A big huge thank you!

Wednesday and Thursday's promotion of The Gifted for free was a huge success!! I had almost 1,200 downloads of my book. I noticed yesterday that I was actually ranking among best-selling lists. The best I saw was I made it to #4 on the 100 best selling list contemporary fantasies in the Kindle store, #20 on the 100 best selling fantasies in the Kindle store, and #265 out of ALL ebooks in the Kindle store!

I saw my book popping up on websites all over the internet; sites I didn't even know existed!

Wow.

I am completely blown away by the support and interest generated by this promotion.

I don't get paid a penny for the books that were downloaded during that time, but I don't really care. I tell you this because I want you to know I consider the promotion a success regardless of how much I made...or didn't make. :)

I wish I could bake everyone cookies and say, "Thanks for downloading my book!" Or, "Thanks for telling your friends to download my book." Instead, all I can do is say, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

I feel bad for people who missed the free book, so I've lowered the price from $4.99 to $2.99. I don't know how long it will be at that price, but I'll give warning before I raise it again.

Thank you so much to everyone for your support. Please, don't forget to go to your favorite websites and leave a review (Amazon, Goodreads, LibraryThing, B&N, Shelfari...) Pin It

Happy Birthday to me, here's something for you!

One year ago today, I published The Gifted. It's been a fun and crazy year, both in the book world and in my personal life.



To celebrate The Gifted's birthday, I'm giving away the Kindle version for FREE! It's today and tomorrow only, so don't miss out. Spread the word.


Enjoy! Pin It

Review: Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter (Goddess Test #2)

RELEASED TODAY!!


From Goodreads:

Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it. 

Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans. As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future. Henry's first wife, Persephone.

***

If you've read my review of the Goddess Test, you'll know that I adored that book. The second book in a series is always hard because it has such huge shoes to fill. The Goddess Interrupted was a fantastic sequel! The beginning felt a little uncomfortable because it was like, here is a character that we know and love, but we haven't heard from her in six months (in the book timeline). All of a sudden, we're back in Eden, about to see Henry, etc. I'm glad we jumped right into the action, but it almost made me feel like I was missing something.*


Kate was still a worthy heroine, though, true to her character, I found her over-analyzing things. A lot. There were a few times in the book I was disappointed with her because I thought she was giving up, but it turned out to be just what the story (and Henry) needed.


There were other times when I just wanted to put my arm around Kate because I felt so bad for her. Persephone? Really?! 


Henry is such a complex character. I loved it. He's not perfect, not even close. I loved that about him. Of course, there were times I wanted to shake him by the throat, but I ended up forgiving him.


The plot felt a little rushed at times, and the resolution came faster than I expected. It sort of felt like an intro to the last book, rather than a second installment.


The ending was a huge cliffhanger! I read the last page and thought, "Oh no, that can NOT be the end!" But sadly, it was.

And seriously, we won't even mention how much I adore these book covers. I know that shouldn't be a contributing factor, but let's face it. It is. 


All in all, I gladly give this book five stars. I wait with much anticipation and bated breath for the third and final book.

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin Teen; Original edition (March 27, 2012)
• Source: The Publisher (via NetGalley)
• Amazon
• Goodreads

 *There are two novellas, soon to be published, that will fill in the blanks between books. Or so I hear. The Goddess Hunt (#1.5) and The Goddess Legacy (#2.5). Pin It

Review: The Golden Acorn, by Catherine Cooper

From Goodreads:
Jack Brenin's life changes the moment he finds a golden acorn lying on the grass. He gets caught up in an extraordinary magical adventure and enters a world he only believed existed in legend. He's sure he's been mistaken for someone else. He's neither brave nor strong so how could he be "The One" an ancient prophecy speaks about? He's no idea why he's expected to help, unsure if he wants to, or even if he can.

***

Even though this book has had very mixed reviews, I really enjoyed it.  I grew to love all the characters, especially Camelin.  It was a little straight forward sometimes and a little slow in parts, but all in all, I did like it.  

 For the intended audience, it is a fun and age appropriate adventure.  It was clean, with no cursing or innuendos.  It is a nice length too.  Not too short, but definitely not too long.  I would definitely recommend this book to any parent or child looking for an clean story full of whimsical adventure.  Right now it is only available in the Kindle edition (which is free), but you can sign up to be notified when the paperback version comes out.


On a side note, I absolutely love the cover!


Reading Level: 10 and up
Hardcover: 376 pages
Publisher: Infinite Ideas (Academic) (August 20, 2010)
Amazon
Goodreads

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Review: Fallen in Love by Lauren Kate

From Goodreads:

Unexpected. Unrequited. Forbidden. Eternal. Everyone has their own love story.

And in a twist of fate, four extraordinary love stories combine over the course of a romantic Valentine's Day in Medieval England. Miles and Shelby find love where they
least expect it. Roland learns a painful lesson about finding-and losing love. Arianne pays the price for a love so fierce it burns. And for the first -and last- time, Daniel and Luce
will spend a night together like none other.

Lauren Kate's FALLEN IN LOVE is filled with love stories . . . the ones everyone has been waiting for.

True love never says goodbye. . .

***

As a fan of the Fallen series, I was pretty excited to read this book.  It is a compliation of love stories from some of the main characters in the series.  In falls in between books #3 and #4.  


I don't know exactly what I expected from this book, but I was disappointed.  I only rated it as two stars on my Goodreads profile.  The writing was fine, but it lacked the good storytelling and mystery of the series.  Most of the stories were a little weird because there hadn't been any mention of them before.  You were just tossed into the middle of a relationship you didn't know existed.  There wasn't much of a plot, either.  Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a horrible book, but it wasn't the great read I had been looking forward to.


Romance-wise, it was pretty clean.  A few simple kisses but nothing over the top.  Also, it may be helpful to know that one of the stories is about a homosexual couple.  I don't have any qualms about it, but I thought readers might want a heads up in case you need to have a "talk" with a child who's reading it. 


Reading Level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (January 24, 2012)
Amazon
Goodreads Pin It

Review: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, by Catherynne M. Valente

From Goodreads:

Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland. The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn’t . . . then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fairyland. September is already making new friends, including a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday.

***

This book was an acquired taste for me.  When I started reading, I found it very hard to pay attention to.  The story was interesting enough, and the writing was beautiful, but it was wordy and difficult to push through.  I almost gave up on it a few chapters in, thinking that it wasn't moving quick enough for me, but the more I read, the more I grew to love it.  By the end of the book, I was wishing there was an entire series for me to read.  I absolutely fell in love with Valente's way of writing.  I devoured every description and savored every word up until the very last page.  September is a magnificent heroine who shows bravery and wit throughout the story.  I grew to love her and admire her (even if she is only 12 years old). 

The book is very clean.  There are several instances of action and peril, but nothing the intended audience can't handle.


Reading Level: Ages 10 and up
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (May 10, 2011)
Amazon
Goodreads Pin It

I need help!

I was recently asked to host a book club discussion. This may not seem like a big deal, except...it's about MY book!

While I am thrilled and honored, I see a few problems with this:

1. I've never been to a book club before.
2. I've never hosted a book club discussion before.
3. See 1 & 2.

All of the discussion suggestions I've read online are pretty basic, like, "Who is your favorite character and why?" "Who is your least favorite character and why?" "What was the best part of the book?" "What was the worst part of the book?" Although I'd like to think I have a tough skin, it's more like a candy shell. I don't really want to know the worst character and the worst part of the book. Would it help me in the future? Probably. But that doesn't change the book I've already written. But, constructive criticism is inevitable.And really, is that what a book discussion sounds like?

I guess my biggest problem is that I don't want to sound like a doofus. The fact that I've never been to a book club kind of puts me at a disadvantage.

Are you a member of a successful book club? (ie, one that actually discusses the book and doesn't chat about the Bachelor for over an hour.) Are you an author who's hosted a book club discussion about your own book? Have you ever read a book and wanted to know what other people thought of it?

Please send me some ideas on questions to ask, how to steer the conversation, what topics to discuss...ANYTHING you think might be helpful. I really, really don't want to sound like an idiot in front of these women. Pass on the word to anyone you think might have some good advice for me.

Thank you so much!!

-Deborah Pin It

Review: The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe (Fallen World #1)

From Goodreads:

It starts with an itch you just can't shake. Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat. A few days later, you'll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they’re old friends. Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in.

And then you're dead.

When a deadly virus begins to sweep through sixteen-year-old Kaelyn’s community, the government quarantines her island—no one can leave, and no one can come back. Those still healthy must fight for dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival.

As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest. Because how will she go on if there isn't? 

***

Holy cow. Holy. Cow. 

This book was completely different than other dystopian, apocalyptic, end-of-the-world, society is ravished by a disease novels. 

The Way We Fall is written as a journal of letters Kaelyn writes to her estranged best friend, Leo. The letters start off as whimsical memories and long-harbored guilt. Slowly they turn to the curious events of a strange illness that is spreading throughout their secluded island off the coast of Canada.


Then the letters turn horrific as the disease turns pandemic, and there doesn't seem to be enough room for the bodies that keep piling up.

I love books that are written as letters. I think letters are so personal and share so much about a person without the writer realizing it. About the point where Kaelyn realizes Leo might never actually see these letters is when she starts pouring out more of her self, and I loved the way that made the book feel. 

Kaelyn developed well from the shy girl who no one really likes to the one with the strength to take care of her family - what's left of it - and help save her community and home. 

The disease starts with an itch you can't get rid of. And then there's a cough that won't go away. The day after I finished this book, I had an itch on my scalp. I literally was on the verge of tears and panic, thinking I was going to get sick and die and who would take care of my kids? My kids! Would I infect my kids? Should I call my husband to come take the kids and move to Siberia...? It took me a moment to realize that The Way We Fall was a book I read, and not a newscast I'd watched. That's the mark of a good book in my opinion.

There were a few things that were a bit confusing at first. I was eventually able to figure them out, but it made it a little difficult to trudge through at first. I honestly stuck with it because, like I said, I love books written as letters or journals. I wanted to see how it played out, and I am SO glad I did!!


There is mild swearing throughout the book, but about five uses of heavy profanity.

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (January 24, 2012)
• Source: Publisher via Netgalley
• Amazon
• Goodreads

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