Waiting on Wednesday (50):This Is Not A Test, Every Other Day and Struck

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where you can post about upcoming books you're looking forward to.

This is a wonderful chance for blogger to show off what's coming out soon that they are excited about! Every week my wishlist balloons thanks to this awesome meme.

This Is Not A Test by Courtney Summers

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, everyone’s motivations to survive begin to 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?

Why I need this: I love that this story is looking at zombies in a whole new way. I've only read one of Ms. Summers other novels but I know that she is an emotional intense writer so this seems like the perfect plot. I can't wait to dig.

This Is Not A Test comes out June 2012 from St. Martin's Griffin.

Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Every other day, Kali D'Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl.  She goes to public high school.  She attends pep rallies.  She's human. 

And then every day in between . . .She's something else entirely. 

Though she still looks like herself, every twenty-four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon-hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway. Even though the government considers it environmental terrorism. 

When Kali notices a mark on the lower back of a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by one of these creatures. Kali has twenty-four hours to save her and, unfortunately, she'll have to do it as a human. With the help of a few new friends, Kali takes a risk that her human body might not survive. . .and learns the secrets of her mysterious condition in the process.

Why I need this: I feel the demon hunter thing is definitely old hat but I love this fresh new twist. I can't wait to find out the secret behind Kali's transformation and how she's going to be able to hunt without it!


Every Other Day comes out December 27, 2011 from Egmont USA.

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

When Los Angeles is devastated by a catastrophic earthquake, seventeen-year-old human lightning rod, Mia Price, finds herself at the center of a power struggle between two fanatical doomsday cults, one that wants to save the world, and one that wants to destroy it... and she will be the deciding factor in which cult succeeds at their aim.

Why I need this: Holy interesting concept, Batman! I've always liked stories about natural elements and a girl who likes to get hit with lightening and who might be a weapon is right up my alley. I can't wait!


Struck is out May 8, 2012 from Farrar, Straus & Giroux. 


What are you waiting on?

Jana Oliver Interview and Giveaway Update

The amazingly wonderful Jana Oliver and her wizard of an assistant have offered up even more prizes for the interview I did with Beck and Riley! I'm giving away an ARC of Soul Thief and now there are two more prizes to be won. They are:

• A finished copy of Soul Thief
• A set of The Demon Trapper's Daughter and Soul Thief

That's three chances to win a novel from this amazingly awesome series!

For those of you have already entered, you don't need to do anything. You've now just got a better chance of winning.

For those of you who haven't, what are you waiting for?

This is a US contest only.

Head here to enter!

Happy Book Birthdays!

There are several novels I've reviewed recently that are coming out today. I wanted to spotlight them so you don't forget! Please, join me in a round of happy birthday to...

Fury by Elizabeth Miles

Sometimes sorry isn't enough....

It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...

Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better--the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend.

On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed.

In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay.

Em and Chase have been chosen.

Fury is definitely not for every type of reader. The character's are very flawed but it was in their flaws that I found what I really liked. Check out my review of Fury!

Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.

I loved this novel because Cas reminded me of my favorite supernatural hunting brothers-- The Winchesters from Supernatural. Check out my raving review on Anna Dressed In Blood!

 Soul Thief (The Demon Trapper's Daughter #2) by Jana Oliver

Riley Blackthorne is beginning to learn that there are worse things than death by demon. And love is just one of them…

Seventeen-year-old Riley has about had it up to here. After the devastating battle at the Tabernacle, trappers are dead and injured, her boyfriend Simon is gravely injured, and now her beloved late father’s been illegally poached from his grave by a very powerful necromancer. As if that’s not enough, there's Ori, one sizzling hot freelance demon hunter who’s made himself Riley’s unofficial body guard, and Beck, a super over-protective “friend” who acts more like a grouchy granddad.  With all the hassles, Riley’s almost ready to leave Atlanta altogether.

But as Atlanta’s demon count increases, the Vatican finally sends its own Demon Hunters to take care of the city’s “little” problem, and pandemonium breaks loose. Only Riley knows that she might be the center of Hell’s attention: an extremely powerful Grade 5 demon is stalking her, and her luck can't last forever…

I'm a huge fan of both novels in this series. Riley's kick ass attitude and the way Beck cares for Riley always has me on their side. You can check out my review of Soul Thief. You can also read my latest interview with Beck and Riley and enter to win some books!

Review: Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake

Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake


Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Tor Teen (August 30, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0765328658
ISBN-13: 978-0765328656
Source: ARC received for Teen Book Scene Tour
Cover: I think this cover looks middle grade. Not in a bad way but I don't think it looks very young adult, just by the way it's drawn. However, I really like the intrigue of it, seeing the house and Anna. I love that it is black and white with only red accents.
First Sentence: "The grease-slicked hair is a dead giveaway--no pun intended."


Mini-Review: An addictive debut with a fantastic cast of characters that will have fans of Supernatural clamoring for more.


Book Summary:

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.

Book Review:


Anna Dressed In Blood is an off-the-wall debut that utuilizes a realistic and likable male voice, one very fascinating job and a toe-curling plot. Cas Lowood is one heck of a lead that you won't mind spending three hundred pages with and Ms. Blake's writing is competent and sure. Anna Dressed In Blood is so creepy it's good!


I loved that this story was written in a male's perspective. Cas reminded me of the best of both Supernatural brothers rolled into one guy that was equal parts serious, humorous and cocky. From the moment he starts his story to his last words, he grows and learns. I loved that in the beginning he was confident but as he spoke, you could see the little boy peeking out, trying to fill his father's shoes. This gave his character a lot of room to grow and grow Cas did. Seeing him learn to lean on other people was surprisingly fulfilling. Even though Cas didn't seem to care that he was solo in the beginning, the author did a great job letting the reader know that something was seriously missing. Just fair warning, Cas is a little rough around the edges with his foul language but he is respectful to his mother and generally cares so for me, that canceled it out. Like I'd mention in other reviews of the same genre, he was a strong enough character to lead the reader through the horror of his surroundings and competent enough that he didn't look dumb running to the noise that go bump in the night. For me, that's essential.


The ghosts that Ms. Blake created were interesting. Hopping from town to town with Cas is like getting to hear the best spooky stories each place has got to offer. And spooky they were! Some of the scenes with Ana had me scooting to the edge of the lamp light so that the shadows were as far away as possible. The way the house was described was incredibly creepy but I liked that at the same time, after a while it felt familiar. Sort of like a metaphor for Anna herself. The author did an awesome job setting up the mystery surrounding Anna and the fact that she didn't kill Cas when we witnessed her rip the others to shreds made riping through the pages a breeze. My only niggle is that I felt like the writing tripped up at times. There were a few places where I had to re-read because something wasn't clear or it just didn't connect to the paragraph before it. It wasn't enough to detract from the mystery of this novel and the incredibly creeptastic story within the pages.


Anna Dressed In Blood will surprise you with its sincerity. I don't want to give away too much but I enjoyed that it switched themes in the second half of the novel and Cas's love interest was just too bittersweet for words. I enjoyed every last word from the guy that for me, embodied both of my favorite brothers on television (Supernatural). A strong debut by an author to look out for, Anna Dressed In Blood is a must read... or else she'll come for you. And you don't want to know what goes on behind Anna's walls unless Cas is there too!

Rating: 

Jana Oliver, author of Soul Thief, Character Interview & Giveaway!

Today, I have a really fun interview for you. Ms. Jana Oliver has been kind enough to lend her characters Beck and Riley so that they can answer a few questions.

The twist? They'll be answering questions about each other! I'm just so in love with this interview and the answers, I can't even tell you. Get ready to get to know these two characters a whole lot better by the end of the is post!

So just to make sure you get it, I'll be asking easy type questions and Beck will be answering what he thinks Riley would choose and Riley will be answering for Beck. Let the games begin!

1) Summer, winter, fall or spring?

Riley: I’m guessing Beck would say fall. Guys like autumn, right? I mean there’s football and all that. ::winces:: Does that sound sexist?

Beck: Spring. It’s got all those flowers and things so I figure she’d like that.

2) Chocolate, vanilla or strawberry?

Riley: No way on the chocolate. He hates it. I’m thinking he’ll go for vanilla. He’s kind of plain, you know? Strawberry would be really radical for Beck.

Beck: Chocolate. She loves the stuff. I just don’t get it.

3) Dog or cat?

Riley: You know, I’m not sure. He seemed okay with my neighbor’s cat, but who knows? No, I think he’d like a dog better. They’re loyal and don’t think they’re smarter than you are. A cat would just give Beck a hard time.

Beck: Cat. She’s got a thing for them.

4) Recorded or live?

Riley: Beck has this thing for CD’s so I’m guessing recorded.

Beck: I’m not sure. She’s been to some concerts so I’m goin’ to guess live.

5) Black, white or grey?

Riley: Beck’s got a lot of grey to him. I think I’ve figured him out and then he changes on me.

Beck: She’s grey. There’s not black and white with that girl. No way.

6) Sunrise or sunset?

Riley: He seems like a sunset kinda guy. You know, the “thank God I’ve lived through another day” kind.

Beck: I’m bettin’ she likes the sunrise. Promise of a new day and all that nonsense.

7) Pen or pencil?

Riley: Pencil and I can’t tell you why or he’ll get mad at me

Beck: Riley would use a pen. Once it’s on paper, it’s there for life.

8) Read minds or fly?

Riley: He just goes with his gut and most of the time he’s right. How does he do that?

Beck: She reads minds. I swear it.

9) Coffee or hot chocolate?

Riley: He drinks coffee like it was actually good. Remember I said he hates chocolate?

Beck: I’ve never seen her drink coffee. It’s always that disgustin’ hot chocolate.

10) Being alone or being stuck with someone you hate?

Riley: Ouch, that’s a little bit close to home, isn’t it? Beck would rather be alone. He’s got LONER stamped on his forehead and the letters glow in the dark.

Beck: Alone. She’s a lot like me in that. When things are buggin’ her she heads off on her own to work things out in her head.

11) Book smart or street smart?

Riley: Beck is totally street smart. I wish I could be like that sometimes

Beck: She’s book smart. Man, I wish I was.

12) Love, money or fame?

Riley: Beck’s not into fame. In fact, if someone offered to make him famous he’d run the other way. Money is important to him, but I’m not sure if it’s that big of a thing. He’s happy with the simple stuff so I think that maybe deep down he’d pick love.

Beck: Fame? She doesn’t want that, not with all the crap she’s had to put up with the Guild. I think if she had to choose, she’d go for love.

13) Now or then?

Riley: Beck is way more patient than I am so he’s a “then” kind of dude.

Beck: Riley is a “now” kind of girl. Once she decides she wants something, nothin’ is gonna stand in her way.

14) All or nothing?

Riley: Beck wants it all. I respect that.

Beck: She’s totally “all”. “Nothin’” isn’t her kind of thing.

15) What would the other look for in a relationship?

Riley: Someone who would treat him with respect, who wouldn’t cheat on him. Who would be there during the good and the bad. I don’t think he’s found a girl like that yet.

Beck: Riley needs someone who can keep up with her, who understands just how amazin’ she is and doesn’t try to put her down. Not speakin’ ill of her old boyfriends, but they sucked at that.

16) What is the other's biggest fear?

Riley: That someone might see behind all those defensive walls he’s built. See what he’s really like. That scares him big time.

Beck: Riley is worried about not bein’ taken seriously. But I don’t think that’s her biggest fear. I think it’s that she might never find real love. ::shrugs:: Guess we’re all like that.

17) What one quality do you admire about the other?

Riley: He’s totally fearless, even when he can’t possibly win. He throws himself into situations that scare me to death. I know that no matter if we’re not getting along, he’s got my back. That’s awesome, you know?

Beck: She never backs down. Sometimes it would be smarter if she did, but Riley isn’t built that way. You diss her and yer in big trouble. Ya tell her not to do somethin’ and yer wastin’ yer breath. She’s fierce and I respect that.

Didn't you just love that? Seriously, we got some incredible insight into what these characters think about each other and a little bit about what they think about themselves. Thanks so much to Jana Oliver for taking the time to lend out her characters and agreeing to do this interview.

All yous guys, you need to march your bottoms on out and grab yourselves a copy of Soul Thief! It's amazing. How about I help you out with that though? Fill out the form to enter an ARC of Soul Thief.


Rules:

• US Giveaway only
• Fill out the form below
• Must be 13 years or older
• Giveaway closes 9/12

Good luck!

In My Mailbox (51)

In my mailbox is a weekly meme created by The Story Siren that encourages other book bloggers to share what they bought, won, begged for or borrowed. It is usually held on Sundays!





From MacMillan: 

• ARC of Soul Thief by Jana Oliver

From HarperTeen:

• ARC of Shatter Me by Taherah Mafi

Bought from Books-A-Million:

• The Death Catchers by Jennifer Anne Kogler
• Possess by Gretchen McNeil
• White Cat by Holly Black

Big thanks to MacMillan and HarperTeen for making my mailbox awesome! So what did you get in your mailbox?

Saturday Discussions (16): Are you the jealous type?

I fear some of you may think less of me this week. I'm going to make a confession because recently, I've had an epiphany. This week, I want to talk about something very near and dear to my heart. Of course, the answer is about books because that's what this blog is about. But specifically, I want to talk about that green little monster called jealousy. And the other thing I want to do is admit that I suffer from it bad.

I'm talking specifically about writing jealous right now. Every time I see someone announce that they got an agent/book deal/cover, I have to count backwards from ten to think rationally. I've been working at writing well for almost 10 years now, diving into my work, studying all the tips and tricks and agent hunting and it still hasn't happened for me. But you know what? After that intense stab of jealous comes on, I realize that I should and can be happy for the person doing the announcing and am able to do that.

I had this same sort of sick feeling every time I went to an author signing too. I'd smile on the outside and be dying on the inside of the why-can't-that-be-me? syndrome.

Or how about when you see someone post up a great IMM with all these super cool books that are screaming your name? You have to wonder, why their blog? What do they have that makes them better than me?

Recently though I've decided to stop. Stop the sting in my gut every time I read about someone else's good fortune. And how I've done this is by resigning myself to the fact that just because it hasn't happened for me yet, doesn't mean it never will. Sure, I may not get that great new novel until it's out on bookshelves but I still will get it. Yeah, I haven't been able to get an agent yet but I'm still writing. I've taken away the pressure on myself. And magically, with that gone, I've noticed my jealous urges have leaked away with the stress. I can open a post or look at a Tweet and feel genuinely happy for someone's good fortune. Do I still get jealous sometimes? Sure, I'm human! But I'm not letting it control me anymore. Good things are coming my way. I just have to relax and let it happen!

So what about you guys? Do you suffer from amazing book envy or writing success jealousy? Tell me some ways you combat it!



Do you have a topic idea? Ask me here:

Happily Ever Endings... Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Happily Ever Endings... was born out of sheer frustration. You know how when you read a series and you love it but the last book takes a little while to come out and then you sort of forget parts of the novel? That's what these posts are going to serve to remedy. Happily Ever Ending... is a short post about what happened at the ending of each book that is going to be in a series for people who need a quick reminder of what happened in the previous installment. I hope this saves someone else the frustration that I went through!

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

A hidden truth. 

Mortal enemies. 

Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

Click "Read more" to view the ending of Firelight so you are ready for Vanish! 

Exciting Book News: Miss Peregrine #2

This creepy little book has blown up all over the place and for VERY good reason. I wrote up a review about it (gave it 5/5) and it's definitely one of my top 5 favorite books of the year. What I really love about this success of this novel is how excited and supportive the publisher Quirk has been for the author. They believed in this novel and it really shows from the way it was printed to the way it was advertised.

Here's the best part: they announced there is going to be a second book!

That's right, Miss Peregrine #2 (the second novel is untitled thus far) will be out by Quick Books Spring 2013. On their blog, they released some info and a few interviews with the publishers and the author himself. Among the things they mention, is that Mr. Riggs has collected over 1000 new photographs and according to the author himself  "it looks like the peculiar children have quite a journey ahead of them!”.

I can't even begin to express to you how excited I am for Quirk publishing, Mr. Ransom Riggs and even for us readers! Miss Peregrine's is definitely one of those novels that I wanted to linger in and now I'll be getting an entire new one. To hold you over until then, take a look at the gorgeous trailer Mr. Riggs put together!

The Time Will Come (10): The Eternal Ones by Kiersten Miller

The Time Will Come is a weekly meme started by Books for Company which spotlights books that have been sitting unread on our shelves for too long.*

Want to join in?
- Pick a book you have been meaning to read
- Do a post telling us about the book
- Link the post up in the linky at Books for Company
- Visit the other blogs!

The Eternal Ones by Kiersten Miller

From Goodreads:

Haven Moore can’t control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother’s house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.

In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves¸ before all is lost and the cycle begins again.

I really was digging all the reincarnation stories that were coming out. This was one that I was really excited about. I ran out and bought it the day it came out and it's still sitting on my tbr shelf, probably crying big blubbery tears at this time. I even went out and bought the sequel two weeks ago. I really need to get my bottom in gear and read these!


What's been sitting on your TBR pile for too long?  

Waiting on Wednesday (49): Glimmer and The Vicious Deep

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where you can post about upcoming books you're looking forward to.

This is a wonderful chance for blogger to show off what's coming out soon that they are excited about! Every week my wishlist balloons thanks to this awesome meme.

Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis

What if you forgot your identity and had to rely on other people to tell you who you were? 

And what if to discover your true self, you first had to unravel a mystery so big and terrifying you were not sure you’d survive solving it? 

When Marshall and Elyse wake up in each other’s arms with zero memory of how they got there or who they are, it’s the start of a long journey through their separate pasts and shared future. 

Terrified by their amnesia, the two make a pact to work together to find the answers that could jog their missing memories. As they piece together clues, they discover they’re in the idyllic mountain resort town of Summer Falls, where everyone seems mysteriously happy, but as Marshall and Elyse quickly learn, darkness lurks beneath the town’s perfect facade. Not only is the town haunted by sinister ghosts, but none of its living inhabitants retain bad memories of anything—not the death of Marshall’s mom, not the hidden shame in Elyse’s family, not even the day-to-day anguish of high school. 

Lonely in this world of happy zombies, Marsh and Elyse fall into an intense relationship...but the secrets they uncover could be the death of this growing love—and the death of everyone, and everything, they love in Summer Falls.

Why I need this: Holy creepiness! I've always sort of been afraid of this exact scenario and while we get it a lot in books (i.e. the mc knows something is happening even when everyone else thinks she's nuts) this is like a straight out problem in this novel which I love. As a writer, I have no idea how I'd explain this sensation away so I'm interested to read how it will all work out.


Glimmer is out April 17, 2012 from Blazer + Bray.

The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova

Set against the backdrop of a Coney Island summer comes The Vicious Deep, the story of sixteen year old Tristan Hart whose life is turned upside down when the mermaids make an unscheduled return to land in search of their new king. 

When a sudden storm pulls Tristan from lifeguard duty into a deadly riptide, he discovers what he really is—a prince of the Sea Court. Turns out, his girlfriend hopping and talents as a swimmer aren’t caused by his teenage prime hormones after all. 

In this modern Arthurian tale with a twist, when all a guy wants to do is get The Girl and enjoy the freak show that is a Coney Island summer, Tristan has to fight for his life, the lives of his friends, and his humanity, if he still wants it, as he’s caught in a race for a throne that is as ancient as the gods.

Why I need this: Oh, oh. oh! Boy book about mermaids? Yes, please! I love that the lead is a male and I can't wait to see where this one is going to lead. The premise sounds exciting and that cover is seriously gorgeous.


The Vicious Deep is out March 2012 by Sourcebooks Fire. 


What are you waiting on?

My Theme Song- The First Space Between Contest

Just a quick intro: this is an entry for Brenna Yovanoff's novel The Space Between. She's giving away 2 ARCs to 2 lucky US citizens! Since this is a novel I'm drying for, I had to try my luck, plus it's a fun and easy way to enter. All you have to do is share a theme song for yourself (which sounded easy at the time but I am quickly starting to realize is an impossible task) and link up in the comments for your chance to win. You can check out all the details on her blog.

So here's the thing. I'm a real girl with loads of personalities (yes, plural) and moods and favorite things. It's really hard to pick a theme song that just is "me". So here's my theme song for right now. I think that's going to have to do.

If Not Now, When? by Incubus


A peek at the lyrics:
I have waited
Dined on ashes
Swung from chandeliers and climbed Everest
And none of it's got me close to this

I've waited all my life
If not now, when will I?

We've been good
Even a blast, but
Don't you feel like something's missing here?
Don't you dare

I've waited all my life
If not now, when will I?
Stand up and face the bright light
Don't hide your eyes
It's time

No umbrellas
No sunglasses
Hearing Hallelujah everyday

I've waited all my life
If not now, when will I?
Stand up and face the bright light
Don't hide your eyes
It's time


This is my theme song because it applies to my current feelings towards writing. Recently, I've dropped some of this pressure I've always felt. I still am striving to be published but I'm not letting it bother me anymore. "I've waited all my life" and now is my time. I just know it as deeply as I know my own bones. I'm not saying it's going to happen with this current project I'm working on but I'm saying I've put in the effort ("swung from chandeliers and climbed Everest") and it's going to pay off. If we could all put that much effort into every aspect of our lives, imagine the goals we could accomplish! The possibilities are endless.

Impromptu Read-A-Thon #2 Winner

Thanks to everyone who read with me last Friday! I'm excited to announce the winner. Congrats to...

Sally from Always Lost in Stories

I've emailed the winner!

TEAser Tuesdays (50): Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

TEAser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others!

Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles!

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Even if they didn't know that she's a descendant of Medusa, she'd still be in danger. Keeping her away from me won't protect her.

--Pg. 160 of "Sweet Venom" by Tera Lynn Childs

This book is wonderful so far. I've just reached the middle and am having withdrawals just putting it down to type this. Shower after work? What shower when there is this book to read! (Just kidding, of course. Well, sort of...)

Be sure to tell me your teaser!