Explorer X-Alpha [Synopsis]

In case you haven't heard of Explorer X yet, here's the synopsis to let you know what it's all about. Be sure to enter my contest for a copy of Explorer X.

FROM THE BACK COVER
"After receiving a camp immunization needed for travel to Mars, Aadi finds that the immunization is the catalyst of an insidious experiment. Lucky for him, he was engineered to survive, thrive, and dominate. Without realizing he is being trained to conquer worlds, and manipulated under the guise of a camp, he unfolds the plot too late for a change of fate.
Aadi's world is shaken upon the revelation that life before camp was not what it appeared. This solidifies his plan to save then all from the company that seeks to control him, only for his rescue to end abruptly due to a freak accident on a field trip to Mars.
The full experiment is set in motion when he and his co-pilot, Eirena, crash in a distant galaxy called Shrenas, where they change and realize the full extent of their power. Holding onto his humanity, in the midst of turning into a god is Aadi's biggest battle yet. This turn of events causes him to put his childish thoughts away, forcing him to accept his change, and to decide to save a world, to do what he was trained to do, dominate it. In the midst of his struggles with this changes, his power is coveted by the warring leaders of Shrenas, and he is forced to choose sides to save a life, or to save himself. A decision that proves just how much humanity he has left."

I have started reading Explorer X, Thanks to a copy from LM and her publisher, and so far, it's been pretty good. It's target audience is the preteen age group and sci-fi lovers. Explorer X is filled with future technology and such for those interested
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L.M. Preston Guest Post

Happy Christmas Eve everyone! It's been a while hasn't it? But now is not the time for HUGE reunions. Today we have a very special guest with us. Debut author, of the Explorer X-"Alpha" series, L.M. Preston is here to share with us about what a Great holiday Christmas is and how it truly is the season that brings out the best in people.
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A Christmas Gift To Remember

Christmas has always been a bitter sweet occasion for me. I love Christmas now because I have four active kids and a husband of which to create traditions. However, prior to getting married, Christmas would sadden me because it was around Christmas time that I lost my grandmother of whom I was extremely attached.

Now, life has a funny way of rejuvenating you and allowing you to grow up. Hence, I will share a Christmas memory that still touches my heart.

About five years ago, my husband and I decided to do something different for Christmas. We decided to take that time to travel with our family. Our most memorable trip was a trip we took to Vermont. This particular Christmas, we experienced the Christmas Spirit of goodwill towards men first hand.

After packing our car to the hilt with presents, snowboarding equipment, and luggage, we took off. We drove there from our home, and it was a long drive. We sang songs, played car games, and watched movies. Finally, we arrived at Smuggler’s Notch, a resort in Vermont that had tons of stuff to do onsite. We had planned to never have to leave the resort.

Once we got settled into our three room condo, we realized that we needed to go to the grocery store. My husband took my older two kids with him to the store. After they left, I started putting all of our socks into sock bombs. My husband and I had planned to have a hide and go seek, sock bomb attack with the kids once they returned from the grocery store.

Several hours later, I started to get concerned. I got no call from my husband, because there was no cellphone reception in the area. All I could do is to wait.

A knock came on the door, and my husband and two kids stood there with this gentleman. The kids looked shaken and my husband hugged me. They had been in an accident, which my husband said could have been fatal. They were driving back from the store and drove over black ice, which slammed them into the guard rail of the bridge.

The angels that made my Christmas one of the most precious holidays ever, were the kind people I met in Vermont. The nice gentleman that was standing there with my husband was a mechanic who owned a local shop. He towed our car, and gave my husband a ride to our resort. He also helped us bring up our grocery. His wife came and picked me up several times to run errands, and the resort staff treated us at a local restaurant to dinner.

It ended up taking the mechanic several additional days to fix our car, and the resort allowed us to stay free of charge.

It’s times like these where I am just humbled by the kindness of people. This particular trip is looked upon fondly by all of us, since we had angels posing as humans that made our Christmas in Vermont one of the most inspiring holiday’s ever.

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And there it is guys. What an inspiring event. It's astounding what little good people do, can amount to. Thanks to L.M. for sharing this story. I loved the happy ending.

To visit with L.M., go to her website. Also, find out more about Explorer X and be sure to check it out when it comes out in stores February 7, 2010!

LM has been so gracious as to offer a poster and a copy of Explorer X to one lucky winner. Contest ends Jan 6 and it's opened to the US only. sorry. But enter enter enter!!!!!!

Cybils 2009 101

Alyssa from the Shady Glade recently sent this email about this year's Cybils Awards and I thought I'd share it with you guys, in case you did not get the email. =)

"The Cybils are a group of awards given out every year by a group of over 90 book bloggers to reward books of the year based on literary merit (like the Newbery awards) AND popularity (like People's Choice Awards) for nine different categories. If you have a favorite book published this year by October 15^th: http://dadtalk.typepad.com/cybils/2009/10/2009-nominations-are-now-open-.html#more..

And here’s the reason for my email. This is my fourth year working on the Cybils, and it seems every year there are a bunch of lists along the lines of “why haven’t these books been nominated yet?” that pop up on blogs. So I’m trying to streamline the process by creating one giant What’s Missing post: http://theshadyglade.blogspot.com/2009/10/whats-missing.html. If you’d be interested in sharing this link, I would be very grateful. I’d like to share this list with as many people as possible. And if not, that’s cool too. But I figured it didn’t hurt to ask. Thanks!"

so you heard it straight from the source. go HERE to add your nominations and stuff. If you have any questions, i'm sure alyssa wouldn't mind answering them. just visit her at her blog. The Shady Glade

Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot

Queen of Babble
Meg Cabot

Overview
Queen of Babble is a classic damsel in distress story. The only difference is that damsel, Lizzie Nichols had to travel have way around the world to a different country before she even realizes that she needs a prince to save her. Spending her summer in England with boyfriend of three months, Andrew, has been Lizzie's plan all along. Problem is, she doesn't know that her boyfriend is a lying, low-life, welfare cheat! Now, Lizzie is alone in a foreign county with no place to go, except France, more specifically, Chateau Mirac. Having been invited by friend Shari who is cateering there, with not much of a plan, Lizzie puts on her "brave face" and hops on the train. France, here she comes!

Review
I have to admit that Queen of Babble was a slow start for me. The first couple of chapters I wasn't much into it but once she got in that car and Andrew starting complaining about having to sit in the back seat, I knew that not only Lizzie, but also I was in for a ride.
Meg does a great job with developing each character. I really felt as though you personally know them. I mean I wasn't suprised when Dominque ran away with Blaine. It was clear that she was selfish from the start. Also, you knew that Agnes had something up her sleeve, the way she pretended not to know how to speak english. And of course, you also knew that Luke was Lizzie's prince. I mean he was such a lovely stranger on the train to Lizzie, it was no coincidence that she was at the right place at the right time.
I really enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter and the little clippits of Lizzie's thesis. They were pretty interesting to read.
I really liked the plot/story line. It was very rich and substaincial. Although I will say that I think some parts were rushed while other were overplayed and easily predictable. Also I didn't see the importance of Lizzie having not graduated. I think it was blown up more than it should have been. Other than that though, I had lots of fun with Lizzie Nichols. She was a great character to travel with, so great, that I'll be sure to travel with her to NYC in, Queen of Babble in the Big City!

The World According To Dad by C.M. Mantis

The World According To Dad
C.M. Mantis

OVERVIEW
"A Manual For The Good Life. A book of ethics?" [front cover] "A collection of life stories and lessons learned? A handbook for well-being and good living? A book of wisdom for the ages? Yes, yes, yes - and yes. Funneled though the heart of one father and gifted to his daughter and son-in-law on their wedding day, The World According to Dad is now a ray of light and hope for all." [back cover]

REVIEW

I totally HEART this book. I actually picked it up in my dad's car randomly on my way to school. I started reading it and could not put it down, it was soo good. The World According to Dad is filled with advice and inspiration from cover to cover. During each chapter, Love, Faith & Belief, Family & Friends, Money, just to name a few, C.M. is advisable on topics and affect our everyday life. And he gives some good adive. Somehting along the lines of "don't pray for sunshine, if you don't pray for rain," is one of my favorites. C.M. really opens up your eyes to the world. His words are soo real.

The World According To Dad is a books of morals, insight, inspiration, and advice, and you can sneak in a smile here and there. I would recommend it to ALL!

On My Door Step XV

I totally "borrowed" this from The Story Siren. On My Door Step is just another name for In my mailbox, a topic where you share with everyone, on Sunday, what books you got during the week. It can be a book you borrowed, bought, or one you found on your door step. I thought I'd join in on the fun,when I can.

***Hate List and Geektastic were courtesy of Alice Morely from Little Brown Books

Introducing.... YOU

Just a reminder. Introducing... YOU is a new feature on my blog where, well the title tells it all, I introduce YOU to all my readers and the rest of the internet world. I wanted to let everyone know that they are eligible for participation on Introducing... YOU, whether a newer, older, or returning blogger! You are all welcomed! Just send me a email or leave a comment letting me know that your interested! and also, don't forget to read about the other bloggers who have already been a part of Introducing... YOU!

Reggie from The Undercover Book Lover (Not Really)
Sophie from Mrs. Magoo Reads
Ellie from 52Books and 52 Weeks

AND PLEASE, A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR ALL WHO WERE LOST, AND ALL WHO LOST A LOVED ONE DUE TO THE ATTACKS OF 9/11. MAY THEIR SOULS REST IN PEACE.

The Vampire Diaries

Has anyone read that series? How about did anyone watch it tonight on the CW? I was planning on watching it but didn't get a chance. If anyone has read the series can you please give me the play by play so I'll have some background information before getting into the show? thank you.

Book Recomendations Anyone?

I've been trying to get back into book reviewing but it's soo difficult when I can't find any books that really interest me anymore. So this is definitely an SOS! If you could please, I'd love for you to tell me about some books that you think I might be interested in.

Here are my preferences, to make it easier on you.
-I'm a huge fan of Sarah Dessen. I Love her works and similar
-I like realistic fiction. I'm not much into paranormal and fantasy, although I have read and did like twilight, harry potter, half magic =) a wrinkle in time...
-I read mainly YA fiction, something I can relate to
-I like historical fiction. I'm really loving the luxe and the season and such.
-I like the RoComs. they are so much fun to read
-I like short chapters better than long but i won't discriminate against long chapters. =)
-I like Meg Cabot and Sharon Creech also.. anything similar too
-I like diary style books too..
-I don't know.. hope i'm not too picky. But i really just like the teenage love relationship problem issues type books.
-I also liked Go Ask Alice even though it was soo raw and scary.

But yea, I guess that's pretty much it. hope you guys can help me and I wasn't soo picky and such. Thank YOU Guys!!

Geektastic Winner

For those of you who don't know the drill, I'll do a quick run through as to how the winner was chosen. What I do is I write down all the names of the entrants, including extra entries. Then I go to Random.Org and get a randomized list. Afterward, I put in the number of entries and have Random.Org pick a number.

The Winning Numbers ARE:



FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN

How Random?

Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone who entered this giveaway. You guys are great. As for the winners, you have till next Sunday to get your mailing address in to me at stellargurl93[at]aim[dot]com, or a new winner will be chosen.