The Reading Chair: Review of Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne

Description:(From rachelhawthorne.net)
Kayla has always felt a kinship with nature. Adopted as a child, Kayla has no idea that she’s inherited the gene that will turn her into a wolf. She can’t understand why she’s so drawn to distant, aloof Lucas...

As the leader of the Dark Guardians, a pack of werewolves that gather in the national forest, Lucas must watch Kayla until she discovers her destiny as his perfect other half. Just when Kayla finally begins to understand her fate, a new danger emerges...one that threatens their very existence.

My Review:
Ordinarily, it's the cover or title that draws me to pick a book off the shelf of the bookstore. The cover of Moonlightdid very little for me, as it is not nearly as intriguing as it could be. The title, however, did draw me into this book.

I found Moonlight on a day when we had ventured out to the bookstore to do some research. Crystal and I had recently decided to write a novel about werewolves and we wanted to see what was already out there. We probably spent an hour going up and down the young adult aisle looking for books with titles related to the moon, werewolves, or wolves. We did not find nearly as many as we predicted we would.

Among the few books we did find was Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne. I read the back of the book several times. After each time, I would replace it on the shelf and keep looking for other wolf related books. I kept coming back to this book. I was not planning on buying a book that day, but curiosity eventually won out and I bought it in the name of "research."

I don't regret purchasing this book for an instant. The characters are interesting and the storyline is unique. Hawthorne kept me on the edge of my seat as I read the story. I continuously wanted to know more about Lucas and Kayla's attraction to him. I wanted to know more about the wolves that lingered in the woods.

I could not find a dull moment in this book and read it in less than a day. It was the first book in months to grab my attention. I would have to honestly say that this book got me back into reading on a more regular basis. I highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the supernatural and young adult literature. As a writer of werewolves, I cannot say enough about this book.

My rating:

5 pawprints! Way to go Rachel Hawthorne!!

A Brief Post: Audio Books?

I'll give you a more real post (and an explanation for my disappearance) tomorrow.

For now, I'm curious about something. Do any of you listen to audio books?

I have been trying my hardest to read more for several reasons. The top two being that I enjoy stories and that I feel I should know what's out there if I'm going to write.

Time, however, seems to be a constraint on this goal. As I was driving from work to class, I realized that there might be a solution to that. I spend at least a couple of hours on the road each day going back and forth from one place to the next. This would be a great spans of time to use effectively. Which, is where audio books come in.

So, I'm asking you guys. Have you ever listened to an audio books and how did you find the experience?

Plans for the Blog

Wow guys. I don't even know where to go. I feel as though I'm out of it after missing yesterday. I had a lot of blogs to catch up on. I read lots of posts, but didn't comment on any today because I wanted to get to my own posting. I hate letting things stack up, but sometimes you have to take that time to listen to your body. I think the unusually cold temperatures have been making me more tired than normal.

Today I'm going to focus on things I want to try out for the blog in the new year. I figured January would be a good time to try out some new features.

Upcoming features:
1. Interviews - with followers & other bloggers
2. Book Reviews
3. Recipe Reviews
4. Writing Advice
5. Songs of the Day (continuing this one)
6. Movie Reviews
7. Contests

I know there's more and I'll include them when I locate them, but for now, that's a list to get you excited. I'm going to try to get things organized and ready to go this weekend as I have a busy semester ahead of me.

Keep an eye out tomorrow (hopefully) for pictures of my new haircut!

Song of the Day: "Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis
I chose this song in celebration of Elvis' birthday today.

Yesterday's Song of the Day: "Twilight" by Vanessa Carlton
I chose this one because it kept coming up on my CD player on the way home. I've liked this song for years. It's an older one, so I thought I would remind people of it.

Back into the Thick of It All

Today was back to work for me. Next Monday will be back to grad school. I love breaks and I hate to see them end. It's easy for me to stay in the routine of things, but it's incredibly hard for me to break that routine and get back into it. Is it easy for you?

To add to that, we had one of the coldest days I can remember in the past few years. Living in the south provides a winter that is cold but typically not freezing. Today, it was definitely in the freezing temperatures until well into the middle of the day. I still feel like I can't get completely warmed up.

I'm trying my best to be more optimistic about things though. So, let's look at a few of the good things that come with the cold. There's the comfort of hot chocolate, which helps warm you from the inside out. My favorite is good old reliable Swiss Miss. Then, there's the scarves and hats. I can remember the first scarf I ever owned. One of my high school friends got it for me one Christmas because I told them I wanted a scarf. It was fleece, pink, and from Old Navy. I still have that scarf and have created a collection of colorful, pretty scarves. Hats can also be fun. My favorite is a fuzzy reddish pink one that keeps my head nice and toasty.

And, last, but certainly not least, is the enjoyment of snuggling into a warm blanket or Snuggie and taking in a good book. There's something comforting in the warmth of the blanket mixed with a far off place that may be much warmer than one's present situation. I seem to be moving along nicely on my (somewhat small) reading list for 2010. I will be posting reviews when I finish books. However, for series, I am going to post the reviews together rather than separately. I'll be finishing up what's been released of The Dark Guardians by Rachel Hawthorne soon, so be on the look out for that review.

Hope you had a great Monday and keep your toes warm!

Song of the Day: "Words" by Ryan Adams
I chose this song because it happened to come on the CD player during my ride home. I was thinking about what song to choose for today and this one came on. It's a favorite of mine with a message. So, I thought I'd share it. Enjoy.

Also, don't forget to head over to Two to Write and enter our Winter Contest with great prize packs!!

Goodreads

A friend recommended goodreads.com to me. I've seen it around on various blogs, but I've never really gone to explore. I decided to finally take the plunge and check it out...

And join it...

And start on my shelves...

And spent about an hour playing around and it's still nowhere near complete. The "to-read" section now contains all of the books I want to read in 2010. The "currently reading" section is up to date (and a widget has been added to the sidebar to keep you informed). But, the "read" shelf is far from complete. It contains the books on the beginning survey that I've read and a couple from this year. It does not include the many books I've read in my 23 years.

Like I said, it's a work in progress.

Pam's read book montage

Pam M.'s favorite books »

Song of the Day: "Human" by The Killers
What better song to give you than the song I wake up to everyday? I fell in love with this song the moment I heard it. Eventually, I started using it as my wake-up sound. I was afraid I might fall out of love with it if I did that, but I'm happy to say that I still enjoy it just as much. And, now, I'm sharing it with you for your enjoyment too!

Books to Read in 2010

I promised a book post, didn't I? Well, here it is...

For Christmas, I put a lot of books on my Christmas list. Since I joined the blogging world, I have spent a lot of time looking at blogs with reviews of great young adult books out.

Since I started writing on a more regular basis, my reading bug has reignited. I think Allan Eckert says it best when he says "If you would be a writer, first be a reader. Only through the assimilation of ideas, thoughts and philosophies can one begin to focus his own ideas, thoughts and philosophies."

So, that's what I'm going to do - be a reader. This year, I am hoping to read a lot of books to spark my imagination and help me become a better writer.

That being said, let's look at my reading goals for 2010.

First, a picture of the collection of unread books on my headboard:



I hope to read most of these and a smattering of other books. Want to see my list?

Here it is (in reading order):
1. Full Moon (A Dark Guardian Novel) by Rachel Hawthorne
2. Dark of the Moon (A Dark Guardian Novel) by Rachel Hawthorne
3. Shadowland (The Mediator) by Meg Cabot
4. The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
5. Kissed by an Angel by Elizabeth Chandler
6. Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella
7. Fallen by Lauren Kate
8. The Secret Circle: The Initiation and The Captive Part 1 by L.J. Smith
9. Eragon by Christopher Paolini
10. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
11. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
12. The Named by Marianne Curley
13. The Winter Prince by Cheryl Sawyer
14. Lament by Maggie Stiefvater
15. Another Faust by Daniel & Dina Nayeri
16. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
17. Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella
18. The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle by L.J. Smith
19. Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
20. Marked by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
21. The Den of Shadows Quartet by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
22. Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

*Some of these are the firsts in a series. If I enjoy the initial book of the series, then I will continue further with the rest of the series.

What are you planning to read in 2010?

New Layout

I decided to bring the New Year in with style!

Just after midnight, I changed and rearranged my blog layout. The header and background are now custom and unique, which makes me giddy. I am still rearranging and improving the elements on the blog, but I'm pretty sure that's going to take a little while.

Keep your eyes out for another post today - one that shares the books I intend to read for 2010, along with a few other goals I have (writing, etc). I'm not making resolutions this year, but goals I can do.

Give me your thoughts on the new layout!

Song of the Day: "Let Me Take You There" by Plain White T's
I felt this one was appropriate since I'll be focusing on reading and writing later, which is an escape from the mundane of our everyday lives. "Let Me Take You There" talks about escaping to a place of fun and wonderment. Essentially, it fit today's focus perfectly, in my opinion.

Month of Holidays: Day 27

Let's get started with those lists then, shall we? Starting today, I'm going to give you my top 5's of the decade in three different categories. These are solely my top fives! I would love to see comments with your top fives in the categories mentioned. Remember, these are for the whole decade!

Top 5 Books Read in the Past Decade
1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
2. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
3. Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
4. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
5. Old Magic by Marianne Curley


Top 5 Television Series of the Decade
1. Supernatural
2. Gilmore Girls
3. Charmed
4. Vampire Diaries
5. The OC
There's a few others that could probably make this list.


Top 5 Stores of the Decade
1. Build A Bear
2. Target
3. Dollar Tree
4. Barnes and Noble
5. A.C. Moore

These lists are in no particular order. I have provided links for your convenience.

What are your favorite books, TV series, and stores of the decade?

Song of the Day: "The New Year" by Death Cab for Cutie

Month of Holidays: Day 15

So, we're continuing with our countdown to Christmas. We're on day four of the twelve day countdown.



"On the fourth day of Christmas,
my true love gave to me
four callings birds,
three French hens,
two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree."

What are four things you dislike about the winter holidays?

My list:
1. Parking
2. Lack of cheer in shoppers
3. The up and down weather
4. You can fill this one in. I tend to like most things about this time of year.

My fall classes officially ended tonight. This made me look at the books on my shelf today and realize that I have at least three books I bought this year that I have not gotten a chance to read yet. Then, I thought about the many books I put on my Christmas list. I am sure there will be numerous books for me to read.

So, I debated which book to start reading on. And that's when I remembered I have a novel to read. It's the novel that my sister, Crystal, and I wrote this past summer. Our goal is to read and start rewriting and revising it over the break.

So, while others are reading the great published novels out there, I will be reading this:



All 400 some odd pages of it.

We were talking of snow at the dinner table tonight, so:

Song of the Month: "White Christmas" by Alan Jackson

One Lovely Blog Award

Thanks Kristi at Random Acts of Writing. It's great to receive the award. Almost as great as reading your entries.

According to the rules, I have to nominate 15 blogs for the award. I will try my best. It is close to bedtime though and many of the blogs I truly enjoy have probably already received this award.

1. Jenn at Books at Midnight
2. Cynde at Cynde's Got the Write Stuff
3. Taschima at Bloody Bookaholic
4. Carol(ine) at Bookluver Carol
5. Elana at Elana Johnson, Author
6. Alexa at Hooked on YA Books
7. Shelli at Market My Words
8. Natalie at Mindful Musings
9. Amy at Passages to the Past
10. Jennifer at Reading with Tequila
11. Suzette and Bethany at Shooting Stars
12. Kate at The Neverending Shelf
13. Cindy at Princess Bookie
14. Teddyree at The Eclectic Reader
15. Carla at The Crooked Shelf

I will notify these lovely blog owners tomorrow. Right now, it is time to bed. While I sleep, how about you take a browse around all 15 of these wonderful blogs. Some of them have won this award before, but I felt they were good enough to earn it again!! Thanks for the awesome blog entries!

Month of Holidays: Day 5

Today was another busy day. I am quite happy with the many great finds I found for my sister though.

There's quite a bit of wonderful things that come with the holidays. Unfortunately, as a student, there are also a few stressful things that come with the holidays. It is the busiest time of the semester with final papers and exams.

So, how do I keep myself happy?

I surround myself with great things. I spend time with my sister. I write some in my free time. I try to get some reading time in. I take a moment out of each day to write a blog entry for all of you. And I remember the little things that matter - the moments that we remember in the future. So far this year, my strategy seems to be working.

What do you do to de-stress?

Song of the Day: "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" - Brenda Lee

1st in a Series Challenge

Another reading challenge! Let's see if I can do it. This one is for the first books of series. It sounds fun. This challenge is also hosted by Royal Reviews.

Challenge Guidelines:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

2. There are four levels:

-- Curious– Read 3 novels that are first in a series.

-- Fascinated – Read 6 novels that are first in a series.

-- Addicted – Read 12 novels that are first in a series.

-- Obsessed – Read 20 novels that are first in a series.

3. Any genre counts.

4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010. Only books started on January 1st count towards this challenge.

I'm starting small with this one too. Wish me luck!