Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Review: Fiddler on the Roof

Title: Fiddler on the Roof
Based on Sholem Aleichem's Stories
Book By: Joseph Stein
Music By: Jerry Bock
Lyrics By: Sheldon Harnick
Publication Date: September 16, 2014
Publisher: Crown

Released to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the Broadway premiere, the full text and lyrics from the original production of one of the most beloved musicals of the 20th century.

Fiddler on the Roof is well established as one of the great works of American musical theater. Adapted from the tales of Yiddish writer Sholom Alecheim and set in Tsarist Russia in 1905, it has proven an indelible tale of family, tradition, wit, and sorrow—all filtered through the ordeals of Tevye, a Jewish Everyman. Tevye, who lives in the fictional village Anatevka, is a hard-working milkman who clings to his faith and traditions, while dreaming of riches he'll never see. He believes he'll need a matchmaker to marry off his older daughters—but they soon force their more modern ideas about romance upon him. His celebrated journey to maintain his family and his faith amidst a rapidly changing world make for a timelessly profound read; the very definition of a classic.

This edition also preempts the next Broadway revival, scheduled for 2015.

Review: The Secret Room of Kaatu Temple


Title: The Secret Room of Kaatu Temple
Author: Susan Srikant
Age Group: Middle Grade
Publication Date: October 15, 2013
Publisher: CreateSpace
At first Priya is excited about her trip to visit relatives in India. But when a strange man shows up at her uncle's house in Pollachi, Priya learns that someone has been keeping secrets, dangerous secrets, and that her family just happens to be involved in a curse on an ancient jungle temple! To protect her family, Priya and her friends decide to risk a hike to the temple to uncover its hidden treasure. Their adventure will teach them a terrifying lesson about greed and evil. A lesson that will be learned the hard way. 

Monday, October 27, 2014

The Hardcover Lover is on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/TheHardcoverLover
Hey, everyone! Exciting things are happening on The Hardcover Lover, and to celebrate, I'm making it easier to connect with me!

My blog now has its own page on Facebook! Clicking the giant thumb will take you to the page, but I've also added a link on the sidebar.

All of my posts will briefly linked on Facebook, so if something new pops up when you're browsing through your Facebook feed, you'll be able to click the link and head on over to read any new meme posts or reviews.

So go ahead and like the page! You never know if I'll reward you for it! ;)

Review: The Silver Linings Playbook


Title: The Silver Linings Playbook
Author: Matthew Quick
Format: Paperback (Movie Tie-In Edition)
Genre: General Fiction, Adult
Publication Date: October 16, 2012
Original Publication Date: September 2, 2008
Source: Purchased

Meet Pat. Pat has a theory: his life is a movie produced by God. And his God-given mission is to become physically fit and emotionally literate, whereupon God will ensure a happy ending for him -- the return of his estranged wife Nikki. (It might not come as a surprise to learn that Pat has spent time in a mental health facility.) The problem is, Pat's now home, and everything feels off. No one will talk to him about Nikki; his beloved Philadelphia Eagles keep losing; he's being pursued by the deeply odd Tiffany; his new therapist seems to recommend adultery as a form of therapy. Plus, he's being haunted by Kenny G!

In this enchanting novel, Matthew Quick takes us inside Pat's mind, showing us the world from his distorted yet endearing perspective. As the award-winning novelist Justin Cronin put it: "Tender, soulful, hilarious, and true,
The Silver Linings Playbook is a wonderful debut."


Sunday, October 26, 2014

Review: The Infinite Sea


Title: The Infinite Sea (The 5th Wave #2)
Series: The 5th Wave
Author: Rick Yancey
Publication Date: September 16, 2014
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Synopsis:
How do you rid the Earth of seven billion humans? Rid the humans of their humanity.

Surviving the first four waves was nearly impossible. Now Cassie Sullivan finds herself in a new world, a world in which the fundamental trust that binds us together is gone. As the 5th Wave rolls across the landscape, Cassie, Ben, and Ringer are forced to confront the Others’ ultimate goal: the extermination of the human race.

Cassie and her friends haven’t seen the depths to which the Others will sink, nor have the Others seen the heights to which humanity will rise, in the ultimate battle between life and death, hope and despair, love and hate.


My Review:

I was quite stunned with the brilliant short story that worked as a prologue in this book. It sets the readers up to let them know what part of the year the characters are preparing for. Plus, it was just amazingly written. I felt ready to start the book after reading the little story, but unfortunately, I realized it would be a while before I found something else I liked about this book.

Obviously, the rest of the book wasn't as great for me. To be honest, I was expecting a lot better, especially because of how much I loved the first book in the series, but Yancey did not wow me this time. Don't get me wrong... there were some great things about the book, but overall, I felt like a lot of it was just filler material while we await the concluding novel in the series.

We start off with the narration of a character that I was not expecting to see narrate until later in the story, and to be honest, I was very much confused during this section of the book. Even though it was the beginning, it felt out of place, and it took me a while to recover.

Just like The 5th Wave, the book's narrators change in each section. I liked that. I love how I was able to experience what pretty much all of the characters are thinking and feeling at different times during the book.

There are some kick-ass moments in the book, but most of the time, I felt like Yancey was going for the shock effect. I kept thinking to myself, "Is this for real" or "WTF?" I certainly felt like he was trying a bit too hard this time around.

Again, there are some romantic scenes in the book, and there are little disputes amongst the members of the main group of teens, but I expected that. All because life as they know it is ending doesn't mean that all of the characters are going to get along, right? Right. I respect Yancey for that, and it definitely made the book feel more realistic. 

What I didn't understand is why the sudden shift? I don't want to spoil anything about the book, but I felt very confused when I finished the book. I felt like the leader of the group was almost set in stone at the end of The 5th Wave, but now I feel like that title is up for grabs yet again, and I don't like the direction that Yancey is taking this series.

I know I'll read the concluding novel. I want to see how everything ends, but right now, The Infinite Sea seems like a book I should have put off for a bit because it just made me rethink everything about the series.


Saturday, October 25, 2014

Soundtrack Saturday (8)

Soundtrack Saturday is a meme that I created because I often find myself thinking of songs when I'm reading. It's a way that I can share those songs that I think of when I'm reading with other people.

To participate, all I ask is that you link back to my blog in your post, comment on my post, and add your name to the link up. Then, you can either create a mini-soundtrack or a full book soundtrack. For instructions, feel free to visit the Soundtrack Saturday page. Feel free to use one of the Soundtrack Saturday logos that I have on my blog, but you can also make one of your own.

Last week's post was about The Selection by Kiera Cass, so this week, I'm focusing on the sequel, The Elite. I read this book as soon as it was released, so some of the songs might be a bit off, but from what I remember, I think these songs are a pretty good fit for the novel.

 

  1. "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper
  2. "Never Mind" - Taylor Swift*
  3. "Still Into You" - Paramore
  4. "It Will Rain" - Bruno Mars
  5. "They Don't Know About Us" - One Direction
  6. "Runaway Circus" - Lucy Hale
  7. "Team" - Lorde
  8. "Why Can't I" - Liz Phair
  9. "Outlaws" - David Lambert
  10. "Thunder" - Boys Like Girls
  11. "Poison and Wine" - The Civil Wars
  12. "Clarity" - Zedd feat. Foxes
  13. "Quit You" - Cedar + Gold
*Unreleased song


So... what do you think of these songs for The Elite? I tried to capture some songs that represent the many feelings that America, Maxon, and Aspen have throughout the book.

As always, feel free to leave a comment, and if you participate, let me know! I'd love to see your soundtracks for the week.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

The Heir Cover Reveal

Ladies (and gentlemen), The Heir has a cover!

Excuse me while I drool over that gorgeous dress, the lighting, the new cover model, and basically everything about this cover.

Synopsis:
Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won Prince Maxon’s heart. Now the time has come for Princess Eadlyn to hold a Selection of her own. Eadlyn doesn’t expect her Selection to be anything like her parents’ fairy-tale love story. But as the competition begins, she may discover that finding her own happily ever after isn’t as impossible as she always thought.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday (10)

Top Ten Tuesday (TTT) is an original meme hosted The Broke and Bookish. This feature was created because they are fond of lists and list making. It's perfect for me because I also love making lists. Each week, there is a new topic, and you get to create a Top Ten list based on it! This week's topic is all about book series, in particular new book series that you want to start reading. The girls over at The Broke and Bookish suggested to keep them within the past year or two, but I might go back a few more years...


  1. The Finishing School series by Gail Carriger - I was recently approved to read all three of these on NetGalley, and I'm really looking forward to it.
  2. The Burn for Burn series by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian - I didn't know these existed until this year, but I have them in my cart on Amazon. As soon as I get some paychecks coming in, they're mine!
  3. The My Life Next Door series by Huntley Fitzpatrick - I own the first book, and my sister enjoyed it, so I am only waiting until I have some time to read the first one and then wait on the second book.
  4. The Mara Dyer series by Michelle Hodkin - I've heard nothing but good things about these books. They're a little different from what I typically read, but I'm willing to give them a chance.
  5. The Fame Game series by Lauren Conrad - I read the first book in her L.A. Candy series, and while I found it very similar to her TV show, The Hills, I want to finish it and move on to this spin-off series.
  6. The Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith - Umm... It's J.K. Rowling. I don't think I really need to say more. But... I do think that they seem like they'll be great novels and they've been added to my adult fiction TBR list.
  7. The Lying Game series by Sara Shepard - I saw a few episodes of the TV show, and I liked it, so I want to read these and see what all the hype is about.
  8. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis - Okay... so I may have exaggerated when I said I was only going back a few years, but I've never read these! I really want to though.
  9. A Song of Fire and Ice by George R.R. Martin - I've been wanting to read these for years now, but they always sell out so fast at the used book store. Eventually, I will find them all in hardcover and read them all.
  10. Millennium by Steig Larsson - I've had these on my shelf for a while. My grandma gave them to me, and I was unsure of them, but I do want to at least give them a try.

Saturday, October 18, 2014

ARC Review: Perfectly Good White Boy


Title: Perfectly Good White Boy

Author: 


























Soundtrack Saturday (7)



Soundtrack Saturday is a meme that I created so I can share my love of books and music. It can be done a few different ways. You can either make a mini-book soundtrack that includes four songs, or you can be super creative and make a full playlist as your soundtrack. You can even create album art if you're great with graphics. It's always so much fun to see what everyone does with the meme.

All I ask is that you link my blog in your post, leave a blog comment, and add your name to the link-up tool so that others can see your post.

This week, I'm making a soundtrack for a book that I read a while ago... I'm talking a few years, but it's stuck with me. That book is The Selection by Kiera Cass.


  1. "All Your Life" by The Band Perry
  2. "Truly, Madly, Deeply" by One Direction
  3. "Fireflies" by Faith Hill
  4. "Mama's Broken Heart" by Miranda Lambert
  5. "Don't You Remember" by Adele
  6. "Home" by Michael Buble
  7. "Wasting All These Tears" by Cassadee Pope
  8. "A Beautiful Mess" by Jason Mraz
  9. "String Me Up" by Chelsea Lankes
  10. "In Case" by Demi Lovato
  11. "Remind Me" by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood
  12. "Feel Again" by OneRepublic
  13. "Begin Again" by Taylor Swift


Fun fact... I may or may not be related to one of these artists that I have included in this week's soundtrack... But I won't tell you which one.

So there's today's Soundtrack Saturday. I had one that I thought I liked, but I completely deleted it to make this one. I think I'll make one for The Elite next week, but I could always throw in something else.

I'd love to know what you guys think, so feel free to comment! And if you've posted a Soundtrack Saturday, make sure you leave your link! I want to see them!


Friday, October 17, 2014

The Friday 56 (7)

The Friday 56 is a weekly bookish meme hosted over at Freda's Voice. The rules are easy  to follow. All you need to do is open the book you're reading to page 56 (or 56% for e-readers) and give us a little bit of what you're reading without spoiling anything major. You want to give people a little preview that makes them want to read what you're reading.

I'm still slowly recovering from bronchitis and pneumonia, so I haven't really read much in a few weeks, but I'm trying.

This week, I'm slowly making my way through The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey, and while I'm finding some parts interesting, I am feeling undecided about the opening section. I'm hoping it gets better. I saw great reviews before the release, but I'm also starting to see some negative reviews, so I'm a little concerned about this one.

"I understood. In the safe room, a billion upraised faces populating the infinite, and the eyes that sought mine, and the question in those eyes too horrible to put into words, Will I live?  It's all connected. The Others understood that, understood it better than most of us. No hope without faith, no love without trust, no trust without love. Remove one and the entire human house of cards collapses."



So... what have you been reading this week? Feel free to let me know in the comments, or leave a link to your Friday 56 post. I'd love to check them out and possibly add more books to my infinite TBR list.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday (9)

Top Ten Tuesday (TTT) is an original meme hosted The Broke and Bookish. This feature was created because they are fond of lists and list making. It's perfect for me because I also love making lists. Each week, there is a new topic, and you get to create a Top Ten list based on it!

Ten Places Books Have Made Me Want To Visit:



  1. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - I'm pretty sure that every person who's read the Harry Potter books would love to visit Hogwarts. I can't wait until I can take a trip to Universal Studios to see the theme park. It almost makes it feel real.
  2. Santorini, Greece - I've been wanting to see this place since I read The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. It seems like a beautiful place to unwind.
  3. Paris, France - I really had no intention of visiting Paris until I read Anna and the French Kiss. I'd been told that it was a filthy city and that many people don't enjoy their time there. Well... Stephanie Perkins changed my mind. I'm hoping to get to Europe soon, and Paris will definitely be a stop.
  4. Dystopian Chicago - Okay... I know it seems kind of strange to want to visit a world like this, but I think it would be interesting to see what has happened to Chicago. I would have so much fun walking around and viewing the dried up lake and destroyed buildings.
  5. Panem - You're probably thinking that I'm really crazy now, but I'd really want to see what America looks like in ruins. Plus the Capitol would be such a site to see.
  6. Luna - Ever since I've read Cinder, I've been thinking about how cool it would be to live on the moon. I would probably stare at the Earth all day, but can you imagine how beautiful all the stars would look like from the moon?
  7. New York, New York - Young Carrie Bradshaw makes the city seem magical and cruel in Summer and the City. I'm still pretty young, so I think I'd experience some  of the same things. Plus, it's New York. I think every American should see the New York skyline at least once in their life.
  8. Zanzibar Bay - I loved Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler, and she made the west coast seem like it's the place to be. Oh, and I love collecting beach glass, so I know how I'd spend most of my time there.
  9. Neverland - There's a child in me who wishes that I never grew up. I'd love to explore Neverland and see Peter Pan, Captain Hook, and Tinker Bell.
  10. London, England - I've kind of always had this place on my list, but reading Bridget Jones's Diary really made me want to visit London.

Damsel Distressed Release Day Blitz + Giveaway



 


Title: Damsel Distressed
Author: Kelsey Macke
Release Date: October 14, 2014
Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17788889-damsel-distressed?ac=1

Buy Links:

Synopsis:
Hot girls get the fairy tales. No one cares about the stepsisters' story. Those girls don't get a sweet little ending; they get a lifetime of longing

Imogen Keegen has never had a happily ever after–in fact, she doesn’t think they are possible. Ever since her mother’s death seven years ago, Imogen has pulled herself in and out of therapy, struggled with an “emotionally disturbed” special ed. label, and loathed her perma-plus-sized status.

When Imogen’s new stepsister, the evil and gorgeous Ella Cinder, moves in down the hall, Imogen begins losing grip on the pieces she’s been trying to hold together. The only things that gave her solace–the theatre, cheese fries, and her best friend, Grant–aren’t enough to save her from her pain this time.

While Imogen is enjoying her moment in the spotlight after the high school musical, the journal pages containing her darkest thoughts get put on display. Now, Imogen must resign herself to be crushed under the ever-increasing weight of her pain, or finally accept the starring role in her own life story.

And maybe even find herself a happily ever after.

Enhance the experience with the companion soundtrack,
Imogen Unlocked, by the author's band, Wedding Day Rain.



Damsel Distressed is the story of Imogen, a girl who's survived the years after her mother's death by focusing squarely on her best friend, Grant, musical theatre, and lots of cheese. The book is full of humor and heart, and also contains a few surprises. Full page sketches are scattered throughout the novel, and each one contains a QR code that corresponds to a song from the book's soundtrack. Imogen Unlocked is a 12-song album of original music written by the author and her husband Daron as their indie-pop band, Wedding Day Rain. Together, the book Damsel Distressed and the soundtrack Imogen Unlocked work together to tell the story of a girl who might just make her own Happily Ever After, if she can just hold herself together.
Track Listing:
  1. Heavy
  2. No Goodbye
  3. Something About
  4. Sinking
  5. Don't Wake Me Up
  6. Let Me Go
  7. My Strength
  8. Unseen
  9. Always Too Late
  10. The End is Just the Beginning
  11. Breathe Easy
  12. Edge of the Fall


Kelsey Macke has been creative for as long as she can remember. From an early age she was on stage singing, penning poetry, and writing notebooks full of songs. When the idea for her debut novel, Damsel Distressed, popped into her head, she was undeterred by the fact that she had no idea how to actually write a novel. Her bff, the internet, was her guide, and after much trial, error, and candy, she finished it, and set out to get it published… a process far more difficult than, the internet (now her mortal enemy), had lead her to believe.

Her whirlwind adventure was made even more unbelievable when she signed with fabulous agent, Jessica Sinsheimer of the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency and, shortly after, Danielle Ellison of Spencer Hill Contemporary bought her debut.

This innovative, mixed-media art project has given Kelsey an incredibly unique opportunity to join two of her passions: writing and making music with her husband as half of the folky, indie-pop band Wedding Day Rain.

DAMSEL DISTRESSED, and the companion album of original songs, Imogen Unlocked, are scheduled for release in October 2014.

Author Contact Information:

Interview with Kelsey Macke:


1.     Describe your book in ten words or less. Go!



Raw, sassy, swoony, hopeful, dramatic





2.     Where did you get the idea for Damsel Distressed?



DAMSEL DISTRESSED was inspired by so many things. Some of it came from my own experiences as a teenager, and other moments were inspired by my friends. Still other facets of the story and characters were shaped by my experiences as a teacher in high school and middle school. There are little whispers of so many lives on the pages of my book and I hope that everyone who reads it finds a little sliver of their own experience in the words.





3.     Damsel Distressed touches on several sensitive topics. What made you write a book about body image and self-harm? What do you hope your readers will take away from it?



In school, I was never thin. I may have been average, in reality, but the feeling of being bigger than all my friends was real. In adulthood, my own emotional eating resulted in weight gain that eventually lead me to an unhealthy weight for my size, which was brought to my attention during a health screening.



I have definitely experienced a complicated, and sometimes painful relationship with food and body image. When I was younger (and even when I got older), those emotions were often fundamental in how I saw myself, and I wanted to express that experience through Imogen.



The other side of Imogen’s primary problems exists in the realm of mental health issues. I am a vocal advocate for the destigmatization of mental health needs and care. I have spent most of my career as a teacher working with young people who have emotional/behavioral difficulties.



Sometimes, it seems like the hardest part of living with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or any number of other conditions, is that those who haven’t experienced it rarely understand the complexities involved in recovery.



There are no easy solutions, you know? It can be hard in YA to write a character and keep the readership from saying/thinking, “Oh my gosh. Stop whining! Go get some Xanax and get on with it.” But those types of oversimplifications are damaging and hurtful to the real young people that our characters represent.



It was important to me that Imogen’s problems be as authentic as possible.



4.     Theatre is an important part of Imogen’s life. How does being in theatre help her? If she didn’t have theatre, what would it mean for her?



Theatre, for Imogen, is an anchor. Her mother was involved in theatre, so her connection is in part a way to hang on and not let go even though it’s been 5 years since Mom’s death. Beyond the connection to her mother, however, Imogen feels at home in the sound booth (her theatre work of choice is running sound, not being on stage) because it allows her to connect to other people in a real and meaningful way, but also allows her the space to be in her own head and watch from a safe distance.



Theatre is such a wonderful part of development for so many young people and adults (including myself), and it was very exciting for me to honor that work with my book. 



5.     Damsel Distressed is going to be accompanied by Imogen Unlocked, a “soundtrack of original songs written and performed by Wedding Day Rain.” What do you like most about having a companion album? In what ways does it allow the reader to dive deeper into Imogen’s head?



Having a soundtrack for this book was a weird, crazy, ambitious idea, but now that it’s done, I can’t imagine my book without the songs that accompany it.



The songs come after critical scenes, and in most cases, the songs directly continue the emotional weight of that chapter.



I like to think of the book as Imogen’s thoughts, as she is aware of them, and the songs as the things she doesn’t even know she’s got swirling around in her head.



6.     Craziest thing you’ve had to Google for a work in progress?



My research on compulsion disorders and self-harming behaviors was incredibly enlightening, and necessary. However, it was also incredibly difficult and emotional for me to study, because I can’t help but think about the individuals who live with the burdens of these issues every day.


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Sunday, October 12, 2014

Stacking the Shelves (3)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly book meme created and hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews. It is all about sharing the books you've added to your shelves throughout the week. The books you're adding to your shelves can be either physical or digital.

It's been a long time since I've added any books to my shelves because I am trying really hard to read a few of the books on my TBR list before I buy any more. Let me tell you, it is the most difficult thing I've done, but I have not bought a book since August. It's really helping me focus on reading the books that I own. 

That being said, the books that I've gotten this week were either gifts or given to me for review. It's not every day that I can say I can dedicate an entire post to free books.

Books I've Added to My Shelves:

  • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
  • Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger
  • Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger
  • Waistcoats & Weaponry by Gail Carriger 
  • Fiddler on the Roof: Based on Sholem Aleichem's Stories by Joseph Stein
 To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorite books ever, and I am so happy to finally have a copy of it. It's a pretty cool edition too. First of all, it's a hardcover, and it's from England! I'm still planning on finding an American edition of the classic book, but until then, this one will do.

I am planning on binge reading the Finishing School series soon, so look for a series review of that in the future.

Fiddler on the Roof is a recent request of mine from Blogging for Books. I'm still waiting for it to arrive in the mail because it is such a beautiful bind up of the beloved musical. I've always wanted to see the it performed live, and I think it would be cool to see it all written down. Musicals are awesome!

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Soundtrack Saturday (6)



Hey there, everyone! It's time for another Soundtrack Saturday. Soundtrack Saturday is a meme that I created so I can share my love of books and music. It can be done a few different ways. You can either make a mini-book soundtrack that includes four songs, or you can be super creative and make a full playlist as your soundtrack. You can even create album art if you're great with graphics. It's always so much fun to see what everyone does with the meme.

So what do you have to do to participate in Soundtrack Saturday, right? It's kind of like any other meme, so there are a few rules.
  • You can use my image or make one of your own.
  • Please link me somewhere in your post.
  • Create a soundtrack for your chosen book.
  • Add your name to the link-up tool so others can find and read your post.
  • Leave a comment on my blog post.

Friday, October 10, 2014

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Damsel Distressed by Kelsey Macke

Title: Damsel Distressed
Author: Kelsey Macke
Release Date: October 14, 2014
Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17788889-damsel-distressed?ac=1

Buy Links:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
The Book Depository
Kobo

Synopsis: 
Hot girls get the fairy tales. No one cares about the stepsisters' story. Those girls don't get a sweet little ending; they get a lifetime of longing

Imogen Keegen has never had a happily ever after–in fact, she doesn’t think they are possible. Ever since her mother’s death seven years ago, Imogen has pulled herself in and out of therapy, struggled with an “emotionally disturbed” special ed. label, and loathed her perma-plus-sized status.

When Imogen’s new stepsister, the evil and gorgeous Ella Cinder, moves in down the hall, Imogen begins losing grip on the pieces she’s been trying to hold together. The only things that gave her solace–the theatre, cheese fries, and her best friend, Grant–aren’t enough to save her from her pain this time.

While Imogen is enjoying her moment in the spotlight after the high school musical, the journal pages containing her darkest thoughts get put on display. Now, Imogen must resign herself to be crushed under the ever-increasing weight of her pain, or finally accept the starring role in her own life story.

And maybe even find herself a happily ever after.

Enhance the experience with the companion soundtrack,
Imogen Unlocked, by the author's band, Wedding Day Rain.

If you're interested in learning more about my reading experience with the novel, Damsel Distressed, check out my review.



Damsel Distressed is the story of Imogen, a girl who's survived the years after her mother's death by focusing squarely on her best friend, Grant, musical theatre, and lots of cheese. The book is full of humor and heart, and also contains a few surprises. Full page sketches are scattered throughout the novel, and each one contains a QR code that corresponds to a song from the book's soundtrack. Imogen Unlocked is a 12-song album of original music written by the author and her husband Daron as their indie-pop band, Wedding Day Rain. Together, the book Damsel Distressed and the soundtrack Imogen Unlocked work together to tell the story of a girl who might just make her own Happily Ever After, if she can just hold herself together. 

Track Listing:
  1. Heavy
  2. No Goodbye
  3. Something About
  4. Sinking
  5. Don't Wake Me Up
  6. Let Me Go
  7. My Strength
  8. Unseen
  9. Always Too Late
  10. The End is Just the Beginning
  11. Breathe Easy
  12. Edge of the Fall


Kelsey Macke has been creative for as long as she can remember. From an early age she was on stage singing, penning poetry, and writing notebooks full of songs. When the idea for her debut novel, DAMSEL DISTRESSED, popped into her head, she was undeterred by the fact that she had no idea how to actually write a novel. Her bff, the internet, was her guide, and after much trial, error, and candy, she finished it, and set out to get it published… a process far more difficult than, the internet (now her mortal enemy), had lead her to believe.

Her whirlwind adventure was made even more unbelievable when she signed with fabulous agent, Jessica Sinsheimer of the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency and, shortly after, Danielle Ellison of Spencer Hill Contemporary bought her debut.

This innovative, mixed-media art project has given Kelsey an incredibly unique opportunity to join two of her passions: writing and making music with her husband as half of the folky, indie-pop band Wedding Day Rain.

DAMSEL DISTRESSED, and the companion album of original songs, Imogen Unlocked, are scheduled for release in October 2014.

Find Kelsey Here: 

http://kelseymacke.com/homehttp://twitter.com/KelsNotChels

https://www.facebook.com/authorkelseymacke
http://kelsnotchels.tumblr.com/https://www.youtube.com/user/kelsnotchels



Here's an excerpt from Damsel Distressed:

They’ve been lying from the start. From the first time we hear the words “once upon a time,” we’re fed the idea that these girls— these gorgeous, demure, singing-with-the-wildlife girls—get a happy ending. And I get it. Poor thing had to do some chores around the house, fine. But the idea that she needs a magic old lady to come down and skim off the dirt so the prince will see her beauty? That’s ridiculous. Maybe she should have been working on her lockpicking skills instead of serenading squirrels. She could have busted out, hitched a ride to the castle, and impressed the prince with her safe-cracking prowess.


Sorry, magic-fairy lady. She didn’t need your help. The deck’s already stacked in her favor. Why? Because she’s the golden girl. She’s the star. No one cares about the stepsisters’ stories. Those girls don’t get a sweet little ending. They get a lifetime of longing.


Seriously.


Hot girls get the fairy tales.


Hot girls like my stepsister.

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Thursday, October 9, 2014

TBR Thursday (4)

TBR Thursday is a meme that was started by Sarah (Words with Sarah). What you need to do to participate is find a book that has been on your TBR list for three or more months, and make a conscious effort to read it. You'll then make a post and link back to Sarah's blog.

It's been a while since I've participated in TBR Thursday, but only because I've been reading a lot of newer releases. The book I'm focusing on this week is technically a brand new book, but I've been waiting for it for a while.

This week, I'm reading The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey. It is the highly anticipated sequel to The 5th Wave

I read The 5th Wave this past summer, and I immediately knew that I needed to read the sequel. I waited and waited. I pre-ordered the book. But... when it got to my house, I had a busy schedule full of ARCs and R2Rs. But I have some spare time right now, and I am reading this baby before anyone spoils it for me!


Synopsis:
How do you rid the Earth of seven billion humans? Rid the humans of their humanity.

Surviving the first four waves was nearly impossible. Now Cassie Sullivan finds herself in a new world, a world in which the fundamental trust that binds us together is gone. As the 5th Wave rolls across the landscape, Cassie, Ben, and Ringer are forced to confront the Others’ ultimate goal: the extermination of the human race.

Cassie and her friends haven’t seen the depths to which the Others will sink, nor have the Others seen the heights to which humanity will rise, in the ultimate battle between life and death, hope and despair, love and hate.


So what are you reading this week? As always, feel free to let me know in the comments! I'd love to see all the picks you've made.

Happy reading!