Lisa Dale's Facebook Page!

Guest post from Lisa Dale

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Dear Readers,

I’ve started a Facebook page. And because I believe in being a good hostess, I’m giving away some great prizes to book-loving friends who come hang out with me!

Contest ends Feb 1. Win:

1. $50 Amazon Gift Card!

2. One signed copy of It Happened One Night

3. One signed copy of Simple Wishes

Here’s how to join the fun!

1. Join my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-Dale/158780257466338 

2. Tell two of your friends about my new page (by posting a link to it on their walls or sending an email/message).

3. Send an email to Lee@AuthorSoundRelations.com  stating the names of the two people you shared my page with. Subject Line: Lisa Dale Contest!

That’s it!

(For those of you who aren’t on Facebook, don’t fret! Even if you're not on Facebook, you can still email two friends about my regular Web site (http://lisadalebooks.com/). That counts too!)

THE PRIZE WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON FEBRUARY 2 (so be sure to enter ASAP).

Sending you warmest wishes,

Lisa Dale

Slow Dancing on Price's Pier, Spring 2011

www.LisaDaleBooks.com

2010 Booking NY to NC Review

January 2010:

Dancer by Colum McCann:  At times I found this book to be difficult to read and tedious.  I feel like I owe it a re-read because I had a hard time getting through it and in theory, it sounds like the perfect book for me to read.

February 2010:

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah:   I loved this book about friendships, but I wish it came with a warning.  WARNING:  You will cry like a crazy person at the end of this book.  It would have saved me a bunch of embarrassment.  I am happy that I read this book because I am now a Kristin Hannah fan, and love her work!

March 2010:

House Rules by Jodi Picoult:  I loved the story, but didn't like the case studies that were placed throughout the book. I mostly skimmed them, until the final one. Am I the only one who did that? Overall, I think this was a good comeback for Jodi Picoult (I hated her last book) and I liked the topic of Asperger's syndrome. It was very enlightening.  I love that her books make me think about life in different ways.

April 2010:

Push by Sapphire:  This book was very difficult to read, at times I thought I was going to be sick because it was so graphic and upsetting. But what's even more upsetting is that this type of sexual abuse exists. Also, the writing style took a little bit to get used to because it was written in the way that Precious talks - that took some getting used to. I liked how after Precious started her education, the way she spoke made some subtle improvements - it was gradual and in then end, I was so proud of Precious.....and I cried like a baby! One person can make a difference in someone's life {like Miss Rain} and it may only take a simple act of kindness - I think that's really motivating.

May 2010:

The Help by Kathryn Stockett:  Immediately after I allowed myself to give it a chance, I was really hooked and was not at all let down by the hype!  I think this book will definitely be re-read by me at some point, because it was so well done.  They were very well developed characters and they each brought a different emotion to the story.  It's hard to imagine living in this time because it all seems so appalling.  I'm so grateful that most of us have changed our ways.

June 2010:  

The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb:  A book does not have to be long to be good.  I think he used way too many words to tell his story, and I think he should have focused mainly on the Columbine aspect.  If he would have focused his attention on the nitty-gritty details of PTSD I think this book would have been a real winner.  Otherwise, he just used too many words to tell this story.

July 2010:

MONTH OFF

August 2010:  

Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther:  I had no idea that it was an "old classic" {my mom told me that}.  It was a really sad book, but really quick to read.  Johnny was such an inspiration during the end of his life and it was so well written.  Great book!

September 2010:  

The Homecoming Party by Carmine Abate:  I love Europa Editions, and I loved this book.  It was a short book, but it wasn't short on content and quality.  It was a story of family and what happens when circumstances force them to be apart.  The effect that Marco's dad's absence had on their family was huge and it was interesting to see a family who was forced apart instead of a family who was broken.  I really related to Elisa at some moments during this book and I was definitely intrigued by this man she was dating and the effect it had on their family.  Great book!

October 2010:  

The Art of Losing by Rebecca Connell:  What a gorgeous book!  It was intense and romantic (if that makes sense).  There was a thriller vibe and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would be revealed, and luckily I was shocked at the little twist (also grossed out).  After I read the book, I felt like I should have seen the twist coming from a mile away...but I didn't.  I liked how the chapters jumped between Lydia in 2007 and Nicholas in the 80s and current.  Another good choice by Europa.  

November 2010:

Room by Emma Donoghue:  This book was so good, that I sat on my bed reading straight through and stayed up until midnight.  I planned to only read the first 50 pages, but I couldn't put it down.  The language between Jack and Ma in the Room was so interesting to read, as was the way they coped after getting out.  I would love to read a sequel to this book in a couple of years, just so I could check in with them.  Great book!


December 2011:
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery:  Couldn't get through it.

Kindle Love

You know those obnoxious people who say "I love real books too much and I'll never get an e-reader"?  Yeah. That was me, until suddenly I was craving a Kindle in the worst way.  I talked myself into it and bought Darren, my beautiful Kindle.  I've had him for about three weeks and just charged him for the first time.  Out of the 9 books I've read so far, 8 of them were on Darren.  Regular books look weird to me now.  


I do plan on purchasing the actual books for my favorite authors to add to my collection, but other than that I think I will stick with my Kindle.  I apologize to everyone who I judged for getting an e-reader.  I was rude about my physical books and I'm sorry.  You were all right!

January 15, 2011: Awaken

Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky
Release Date:  May 23, 2011

Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her.

Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking.  In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space. -- description from Amazon.com

I loved this book.  The idea behind the book is that in the future everything will be digital.  You know what?  It actually sounded great, I was beginning to wonder why we didn't already have digital schools, especially with how dangerous schools can be and how mean kids can be to each other.  
Maddie and Justin had a great story.  At first I was a little angry with the way he seemingly used her, but in the end he was redeemed.  Also, I thought Maddie was a great protagonist.  It isn't often that we have such a smart female as the lead character, and she was great.

Overall, this was a fantastic first book from Katie.  The chemistry was fantastic, the suspense and imagery were great.  The ending though......if it is a stand alone book I hate the ending because it's too abrupt and it seems too good to be true.  If it is going to be a series, then I can't wait to see where it goes!

*NetGalley provided this copy for my review.

January 6, 2011: The Raising

The Raising by Laura Kasischke


The accident was tragic, yes. Bloody and horrific and claiming the life of a beautiful young sorority girl. Nicole was a straight-A student from a small town. Sweet-tempered, all-American, a former Girl Scout, and a virgin. But it was an accident. And that was last year. It's fall again, a new semester, a fresh start.

Craig, who has not been charged with murder, is focusing on his classes, and also on avoiding Nicole's sorority sisters, who seem to blame him for her death even though the police did not. 

Perry, Craig's roommate, is working through his own grief (he grew up with Nicole, after all, and had known her since kindergarten) by auditing Professor Polson's sociology class: Death, Dying, and the Undead. 

Mira has been so busy with her babies -- two of them, twins, the most perfect boys you could imagine but still a nearly impossible amount of work even with Clark's help -- that she can barely keep herself together to teach (Death, Dying and the Undead), let alone write the book she'll need to publish for tenure. 

And Shelly, who was the first person at the scene of the accident, has given up calling the newspapers to tell them that, despite the ''lake of blood'' in which they keep reporting the victim was found, the girl Shelly saw that night was not bloody, and not dead. -- from Amazon.com*

I had high hopes for this book and despite a slow start, I was soon intrigued by the story.  However, in the end the book was kind of disjointed mess.  I hate to say that because I really enjoy some of her other books but this one was kind of disappointing.

First of all, the way she jumped between points of view and different time periods was kind of confusing at times.  I was willing to forgive it if the payout in the end was worth it...but it wasn't.  The ending (without spoiling) seemed like it was going to be good, but she kind of left us hanging in the end.  She jumped 14 years in the future and never really gave a clear idea of what happened.  Overall, I was kind of disappointed and now I wanted to know what really happened!


*I received a copy of this e-galley from NetGalley for review.

2011 Reading List

Here is my 2011 Reading List {2008 list; 2009 list, 2010 list}

January
1.  Saving Max by Antoinette van Heugten {1/1/11}
2.  The Lying Game by Sara Shepard {1/1/11} {e-galley}
3.  Rescue by Anita Shreve {1/2/11} {lb}
4.  The Raising by Laura Kasischke {1/6/11} {e-galley}
5.  Goodbye, Friend:  Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet
     by Gary Kowalski {1/7/11}
6.  I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder {1/9/11}
7.  Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder {1/9/11}
8.  Far From You by Lisa Schroeder {1/9/11}
9.  Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky {1/15/11} {e-galley}
10.  The Twisted Thread by Charlotte Bacon {1/25/11} {e-galley}
11.  Leaving Home by Jodi Picoult {1/26/11}
12.  These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf {1/28/11}
13.  Morning Glory by Diana Peterfreund {1/29/11} {lb}
14.  Faithful Place by Tana French {1/30/11} {lb}


February
15.  Lonely by Emily White {2/1/11} {TLC Book Tour}
16.  Hold Still by Nina LaCour {2/3/11}
17.  Left Neglected by Lisa Genova {2/4/11}
18.  North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley {2/15/11} {lb}
19.  The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan {2/17/22} {lb}
20.  Trapped by Michael Northrop {2/18/11}
21.  Walking with Elephants by Karen S. Bell {2/20/11} {TLC Book Tours}
22.  The Girl in the Green Raincoat by Laura Lipmann {2/20/11} {lb}
23.  City of Bones by Cassandra Clare {2/27/11} {lb}


March
24.  City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare {3/5/11} {lb}

25.  What's Up Down There?  Questions You'd Only Ask Your Gynecologist if She was Your Best Friend by Rankin Lissa MD {3/7/11}
26.  Sugar and Spice by Lauren Conrad {3/8/11} {lb}
27.  City of Glass by Cassandra Claire {3/14/11} {lb}
28.  Beastly by Alex Flinn {3/17/11} {lb}
29.  Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver {3/17/11} {lb}
30.  By The Time You Read This I'll Be Dead by Julie Ann Peters {3/19} {lb}
31.  Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers {3/20/11} {lb}
32.  Hate List by Jennifer Brown {3/21/11} {lb}
33.  The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry {3/24/11} {review copy}


April
34.  Love You More by Lisa Gardner {4/3/11} {lb}
35.  Where She Went by Gayle Forman {4/6/11}


please note that {lb} equals library book.

January 1, 2011: The Lying Game

The Lying Game by Sara Shepard


I had a life anyone would kill for.

Then someone did.

The worst part of being dead is that there’s nothing left to live for. No more kisses. No more secrets. No more gossip. It’s enough to kill a girl all over again. But I’m about to get something no one else does—an encore performance, thanks to Emma, the long-lost twin sister I never even got to meet.

Now Emma’s desperate to know what happened to me. And the only way to figure it out is to be me—to slip into my old life and piece it all together. But can she laugh at inside jokes with my best friends? Convince my boyfriend she’s the girl he fell in love with? Pretend to be a happy, carefree daughter when she hugs my parents good night? And can she keep up the charade, even after she realizes my murderer is watching her every move?

From Sara Shepard, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars books, comes a riveting new series about secrets, lies, and killer consequences.

Let the lying game begin. -- from Amazon*

I never had a chance to read the Pretty Little Liars series, but I love the show.  I was eager to read this book by Sara Shepard although I didn't realize until the last page that it was a series!  Oops.  Now I have to wait for the next book to come out!


I thought this book was a great first book in a series.  It left me wanting more immediately.  I really felt for Emma and wanted to know what happened to Sutton.  At the end of the book, I was kind of freaked out though and just wanted to yell at Emma to get the heck out of there.


I wish we could have met Sutton when she was alive.  She sounded like an awful person, but I wonder if everyone else's description of her was accurate or if they were jaded by jealousy.  I hope Emma's relationship with Ethan gets more time in the second book because I really liked him!


Emma is a great character.  She is someone you can really root for, and my heart broke for her.  All she ever wanted was a family and the one person who could give her that is gone.  I hope she gets more time to grieve that loss throughout the series.    


The only bad thing about this book is that I have to wait until July/August 2011 to read the follow-up!


*I received a copy of this e-galley from NetGalley for review.

CSN Store Review

CSN Stores was nice enough to let me do another review on my blog!  They offered me a gift card, and I chose to get this piano for my niece for Christmas.  I am kicking myself for not getting a better picture, but my sister had to wrap it!  Anyways, she LOVED the piano and I have to say that I wish I had one of these when I was younger.  What a great toy for her to explore her musicality and there is even a color chart for when she gets a little older.  I love it and once again, I loved working with CSN Stores.