Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan’s life. She’s stuck at JFK, late to her father’s second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley’s never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport’s cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he’s British, and he’s in seat 18C. Hadley’s in 18A. 

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver’s story will make you believe that true love finds you when you’re least expecting it.

I’m not joking when I say that every review I have read gave this novel positive feedback. Let’s face it; The Statistical Probability of Love at First Site has a really cute summary and a really cute cover. Going in, I had a very high expectation for this book. I think my high hopes negatively affected my thoughts on this novel in the end…

Smith does not hesitate to kick the book off right away. The prologue itself asks the “what if?” questions I ask myself almost every day. Most YA books today are written in first person; it was refreshing to discover that this novel is written in the third person. I connected with Hadley not only because I related to her thoughts and feelings, but also because the third person allowed me to picture myself in her shoes.

The highlight of this novel is the juxtaposing ideas throughout the story. Life and death is one theme, while another is love and hate. The two both overlap in the lives of Hadley and Oliver, just like they do in reality. Smith presents these themes in a way that brings out the delicate beauty of life, beginning with the quote from Charles Dickens. This juxtaposition of ideas happens to be my favorite part of the novel because of how well-done it is written.

While reading this novel I found it hard to keep my full attention. At some parts, I was really into the novel; at other parts I wasn’t. I predicted many parts of the story and became annoyed with Hadley here and there. Because this novel takes place in a period of twenty-four hours, it skips around a lot. The book focuses on the time spent when Hadley and Oliver are together and I’m still not sure how I feel about the lack of other story scenes…

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Site is a sad but sweet story about chance between a boy and a girl. It makes you smile and cry at once and wish that you would meet your true love like this. If you are a fan of romance and believe in fate, the probability of enjoyment is 100%.

Summary:

She fell for him in a nighttime world. But the time for dreaming is past—and the here-and-now can be just as fragile their love… 

When Theia Alderson first encountered a mysterious, handsome boy in her dreams, she never imagined how finding Haden Black—and falling in love—could change her life. To save Haden, Theia sacrificed everything. And the dangerous bargain she made could have lasting repercussions. 

Now Theia has returned to Serendipity Falls, and she finds herself struggling with the same deadly hungers that have tortured Haden. When students at their high school fall prey to a mysterious illness, Theia can’t help but wonder if Haden’s control is slipping—and how much longer she’ll have a grip on her own. 

And still the nightmare realm of Under won’t let them go. Someone from Haden’s past is determined to destroy Theia from the inside out, starting with those closest to her, forcing Theia to choose between family and friends and a love that may have been doomed from the start…

Giveaway:

-A copy of  Dreaming Awake
-A mystery book! When I choose the winner, I’ll send out a list of books that the winner can choose from to receive along with Dreaming Awake.

To Enter:

All you have to do is comment below with an e-mail address. Please check out my contest policy for rules. US only. Contest ends on January 27th at 11:59 PM EST.

1. What was the thing that sparked the idea for your novel?

Well, Dreaming Awake is a sequel, so the thing that sparked the idea for this novel was more or less… the first book and a contract.

But I had no idea what to write, at first, because I had originally pitched Falling Under as a standalone book. In my search for the sequel ideas, I only had to look to my characters.

So many times, we read books or watch movies where the hero saves the girl and they live happily ever after…what happens after? And what if the hero didn’t think of everything during the rescue? And what if the heroine needs to save herself? So, I looked to Theia to tell me what happens when your happily ever after is flawed.

2. Did your own experiences and attitude play a role in developing Theia’s character?

Theia is the anti-Gwen in so, so many ways. She makes a lot of decisions that make me want to wring her neck. I have to back away from my laptop a lot or I would insinuate myself into her character to try to fix her–which wouldn’t be true to character. We have a love/hate relationship. I want to hug her and then ground her to her room for a year.

3. A majority of teenage girls would do anything to have Haden; would you date him if you had the chance?

Absolutely not! For one thing…who wants a mother-in-law like Mara?

Just kidding.

I loved writing Haden. He’s complex and twisted and naive and world-weary at the same time. Plus, he knows how to work a cravat.

4. Do you listen to music while you write? If you do, is there any artist or album that is constantly on repeat?

I listen to music while I’m getting ready to write and in between writing, but not during the actual putting down the words. As far as constant repeat, I listened to a lot of Neverending White Lights from Canada for Theia and Haden. And Poe. There is also a cover of “Sweet Dreams” from the Eurrthmics done by Marilyn Manson that really sets the mood for Under.

5. If you could work with any author, who would it be and why?

I would love to collaborate with Joss Whedon someday! He doesn’t write novels…yet…but his screenwriting is amazing. His characters are so rich and unexpected. And his villians….you know it’s good writing when you love the hero, but can’t help but love the villain too.

She fell for him in a nighttime world. But the time for dreaming is past—and the here-and-now can be just as fragile their love… 

When Theia Alderson first encountered a mysterious, handsome boy in her dreams, she never imagined how finding Haden Black—and falling in love—could change her life. To save Haden, Theia sacrificed everything. And the dangerous bargain she made could have lasting repercussions. 

Now Theia has returned to Serendipity Falls, and she finds herself struggling with the same deadly hungers that have tortured Haden. When students at their high school fall prey to a mysterious illness, Theia can’t help but wonder if Haden’s control is slipping—and how much longer she’ll have a grip on her own. 

And still the nightmare realm of Under won’t let them go. Someone from Haden’s past is determined to destroy Theia from the inside out, starting with those closest to her, forcing Theia to choose between family and friends and a love that may have been doomed from the start…

Falling Under introduced me to Theia’s intricate life; Dreaming Under continues her story with a plot I did not see coming. If you enjoyed Hayes’ first novel, I promise that the sequel is just as good.

Dreaming Under picks up directly where the last book leaves off, which I was very happy about. Since no time has passed, there are no random details of what happens in the time between the two books. Hayes’ writing style doesn’t change, keeping the characters in character. One thing I got annoyed with though is the summarizing of the events from the first novel. I understand that important details from the first book are supposed to be added to help readers remember the storyline, but I think it is a little overdone.

Even though Haden stole my heart in the beginning, I was happy to see his character develop more in the sequel. He has the qualities of a dangerous heart-throb but Theia still manages to point out the awkward teen boy in him. I love that he isn’t the ‘perfect’ hero that almost every YA books make the guy seem. Thank you Gwen Hayes for making Haden even more lovable by adding a realistic quality to him!

The theme from the first novel is ‘up is down and down is up.’ I was very happy to find out that it continues. The idea becomes more important, making the story a lot more intense than the first novel. The author continues the theme in an original way that makes this book stand out from the others.  

As much as I enjoyed this book, the one thing that really bothered me is its over-sexualization. Yes, it makes sense that lust plays a part in the novel, but I found the topic repeats too much. I just got bored with the idea. There are plenty of other things the characters could have focused on. To me, focusing on one topic just didn’t make sense.

Dreaming Under goes in a direction I should have predicted, but didn’t. A lot of the events/actions/decisions are predictable. The book isn’t really set into motion until two-thirds of the way in. After that point, I never wanted to put the novel down. At the end, I also saw a lot of details come full circle and I’m always amazed that authors are able to do that.

Dreaming Under is an enjoyable read. I recommend this series to anyone who loves supernatural romance. Fans of Twilight will definitely enjoy Hayes’ books. If you’ve read Falling Under, I suggest you read the sequel. I hope there will be a third book!

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Julie Klam was thirty, single, and working as a part-time clerk in an insurance company, wondering if she would ever meet the man she could spend the rest of her life with. And then it happened. She met the irresistible Otto, her first in a long line of Boston terriers, and fell instantly in love. 

You Had Me at Woof is the often hilarious and always sincere story of how one woman discovered life’s most important lessons from her relationships with her canine companions. From Otto, Julie realized what it might feel like to find “the one.” She learned to share her home, her heart, and her limited resources with another, and she found an authentic friend in the process. But that was just the beginning.

Over the years her brood has grown to one husband, one daughter, and several Boston terriers. And although she had much to learn about how to care for them-walks at 2 a.m., vet visits, behavior problems-she was surprised and delighted to find that her dogs had more wisdom to convey to her than she had ever dreamed. And caring for them has made her a better person-and completely and utterly opened her heart. Riotously funny and unexpectedly poignant, You Had Me at Woof recounts the hidden surprises, pleasures, and revelations of letting any mutt, beagle, terrier, or bulldog go charging through your world.

If dogs could talk they would tell humans to stop teaching them tricks and instead tell us to learn something from Julie Klam instead.  You Had Me At Woof is a dog story that everyone can relate to, whether or not they have a canine friend. This heartfelt biography of one woman and many dogs will make the reader laugh, cry and appreciate life just that much more.

The narrator, Julie Klam, begins her story by saying that she was “going through a period of fogginess in [her life] and [was] looking for clarity.” It sets the story up for her decision to get a dog, which is the clarity needed. “As it turns out in life, very little ends up being how you think it’s going to be,” Klam writes in the middle of her story full of surprises, failures, heartbreak and love. All can agree that life is unpredictable. Just like Klam’s life would not be the same without that first choice to get a dog, our life would not be the same without the decisions we make.

Klam’s voice is simple and casual, making the book easy to fall into. She writes as if she is talking to a friend (that does not yet know her story), detailing the events and her thoughts as needed. Each word is genuine, evoking emotion, empathy and sympathy from the reader when needed.

Even though Klam’s voice is enjoyable, her pacing is not consistent.  She writes that “there is great value in putting your toe in the water!” The beginning of the novel seems rushed, as if the author was in a hurry to test the waters. Part of the title is “How Dogs Taught Me the Secret of Happiness” and that theme came very quickly. The middle of her story is even while each event is explained in a smooth and steady pace. At the end, the book slows as it comes to a finish like a person getting bored of the water quickly.

Each dog is what brings this story to life. After explaining an event that revolves around an elderly canine, Klam says “we were all happy to know that life could surprise us just when we thought we were done.” In this book, humans are able to understand relationships better and see that life is full of surprises through dogs, showing how dogs really do teach the secrets of happiness.

I’m excited for 2012! (Did you know that 2012 is the year of the dragon?) Do you guys have any resolutions? I don’t… but I’m sure I’ll come up with something eventually. Anyways, because 2012 is coming it’s time to highlight my favorites of the year! The books that I’m posting are what I think were the bests of this year.

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Best Books of 2011

Divergent by Veronica Roth

In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. 

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she’s chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she’s kept hidden from everyone because she’s been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her. 

Why it’s on this list:

I heard amazing things about this book but didn’t get to read it until my friend gave me the book and wouldn’t let me give it back to her until I read it. The summary hadn’t jumped out at me when I read it so it wasn’t a must-read. I quickly fell into Beatrice’s world. I was really curious about the way this dystopian worked and I’m not joking when I say that everything in this book interested me. Although this book reminded me of other books, I also found it to be original. There are really no other words to explain how much I enjoyed this book; when you read it, you’ll understand.

The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder

Dry, sarcastic, sixteen-year-old Cam Cooper has spent the last seven years in and out hospitals. The last thing she wants to do in the short life she has left is move 1,500 miles away to Promise, Maine – a place known for the miraculous events that occur there. But it’s undeniable that strange things happen in Promise: everlasting sunsets; purple dandelions; flamingoes in the frigid Atlantic; an elusive boy named Asher; and finally, a mysterious envelope containing a list of things for Cam to do before she dies. As Cam checks each item off the list, she finally learns to believe – in love, in herself, and even in miracles.

Why it’s on my list:

I love Cam. She is nothing like me, and I think that’s why I love her. While reading, I sighed in disappointment when she made certain decisions that I would never make. Cam is frightened, yet fearless. Life is all about living and I really believe Cam started to live when she made the decision to complete her bucket list. I desperately want to explore the world around me and live outside my comfort zone and Cam does that even though things aren’t going great for her. The story plot and other characters are also great, which is the reason this novel makes my list.

 Eona: The Last Dragoneye by Alison Goodman

Eon has been revealed as Eona, the first female Dragoneye in hundreds of years. Along with fellow rebels Ryko and Lady Dela, she is on the run from High Lord Sethon’s army. The renegades are on a quest for the black folio, stolen by the drug-riddled Dillon; they must also find Kygo, the young Pearl Emperor, who needs Eona’s power and the black folio if he is to wrest back his throne from the selfstyled “Emperor” Sethon. Through it all, Eona must come to terms with her new Dragoneye identity and power-and learn to bear the anguish of the ten dragons whose Dragoneyes were murdered. As they focus their power through her, she becomes a dangerous conduit for their plans. . . .

I’ve patiently waited two years for this sequel to release. The first book is amazing, the sequel is amazing, and I’ve come to the conclusion that Alison Goodman is amazing. Eona is really long but every word is worth it. The plot is detailed, original, and mind-boggling. Eona is also a kick-ass character, which makes the book that much better. I think that the world of Eona is one of the best fantasy worlds, which is why it makes my list.

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Do any of these books make your list? What books are on your list?

In this powerful novel, award-winning author Paolo Bacigalupi delivers a thrilling, fast-paced adventure set in a vivid and raw, uncertain future.

(**I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a thoughtful review.)

Ship Breaker introduces Nailer, a young teen whose job is to scavenge parts of ships. The first page quickly sets the story in motion with an interesting scene of the protagonist, Nailer, clambering through a ship in the dark, pulling out parts of worth. I was immediately engrossed in the story, curious as to why the boy was doing what he was.

Although luck is a reoccurring theme, the novel’s main focus is survival of the fittest. Many people are nicknamed out of their believed luck, but it is Nailer’s morals and intelligence that drive him forward. The protagonist’s exact age is never noted which made the novel more enjoyable for me. I’ve noticed that I’m not able to connect as much with characters younger than myself and not knowing Nailer’s age allowed me to connect with the novel. Even though it is understood that he is younger than sixteen, the voice Bacigalupi creates has a mature tone to it. This book is in the YA genre, but I think the writing and storyline will entertain audiences of many different ages.

I really liked and understood Nailer. He is classed stereotypically because of his work and difficult life and at times people assume they know what he will do or what his motives are. Many labels are put on different characters in this novel, but almost all are broken. I think that addressing never-ending issues, like stereotyping, in books helps more and more people understand it. The more awareness a subject has, the more it is understood and hopefully not practiced.

Even though I enjoyed Nailer, I found Nita to be very boring. The protagonist constantly has vacillating thoughts and judgments and conflicting emotions whereas Nita’s character is very flat. Yes, she defies her stereotype of a stuck-up, lazy rich girl and argues with other characters. There wasn’t a part where her actions or words stuck out to me, which is a disappointment because I expected her to make an impact on me due to her importance to the story and Nailer’s interest in her.

I also realized how carefully planned the details in this novel are. The novel makes a full circle, starting at a certain place in the beginning and ending at the same place. I know “coming full circle” can be taken negatively in some situations, but this is the opposite; I found it really interesting and thought-provoking that Nailer ended where he had started as a completely different person. In addition to that, each scene is described in detail so I found it fairly easy to picture what was happening.

Ship Breaker is a pleasant read. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who is looking for a novel without a romance-centric story, or who enjoys adventure. Check it out, you never know… (:

So far, reading 100 books is really the only goal I’ve set and attempted to accomplish. Yes, I had said that my goal was to update more and such. The difference between those goals was that I was serious about one; I just wanted the other to happen. It’s good to set goals for yourself but you are only going to reach them if you strive for them.

As a blogger, I have found that I get more things accomplished when I set goals for myself. Each month I get a few books to review and recently I haven’t had time to read. I have tons of books I would like to read but I have told myself that the books for review must be finished first. I’ve been able to finish each book before I get the next one which, right now, is good for me.

Setting goals for yourself shows you want change (for the better). This advice is for anyone, but it works if you are a reader and a blogger. A few of my friends write down the list of books they have to read and then check it off as they go along. Personally, I think this is smart idea. I mentally make lists but end up forgetting half of the books on it by the next month.

With new novels coming out each month, I know that you can get a little behind on keeping up with it all. Especially when you have to throw work, school, clubs, etc. into the equation, things can get hectic. Setting goals for yourself helps you manage your time and who doesn’t like having time? I think you guys should try it… (:

(Check out my managing time post here.)

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What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths – until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

16 year old Grace was reared in the wilderness. Her first pet was a bear named Simon. Her first potty, an oak tree. And, her first swing, a forest vine. Grace has lived in the Smokies all her life, patrolling with her forest ranger father who taught her everything he knew about wildlife, tracking, and wilderness survival. 

When Grace’s dad goes missing on a routine patrol, unlike everyone in her sleepy mountain town, she refuses to believe he’s dead. After finding a Cheetos bag and stolen government file, Grace is convinced she’s one step closer to proving all the non-believers wrong.

One day, while out tracking clues, Grace is rescued from imminent danger by Mo, a hot guy who has an intoxicating accent and a secret. Grace has never felt a connection like this before, certainly not with her ex-boyfriend, the adoring, but decidedly unrugged, Wyn. 

After a few run-ins with the town’s police chief, her father’s partner, and some new evidence, Grace travels deeper into the wilderness that has always been her refuge only to learn that her father’s disappearance is not a mere coincidence. 

Soon she’s enmeshed in a web of conspiracy, deception, and murder. And it’s going to take a lot more than a compass and a motorcycle (named Lucifer) for this kick-butting heroine to emerge from an epidemic that’s spreading like wild fire, threatening everything and everyone she’s ever loved.

Check it out: Goodreads, Amazon

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Four books
Two Days
Great Prizes!

With this contest, there is something for everyone and it’s SO simple to be in on the winning!

On November 28 and/or 29, purchase 1 or all 4 of the debut author’s books listed here. Then forward proof of purchase (the receipt Amazon sends you will do just fine) to : motionsrider@yahoo.ca and get up to 4 entries into a draw for a $100 Amazon gift card!

It’s that easy, no reviews, no hoops to jump through. Just a great .99 book or two. Or three or four. AND, if the person who wins the $100 Amazon Gift Card has purchased all 4 books, an additional $25 Amazon Gift Card will be awarded to the winner!

On top of that, 2 random commenter’s picked from 2 of our participating blogs will receive $5 gift Amazon gift cards . So, be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think of the promo, the books, or the authors.

Winners will be chosen randomly, one entry per person, per book.

All winners will be announced on December 7th on Wringing Out Words.

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“Between” by Cyndi Tefft

It just figures that the love of Lindsey Water’s life isn’t alive at all, but the grim reaper, complete with a dimpled smile, and Scottish accent.

After transporting souls to heaven for the last 300 years, Aiden MacRae has all but given up on finding the one whose love will redeem him and allow him entry through the pearly gates.

Torn between her growing attraction to Aiden and heaven’s siren song, Lindsey must learn the hard way whether love really can transcend all boundaries.

Check it out on Amazon here !

“Until Dawn: Last Light” by Jennifer Simas

When darkness falls, whose side will you be on?

For the past six years, Zoë has been anything but “normal.” Struggling to accept her immortality and thrown into a war that’s been waging in the shadows for over a thousand years, Zoë must now become who she was meant to be, joining the other Chosen to save what’s left of humanity. When the endless night falls over the Earth, will she be able to save the one man who reminds her of what it is to be human, or will it be too late?

Until Dawn: Last Light is a story of death and despair, love and longing, hope and hopelessness, and the ability to survive and keep going even when it seems impossible – when you want nothing more than to give up.

Check it out Amazon here!

“The Kayson Cycle” by Jonathan D. Allen

A stranger enters a dying town and makes a desperate plea…

The Kayson Cycle introduces the Kayson Brothers, a pair of faith healers who once wowed crowds in a traveling show but went their separate ways after a night in which a healing took a dark turn. Jeffrey Kayson disappeared into the wilderness and William Kayson, wracked by guilt, moved to the failing mining town of Calico Hills to build a nice, quiet life – one that has lasted for over ten years.

His quiet, predictable life crumbles when a mysterious stranger walks into his tavern bearing a proposal to find his long-lost brother and do the one thing that William has sworn to never do again – have his brother heal a woman. William soon learns that he can’t escape his family – or his destiny.

(Includes an exclusive sample chapter of The Corridors of the Dead. Please note that this is a Kindle Single, and around 6,000 words in length.)

Check it out on Amazon here!

“Sundered” by Shannon Mayer

A miracle drug, Nevermore, spreads like wildfire throughout the world allowing people to eat what they want, and still lose weight. It is everything the human population has ever dreamed of and Mara is no different. Only a simple twist of fate stops her from taking Nevermore.

As the weeks roll by, it becomes apparent that Nevermore is not the miracle it claimed. A true to life nightmare, the drug steals the very essence that makes up humanity and unleashes a new and deadly species on the world that is bent on filling its belly. Locked down within their small farm home, Mara and her husband Sebastian struggle against increasingly bad odds, fighting off marauders and monsters alike.

But Sebastian carries a dark secret, one that more than threatens to tear them apart, it threatens to destroy them both and the love they have for each other.

Now Mara must make the ultimate choice. Will she live for love, or will she live to survive?

Check it out on Amazon here!