Hush, Hush Giveaway at Dark Faerie Tales

Dark Faerie Tales is hosting a giveaway to celebrate the release of Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. The Produce Description states this:
"For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.
With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.
But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life."

The winner will receive a hardcover copy of the book plus a matching writing journal. To enter, go to the site and leave a comment telling her what you would like to know about Patch, and what you love/hate about him the most. You can also earn extra entries in the drawing by following her blog and posting about the giveaway on your blog. Also on her site is posted a character interview with Patch Cipriano here.

Teaser Tuesday: January 12, 2010

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
1. Grab your current read.
2. Open to a random page.
3. Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.
4. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!).
5. Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teasers:

"Speaking of miracles, there's nothing quite so amazing - in retrospect, that is - as watching a premature infant or one born with medical problems, who you're afraid might not make it through the first night, blossom into a normal baby. I know, because my younger daughter arrived seven weeks early. She was in the hospital five weeks." pg. 242, Secrets of the Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg

"Later, I went out into the orchard, after first making sure nobody was around. I sat on the grass under an old spreading apple tree, on whpse gnarled limbs even now blossom gave way to the first small setting of green fruit. Red and I had shared an apple once. That seemed a long, long time ago, in another world. In another tale. I spoke to the Fair Folk, in my mind. I spoke to the Lady of the Forest. If any of their kind were here at all in this foreign place, if any of them could hear me, it would be in such a place as this, under trees." pg. 265, Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

"I turned in the direction of the sound, and there, amongst the romantic hills, whose changes and aspect I had ceased to note an hour ago, I saw a hamlet and a spire. All the valley at my right hand was full of pasture fields, and cornfields, and wood; and a glittering stream ran zigzag through the varied shades of green, the mellowing grain, the sombre woodland, the clear and sunny lea. Recalled by the rumbling of wheels to the road before me, I saw a heavily laden wagon labouring up the hill; and not far beyond were two cows and their drover. Human life and human labour were near. I must struggle on: strive to live and bend to toil like the rest." pg. 358, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Movie Cast Mondays: January 11, 2010

Natalie at Mindful Musings has this meme in which you create fantasy casts for books of your choice. The rules are as follows:

1) Create your own cast for an upcoming book-to-movie adaptation OR pick a book you'd like to see be turned into a movie and choose a cast.

2) Post the book title, author, and summary.

3) Try to pick at least 3 of the main characters to cast.


This week's pick is...

Maid Marian by Lisa Watson

"An irresistible reimagining of the Robin Hood legend, Maid Marian brings to life the rollicking—and romantic—world of the Middle Ages.

An orphan and heiress to a large country estate, Marian Fitzwater is wed at the age of five to an equally young nobleman, Lord Hugh of Sencaster, a union that joins her inheritance to his. But when she is seventeen, Lord Hugh, whom she hasn’t seen in years, dies under mysterious circumstances. Marian is left alone again—a widow who has never been a bride. But now, like all unmarried young ladies of fortune, she is made the ward of King Richard the Lionheart. Since Richard is away on Crusade, Marian’s fate lies in the hands of his mother, the formidable Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. The bridegroom Eleanor selects will get Marian’s lands and, in return, pledge his loyalty—and silver—to the king. Marian herself is irrelevant and she knows it. Determined not to be sold into another sham marriage, she seeks out the one man who can help uncover the queen’s intentions: Robin Hood, the notorious Saxon outlaw of Sherwood Forest.

Marian is surprised to discover that the famed “prince of thieves” is not only helpful but handsome, likeable, and sympathetic to her plight. Robin’s men intercept a letter from Queen Eleanor, from which Marian learns, to her horror, that she is to marry her late husband’s brother. His family has a history of mysterious deaths, and Marian knows she is in danger. Once married, she can be easily disposed of—a fate she may have escaped once already. On the eve of her wedding, Robin Hood spirits Marian back to the forest. The Queen believes her to be dead, and Marian begins a new life with Robin Hood’s outlaws, who pledge to help her regain her fortune and expose the treachery of her enemies."

This is another book that I wish would be adapted into a movie. I was reminded of it when I saw the trailer for the new Robin Hood  movie, starring Russell Crowe.

 

 

 

Kiera Knightly as Marian Fitzwater

I chose Kiera for this role because I loved her in the movie Pride and Prejudice (2005), and I think the character of Maid Marian would be similar to that of Elizabeth Bennet. The strong woman she portrays in many of her films align well with the character of Marian Fitzwater.

Justin Hartley as Robin Hood

I admit that the role of Robin Hood is some big shoes to fill, with the likes of Kevin Costner and now Russell Crowe acting the part, but the film is supposed to center on Maid Marian, not so much Robin Hood, so an actor of lesser renown would better fit the part. Plus, Justin's alter-ego in Smallville - the Green Arrow - is clad in green and uses a bow and arrows. Combine that with his abs and blond locks and you've got a winning combo.

Helen Mirren as Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine

Helen Mirren has played royalty in numerous films, winner herself awards for her acting ability, so she is an obvious choice for Eleanor. Eleanor is the major obstacle for Marian in the novel, which makes her the antagonist - a role that Helen could accomplish with ease.