March 23, 2011

Curse Workers Giveaway WINNER


Hi!


So, I'm just going to get on with it because you're all skipping to the name anyway.

CONGRATULATIONS BEEZER!
You've won an ARC of Holly Black's Red Glove!

Thank you to every single one of you who entered.  I loved reading all the comments.

I’m sorry if you didn’t win, which means I’m sorry about 50 times.  I wish I had a copy to mail to all of you.  I also wish I had enough money to mail a copy to all of you.
I already have an idea for another contest ... But I'm not going to discuss that now.
Beezer, please email me at readandriot2@gmail.com to claim your prize!  Otherwise, I’ll have to chose another winner.  Although, I’m sure everyone doesn’t want you to email me.
I hope all of you love Red Glove, and to those of you who haven’t red White Cat … GET ON THAT!

Love,
Terri

March 15, 2011

Top Ten Tuesday (3)


Hello!

It's time for another Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!
This week's topic is:  Top Ten Characters I'd Want As Family Members!
I was very, very excited for this one.

1.  From Harry Potter:  Harry Potter as my husband.
Everyone who knows me knows how much I love everything Harry Potter, so this really shouldn't come as a surprise.

2.  From Harry Potter:  Hermione Granger as my sister.
Sister, best friend, it can be the same thing, right?  I know she's a know-it-all, but she's loyal and fierce.  I wanted to be her best friend the entire time I was reading Harry Potter.

3.  From Harry Potter:  Minerva McGonagall as my aunt.
I loved her before she kicked butt in Deathly Hallows.  She was wise, and her feud with Umbridge was hilarious.  Professor McGonagall always put the students first, even if it meant bending the rules a little.  She had a good heart.

4.  From Kelley Armstrong's Otherworld series:  Antonio Sorrentino as my uncle.
Antonio would be the perfect uncle.  Hands down.  He's a big ball of fun.  I laugh when reading about him.  However, he knows when to act like an adult.  His personality is the perfect balance.

5.  From Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels:  Stephanie Plum as my cousin.
Stephanie Plum gets sucked into the most ridiculous situations, and so far she's come out alive. She's a hilarious character, and I wouldn't be able to take her seriously if she were my aunt or mother.  Plus, I would love to eat a meal at her mother's house.

6.  From Holly Black's Curse Workers series:  Cassel Sharpe as my cousin.
As much as I don't want to be related to Cassel I still want to be there for him.  He has enough on his plate with Lila and his family, and I just want to give him a hug.

7. From Sheree Fitch's Pluto's Ghost: Jake Upshore as my godfather.
Now, I need to explain this one. In the novel Jake is 17/18. I don't want his teenage self to be my godfather. Jake is an amazing character, and as he grows up he's going to learn and get a handle on his life. I want someone I look up to to have that life experience.

8.  From Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games trilogy:  Finnick as my uncle.
You can love Peeta.  You can love Gale.  But now matter what, you love Finnick.  Finnick was resourceful, kind, charming, and tortured.  He would give incredible advice.

9.  From Beth Revis' Across The Universe:  Amy as my sister.
Amy could not have been more relatable.  I saw pieces of myself in her character.

10. From Sarah Dessen's Just Listen: Owen Armstrong as my cousin.
Owen was a angry misunderstood character. He had an expansive collection of music which suits me. I felt like we all had a little bit of Owen in us.

Who would you choose?

Love,
Terri

PS: Did YOU see today's Glee?

Song of the day: Who Says by Selena Gomez

March 14, 2011

Love List (2)

Hello everybody,


This past Valentine's Day I made a list of things, people, places, anything that I love.  It made me so happy that I continued adding to it.  I thought, why not share it with you?
So, that's exactly what I'm doing.  I'm posting another list of things I love today, and I'm going to continue posting a Love List the 14th of every month.
I figure that I should always be able to find something I love.  If I can't then that's just sad.


I love ...
The blue sweater I stole from a friend and she let me keep.
The ring my Babcia gave me.
S Club 7.
The trees in autumn.
Tangle free hair.
Christmas carols.
Apples.
Professor Minerva McGonagall.
Ewan McGregor in a kilt.
Sharing milkshakes.
That fuzzy feeling when you first wake up.
Glitter glue.
Things that are alphabetical.
Alphabetizing things.
Raspberry flavoured things.
Learning how to speak Polish.
The stars at my cottage.
Roasting marshmallows.
Kami Garcia.
Using all the hot water.
The Magic School Bus.
Fingerless gloves.
Free popcorn refills.
Talking.
Kate Voegele's voice.
The Hannah Montana Movie.
Rogers on Demand.
Margaret Stohl.
The Mandarin.
Stuffed animals.
Knowing that song that's playing.
The Fool in King Lear.
Used bookstore finds.
Top Ten Tuesday.
My Read & Riot buttons.
Emma Watson.
She's The Man.
Cadbury mini eggs.
Rose Mannering.
Crazily colourful socks.
My purple blanket.
My purple Teen Read Awards 2010 bracelet that came off and was never to be seen again.
The birthmark on my hand.
Bargain books.
My Harry Potter pajamas.
The birthday gift V gave me.
Lord_Voldemort07's tweets.
My moon boots.
Back massages.  Foot massages.  Is there a bad massage?  No, there is not.
Finger painting.
Baking.
Play-doh.
New bookcase smell.
Across the Universe by Beth Revis.
How everything is grey when it's dark.
What The Hell by Avril Lavigne.
My aardvark plushie.
Veronica Mars.
Taking chances.
Kick a** heroines and bad a** boys.


Love,
Terri

March 9, 2011

Curse Workers Giveaway


Hi!

Hello to my followers, and welcome to all new blog readers!
This is my first ever giveaway, and I might be more excited than you.
I will be giving away an Advanced Reader's Copy of Red Glove by Holly Black.  It's time to get excited!

Red Glove is the sequel to White Cat, and if you haven't read White Cat yet YOU NEED TO GET ON IT.  What are you doing reading my blog?!  GO TO A BOOK STORE RIGHT NOW!

This giveaway has a (small) story behind it.  If you want to enter this contest you're going to have to read my rant.  I actually received my first copy of Red Glove in December 2010.  I read it, loved it, and reviewed it.  It's quite fitting that my first giveaway is of the first book I reviewed.  Anyway, last month I received a second copy.  I know, I know, it's not fair that I have two copies and so many people are waiting for it.  I agree.  That is exactly why I'm giving one of them away.

In a comment below tell me what you want to see happen in Red Glove.

Contest Rules:
Open internationally
You must comment to enter
You must follow this blog to be eligible
Old blog followers receive 1 extra entry (include blog follower status in the comment)
Ends:  March 22nd 2011, midnight EST

Cassel Sharpe by Vy Withers

I know some people don't feel comfortable leaving their email addresses for everyone to see, so the winner is going to claim their prize a little differently.  I will post the winner on March 23rd 2011.  They will have 48 hours to email me.  If 48 hours passes with no response another winner will be chosen.

My Red Glove Review can be found here:  Early Review:  Red Glove
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for my copies of Red Glove!
Thank you Holly Black for writing.


Thank you for taking the time to check out Read & Riot.

Love,
Terri

March 8, 2011

Top Ten Tuesday (2)

Hello,


I've found another Top Ten Tuesday I can, somewhat, accomplish.
Thanks to The Broke and the Bookish for creating this meme.
When working on this list I realized that I really need to read the classics.  So, this list is short.  Sadly, I didn't make it to 10.
Here are my Top Dynamic Duos:


1.  Harry, Hermione, & Ron
From JK Rowling's Harry Potter series
Yes, I'm aware that duo means two, but I think we can all overlook that because it's Harry Potter. Harry Potter will always have a special place in my heart.  I love rereading them.
We can all agree that these characters have had their disagreements, but they always looked out for each other.  They would have died for one another.


2.  Frodo & Sam
From JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series
I haven't read The Lord of the Rings.  Please don't yell at me.  I will read them!
Based on the films Frodo and Sam build an incredible bond.  I still hate watching when Frodo turns on Sam.  However, Sam never gave up on his best friend, and that made the story even better.


3.  Taylor Swift & Music
Whoever gave that girl a microphone is a genius.

4.  Percy & Annabeth
From Percy Jackson
The son of Poseidon and daughter of Athena should have been mortal (or immortal, haha) enemies.  They certainly had there unfriendly moments, but I loved seeing their friendship grow.  You couldn't tell what Annabeth was thinking, because she wasn't only loyal to Percy.  In fact, they barely trusted one another for the longest time.  It was wonderful seeing it turn around.

5.  Irial & Niall
From Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series
It's strongly eluded that these two had a romantic relationship.  However, I'm blind and didn't realize this until the fifth and final book.  Whether Irial and Niall are romantically involved or otherwise they make an unstoppable pair.  They had a long history, and even found a way back to each other after a fallout that lasted centuries

6.  Benson & Stabler
From Law & Order SVU
I love this show, and I have no idea what that says about my personality.
Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler are partners working with Manhattan SVU.  They've known one another for years.  They've saved each other's lives.  They've wanted to kill the other person.  They've covered each other's butts.  They're one of my favourite duos to watch.


7.  Ross & Rachel
From Friends
I shouldn't even have to explain this one.
Ross loved Rachel for years, but the timing was never right, or one of them did something very stupid.  You loved them when they were together, and you loved them apart.  I, personally, loved how they ended up.


8.  Miley Cyrus & Hannah Montana
From Hannah Montana
Same girl.  Two worlds.  The only difference is her colour of hair.  I haven't found two sides of one person displayed so obviously.  I'm a fan of the catchy tunes, and it's perfect for kids too.  When you're older you can understand the themes of the show.


Song of the day:  Blah Blah Blah by Ke$ha


PS:  Did YOU see Glee?


Love,
Terri

March 7, 2011

Book Review: Haven


Title: Haven
Author: Kristi Cook
Length: 401 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse (an imprint of Simon & Schuster)
On-Sale Date: February 22, 2011
Format: Hardcover


Haven is Violet’s story.  Her mother passed away when she was little, and she’s still feeling the aftershocks of her dad’s death.  With only a preoccupied step-mom and sweet elderly grandmother left, Violet chooses to attend a boarding school named Winterhaven.  She immediately feels as if she belongs.
But Violet has a secret.  She has visions of death and injury about the people she’s closest to.
When Violet meets Aidan she’s drawn in.  The Aidan Effect they call it.  But somehow it’s more.  So, it’s not unexpected when Violet sees Aidan’s death.  The shock is that she sees herself as the killer.
Can Violet change her vision?  Or does she end up killing the boy she loves?

I found myself very conflicted about Haven.  But let’s be honest, it was far from my favourite read.
I liked the characters, but I could not say that I loved them.
There was a point where I was more entertained by the love interest than the narrator.  I found Aidan to be smarter than Violet, which was expected as he was more than a century older than her.  Violet was unsure of herself and too malleable.  She should have been an iconic character, but instead of standing up, she blended in.  She didn’t own her individuality, and she would have been an amazing heroine, if she had.  Violet started to own up to her heritage and abilities near the end, but it wasn’t enough.
You saw an improvement in Violet as the story progressed, but it was slow paced.  As the series (I’m hoping it’s a series) is continued, Violet will have a chance to become comfortable in her character.
Haven caught me at the end, but lost me many times in the middle.  When a page was turned or a new paragraph was started it seemed like something was missing.  Sentences had to be reread.  But it turned out just to be the writing style.  Once invested in the novel, I was almost able to get a handle on the rough transitions.
I wasn’t moved.  Haven didn’t make me emotional or lose control.  There was no crying or laughing … Or throwing said book across the room.  There might have been some screaming though.
I didn’t want to jump in and save Violet.  I wanted her to save herself, because she was capable of it.  I wished Violet was strong enough to see that.  A story is only as strong as it’s characters.
As for Aidan, he was always hot and cold.  Although he was sure of his feelings toward our heroine he did his best to stay away from her.  Yes, it would generally be safer for the monsters to be kept at bay, but it’s been done before.
Aidan and Violet could not be in a relationship, because of extenuating supernatural circumstances, but they spent their separation wallowing.  At least Aidan was productive and tried to better his situation.  As he was, he and Violet couldn’t have a future.
I enjoyed the reality within the supernatural.  Violet was scarred and suffering, and just trying to move on.  She found someone who was even more damaged than she could possibly be, and she held on tight.
My interest was heightened by the spin put on Aidan's character. I hope that plot point is explored further.
I couldn’t help but draw parallels to Twilight when I read this book.  Girl moved to a new town, enrolled in a new school, made new friends.  And she found a supernatural boyfriend too.  Frankly, this sort of supernatural plot is my bread and butter, but something was missing from Haven.
The major problem I had with Haven was that it didn’t make me care.  Enough.  It didn’t make me feel enough.  I wanted a connection with the characters, but it just wasn’t present.
Maybe I was too hard on Violet, but there are high standards because of all the well written heroines of the past and present.

Twilight lovers should take a bite out of Haven.

I didn’t love it.  I wanted to, but I didn’t.I want the series to continue.  I want to keep reading Violet’s story.  It can only get better, right?

Rating:
Premise: 2/5
Plot: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Overall: 2.5/5