I’m a HUGE fan of Angie Dudley over at Bakerella. She puts my cake decorating to shame. Better yet, she’s just as sweet as the treats she makes. I don’t know her personally or anything but her posts never fail to bring a smile to my face. Which is why I can’t wait to get my hands on her book, Cake Pops: Tips, Tricks, and Recipes for More Than 40 Irresistible Mini Treats, which hit shelves this week.

Even better Angie made a little video to promote the book and in it she shows you the basics of making cake pops. Awesome! (She’s also posted about making the video over at Bakerella.) I really need to make some of these soon. I’m making the cake(s) for a friend’s son’s first birthday next weekend. Maybe I’ll sneak some cake pops in there as an extra treat.

So, my fellow bakers, be sure to check out the cake pops section of Angie’s blog. If you like what you see, I’m pretty sure you’ll love her new book as much as I will!

The Eternal Ones
by Kirsten Miller

Summary

Ever since she could speak, Haven Moore has known she needs to find Ethan, and that he’ll be in New York. The only problem is she doesn’t know who Ethan is and she’s never been to New York. Most of the small town where Haven has lived her whole life thinks she’s crazy, or worse – possessed by a demon. But Haven knows that her visions must mean something, so she sets off to find some answers.  What follows is a dark and exciting adventure filled with mystery and romance.

Review

The Eternal Ones is a fresh and unique offering in the heavily saturated YA paranormal romance genre. Haven is a likable protagonist, and her best friend Beau is a charismatic character who provides a good sounding board and support system for Haven as she tries to navigate the murky waters of her past life. Haven’s history is doled out in little pieces, keeping the reader guessing along with her as she tries to uncover the truth about who Ethan is and what happened in her past. I was never sure who was telling the truth and who was really behind the troubles in Haven’s past (and present).  The story contains just the right mix of adventure and romance making it a great read for fans of both genres. And while the ending nicely tied up most of the plot points, there are still enough unanswered questions to allow for an exciting sequel.

Verdict

I thoroughly enjoyed The Eternal Ones and was impressed with its original concept. I really hope there will be more stories about Constance and Ethan.

*I received this book for review from the publisher.

**The Eternal Ones is book #8 for the 2010 YA Reading Challenge.

Our August Book Club selections is Sunday’s at Tiffany’s by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet. I’ve been a fan of James Patterson’s Maximum Ride series for some time now, but this was the first of his adult books that I’ve read. I quite enjoyed it and look forward to testing out some of his others soon!

I was lucky enough to find discussion questions in a few places on the web this month. Below are a selection of discussion points  that I found on LitLovers.com and Readinggroupguides.com. I’ve done some editing on the questions I found, and of course we always want to hear what you have to say, so please feel free to bring up anything you would like to discuss about the book.

1. Did you enjoy Sundays at Tiffany’s? Why or why not?
2. Sundays at Tiffany’s merges the natural and supernatural worlds. Many individuals and cultures believe those two worlds are actually more closely integrated than everyday reality and science suggests. Where do you fall in this? Guardian angels…yes or no?
3. Sundays at Tiffany’s features three main characters, and almost no supporting characters.  Do you feel this hurt or helped the story? Do you feel the main characters were fully developed, emotionally complex individuals?
4. Michael says that the role of an imaginary friend is to make children feel less alone and to help them find their place in the world. Do you think imaginary friends help children deal with their issues or keep them from dealing with life head-on? Did you ever have an imaginary friend?
5. Jane’s special emergency feel-good food is Oreos. Do you have a favorite comfort food? Do you indulge or avoid your favorite temptations?
6. Michael explains to Jane that when children turn nine years old, their imaginary friends must leave them, and that she will forget him. Why do you think Jane never forgot Michael?  Was Michael destined to meet Jane again or was he really back in New York to help her mother?
7. Michael gives up his immortality to be with Jane. Was he aware of making the choice? Do you think he became mortal as soon as saw Jane or was it when he agreed to grow old with her? Or at another time? Why do you think his ‘powers’ faded slowly rather than disappearing all at once?

Please share your thoughts in the comments below!

What’s better than a book that makes you miss sleep and skip meals because it’s so great you just can’t put it down? Well, if you’re asking a book lover… the answer is probably “not much”! And that’s why our Question of the Week is: What was the last book you read that you just couldn’t put down?

I’m currently reading The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller, and the fact that I had to stop reading to come to work with only 50 pages to go is driving me crazy!!

The Eternal Ones is a story about reincarnation and a group of people who can remember their past lives, and as a result spend their current lives looking for the ones they’ve loved in the past. It’s a bit fantasy, a bit romance, and a lot of mystery. I’ve been really enjoying it and have been kept guessing all the way along.

And since I love a book I hate to put down, I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to get a few more recs. for books that fall into the page-turner category! Now that I’ve shared my current “Can’t Put It Down” book with you, please tell me about the last book you read that made you late for work and miss dinner!

Our WAGB Book Club selection for August is James Patterson’s Sundays at Tiffany’s. I finished the book this week and I really loved it. I’m not always a fan of chick lit/romance type novels, but I found this one to be quite a bit more engaging than your standard romantic fare. It may have been the small supernatural element, or the lack of endless angst, but Sundays at Tiffany’s worked for me. The discussion post will be going up next week, but in the meantime I thought I’d help get people in a James Patterson kind of mood by sharing these fun freebies that are being offered on his site right now.

1. Preview of part one of The Postcard Killers by James Patterson & Liza Marklund.
2. And if you like it, why not enter the contest to win a SIGNED copy of the Postcard Killers!?
3. Preview the first 24 chapters of Private byJames Patterson & Maxine Paetro.

We’re a little behind on this announcement, but we definitely did not forget about all our wonderful followers! As you may recall, we had a pair of giveaways to celebrate reaching 100 Followers in July. Well, the giveaways have closed and we have some books to send out!

So, without any further delays, we are very excited to announce the winners of our USA & Canada 100 Followers Giveaways!

The winner of the Canada Giveaway is: Chantel

The winner of the USA Giveaway is: Kristin

(We’ll email the winners shortly to get your mailing addresses.)

We really appreciate each and every one of you, and are planning more giveaways soon to show you just how much we enjoy your visits to our little blog.

Thank-you so much for visiting With a Good Book.

I hated the Vampire Diaries books with a fiery passion (see my review), and yet my extreme love of the CW show based on the books has made me want to read this back-story novel about Stefan and Damon’s troubled past!

Apparently  HarperCollins will be releasing Stefan’s Diaries, a trilogy of novels that will share some of the Salvatore brothers’ long and troubled history (including the Katherine romance that turned them against each other). The novels that the popular show is based on were originally published in 1991 by author L. J. Smith. According to EW, Smith will not be penning this new trilogy. (Um, Yay!) Though both Amazon and HarperCollins have her listed as the author so that information could be inaccurate.

The first volume Stefan’s Diaries #1: Origins is due out on November 2, 2010. The second book called Stefan’s Diaries #2: Bloodlust is scheduled for January 2011.

Here’s a bit about the first book from HarperCollins:

Set during the Civil War, against a backdrop of grand estates, unimaginable riches, and deadly secrets, three teenagers in Mystic Falls, Virginia enter a torrid love triangle that will span eternity.

Brothers Stefan and Damon Salvatore are inseparable until they meet Katherine, a stunning, mysterious woman who turns their world upside down. Siblings turned rivals, the Salvatores compete for Katherine′s affection, only to discover that her sumptuous silk dresses and glittering gems hide a terrible secret: Katherine is a vampire. And she is intent on turning them into vampires so they can live together-forever.

Check out this exclusive peek at the new cover from EW’s Shelf Life blog

So, what do you think? Are you a fan of The Vampire Diaries? Will you read the origin stories? Or have you tried to read the first books and as a result will likely avoid these ones at all costs?

The Nordlings (Notherland Trilogy #1)
by Kathleen McDonnell

Summary
Peggy is an ordinary teenager. Dissatisfied with her life and wishing for independence, she sets off to sell her flute at a pawnshop in an attempt to earn some money of her own. Instead events take a different turn and she falls into a fantasy world that she remembers from her childhood fantasies, but never thought was real. Things have changed in The Notherland in her absence, and it’s no longer the happy safe world she had visited as a child. Peggy doesn’t want to be trapped in this strange place, but when she discovers that her childhood friends may be in danger, she sets aside her desires and sets out to save the land she once created.

Review
Perfect for young readers who enjoy engaging fantasy stories, The Norderlings is a well thought out adventure that’s sure to entertain. A wide variety of unique and imaginative characters populate Peggy’s fantasy land, all of which will be relatable to children who like to dream up playmates. The whimsical story is filled with exciting twists and turns, while subtly sharing a few life lessons along the way.

Verdict
The Nordlings is an enjoyable fantasy tale for readers of all ages, but will be especially loved by young readers.

*I received this book for review from the publisher.

When I learned about this neat idea from Simon & Schuster, I just couldn’t wait to share it with everyone! What is an interactive book you ask? Well, according to the official website:

Loser/Queen is an online interactive serial and a groundbreaking publishing event. The beginning of the story has been written and posted—but it’s up to you to decide what happens next. Cast your vote by 5 p.m. (EST) Thursday night of each week. Then, check back Mondays at 10 a.m. (EST) to see the poll results—and how the story was affected by your choice!

Here’s a bit about Loser/Queen:

Cammy Hall is what anyone would describe as a loser. She lives with her grandparents and has adopted their way of life… right down to the comfortable shoes and early bedtime. And can she help it that she actually likes to knit?

Cammy’s used to being an outsider; after years of humiliating moments, her goal is simply to fly under the radar. Then she suddenly starts receiving mysterious text messages that lead her right to all the embarrassing secrets about the most popular kids in school. Cammy never expected to be able to climb up the high school food chain, and the agenda of the texter may be questionable—but how can she possibly give up the chance to be Queen?

When the online story and the voting are finished, Loser/Queen will be printed as a paperback and packed with extras from bestselling author Jodi Lynn Anderson!

To read part 1 and part 2 of Loser/Queen and get in on the next round of voting go here.

What do you think of the interactive book idea? Will you vote on what happens to Cammy next?

Waking the Witch (Women of the Otherworld #11)
by Kelley Armstrong

Summary

When Paige and Lucas take a long overdue vacation, 21 year-old Savannah Levine is quite excited for the opportunity to tackle her first solo case in their absence. The job takes her out of town with an acquaintance of Lucas’ as they track down a serial killer who appears to be using occult rituals. While they’re on the case the murders continue, leaving a trail of bodies leading right to Savannah. As she tries to uncover the killer, her life is threatened and only by drawing on a reserve of power she’d been afraid to access, along with a little help from an unexpected source does she manage to get out alive.

Review

This is the first Otherworld book narrated by Savannah, and I am a huge fan! I’m generally partial to the Elena stories, but I really enjoyed this tale from the young witch’s point of view. Savannah has grown into a confident and capable young woman. She’s still a bit hot-headed at times, but that makes her a more interesting character as she struggles to do the right thing and not give in to her darker urges. There’s plenty of action throughout the book with a little hint of romance as well. The mystery in the story is well planned and kept me guessing until almost the very end. And just when you think the story is done, a surprise twist makes for a bit of a cliff-hanger that has me eager to read Savannah’s next adventure.

Verdict

Waking the Witch is another great installment in the Women of the Otherworld series. Savannah is now one of my favorite characters in the series, and I look forward to more books featuring her as the heroine.

*I received this book for review from the publisher.