Updates!

Welcome to The Romantic Scholar, a book review blog. Thanks for stopping by and I hope that you enjoy your stay.

After an eight month long hiatus, I am back. And I could not be more excited about it.



***My comments are located at the top of my posts***

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Links

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Privacy Policy


Here at The Romantic Scholar I take your privacy very seriously. As well as your safety and identity.


For any contest that I host, I now use a form that keeps all entries confidential. Your email will never be saved or distributed to third parties. I will be the only one to ever view your email address, and after the winner of a contest is selected, all email addresses are deleted.


Since the nature of this blog is YA and occasionally older, I do recommend that no one under the age of 13 is following this blog without parental consent. Now, I cannot require this, so I do have to trust you. But please do not take this recommendation lightly. The books that I review are at a more mature level that I am sure some parents would not find appropriate.


Contest applicants:
If you win a contest, I will be contacting you via email to acquire your mailing address. Before accepting an address, I do need to ask that your are either 18 years of age or that you have received permission from your parents to give out your address. Once again, since I cannot require a signed permission form, I do have to trust you. All addresses are deleted after the book is sent to the winner.

Parents:
I always appreciate new followers, including the younger ones. I do however want to keep them safe and I want to make sure that they are in an area that is age appropriate for them. You can view all of my age recommendations in my reviews. I do recommend that my followers are at least 13 years of age to avoid inappropriate content disclosure, but as long as you approve, I am more than happy to welcome your child to my blog. If you have any questions pertaining to age appropriateness and privacy, please email me at theromanticscholar@gmail.com

Review Policy


Hello, and welcome to The Romantic Scholar.

You can reach me at theromanticscholar@gmail.com

I love reading and reviewing current and soon to be released books, as well as previously released books. If you are an author or publisher and would like me to review a particular book or ARC, please email me for my contact information. Below, you can see my specific conditions for reviewing and accepting books for review as well as how I review.

What I Like:
I prefer to read and review mainly YA books, but I will occasionally accept and read both Independent Reader and Adult books. I do have particular genres that I prefer which mainly revolve around the paranormal and fantasy genre. I also like books with underlying love stories, as well as the romance genre. I also enjoy reading chick-lit and the occasional sappy and sentimental story. Please email me the title of which you would like me to review so that I can let you know if I'm interested.

What I am Currently Not Accepting:
I apologize, but I am not accepting self-published novels at this time. I am also currently not accepting e-books, as I do not have a device on which to read them. But still feel free to email me. You never know, there are those days where reading on the computer can be fun :)

How I Review:
All of my reviews are honest and solely my opinion. And I am sorry that I cannot guarantee them to be positive. I judge based on the cover, the writing style, the content, and the character development. All of my review posts have a personal age recommendation, the cover art, a published summary of the book, and my thoughts on it. I do my best to maintain a spoiler free blog. This is solely a hobby and I do not receive any form of payment for my reviews. Also listed in my reviews is the product description of the book (publisher, page numbers, and release date) as well as where and how I received the book (sent from publisher/author, or purchased from store).

Other:
From time to time I hold contests on my blog and I like to do interviews with authors. I you are an author and would like to do an interview with me for an upcoming or newly released book, I would be more than happy to oblige. Just email me. I would be more than happy to post book trailers or any other promotional device you would like.

You can find all of my blog stats by using my sitemeter at the very bottom of the page. If you have any other questions, please, do not hesitate to contact me! :)

I also have a detailed privacy policy. You can find it here.

Monday, February 8, 2010


My Overall Rating:
4.5/5

Cover Art:
I love this cover so much better than the hardback's cover. It just so darn adorable don't you think? It really suits the story, and not just because Phoebe is a runner. It's a really cute story.

Age Recommendation:
There really aren't any red flags in this book for an age rating. I think a 12 or 13 year old reader would be fine.

Summary:
When Phoebe’s mom returns from Greece with a new husband and plans to move to an island in the Aegean Sea, Phoebe’s well-plotted senior year becomes ancient history. Now, instead of enjoying a triumphant track season and planning for college with her best friends, Phoebe is trying to keep her head above water at the überexclusive Academy.

If it isn’t hard enough being the new kid in school, Phoebe’s classmates are all descendants of the Greek gods! When you’re running against teammates with superpowers, dealing with a stepsister from Hades, and nursing a crush on a boy who is quite literally a god, the drama takes on mythic proportions!

My Review:
Ok, so we all know that senior year is tough. Looking into what school you'll be attending, doing your best to get the grades, and saving up for when you're finally on your own. This is nothing compared to Phoebe's senior year.

How would you feel if your mom randomly told you that she was getting married? And to a guy she just met. I don't know about you, but I would be majorly concerned of my mother's mental health. And on top of that, you're moving halfway around the world!? Ok, major issues there.

This is Phoebe's senior surprise. To find out her mother is getting married and that all of her hard works and dreams are going down the drain. Plans to stay with friends throughout college, and getting that full scholarship to the school of her dreams is no longer a reality.

Oh. My. Gods. was a very clever and very cute read. And not to mention, very fast. It was impossible for me to put this book down. Tera Lynn Childs did an excelent job of character development and plot development that you really get to know all of the characters and really feel like you are the one in Phoebe's shoes (and not because they are really cute Nike's).
I completely felt all of the agnst the Phoebe was dealing with, from schoolwork to issue with making new friends and enemies.

This book is an excelent read and I would recommend it to anyone because I really think that everyone can find somehting to relate to. We've all gone to or will go to high school and we've all dealt with the same sort of problems. This book just capture the whole teen angst thing really well. From being a child with one parent to having a step-parent and then moving to a knew place and having to make new friends.

I will definitely be reading this one again!

The sequel Goddess Boot Camp is on sale now and will be on sale in June in paperback.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Update

Hey guys, sorry I didn't post. I ended up having a really hectic day and I just got home from school. I would have posted sooner if my windshield wipers didn't break in the pouring down rain. Or if I didn't end up popping a tire getting on the highway. So again, I'm sorry I didn't have a review posted for you guys. I'll have one tomorrow though! Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs!!! And after that...Shadowland and an interview with Alyson Noel!!


See you all later!

Ali

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

So, I've decided to join J-Kaye's 100+ 2010 Book Challenge! I figured it would be fun to do a challenge this year. So, I will be keeping track of my reads here and in my sidebar as before.






1. The goal is to read 100 or more books. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

--Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post. To learn how to sign up without having a blog,
click here.

2. Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Manga, Graphic Novels, Library books, Novellas, Young Reader, Nonfiction –
as long as the book has an ISBN or equivalent or can be purchased as such, the book counts.

What doesn't count: Individual short stories or individual books in the Bible.

3. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

4. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010. Books started before the 1st do not count.

6. When you sign up under Mr. Linky, put the direct link to your post where your books will be listed. Include the URL to this post so that other viewers can find this fun challenge. If you’d prefer to put your list in the sidebar of your blog, please leave your viewers the link to the sign up page. Again, so viewers can join the challenge too.



Books I've read:
1) Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz
2) Evermore by Alyson Noel
3) Blue Moon by Alyson Noel
4) Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs
5) Shadowland by Alyson Noel

Tuesday, February 2, 2010


I had been given this award awhile ago and recently and decided to finally give it out. :)

I received this award from The Book Pixie and Bookworm Nation.

I'm supposed to nominate 15 bloggers that I've recently stumbled upon and think are lovely. Here we go!

I nominate:

1) My Pile Of Books
2) Bookworm Nation
3) Bookworm Readers
4) The Bookaholics
5) Book Duck
6) Pure Imagination
7) Flipping Pages For All Ages
8) Crackin' Spines & Takin' Names
9) The Book Explorer
10) Just Blinded Book Reviews
11) Sparrow Review
12) Fantasys Ink
13) The Bookologist
14) Book Eater
15) A Life Bound By Books

<3 Ali

Monday, February 1, 2010


My Overall Rating:
4.7/5

Cover Art:
I didn't like the cover art for this one as much as Evermore's. As pretty as it is, I just didn't think it portrayed the book as well. It's a very complex cover that takes a lot of dissecting to see the connection.

Summary:
Eager to learn everything she can about her new abilities as an Immortal, Ever turns to her beloved Damen to show her the way. But just as her powers are increasing, Damen’s are waning.

In an attempt to save him, Ever travels to the magical dimension of Summerland, where she learns the secrets of Damen’s tortured past; a past which he has always kept hidden from her. But in her quest to cure Damen, Ever discovers an ancient text that details the workings of time. Now Ever must choose between turning back the past and saving her family from the accident that claimed their lives—or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows sicker every day...

My Thoughts:
What would you do if your only friends abandon you and your boyfriend, your soulmate, the love of your life doesn't even want anything to do with you anymore? This is the case in the stunning sequel to Evermore.

So, I really enjoyed this sequel, although it wasn't as good as Evermore. But it was filled with so much more suspense and mystery that I still couldn't put it down.

In the sequel to the NYT Bestseller, you continue to get to know Ever and Damen and watch as their relationship flourishes and is tested in new ways. When a new student shows up, everything gets completely turned upside-down, changing Ever's life in ways she could have never imagined. Her only friends have left her and now Damen won't even speak to her.

You are taken on a journey to solve a quest and right wrongs in this book and the intensity of the emotions throughout are so realistic.

I can't get over how well Alyson writes. She really makes it feel like you are a part of the story and actually living the life that you are reading.

I will definitely be re-reading this book. It was so amazing. And it's a very easy read too, it pulls you in so much that you can't put it down and before you know it, you're done and waiting for the next one. I extremely recommend it to of course all of the readers of Evermore, but also anyone who is looking for a fresh new fantasy. Or a good little romance ;)

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Update!

Hey guys. Sorry I wasn't able to get a review up today. I was really hoping to have my review for Blue Moon up and then Shadowland so that I could have my interview up on Thursday after my memes lol. But since today was so hectic with work and traveling back to school, I wasn't able to put it up. So, I'll have that review up for you all tomorrow! Thanks for reading!


Ali :D

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Evermore (Immortals Series #1) by Alyson Noel: Book Cover

My Overall Rating:
5/5

Cover Art:
The cover art for this story is beyond perfect. It fits so well with the story and is a great foreshadowing of events in the story. I just love the tulip!

Age Rating:
There is some violence in this story so I would recommend an age of 14 or 15. I would definitely say that this would be in the middle grade of PG-13 if this book were to be a movie.

Summary:
Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch. Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste...

Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition. He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets. Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head. She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is. Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies.

My Thoughts:
I wasn't sure of what I would think when I began to read this book. But once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. This book is so addicting and with mysteries throughout, you have to keep reading to find out the answers. The characters are so individual and unique within that normalcy we see everyday so they felt real and relatable that I thought they were my own friends. I really felt like I had gotten to know them so well and was becoming Ever as I read on. Alyson Noel really outdid herself on this debut novel to her new series. And I can't wait to read and review the rest for you.

In this first installment, we meet Ever Bloom, a teenager who was orphaned after a horrible car crash. The crash took the lives of her parents, little sister, and beloved dog. Ever since, Ever couldn't understand why she was the one to live. Since the accident, Ever was taken in by her aunt Sabine and moved to a new town with new classmates and a new life with psychic powers! That is where the story begins.

A new boy comes to town and shakes everything up for Ever Bloom as well as the entire school. With this newcomer to town, Ever learns more than she could have ever known before completely turning her world upside down.

Friendships new and old are tested beyond belief in this to-die-for read. I absolutely loved this book. Like I said, I couldn't put it down, and I will definitely be reading it again. Now there are a lot of comments out there that say that this book is a lot like Twilight and Vampire Academy. I really didn't see that. Other than the fact that there is a boy and a girl. This story is very unique and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end leaving you anxious to read the next one.

I definitely recommend this book to any YA fantasy/supernatural/suspense/romance fan. It is such a great read worth your time.

Friday, January 29, 2010


So, I'm very pleased to share with you all my interview with Laurie Faria Stolarz, the author of Blue is for Nightmares, Deadly Little Lies, Bleed, and Project 17. She was such a joy to interview and I am so thankful that she agreed! Well, here it is!




Romantic Scholar: First of all, would you mind giving us a brief summary of Deadly Little Lies?

Laurie Faria Stolarz: Last fall, sixteen-year-old Camelia fell for Ben, a new boy at school who had a very mysterious gift – psychometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. But just as Camelia and Ben's romance began to heat up, he abruptly left town. Brokenhearted, Camelia has spent the last few months studying everything she can about psychometry and experiencing strange brushes with premonition. Camelia wonders if Ben's abilities have somehow been transferred to her.

Ben returns to school, but he remains aloof, and Camelia can't get close enough to share her secret with him. Camelia makes the painful decision to let him go and move on. Adam, the hot new guy at Knead, seems good for her in ways Ben wasn't. But when Camelia and Adam start dating, a surprising love triangle results. A chilling sequence of events uncovers secrets from Ben’s past – and Adam's. Someone is lying, and it's up to Camelia to figure out who – before it's too late.


View the Book Trailer for Deadly Little Secret: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fzMpVMy2fQ

RS: What inspired you to write the TOUCH series?

LFS: I wanted to write a story where the main character has to struggle with the idea of falling in love with someone who could potentially be dangerous. I tinkered with this concept in the first three books of my Blue is for Nightmares Series [(Blue is for Nightmares (Llewellyn 2003), White is for Magic (Llewellyn 2004), and Silver is for Secrets (Llewellyn 2005), as well as in Bleed (Hyperion 2006)]. In Bleed, in particular, there’s a young male character who was convicted for the murder of his girlfriend. His next relationship consists of pen pal letters he exchanges with a young girl while he’s in prison. Without giving too much away, the relationship is briefly pursued once he is released, but I wanted to bring this concept to another level.


Additionally, I wanted to continue experimenting with the supernatural (which I also use in my Blue is for Nightmares Series as well as in Project 17), showing how we all have our own inner senses and intuition, and how with work we can tap into those senses and make them stronger.

I started researching different types of supernatural powers and discovered the power of psychometry (the ability to sense things through touch). The concept fascinated me, and so I wanted to bring it out in a character, showing how sometimes even the most extraordinary powers can also be a curse.

Lastly, I wanted to apply these concepts to be part of a series. I love the idea of growing a main character over the course of several books.

RS: Do you have any favorite characters?

LFS: I love Annie Wilkes from Stephen King’s Misery. Chillingly well written.

RS: Is there a certain message within the TOUCH series you would like your readers to know?

LFS: Yes, people need to trust and listen to their instincts. There are several messages embedded in all of my books, and whichever messages makes sense and/or speak to the reader is great.

RS: You also have another book that has recently come out, the fifth installment to your Blue is for Nightmares series, Black is for Beginnings. Could you tell us a little about that?

LFS: The BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES series that put a spell on more than half a million readers continues – in graphic novel format! Prophetic nightmares. Near-brushes with death. Killers pursuing her and her friends. Stacey Brown knows that being a hereditary witch isn’t all it's cracked up to be.

All she really wants to do is work things out with Jacob and figure out what to do with the rest of her life. But before Stacey and Jacob can have a future, they must face their pasts. BLACK IS FOR BEGINNINGS reveals the never-before-seen backstory - and what lies ahead - for the young, spellcasting lovers.

BLACK continues the harrowing adventures of Stacey and Jacob in the wake of Jacob's brush with death. Ever since he lost his memory, Jacob hasn't been able to remember Stacey - his own soul mate. He leaves Massachusetts, returning to his childhood home in Colorado, hoping to jog his memory. What he remembers is Kira, his ex-girlfriend. As Jacob works to piece together his past, will there be room for Stacey in his future?

RS: What made you decide to publish it in the form of a graphic novel?

LFS: I wanted to try something different. The arcs of the first four books are similar in many respects, and so I wanted to give the series a creative spin. I felt the series was finished at four books, but readers kept asking me for a fifth. When my editor approached me with the idea of writing a graphic novel, I was very intrigued, because it gave me the opportunity to not only try something new, but to really picture the book as a movie. I have a background in screenwriting and wrote BLACK IS FOR BEGINNINGS in screenplay format, adding in ideas for illustrations and sidebars. It was an absolute thrill to write, and to have the opportunity to work with an illustrator for these characters and situations I’d created.

RS: Can we look to see any more from your Blue is for Nightmares series?

LFS: Possibly ;) We’ll see.

RS: What first inspired you to write?

LFS: I’ve been writing since before I could even hold a pen. As a small child, I was constantly telling stories to whomever would listen to me. When I’d exhausted my family with my endless babbling, I’d go out and tell my tales to the neighborhood kids – passing the stories off as truth. I’d tell of going into the meadows at night and wrestling with a mountain lion or the time I found a boa constrictor in my mom’s garden and had to grapple for my life, winding the snake from around my neck just in the knick of time. Telling stories is just something I’ve always done. I used to write plays and scripts for my Barbie dolls and make people watch the performances. My love of creating stories continued into school when I’d have to write a paragraph or short essay about what I did during Christmas vacation or summer break. I never thought my own life was exciting enough, so I was forever inventing stories.

People along the way, including some teachers, would tell me that I should pursue writing as a career but, at the time, it wasn’t a possibility. I ended up going to business school, following in my older brothers’ footsteps. It wasn’t until after I got my B.S. in marketing that I pursued my graduate degree in creative writing. I’m thankful for my marketing degree now, however, because it really helps me with my books.

RS: Do you like to have any food or drinks when you write?

LFS:
I love dark, black coffee.

RS: How much time do you usually spend writing in one sitting?

LFS: It really depends. Sometimes 15 minutes. Other times, several hours.

RS: Do you like to listen to music when you write? If so, what do you listen to?

LFS: Fergie, James Blunt, Tori Amos, Gavin Rossdale, Sting, Sarah MacLachlin, Gwen Stefani, Black-eyed Peas.

RS: Are you working on anything new right now?

LFS: Yes, I’m currently working on the edits for Deadly Little Game, the third book in the Touch Series. I’m also working on the third book in the Amanda Project (Do You See).

RS: Is there anything else you would like your readers to know?

LFS:
RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME:


1. I love what I do, and feel very grateful to be able to have this as a career.

2. I love dark chocolate, Starbucks coffee, Bertucci’s cheeseless pizza, popcorn, and Indian food (though not necessarily in one meal).

3. I watch an embarrassing amount of reality TV (it’s research after all).

4. I’m very deadline driven, giving myself weekly deadlines and agendas, so that everything gets done on time.

5. I have a background in marketing and French.

6. My first job was as a piano teacher (I was 9). I’ve also been a waitress, a supermarket cashier, worked in a ceramics studio, worked as a tour guide for international exchange students, been a teacher, a script reader, an editor, and written obituaries for a newspaper.

7. I’m a vegetarian. If I were to try my hand at a different career, it would be holistic nutritionist.

8. I love yoga, dance/aerobics classes, cooking, tennis, and power walks.

9. I often shop online, fill my basket, and then empty it all out. Does anyone else do this?

10. My readers mean the world to me.


Thanks again to Laurie for this great interview. She gave so much insight into her world and was such a joy to talk with.

Thursday, January 28, 2010


My Overall Rating:
4.5/5

Cover Art:
Again, I am blown away by the cover art for this series. The cover art fits in so well with the story. It really helps to create the atmosphere before you start to read it.

Age Rating:
I would say that any strong YA reader could handle this book. There are some mildly dark scenes as with any of Laurie's work but nothing that a 14 year old can't handle.

Summary:
Last fall, sixteen-year-old Camelia fell for Ben, the mysterious new boy at school who turned out to have a very mysterious gift- pyschometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. But just as Camelia and Ben's romance began to heat up, he abruptly left town. Brokenhearted, Camelia has spent the last few months studying everything she can about psychometry, and experiencing her own strange brushes with premonition. Camelia wonders if Ben's abilities have somehow rubbed off on her. Can the power of psychometry be transferred?

Even once Ben returns to school, Camelia can't get close enough to share her secret with him. Despite the romantic tension between them, Ben seems aloof, avoiding contact. Then when an unexpected kiss leads to a frightening argument, Camelia makes the painful decision to let Ben go and to move on. Alex, the hot new guy at Knead, seems good for her in ways Ben wasn't. Alex is easy-going, and seems to really care about her.

But when Camelia and Alex start dating, a surprising love triangle results. A chilling sequence of events upturns secrets from Ben's past- and Alex's. Someone is lying, and it's up to Camelia to figure out whom- before it's too late.


My Thoughts:
Deadly Little Lies was a phenomenal sequel to Deadly Little Secret. Just like it's predecessor, Deadly Little Lies was full of suspense. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and I couldn't put it down. It was such an amazing read.

In this sequel, the story of Camilia and Ben continues and you learn more about Ben and his psychometric abilities. So much that was left unanswered in the Deadly Little Secrets is answered in this book as well as new questions being presented.

When a new boy comes to town, things start to get a little interesting, and more questions arise. Camilia is confronted with confused feelings and inquiries about Ben's special talents. More and more suspense unfolds in this new and exciting installment in the intriguing TOUCH series.

I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who has read the first in the series and recommend the series to anyone who has yet to read it. I will definitely be reading it again.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to us byBreaking the Spine.


My Waiting on Wednesday is:

Radiance by Alyson Noël
Release date: August 31, 2010


Summary:
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Immortals comes a new middle-grade series featuring Ever’s younger sister, Riley.

Welcome to the Here and Now

Riley Bloom left her sister, Ever, in the world of the living and crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. Riley and her dog, Buttercup, have been reunited with her parents and are just settling into a nice, relaxing death when she’s summoned before The Council. They let her in on a secret—the afterlife isn’t just an eternity of leisure; Riley has to work. She’s been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a curious boy she can’t quite figure out.

Riley, Bodhi, and Buttercup return to earth for her first assignment, a Radiant Boy who’s been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But he’s never met Riley. . . .

My Thoughts:
I absolutely LOVE The Immortal Series. And Riley is one of my favorite characters, so I can't wait until this comes out to read about her!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

New Year

So, it's 2010. Another year has gone by and it's time to make some changes. I have made a resolution that I will be updating more often. I honestly didn't think that I would go all of December without a single update. But I guess when you get your wisdom teeth out, have Christmas, and are preparing for a new semester things don't always go as planned. And for that I apologize to my readers.


So, as part of my resolution...
There WILL be a post every day.
I will have a weekly update as well as my current memes, reviews, interviews and book signings.

There will also be more contests!

I will be updating my sidebars along the way so please bear with the old 2009 stuff...

With that said, Happy New Year to all of you and happy reading!

Ali

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