Monday, July 02, 2012

Let's Celebrate Canada -- With Books!

Hi, everyone! :)

I'm sorry if I've been AWOL this weekend! Most of you probably know it was Canada Day yesterday (July 1st), and I think I was indoors for all of sixteen hours in total — mostly just to sleep. x) There were fireworks, and barbeques, and campfires, and marshmallows galore!


That means I have a lot of commenting and such to catch up on because of my very outdoorsy weekend. But I'm still in a very patriotic mood so I thought I'd post about some books by Canadian authors that I love! :)

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Books By Canadian Authors I Love

Hemlock (Hemlock #1)
By Kathleen Peacock
Release Date: May 8, 2012
Goodreads
Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock’s thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.
MY THOUGHTS: This was one of my top books of the year because it has two things I love in one: An original werewolf world and an awesome murder mystery! And then it has two more amazing things (in the form of two very amazing guys), but you have to read to find out about them! ;)

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This is Not a Test
By Courtney Summers
Release Date: June 12, 2012
Goodreads
It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self.

To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live.

But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside.

When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?
MY THOUGHTS: I was BLOWN AWAY by this book. The way Courtney Summers wrote her zombie apocalypse was harsh and true and realistic and SO heartbreakingly brilliant. She made me fall for every single character, and the only reason it was a 4.5 and not a 5 in my review is because of that abrupt ending! Otherwise: A definite must-read! :)

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Dark Kiss (Nightwatchers #1)
By Michelle Rowen
Release Date: May 29, 2012
I don't do dangerous.  Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha — that's me. But I just couldn't pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me...something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It's like part of me is missing-and I don't know if I can get it back.

Then there's Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he's keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he's what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me....
MY THOUGHTS: I adored this book the first time around (as you can tell from my review), but I loved it even more after I had the chance to meet both of the boys in this very epic, very swoon-worthy character interview (in which Kraven may or may not hit on me)! If that's not enough to sell you, I don't know what else I can say! Maybe that it's an awesome original take on angel lore? :)

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Darkest Powers Trilogy (Darkest Powers #1-3)
By Kelley Armstrong
Release Date: November 2, 2012
Goodreads
>The Summoning
The Darkest Powers Series, Book I


After years of frequent moves following her mother’s death, Chloe Saunders’s life is finally settling down. She is attending art school, pursuing her dreams of becoming a director, making friends, meeting boys. Her biggest concern is that she’s not developing as fast as her friends are. But when puberty does hit, it brings more than hormone surges. Chloe starts seeing ghosts–everywhere, demanding her attention. After she suffers a breakdown, her devoted aunt Lauren gets her into a highly recommended group home.

At first, Lyle House seems a pretty okay place, except for Chloe’s small problem of fearing she might be facing a lifetime of mental illness. But as she gradually gets to know the other kids at the home–charming Simon and his ominous, unsmiling brother Derek, obnoxious Tori, and Rae, who has a “thing” for fire–Chloe begins to realize that there is something that binds them all together, and it isn’t your usual “problem kid” behaviour. And together they discover that Lyle House is not your usual group home either…


The Awakening
The Darkest Powers Trilogy, Book II

Book II in the Darkest Powers trilogy takes us deeper into a world where the supernatural intrudes on the everyday with riveting effect.

If you had met me a few weeks ago, you probably would have described me as an average teenage girl – someone normal. Now my life has changed forever and I’m as far away from normal as it gets. A living science experiment – not only can I see ghosts, but I was genetically altered by a group of people who call themselves The Edison Group. What does that mean? For starters, I’m a teenage necromancer whose powers are out of control: I raise the dead without even trying. Trust me, that is not a power you want to have. Ever.

I’m running for my life with three of my supernatural friends – a charming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch – and we have to find someone who can help us gain our freedom back before The Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying.


The Reckoning
The Darkest Powers Trilogy, Book III


Only two weeks ago, life was all too predictable. But that was before I saw my first ghost. Now along with my supernatural friends Tori, Derek, and Simon, I'm on the run from the Edison Group, which genetically altered us as part of their sinister experiment. We're hiding in a safe house that might not be as safe as it seems. We'll be gone soon anyway, back to rescue those we'd left behind and take out the Edison Group . . . or so we hope.
MY THOUGHTS: I read this last year and had noooooo idea that Kelley Armstrong was a Canadian author until recently! But she is and I love her books so I couldn't be more proud :) I like The Darkest Powers series more than her Darkness Rising series, but I know that she also writes a lot of really good adult books too, if you recognize her more for that.

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That's kind of all I can remember right now, but I'm sure there are SO many more amazing books written Canadian authors. Are there any more that I'm missing? And how was YOUR weekend? Did you spend the entire time outside like my family or read to make a dent in your TBR piles like I'm going to now? ;)

I hope your Canada Day weekend was a blast whether you're Canadian or not! :)

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE CANADIAN BOOK? 

-Mimi

42 comments:

  1. Don't you just love coming across books by authors that are from your country of origin?? Especially when you already love the book in the first place! I am so looking forward to reading This Is Not A Test. Happy Canada Day!

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  2. YAY FOR CANADIANS!!!!!!!!!! I love you for being patriotic, Mimi -- it makes me proud to be a Canadian girl too! (': <33333

    On the weekend, my family and I went to the lake and watched epic fireworks there! I heard you guys did them at the park and your uncle got hit by one beam LOL -- it's a good thing they don't hurt that much because otherwise he'd be sporting a burn! (x But also, I'm glad you spent your entire weekend outside because that's EXACTLY how Canada Day should be spent: Under the sun! And I laugh at how all of these Canadian books are the ones you remember because they're all ones I love too!

    Fantabulous list, Mimi-Doll! Gotta love Canada (; <333333333

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  3. Oh, it sounds like a great day for Canadians. ;)

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  4. i read dark inside/ nver knew it was canadian

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  5. I haven't read ANY of these books but I really want to read Courtney Summers' books! It sounds like you had such a fantastic day. :) Happy Canada Day to you!

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  6. Happy Canada day, gorgeous! I hope you had a wonderful time. To celebrate with you, I promise to read either Dark Kiss or This Is Not a Test this week, since I've already read Darkest Powers, and Hemlock is still on the way.

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  7. The ending of This is not a Test was totally the reason it wasn't perfect for me, too!! My favourite is Dark Kiss tho because I loved Kraven and Bishop a lot more after reading your interview with them ;) But Hemlock is second (I'm def Team Kyle, hbu?!) and I had no idea Kelley Armstrong was Canadian either! Learn something new every day :P Happy Day-After-Canada Day, Mimi!

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  8. I'm so glad you had an incredible canada Day Mimi. A barbaque sounds fun! I spent all weekend away from the computer because a storm ruined my areas power. Yesterday I had a fun beach day where my dog met the ocean and sand for the first time!
    Fantastic post honoring Canadian authors! I love reading your favorite book lists with your fun reasons! Armstrong is currently my favorite one!

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  9. I LOVE Michelle Rowen and all her books! If you enjoyed Dark Kiss you must read her Demon Princess series. So cute and fun and a very swoon worthy faery king! She is definitely my favorite Canadian author. I'm dying to read Hemlock and This Is Not A Test. Glad you had a great weekend!

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  10. Happy Holiday!!!!!!!! Actually, I have no idea which author is from Canada... but I love Michelle Rowen :-)
    Oh wait. I know an author: Jennifer Sommersby Author fo Sleight! I adore her :) Have you read Sleight? I loooooved this book!

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  11. I didn't realize that some of the ones you mentioned here were Canadian-so great to see them enjoying such success! I'm never really sure where the authors I read are from although I will usually check out their author bios to find out.

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  12. I love this post so much. There are SO many talented Canadian authors out there! My favorite off your list is probably Hemlock...it's STILL one of my favorite reads this year! KYYYLLLLE.

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  13. I love Hemlock too ! :D It's one of my favorite reads of this year.
    I had no idea that Courtney Summers was Canadian, but I've got to admit that Canadian authors are pretty talented. ;)
    Sounds like you had an epic time, Mimi ! :) I'm glad you had such an awesome Canada day !

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  14. I have no idea these awesome books were written by Canadian authors! I can't wait to read them soon! Happy Canada Day! I'm glad you had a lot of fun yesterday, Mimi! :))

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  15. Yay for Canadian authors! I didn't realize most of these authors were from Canada either! I really want to read Hemlock, This is Not a Test, and Dark Kiss, because they all sound so fab. Your Dark Kiss interview was really awesome...Oooh Kraven <3 haven't even read the book and I love him already.

    -Lauren

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  16. I love Hemlock and Darkest Powers trilogy, these two are some of the freshest YA series I've read in a long time.

    Happy Canada Day!

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  17. Courtney Summers is Canadian? I had no idea! Though really, I wouldn't be too fussed if she was from Pluto as her book is amazing. ;) And I really must read Hemlock soon! I hear nothing but good things about that book. :)

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  18. You know I never even think about where the author of my books are from. I can't tell Canadian from American with any real certainty in regards to authors. The only one I can for sure tell are the ones from across the pond because they use different words like loo, and flatmates, and telly. I do love the authors from across the pond!

    Hemlock sounds real interesting though. I think you sold me with WEREWOLF! I do love those furry shape shifters! Add two hot guys and mystery on top of that and it sounds like a great book!

    Anyway, Happy Canada Day! Hope you enjoyed yourself!

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  19. I am in love with the cover of DARK KISS! HEMLOCK sounds pretty good too.

    Happy Canada Day, Mimi!

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  20. I had no idea these authors were Canadian! I hope you had a great Canadian Day! Mine wasn't too bad. ;) Great to see you back! :D >3

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  21. What a fabulous post! I really enjoyed it and I never realized all of these were by Canadian authors. Hope you had a great Canada Day! I am so excited to read This is Not a Test!
    New follower ;)

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  22. I hope you had a lovely Canada Day, Mimi! I'm so jealous of all the fun and marshmallows you had :) My weekend has been filled with pouring rain - welcome to British summer ;)

    I didn't even realise these books were by Canadian authors... Hemlock is released in the UK this month so I can't wait to read it and I am DESPERATE to get my hands on This Is Not a Test since you and some of my other favourite bloggers loved it so much - I want my dose of zombies :D And I'm loving the guy on the cover of Dark Kiss ;)

    Thanks for this great post, Mimi <3

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  23. I can't wait to read This Is Not A test. I just bought it. Love zombies but this seems a little different than the typical...braaaains type book lol

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  24. Happy (LATE) Canada day Mimi!!! There are loads of talented Canadian authors! Kelley Armstrong is super amazing, I love every books she writes because she such a talented writer. I still cant wait to read This is not a test!

    Fabulous post Mimi

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  25. Glad you had such a great time!! I was out on Friday night, and I was out on Saturday night :P And I came home from Saturday night on Sunday at 7.30 in the morning :D haha it was amazing! I had a really awesome time! And there were fireworks and it was beautiful! :) ;)

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  26. Happy Canada Day!!!!!!!! Great post :-) I should have done something like this too! Oh well :-) Kelley Armstrong is definitely one of the most talented authors of all time! I still need to read Hemlock but it sounds wonderful! Thank you for sharing :-)

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  27. Wow, I didn't know all of these were Canadian authors (Kraven!! <33)! :D I'm glad you're having a good time, and it's certainly the time to feel patriotic. Which reminds me... I still have to buy Hemlock! Someday, someday. I'm kind of in a reading slum right now, though :(

    Anyways, I hope your day continues to stay as fantastic as you made it sound ♥

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  28. I had no idea Michelle Rowen was a fellow Canuck :) Hope you had a great Canada Day; I was at work all day.

    Mimi, how could you forget Anne of Green Gables?! :O

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  29. I didn't know any of these were Canadian! I haven't read a single one! Hemlock has my favourite cover, out of these ones- it's somewhat mysterious!

    I've been dubious about trying to get a copy of This is Not a Test... I'm not sure if I would get absolutely scared out of my wits by it... I'm ont really into the zombie kind of thing, and the cover scares me. Just a little.

    If you can, get yourself a copy of A few Right Thinking Men- it's absolutely AMAZING!
    Romi.x

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  30. EEEEEEEEE! I *JUST* finished Deadly Hemlock yesterday, and it was AMAZING! So didn't know these books were by Canadians. FABULOUS! &HEARTS;

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  31. Sweet. I had no clue these were written by Canadian authors. I'm always on the look out for books by non-US authors. Adding them to my reading list. Thanks for sharing.

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  32. I don't think you realize how much of a shock to me this is! I had no idea these peeps were CANADIAN. That's craziness. In fact, I don't think I even really knew YOU were Canadian? I have a sad lack of observational skills, I'm afraid. DON'T LAUGH TOO HARD, Mimi <33

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  33. Dang...I actually don't know very many Canadian authors... BUT, there is one who wrote one of my faaaaavorite series ever (the Matt Cruise trilogy) - the magnificent KENNETH OPPEL!!! I love him. Dearly. :D

    Love this post, Mimi! :D <3

    Sierra @ Yearning to Read

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  34. Happy Canada Day Mimi! <3

    All of those books are absolutely AMAZING and their writers are basically the BEST! I so can't wait to get my copy of This Is Not A Test - it sounds so good!

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  35. I think my favorite Canadian right now is Mimi!! But I loved Kelly Armstrong's Darkest Powers series. The romance was subtle but so very sweet! I still need to read This is Not a Test and Hemlock. I've heard great things about both. Dark Kiss was a lot of fun as well! What was our deal, Mimi? Kraven is yours and Bishop is mine? Yes, I think that was it! ;)

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  36. Happy Late Canada Day \o/ We have ours in the beginning of June actually, haha. It doesn't seem as fun as yours or US's though o: Hope you had fun!

    I'm actually ashamed to say I don't think I know too many Canadian authors on top of my head. o: But Hemlock!! <3 Loved it.

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  37. Go Canada! Gosh, your Canada Day celebration sounded SO good! All Vivi did was go strawberry-picking, then watched the fireworks in the neighbourhood -blush- Anyhow, the spirit's all the same! I STILL need to read Hemlock, but I'm looking forward to it! Great choices, all of them!

    don't forget Lucy M. Montgomery and dear Anne Shirley from P.E.I.!

    Vivian @ Vivaciously, Vivian

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  38. Sounds like you had a fabulous Canada Day long weekend!

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  39. I've always wanted to visit Canada. I hope your Canadian weekend was awesome! And these books look so great. I need to read more books by Canadian authors. Thanks so much for highlighting these, Mimi :)

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  40. The Canada Day celectration sounds great! :D I'm glad you had an awesome time.

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  41. Michelle Rowen is Canadian? WHOA! are you kidding me? kyaaaaaaa!! amazing! I hope I get to read Dark Kiss this month aaah! it's seating on my shelf since it came out!
    great post my dear ^.^ muah!

    Dazzling Reads

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