Review: Far From You by Lisa Schroeder

Far From You               

Written by Lisa Schroeder                                  

Paperback released January 5, 2010

Published by Simon Pulse                                       

Summary from Goodreads:
"Lost and alone...down the rabbit hole

Years have passed since Alice lost her mother to cancer, but time hasn't quite healed the wound. Alice copes the best she can, by writing her music, losing herself in the love of her boyfriend, and distancing herself from her father and his new wife.

But when a deadly snowstorm traps Alice with her stepmother and newborn half-sister, she'll face issues she's been avoiding for too long. As Alice looks to the heavens for guidance, she discovers something wonderful.

Perhaps she's not so alone after all.. "


My Thoughts:

I read this book last year, but I read it before I started my blog so I haven't reviewed it yet.  I had to post the cover from the paperback edition because it is SO beautiful!!  I think it really captures the tone of the book.  If you do not know what the book is about then you would probably assume from the cover and the tag line "Do you believe in angels?" that it is about angels.  There is talk of faith and guardian angels and Alice(main character) looks to Heaven for help when things are bad, but this book is mainly about family, grief, and love.

Alice is our main character and narrator.  Her mother died of cancer a couple of years ago and Alice is still unable to accept that she is gone.  Her father has moved on with his life.  He has remarried and has a newborn daughter.  Alice feels like an outsider in her home and cannot bring herself to embrace her new family.  She resents Victoria (stepmom) and doesn't want much to do with her new half-sister.  Alice clings to her boyfriend Blaze, her best friend Claire, and her music.  Things change for Alice when she is forced to take a road trip with Victoria and the baby.  While driving they are caught up in a massive snow storm and are stranded in their car.  In order to survive this ordeal Alice must work with Victoria, confront her own pent up emotions, and trust her faith.  The dire situation Alice finds herself in begins a journey of discovery for her that is profound and touching.

This is the first book I have ever read that was written in verse.  At first I admit I was skeptical that so few words could convey a story properly.  After reading the book I can say that Lisa Schroeder did an amazing job!  The verse was poetic and beautiful and it conveyed only what was necessary to the characters and the story.  The book is Alice's journey back to life (in a sense) and the rebirth of a family.  The issues the book deals with are heavy, but the story is told so beautifully that you really don't want to put it down.  This was a very quick read for me (a day!) and I look forward to future work from this author.

New Awards!!

Thanks to Tynga at Tynga's Reviews  for these great blog awards!!  I really appreciate them!

The Splash Award, it is given to alluring, amusing, bewitching, impressive, and inspiring blogs.  Wow... who knew my blog was bewitching!!  Pretty Cool!! :)
Your Blog is soooooo Kewl! Award is pretty self explanatory and really awesome!!!!
**Thanks again Tynga!  If you haven't been to her site go check it out and if you are looking for a new blog design she is great at that too!  She created my blog design!!  The link to Tynga's Blog Design is at the bottom of the page!

I am passing these awards along to the following blogs:

1. The Compulsive Reader - this was the very first blog I ever really started following and it is one of the reasons I started blogging myself!!
2. Kapri at Book Fanatics- Great blog!!
3. Gregory, Jake and Alyssa at Teens Read and Write 
4. Eleni at La Femme Readers- Her site is wonderful! I enjoy checking it out daily!
5. Adrienne at An Addicted Book Reader - just found her site and its great! Go check her out!
   

Monday's Question Of The Day! (Feb. 15, 2010)

** Thanks to Eleni at la femmme readers for hosting Monday's Question of the Day**
 


Question:
 I am asked to give book recommendations all the time.  I love recommending books that I loved reading and that mean something to me!  If you could only recommend one book to me what would it be and why?

My Answer:
This is a tough question to me!  When you have read as many books as most of us, it is hard to narrow it down to one!  I guess if I had to choose one I would choose The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  I think that this book holds appeal for a wide age range.  I also feel like it is a book that a male reader will enjoy as much as a female reader.  I haven't personally spoken to anyone who didn't enjoy this book.  I can't wait for the conclusion to the trilogy, Mockingjay, that is due out August 24, 2010.

In My Mailbox (17)

**Thanks to The Story Siren for hosting IMM**

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that spotlights the new books you received for review, swapped, or bought!  Here are the books I got this week!

For Review:

Arson 

Written by Estevan Vega

Available now

Published by Tate Publishing

Summary: 

"Arson Gable feels like a freak. He can create fire. He never asked for it. He never wanted it. But he can't shut it off.

Before now, three things were true: he both loved and despised his grandmother; his life was going nowhere; and he was alone. But when a strange girl—who feels more normal behind a mask than inside her own skin—moves in next door, Arson hopes to find something he's never had: purpose.

Using what he fears most about himself, Arson must face his consuming past and confront the nightmare that is his present as he walks the fine line between boy and monster. Dark, moody, and breathtakingly relevant, Arson, the chilling chronicle of an isolated boy with unimaginable ability, is sure to ignite the hearts and minds of a new generation."

Bought:
Firespell (A Novel of the Dark Elite: Book One)
Written by Chloe Neill
Published by Signet

Summary:

"As the new girl at the elite St. Sophia’s boarding school, Lily Parker thinks her classmates are the most monstrous things she’ll have to face…

When Lily’s guardians decided to send her away to a fancy boarding school in Chicago, she was shocked. So was St. Sophia’s. Lily’s ultra-rich brat pack classmates think Lily should be the punchline to every joke, and on top of that, she’s hearing strange noises and seeing bizarre things in the shadows of the creepy building.

The only thing keeping her sane is her roommate, Scout, but even Scout’s a little weird—she keeps disappearing late at night and won’t tell Lily where she’s been. But when a prank leaves Lily trapped in the catacombs beneath the school, Lily finds Scout running from a real monster.

Scout’s a member of a splinter group of rebel teens with unique magical talents, who’ve sworn to protect the city against demons, vampires, and Reapers, magic users who’ve been corrupted by their power. And when Lily finds herself in the line of a firespell, Scout tells her the truth about her secret life, even though Lily has no powers of her own—at least none that she’s discovered yet…  "

Finnikin Of The Rock
Written by Melina Marchetta
Published by Candlewick Press

Summary:

"At the age of nine, Finnikin is warned by the gods that he must sacrifice a pound of flesh in order to save the royal house of his homeland, Lumatere.

And so he stands on the rock of three wonders with his childhood friend Prince Balthazar and the prince's cousin, Lucian, and together they mix their blood. And Lumatere is safe.

Until the 'five days of the unspeakable', when the King and Queen and their children are slaughtered in the palace. And an imposter king takes the throne.
And a curse is put on Lumatere, which traps those caught inside and forces thousands of others to roam the land as exiles, dying of fever and persecution in foreign camps.

But ten years later Finnikin is led to another rock to meet the young novice, Evanjalin. A girl plagued by dark dreams, who holds the key to their return to the Land of light..."

**I also bought two adult paranormal romances that I have been waiting for!!  I got Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh and First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost!

General Update!

Hello Everyone!
I have a few things that are coming up soon that I wanted to give you a heads up on and I also have some thank yous to give out!!

• First off... Thanks to Jenn at Books At Midnight for featuring me on her awesome meme The Saturday Network!!  You have to go check her out and participate in this weekly Saturday meme!!  
• I am so excited about my upcoming MEGA-Swag Contest!  So far I have swag from the following authors/books: Anastasia Hopcus (Shadow Hills), Heidi Kling (Sea), Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely series), Carrie Ryan (The Forest of Hands and Teeth), Estevan Vega (Arson), Amy B. White (Forget-Her-Nots), Shari Maurer (Change of Heart), Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (Beautiful Creatures), Jessica Leader (Nice and Mean), Shelena Shorts (The Pace), Jennifer Murgia (Angel Star), Kimberly Derting (The Body Finder) and Jen Nadol (The Mark).  If you are an author and would like to put some of your swag in the pile feel free to contact me!  I would love to include you! This contest will post at the end of the month, so keep a lookout!
• 'Old' Followers will earn extra points in the contest.  'Old' means that you are a follower before the contest posts, so if you want to get those extra points go ahead and click the follow button on the left now!
• Thanks to Anastasia Hopcus and Heidi Kling for helping me get in touch with so many authors! You guys are awesome!!

Friday Finds! (February 12, 2010)

**Thanks to MizB from Should Be Reading for hosting Friday Finds!**

 Mockingjay (Hunger Games #3)
Written by Suzanne Collins
Release Date: August 24, 2010
Published by Scholastic Press

Summary from Goodreads:

"Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins’s groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year. "


**YEAH!! I know this is all over the blogs today, but I am so excited about this book that I had to include it!!**

 

Ondine: The Summer of Shambles
Writtten by Ebony McKenna
Release Date: April 5, 2010
Published by Egmont Books Ltd.

Summary from Goodreads:

"This is a brilliantly witty fairy tale with a mystery that is as surreal as it is sinister. One girl. One boy. One spell to be broken. Ondine de Groot is a normal fifteen-year-old who lives with her family in the European country of Brugel. She has a pet ferret called Shambles. But Shambles is no ordinary ferret...He's Hamish McPhee, a boy cursed by a witch. A witch who happens to be related to Ondine. When Shambles turns back into Hamish temporarily, Ondine knows that she has to help him break the spell. He is the most gorgeous boy she has ever met and her one true love! He just can't remain a ferret forever. Can he?"  
 
*This sounds like another great release from Egmont!

Thief Eyes
Written by Janni Lee Simner
Release Date: April 27, 2010
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers

Summary from Goodreads:

"After her mother mysteriously disappears, sixteen-year-old Haley convinces her father to take her to Iceland, where her mother was last seen. There, amidst the ancient fissures and crevices of that volcanic island, Haley meets gorgeous Ari, a boy with a dangerous side who appoints himself her protector.
When Haley picks up a silver coin that entangles her in a spell cast by her ancestor Hallgerd, she discovers that Hallgerd's spell and her mother's disappearance are connected to a chain of events that could unleash terrifying powers and consume the world. Haley must find a way to contain the growing fires of the spell—and her growing attraction to Ari.

Janni Lee Simner brings the fierce romance and violent passions of Iceland's medieval sagas into this twenty-first-century novel, with spellbinding results."

*I am really looking forward to all of these books!  Did you find anything new coming out that you are excited about?* 

Darklight by Leslie Livingston

Darklight  
(Wonderous Strange, #2) 
Written by Leslie Livingston
Released December 22, 2009
Published by HarperTeen

Darklight is the second book in the Wonderous Strange trilogy by Leslie Livingston.  Wonderous Strange easily made my Top Picks of 2009 and Darklight will be one my favorite reads of 2010!  I love this series! I am a big fan of Fae books in general, but this series is written so beautifully that I am already counting down the days for the third and final book in the series that is due out in December of this year.

Summary from Goodreads:

"Much has changed since autumn, when Kelley Winslow learned she was Faerie royalty, fell in love with changeling guard Sonny Flannery, and saved New York City from a rampaging Faerie war band. When a terrifying encounter in Central Park sends Kelley tumbling into the Otherworld, her reunion with Sonny is joyful—but cut short. For they’ve been plunged into a game of Faerie deception and wavering allegiances in which the next move could topple a kingdom...or part them forever.

The fans who flocked to Lesley Livingston’s Wondrous Strange will fall hard for Darklight, the soaringly romantic second book in the trilogy. Breathless high stakes and vividly magical characters make this a can’t-miss fantasy for readers of Melissa Marr and Holly Black." 

My Thoughts:
Darklight picks up 6 months after the events at the end of Wonderous Strange.  Kelley has had some time to digest the news about her Faery heritage and the identity of her real parents.  She is back at the theater trying to resume her 'mortal' life again, which means that her magic is being supressed by her ever present green jeweled necklace.  She desperately misses Sonny (her boyfriend/Janus Guard member), who is in the Otherworld under orders from Auberon tracking down and eliminating the remaining members of "The Wild Hunt".  Kelley's life quickly swings out of control when she is thrust into the Otherworld after a surprising attack against her and Fennrys Wolf (Janus Guard/ Hottie).  What transpires is an exciting tale of Faery politics, deception, and romance.

One of the strong points in Leslie Livingston's books is her character development.  She writes so beautifully and it reflects in her characters.  The central theme of this book is the relationship between Kelley and Sonny.  The circumstances they face in the book are the catalyst for the changes that begin to show in their characters.  Kelley is beginning to reveal more of her faery side.  In Wonderous Strange she seemed to cling to her humanity, but in Darklight she begins to embrace who and what she is.  She is becoming more confident in herself and is able to take care of herself better.  Her love for Sonny is the driving force behind most of her actions and this love will definitely be tested!  She is also beginning to understand that everything and everyone is not always as it seems.  Sonny is as hot as ever, but he seems tormented as well.  He is torn between his desire to be with Kelley and his duty to carry out Auberon's orders in the Otherworld.  We learn much more about Sonny and his past and a HUGE bombshell is dropped that I did not see coming!!

I also truly enjoyed the secondary characters in Darklight!  I especially liked getting to know Fennrys Wolf better!  We were introduced to him in Wonderous Strange as a member of the Janus Guard.  He was portrayed as a ruthless killer and was feared by most.  In this book we are given glimpses of a more vunerable side.  When he and Kelley tumble into the Otherworld together,  an attraction between them begins to take shape that both of them try to ignore.  He shows a softer side when he is with Kelley and at times I actually found myself rooting for Fennrys instead of Sonny!  Kelley's roomate Tyff is back again too.  I just love her and her snarky attitude!  The other Janus Guards, Jack Savage, Mabh, Auberon, and the other faeries help make this book a great read!

Darklight is a fast-paced page turner that will hook you in the first chapter! The plot is full of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the end!  Speaking of the ending.... All I can say is WOW- I did not see that coming!  The events that take place at the conclusion of Darklight set the stage for an incredible final book!