Posts Tagged: Egmont

The Code Busters Club: Case 1 by Penny Warner

05 Nov, 2011 by in middle grade reader Leave a comment

The Code Busters Club
Case #1: The Secret of the Skeleton Key
by Penny Warner
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published September 13th 2011
by EgmontUSA
ISBN 1606841629
Source: BEA
Rating: 4 stars

Cody, Quinn, Luke, and M.E. may be really different, but they all share one thing in common: they love playing around with codes. In fact, they love codes so much, they have their own private club, with a super-secret hideout and passwords that change every single day.

When Cody and Quinn notice what could be a code on the window of a nearby house, the one owned by their strange neighbor, the guy they call Skeleton Man, the club gets to work. And it is a cry for help!

Now the Code Busters are on the case—and nothing will stop them from solving the mystery and finding the secret treasure that seems to be the cause of it all!

This exciting interactive mystery offers more than fifteen codes for you to decipher, including the Consonant code, Morse code, and American Sign Language. Test your brain with the Code Busters and solve the mystery along with them. Answers are in the back, if you ever get stuck.

For more code-breaking fun, visit CodeBustersClub.com and join the club! Ages 8–12

This is a fun middle grade book. Cody, Quinn, Luke and M.E. love codes and have created the Code Busters Club. They have a secret club house and communicate with each other using different codes, including sign language (which they learned because Cody’s little sister is deaf). Noticing a coded message from a neighbor, calling for help, the Code Busters use coded messages to solve a crime.

I love how this book encourages kids to learn different ways to communicate (it even embraces the language of children today, texting). Mixed in with the story we find codes for the readers to unravel (don’t worry, there is a key at the back of the book) so the story becomes interactive. Kids will easily be able to relate with the characters, and enjoy sharing their adventures by helping crack the codes.

The idea of communicating via code brought back memories for me. Back in High School, a good friend created a code (utilizing small shapes and images in place of the alphabet) and we used it to pass notes back and forth. Our logic was that if we got caught passing notes, our teachers would have no idea what we were saying! (Honestly, we were pretty good kids who had to find our own little ways to rebel. Our notes usually related to pretty tame things like where we were going to meet at lunch or when the next church dance was taking place). It was so much fun to have our own coded means of communication. We got pretty good at both writing and reading it with out our answer keys (which we, much less creatively than the characters in the Code Busters, had written down on 3X5 cards).

If you are looking for a fun book (and soon to be series, the next adventure being alluded to at the end of this book) for your middle grade reader, look no farther than The Code Busters Club.

Content: Clean

Ashes ARC Tour

19 Aug, 2011 by in ARC tour 2 comments

Ashes (Ashes Trilogy #1)

by Ilsa J. Bick

Hardcover, 480 pages

Expected publication:

September 6th 2011

by EgmontUSA

It could happen tomorrow…

A cataclysmic event. An army of “The Changed.”

Can one teen really survive on her own?

An electromagnetic pulse sweeps through the sky, destroying every electronic device and killing billions. For those spared, it’s a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human…

Desperate to find out what happened and to avoid the Changed, Alex meets up with Tom—a young army veteran—and Ellie, a young girl whose grandfather was killed by the electromagnetic pulse.

This improvised family will have to use every ounce of courage they have just to survive





We are accepting five readers in the U.S. for this ARC tour on a first come first serve basis. For a full list of Fire and Ice ARC tour rules and to sign up click here and fill out the form.

1)Heather R

2)

3)

4)

5)

Book Review-Trial By Fire

14 Jun, 2011 by in trial by fire 1 comment

Trial By Fire
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Hardcover, 368 pages
Published:
June 14th, 2011
by EgmontUSA
ISBN 1606841688
series: Raised by Wolves #2

source: Publisher
4 stars

Bryn is now leader of the Cedar Ridge pack of werewolves and she’s convinced that her pack is different – it’s democratic and fair. Then Bryn finds a battered teenage Were, Connor, bleeding on her front porch. He begs Bryn to protect him from an abusive leader; Bryn takes him into her pack.

But Bryn’s Were partner Chase doesn’t trust the new boy, and the more time she spends helping Connor, the more aggressive Chase becomes. Bryn is not sure if it’s jealousy, or Were possessiveness but for the first time she starts to feel suffocated by the bond she and Chase share.

Filled with action, unlikely allies, and deadly conspiracies, Trial by Fire will change Bryn forever. She is soon to realise that to lead a pack of werewolves, she must give in to her animal instincts and become a little less human. And as hard as it’s going to be, Bryn is going to have to do it alone.

There can only be one alpha.

Trial by Fire, installment two of the Raised by Wolves series begins with Bryn as the new Alpha of the small but strong Cedar Ridge Pack. Bryn is very unusual, because not only is she female, but she is a human and her pack is werewolf. Things become complicated for the new Alpha when a foreign wolf, Lucas stumbles across the border and lands on her doorstep asking for refuge. He’s badly wounded, having been abused by his captors, but Bryn is torn between having compassion on the rogue wolf and protecting her pack from the consequences that will occur if she allows him to stay. Werewolf politics won’t allow Bryn to rely on Callum anymore for advice. And, her main rival Shay of the Snake Bend Pack is testing the limits of territory borders plus claiming ownership of the rogue wolf. Will Bryn be able to maintain her position as Alpha when it seems several members of the Council are just waiting to see her fail? What about the new added threat which is so unlike anything she has ever faced before…a coven of psychics.

What I really love about this series is the driven, focused plot centered around the mentality of a pack of werewolves. The writing gives readers a chance to really step in and feel what the dynamics inside the group. You feel like you are a part of the pack. You hear the inner dialogue and feel what Devon, Lake, Maddy and the others might feel. In Trial by Fire, we also get a lot of interesting back history on Ali, Bryn’s foster mother, and we see Bryn pushing back against Ali’s desire to exercise authority over Bryn as she has in the past. Bryn is definitely the Alpha now and won’t take much from anyone who steps up to challenge her.

Jennifer Lynn Barnes creates characters that will stick with you long after you’re done reading. They are well developed and each unique in their own right. Devon is one of my very favorites with his funny sense of humor and undying loyalty to Bryn. (Now we just need to find him someone special in book three!) I also wish we would see more of Chase and Bryn together, but I understand she is so busy fighting for her pack there’s not a whole lot of time for romance. This is an intriguing werewolf series which is unique and well thought out by the author. I’m curious to see where the series goes from here as it seems Bryn has faced so much opposition already! Thanks so much to EgmontUSA for the early chance to read book two. Learn more and view the new book trailer by visiting Jennifer Lynn Barnes website.

You might also like: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer or 13 to Life by Shannon Delany

Content: Abuse and violence. Recommended for readers 16 and older.

Book Review- Will Work For Prom Dress

28 Feb, 2011 by in will work for prom dress 2 comments

by Aimee Ferris
Paperback, 240 pages
Published February 8th 2011

by EgmontUSA
ISBN 1606841416
4.5 stars


Quigley Johnson has, reluctantly, given up the rest of her last year of high school to take part in her best friend Ann’s Betterment Plan, which will turn them into the best-dressed, most sought-after, most admired girls at their senior formal. Because – hey – who doesn’t want the perfect prom, complete with a dream dress and a devastatingly handsome date?

But the prom costs money – lots of money – and even though the girls could easily have Ann’s mom design their dresses (she’s only Victoria Parisi, one of the most famous designers in the world), Ann insists that they pay their own way. And that’s how Quigley gets stuck making artistic topping masterpieces on frozen pizzas canvases, before becoming a live model for Ms. Parisi’s fashion design class, where she meets Zander.

He’s cute, and cool, and funny, with a killer design sensibility (even if he can’t sketch). But is he too good to be true? And what about David, the hot, talented artist at school, who’s also kind of a jerk, but won’t leave Quigley alone? And Ann – she started the Betterment Plan to improve Quigley and herself, but it seems like it’s ripping their friendship to shreds.

This road to the prom dream may just end in disaster.

Quigley and Ann are in their last year of high school and on a mission to improve themselves just in time for prom. Their Betterment Plan includes eating right, exercise and plenty of off the wall jobs to pay for the perfect dress. The girls find themselves in a frozen pizza factory making artistic creations with sauce and pepperoni, sitting in as the dead man at a mystery murder dinner and even part of a float in their local parade. Quigley always seems to get the short end of the stick in every finagled job, so she is hesitant when Ann’s world famous designer mom, Victoria Parisi, offers them a gig as models for her fashion design class at the local college.

Quigley is everything your average student, not overly concerned with her body or standing out. So it’s no surprise when her perfect beautiful friend Ann lands all of the votes for first pick as model in the class. Zander sides with Quigley and in his humble sincere way slowly wins his way to her heart. Meanwhile, Ann is busy with Lance, the Spikester, who has a past of his own. But both design class boys have competition awaiting them at the High School.

As a reader you’ll never know until the very end if Ann picks T-Shirt, the local rich boy who wears his daily motto on his tee or if Quigley will turn arch nemesis self-proclaimed art King David into more than just an enemy.

Author Aimee Ferris will have you laughing out loud with the funny, awkward situations going on and the richly developed characters. But hidden beneath the pre-prom fluff are many real life lessons about choosing a college, making amends with parents and finding yourself amidst peer pressure. She does a great job of teaching that bad choices have life long consequences and you can’t judge a person by your first impressionWill Work For Prom Dress is a clean, light read that I would recommend to all readers. It offered me a nice break from heavy writing and I loved the artistic elements of photography, drawing and dress design sprinkled into the plot. I can’t wait for more from Ms. Freeman. Her blog alone is enough to have you in stitches as you travel back to the scary days of big hair in YA promapalooza. Thanks so much to Goodman Media for sending me such a fun pick. “Measure twice, cut once!”

Teaser Tuesday- Drought by Pam Bachorz

09 Nov, 2010 by in pam bachorz, Teaser Tuesday 2 comments

Teaser Tuesday is weekly meme hosted by Mizb at Should be Reading. Grab your current read. Open to a random page. Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page, be careful not to include spoilers. Share the title & author, too, so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser Tuesday is Drought by Pam Bachorz. I spent all day yesterday reading it with constant rain and snow showers outside my window.

“Thank You,” I tell him, looking over. The shadows make the lines of his face even stronger, outlining the jut of his chin and nose.” p.68

Drought is coming January 25, 2011 from Egmont USA. Learn more here.

In My Mailbox #19

29 Oct, 2010 by in book giveaway, saundra mitchell 47 comments


In My Mailbox is a bookish meme originally started by The Story Siren. Every week we’ll post about what books we have received that week (via your mailbox/library/store bought). The idea of In My Mailbox is to bring books to the attention of our blog readers and to encourage interaction with other blogs. This week here’s what’s in my mailbox….

Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs purchased from the Book Depository
The Invisible Order Book One: Rise of the Darklings by Paul Crilley sent by publisher for review
Lifted by Wendy Toliver purchased from Fire Petal Books
Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell purchased from Fire Petal Books
Hanging By A Thread by Donald B Anderson received from author for review

And Mr. Fed Ex delivered a box of items for reviews and giveaways from Deseret Book. They were so kind and generous!

Mission To Be Happy by Michael McLean
Imprints by Rachel M Nunes
The Fourth Nephite by Jeffrey S Savage
The Water is Wide by Marianne Monson
Being Sixteen by Allyson Braithwaite Condie
Pingo by Brandon Mull and Brandon Dorman

Look for reviews on all of these titles coming soon. And thanks again to all of the publishers and authors who sent mail this week.

I’m giving away an author signed copy of Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell to our readers! Simply comment below with the title of a book you have on your wish list and you’re entered to win. Contest ends November 30, 2010.

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

25 Sep, 2010 by in the lost saint 34 comments

Hardcover, 384 pages
To Be Published
December 28th 2010
by EgmontUSA
ISBN 1606840584
series The Dark Divine #2

*contains spoilers for those who have never read The Dark Divine*

Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She was infected with the werewolf curse while trying to save him, and lost her beloved brother in the process. When Grace receives a haunting phone call from Jude, she knows what she must do. She must become a Hound of Heaven. Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot—a newcomer to town who promises her that he can help her be a hero. But as the two grow closer, the wolf grows in Grace, and her relationship with Daniel is put in danger—in more ways than one. Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace begins to give into the wolf inside of her—not realizing that an enemy has returned and a deadly trap is about to be sprung.

Last year I read the Dark Divine and was introduced into the world of Bree Despain which inspired me to create a ton of jewelry, make 10 blog posts and follow her around to several signings to learn more. I dare say I fell in love with the music playlist, the amazing cover and Daniel. This year we saw the ARC for The Lost Saint up for auction at the Writing for Charity event and yearned to read number two in the series. So, I have to thank Jennie B and EgmontUSA for sending the uncorrected bound proof. You guys rock!

The Lost Saint picks up as Grace has just lost her brother Jude since he bit her and infected her with the curse of the wolf. Grace’s mom is in a deep depression and the household is in chaos as her dad is scouring the country for signs of Jude. He hopes to bring their Prodigal Son back home to the fold. Their town Rose Crest is steeping with a rash of crime with no evidence of who could have created such destruction other than the old Markham Street Monster. The first few chapters things are beautiful between them. I fell in love with their chemistry in The Dark Divine. But soon things start to grow a little complicated. Here’s where I should say that I am not a patient reader so sequels are sometimes harder for me to read. (I was not much a fan of New Moon in the Twilight series) Transition and change are rocky. The Lost Saint also felt a titch darker in parts than The Dark Divine as Grace is battling her choices. You’ll see a whole new side to everyone you are familiar with.

My favorite part of the book…loads of new characters! Grace meets the new hot man in flannel, Talbot. You will love him. Majorly swoon worthy and a hunk of man. He is my favorite new character of the series. The fun part as well, characters you may recognize! That’s right… bloggers make cameo appearances in the book. Super cool. Katie Summers (KatieB) from Mundie Moms, blogger Debbie CranberryFries and Stacey C from PageTurners Blog all are in there. As well, there are lots of other names I didn’t personally recognize, but many of you may be able to pick them out. We can’t give away much more because this is an action packed novel and we have to save you all from spoilers. I dare say followers of Bree won’t be disappointed.

Congrats to the author on her movie deal for the Dark Divine! That is super exciting news and she deserves it. To learn more about Bree Despain visit her website. See our review for the Dark Divine here and read a teaser from the Lost Saint here
Comment below for a chance to win one item of your choice from the Bree Despain or Wolf collections on Etsy. Let us know what you’d like to win! Giveaway ends October 24, 2010 and is open internationally.

Waiting on Wednesday- Hourglass

15 Sep, 2010 by in myra mcentire 6 comments

Our Waiting on Wednesday is Hourglass by Myra McEntire, twitter peep extraordinaire!

She is one of those people who will make you smile, so we can’t wait to read her debut novel. Head on over and follow her blog here.

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: EgmontUSA
To be released May 24, 2011
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1606841440

Description from the Publisher’s Marketplace listing: “Myra McEntire’s debut HOURGLASS, a timeslip romance in which a girl who sees ghosts meets a boy who knows the truth about what her visions really are, and he alone can unlock the secrets of her past, to Regina Griffin at Egmont, in a two-book deal, by Holly Root at Waxman Literary Agency (NA).”It will also be published in Germany by Random House and in Brazil by Record.

WriteOn Con is offering a chance to win an ARC! Go now… http://writeoncon.com/2010/09/pre-order-of-hourglass-by-myra-mcentire/

Author Interview With Tricia Rayburn

04 Aug, 2010 by in siren, tricia rayburn 3 comments

Today’s Author Interview is with Tricia Rayburn as a part of her blog tour for the book SIREN hosted by Hooked on YA books.

Where did the inspiration from Siren come from? Siren was inspired by my recently developed fear of all creatures of the deep. I grew up swimming in the Long Island Sound, but for some reason, I now won’t go deeper than my knees in any natural body of water. I’m too afraid of jellyfish, crabs, sharks, you name it! This made me think about what else might be lurking beneath the surface, and Siren grew from there.

Have you ever been to a place that reminds you of Winter Harbor? Yes! I’ve actually never been to Winter Harbor, which is a real town in Maine, but I imagined much of it to look like various places I’ve visited in New Hampshire. The lake Vanessa’s family has a house on, for example, was based on Lake Kanasatka, where my family and I have spent quite a bit of time.



Any swoon worthy men that inspired the two main men in the book Siren? Simon’s a conglomerate of every smart, sweet, somewhat shy boy I’ve ever known—because those were the ones I was always drawn to, which made Simon that much more fun to write!



What are your favorite treats/ munchies? Writing in the summer months is always easier with iced coffee or some other cold drink nearby. When the weather cools that will probably change to hot tea or, even better, hot chocolate!

Is there a sequel planned and when is its release date? Yes, Siren 2 (official title TBA!) will be released next summer, and Siren 3 will be released the summer after that!

Thanks so much to Tricia for stopping by our site and answering our interview!



To learn more about Tricia, go to her blog at http://triciarayburn.blogspot.com/

Read our review of Siren here: http://fireandicereads.com/2010/06/book-review-siren-by-tricia-rayburn.html



Visit our Siren gift shop on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleRedReads?section_id=7186523

And be sure to comment on this post and the interview for a chance to win a custom Mermaid lego girl from Etsy seller The Beach Gnome: http://fireandicereads.com/2010/06/custom-mermaid-lego.html

Giveaway ends September 4, 2010, Good Luck!

Current Books/ ARCS on Tour

17 Jun, 2010 by in new YA fiction 3 comments

What is up with the mail?
I have learned a lot this week. Mainly that delivery confirmation is worth the 80 cents extra for peace of mind. Just this month over $400 of jewelry orders and books have been lost or stolen. YIKES! No more trusting my postal workers! Thanks to those of you who have emailed us to let us know you received your prizes!
Miraculously our Shadow Hills ARC resurfaced after 15 days in the Bermuda Triangle of USPS delivery.The awesome news came from Avonlea/ “Violet” at The Eager Readers
http://theeagerreaders.blogspot.com/ She wrote three days ago…”Shadow Hills arrived today!!! The package looks like it was ripped open and taped back together, and it has a “Rewrapped at the Seattle Network Distribution Center” sticker on it. Crazier still, it was delivered at 5:15 pm (completely separate from our normal mail) by a carrier that isn’t even on our route. He is on a different postal route altogether but had two packages for our address. I am still in complete shock & was totally amazed to see it! So, if in doubt fellow book bloggers and ETSY sellers…– USE delivery confirmation!! We are…

Here are the books we currently have on tour:
Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus
The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy
Scones and Sensibility by Liz Eland
Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
The Mark by Marilyn Bunderson
Siren by Tricia Rayburn
The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller
The Hourglass Door #1-2 by Lisa Mangum
More coming soon! Email us if you are interested in reading and reviewing any of these books on your site. Must be willing to ship with DC and send us the link to your review. Thanks!