Our Fabulous Giveaway for a Signed copy of "Princess Academy" ends in a few short hours! Make sure you enter! Go here for all the ways to enter. Good luck! Winner will be posted and notified tommorrow.
Title: City of Bones Author: Cassandra Clare Guest Reviewer: Janelle Genre: YA Fantasy Rating: Adore Alerts/Warnings: Some language, kissing, violence, etc. Premise: Suddenly able to see demons and the Darkhunters who are dedicated to returning them to their own dimension, fifteen-year-old Clary Fray is drawn into this bizzare world when her mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a monster. (King County Library System)
Opinions: The fantastical world opened in this book (the first of a series) is similar in feeling to Twilight or Harry Potter. A seemingly ordinary teenager is suddenly and intimately acquainted with a whole new side of life that she never imagined possible. I loved the rich characters and the fast-moving, intricate plot, with unexpected twists and turns that had my heart racing.
Our Fabulous Giveaway ends this week. So here is a refresher for all the ways to enter.
One Fabulous Winner will win a Signed copy of "Princess Academy" by Shannon Hale. Go here for a review of this FABULOUS book!
This giveaway ends at Midnight PST on September 30th, 2009. (Which is this Wednesday!)
PLEASE NOTE: If you are under the age of 18 you must have parental permission sent to us if you win.
To enter leave a comment on this or any post before the end of the contest telling us the fairy tale or nursery rhyme character or item you most relate too.
Want another entry? Try one (or all) of these: 2. Follow our blog. 3. Post a link to our blog from your blog. 4. Write a review for us to post. Email it to us at fabulousreads@yahoo.com Then we will post it sometime in the next couple of weeks. You will get 5 ENTRIES for every review you submit and there is no limit to how many reviews you submit to us. If you would like us to link to your blog, please include your blog address. Please follow our format. (BELOW) Title: Author: Reviewer: Genre: Rating: Alerts/Warnings: Premise: Opinions:
GOOD LUCK! Stephanie
PS I've had some people tell me that they have had problems leaving comments. If you can't leave a comment, email us at fabulousreads@yahoo.com We will count all entries sent to us in email format as well. (Or we can help you figure out what is wrong)
Our Fabulous Giveaway has only a week left. Go here to enter.
Title: The Little Lady Agency; Little Lady, Big Apple; and The Little Lady Agency and the Prince Author: Hester Browne Guest Reviewer: Janelle Genre: Fiction, Romantic comedy Rating: Love Alerts/Warnings: Some language and sensuality (mostly implied
Premise: In this captivating romantic comedy, a young woman goes from doormat to diva when she sets up shop as a sort of Mary Poppins of love. (King County Library System)
Opinions: While I usually read YA books, this series is for adults. Melissa Romney-Jones needs a new job when she becomes redundant in her boring desk job at an estate agency, so she starts a new business doing what she does best: dressing up and shaping up the scruffy, needy bachelors of London. Melissa is lovable, funny and witty. Her family and the various situations she finds herself in had me laughing out loud. While neither of the first two books leave you hanging, I thoroughly recommend all three.
Our Fabulous Giveaway ends soon. Go here for all the ways to enter.
Title: Forest Born Author: Shannon Hale Reviewer: Stephanie Genre: YA Fantasy Rating: Worship Alerts/Warnings: Some violence Premise: When her beloved forest no longer gives her comfort and her brother Razo invites Rinna to the city to be one of Queen Ani's waiting women, she happily accepts, only to discover her own strength comes from places both expected and unexpected. (King County Library System) Opinions: While I love all the books of Bayern, "The Goose Girl" was always far and away my favorite. "Enna Burning" is fascinating and each time I read it, I like it more and more. Same with "River Secrets". I assumed that "Forest Born" would be the same. I would love it, but not get the same chills I got the first time I read "The Goose Girl". Boy howdy, was I wrong. This was an amazing book! It was nothing that I expected and was truly incedible. I LOVED this book. Rinna was a completely enthralling character. The story was well balanced and drew you out. It kept on having those moments where I went "Oh my gosh, that so did not just happen." And yet it totally just did. It was incredible, amazing, fantastic, fabulous...... I highly recommend it. I hope you love it as much as I did.
Enter our Fabulous Giveaway here! Title: Rapunzel's Revenge Author: Shannon Hale Reviewer: Stephanie Genre: YA Fantasy Graphic Novel Rating: Love Alerts/Warnings: None Premise:Rapunzel is raised in a grand villa surrounded by towering walls. Rapunzel dreams of a different mother than Gothel, the woman she calls Mother. She climbs over the wall and finds out the truth. Her real mother, Kate, is a slave in Gothel's gold mine. In this Old West retelling, Rapunzel uses her hair as a lasso and to take on outlaws--including Gothel. (King County Library System) Opinions: This was a very visually beautiful book, as well as a fun story. I always thought Rapunzel was silly for not figuring out a way to save herself, and in this book she is spunky, fun and a real spitfire. Rapunzel's Revenge was nothing that I was expecting. It was much more! I thoroghly enjoyed this book and think you will too. Super fast to read, but you'll wish it would just keep on going.
Don't forget our giveaway! Go here to enter to win a signed copy of Shannon Hale's "Princess Academy"! Title: Austenland Author: Shannon Hale Guest Reviewer: Kristen Genre: Adult Fiction Rating: Like Alerts/Warnings: None Premise: Jane is a young New York woman who never seems to find the right man--perhaps because of her secret obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and prejudice. When a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-obsessed women, however, Jane's fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become more real than she ever could have imagined. Is this total immersion in a fake Austenland enough to make Jane kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own? (King County Library System) Opinions: A very fluffy read that I think most Jane Austen and "chick-lit" lovers will enjoy. I happen to know a couple girls that are very Austen-obsessed and I got the giggles when I imagined them in Austenland. I also really liked that I wasn’t exactly sure how the book would end.
Stephanie's Note: I really love this book. I just had to put in my plug for it as well. I thought it was so funny. If you like the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice you will love this movie. :) (Don't forget to read the dedication. I thought it was hysterical.)
Our FabulousGiveaway is about half over. Go here for all the ways to enter. Princess Academy is a great book to give as a present or keep for yourself. A review of Princess Academy can be found here.
Title: The Actor and the Housewife Author: Shannon Hale Guest Reviewer: Kristen Genre: Adult Fiction Rating: Hmmm... Alerts/Warnings: None Premise: What happens when your not-so-secret celebrity crush walks right into real life and changes everything? Mormon housewife Becky Jack--seven months pregnant with her fourth child--is about to find out when she meets celebrity heartthrob Felix Callahan. (King County Library System) Opinions: I loved/hated this book. I was laughing out loud sometimes and sobbed through a couple chapters. I thought the premise was far-fetched, but clever and interesting. I try to imagine meeting my heartthrob, James McAvoy, and becoming best friends. Yeah, it's a little weird. But I really enjoyed the dialogue between Becky and Felix. It was very fast-paced and witty and reminded me of one of my favorite TV shows, Gilmore Girls (although several times throughout the book I found myself thinking, "Is anyone really THAT witty?"). Becky and Felix respected their marriages and loved their spouses dearly, but I thought their relationship wasn’t strictly platonic and that made me uncomfortable. I adored Becky’s relationship with her husband, Mike, and really thought the author portrayed LDS culture in a very positive light.
Don't forget our Fabulous Giveaway. Go here for all the ways to enter.
Title: River Secrets(The Books of Bayern #3) Author: Shannon Hale Reviewer: Karen Genre: YA Fantasy Rating: Worship Alerts/Warnings: Some violence Premise: The war with Tira is over, and Tira has lost. But simmering anger remains, and hostilities could erupt at any moment. In a desperate attempt to maintain the peace, King Geric sends an ambassador to the Tiran capitol. Razo is astounded when he is selected to be part of the delegation's military guard, and even more surprised when he discovers the real reason for his inclusion.(King County Library System) Opinions: Razo, one of Princess Isi's friends from the Goose Girl, is surprised to find himself nominated as one of the military escort to accompany the Bayern ambassador to Tiran to strengthen relationships after the Tiran/Bayern war. Along the journey to Ingridan, capital of Tira, Razo discovers a burned body. Concerns arrize as to whether his friend Enna might be burning again of if someone from Tira has placed the body there to frame Bayern, leading to the possible start of another war between the two countries. When more burnt bodies are discovered after they arrive to their destination, Razo's captain calls him to be a spy in order to discover who is the perpetrator behind the murders. Will he be able to discover the truth and what does Razo learn about himself along the way? This is a must read if you want to find out.
I LOVE RAZO!!! I love seeing the story from his point of view and learning more about him. Shannon does a fantastic job bringing the reader into Razo's world. The description is incredible and the story amazing. This is a must read if you enjoy anything by Shannon Hale.
Our Fabulous Giveaway is well under way. Go here for all the many ways to enter.
Title: Enna Burning (The Books of Bayern #2) Author: Shannon Hale Reviewer: Karen Genre: YA Fantasy Rating: Fabulous Alerts/Warnings: Injury/Death associated with war Premise: Enna hopes that her new knowledge of how to wield fire will help protect her good friend Isi--the Princess Anidori--and all of Bayern against their enemies, but the need to burn is uncontrollable and puts Enna and her loved ones in grave danger. (King County Library System) Opinions: As the sequel to Goose Girl, Enna Burning carries on with the lives of those we love in the first book, but from the point of view of Enna (Ina's Best Friend). When Enna returns home after the marriage of her friend to Prince Geric, she soon learns that her brother, Leifer, is able to start fires without using flint. When war breaks out with the Tiran arm, her brother runs of to join in the fight and ends up using his fire ability to burn a third of the opposing army. In order to cover for him, Enna confesses herself to be a fire-witch, but then her brother ends up still dying. When she finds his body, she discovers a paper that teaches her how to pull heat out of things. Soon she is able to start fires like her brother, but alone the way the power begins to change her, pulling her into the middle of the war with Tiran. Her abilities lead her and Isi on an adventure that they never dreamed of that will either strengthen them or destroy them in the end.
Enna was one of my favorite characters in Goose Girl and I was ecstatic to have a book told from her point of view. I did struggle in somewhat with this book as I have a huge fear of dying by fire, but other than that this book was fantastic. The story is intriguing and pulls you in to where you never want to put the book down. If you loved the Goose Girl you will go nuts for this book.
Our Fabulous Giveaway is underway! Come and enter to win a signed copy of Shannon Hale's award winning "Princess Academy". Go here for all the ways to enter.
Title: The Goose Girl Author: Shannon Hale Reviewer: Stephanie Genre: YA Fantasy Rating: Worship Alerts/Warnings: Some violence Premise: On her way to marry a prince she's never met, Princess Anidori is betrayed by her guards and her lady-in-waiting and must become a goose girl to survive until she can reveal her true identity and reclaim the crown that is rightfully hers. (King County Library System) Opinions: This is a retelling of the fairy tale The Goose Girl. Shannon Hale took this unremarkable story and stretched and improved it to a glowing and intruiging tale of one girl's personal growth into the fabulous woman she always wished to be. It has action, magic and a beautiful love story.
I picked this book up when I was working for a book store on the day it was released. I needed something to read. I read it twice in two days. I immediately started plugging this book and have recommended it to many many people. This is an amazing book. One of my favorites. I've read it at least a dozen times and probably more. I just keep going back to it. I hope you love this FabulosuRead as much as I do.
Don't forget to enter our Fabulous Giveaway! Go here for all the ways to enter.
Title: Book of a Thousand Days Author: Shannon Hale Reviewer: Karen Genre: YA Fantasy Rating: Worship Alerts/Warnings: None Premise: Fifteen-year-old Dashti, sworn to obey her sixteen-year-old mistress, the Lady Saren, shares Saren's years of punishment locked in a tower, then brings her safely to the lands of her true love, where both must hide who they are as they work as kitchen maids. (King County Library System) Opinions: Having lost her family through various means, Dashti goes to the castle to get work. Immediately she is thrown into a scene of turmoil as Lady Saren rushes up to her and begs her to attend her as a maid. Lady Saren is destined to be locked away in a tower for seven long years for failing to agree to marry the man of her father, the sultan's, choosing. Her father hopes that by being locked away that Lady Saren will come to see things from his point of view and agree to may an older, rich, and incredibly terrible man. As she is locked away with her mistress, Dashti finds herself having to tend a mistress who is use to being spoiled and has to now survive on little food through blistering summers and freezing winters. When provisions stop arriving, and a battle takes place unseen outside of their tower, Dashti soon realizes that no one is going to come and free them from the tower, leaving it to her to free her mistress and escape to a land of safety.
Oh my gosh...this has to be one of my all time favorite books ever. Shannon Hale does a fantastic job of retelling one of the lesser known Grimm's Fairytales. Set in Mongolia, Hale creates strong characters and imagery that draw the reader in immediately. I love Dashti's strength and courage and am fascinated at what lengths she will go to in order to help someone who seems ungrateful for all she does. I absolutely recommend this for you to read as one of Shannon Hale's ultimate works.
Please enter our drawing for a Signed copy of Princess Academy by Shannon Hale. Go here for all the ways to enter. Below is a review of Princess Academy.
Title: Princess Academy Author: Shannon Hale Reviewer: Stephanie Genre: YA Fantasy Rating: Worship Alerts/Warnings: None Premise:While attending a strict academy for potential princesses with the other girls from her mountain village, fourteen-year-old Miri discovers unexpected talents and connections to her homeland. (King County Library System) Opinions: I bought this book the day it came out, and finished it the next day. While I was reading it on the bus home from work, I missed my stop. I was that engrossed in it. This is the story of Miri and the girls of Mount Eskel and them being turned into possible princesses. I love love love this book. The characters are so true and relateable, that it makes me sad that they are fictional. This is a beautiful story of growing up and accepting yourself.
It's time for a new Fabulous Giveaway!! Not only that, we are going to be celebrating one of my favorite authors for the rest of September, Shannon Hale!!
In honor of her new book this month, we will be giving away a Signed copy of "Princess Academy" by Shannon Hale. (review of Princess Academy here) This giveaway starts now and ends at Midnight PST on September 30th, 2009.
PLEASE NOTE: If you are under the age of 18 you must have parental permission sent to us if you win.
To enter leave a comment on this or any post before the end of the contest telling us the fairy tale or nursery rhyme character or item you most relate too. (This doesn't have to be the main character. Most days I feel like the squashed pumpkin in Cinderella. But in the best possible way.)
Want another entry? Try one (or all) of these: 2. Follow our blog. 3. Post a link to our blog from your blog. 4. Write a review for us to post. Email it to us at fabulousreads@yahoo.com Then we will post it sometime in the next couple of weeks. You will get 5 ENTRIES for every review you submit and there is no limit to how many reviews you submit to us. If you would like us to link to your blog, please include your blog address. Please follow our format. (BELOW)Title: Title: Author: Reviewer: Genre: Rating: Alerts/Warnings: Premise: Opinions: I've had some people tell me that they have had problems leaving comments. If you can't leave a comment, email us at fabulousreads@yahoo.com We will count all entries sent to us in email format as well. (Or we can help you figure out what is wrong)
So good luck! We have some FabulousReads on the horizon. Hopefully our kids will cooperate and let us post them. :)
**Sorry for the lack of posts. We've had teething kids, an ultrasound and a writing deadline. However, we are having an awesome giveaway starting up soon, and here is a FabulousRead for you to enjoy! Title: Born to Fly Author: Michael Ferrari Reviewer: Stephanie Genre: YA Action Adventure Historical Mystery (It's complicated to categorize, but I did my best) Rating: Love and Adore Alerts/Warnings: None Premise: In 1942, an eleven-year old girl who longs to be a pilot and her family try to manage their lives in Rhode Island when her father goes to fight in World War II (King County Library Systerm) Opinions: I was looking for something to read and this was on the shelf of my library and I picked it up. It looked interesting, so I checked it out. Today I needed something to read and so I went to my library bag and started reading it. It was FABULOUS!! Bird is an amazing character that I immediately felt drawn to. She is a tomboy and I'm not, but I could completely relate to her. She was eccentric and honest with herself. As the book progresses she grows and acts in a way that is completely believable and real and probably the same way I would act in her position too. I really loved this book and I highly recommend it.
Since there are so many marvelous authors out there writing fabulous works we reserve the right to only review on this website books that we like, adore, love or fabulous. If we do not review a book then we either do not know about it, haven't read it, or don't like it. If you don't see a book listed that you want to know about feel free to email us to see if we have taken the opportunity to get to know it better.
Karen and Stephanie are best friends who share a passion for the written word. We LOVE books!!! So this is a way for us to share our finds in the literary world with others. If you have a book that you would like us to review (or you would like to submit a review) please email us at fabulousreads@yahoo.com
Title: City of Bones
Title: The Little Lady Agency; Little Lady, Big Apple; and The Little Lady Agency and the Prince
Title: The Actor and the Housewife
