On hiatus...

Good morning blog-land!

We wanted to take a moment to let you all know that for the remainder of the month, Book ♥ Soulmates will be taking a mini-break from blogging!

Truth is that this is a very hectic time of year for us and we just haven't had the time to focus on the blog as we should. We love to come up with new ideas and be very timely with our posts, but we just haven't been able to do that lately. So rather than make you guys sit & wonder, "what the heck is going on with these two?", we're letting you know ;-)

On the up-side, we are planning on re-introducing Book ♥ Soulmates 2010 with a new look, new ideas, new memes and even some new challenges!

Now don't fret, we're not going into hiding. We will be checking our email regularly so if you guys have any questions, comments or even just want to say HI - please feel free to do so!

Also, we have some current giveaways that will be honored. Winners will be chosen, contacted and will still receive their prizes!

We thank you for understanding and ask that you hang in there for us. Book ♥ Soulmates will be back bigger & better than before!

XoXo

Wicked Wednesday Giveaway Part 2

Wicked Wednesday Giveaway Part 2!
December 2 - December 16

To participate in this giveaway, you will now need to submit your entry via our new Google Docs form.

FILL OUT THIS FORM TO ENTER GIVEAWAY

Rion
by Susan Kearney

Synopsis: POWER IN THEIR PASSION
Marisa Rourke is a beautiful, fearless telepath who tames dragonshapers on Earth. Rion is a tall, dark, and sexy space explorer whose home planet is a galaxy away. The attraction between them is undeniable, but Rion is hiding a desperate secret that will change Marisa's life forever.

DANGER IN THEIR TOUCH
Marisa's gift is the only way Rion can communicate with his people, enslaved by a powerful enemy. He knows that kidnapping her is wrong, but saving his planet is worth sparking the fiery clairvoyant's fury. Yet hotter-and more explosive-is the psychic bond growing between Marisa and Rion. Could their passion be the key to freeing Rion's people? Only if he and Marisa can discover how to channel their desire ... before a vicious enemy destroys them all.

{5 Copies Available}

Rules:
• To enter the giveaway you must complete the form (linked above) and leave a comment indicating that you've completed the form.
• Books will be delivered directly from the publishers so the giveaways are only available for U.S. and Canada residents. No P.O. boxes please.
Note: It may take several weeks to receive your prize so please be patient!
• Winners will be drawn soon after the contest ends and posted thereafter.
• Winners will be chosen using random.org!

Ways to earn extra entries:
+1 for being a follower
+1 for following us on Twitter
+1 for following us on Blogged
+1 for subscribing via email or RSS reader
+1 for comments on other posts throughout the week
(Please reference which other posts you've commented on)
+1 for twittering or posting about this giveaway on your blog/site
(Please include a link to the post)

♥ Feel free to contact us via email at booksoulmates[at]gmail[dot]com if you have any questions ♥

Good luck!

Wicked Wednesday Giveaway Part 1

Wicked Wednesday Giveaway
December 2 - December 16

To participate in this giveaway, you will now need to submit your entry via our new Google Docs form.

FILL OUT THIS FORM TO ENTER GIVEAWAY

Knight Of Pleasure
by Margaret Mallory

Synopsis: THE GREATEST PASSION
Lady Isobel Hume is an expert swordswoman who knows how to choose her battles. When the king asks her to wed a French nobleman to form a political alliance, she agrees. But that's before the devilishly charming Sir Stephen Carleton captures her heart-and tempts her to betray her betrothed, her king, and her country.

IS WORTH THE GREATEST PERIL
Sir Stephen Carleton enjoys his many female admirers-until he dedicates himself to winning the lovely Isobel. So when a threat against the king leads Isobel into mortal danger, Stephen has a chance to prove that he is more than a knight of pleasure...and that love can conquer all.

{5 Copies Available}

Rules:
• To enter the giveaway you must complete the form (linked above) and leave a comment indicating that you've completed the form.
• Books will be delivered directly from the publishers so the giveaways are only available for U.S. and Canada residents. No P.O. boxes please.
Note: It may take several weeks to receive your prize so please be patient!
• Winners will be drawn soon after the contest ends and posted thereafter.
• Winners will be chosen using random.org!

Ways to earn extra entries:
+1 for being a follower
+1 for following us on Twitter
+1 for following us on Blogged
+1 for subscribing via email or RSS reader
+1 for comments on other posts throughout the week
(Please reference which other posts you've commented on)
+1 for twittering or posting about this giveaway on your blog/site
(Please include a link to the post)

♥ Feel free to contact us via email at booksoulmates[at]gmail[dot]com if you have any questions ♥

Good luck!

Teaser Tuesday & New Releases 12.1.09

Time for a trip to the bookstore :)




Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and it asks us to...

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share a couple of “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

Isalys's Teaser:
"She wondered if it was wrong that in some way she was glad that the men who took her mother were the same men who killed Jace's father all those years ago. For now, at least, he'd have to help her find Jocelyn. For now, at least, he couldn't leave her alone."
~p. 124 from "City of Bones" by Cassandra Clare

Wicked Wednesday 11.25.09 Part 3 *AUDIOBOOKS!*

Wicked Wednesday Giveaway AUDIO BOOKS
11.25 - 12.09
To participate in this giveaway, you will now need to submit your entry via our new Google Docs form.

FILL OUT THIS FORM TO ENTER GIVEAWAY

Available Audiobooks:
{3 Copies Each}

Alex Cross's Trial by James Patterson
Synopsis: The year is 1906, and America is segregated. Hatred and discrimination plague the streets, the classroom, and the courts. But in Washington D.C., Ben Corbett, a smart and courageous lawyer, makes it his mission to confront injustice at every turn. He represents those who nobody else dares defend, merely because of the color of their skin. When President Roosevelt, under whom Ben served in the Spanish-American war, asks Ben to investigate rumors of the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan in his home town in Mississippi, he cannot refuse.

The details of Ben's harrowing story--and his experiences with a remarkable man named Abraham Cross--were passed from generation to generation, until they were finally recounted to Alex Cross by his grandmother, Nana Mama. From the first time hear heard the story, Alex was unable to forget the unimaginable events Ben witnessed in Eudora and pledged to tell it to the world. Alex Cross's Trial is unlike any story Patterson has ever told...

{3 Copies Available}

King Tut by James Patterson
Synopsis:A secret buried for centuries
Thrust onto Egypt's most powerful throne at the age of nine, King Tut's reign was fiercely debated from the outset. Behind the palace's veil of prosperity, bitter rivalries and jealousy flourished among the Boy King's most trusted advisors, and after only nine years, King Tut suddenly perished, his name purged from Egyptian history. To this day, his death remains shrouded in controversy.

The keys to an unsolved mystery

Enchanted by the ruler's tragic story and hoping to unlock the answers to the 3,000 year-old mystery, Howard Carter made it his life's mission to uncover the pharaoh's hidden tomb. He began his search in 1907, but encountered countless setbacks and dead-ends before he finally, uncovered the long-lost crypt.

The clues point to murder

Now, in The Murder of King Tut, James Patterson and Martin Dugard dig through stacks of evidence--X-rays, Carter's files, forensic clues, and stories told through the ages--to arrive at their own account of King Tut's life and death. The result is an exhilarating true crime tale of intrigue, passion, and betrayal that casts fresh light on the oldest mystery of all.

{3 Copies Available}

A Change in Altitude by Anita Shreve
Synopsis: Margaret and Patrick have been married just a few months when they set off on what they hope will be a great adventure-a year living in Kenya. Margaret quickly realizes there is a great deal she doesn't know about the complex mores of her new home, and about her own husband.

A British couple invites the newlyweds to join on a climbing expedition to Mount Kenya, and they eagerly agree. But during their harrowing ascent, a horrific accident occurs. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Margaret struggles to understand what happened on the mountain and how these events have transformed her and her marriage, perhaps forever.

A Change in Altitude illuminates the inner landscape of a couple, the irrevocable impact of tragedy, and the elusive nature of forgiveness. With stunning language and striking emotional intensity, Anita Shreve transports us to the exotic panoramas of Africa and into the core of our most intimate relationships.

{3 Copies Available}

Rules:
• To enter the giveaway you must complete the form (linked above) and leave a comment indicating that you've completed the form.
• Books will be delivered directly from the publishers so the giveaways are only available for U.S. and Canada residents. No P.O. boxes please.
Note: It may take several weeks to receive your prize so please be patient!
• Winners will be drawn soon after the contest ends and posted thereafter.
• Winners will be chosen using random.org!

Ways to earn extra entries:
+1 for being a follower
+1 for following us on Twitter
+1 for following us on Blogged
+1 for subscribing via email or RSS reader
+1 for comments on other posts throughout the week
(Please reference which other posts you've commented on)
+1 for twittering or posting about this giveaway on your blog/site
(Please include a link to the post)

♥ Feel free to contact us via email at booksoulmates[at]gmail[dot]com if you have any questions ♥

Good luck!

Wicked Wednesday 11.25.09 Part 2

Wicked Wednesday Giveaway Part 2
11.25 - 12.09

To participate in this giveaway, you will now need to submit your entry via our new Google Docs form.

FILL OUT THIS FORM TO ENTER GIVEAWAY

Love You To Death by Shannon K Butcher
{Thanks to Anna @ Hatchette, we have 5 Copies Available}

Synopsis: Delicate, expressive hands...long, graceful legs...One man is looking for his perfect woman--and he'll stop at nothing until he finds her.

LOVE YOU TO DEATH

It's been days since reporter Elise McBride has heard from her sister, Ashley. She's convinced Ashley has met with some kind of foul play, especially when she learns that bodies of other missing women have surfaced in and around Chicago--all victims of a brutal serial killer. Convinced her sister is still alive, Elise vows to risk everything to save her...

The last thing ex-cop Trent Brady needs is more blood on his hands. Yet when he catches Elise breaking into her sister's house, full of reckless determination and fear, he knows she needs his help. But just as desire ignites between them, a twisted madman sets his sights on Elise. Hell-bent on possessing her for himself, this psychopath won't rest until he has his perfect woman.

{5 Copies Available}

Rules:
• To enter the giveaway you must complete the form (linked above) and leave a comment indicating that you've completed the form.
• Books will be delivered directly from the publishers so the giveaways are only available for U.S. and Canada residents. No P.O. boxes please.
Note: It may take several weeks to receive your prize so please be patient!
• Winners will be drawn soon after the contest ends and posted thereafter.
• Winners will be chosen using random.org!

Ways to earn extra entries:
+1 for being a follower
+1 for following us on Twitter
+1 for following us on Blogged
+1 for subscribing via email or RSS reader
+1 for comments on other posts throughout the week
(Please reference which other posts you've commented on)
+1 for twittering or posting about this giveaway on your blog/site
(Please include a link to the post)

♥ Feel free to contact us via email at booksoulmates[at]gmail[dot]com if you have any questions ♥

Good luck!

Wicked Wednesday 11.25.09 Part 1

Wicked Wednesday Giveaway Part 1
11.25 - 12.09

To participate in this giveaway, you will now need to submit your entry via our new Google Docs form.

FILL OUT THIS FORM TO ENTER GIVEAWAY

It Happened One Night by Lisa Dale
{Thanks to Anna @ Hatchette, we have 5 Copies Available}


Synopsis: Sometimes love finds you when you least expect it.

Lana Biel has always wanted to shake the dust of Vermont off her feet and see the world, one exotic country after another. But when a lighthearted spring fling changes her life forever, she turns to the one man whose strong shoulders can lighten any burden: her best friend, Eli Ward.

Eli has always been there for Lana--after all, that's what best friends do. But Lana isn't the only one hiding something. Eli is keeping secrets of his own that threaten their relationship. Yet as summer turns to fall, new desires awaken between them, even as old fears tear them apart. Then, when another Vermont winter fills the valleys with snow, Eli and Lana are given the chance for an adventure greater than they ever dreamed possible...and a love that will last for all time.

{5 Copies Available}

Rules:
• To enter the giveaway you must complete the form (linked above) and leave a comment indicating that you've completed the form.
• Books will be delivered directly from the publishers so the giveaways are only available for U.S. and Canada residents. No P.O. boxes please.
Note: It may take several weeks to receive your prize so please be patient!
• Winners will be drawn soon after the contest ends and posted thereafter.
• Winners will be chosen using random.org!

Ways to earn extra entries:
+1 for being a follower
+1 for following us on Twitter
+1 for following us on Blogged
+1 for subscribing via email or RSS reader
+1 for comments on other posts throughout the week
(Please reference which other posts you've commented on)
+1 for twittering or posting about this giveaway on your blog/site
(Please include a link to the post)

♥ Feel free to contact us via email at booksoulmates[at]gmail[dot]com if you have any questions ♥

Good luck!

Tuesday's Teasers & New Releases 11.24.09

Who wants to go shopping?




Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and it asks us to...

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share a couple of “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

Vanessa's Teaser:
"I can't stand one more minute of my life thinking that any day now some other man will scoop you up and have the life with you that I want. I want to wake up with you in the morning. I want to hand you your bathrobe when you get out of the shower. I want to find your favorite place to be kissed and I want to exploit it. Whether we sleep together or not, we can never go back to being just friends."
~Prologue from "It Happened One Night" by Lisa Dale

Isalys's Teaser:
"Anything to avoid saying the words - anything to avoid telling my one true love, my eternal partner, my soul mate for the last four hundred years, that while he may have given me eternity, I've brought us our end. I remain silent and still waiting for the sun to set until I finally turn to face him. Taking in his dark shadowy outline, nearly indistinguishable from the night, and speaking past the sting in my throat when I mumble, "Damen...baby...there's something I need to tell you."
~p. 5 from "Shadowland" by Alyson Noel

iHeart [Music] Monday 11.23.09

Unfortunately, we were both having computer issues yesterday and weren't able to post this weeks "iHeart Monday" so here it is...

Vanessa Hearts
This week I am ♥ing Kings of Leon! I cannot stop obsessing over them! I have been listening to them for the past couple of months, but lately I've been stuck on one song in particular. I already went through the "Use Somebody" stage...and then came the "Sex on Fire" stage. Now, I'm on the "I ♥ 'King of the Rodeo' " stage! I absolutely ♥ that song! I play it over... and over...and over again. I love their quirky sound!
Here's a live performance by Kings of Leon playing King of the Rodeo.
(Let me know what you guys think!!)

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Isalys Hearts

While on the topic of great music discoveries, I (Isalys) and ♥ing Phoenix! I heard them perform their latest single "Lisztomania" on SNL a while back and developed a quick crush on them! I quickly downloaded a bunch of their songs onto my iPod and have been enjoying them ever since...quite loudly I might add ;-)

Here is the vid for Lisztomania.



We hope you guys enjoy these awesome bands!!

Wicked Wednesday 11.18.09 - Part 2

Wicked Wednesday Giveaway # 2
November 18 - December 2
Seven by Jacqueline Leo, Edward Burger
{Thanks to Anna @ Hatchette, we have 5 copies available}

To participate in this giveaway, you will now need to submit your entry via our new Google Docs form.

FILL OUT THIS FORM TO ENTER GIVEAWAY

*We ♥ Google Docs*

♥ Seven by Jacqueline Leo, Edward Burger ♥

Synopsis: What is it about the number seven that has such a hold on us? Why are there seven deadly sins? Seven days of the week? Seven wonders of the world, seven colors of the spectrum, seven ages of man, and seven sister colleges? Why can we hold seven numbers or words in our working memory--but no more? Author Jackie Leo explores everything about this mystical, magical, useful, and fun number in her new book.

SEVEN REASONS YOU NEED THIS BOOK

1. SEVEN is a tool to improve the quality of your life. It is a way to define time, synthesize ideas, and keep your mind performing at top speed in an era of distractions.

2. SEVEN is culturally significant. It pops up everywhere, structuring our world in ways so fundamental, we notice them only when we pause to look. Across the ages and across cultures, the number has acquired a huge scientific, psychological, and religious significance.

3. SEVEN is intriguing. Why, out of hundreds of recipes in a cookbook, do people return to the same seven, over and over? Why, when asked to choose a number between one and ten, does such a large majority of people choose seven? Why does it take seven rounds of shuffling to obtain a fully mixed deck of cards?

4. SEVEN is influential. You'll learn how the number seven shapes our thinking, our choices, and even our relationships.

5. SEVEN is practical. Throughout this book are Top Seven lists covering the best ways to get someone's attention, to build your personal brand, and to put yourself in the path of prosperity and good luck.

6. SEVEN is fun. You'll encounter surprising facts, intriguing puzzles, and hilarious anecdotes.

7. SEVEN is wise. You'll hear stories about the meaning of seven from Mehmet Oz, Sally Quinn, Liz Smith, Christina Ricci, and many others.
Artfully designed and full of enough insights to keep you engaged in conversation at the water cooler for years, SEVEN will provoke, enlighten, and amuse.

Rules:
• To enter the giveaway you must complete the form (linked above) and leave a comment indicating that you've completed the form.
• Books will be delivered directly from the publishers so the giveaways are only available for U.S. and Canada residents. No P.O. boxes please.
Note: It may take several weeks to receive your prize so please be patient!
• Winners will be drawn soon after the contest ends and posted thereafter.
• Winners will be chosen using random.org!

Ways to earn extra entries:
+1 for being a follower
+1 for following us on Twitter
+1 for following us on Blogged
+1 for subscribing via email or RSS reader
+1 for comments on other posts throughout the week
(Please reference which other posts you've commented on)
+1 for twittering or posting about this giveaway on your blog/site
(Please include a link to the post)

♥ Feel free to contact us via email at booksoulmates[at]gmail[dot]com if you have any questions ♥

Good luck!

Wicked Wednesday 11.18.09 - Part 1

(Sorry, we're a little late with these posts, but here they are :)

Wicked Wednesday Giveaway # 1
November 18 - December 2
How To Be Famous by Heidi Montag, Spencer Pratt
{Thanks to Anna @ Hatchette, we have 5 copies available}

To participate in this giveaway, you will now need to submit your entry via our new Google Docs form.

FILL OUT THIS FORM TO ENTER GIVEAWAY

*We ♥ Google Docs*

♥ How To Be Famous by Heidi Montag, Spencer Pratt ♥

Synopsis: From braving the wilds of Los Angeles to the Costa Rican jungle, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt have learned a thing or two about reality...television, that is. But while dominating the airwaves and tabloid covers every week may look like all fun and mind games, Speidi is here to tell you: becoming wildly famous requires hard work and a no-fail blueprint for success. Now, for the first time ever, Heidi and Spencer invite you behind the scenes as they reveal the ten-step plan that took them from nobodies to notorious!

You will:

• Learn how to say I hate you without opening your mouth--Heidi's exclusive tutorial
• Increase your capacity for evil with Spencer's "Villain-o-meter"
• Discovery why getting and talking about plastic surgery is a must
• Unlock the secrets of celebrity couple math (e.g. Speidi > Heidi + Spencer)
• Mesmerize the media with outrageous behavior
• Bow down to the power of the paparazzi

...and much, much more!

With Heidi and Spencer as your personal coaches, you, too, can transform yourself into a red-carpet-ready superstar!

Rules:
• To enter the giveaway you must complete the form (linked above) and leave a comment indicating that you've completed the form.
• Books will be delivered directly from the publishers so the giveaways are only available for U.S. and Canada residents. No P.O. boxes please.
Note: It may take several weeks to receive your prize so please be patient!
• Winners will be drawn soon after the contest ends and posted thereafter.
• Winners will be chosen using random.org!

Ways to earn extra entries:
+1 for being a follower
+1 for following us on Twitter
+1 for following us on Blogged
+1 for subscribing via email or RSS reader
+1 for comments on other posts throughout the week
(Please reference which other posts you've commented on)
+1 for twittering or posting about this giveaway on your blog/site
(Please include a link to the post)

♥ Feel free to contact us via email at booksoulmates[at]gmail[dot]com if you have any questions ♥

Good luck!

How Do You Judge Books?

J.Kaye asked her followers this question:

How do you judge books? Do you review them technically or by the emotion they evoke? Does the book strike a cord, does it leave you thinking about it long after you're finished? Are you still thinking about it and recommending it months after you've read it or do I close the last page and forget about it immediately? And then there is everything in between. Which are you and which do you like to read?

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

As we see it, there is the "pre-read" judgment and then the "post-read" judgment. The "pre-read" judgment is when you decide to read or not to read a book based on a number of different factors: cover art, synopsis, fellow book reviews, even trailers.

It's no secret that we totally judge a book by its cover. We believe that the cover plays an incredibly important role in the success of a book. If it's an author that we are familiar with and enjoy, then the cover is not quite as critical. However, if it's a new author, then the cover is what people base their initial interest on (case in point, Isalys' review on Fallen). The synopsis is also important because how else will we know if the story peeks our interest? And we'll occasionally read a book if we know our friends or fellow bloggers give it raving reviews!

The "post-read" judgment is your thoughts & review of the book. As for us, we are more of the emotional type! We read for the simple pleasure of it so we don't necessarily get very technical with our reviews. We are sticklers for grammar and the basic rules of proper writing, but we also tend to form emotional attachments with our books. How much do we like or dislike the characters? How captivating or intriguing is the storyline? Does the story make us sit & ponder or is it quickly forgotten? Would we recommend it to our friends?

These are the questions we consider when we write our reviews. Now, we each have our own personal styles of writing & reviewing and we (Isalys & Vanessa) as individuals communicate differently so you may find that our reviews differ, but we go through the same motions and processes. I guess that's part of what makes us book soulmates

So we wanted to ask our followers...
how do YOU judge books?

2009 Holiday Reading Challenge

I haven't done any reading challenges yet and I thought it was high time for one :)

So I've decided that for my very first, I wanted to participate in Nely's 2009 Holiday Reading Challenge.

Hosted by: All About {n}

Challenge Requirements:
1- Challenge will start Friday, November 20 and will end Thursday, December 31.

2- You can read anywhere from 1 to 5 books for the challenge and, of course, if you're like me, you are more than welcome to surpass that number.

3- And now, here's the clincher... they must be holiday related books. That's right, the holiday doesn't really matter, but it would be more "jolly" if your choices were Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc.

4- The size of the book does not matter, nor does the genre. It is also okay for the book to overlap with other challenges. The only thing I ask is that they are not children's books. YA is okay. And so are re-reads. I for one tend to read the same books every Christmas - they are tradition.

5- To sign up, visit Nely's page by clicking on the link above and then leave a link back to your challenge post. There will also be a post for review links as well as one for challenge wrap-ups.

6- And.... there will be goodies. That's right, we'll call them presents. At the end of every week that the challenge is running I will choose one winner from the review links and I will allow them to pick a book of their choosing (of course, I will provide a list). Meaning the more books you read, review and link up, the more chances you have at winning a "present".

Here are the books I plan on reading for this challenge:

Teaser Tuesday & New Releases 11.17.09 *Updated*

Time for some new books :)

I'm extra excited about the 3rd installment of Alyson Noel's Immortals Series, Shadowland!! What will Damen & Ever do now??



and not yet available on Amazon, but released today...


Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and it asks us to...

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!
  

Isalys's Teaser:
"He gave her a few minutes to rejoin the celebration downstairs before making an appearance. When he believed enough time has passed that no one would notice, he picked up his candle and went out, taking a different path to the party below, his mind on his duties as host, the merchant's whore already forgotten."
~p. 19 from "A Courtesan's Scandal" by Julia London

iHeart Monday 11.16.09

♥ We Heart Book Fairs ♥

This past Sunday ( Nov 15th) concluded the 26th Annual Miami Book Fair in Downtown Miami. The Miami Book Fair is an 8-day literary party :) There is food, music and best of all books - lots & lots of books!! Yayyy...

During Street Fair weekend which was 11/13 - 11/15, more than 250 publishers and booksellers exhibit and sell books, with special features like the antiquarians, who showcase signed first editions, original manuscripts and other collectibles.

The first Miami Book Fair International, founded by Miami-Dade College and community partners, took place in 1984. Since then it has been recognized as the nation’s finest literary festival. In 2001, the Fair became part of the Florida Center for the Literary Arts at Miami-Dade College, a cultural and academic initiative that promotes the advancement and appreciation of literature throughout the year.

For more info on this book-tastic event, visit:
Miami Book Fair International

Here are a few pictures we took while at the fair :)
(PS: Click on the picture to enlarge it)


Oh shucks, so many books, so little time!


Vane with a new up & coming writer, R.N. Matos :)
His new book "Chronicals of the Damned" is now available and he's working on the sequal! Looks to be a very promising new writer!


Take 1 - Ok, can we try this again w/o some stupid lady walking in front of the camera?

Ah, that's much better :) Oh, and it looks like we did some damage to those wallets of ours, lol

Can't wait 'til next years fair!!!

Review: Fallen (ARC) by Lauren Kate

Title: Fallen
Author: Lauren Kate
Publish Date: December 8, 2009 by Random House
Pages: 464 pgs, Hardcover
Reason for reading: Received an ARC through Shelf Awareness for review.

Synopsis:
There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori. Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her. Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

Isalys's Review:
So I have to be honest, I was initially drawn to this book by it's incredible cover art. Let's face it, we all judge a book by it's cover - even if it's just a little bit and I'm glad my book cover whoring paid off because this was a great story and exactly what I hoped for!!

Luce was almost a normal teenage girl. She went to a nice uppity school, had a BFF but then something went wrong and now she's a reform kid. All she knows is that there was a fire and a boy that she liked was killed, but she can't remember any of the details. Oh and the shadows were there too, like always. Now she's a freak among freaks!

She meets a very interesting cast of characters, to say the least. She starts to make friends, captures the attention of one boy, but her own attention is captured by someone else entirely. What's worse is that he's the one person she can't seem to get through to. Daniel is rude, mean and way too mysterious. She can't get him out of her head and with the help of her new friend Penn (who has a backstage pass to the school's records), she's resolved to learn as much as she can about Daniel Grigori. The kicker is that she learns a lot more than she bargained for, not just about Daniel, but about herself AND her new friends!

It seems that as "in" as vamps still are, we're slowly entering into the world of angels and demons. While I think there is room for a smidgen of improvement with the novel's pacing, overall Lauren Kate did a great job of creating a mysterious world where you don't know whom to trust or whom to fear. I also think she did a great job of describing the school's grounds and (and my personal fave) the cemetery without overdoing it. It was enough to where you can close your eyes and see what Luce is seeing.

I loved that there were a few unexpected (and really cool) twists towards the end and some of the characters became even more interesting and likable...even the "bad guy" that I hate to love! The book ended too quickly for me which is to say that I enjoyed it so much that I didn't want it to end. The good news is that Torment, part 2 is on the horizon. The bad news is that it won't be released until Dec. 2010 :(

For you urban fantasy & YA fans out there, you'll want to grab yourself a copy of this book when it hits shelves on Dec. 8th.

I give it ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Fresh Friday 11.13.09 - Thanksgiving Edition

Isalys's Choice:

Oat Topped Sweet Potato Crisp
Prep Time: 20 min | Total Time:1 hr | Makes: 8 servings

What You Need:

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1 can (40 oz.) cut sweet potatoes, drained
3/4 cup packed brown sugar, divided
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 Granny Smith apple, chopped
2/3 cup chopped cranberries
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats, uncooked
1/3 cup cold butter or margarine
1/4 cup chopped PLANTERS Pecans

Make It!
HEAT oven to 350°F.

BEAT cream cheese, potatoes, 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon with mixer until well blended. Spoon into 1-1/2-qt. casserole; top with apples and cranberries.

MIX flour, oats and remaining sugar in medium bowl; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in nuts. Sprinkle over fruit layer in casserole.

BAKE 35 to 40 min. or until heated through.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Vanessa's Choice:

Ultimate Chocolate Caramel Pecan Pie
Prep Time: 30 min | Total Time: 3 hr 15 min | Makes: 10 servings

What You Need:

3 cups chopped PLANTERS Pecans, divided
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, melted
1 pkg. (14 oz.) KRAFT Caramels
2/3 cup whipping cream, divided
1 pkg. (8 squares) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Make It!
HEAT oven to 350°F.

BLEND 2 cups nuts in blender until finely ground, using pulsing action. Mix with granulated sugar and butter; press onto bottom and up side of 9-inch pie plate. Bake 12 to 15 min. or until lightly browned. Cool completely. (If crust puffs up during baking, gently press down with back of spoon.)

MICROWAVE caramels and 1/3 cup whipping cream in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2-1/2 to 3 min. or until caramels are completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after each minute. Pour into crust. Chop remaining nuts; sprinkle over caramel layer.

COOK chocolate, remaining whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla in saucepan on low heat just until chocolate is completely melted, stirring constantly. Pour over pie; gently spread to evenly cover top. Refrigerate 2 hours.

*12 more days til Turkey Day*

Blog Tour: A Courtesan's Scandal by Julia London

Title: A Courtesan's Scandal
Author: Julia London
Published: Deccember 2009 by Pocket Books
Pages: 400 pgs, Mass Market Paperback

Reason for reading: We are participating in a blog tour (non-giveaway) courtesy of Sarah from Pocket Books.

Kate Bergeron is the beautiful and mysterious former mistress of a cloth merchant...and the latest beauty to capture the interest of the Prince of Wales. Mired in a disastrous divorce, the Prince attempts to distract attention from his next amorous pursuit by ordering Grayson Christopher, the eligible Duke of Darlington, to pretend to London society that he is having the affair with Kate. When Grayson reluctantly agrees to his Prince's demand, he finds the lady no more willing than he is. Kate will grudgingly act the part in public, but her favors are not for sale to any man. As Grayson and Kate mimic ardor for the world to see, they find what started as a deception is becoming all too real. And when passion flames into love, their predicament becomes extreme. For while marriage between a duke and a courtesan could never happen, Kate knows in her heart that she is willing to accept nothing less...

Review: Meridian by Amber Kizer

Title: Meridian
Author: Amber Kizer
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Released: August 2009
Pages: 320 pgs / Hardcover

Meridian is not your average teenage girl. She's a Fenestra, a half-human / half-angelic being that escorts souls to Heaven. She is the proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel" and where there is light, there is also darkness. At 17 years old, she is just coming into her powers and she learns that she is also the target of the Aternocti, evil beings who carry souls into darkness (ie: Hell). She is sent to live with her 106 year old aunt who will teach her the ways of her kind. While living with her aunt, she meets Tens, her fated Protector and Custos, their furry wolf companion. At first, she doesn't want to accept this new turn that her life has taken and would rather just be "normal" but she soon realizes that death is a part of who she is and accepts in stride!

The main characters were all likable and well-developed! Meridian was vulnerable & confused, but really determined. Tens, although aloof at first was kindhearted & fiercely protective and Auntie was old and weakening but still feisty & loving. Even Custos, the remarkably smart wolf was lovable :) I would probably say that Tens was one of my favorite characters. He was mysterious & sarcastic, yet charming, funny & flawed in a very real way. Many of the YA novels today offer these gorgeous and 'perfect-in-nearly-every-way' male protagonists that just aren't realistic and Tens seemed like a regular, great guy which was really refreshing. The love between Meridian and Tens didn't manifest instantly, but slowly over the course of the book. Even by the time they both realize and accept their feelings for one another, it wasn't a mushy-gushy, 'can't-keep-our-hands-of-each other' relationship, but a comfortable and genuine bond between two people who would always protect each other.

My only criticism of the book was that very little happened between the protagonist & the antagonist and the one very real encounter they had [at the end of the book], seemed a bit rushed. Although, I'm sure there is more action to come in the following installment :)

What I did appreciate was how Amber (through Meridian's character) explored the concept of death and what it means to different people. This book is essentially about death, but not in a morbid way. It's about accepting that life is an unending cycle and the best lives are born into and end with LOVE! Death is not just the end of a life, but the transfer of that life's energy into something greater!

I highly recommend this book and can't wait to read about Meridian's next adventure!
I give it: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥