YA Movie Madness: Firelight by Sophie Jordan

For anyone out who has read FIRELIGHT by Sophie Jordan and fell in love with it, I have great movie news! I read today on Film Filia that Nick Pustay has been hired to adapt Sophie Jordan's novel into feature movie. So often we hear of movie rights being optioned, but then nothing ever comes of it. I'm so excited that this ball has started rolling for Firelight!

The article says-

"Pustay previously worked on Ramona and Beezus, the adaptation of the Beverly Cleary novel, as well as Aquamarine, the Alice Hoffman book.

For Unique Features, he is writing the adaptation of Shiver, the story of a teenage boy who becomes a wolf each winter and his girlfriend."

Did you guys know there is a movie coming out for Shiver? Where have I been?! That's so exciting!

FIRELIGHT BY SOPHIE JORDAN

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

Book Review: Timeless by Alexandra Monir

TIMELESS by Alexandra Monir

Reading level: Young Adult 
Publisher: Delacorte Books (January 11, 2011) 
Interest: Time Travel & Romance

When tragedy strikes Michele Windsor’s world, she is forced to uproot her life and move across the country to New York City, to live with the wealthy, aristocratic grandparents she’s never met. In their old Fifth Avenue mansion filled with a century’s worth of family secrets, Michele discovers a diary that hurtles her back in time to the year 1910. There, in the midst of the glamorous Gilded Age, Michele meets the young man with striking blue eyes who has haunted her dreams all her life – a man she always wished was real, but never imagined could actually exist. And she finds herself falling for him, into an otherworldly, time-crossed romance.

Michele is soon leading a double life, struggling to balance her contemporary high school world with her escapes into the past. But when she stumbles upon a terrible discovery, she is propelled on a race through history to save the boy she loves – a quest that will determine the fate of both of their lives.

Book Opening:

"Michele stood alone in the center of a hall of mirrors. The glass revealed a girl identical to Michel, with the same chestnut hair, ivory skin and hazel eyes; even wearing the same outfit of dark denim jeans and black tank top. But when Michele moved forward, the girl in the glass remained still." – Page 1

Notable Scene: 

"I'm back.

Michele looked around her in amazement. She was standing in the front garden, just behind the gate where she had left Philip. It was a starless, chilly night, and from the stillness around her, she knew that it was just as late as it had been in 1910. She instinctively turned to the site of the Walker Mansion, and when she saw the modern apartment complex in its place, she felt her heart clench. He's gone now, she thought. He doesn't exist anymore.  

If TIMELESS was a meal, I’d ask for seconds! What’s not to love about time traveling, love, music and the glitz and glamour of  New York City? 

I found Alexandra Monir’s writing much like main character Michele- elegant, relatable and charming. I could also tell Monir did her research before undertaking a book spanning so many different eras as Timeless does. The descriptive quality of her writing made me feel as if I had stumbled backward in time myself. I was right there with Michele--from the grandeur of Old New York in 1910 to the Cotton Club of the 1920’s and finally to WWII- it was all tasteful, vivid and enchanting.  The incorporation of Michele's songwriting with Philip's piano playing intrigued me and was an added cherry on top. I thought it all melded together so beautifully – music, time travel and love.  That's my kind of book.

While I found Michele’s relationship with Philip romantic, it was actually the time travel pieces that interested me the most. Since Michele had been dreaming of Philip her whole life, I had a feeling that upon seeing one another the two would be instantly drawn to one another. That made sense to me and I was able to just go with it. But, it did seem a little too convenient that everyone able to see Michele was so accepting and generally nonplussed by her appearance. For example, if I was Clara and a strange girl materialized in my bedroom such as Michele did, I think I would’ve thrown things and screamed my head off!  

My favorite part of the book was in 1910, when Michele initially stumbled backward in time and first met Clara and Philip. It all was so exciting! Clara's situation really pulled at my heart-strings too. I also loved envisioning New York as the place it once was- without all the bright lights, noise and urban development we associate with the city today. I wanted to walk down the street with Michele and Philip, soaking it all in. From the gas lit street lamps to the horse drawn hansom cabs-I loved it all. 

TIMELESS ends on a major cliffhanger. I was not expecting that twist at all and it left me stunned. I am definitely going to be checking out the next book. Philip and Michele's bond was enduring. It's a love that spans time and I look forward to where Monir will take us next.  

 

A singer and first novelist, ALEXANDRA MONIR divides her time between Los Angeles and New York.

Read my interview with Alexandra  Monir. 

Official Website 

In My Mailbox: January 29th 2011

  In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

FOR REVIEW

DROUGHT BY PAM BACHORZ

January 25th 2011 (EgmontUSA)

Ruby dreams of escaping the Congregation. Escape from slaver Darwin West and his cruel Overseers. Escape from struggling to gather the life-prolonging Water that keeps the Congregants alive--and Darwin rich. Escape from her certain, dreary existence, living as if it's still the early 1800s, when the Congregation was first enslaved. But if Ruby leaves, the Congregation will die without the secret ingredient to the Water: her blood. So she stays, and prays to their savior Otto, who first gave Water to the Congregants... and fathered Ruby before he vanished.

When the Congregants discover Ruby's forbidden romance with an Overseer, they beat Ford to stop her from running away with him. Ruby steals their store of Water to save Ford's life and is banished. Ruby has everything she's dreamed of: a modern life with Ford. But the modern world isn't what she thought it would be, and Ruby can't forsake the Congregation. Love and loyalty push Ruby to return and fight for her family's freedom...at a terrible price.

 

THE IRON WITCH BY KAREN MAHONEY

February 8, 2011 (Flux)

When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed Donna Underwood’s father and drove her mother mad. Her own nearly fatal injuries were fixed by alchemy—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. Now seventeen, Donna feels like a freak, doomed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. Only her relationship with her best friend, Navin, is keeping her sane.

But when vicious wood elves abduct Navin, Donna is forced to accept her role in the centuries-old war between human alchemists and these darkest outcasts of Faerie. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous guy with faery blood running through his veins and secrets of his own, Donna races to save Navin—even if it means betraying everything her parents fought to the death to protect.

TRADED FOR

 

RADIANT SHADOWS BY MELISSA MARR

NOCTURNE BY SYRIE JAMES

BOUGHT

SHADOW BOUND BY ERIN KELLISON
HAUNTED BY JOY PREBLE

LIBRARY

SHADOW FALL BY ERIN KELLISON

Has anybody read Erin Kellison? I'm looking forward to trying these two books. I've heard really good things. I got so many exciting books this week, I can't decide what to read first! I'm looking forward to The Iron Witch because it reminds me of Julie Kagaway's Iron Queen series which I LOVED. I hope it lives up to all the buzz! I'm dying to see how the Russian rusalka fits into Joy Preble's storyline and also looking forward to being snowed in with a vampire in Nocturne!

What's in your mailbox?

Interview with Heather Terrell, Author of Fallen Angel

I'd like to extend a warm welcome to Heather Terrell. On tour for the first book in her new Young Adult paranormal series entitled Fallen Angel, Heather stopped by today to discuss the book with us. Let's get started!

Heather Terrell is a lawyer with more than ten years' experience as a litigator at two of the country's premier law firms and for Fortune 500 companies. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Boston College with a focus in History and Art History, and a cum laude graduate of the Boston University School of Law. She lives in Pittsburgh with her family.

Heather is the author of the historical novels The Chrysalis and The Map Thief, which will appear in more than ten countries, as well as Brigid of Kildare. She is also the author of the upcoming young adult series, entitled Fallen Angel.

1.Fallen Angel centers around Ellie Faneuil, an ordinary girl trying to come to grips with the supernatural spin her life has taken. She wonders about the intense dreams of flying, why she can read thoughts and emotions and why she's so drawn to a boy she meets named Michael, who swears he met her before. Can you tell us a little more about the book and share with us a favorite line, scene or passage?

You really summed up the beginning to Fallen Angel beautifully! Beyond the opening, Fallen Angel tells the tale of two otherworldly teens – Ellie Faneuil and Michael Chase -- whose search for their true identities ignites an ancient battle between good and evil. While I find it hard to select one scene from Fallen Angel that I particularly care for above the others, there is one line in the book which I think captures the leap that Ellie takes from her earthly identity to her otherworldly nature . . . and destiny: “We stretched out our arms and dove.”

2. What three words would you say best describe Fallen Angel?

Compelling, thought-provoking, and hopefully, surprising!

3. There seems to be an ever increasing demand for books centering on angel themes in Young Adult Fiction. As a writer, why do you think this genre is so appealing to so many readers right now?

That is such an interesting question. Since my idea for Fallen Angel actually came from research I did on apocryphal gospels for my third historical novel, Brigid of Kildare – and not popular culture -- when my agent explained that angel books were becoming more prevalent, I was astonished. I actually started to ask myself the same question you just did – why are so many writers and readers gravitating to a similar subject around the same time? I can only answer for myself. I thought the Biblical story in the Book of Enoch about angels falling in love with mankind – which I reference in Fallen Angel and which gave me the idea for my book – was really beautiful.

4. What do you love most about the main characters of Fallen Angel?

I love that Ellie struggles with these enormous issues of her real nature as well as her destiny, and yet, manages to stay true to herself. No mean feat.

5. If you had to pick a theme song for Ellie, which one would you pick and why?

Even though it’s tough to single out just one Coldplay song, I’d probably pick Coldplay’s “Cemeteries of London,” which I reference in the last chapter of Fallen Angel. And, I’d probably pick it for the same reason that Ellie mentions . . . it reminds me of flying.

6. What can we look forward to from you next? Can you give us any information on the sequel to Fallen Angel?

The sequel to Fallen Angel – which is called Eternity – will be coming out this summer!! Without giving away too much, Eternity explores what happens when Ellie comes to grips with her destiny and learns that whoever holds the key to her heart also holds the key to mankind’s salvation – or destruction.

TOUR STOPS:
Sunday, January 30: Emilie at Emilie's Book World (Tens List)
Monday, January 31: Kari at A Good Addiction (Review)
Tuesday, February 1: Andrea at So Many Books, So Little Time (Guest Post)
Wednesday, February 2: Kristen at Bookworming in the 21st Century (Review)
Thursday, February 3: Kara at Reading Cause I'm Addicted (Author Interview)
Friday, February 4: Jessica at A Fanatic's Book Blog (This or That)
Saturday, February 5: Danny at Bewitched Bookworms (Guest Post)
Sunday, February 6: Andye at Reading Teen (Review)

Books by Heather Terrell

Book Review: Nightshade by Michelle Rowen!

NIGHTSHADE BY MICHELLE ROWEN 
Paperback: 352 pages 
Publisher: Berkley (February 1, 2011) 
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound
Read: excerpt
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Jillian Conrad never believed in vampires. But she’s just become a living, breathing weapon against them. Attacked by a desperate scientist, she is injected with a serum that was supposed to act as a deadly poison to vampires. And when the scientist is gunned down in front of her, his secrets die with him.

Declan Reyes was only half-vampire, but he hates them with all his heart. He knows that the poison in Jillian’s veins could finally destroy the undead kingdom. Also, the serum has had an unintended effect, making her blood irresistible to all vampires—including Declan, whose bloodthirsty traits are driven into a frenzy by her.

Driven by duty to protect her and by instinct to crave her, Declan takes Jillian into his shadowy world of blood and battle. But he soon realizes his increasing need for her may be a different kind of hunger…

Book Beginning: 
"Life as I knew it ended at half past eleven on a Tuesday morning.
There were currently thirty minutes left."

Notable Scenes

"His words should have scared me, made me feel threatened by his dark intent, especially after being told about his vampire father. But they didn't. I was afraid of Declan, but not for the reasons he probably thought I was." -Page 102

"But something else haunted me as well, in an entirely different way. It was what he said before sinking his fangs into me. I cringed as I touched the raw marks on my throat.

I'll find you."

That was what he'd whispered to me." -Page 324

So often in the paranormal romance genre, we have a situation where the vampire must fight against all his/her natural instincts not to bite a human, because of guilt, attraction, etc etc.  But what if instead of the human always being the weakest link, this time around it's the vampire running the risk of poisoning themselves from feeding on a human?  Intriguing idea, right? This was the concept behind NIGHTSHADE.  In her latest adult novel, Michelle Rowen delves into a darker brand of urban fantasy while still maintaining strong romantic appeal (and her trademark brand of humor). Mix in this unique twist on vampire lore and you've got yourself a winner!

NIGHTSHADE starts off fast and furious and keeps on rolling. It's break-time at work, and Jillian Conrad needs her morning coffee fix. But on her way back to the elevators, her life as she knew it—the normal, get up and go to work hum-drum routine we all grapple with—ends forever. She's at the wrong place at the wrong time. Caught in the middle of a stand-off with a gunman and a frantic scientist, Jillian is poisoned with a serum that makes vampires lose their senses with desire for her blood. Wait! Vampires are real? Yep. Sorry Jillian, they sure are. As Jillian's normal world comes crashing down all around her, she realizes in the blink of an eye she has become a crucial pawn in the struggle between humans and vampires alike.  

NIGHTSHADE was a fun, sexy and humorous vampire urban fantasy. I read it over a 24-hour period and immediately wanted the next book in the series to tear into.  I do have to admit that initially I wasn't too sure about Declan with his unsightly eye-patch, scars and cold personality. But just like he did with Jillian- he definitely grew on me.  I became vested in their relationship and anxiously wanted them to realize their mutual attraction to one another, and better yet—act on it. It happened when  I saw how Declan's personality changed when he didn't take a certain serum –the one that supposedly kept his half-vampire blood thirsty impulses at bay (he reminded me a bit of the movie Blade in that aspect too). One thing that threw me a bit were Rowen's characterization of the djamphirs—they honestly gave me the heebeejeebees—I kept wishing they were more like sexy apple-pie smelling Christophers from Lili St. Crow's books rather than gory monster freak shows, but they needed to be what they were to fit the storyline, so it made sense that she did what she did with them.

Poor Jillian—what a Catch 22! If Declan was on the serum, she knew it was safer to be around him. If he wasn't? Well things just got a whole lot hotter in the room—but also a whole lot more deadly. As for Jillian, I loved her character. She was such a great contrast to Declan. While he was etched in stone, she was approachable and downright lovable. It was also refreshing to read an adult book where the main protagonist didn't  have to kick butt in order to kick butt. Jillian was no trained warrior by any means, but she was smart, kind-hearted and played the hand dealt to her so well that it ended up saving her life.

NIGHTSHADE slams to a halt with a twist that really sets an exciting tone for the next book in the series. It was one I did not see coming and can't wait to see how it all plays out.  I would recommend this book to fans of adult paranormal romance as well as more mature teen readers. You'll find a lot to sink your teeth into. The next novel, BLOODLUST  releases in July of this year (so far away!)

Jillian Conrad Series

Related Reading:

Primal by Lora Leigh, Michelle Rowen, Jory Strong and Ava Gray

Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Berkley Trade (February 1, 2011)

Four all-new stories of primitive desire- with a never-before- published novella of the Breeds

#1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh returns to her sensual world of the Breeds in an all-new novella that explores just how savage, and how far, a man is willing to go in the name of desire. Plus three other stories of irresistible passions from three masters of hot paranormal romance.

I wasn't familiar with the other authors within this anthology so I found myself a bit lost wading through the worlds of the main characters. But I thought  Michelle Rowen's novella was fantastic! It takes place immediately after the events following NIGHTSHADE and was just as dark, edgy and action-packed the book itself. Her story made me fall in love with the series even more to be honest.

As Jillian and Declan searched for a cure for the poison in her blood, they found themselves in a dangerous facility where vampires were tested on like lab rats and a scientist with a malicious grudge has a few plans of his own. This novella was A+.

Michelle Rowen writes paranormal romance, urban fantasy, futuristic romantic suspense, and young adult fantasy. She has been on the Waldenbooks/Borders Group romance bestseller list and was the winner of the 2007 Holt Medallion for Best First Book and the 2009 Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award for Best Vampire Romance. Her books include the Immortality Bites paranormal romance series, the Demon Princess books for young adults, and in May 2010 she launches a new paranormal series, Living in Eden, with the first book “The Demon in Me,” which is a fun, romantic look at demonic possession. Trust her, it’s totally possible. Michelle lives in Southern Ontario and is the 2010 President of Toronto Romance Writers. She wields her power wisely. Visit Michelle Rowen at her Official Website & Blog