WE'RE BACK!!!! CHECK THIS POST OUT, LOTS OF STUFF GOING ON!!!

The Lateiner Gang is officially BACK!!!

OK LAURA, YOU WIN...  Here ya go... I've been planning our "return" for a little while, but I just got a little inspirational email that told me to get on the site NOW, and get workin again, so.... back by popular demand (or at least by L.B.).... Here's an OVERLOAD OF "STUFF" for you all!

First of all, we have been MIA for a week and a half.  Better to leave some questions as to why and where and what have you been doing unanswered.  Let's just say sometimes life throws you some curveballs, and we have hit them far, and are ready to play here again!  Here's some of the good stuff that's been going on while we were on a "mental vacation"....  We have solidified a triple threat with Frank Beddor, author of "The Looking Glass Wars" series as we have discussed before.  Frank has some really cool things he is planning to give away.  We are just waiting on the interview, and we are all set to go.  Second, we are also waiting on the interview from Becca Fitzpatrick, so we can build up to the finale of the Nook Contest, which ends soooo soon! (yeah! super excited about that!!!!)  Also, we have our winners for the "ICECORE" Contest sponsored by Matt Whyman and our friends at S&S, and I suppose now is as good a time as ever to announce the winners!!!

THE WINNERS ARE:

L.J. Boldrev

Carol M.

Peter Lewis

I will send you all out an email so I can get your info to send you your copy of "ICECORE" which I KNOW you will totally enjoy!

OK, next order of business...  Here is some AWESOME NEWS!!!!  This past week TLG was contacted by a journalist at The New York Times Blog (I didn't get her permission yet to mention her name, so I'll keep it quiet for now) who had asked so kindly if we would like to be interviewed!  Ummm... what blogger would not want the honor of being interviewed by the NYT?????  YES, THE NYT!!!  OK, sorry.... had to get the excitement out.  We will be meeting with our mystery journalist (and now favorite journalist in the whole world!) this coming week.  If that is not inspiration to get back to work here, I don't know what is (except of course, again, my friend LB who has been one of the most supportive friend's ever!).

HOW ABOUT SOME STINKIN REVIEWS LG???  OK...OK.... Some reviews... Well, let's see.  Here's what you can expect TODAY, as well as later on this week.  Today, Mara will be reviewing "The Everafter" by Amy Huntley.  I will be reviewing "Hunger" by Michael Grant.  Remember that at that author panel with our #1 guy Dashner, we had the opportunity to meet Michael Grant, who is just super cool.  Well, since I was beside myself when I got this in the mail this week... (for the silly new legalities... "Lies" was a review copy provided to me by Harper Collins.  I have received no monetary compensation to review it, just the AWESOME copy itself!)

I knew that I was going to read it like NOW, so I have to get my review of book 2, "Hunger " up today! Also during the week, I will be reviewing another awesome title provided to me for review by Harper Collins in which I have already reviewed book 1, "Wings"....

"Spells" by Aprilynne Pike!  I know that these 2 books are highly sought after and I know that I was especially lucky to get them.  Thanks A.H. at Harper for always hooking us up with the coolest!  I also have some of those neat "Asimov" titles that I'd like to review this coming week as well as a few more.  For some reason, we were bombarded with books this week from a slew of publishers.  It seems that there are a ton of hot new releases that are coming out over the next few months and many of them seemed to arrive at our door!  We also have Lauryn and Sami (yes, they are back too!) who each have a book or 2 ready for review!

MORE NEWS!!  On Feb 12th, I will be participating in a blog tour for Sourcebooks.  It is a bit different than I have done before, but it is a book by a very famous sports caster that I grew up watching.  He used to do a segment on TV that I remember watching every week with my uncle called "Spanning the Globe" showing the best sports highlights of the past week.  Len Berman has written a book called "The Greatest Moments in Sports" and having grown up with him, I couldn't resist.  So it is a bit different, but hey, it's all about having fun, and I can't wait to tear through his book and share it with you guys!  (Once again... a review copy of "The Greatest Moments in Sports" has been provided to me by Sourcebooks for review purposes only.  There is no monetary compensation involved what so ever for the review, just the coolness of the book!)

Ok...  I think I have blasted you with some tidbits of good stuff.  I have more, but I need to save some stuff for tonight's Scoop, right?  Check back in a few hours for those couple reviews and included in my review of "Hunger" for all you "GONE" fans, I will give you the synopsis for "Lies", the 3rd book, which I have been given permission to review later this week even though it is not due out until May.  This is good news, because as you guys know, my reviews will tell you plenty without really telling you much at all.  Also, permission for "Spells" was given as well, so it's on the list for coming up soon too!

Thanks to all of you for sticking in there while we took a break.  Sometimes when life takes some unexpected turns, you have to roll with them.  I am deeply sorry we have been MIA for a little while, and it has been very tough on me, as you all know that TLGBRS is my baby, and how much I enjoy writing for you guys.  It has been tough on me, but necessary. Regardless....  We Are Back and ready to rock-n-roll with a ton of stuff on our plate for you guys!  See you soon!

P.S.  Bella is doing great and she is sooo big (well, not really but she has at least doubled in size) and Mara will put up some pics of her in the Scoop tonight so you guys can see our little baby!

DAVE