing it’s praises, and I will leave that to them. I just was not really able to connect with this one.
**DISCLAIMER** In full compliance with FTC Guidelines, I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was in no way compensated for this opinion, and the thoughts are my own. Links above will take you to a site where you can PURCHASE a copy. Using those links will take you through an affiliate link and I will receive a small percentage of the purchase cost. You are in no way obligated to use affiliate links and there is no additional cost to do so.
© 2014, Lisa Pottgen. All rights reserved.
ARC Review: The Girl Who Played Chess With An Angel #MyNetGalley is a post from: Just Another Rabid Reader
June 4, 2014
Rabid Reader Ramblings: Raising Readers
For those of you who are new to the blog or may not know me very well, I have 3 wonderful children. And I am book obsessed. My kids have always seen me spend a fair portion of the day with my nose in a book, be it in print or ebook. It has been this way for as long as I can conceivably remember. My oldest is the same way. At ten years old, he can say that he has read the entire Harry Potter series, the entire Gregor the Overlander series, he read The Hunger Games Trilogy in a week, and is now reading Kingdom Keepers. He is almost as book obsessed as mom and likes some of the same kinds of books.
My 3 year old loves having stories read to her. She is autistic and has some distractibility issues that they believe will ultimately be diagnosed as ADHD. Having stories read to her is the only non-electronic activity that holds her attention for more than a few minutes. I think she will be another budding reader.
But my 8 year old….not so much. She thinks reading is boring!
(Yes, that is a GIF, in a post here. I know, I didn’t think it would ever happen, either)
I know, shocking, right? I don’t understand it, either. I have tried so many different things. I have let her tell me what books she wants, and bought them for her. I have tried some of my favorites when I was her age. She reads at a 4th grade reading level. And yet she is bringing home picture books from the school library, and even that is like pulling teeth to get her to read. I am at a loss.
She tells me that reading is boring and doesn’t she do enough of that at school? To which I usually counter that books are fun and that I want my children to love reading because to me, reading is an adventure. I tell her about all the wonderful places that I have gotten to visit in books, and how I could never see those places in real life, and all of the adventures I have had. At this point, she usually rolls her eyes at me and asks to play Growtopia on her computer.
So what do I do, my bookish friends? How do I get this little girl to love to read? What are the hot books right now for little girls? She is going into 3rd grade, so technically is into that Middle-Grade range, but she won’t read anything that long or boring, as she puts it.
Do any of you have reluctant readers? How do you get them excited about books? How do you at least get them to willing spend more than 3 pages worth of time in a book?
© 2014, Lisa Pottgen. All rights reserved.
Rabid Reader Ramblings: Raising Readers is a post from: Just Another Rabid Reader
June 2, 2014
ARC Review: Dragons and Dreams: Bedtime Stories #MyNetGalley
Title: Dragons and Dreams: Bedtime Stories
Author: Becca Price
Publisher: Wyrm Tale Press
Publication Date: May 27, 2013
Page Count: 68 Pages
Where I got it: Publisher via Netgaley
Where you can get it: Amazon
How much: List Price 8.50
Format I read it in: eARC
Challenges: 2014 Book Blogger Summer Reading Program Cleansweep ARC Netgalley Wellness Challenge
Description/Blurb:
“I am three thousand, four hundred and ten years old,” the Dragon told the man. “And for every single night of every single year of those three thousand four hundred and ten years, I’ve slept on my treasure. It’s how dragons sleep. It’s how dragons have always slept.” And he closed his eyes with a snap.
Then he opened one eye cautiously.
“What’s a bed?”
Brave princesses, grumpy dragons, princes competing for a kingdom, and children seeking answers to age-old questions. These six modern fairy tales include stories for pleasant dreams, and stories for stirring thought. They are just the right length for bedtime reading. Each is a gem that will delight the entire family. Suitable for age 5 and older.
My Thoughts:
Dragons and Dreams: Bedtime Stories by Becca Price
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a rather interesting collection of cute little stories suitable for children of all ages. They are delightfully written as bedtime stories that the author created for her own children, and decided to record them on the written page and share them with the world. There are about half a dozen stories in this little collection and they are short and easy to read and retell, and even held the attention of my 3 year old. I really enjoyed reading these stories with my children. There were a few minor little things editing wise that resonated, but as I did not know if this was the finished version going to print, I did not weigh that in my rating.
I am glad I got to read these. My children especially enjoyed the stories about the Dark and the Three Princes, and cited those as their favorites.
**DISCLAIMER** In full compliance with FTC Guidelines, I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was in no way compensated for this opinion, and the thoughts are my own. Links above will take you to a site where you can PURCHASE a copy. Using those links will take you through an affiliate link and I will receive a small percentage of the purchase cost. You are in no way obligated to use affiliate links and there is no additional cost to do so.
© 2014, Lisa Pottgen. All rights reserved.
ARC Review: Dragons and Dreams: Bedtime Stories #MyNetGalley is a post from: Just Another Rabid Reader
May 31, 2014
It’s Over :*( The Clean Sweep ARC Challenge May 2014
If you click on the picture up top there, it will take you to more info about the challenge and what you had to do to participate.
If you click on this link right here you can check out my startup and goals post. If you don’t want to go read through all of that, I will tell you that I set out to read at least 10 ARCs this month. This is what I managed to read:
Dare You To by Katie McGarry
Crash Into You by Katie McGarry
The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
Take Me On by Katie McGarry
The Girl Who Played Chess with an Angel
Dragons & Dreams: Bedtime Stories
One Realm Beyond by Donita K Paul
Before by Melissa Pearl
In Session by MJ Rose
My Life From Hell by Tellulah Darling.
So I just barely made it by the skin of my teeth, but I did finish and complete my goal. The linked titles have live reviews. The others are all drafted and I am working on getting them set up and formatted.
How did you guys do? Did you participate in the event as well? Link me up to your posts so I can check them out!
© 2014, Lisa Pottgen. All rights reserved.
It’s Over :*( The Clean Sweep ARC Challenge May 2014 is a post from: Just Another Rabid Reader
May 30, 2014
#ArmchairBEA: Wrapping Up The Week
Wow! I cannot believe that Armchair BEA has come to a close again. This continues to be one of my favorite blogging events. We had a week of meeting new bloggers, hanging out in Twitter parties, and writing about some awesome topics.
To recap, here are all of my posts in a nice, neat little package:
#ArmchairBEA: Day 1: Introductions
#ArmchairBEA: Day One: Literature
#ArmchairBEA Day Two: More than Words (Or, Am I the Only one who has no clue?)
#ArmchairBEA: Day Two: Author Interactions
#ArmchairBEA Day Three: Novellas and Short Stories
#ArmchairBEA Day Three: Expanding Blogging Horizons
#ArmchairBEA: Day Four: Beyond the Borders (and a Little Bit of Thought on Giveaways)
#ArmchairBEA Day 5: Young Adult and Middle Grade Fiction
#ArmchairBEA Day Five: Who Are You Blogging For?
I read a lot of other blogger’s posts and picked up some awesome book recommendations and even some tips about expanding my horizons and interacting with authors. Overall, I declare ArmchairBEA a success. I won a few prizes in the twitter parties, and entered a ton of blogger giveaways. I even posted things to Instagram, which I had never really used prior to Armchair this year.
I had a great time getting to know all of you who I visited, an who visited me. I hope you will continue to come by and be a part of my corner of the blogosphere. One of my goals moving forward from Armchair are to find ways to engage more with readers and get people back to commenting and conversating.
So, to that end, of course if anyone has any suggestions for me on how to better engage, or what you want to see on my blog moving forward, please feel free to comment and let me know.
I think my favorite part was getting to meet so many awesome new people. I love the socialization aspect of these events. Truth be told, crowds and I don’t get along, so I don’t get to go to many big events. Well, actually, I have never been to a live book event.
What was your favorite part of Armchair this year? Are there posts I may not have seen that you think I really have to read, like right now? Please leave me a comment and I will check it out. I will definitely be participating next year, as long as the event continues.
© 2014, Lisa Pottgen. All rights reserved.
#ArmchairBEA: Wrapping Up The Week is a post from: Just Another Rabid Reader
